Minutes of the Caldecote Parish Council Meeting on 6 December 2001

 at 7.30pm in the village hall

 

Present: Parish Councillors; B Drayton, T. Footman, O. Kember (Chairman), P. Phillips Dr C Stopp, F. Wolton, County Councillor R Martlew and Mrs LG Stoehr (Clerk). Also present by special invitation Governors of Caldecote Primary School, Mr C Harrod, Mr I Slatter, Ms S Frances and Mr R Marr.

O Kember, T Footman and P Phillips were also representing the Caldecote Village Institute Trustees for agenda item 3.

1.                  Apologies: from District Councillor J Stewart and Mrs Rayner-Klein, Headteacher, Caldecote Primary School.

2.                  Minutes of the last meeting on 1 November 2001

The proposal by the Chairman, seconded Councillor Wolton, that ‘the minutes of the meeting be accepted as a true record ' was carried unanimously. The Chairman signed the minutes.

3.         Pupil safety while the school building work takes place

A letter had been received from the Primary School Governing Body expressing concern for pupil safety. The Chairman on behalf of the Council welcomed the Governors and Village Institute Trustees and invited them to address the meeting.

At 7.57pm the Chairman proposed that the meeting be adjourned to allow public participation. He declared the meeting reopened at 8.05pm.

In response to the concern expressed for the pupils safety the proposal by Councillor Lang, seconded by Councillor Dr Stopp that 'a letter be sent to the Village Hall Trustees strongly urging them to allow the use of the village hall car park for a temporary period whilst the school building takes place and encouraging a pedestrian access from the village hall to the school' was carried unanimously.

4.         Matters arising from the meeting

4.1       (3.1) Krupp Camford/TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd.

The letter and update from Mr McCrystall of TKA Tallent, Chassis dated 15 November, was considered by the meeting. The proposal by Councillor Wolton, seconded by Councillor Kember it was agreed that a letter in reply be sent saying that there is a consensus that the noise is worsening and complaints increasing.

The Clerk reported that Brian Heffernon, Environmental Health Officer was investigating one complaint against TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd and had installed noise monitoring equipment at 17 West Drive. Details of how he can be contacted are to be put in the next Journal.

4.2       (3.3) Queens Jubilee

Ideas were suggested which included a joint fire works display with a community group. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Community Association to see if they had any ideas for the celebrations.

4.3       (4.1) Flooding

Councillor Wolton reported on the CALC meeting he had attended at which the Environment Agency representative Mr Nigel Woonton discussed awarded watercourses and flooding in South Cambridgeshire. It was noted that residents form all parts of Highfields Caldecote, including the Wilcon development had been affected by the recent flooding.

In response to the District Council's invitation to attend a 'Flooding Seminar' on 14 December it was agreed that either the Chairman or Vice-Chairman would attend if they were free and report to the next meeting.

In response to the Council's letter Anglian Water had supplied details of the drainage, including a plan, for the Banner Homes development.

It was agreed that a letter be sent to NHB Building Control regarding Banner Homes starting the development before the pumping station has been upgraded.

4.4       A letter had been received from Gary Melnyck at the County Council Property Section saying that despite the County Council's agreement to pipe the ditch outside the school the Environment Agency had refused to issue a licence on the grounds that the ditch is a wildlife corridor.

5.         Correspondence/communication received since the last meeting

5.1       Dial a Ride Rural Extension

It was uncertain how well a community bus would be used but it was agreed to register an interest and to find out more from the County Council.

5.2       Local Plan No. 3 Issues Report. It was agreed that this would be considered formally at the next meeting.

5.3       A copy of the Governments new Code of Conduct Guidelines and the 'Quality Council' training programme are to be circulated for information.

6.         Planning received since the last meeting

6.1       S/2283/01/O, AS Rolf, 101 West Drive - Bungalow. The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Footman, that ‘the Parish Council refuse the application as this is over-development of the site and inadequate surface water drainage' was carried unanimously

6.2       S/2300/01/F, J Meunier, Meunier House, Main Street - extension. Approved by the Parish Council.

Information received from the District Council:

Mr & Mrs Drummond, land R/O 121 Highfields Road, bungalow - refused

D & BS Reed, Carara Farm amendments - approved

S Boak, 56 West Drive, 4 additional dwellings and garages - withdrawn

TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd, Bourn Airfield, 2 signs - refused

Banner Homes, land at corner of A428, signboards - refused

Banner Homes, Highfields Road, retrospective application for signboards - approved

J Dolan, land R/O 87 West Drive, bungalow and garage - approved

Granta Housing Society, amended - approved

Cambourne - various planning notices.

