MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 26th July
2010 at All Saints’ Community Hall at 7.15pm.
Present: Cllrs. D. Mowatt (Chairman), V. Barrett, I. Bloomfield, A. Brett, R. Gatward,
J. Hales, A. Mulcock, M. Sherwen, P. Simmonett, and M. Townsend.
In attendance: The Clerk
182/10 Apologies for absence: C. Cllr van de Ven and Cllrs. Hardingham and Linnette.
183/10 Declarations of Interest: None
Cllr. Mowatt gave his congratulations to Cllr. Townsend, the Vice-chair for doing such an excellent job of taking over the chair at the meeting 28th June.
184/10 Minutes of the meeting held on 28th June 2010:
With the alterations to the following:
Item 132 should have the month of July as dates and not June;
Item 120(h) the word “interested” be replaced by the word “prepared”;
Item 120 (i) insert the words the Council; it was proposed by Cllr. Sherwen and seconded by Cllr. Brett that the minutes of 28th June be signed as a true record.
185/10 Matters arising:
Item 121/10 Correspondence (i) Cllr. Gatward was happy they had a successful fete but in future would wish the Council to seek to avoid a clash.
Cllr. Mulcock confirmed that their concern was duly noted and that the council will seek to achieve a greater gap between events.
Item 109/10 (Matters Arising) Cllr. Sherwen asked if the signs on the Recreation Ground had been dealt with yet. This matter is to go on the Play Areas, Recreation and Youth Committees agenda.
186/10 To receive the Minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 5th and 19th July 2010:
5th: Cllr. Gatward enquired if there had been a reply from the Housing Society/Iceni Homes. She was advised that at the present time no reply had been received.
19th: Cllr. Brett reported that the minutes were not complete. An item needed to be added under Item 181/10 Urgent Matters. As these minutes have not been signed off the Clerk is to insert this item.
187/10 Heydon Grange Wind Farm:
Cllr. Hales reported that a committee has now been formed and nominations/volunteers for various posts are required. The first meeting is to be held on 3rd August at 7.30pm at Heydon Church. Cllr. Mowatt said that at the present time Melbourn Parish Council had not been approached for support, but it would lend support if required.
188/10 Report from C. Cllr. Susan van de Ven:
C. Cllr van de Ven had sent her apologies for not attending the meeting and provided the Clerk with her report. The Clerk had printed this report and distributed it to all Councillors:
Highways: I’ve queried and had this response from Richard Preston: “The A10/Frog End junction speed limit review works are programmed for this financial year. I would hope to consult and advertise the proposals so that any objections can be presented to the South Cambs AJC in October or January at the absolute latest.”
Youth Services/Connexions cuts and proposal to integrate services: Open access youth clubs (of which Melbourn is one) are under threat. I attended the ‘consultation’ day though there were concerns about very poor communication predetermined outcomes. I have written to the Locality Manager and to the officer running the consultation about the key role played by Youth Services at Melbourn Village College and through the Youth Club; have also described the steady work of the PSG and our conclusion over the past year about the pivotal role of Youth Services in community building. I’ll be meeting both officers later in August to learn more and find out how we can secure maximum support.
Education Transport. Thanks to Melbourn residents who attended the information meeting on July 19th and I hope they found it useful. FCC now confirm that their discount for students attending designated post-16 education centre will be 50% off the adult fare, compared to 30% previously. However, they have not committed to a fixed price, as previously suggested, and this is cause for concern.
Practical Solutions Group: We will be holding a meeting in mid-September to assess our progress and decide whether and in what form to continue the group for the coming year.
Rail User Group: Thanks to Melbourn website for continued support in developing the sub-site for the group.
Library Services Review currently being undertaken by County Council. Looking at possibility of a trust, or shared service with other local authorities, to reduce costs. There is a lot of information on the County Council website.
