Minutes of an Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 10th May 2010 at Vicarage Close Community Centre at 7.00pm.
Present: Cllrs. V. Barrett, F. Benfield, I. Bloomfield, A. Brett, R. Gatward, J. Hales, D. Mowatt, M. Townsend, M. Sherwen, P. Simmonett, C. Stead and R. Wakerley.
In attendance: The Clerk and two members of the public – Mr A. Mulcock and Mr D. Hardingham
1/10 Election of Chairman of the Parish Council:
It was proposed by Cllr. Gatward THAT CLLR. MOWATT BE ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. Seconded by Cllr. Townsend. There were no other nominations and the proposal was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CLLR. MOWATT WAS DULY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL.
2/10 Election of Vice-Chairman:
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT CLLR. TOWNSEND BE ELECTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. Seconded by Cllr. Brett. There were no other nominations and the proposal was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CLLR. TOWNSEND WAS DULY ELECTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL.
3/10 Apologies for absence: None
4/10 Co-option to the Council:
The Chairman read out letters from the three people wishing to be co-opted. These were Mr. Michael Linnette, Mr. Andrew Mulcock and Mr. Dean Hardingham. The number of people wishing to be co-opted was exactly the same as the number of vacancies on the council.
It was proposed by Cllr Barrett. THAT ALL THREE APPLICANTS BE CO-OPTED TO THE COUNCIL. Seconded by Cllr. Bloomfield and CARRIED.
The two new Councillors, Andrew Mulcock and Dean Hardingham, signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took their places at the meeting. Cllr. Linnette was not present at the meeting.
5/10 Nominations to Committees and Sub-Committees of the Parish Council:
The Chairman asked the Councillors to specify any changes they wished to make in their Committee membership and new Councillors to indicate which committee they wished to serve on.
Cllr. Linnette had expressed the wish that he wanted to serve on Play Areas, Recreation and Youth, Planning and Highways & Rural Footpaths Committees.
Cllr. Simmonett wished to serve on Planning and Cemetery Committees
Cllr. Hardingham wished to serve on Planning, Conservation and Play Areas, Recreation & Youth Committees.
Cllr. Mulcock is to make a decision at a later date on which committees he wishes to serve..
6/10 Confirmation of Parish Council Representatives on Melbourn Schools, Charities and Organisations:
(a) Melbourn Primary School Governors – Cllr. Gatward
(b) Board of Trustees of John Clear Almshouses – Mrs Mavis Howard.
(c) Parish Council representative on the Board of Trustees of Martin’s Charity – The Clerk.
(d) Parish Council representative on the Board of Trustees for Trigg’s Charity Trust – Cllr. Barrett
(e) Parish Council representative to the Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme – Cllr. Barrett.
(f) Parish Council representative to Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Scheme. – Cllr. Bloomfield.
Cllr Gatward wished to give up her post as a Governor to Melbourn Primary School but will continue until the end of the School year.
Cllr. Hales will join Cllr. Barrett as Parish Council representatives to the Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme.
7/10 Any other business:
(a) Representative on the Standards Committee: Cllr Brett agreed to have his name put forward as a Parish Councillor representative on the Standards Committee.
(b) Quotation for Fence in Stockbridge Meadows:
It was proposed by Cllr. Sherwen THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL ACCEPTS THE QUOTATION RECEIVED FROM CAMBRIDGE FENCING AND FORESTRY COMPANY TO ERECT A FENCE JUST INSIDE THE PARISH COUNCILS BOUNDARY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATLEY £1000; AND THAT THREE CONCRETE MARKERS BE PURCHASED INSCRIBED WITH THE WORD BOUNDARY AND PLACED ON THE BOUNDARY LINE WITH THE WORDING FACING INWARDS TO THE PARK Seconded by Cllr Brett and CARRIED
(c) E-mail from Mr Piers Lawrence – Headstone for Mrs Bea Lawrence plot A8 New Road Cemetery.
It was proposed by Cllr. Sherwen that THE PARISH COUNCIL CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM MR LAWRENCE FOR A PERMANENT PHOTO PLAQUE IN CERAMIC FOR THE HEADSTONE OF MRS BEA LAWRENCE. IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT HEADSTONES INCLUDING THE BASE BE NO MORE THAN THREE FEET IN HEIGHT AND THAT DUE TO THESE CHANGES THERE IS TO BE A REVISION OF THE CEMETERY RULES AT THE NEXT CEMETERY MEETING. Seconded by Cllr. Barrett and CARRIED.
(d) E-mail from Helen Dodsworth – Cake Stall on The Cross:
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales THAT MELBOURN DYNAMOS FOOTBALL CLUB BE ALLOWED TO HOLD A CAKE STALL AT THE CROSS ON 22ND MAY. Seconded by Cllr. Wakerley and CARRIED.
(e) Revised Estimate for path at Elm Way:
The Clerk was requested to source a second estimate for this work.
(f) Estimate for land at entrance to the Moor Allotments:
The Clerk was requested to source a second estimate for this work.
(g) Quotation from Came & Company for Parish Council Insurance:
Cllr. Brett took this document and the renewal insurance policy document from Allianz so that he could do a comparison. He will report back to the Council with his findings.
(h) To consider the following Planning Applications.
65 Beechwood Avenue – Conservatory. S/0582/10/F. Recommend Approval
Springfields Fowlmere Road – Change of use of land for the stationing of a mobile home/caravan for residential use for 10 years without the benefit of planning permission to include compliance with Condition 3 of Planning Permission. S/1004/96/F.
The planning merits of the use are not considered in such applications, but if the council wished it could provide any local information it felt would be of use in this matter.
(i) Stockbridge Meadows:
Cllr. Barrett reported that she had had a phone call from Rob Mungovan who had requested a site meeting with the Parish Council as he had concerns with the wild flower area and rabbits causing damage to the path. Rob had said that the S106 agreement included money for an Ecologist who would offer advice to the Council on the best way forward and would write a revised Management plan. Cllr. Gatward is to contact Rob to arrange a site meeting.
It was decided that the failed fruit trees are to be replaced next year.
(j) Colour of paper used for Parish Council agenda and minutes:
The Clerk enquired if the Council would consider changing the red paper to a more eye friendly blue colour. The Council agreed to this.
(k) Grass cutting in the village:
The Clerk reported that she had received complaints about the grass cutting. It seemed that the cut grass was being left to lie where it had been cut. The Clerk will talk to the contractor about this matter.