7.         The village development

7.1       It was noted that numerous potholes outside the school and the village hall had been reported.

7.2       It was agreed that a letter be sent to Wilcon regarding the footpath near their development and the bridlepath which following requests had been extended but is still 10 feet short.

7.3       It was noted that the bus stop on Highfields Road near Fry's Scales had been hard surfaced.

8.         To receive and consider the report from

8.1       Recreation Ground Working Party

The change in the play equipment surface was noted by the meeting.

The landscaping plans were discussed and it was agreed to request that the gap between the two areas be widened and that Councillor Drayton should bring a firm proposal of the landscaping costs to the next meeting.

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Dr Stopp that 'the Parish Council contact Wilcon regarding an early transfer of the play equipment area so that the Council may proceed with the installation and its insurance' was carried unanimously.

8.2       Shop Working Party

The letter from Wilcon stating the shop site hasn't been formally marketed since obtaining planning permission but was due to commence in the next few weeks was considered. The proposal by Councillor Lang, seconded by Councillor Kember that 'the Parish Council find out how much Wilcon would be prepared to let the village buy a shop built by Wilcon on the site' was carried unanimously.

9.         Finance

9.1       Payment of bills

The proposal by Councillor Drayton, seconded by Councillor Footman, that ‘the following bills be paid:

K Martlew - £33                                        salary

Staples - £173.90                                       Journal photocopying

M Kember - £12.00                                   Journal delivery

ACRE - £25                                               affiliation fees

LG Stoehr - £203.84                                 salary

Cambridgeshire County Council - £450   steps to church and railings

F Wolton - £128.02                                   reimbursement bus shelter repairs

Robson Rhodes - £214.14                          audit fee' was carried unanimously.

9.2       To consider and respond to the Auditor's comments

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Lang that 'the Parish Council respond to the Auditor as follows:-

Point 5 - payment voucher. This will now be completed and included in the account book as requested.

Point 6 - cancelled cheques. Two members will sign the counterfoil.

Point 8 - fidelity insurance. This will be reviewed and increased at the next meeting.

Point 16 - The change to receipts and payments accounts from 1 April 2001 is noted' was carried unanimously.

9.3       To consider the Budget for the FY 2002-2003

The Clerk reported on the restricted funds balances and items of expenditure still outstanding for this financial year. It was agreed that the budget be redrafted and brought to the next meeting to include Landscaping Ground Works - £2000, Amenities Fund - £1000, Pavilion £1000 and show an increase in General administration to £3500 and the Journal to £2000.

The Clerk enquired as to Mrs Kember's status as Journal deliverer. Councillor Kember declared a pecuniary interest in this item and withdrew from the discussion and the decision. The proposal by Councillor Wolton, seconded by Councillor Drayton that 'Mrs Kember be offered employment to deliver the Journal on a salary of £5 per hour for 7 hours work per edition' was carried unanimously.

It was agreed that Mrs Kember should include all of Highfields Park in her deliveries.

The cost of photocopying the Journal by Staples was considered, as was a quotation from Mission Computers of Bourn. The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton that 'the Journal be printed by Mission Computers at a cost of 2.5p per sheet' was carried unanimously.

A letter from Caldecote Primary School requesting financial support for furnishings and fittings for their new community room was considered. The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Drayton that 'the Council in accordance with its powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act, 1972 authorise £459 to Caldecote Primary School, which, in the opinion of the Council is in the interests of the area and its inhabitants' was carried unanimously.

Mr Slatter, the newly appointed minor authorities governor reported on the school's outstanding achievement in the league tables and it was agreed that a letter of congratulations be sent to the Headteacher and Governing Body.

The request from Caldecote Parochial Church Council for financial support for timber treatment on the church and its annual grasscutting was considered. The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Drayton that 'the Council in accordance with its powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act, 1972 authorise £500 to Caldecote Church, which, in the opinion of the Council is in the interests of the area and its inhabitants' was carried unanimously.

9.         Councillors’ items

9.1              Councillor Martlew reported on the possibility of a mobile warden scheme for the village. It was agreed that this may be considered further by the Parish Council when appropriate.

9.2              Detail of how to obtain a NHS Self Help Guide are to be placed in the next Journal.

9.3              Surface deterioration of the east/west section of West Drive is to be reported to the County Council.

9.4              The second street light on the Wilcon cycleway is not working and this is to be reported to the appropriate authority.

9.5              Councillor Wolton was thanked for repairing the A428 bus shelter.

9.6              Mr Fletcher of Grafton Pig Farms was asked to remove the matting laid during the foot and mouth prevention period.

10.       Closure of the meeting and Parish Matters

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 10.50pm.

 

 

 

signed…………………………………Chairman…….…………………Date.