MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
Draft Minutes subject to formal ratification at the next Parish Council Meeting
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 26th April 2011 at All Saints’ Community Hall at 7.15pm.
Present: Cllrs. D. Mowatt (Chairman), V. Barrett, I. Bloomfield, R. Gatward, J. Hales,
M. Linnette, M. Sherwen, P. Simmonett, C. Stead, M. Townsend and R. Wakerley.
In attendance: The Clerk and 5 members of the public
845/10 Apologies for absence: Cllr. Mulcock and C. Cllr van de Ven
846/10 Declarations of Interest: Cllr. Linnette declared a Personal Interest in Item 859/10 (i) as his back garden adjoins the garden of 13 Meeting Lane.
847/10 Minutes of the meeting held on 28th March 2011:
With the alteration to Item 799/10 the word “then” to “than”, it was proposed by Cllr. Gatward and seconded by Cllr. Barrett that the minutes of 28th March be signed as a true record.
848/10 Matters arising:
Item 816/10 (Conservation) Cllr. Sherwen mentioned the suggestion from an allotment holder that the allotments form part of Melbourn Open Gardens Day, which is organised by SOAS. Cllr. Sherwen will advise the SOAS Committee of this suggestion.
Item 809/10 (d) (Correspondence) Cllr. Barrett had been to visit Mr and Mrs Taylor and informed that it was unlikely 15 feet would be removed from the top of the trees. She also informed them that there was a likelihood of a TPO being put on the trees.
The Clerk is to contact the RSPB manager at Fowlmere Nature Reserve to ask his advice on the matter of removing the nests or scaring the birds away.
849/10 To receive the Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 4th and 18th April 2011:
4th April: There were no comments.
18th April: There were no comments.
850/10 Co-option to the Council:
The Clerk had received an application for co-option to the Council but unfortunately the applicant was ill and could not attend the meeting. This matter is to be an agenda item for the next full Parish Council meeting.
851/10 This item number was not used.
852/10 Report from C. Cllr Van de Ven:
C. Cllr van de Ven had sent her apologies for not attending the meeting. Her written report, which the Clerk had not received at the time of the meeting (due to the e-mail containing the report being sent to her home) can be viewed as an appendix to the minutes. <click on pdf icon to view> 
853/10 MS Office 2010:
It was proposed by Cllr. Simmonett THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL PURCHASE A COPY OF MS OFFICE AT A PRICE OF £160 AND THAT THIS BE LOADED ONTO THE PARISH OFFICE COMPUTER. Seconded by Cllr. Linnette and CARRIED.
854/10 Parish Council Insurance Cover:
The Clerk is to contact Came and Company, insurance providers and enquire if the price for a three year term is a fixed price and what date this fixed term would commence from.
855/10 Watering of the newly planted Hedge on New Road:
It was decided that the Clerk would contact Mr. Wedd with regards to requesting his help with the watering of this hedge.
[As the time was approaching 8.00pm the Chairman suspended Standing Orders to allow for Public Participation.]
[The Chairman resumed Standing Orders at 8.20pm]
856/10 Pavilion:
There was a discussion held with regards to carrying out cleaning of the pavilion both before and after if had been used by the Village Fete.
[At this point both Cllrs. Bloomfield and Wakerley declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest due to Cllr. Bloomfield being involved with the cleaning team and Cllr. Wakerley’s wife being one of the cleaning team. Both Councillors then left the room.]
It was proposed by Cllr. Hales that A DEEP CLEANING BE CARRIED OUT ON OF THE PAVILION BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER IT WAS USED BY THE VILLAGE FETE. THIS WOULD BE PRICED AT APPROXIMATELY £100. Seconded by Cllr. Simmonett and CARRIED.
It was noted that the Fete Committee usually provided its own supplies for the Pavilion.
857/10 Financial Report as at 31st March:
The Clerk is to ask HSBC if the Financial Services Compensation of £85,000 covers each separate account held at the bank or if it only applies to the full amount held in the bank.