189/10 Donation to Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Group:
It was proposed by Cllr. Gatward THAT AS REQUESTED BY MR PETER STANFORD IN LIEU OF PAYMENT FOR THE REMOVAL, STORAGE AND RE-ERECTION OF THE GOAL POSTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS THAT A DONATION BE GIVEN TO MELBOURN AND MELDRETH SELF HELP GROUP AND THAT AN AMOUNT OF £350 BE DONATED TO MELBOURN AND MELDRETH SELF HELP GROUP. Seconded by Cllr. Bloomfield and CARRIED.
The Clerk will write to Mr Stanford informing him of the Parish Council proposal and thanking him for all his hard work on behalf of the council.
The Clerk will also write to Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Group informing them about the donation and explaining the reason for the donation.
190/10 All Saints’ Churchyard wall:
The Clerk was asked to contact PAS with regard to repairing the wall. If the price for the work is no more £250 she is to tell PAS to go ahead with the repair.
Cllr. Brett will report this damage to the Problem Solving Group and the damage to the two Stop Valve signs.
The Clerk is to request Gerry Squires to remove the weeds from Church Walk.
Cllr. Barrett will look into the matter of the telephone box as she believes that Great Chishill had the same maintenance problem with BT.
The condition of the steps on footpath 5 by the Parish Office was a matter for concern.
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales THAT DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE PATH, IT BE CLOSED AT BOTH ENDS TO STOP ALL FOOT TRAFFIC AND THAT HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT ARE INFORMED THAT THE PATH HAS BEEN CLOSED. Seconded by Cllr. Gatward and CARRIED with 9 votes For: 1 abstention.
The Clerk is to request that the Ranger tapes off both ends of the path and places a notice informing residents of its closure.
The Clerk is to email CCC to inform them that the path is going to be closed due to its dangerous condition.
191/10 Lease for the Village Car Park:
It was proposed by Cllr. Sherwen THAT THE COUNCIL RATIFY THE PROPOSAL MADE AT THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT THE LEASE FOR THE CAR PARK BE SIGNED AT THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING. Seconded by Cllr. Barrett and CARRIED with 9 votes For: 1 abstention.
The Chairman and Vice- Chairman signed the lease which was witnessed by the Clerk.
192/10 Signing of new Bank Mandate:
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales THAT CLLR. BRETT BE A SIGNATORY ON THE BANK MANDATE. Seconded by Cllr. Simmonett and CARRIED.
Cllr. Brett then filled in his details on the bank mandate.
193/10 Co-operative Store:
It was suggested that an investigation be made into the installation of zig-zag markings by the pelican crossing on the High Street outside the Co-operative Store to prevent lorries parking up to the traffic lights. The Clerk is to make this an agenda item on the next meeting of Highways and Rural Footpaths.
With regard to the draft letter drawn up by Cllr. Simmonett, Cllrs. Barrett and Simmonett and will progress this matter further.
194/10 Financial Report as at 30th June: Noted
195/10 Cheques to be signed: <Click on Link to see Cheque List>
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £11,000 from the Business No Notice Account to the Current Account..
It was proposed by Cllr .Bloomfield that the cheques be approved and signed, seconded by Cllr. Townsend and Carried.
196/10 Correspondence:
(a) Letter from M H Rawlings Secretary All Saints’ Community Hall – Temporary use of All Saints’ Community Hall.
The Clerk is to write thanking the committee for its response and the explanation of what can and cannot be offered to the Council
(b) E-mail from Little Hands Nursery – Problem with gate and windows.
The Clerk is to provide a key to Little Hands Nursery for the lock on the gates. She is also to inform the Nursery that the Council are going to investigate the cost of replacement windows and would welcome any help towards the cost of these windows. Cllr. Bloomfield is to look into the cost of new windows.
(c) CCC – Libraries. Noted
Cllrs. Hales and Simmonett are to serve as Council representatives on the Library committee. The Clerk is to write to Mr Mike Stapleton advising him of this matter.
