Apologies from Councillors C Stopp, S Breeze, T. Footman, N. Whyatt, Councillor County Councillor R. Martlew and District Councillor J. Stewart were received. Apologies were also received from Mr P Kilby, Senior Training and Support Assistant, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue who is to attend the September meeting and Mr D Reed who will attend the August meeting.

To be carried forward to the September meeting.

The proposal by Councillor Lang seconded by Councillor Phillips that ‘the minutes be approved as a true record’ was carried unanimously and were signed by the Chairman.

A letter was considered from Mr Heffernon, Environmental Health Officer dated 2 July regarding a letter he had sent to TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd, in which he advised that if a statutory noise nuisance is proved it would be necessary to serve an abatement notice.

On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Phillips it was agreed to write to Mr Heffernon to ask how long the investigation would take and to request that the District Council undertake an independent acoustic survey.

As Councillor Dr Stopp was absent from the meeting it was agreed to carry this item forward to the next agenda.

The proposal by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Lang that ‘the Chairman and/or the Clerk’ should be the first point of contact in an emergency’ was carried unanimously.

As Mr Reed had been unable to attend this meeting it was agreed to carry this matter forward. From the post mark on Mr Reed’s letter accompanying the annual accounts report it was apparent that there had been some delay in emptying the post box in Highfields Road. The proposal by Councillor seconded by Councillor that ‘Royal Mail be informed’ was carried unanimously.

A letter had been received from the BT officer saying he would consider the Parish Council’s suggestion for the site on his return from holiday.

A complaint from a resident about antisocial behaviour by youths congregating in the play area was noted. A report had been given to the police who had been asked to patrol more frequently.

A letter from Nene Housing Society suggesting a meeting with the Parish Council to clarify the interpretation of the housing allocation in the village and the criteria for occupancy was considered. On a proposition by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Phillips it was agreed to invite representatives from both Nene Housing Society and Shire Homes to attend the September meeting.

Telephone calls were noted from Mr Wan and his agent outlining a broad proposal for two shops, one a take a way the other a community shop.

The Parish Council reiterated that the general principle of a community shop was considered a good idea. In addition a takeaway was generally acceptable with the provisos regarding parking, noise, smell and late night opening and restriction of sales after 10 pm. So that this matter could be progressed it was agreed to invite both Mr Wan and his agent, a representative from VIRSA and Dr Hawkins to attend the next meeting.

5.3.2 A reply from the Environment Agency regarding the Parish Council’s complaint about the discharge into the Wilson Connolly ditch along Highfields Road was noted. It was agreed to ask Anglian Water for a schedule of its proposed works to the pumping station.

On a proposition by the Chairman, seconded by Lang it was agreed to respond to the applications as follows:

6.1 S/1305/03/O I Carlson, land between 62 & 66 West Drive – dwelling. Approved by the Parish Council with a request for condition regarding the disposal of surface water.

6.2 S/1630/01/0RM - Wilson Connolly 118 dwellings and associated works - proposed plaque for orchid site and calendar of works. The application and an amendment with suggestions for wording sent by Mr Rob Mongovan Ecology Officer at the District Council were considered.

1 Proposed Plaque for Orchid Site

2 Calendar of works

6.3 S/0934/03/F Wilson Connolly, land of Samian Close / west of East Drive - six dwellings – amended. Approved by the Parish Council.

6.4 S/1838/200/F Lang Mitchell Wood House - amendment for info. Noted.

6.5 Other

It was noted that the District Council had granted planning permission subject to conditions to:

In order to provide evidence for any action against Wilson Connolly regarding the S106 compliance Mr Chris Taylor had provided lists detailing current occupancy in the village. From these it was noted that:

It was agreed that the figures given for the Banner site must be wrong, as all homes had now been occupied.

Letters between Mr Taylor, Mills and Reeve and Wilson Connolly’s solicitors were noted. It was also noted that the District Council had threatened to serve an injunction on Wilson Connolly and that the Parish Council’s solicitor was advising on the best course of action.

It was noted that A site meeting with Mr Iain Hayward from Banner Homes had been arranged for Friday 4 July and that the Clerk and Councillor Wolton were to attend with a view to resolve outstanding POS matters.

A letter from Ms Sue Reynolds at the County Council saying that the kerbing set into the public open space (POS) marked the boundary between the POS and a grass verge was noted. It was agreed to write to Ms Reynolds to clarify the cutting arrangements for this piece.

Despite weekly letters from the Parish Council’s solicitor to Wilson Connoly’s solicitor the transfer had still not taken place. On a proposition by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Wolton it was agreed that the best way forward was to contact both the new Managing Director and the National Press. It was agreed that the Chairman and Councillor Lag should be responsible for this.

8.2.2 It was agreed that a seat should be placed inside the tennis courts once the transfer had been completed.

Councillor Wolton reported that the fencing had been vandalised with 50 to 55 wooden slats removed many of which he had found and kindly repaired.

On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed that replacements for any missing could be purchased.

It was agreed that a metal fence for this area should be considered further and that a letter be sent to the Caldecote Play Equipment Scheme to ask if it might be willing to carryout some additional fundraising for this.

No reply had been as yet received from Anglian Playgrounds regarding issues raised in the RoSPA report.

All bank statements and invoices were available for checking. On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Drayton the payments as follows were approved:

D & JM Green - £139.47 verges grasscutting

Herald Contract Services - £94.00 grasscutting

B&J Developments - £1186.75 bus shelter repair

K Martlew - £33 salary

AFD - £111.16 notice board grill

ESPO - £164.50 dog bins

The Parish Council received and considered the Internal Auditor's report and letter. On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Drayton the Council resolved to ratify the payments as listed which had not been included in the minutes. It was unanimously agreed that all these payments had been approved at the relevant meeting before payment and the invoices/salary and or PAYE slips had been authorised and the cheques signed by two members. It was also noted that both Mrs Coe and Mrs Turner had attended only one meeting each of the Council and that neither had ever signed the contract of employment offered to them.

The proposal by, seconded by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Lang that ‘the Receipts and Payments Accounts, Balance Sheet and Supporting Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003, as prepared by the RFO, be approved by resolution of Caldecote Parish Council’ was carried unanimously.

It was further resolved that ‘the Statement of Assurance should be signed with all sections showing 'Yes'.

It was unanimously agreed that Mrs Dart should be thanked for her thorough internal audit of the Council’s accounts.

10.1 To be reported to the appropriate authority:

10.2 Councillor Wolton’s kind offer to treat the village sign post with Danish oil was gratefully accepted.

10.3 It was noted that the Bourn Brook bridge road works traffic lights had been damaged and that the road had been raised by 1.4m. Concern was expressed at the dangers of increased speeding traffic now that this work had been completed and it was agreed to ask for warning signs to be installed. It was agreed to monitor the lack of visibility due to the hedge at Manor House to see if this was a problem.

Mrs Morley reported that person or persons unknown had set her hedge alight.

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.15pm.