Minutes of the Caldecote Parish Council Meeting on 7 March 2002 at 7

Minutes of the Caldecote Parish Council Meeting on 7 March 2002 at 7.30pm

in the village hall

Present: Parish Councillors; B Drayton, T. Footman, O. Kember (Chairman), J. Lang, P. Phillips, F. Wolton and District Councillor J. Stewart, County Councillor R. Martlew and Mrs LG Stoehr (Clerk). Also present 6 members of the public.

1. Apologies for absence

Councillor Dr C. Stopp.

2. To approve the minutes of the last meeting on 7 February

The proposal by Councillor Wolton, seconded by Councillor Lang that 'the minutes be approved as a true record with one amendment in item 4.3 to show that the Chairman was to write the letter to the Environment Agency and also with minor typing error corrections' was carried unanimously.

3. Matters arising including

Grafton Pig Farm development

A 'Certificate B' had been served on the Parish Council (having interest in land concerned) by January's dated 25 February. It was agreed that a letter should be sent in reply saying it was hoped that further to recent discussion they were still agreeable to include an off road parking area on the parish land adjacent to the Highfields Road end of the southern development's access road as the Parish Council would not wish to see land it believes to own used in any other way.

It was not known if a 'Certificate C' had been issued by January's.

3.1 (4.1) TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd

A letter had been received from Mr McCrystall requesting contact details for Mr and Mrs Bell so that noise-monitoring equipment can be installed in their home. Councillor Wolton reported on the recent site visit by members and parishioners. In particular:

a) noise emissions when the south facing door housing the two largest presses is opened when deliveries are received;

b) the long chimneys deflecting the noise from the vents are effective

c) the silencers on folk lift trucks work well however there now the crane bleepers can be heard.

3.2 (4.3) Village drainage

The Clerk reported that the District Council had cleared a stretch of the awarded drain from the school to the SSSI gate. Following this Pat Matthews, Officer with special responsibility for ditches, had telephoned to say that given the special circumstances in the parish the District Council was agreeable to assuming responsibility for the ditches' clearance and ongoing annual maintenance. He had been asked to put this in writing. A meeting had been arranged for Councillor Wolton and the Clerk to meet with Mr Matthews to prioritise work to be carried out and discuss this matter further.

A letter from Mr Lansley to the Environment Agency was noted.

3.3 (5.1) Code of Conduct

As all papers had now been circulated it was agreed that the adoption of the papers should be an agenda item at the next meeting.

3.4 Community policing and wardens

It was noted that PC Bradley had now commenced his duties as the Community Beat Officer and it was agreed to invite him to attend the next meeting. As no further information had been received from Mr Terry Turner regarding the County policy on Community Wardens it was agreed to raise this matter with PC Bradley at the next meeting.

3.5 Other

District Councillor Stewart reported on District Council's progress with the following planning applications

Mrs Wood, Land R/O 15 and 17 West Drive - awaiting a flood risk assessment requested by the Environment Agency.

Target Construction, Land in Bosserts Way - comments on the application from the Environment Agency have been sent to the builder and a response is awaited.

Mr Boak, 56 West Drive - not as yet determined.

Wilcon Homes - deferred as the nominated housing agency (Nene Homes) had not been consulted on the application.

4 To attend to Correspondence/Communication received since the last meeting

In response to the letter received from Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) it was agreed that the Chairman, on behalf of the Parish Council should write a letter to the Secretary of State strongly opposing the Government's Green Paper on Planning which proposed to exclude Parish Council's from the planning consultation process.

5. Planning received since the last meeting including

5.5 S/0402/02/O Messrs Read and Mrs Reed, Land at East Drive for up to 2dwellings

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Footman that 'the application be refused with the following comments:

the Parish Council has very serious concerns about the extra traffic movement along what is no more than a 10' wide right of way (East Drive)

drainage both surface and foul from the site.

Any development should be halted until the access along East Drive is improved' was carried unanimously.

5.6 S/0431/02/F Dr & Mrs Whyatt, College Farm, Main Street - extensions. Approved by the Parish Council.

5.1 S/0371/02/F Mrs D Pearce, The Laurels West Drive - erection of dwelling following demolition of existing and sheds

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton, that 'the application be refused with the following comments:

it should be a single storey dwelling not a house and should be in keeping with the existing dwellings in the neighbourhood

drainage is inadequate and needs to be addressed

future permitted development rights should be taken away' was carried unanimously.