The Clerk is to speak to Alex Coyler the RFO at SCDC to seek his advice on the matter of spreading funds across different banks.
858/10 Cheques to be signed: <click on pdf icon to view>
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £21,000 from the Business No Notice Account to the Current Account.
It was proposed by Cllr. Townsend that the cheques be approved and signed, seconded by Cllr. Barrett and Carried.
[Cllr. Stead left the meeting at this point the time being 9.06pm]
859/10 Correspondence:
(a) Letter from John Stevens – Allotments.
Cllr. Hales will check out the position of the path between Plot 8A, 8b and 9A.
The Clerk will put this e-mail on the agenda of the Conservation meeting to be held in June.
(b) E-mail from Caroline Roberts – Requesting permission for the Primary School PTFA to erect a sign promoting their Spring Fayre at The Cross from Monday 2nd May.
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL PTFA BE ALLOWED TO PLACE A SIGN ON THE CROSS FROM MONDAY 2ND MAY ADVERTISING ITS SPRING FAYRE WHICH IS TO BE HELD ON 14TH MAY. Seconded by Cllr. Gatward and CARRIED.
(c) E-mail from Mike Cooper – State of Footpath in front of South Cambs. Motors.
The Clerk is to write to the owner of South Cambs. Motors to see if it is willing to fund the repair to the footpath.
(d) E-mail from Emily Meakin – Children playing in New Road cemetery.
The Clerk will e-mail Emily thanking her for drawing the Council’s attention to this problem and informing her that the Parish Council will take every step possible to put a stop to this. Cllr. Sherwen is to order two signs to be made up, stating that there are to be no ball games in the cemetery.
(e) SCDC – Arts Capital Grant 10/11.
Cllr. Hales said that he takes issue with some of the contents of this letter.
(f) Letter from the Secretary, Melbourn Baptist Church – Enquiry about possibility of adding signage to local churches on four-way post at The Cross road junction. This matter had been dealt with under public participation and forms part of the addendum to the minutes.
(g) E-mail from Kirstin Bicknell – Unpicked Meadow artwork installation.
Cllr. Barrett said that she had an electric concrete mixer which she was very willing to lend for this project.
Cllrs. Gatward, Hales and Sherwen are to liaise with the artist over this matter.
(h) Letter from Mr Bruce Hewitt – Acceptance of post of Internal Auditor to the Parish Council for the year 2011/2012. Noted
(i) Letter from Rowena Tucker – to consider the placing of double Yellow Lines on either side of the junction of meeting Lane and High Street
(j) E-mail from British Youth Council – Local Councillor Shadowing Award. Noted
(k) CCC – Grass Cutting – Public Rights of Way. Noted
(l) E-mail from Samantha Moor – High Street, Melbourn.
This matter will be discussed at the Planning meeting of 9th May.
(m) There was no further correspondence received.
860/10 Cemetery & Churchyard Inspection Report:
There seemed to be a little confusion as to which Councillor was to carry out the inspection. The Clerk will check the rota and advise the relevant Councillor
861/10 New Road Cemetery:
Cllr. Sherwen reported that he had marked out a new area for cremated remains and has asked Councillors to view this area and pass on any comments to him.
He also reported that the work to level the foundation of the road and install the gates is scheduled to take place in mid July.
862/10 Village Car Park:
Cllr. Mowatt said that the area in front of the car park which had been cleared now looked as bad as ever. The Clerk is to ask Keith and Gerry to weed it.
Cllr. Mowatt requested that the Clerk talk to MD Landscape with regard to the cutting of the verges on the approaches to the village.
The Clerk is to ring Huck Partnership with regard to arranging a meeting.
863/10 BMX Trails:
Cllr. Barrett said this site had now been signed off by the Planning Department at SCDC. Angela Haylock from Young Lives is arranging for the CIB checks.
There is to be meeting held at the Parish Office on 10th May. At this meeting the need for a chain system to close off jumps will be discussed. Also to be discussed is the need for Parish Council’s help in this matter.
