Minutes of an extra-ordinary meeting of Caldecote Parish Council held at
7.30pm in Caldecote Village Hall on Thursday, 15 August 2002
Present: Tom Footman, Owen Kember (chairman), Jack Lang and Paul Phillips
The chairman informed the meeting that the Parish Council had to have an internal audit by 1 September 2002. After consideration of various alternatives it was proposed by Councillor O. Kember that Caldecote Parish Council appoint with immediate effect Saskia Dart (89 Highfields Road, Highfields Caldecote, Cambridge CB3 7NX) who had kindly offered to do the inspection of the accounts free of charge, as internal auditor. This was seconded by Councillor Tom Footman Wolton and agreed unanimously. The clerk was asked to communicate the grateful thanks of the Parish Council to Saskia Dart for offering to fulfil this important new role.
Councillor Kember reported on the present situation, noting that Mrs Coe had resigned on 4 August 2002 and that a fresh flyer had been circulated advertising the position. As yet no actual applications had been received although several people had expressed an interest. It was agreed that the clerk should be asked to write to CALC to see if they could advertise the position.
4. Tennis courts
Councillor Kember reported that he had received reports on Saturday 8 August 2002 that the tarmac surface of the two tennis courts had been completed by the developer (Wilson Connolly) and that white lines had been painted on the surface. He had personally inspected the courts on that same day and had sought the views of several keen tennis players living nearby on the new Wilcon development. They had all expressed disappointment with the surface (with manifest ridges on the surface and at least one distinct hole on the playing area). The players thought that the surface would not last the winter and would break up in the winter frosts, requiring resurfacing next spring. Councillor Kember had therefore sought the advice of the secretary of Cambs Lawn Tennis Association (Brian Brown), who had directed him to the County Lawn Tennis Development Officer, Christine Sproule. Unfortunately she was due to go on holiday on 16 August 2002 but she stated that Ms Fiona Ponge would be available to provide advice on forming a suitably constituted club etc. until she returned from holiday at the beginning of September. The meeting agreed that the following letter should be drafted by Councillor Kember for the Mrs Stoehr to send to Martin Casey.
Dear Mr Casey,
Last weekend it was brought to the Parish Council’s attention that the tennis courts at Caldecote had been surfaced, surrounding nets installed and white lines painted on the surface. We realise of course that you are going to say that the courts are not yet finished and have not been handed over officially pursuant to the Section 106 agreement. This is of course true. What worries the parish council (and we have been advised by Cambs Lawn Tennis Association and the County Tennis Development Officer) is that:
(1) the overall surface of the courts is not flat. This is obvious from even a casual inspection of the courts;
(2) the present tarmacadam surface is unsuitable for a tennis court. It will become pitted in the first frost of winter and will need resurfacing next spring;
(3) the present surface indeed already has holes in it (within the service area) and ridges running down both courts.
The Parish Council notes that the surface of Bourn tennis club (which has recently been relaid) is durable and provides a surface on which a competitive tennis match can take place. This is demonstrably not the case at Caldecote. The Parish Council looks forward to your assurance that these matters will be rectified and a proper surface installed before transfer.
The meeting ended at 8.05 p.m.