5.2 S/03090/02/RM Runel Partnership, land R/O 105-111 Highfields Road - 2 dwellings

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton, that 'the application be refused with the following comments:

Close-board screening should be provided along both sides of the access drive

The first part of the access drive traverses the Caldecote award ditch - this was deemed inappropriate in 1960's-90's why has this now changed?

There is inadequate drainage to the site and this should be shown to be rectified' was carried unanimously.

5.3 S/0365/02/F Mr & Mrs Bayman, 87 West Drive - replacement bungalow

Councillor Drayton declared an interest in this application and withdrew from the discussion and the decision. The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton that 'the application be approved with the proviso that drainage should be fed into the Highfields Road awarded watercourse and that any neighbours' comments should be noted' was carried unanimously.

5.4 S/1603/01/RM Wilcon Homes - amendments visibility splay at bridleway

The proposal by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton, that 'the Parish Council refuse this application:

We reiterate our previous comments. Extra drainage is required to the SW of the site and drainage throughout Highfields Caldecote is inadequate. This development will cause unacceptable flooding, no further development should be allowed until this is addressed and the sewerage pumping station must be upgraded before development commences. We note the comments in the 'Extract from Report to Planning Committee regarding drainage which states 'it is up to the statutory undertakers to ensure that no flooding will result from this development'.

The Parish Council has not as yet received a copy of the landscaping plans for this development (a copy is to be requested from Mr Morgan)

Comments from the Police should be requested in particular their comments on lighting and security of the dwellings off the private drives

A condition should be included requiring the developer to clear mud off the village roads and install adequate wheel washing equipment during the development

We reiterate our previous comment. Over-development of the site to such an extent that this will breach the 400 limit is the unallocated land on the site plan is to be later developed. This area should have been included in the original application and not done piecemeal.

Plot 316, 318 and 202 should all be turned 90^o to prevent overlooking into existing properties on Highfields Road.

The Parish Council seeks clarification on the definition of 'boundary fence'. Again we reiterate that a complete boundary fence should be installed the length of the boundary' was carried unanimously

6. The village development

The proposal by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Wolton that 'the number of Caldecote Journals printed each month be increased to 450' was carried unanimously.

7. To receive and consider the report from

7.1 Recreation Ground Working Party

The Clerk reported that nothing further had been heard from the Solicitor regarding the Parish Council's request for early transfer of some of the Public Open Space (POS) and that an invoice had been received from James Blake Landscapes in respect of their work on the POS landscaping plans. As the invoice was in excess of what had been agreed a letter had been sent asking them to amend and resubmit it.

7.2 Shop Working Party

Nothing new to report.

8. Payment of bills

The proposal by Councillor Drayton, seconded by Councillor Wolton that 'the following bills be paid:

K Martlew - £33 salary

LG Stoehr - £448.65 (net salary £306.78 3 months; expenses £131.03, VAT £10.84)

Mission Computers - £152.00 Journal printing

Ramblers - £20 Affiliation fees

M Kember - £35 salary

Inland Revenue - £144.03 PAYE' was carried unanimously.

9. Councillors' items

9.1 Members were asked if they would consider an informal request for support for development on what is currently access to the field at rear of the Bloor development. It was agreed that the Parish Council would not consider the matter until a planning application had been submitted.

9.2 Councillor Lang reported that the Jubilee Committee had asked if the village sign could be unveiled as part of the Jubilee celebrations. This was agreed.

9.3 Numerous pot holes in Highfields Road in particular to the north of West Drive and in between the school and the village hall are to be reported to Highway Division. Councillor Martlew was asked to do something about the resurfacing, and the outstanding street lighting. It was agreed that Mike Oakman, Matthew Lugg (CCC) and Mr Hodgkinson (Wilcon Homes) to next meeting.

9.4 Councillor Lang reported on a project by a West Drive resident to support Internet connectivity via a local wireless network in the village. It was agreed that an article should be put in the Journal.

9.5 The County's Strategic Plan is to be circulated and will be an agenda item for the next meeting. Responses are to be submitted by 22 April. Councillor Martlew reported on progress with the guided bus from St Ives and the proposed Metro.

9.6 Concern was expressed on the effective working of Wilcon's storm cell matrix.

9.7 Councillor Wolton reported on his meeting with Steve Alexander, Highway Inspector and GTC regarding the reinstating on the highway and footpath following gas excavations.

9.8 Comments made by English Nature recently regarding the SSSI in Caldecote were confused and thought to be inaccurate.

9.9 There is to be a whole village NHW meeting in April details of which will be announced in the Journal.

9.10 The drain protruding by at least 1 inch from the road surface is dangerous and is to be reported to Highway Division.

10 Closure of meeting and Parish Matters

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.52pm.

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