Minutes of the Caldecote Parish Council Meeting on 3 October 2002 at 7

Minutes of the Meeting of Caldecote Parish Council on 2 October 2003 at 7.30pm

in the Village Hall

Present: Parish Councillors; S Breeze, B Drayton, T. Footman, O. Kember (Chairman), J. Lang, P. Phillips, C Stopp, N. Whyatt and F. Wolton.

In attendance: Mrs Katrina Laud, Director of Housing and Adam Broadway, Director of Development, Nene Housing Society Ltd., Mrs G. Stoehr (Clerk) and fourteen members of the public.

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from County Councillor R. Martlew and District Councillor J. Stewart.

2. Affordable housing

It was noted that ‘affordable housing’ or ‘low cost housing’ means housing that is available to those on low income who meet the criteria for the District Council’s housing list and not necessarily affordable or low cost in terms of the amount that they cost to either rent or purchase part equity share.

Between 8.20pm and 8.30pm the Chairman invited members of the public to address the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Laud and Mr Broad way to the meeting. It was noted that Mr Mike Sugden from Shire homes had also been expected to attend but had not sent any apologies to the Parish Council although he had indicated to Mrs Laud that he would not be attending.

Mrs Laud and Mr Broadway explained that:

Nene Housing Society Ltd was a regional housing society who currently were responsible for approximately 3000 homes.

The majority of their funding came from Government grants which stated that the threshold for shared equity should start at 50%.

Shire Homes had 100% nomination rights under the terms of the S106 Agreement and were therefore responsible for passing names of suitable tenants to Nene for housing.

Although Nene had ‘bent the rules’ recently by beginning the shared equity at 30% they would not be able to do this in the future with either the new lettings in the Wilson Connolly development or with re-lets.

Tenants would only be able to purchase up to 80% of the equity and therefore the housing would always remain as ‘affordable’.

The land sold by the developer to Nene Housing was highly discounted as part of the S106 Agreement for affordable housing.

Mrs Laud would send the Parish Council some workable examples to explain the income levels and the costs of shared equity housing that could be put in the Journal.

Concern was expressed that:

the past good working relationship that had existed between the Parish Council and District Council to ensure that the criteria in the S106 had broken down and that was partly to the Data Protection Act. This meant that the District and Parish Council’s were unable to compare their housing lists and the Parish unable to support parishioners or those with close links to the parish with the allocation of housing.

Complaints had been received that people with no apparent connection to the parish had been housed and that the District Council were using the data protection act to prevent any checking of this information by the Parish Council.

The Parish Council had a list of names that it had no way of supporting.

The starting of the equity share at 50% rather than the 30% as previously been agreed meant that there was a band of people who earned too much for 100% rented accommodation but too little to obtain a stake in a shared equity home. It was noted that this had not been known when the calculations had been done by the Parish to determine if additional affordable housing was required as part of the Grafton Pig Farms S106.

Concern was expressed by residents who had recently secured a shared equity home regarding the process of allocation. They firstly had secured a mortgage and then had had to attend a meeting in Peterborough whereby their disposable income was judged against previously unknown criteria to ascertain if they could meet the rental payments. This had resulted in a long drawn out process and much stress to the applicants.

It was noted that Councillor Jim Stewart and the Parish Council had supported/fought their cases for a reduction to 30% equity and that this imput should not be lost in future.

It was agreed that many of the points and concerns mentioned needed to be raised with Shire Homes and on a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Dr Stopp it was agreed that an extra-ordinary meeting be convened for 30 October to discuss the matter further with Mr Sugden or another District Council representative. It was also agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk should meet with Mr Sugden prior to the meeting to discuss issues raised at this meeting.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Laud and Mr Broadway for attending the meeting and for providing very necessary housing within the village.

3. To approve the minutes of 4 September

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.

4. Matters arising or carried forward

4.1 TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd

A letter from Brian Heffernon was read. On a proposition by Councillor Breeze, seconded by Councillor Drayton a reply is to be sent asking why Mr Heffernon had once again appeared to have changed his stance on this matter and expressing concern that the proposed survey keeps being delayed.