(d) CCC – Libraries. Noted
(e) SCDC – Standard Committee – Parish Council Member Vacancy (2010-2014)
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT CLLR. BRETT’S NAME BE PUT FORWARD FOR NOMINATION FOR THE VACANCY ON THE STANDARD COMMITTEE. Seconded by Cllr. Simmonett and CARRIED.
(f) Letter from Mrs Caroline Roberts, Chair of Melbourn Primary School PTFA – issues with overgrowing shrubs and in relation to entrances there is a clear need for barriers and repainting of zig-zag markings outside the school.
Cllr. Mowatt will request that the overgrowing shrubs are cut back and the Clerk will write to CCC Highways department regarding the other issues.
(g) British Youth Council – Youth Councils. Noted
(h) Letter from Cllr. Stead – Standards Committee decision. Noted.
Cllr. Simmonett would like it reported that Cllr. Mowatt attempted to push the blame away from Cllr. Stead to those who produced the web site.
(i) No further correspondence was received.
[As the time was approaching 10.00pm it was proposed by Cllr. Townsend and seconded by Cllr. Sherwen that the meeting continue until 10.15pm]
197/10 Cemetery and Churchyard Inspection Record:
Cllr. Simmonett had carried out the inspection and logged his findings in the record book
198/10 New Road Cemetery:
The Working Party meeting which was scheduled for 22nd July will now take place on Thursday, 29th of July.
Cllr. Sherwen reported that both the gates and the mound need official permission. Garth Jones at SCDC had informed the Council that permission would be needed. He was very impressed with what is being done at New Road cemetery. Cllr. Sherwen had arranged for contractors along with Matthew Lane Sanderson to inspect the entrance area with a view to levelling it.
199/10 Further Developments to Village Car Park:
This matter had been dealt with under Item 191/10
200/10 Update on BMX Trails:
Cllr. Hales was now working alongside Cllr. Barrett to deal with this project.
There was now a need to identify the species of all trees, shrubs and plants on the site.
The nettles situation extends across the whole area. The Ranger had strimmed some of the nettles but more work needed to be carried out.
Cllr Hales had requested that the Ranger carry out this work which the Ranger thought would be a week’s work.
201/10 Practical Solutions Group:
The group met on 29th June and as stated in C. Cllr. van de Ven’s report the group will be holding a meeting mid-September to assess its progress and decide whether and in what form to continue the group for the coming year.
202/10 The Moor:
Cllr. Hales report on anti-social behaviour on The Moor. The Police are willing to target motorcycles and cars which use The Moor as a race track. The Police require any problems reporting to them along with as much information on vehicles, drivers and licence plate numbers if at all possible.
[As the time was approaching 10.15pm it was proposed by Cllr. Gatward and seconded by Cllr. Hales that the meeting continue until 10.30pm]
203/10 Village Plan:
Cllr. Sherwen reported that most people have had a questionnaire delivered to their house and collection is now taking place.
204/10 Neighbourhood Panel:
This was covered under Item 202/10.
205/10 Committees:
(a) Highways and Rural Footpath: The Clerk was requested to remove the word “is” from Item 152/10 (572/09)
(b) Play Areas, Recreation and Youth: Cllr. Bloomfield reported that any repairs needed are being dealt with.
The matter of a new strimmer was discussed. The decision on this is to be deferred until any protective clothing required has been purchased for the Ranger. The Clerk was asked to check that when purchased, this protective clothing was being worn when strimming was carried out.
Cllr. Hales is to request Herts and Cambs Ground Maintenance to carry out the strimming of the nettles on the proposed BMX site.
[Due to the deadline for Council Meetings of 10:30pm being reached the following items were not dealt with]
(c) Urgent reports from Committee Chairmen: There were no urgent reports from Committee Chairman.
206/10 Future Meetings.
(a) 2nd August – Planning
(b) 9th August – Conservation + Cemeteries
(c) 16th August – Planning
(d) 23rd August – Parish Council.
(e) 30th August – Bank Holiday
207/10 Urgent Matters:
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.30pm