The Parish Council had agreed to fund the first year of insurance cover.
Cllr. Barrett had told the youth that a responsible person could have a key to the gate of the car park.
[As the time was approaching 10.00 it was proposed by Cllr. Hales and seconded by Cllr. Townsend that the meeting continue until 10.15pm]
[Cllr. Sherwen declared a Personal and Prejudicial interest in the next item as he is a member of the Village Plan Steering Committee.]
864/10Village Plan:
It was proposed by Cllr. Simmonett THAT THE VILLAGE PLAN IN THE FORM CIRCULATED TO ALL COUNCILLORS ON 11 APRIL AND FORMALLY PRESENTED AT THE EXTRAORDINARY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 20 APRIL BE ADOPTED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE PARISH COUNCIL, BUT INCLUDING SUCH AMENDMENTS AS SHALL BE INCORPORATED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE OR AS AGREED WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL AS A RESULT OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESSES PRIOR TO FINAL PUBLICATION. Seconded by Cllr. Townsend and CARRIED.
865/10 Neighbourhood Panel:
Cllr. Townsend reported on the meeting held at Melbourn Village College on 19th April which had been attended by herself along with Cllrs. Barrett, Bloomfield and Mulcock. It had been reported that there were still problems on the High Street and in other areas in the village. Melbourn was not the only village with these sorts of problems. There was a move to try and get the Speed Watch back up and working again.
Cllr. Mowatt reported that he had been spoken to by youths in the tunnel coming across the field from the railway station. He felt that if this had happened to someone vulnerable then they could easily have been upset by it.
[As the time was approaching 10.15pm it was proposed by Cllr. Hales and seconded by Cllr. Townsend that the meeting continue until 10.30pm.]
866/10 Committee Reports:
(a) Urgent reports from Committee Chairmen: There were no urgent reports from Chairmen.
867/10 Urgent Matters:
The Clerk asked if she could change her working days, for one week only commencing 23rd May, from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Council agreed to this request.
Mr. Justin Wilmott had requested the use of the Old Recreation Ground for a period of 2 hours on Saturday 30th and Sunday the 31st of April for the purpose of erecting a bouncy castle for the celebration of his daughter’s birthday. The Council felt that its liability insurance would not cover such a use and the Clerk was asked to contact Mr. Wilmott and inform him that the Council had refused his request.
Peter Andrews had informed the Clerk that the Moor Play Area had developed some rabbit holes. The Clerk was to ask Peter to fill in these holes using the time to do so from the hours that he is employed to help the Ranger with work in Orchard Road Cemetery.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.25pm
Addendum to the Parish Council meeting of 26th April 2011
The meeting was attended by secretaries from both the Baptist and United Reformed Churches.
The secretary from the Baptist Church addressed the meeting and reported that some visitors are finding it hard to locate the United Reformed Church. It was thought that a directional sign similar to one for the Baptist Church would help in this matter. However, due to its condition the sign for the Baptist Church needs to be replaced. Cllr. Mowatt said that the old sign did not do the church justice.
The secretaries had met with Karen Lunn – Project Engineer for the Highways Agency and they were now waiting for a letter from her setting out options and costs for the new signs.
It was asked if the fingerpost on the green by Leeches Butchers could be used to attach new signs. They had been told by Karen that there was a limit to the size of sign that could be erected due to wind blow. The Parish Council was asked if it was contemplating any signs itself, which could at the same time be used by the Churches. Cllr. Hales suggested that the finger post could be used whilst Cllr. Simmonett felt that this could open up the way for more signs on the post.
Cllr. Mowatt suggested that the secretaries go away and look a little harder into the matter and then come back to the Council with their findings. Cllr. Mowatt said that the council would be receptive to these findings and would rally behind the church in this matter.
Cllr. Gatward enquired if any one had spoken to the Springall family on the High Street to see if it could be of any help with a site for the signs.
Cllrs. Hales and Simmonett will liaise with the two secretaries over this matter.