4.2 Townlands Charity

The letter, dated 24 September from the Charity Commission apologising for the two previous conflicting letters and saying that in the Charity Commissions opinion the Charity should be administered by trustees nominated by the Parish Council/Parish Meeting and the vicar of the parish as ex-officio trustee. Trustees appointed under S79 of the Charities Act 1993 usually serve for a term of four years and that retiring trustees are eligible for re-appointment. It was also noted that the trustees do not need to be councillors but if they are however they should bear in mind that they are appointed on to the body of trustees as individuals and not as representatives of the Council.

On a proposition by Councillor Lang, seconded by Councillor Footman, it was resolved that until the Parish Meeting meets again in May 2004 to consider both the names of the trustees and the length of their appointment Mr Raiser and Mr Owen Kember should be appointed trustees to the Charity with the vicar serving as ex-officio.

On a proposition by Dr Stopp, seconded by Councillor Drayton it was agreed that the Trustees should look into the annual income gained from the land and report to the Parish Meeting.

It was noted that Mr Ben Fried had expressed an interest in renting the Townlands and agreed that the Trustees should contact him.

5. To attend to correspondence/communications received since the last meeting

5.1 Parishioner correspondence

Complaints from residents regarding children throwing stones on the play area were considered. It was agreed that CCTV or other preventative measures should be re-considered when more information is to hand.

5.2 Recent vandalism in Highfields had been reported to PC Bradley.

5.3 It was noted that a meeting to discuss the role of Police Community Safety Officers (PCSOS) and their funding is to be held at Cottenham Village College next week. It was agreed that this should be an agenda item for the next meeting.

5.4 Complaints had been received that the dog bins had not been emptied had been passed to Commercial Services who had apologised.

5.5 Problems with rats both in the West Drive drains and near the grain spill by the A428 are to be reported to the Environmental Health Department.

5.2 Other

5.2.1 Application for a Public Entertainments Licence, Mr O Kember for the Caldecote Village Institute

Councillor Kember declared an interest in this matter, signed the declarations book and withdrew from the discussion and the decision. Councillor Wolton took the chair.

On a proposition by Councillor Wyhatt, seconded by Councillor Lang the application was approved by the Parish Council.

5.2.2 Shop

A letter and plans from Mr Tim Bonavia was considered. It was noted that other parties might have expressed an interest in the site although nothing had as yet been received.

On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Lang it was agreed to hold a public meeting to find out what residents would like to see on the shop site and that this should be scheduled to co-inside with the meeting on affordable housing on 30 October.

6. Planning received since the last meeting

On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Drayton the following responses were given to the applications:

6.1 S/1885/03/F Bassett 17 Clare Drive – extension

Refused by the Parish Council

Over-development of the site

Garages entrances access restricted

6.2 S/1967/03/PNT BY Payphones, resiting of telephone kiosk adj to 26 Highfields Road

Approved by the Parish Council

6.3 S/2017/03/F Ballinger, 26 East Drive – extensions and double garage

Refused by the Parish Council.

Surface water may pose a problem for the site and the Parish Council would like to see further details of the drainage proposals.

6.4 S/2005/03/F Land Adj Westwinds, Highfields Road - dwelling

Refused by the Parish Council with the following comments:

Not in accordance with the local plan

Outside the village envelope

6.5 Tolhurst Highfields Road – approved with conditions by the District Council.

7. The village development including reports on site meetings on

7.1 18 September⁽¹⁾

The report on the site meeting between Owen Kember, Tom Footman, Paul Phillips (parish councillors); Martin Casey, James Dunn (Wilson Connolly); Richard Cottee (Breheneys); Phil Sharpe (Cambridgeshire County Council) to discuss outstanding matters including traffic calming, bus shelter and public open spaces was received and noted. It was agreed to undertake the recommendations in the report and reiterated that Wilson Connolly must be held to the detail in the S106 especially where the drainage of the proposed recreation ground was concerned.

A letter is to be sent again to the County Council regarding the position of the chicanes and traffic calming outside the school and their closeness to the proposed junction for the Ashwell Homes development.

