Apologies were received from Councillors Drayton and Breeze and District Councillor J. Stewart.

On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed to vary the order of business to take item 6.4 at this point in the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Mr John Murier, resident of West Drive and employee of Anglian Water. Mr Murier explained that he had not been involved personally with the pumping station project but thought it would be of interest to the village to know what works had been undertaken.

He explained that:

Mr Murier kindly agreed to write an article on the pumping station for the Caldecote Journal and was thanked for the interesting presentation.

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.

Mr Sugden had been unable to attend the extra-ordinary meeting. On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed that the meeting now be arranged for next Thursday.

A letter, dated 3 November, from Brian Heffernon and another dated 15 October from Mr McCrystal at TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd were read. Mr Heffernon’s argument that he would not serve an abatement notice because he believed this would lead to an appeal which would both delay matters and not stop the noise was considered. Some residents who were present indicated that they thought the noise had improved slightly over the last few weeks however reversing bleepers possibly from visiting lorries were still causing a problem. A letter is to be sent to Mr Massey asking him to send a report to the next meeting and another to Mr Heffernon asking how long the process will go on.

Councillor Kember reported that the Trustees would be meeting on 11 November.

4.1.1 Path 9 complaint from Mrs Bicknell

A complaint from Mrs K Bicknell of St Neots Road that walkers were continuing past the end of public right of way path No.9 on to her land. Karen Champion, Public Rights of Way Officer had been noted. A letter is to be sent to the County Council asking them to look into the matter of the dead end path.

4.1.2 Correspondence from Mrs Adlam regarding awarded watercourse and the Chairman’s reply was noted.

4.1.3 Correspondence between the Chairman and the School Headteacher regarding the fence adjacent to the kickabout are was noted.

A letter from Mrs Charmain Hawkins, Conservation Officer had been passed to the Chairman for reply. The Chairman had kindly sent Mrs Hawkins information and pictures of the memorial in the church.

4.2.2 Karen Champion had written regarding both the surface of Bourn Bridleway (No2) and replacement bollards which would be installed by the Anglian Water contractors.

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

As the application was unavailable it was agreed to carry this item forward to the extra-ordinary meeting scheduled for Thursday 13 November.

Approved by the Parish Council

The amended application was noted. This detailed the transfer of the smaller POS area and hedge to the adjacent resident and included a better location plan.

5.4 S/1885/03/F Bassett 17 Clare Drive – conservatory and BT Payphone notice received that both had been approved with conditions by the District Council.

Nil.

6.2 Wilson Connolly including a report from the Chairman on the SCDC Scrutiny Committee meeting

Councillor Kember reported on the Scrutiny Committees’ deliberations at the Parish Council’s question ‘Given the importance of parish council contribution to S106 Agreements can the District Council uphold its responsibility as planning authority to enforce such agreements?’

It was noted in Councillor Kember’s report that basically the Scrutiny Committee was not happy with section 106 agreements not being enforced. The concept of the District Council requiring a parish council to indemnify the District Council also appalled several members and they could not understand Mr Taylor’s argument that it would not be in the financial interest of the District Council as a whole to prosecute a developer in a parish such as Caldecote. They did however think that the monitoring officer was a good idea.

The Scrutiny Committee unanimously resolved to recommend to Cabinet that an officer be appointed for monitoring section 106 agreements, green travel-to-work agreements and other related planning encumbrances. The committee also requested Mr Taylor to report to them on how he intended to deal with the legal aspects of s106 agreements and parish councils.

6.2.1 It was noted that Mr Chris Taylor had served an enforcement notice on Wilson Connolly requiring them to ready the recreation ground by 18 December.

On a proposition by Councillor Wolton, seconded by Councillor Kember it was agreed that it was vitally important that someone knowledgeable should check that the drainage was laid in accordance with the S106 Agreement and that if the District Council did not have an officer to undertake this role then Atkins should be contracted to check and the cost taken from the legal contingencies fund.

6.3 JS Bloor POS matters

It was noted that the turning head was still in the smaller of the two areas of POS and that the play equipment still had not been installed on the larger area. On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Lang it was resolved that the non-compliance with the S106 Agreement should be taken up by the Parish Council’s solicitor, Mr Daniel Farrand at Mills & Reeve. It was also agreed that should JS Bloor wish the turning head to remain until the Wilson Connolly development had been completed then it could as had previously been discussed with their representatives at a meeting, compensate the Parish Council.

6.4 Other

6.4.1 An invitation to attend the opening of the multi-use games arena on Sunday 7 December had been received.

6.4.2 In response to the request from Karl Ballinger and some other youngsters for a skateboard facility on the recreation ground on a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Lang it was resolved that the Parish Council was agreeable in principle for such a facility to be sited on the recreation ground and that a letter be sent to the Caldecote Sports Association asking them if they could work with Karl Ballinger and the other youngsters to help them achieve their aim.

All bank statements and invoices were available for checking. On a proposition by Councillor Kember, seconded by Councillor Phillips the following payments as listed in the finance report appended ⁽¹⁾ to these minutes, were approved:

On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed to vary the order of business to take this item later in the meeting.

It was noted that NALC had issued new model standing orders for Parish Councils and it was agreed that this should be an agenda item for the next meeting.

On a proposition by Councillor Lang, seconded by Councillor Kember the location for the proposed shelter was approved and agreed that Councillor Drayton should be asked to bring a recommendation to the next meeting for the shelter’s design.

It was agreed to carry this item forward to the next meeting to allow time for information to be circulated. It was agreed to also consider ‘youth workers,’ ‘security cameras’ and ‘radar cameras’ at the next meeting.

10.1 Mick Oakman is to be reminded that the drains had not as yet been done.

10.2 It was noted that the dimensions for the thumps should be 900mm wide by 100mm high and that Councillor Footman was discussing the problems with Phil Sharp at the County Council.

10.3 Problems with public access from the Village Hall to Highfields Road are to be reported to James Dunn.

10.4 The Please Drive Slowly sign in Main Street needs attention and is to be reported to Highway Division.

10.5 It was noted that MCM Landscaping were currently re-doing sections of the Wilson Connolly landscaping in response to a request from Lesley Dickinson. Problems with the way that the works are being carried out are to be reported to Mrs Dickinson.

7.2 Annual review of terms and conditions of employees

At 9.32pm on a proposition by the Chairman, carried unopposed, in accordance with S1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted i.e. the Parish Council considering employees’ contracts, the public were temporarily excluded from the meeting and were instructed to withdraw.

The Chairman declared a prejudicial interest in the item on Mrs Kember and withdrew from the meeting while this was discussed and resolved.

The Clerk withdrew from the meeting whilst her terms and conditions were being discussed and resolved.

The Chairman declared the meeting re-opened again at 10pm

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 10.10pm.

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