MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
Draft Minutes subject to formal ratification at the next Parish Council Meeting
Minutes of an Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 23rd May 2011 at All Saints’ Community Hall at 7.15pm.
Present: Cllrs. V. Barrett, I. Bloomfield, R. Gatward, J. Hales, M. Linnette, D. Mowatt, A. Mulcock, M. Townsend, M. Sherwen, P. Simmonett, and R. Wakerley.
In attendance: The Clerk and one member of the public
1/11 Election of Chairman of the Parish Council:
It was proposed by Cllr. Townsend THAT CLLR. MOWATT BE ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. Seconded by Cllr. Gatward. There were no other nominations and the proposal was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CLLR. MOWATT WAS DULY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL.
2/11 Election of Vice-Chairman:
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT CLLR. TOWNSEND BE ELECTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. Seconded by Cllr. Hales. There were no other nominations and the proposal was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CLLR. TOWNSEND WAS DULY ELECTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL.
3/11 Apologies for absence: C. Cllr. van de Ven and Cllr. Stead
4/11 Co-option to the Council: There were no candidates present at the meeting.
5/11 Nominations for Committees and Sub-Committees:
Cllr. Simmonett wished to have his name added to the Highways and Rural Footpaths and the Play Areas, Recreation and Youth Committees.
The Clerk is to ask The Ranger if he is willing to have his name added to the Highways and Rural Footpaths Committee.
6/11 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. Hales
(f) Parish Council representative to Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Scheme. – Cllr. Bloomfield.
Cllr. Gatward told the meeting that she would be stepping down as a Melbourn Primary School Governor in July. Cllr. Mulcock kindly offered his services for this post. Cllr. Gatward will inform the school with regards to this matter.
Three more headings are to be added to the list.
(g) Parish Council representative on the Village Plan Steering Committee – Cllr. Sherwen
(h) Parish Council representative on the Melbourn Magazine – Cllr. Simmonett.
(i) Parish Council representatives on the LAP Committee – Cllr. Hales and Cllr Simmonett.
7/11 Any other business: There was no other business.
8/11 Apologies for absence: This had already been dealt with under Item 3/11.
9/11 Declaration of Interest: Cllr. Mulcock declared a Personal Interest in Item 23/11 as he was a cheque recipient.
10/11 Minutes of the meeting held on 26th April 2011 and the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on 20th April 2011:
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales and Seconded by Cllr. Simmonett that the minutes of the Extraordinary General meeting held on 20th April 2011 be signed as a true record.
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales and seconded by Cllr. Barrett that the minutes of the meeting held on 26th April 2011 be signed as a true record.
[Cllr Bloomfield joined the meeting at this point the time being 7.40pm]
11/11 Matters arising:
Addendum – Cllr. Mulcock reported that he could not take credit for the Baptist Church sign, as the matter was originally brought up by the Chairman (22nd Nov 2010).
At the moment the matter was still with CCC who had proposed a site meeting.
12/11 Planning Minutes:
9th May: Item 880/10 – Cllr Hales reported that SCDC are still accepting cheques and that there is to be a notice sent to all Parish Clerks informing them of this fact.
13/11 Remarks by Internal Auditor on Annual Return:
The Council noted the remarks made by the Internal Auditor.
14/11 Annual Return:
The Council agreed to this document being signed. It was then signed by the Chairman and the Clerk as the Responsible Financial Officer.
Cllr. Mulcock asked if Parish Councils had to register land registered to them as assets on the Annual Return document. The Clerk will look into this.
15/11 Stone tubs:
It was proposed by Cllr. Simmonett that THE PARISH COUNCIL GIVE ITS PERMISSION FOR THE TWO STONE PLANTERS NEAR THE TWO BUS STOPS AND THE ONE ON THE CROSS TO BE PLANTED UP AS PART OF ‘TEAMWORK IN BLOOM’. Seconded by Cllr. Hales and CARRIED.
The Clerk is to inform Sharon Camilletti of this proposal and inform her that if compost is needed for the planters there is some in Orchard Road cemetery that can be usedfor this purpose. The Clerk is also to ask Sharon if there are any plans for other planting throughout the years.
Cllr. Mowatt said the area around The Cross was not looking good. This area needs to be weeded and spiked.
The Clerk was asked to contact M D Landscapes and request that he does not cut the grass if there was no need to cut it. She is also to invite him to attend the next Conservation Meeting on 12th June to discuss the matter of grass cutting with regards to the condition of it due to the hot weather.
16/11 SCDC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment Housing Market Partnership: The Council was too late to become a member of the Housing Market Partnership but have requested to be kept informed of progress on the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment.
17/11 C. Cllr Susan van de Ven’s report:
As C. Cllr van de Ven was unable to attend the meeting due to other commitments the Clerk had provided all Councillors with a hard copy of her report.
1. A county-wide programme of road resurfacing sees just two roads within the Melbourn County Division on the list; these are Barley Road and Hall Lane in Great Chishill.
2. At the PSG meeting earlier this month, Melbourn Village College offered to take the reins on a social events involving the young and old at Vicarage Close sheltered housing, which is very welcome. It is hoped this will take place during the College’s Activities Week in mid-July.
3. Melbourn Area Youth Development: Various pieces of the puzzle on Community Transport for any children who need help with transport to Youth Club are coming together – to include children in outlying areas of Melbourn. We have five volunteer drivers from Royston and District Community Transport and MVC have offered the use of their mini-buses. Hope to get this up and running sometime next month.