7.1.2 It was agreed that ‘bus shelter’ should be an agenda item for the next meeting so that a suggestion for a shelter on the hard-standing opposite 111-115 Highfields Road could be considered further.

7.2 19 September⁽²⁾

The reports on the meetings at JS Bloor and Wilson Connolly public open spaces between Lesley Dickinson, Trees and Landscape Officer SCDC, Councillor Frank Wolton and Gail Stoehr (Clerk) and at Banner Homes joined by Iain Hayward and the Landscape Architect was read and it was agreed that it should be circulated to all members.

A letter dated 19 September from James Dunn, Wilson Connolly’s Design Engineer regarding the traffic calming was noted.

7.3 16 September

The report on the meeting between Mike Oakman (South Cambs District Council, Highways Dept.) and three Caldecote parish councillors (Frank Wolton, Tom Footman and Owen Kember), which covered widening the footpath on the western side and the surface dressing of Highfields Road, drains and ditches was received and considered.

8. Recreation grounds and public open spaces including

8.1 Banner Homes POS matters

As the proposed public open space posts, once installed may have to be moved at a later date depending on the widening or not of Cavendish Way Banner Homes had offered to pay a sum to the PC to enable the posts to be purchased and installed at a later date with the proviso that if the PC changed its mind and the posts were not installed in 5 years the money would be returned to Banner Homes. It was agreed that this should be an agenda item for the next meeting for further consideration.

8.2 Wilson Connolly POS matters

Still no progress with the S106 enforcement or transfer of the recreation ground. A letter from Andrew Lansey to Chris Taylor was noted.

It was noted that Councillor Alex Riley Chairman of Longstanton Parish Council had contact Councillor Kember and had also voiced concern about the enforcement of S106 Agreements. It was unanimously agreed that the pressure should be kept on Wilson Connolly to fulfil its obligations via articles in the press and other media.

8.3 JS Bloor POS matters

Taken above under item 7.2.

8.4 Other

Councillor Wolton reported that the roundabout appeared a little stiff following the recent works undertaken by Anglian Playground Services in response to the RoSPA report. It was agreed to find out about an ongoing maintenance contracts for the equipment.

9. Finance including

9.1 Payment of bills

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

Allianz Cornhill - £27.74 fidelity guarantee increase

M Kember - £27.30 salary

K Martlew - £33 salary

Inland Revenue - £30.80 PAYE

DJ & JM Green - £139.47 grass cutting

Mission Computers - £190.00 Journal printing

It was noted that as delivery numbers had increased by 25% Mrs Kember’s salary should be reviewed. It was agreed that terms and conditions of employees should be an agenda item at the next meeting.

9.2 To consider quotations for the replacement planting on the kick about areas

At the meeting with Lesley Dickinson the trees on the kick about area had been inspected and details of works required discussed. Although three contractors had been asked to quote for the works only one quotation had been received. On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Wolton the quotation from Herald Contract Services dated 30 September 2003.

To replace 7 trees with Hornbeam or Ash (1.8m high feathers) and to be double staked and tied low for the sum of £420.00 + VAT.

To apply two applications of fertiliser and two weed sprays to the grassed area for the sum of £386.00 + VAT.

9.3 Risk assessment

The booklet had now been received from CALC and is to be circulated.

10. Councillors’ items

10.1 Access for lorries to the old village of Caldecote whilst the pumping station works are undertaken was discussed.

10.2 Free County Council tree allocation

It was agreed that suitable sites should be located and an allocation applied for.

10.3 Bulbs

Bulbs for Highfields Road

10.4 It was noted that there was a lot of rubbish in the hedge at 89 Highfields Road.

10.5 It was noted that three out of the four reported road name signs had been now replaced.

10.6 A428 Inquiry. It was noted that the Chairman had attended the Inquiry regarding the A428 proposals.

10.7 A report was received on the Caldecote Sports Association’s fourth meeting.

11. Closure of meeting and Parish Matters

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 10.35pm.

Signed…………………………………Chairman…….…………………Date.