Minutes of Caldecote Annual Parish Meeting on 20 May 2004

 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present: 16 parishioners including councillors, Cllr Robin Martlew, PC Chris Bradley and the Clerk.

Clerk: (Mrs LG Stoehr

Councillor Frank Wolton chaired the meeting.

1.         Apologies:

Included District Councillor J Stewart, Mrs L Freeman, T Footman, B Drayton, P Thompson, Mrs S Dart.

2.                  Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 17 May 2001

The minutes were proposed as a true record by Mr Wolton, seconded by Mr Phillips and carried unanimously by the meeting were signed by the Chairman.

3.         Matters arising from the meetings:

None that would not be covered later in the meeting.

4.         To Receive

4.1              The Annual Report of the Parish Council
The Chairman read out the report for 2003/2004 which is attached (as appendix 1) to these minutes. The report included the major plans for the two pig farm developments, the never ending battles with Wilson Connolly and their new owner Taylor Woodrow, TKA Tallent Chassis noise nuisance and the opening of the tennis courts.

4.2              The Audited Statement of the Parish Council for the year ended 31 March 2003(2) and the Council’s observation on its finances for the forthcoming year

Mrs Stoehr, Responsible Financial Officer, presented the audited accounts of the Parish Council’s and invited inspection. Thanks were expressed to Mrs Sakia Dart who had kindly undertaken the internal audit for the Council.

The main budgeted expenditure for the year included CCTV and a community police safety officer.

4.4       The report of the District Councillor for the division in which the parish is situated(3)

District Councillor Jim Stewart’s report was read in his absence. It included the forthcoming boundary changes, and his work as Vice-Chairman of the Development and Conservation Control Committee and on the South Cambs Primary Care Trust.

The meeting recorded it thanks to Cllr Stewart for his work and efforts on behalf of the village in particular with the low cost housing problems.

4.5       The report of the County Councillor for the division in which the parish is situated(5)

Cllr Martlew reported on social services, the children’s partnership, the County’s budget, the proposed guided bus scheme. He also reported that he had been working on plans to reduce traffic speeds in Caldecote.

4.3       The Report form the Community Beat Office, PC Chris Bradley
PC Chris Bradley was welcomed to the meeting. He reported that there had been a 30% reduction in crime and highlighted inconsiderate parking in the village which was becoming quite a problem in particular outside the school. It was noted that the Parish Council was arranging a meeting with the County Highways Officer and the School to discuss the problems and hopefully solve theses.

PC Bradley highlighted his work with youths in the village and encouraged more youth provision for the village to give the youngsters things to do. The work of the Hardwick outreach project. Was highly recommended as an example.

Finally it was noted that hare coursing between East Drive and Hardwick was on the increase and it was agreed that a letter should be sent to the police and Andrew Lansley MP urging more powers to the Police to make hare coursing a recordable offence and to add additional resources to enable this.

4.6       The accounts of the Parochial Charities The Sitwell and Town Lands Charity together with the comments of the Trustees(6)

Mr Whyatt reported on the history of the Charity, the appointment of the new Trustees and the Vicar as ex-officio and the charity’s accounts. Suggestions were made about how the income could perhaps be increased and Mr Whyatt agreed to discuss these with his fellow Trustees.

Mr Whyatt and the Parish Council were thanked by the meeting for finally resolving this matter.

4.7       The report of the representative from the parish church of St Michael and All Angels

The accounts(7) from the Church were received and noted. There was no report received.

4.8       The accounts and report for Caldecote Village Institute(8)

Mr Paul Phillips, Chairman to the trustees gave the report. There were no accounts available. Questions were asked on the letting charges and commercial versus village lettings.

4.9       The report form the CALYPSO(9)

The report from CALYPSO detailing their fundraising efforts to date for a multi-use games arena considered. It was noted that the facility was being officially opened on Friday 28 May by Andrew Lansley MP and everyone was invited to attend. The meeting expressed its thanks to everyone connected with the project for all their hard work and efforts on behalf of the village youth.

4.10     Caldecote Sports Association(10)

Sue Tasker, Chairman of the Sports Association presented the report which included the opening of the tennis courts in July 2003, the club’s constitution and membership fees. Questions were asked on the proposed use of the MUGA by the school.

4.11     Caldecote Community Primary School(11)

Ms Piotrowicz’s report was read in her absence. It included the successful bid to secure further funding for the use of IT, the arts grant which had enabled the creation of a living willow maze and also the schools work on the safer routes to school project.

4.12     Reports from voluntary organisations in the village

Reports from the following were received by the meeting. All are appended in full to these minutes. Those that kindly attended to give their reports were thanked by the meeting for kindly doing so.

NHW(12) – Mrs Kember expressed concern at the lack of feedback from the police when incidents were reported by NHW members and the time that it took to report an incident by telephone. It was noted that anyone with internet access could report incidents on the police website and it was agreed to put a link on the Caldecote Website to make this easier.

Tuesday Club(13) – Janet Watson reported.

Royal British Legion(14) – Brenda Phillips reported.

WI(15) – Janet Watson.

Brownies(16) – Rachael Lewis

Caldecote Playgroup(17) – Jenny Phillips

PTA(18) – Saskia Dart, read in her absence.

Sunshine Club(19) Julie Southon, read in her absence.

Evangelical Church – Philip Thompson (Minister) read in his absence.

5.         To appoint the Townlands and Sitwells Charity Trustees

Neale Whyatt, Kevin Raiser and Revd Kevin Browning (ex-officio)

6.         To consider resolutions

6.1       Resolutions of which written notice has been given.

None had been received.

6.2       Other resolutions arising from the meeting

Disappointment was expressed that neither the church nor the Social Club has sent a representative to the meeting. The Parish Council was asked to urge them to do so in future so that the village could have an opportunity to hear of their work and ask any questions or raise any concerns that it might have.

7.         Any other Parish Matters

Disappointment was expressed that the resolutions from the last meeting were still outstanding although it was noted that this was not for want of trying on the Parish Council’s part. It was agreed that these resolutions and the expression of dissatisfaction should be reiterated.

 

·         The Meeting resolved that a letter should be sent to the District Council asking it to do everything within its power to enforce the S106 Agreement and enable the village to have the public open spaces and facilities which had been promised in the Agreement without further delay.

·         The Meeting resolved that the County Councils and Parish Council should do everything in their power to sort out the traffic calming problems.

·         The meeting recorded is dissatisfaction that the noise nuisance still continued from TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd.

·         The meeting resolved that the Parish Council and County Council should take steps to reduce the speed limit in the old village of Caldecote from 40mph to 30mph.

 

There was no further business and the meeting closed at 9.45 p.m.

 

 

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