4. I think the parish council has had some of the same reports of ‘anti-social behaviour’ that I’ve had. I have forwarded all to the police, as they have asked that we do. The PSG will be discussing at the next meeting, June 21.
18/11 Parish Council’s Insurance:
It was proposed by Cllr. Linnette THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL TAKE OUT A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY, CAME AND COMPANY. Seconded by Cllr Townsend and CARRIED.
19/11 Re-establishment of Boundary :
It was proposed by Cllr. Linnette THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL ACCEPT THE QUOTATION RECEIVED FROM BRADLEY SURVEYORS AT A PRICE OF £1,745 (including VAT at £220) TO RE-ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARY WITH REGARDS TO THE MOOR PLAY AREA, BOWLING GREEN, RECREATION GROUND, MILLENNIUM WOOD AND THE MOOR. Seconded by Cllr. Hales and CARRIED.
20/11 The Moor Allotments:
It was proposed by Cllr. Wakerley that THE PARISH COUNCIL ACCEPT THE QUOTATION RECEIVED FROM BRADLEY SURVEYORS AT A PRICE OF £570 (Including VAT at £70) TO RE-ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARY TO THE ALLOTMENTS ON THE MOOR. Seconded by Cllr. Barrett and CARRIED.
21/11 Planning Website:
In future, agendas for the full Parish Council and Planning meetings are to be placed on the web site by the Clerk. The posting on the web site of agendas for other committees will be considered in due course.
22/11 Financial report: Noted.
The matter of the moving money into other bank accounts is still being looked at.
23/11 Cheques to be signed:<Click on pdf Icon forCheque List>
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £13,500 from the No Notice Account to the Current Account.
It was proposed by Cllr. Wakerley that the cheques be approved and signed. Seconded by Cllr. Gatward and Carried.
Cllr. Mulcock did not vote on this matter as he was a cheque recipient.
24/11 Correspondence:
(a) E-mail from Linda Bonnington – Conifer trees in Thatcher Stanford Close.
The Clerk is to find out the cost of cutting down, taking out/trimming of these trees.
(b) Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Group – Thanking the Council for the donation on behalf of the Self Help Group and also the volunteers who organise the group. Noted
(c) Press release from Melbourn Village College – process of moving towards becoming an Academy. Noted
(d) E-mail from Jane Marshall, Little Hands Nursery – Wood section on wall next to one of the fire doors has rotted. Please could it be replaced.
The Clerk is to request the Ranger to check on this wood section.
(e) E-mail from Sharon Camilletti, MVP Community Co-ordinator – Appalling behaviour of a group of young people from Melbourn Village College. Noted
25/11 Cemetery Inspection Report:
It was Cllr. Bloomfield’s turn to carry out the inspection and as yet this was still to be done.
26/11 New Road Cemetery:
Cllr. Sherwen is to visit Matthew Lane Sanderson next week to see how things are progressing with the gates.
Cllr. Sherwen had sourced a quote for a sign stating “No ball games in the cemetery”. It was felt that a picture on the sign depicting no ball games may work better then just words.
Cllr. Hales reported that he had spoken to two lots of people who he had met walking through the cemetery with their dogs. He felt that a change may be needed to the design of the cemetery to accommodate people walking through the cemetery with their dogs. Various views were then discussed with regard to dogs in cemeteries.
27/11 Village Car Park:
Cllr. Sherwen reported that there had been a meeting held with Huck Partnership to discus the points raised by Councillors. Huck Partnership is to get back to the Council either this week or next week.
[As the time was approaching 10.00 it was proposed by Cllr. Townsend and Seconded by Cllr. Hales that the meeting continue until 10.15]
28/11 BMX Trails:
Cllr. Barrett reported that this project had now been passed over to the Play Areas, Recreation and Youth Committee. Cambridge Water is to be contacted with regards to a water supply to the site. Cllr. Linnette will deal with this matter.
Cllr. Mowatt said that the Council will lease the land to the club with a list of conditions. It was suggested that this should be a yearly lease.
CRB checks are being undertaken and insurance is being looked into. The Youth have formed a committee.
Cllr. Linnette had spoken to Tim Elbourn who had kindly agreed to water the newly planted hedge.
The whole site had been strimmed by the BMX club.
29/11 Village Plan:
The final meeting of the Steering Committee is to be held on Wednesday 25th May. Cllr. Sherwen will report on this meeting.
30/11 Meetings of the Neighbourhood Panel:
There are to be on meetings till July.
31/11 Minutes of Committees:
(a) Highways and Rural Footpaths: Item 894/10 Cllr. Barrett requested that the words ‘She said if” be removed.
(b) Play Areas, Recreation and Youth: Item 907/10 Cllr. Mulcock said that he had not stated but implied. The Clerk will change this. Item 902/10 word meting to be changed to meeting.
[As the time was approaching 10.15 it was proposed by Cllr. Bloomfield and seconded by Cllr. Townsend and the meeting continue till 10.30.]
(c) Urgent Reports for Committee Chairman: Cllr. Hales asked if money could be moved from the £40,000 Village Plan money and given back to Play Areas, Recreation and Youth Committee up replace the £2,500 used to set up the BMX Trails. Cllr. Hales is to speak to Mr John Travis with regard to this matter.
32/11 Urgent Matters;
Cllr. Simmonett reported that the gate leading to Little Hand Nursery was no longer being locked at night.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.30pm