Minutes of the Meeting of Caldecote Parish Council on Thursday 3rd March 2005 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

 

Present: Parish Cllrs B Drayton, T Footman, P Phillips, F Wolton (Chairman) and  

J Lang.

 

In attendance: Mrs. L Hazel (Clerk) and 6 members of the public.

 

24.  Apologies for absence : S Breeze, A Levett, N Whyatt and C Stopp.

 

25.  To approve the minutes of the 3rd February 2005.

 

It was bought to the attention of the parish council that the invoice for ‘CCC Street Lights - £52.62’ which was not approved for payment as mentioned in the previous minutes in the 3rd paragraph under 21.2 is still under further investigation.  On a proposition by F Wolton, seconded by T Footman the minutes were approved as a true record.  The Chairman signed the minutes.

 

26.  To discuss possible open forum.

 

      The meeting was closed from 7.40pm to 7.45pm to allow members of the public to speak. On a proposition by T Footman, seconded by J Lang it was agreed that the parish council would not have an open forum but would continue as they are.

 

27. Matters arising for information only

 

27.1 Tree Bosserts Way – SCDC Report.

 

A copy of a letter sent by Mr. J Hellingsworth, Trees and Landscape Officer to Mrs. P Joslin dated 8th February 2005 was read.  In brief the letter indicated that there are signs of decay, evidence of a fungus and that the tree is considered to be unsound, and that felling to the ground level would be the logical step to take. 

 

It was felt that the parish council should give Mrs. Joslin a chance to asses the report and that if no action is taken within the next month then the clerk should get in contact with Mrs. Joslin to find out what action is going to be taken.   In the meantime it was agreed that a letter should be sent to Mr. Hellingsworth expressing the parish council’s concerns over the inactivity of owner and enquiring as to what powers the parish council have.  A copy of the letter is to be forwarded onto Mrs. Joslin.

 

27.2 TKA Tallent Chassis Ltd – Appeal update.

 

An e-mail from Fiona McMillan, SCDC dated 2nd March 2005 was read.  A pre-trial review has been set for 17th March 2005 but SCDC have just received a file of information from TKA Tallent which is being sent to their independent expert for comment.  Fiona McMillan will get back to the parish council with their position as soon as she knows it.  The clerk will inform the Chairman as soon as any further details are known.

 

It was noted that the noise nuisance and the smell still continues.  The parish council has received a copy of a letter sent by a resident to Beechdale Homes informing them of the ongoing noise issue and requesting them to support the complainants.

 

28.   To attend to correspondence/communications received since last meeting    including.

 

28.1 Parishioner correspondences

   

A letter dated 3rd March 2005 has been received and signed by 3 residents of the Banner Homes development requesting the parish council to adopt the small area of POS adjacent to their properties.  The chairman read out a letter dated 8th February 2005 he had received from Mills & Reeve on this matter. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the residents concerned informing them that the parish council would prefer them to take over the small area of POS as it was originally offered to the parish council but was rejected and requesting that they inform Banner Homes of the situation. 

 

28.2 Other

 

A recent letter has been received from Mills & Reeve informing the parish council that the POS on the Banner Homes Development has to be registered with the Land Registry and that there is a fee of £40.00.  Authorization was given for a cheque to be issued. 

 

The following meetings were bought to the parish council’s attention: The Ramblers are holding their AGM on 6th March, CALC are holding two meetings, one on 16th March in connection with gypsy and traveler issues, the second is on 8th March on Quality Initiative, New terms & conditions for clerks and Freedom on Information.  Further details on any of the above can be obtained from the clerk.

 

A letter has been received from CCC requesting each parish to nominate a contact point to deal with bus service information.  It was agreed to nominate the clerk.

 

Copies of letters sent to the Village Hall Committee and the Social Club by Caldecote Primary School requesting if the school can use their car parks at the beginning and end of each work day have been received.

 

Mr. S Thulborn, CCC has confirmed that funding for the amber flashing lights has been secured in next year’s budget.

 

The clerk informed the parish council that details on the Freedom of Information Act have now been received and are held by the clerk.

 

CCC has sent details about New Permissive Access Information in relation to Kingston Nature Reserve including a laminated copy of the site map for information.   It was agreed that the above details are to be placed in the next edition of the Caldecote Journal and displayed on the notice boards.   

 

Changes to bus stop names have been received.  Full details of which will be published in the next Caldecote Journal.

 

The parish clerk informed the parish council that the ROSPA safety inspection is due to be carried out in April.   It was noted that the new play areas on the Bloor Development will also need to be checked.  It was agreed that the clerk would also check that the inspection will cover the Tennis Courts and MUGA.

 

A copy of a letter dated 1st October 2004 from English Nature addressed to K Champion in connection with Hardwick Wood SSSI has been received.  It was agreed that a letter should be sent to both English nature and K Champion asking to meet them or a representative to assess what can be done to assist use of bridleway by members of the public as it is currently impassable under wet conditions.

 

29 To attend to planning received since the last meeting including

 

29.1 S/0258/05/F Chung – Hayeslind, St Neots Road, Hardwick – Extension.  On a proposition by T Footman, seconded by F Wolton it was agreed No Recommendation.

 

29.2 S/0337/05/F Jackson – 16 West Drive – Extensions and double garage.  On a proposition by F Wolton, seconded by T Footman it was agreed No Recommendation.  B Drayton declared a personal interest.

 

29.3 S/0326/05/F Corney – Plot 2 West Drive – House.  On a proposition by J Lang, seconded by P Phillips it was agreed No Recommendation.  B Drayton and F Wolton declared personal interest.

 

S/0368/05/F Tarrant – 74 Highfields Road – Extension.  On a proposition by B Drayton, seconded by J Lang it was agreed No Recommendation.  T Footman and P Phillips declared interest as Village Hall trustees.

 

29.4  SCDC planning notices.

 

It was noted that SCDC has granted permission for the following: Stables, Land at Clare Farm, Main Street, Caldecote, Variation of Condition 3 of Planning Permission S/0460/02/F to allow occupation of up to 27 houses prior to the completion of off site works in Highfields Road at Grafton Pig Farm, West Drive.  House and Garage, Land adjoining 2 & 8 East Drive.  It was noted that the following had been refused permission; Dwelling and Garage at R/O 12 West Drive, Tennis Court at College Farm, Main Street, Caldecote.           

 

The following has been withdrawn: Erection of Single Storey Dwelling at Land R/O 121 Highfields Road.

 

Permission for Construction of Alternative Access to West Drive at Land of West Drive, Highfields Caldecote was refused.  Caldecote Parish Council expressed their dismay at Ashwell Homes who had given assurances that this application would be withdrawn.  The parish council noted that this application could now effectively go to appeal.  It was agreed that a letter would be sent to Ashwell Homes conveying this.

 

30.  Village Shop.

 

B Drayton declared a personal interest in this item as the developer.   An advert was placed in the Caldecote Journal asking if anybody was interested running a Village Shop.  One person has indicated that they may be interested.   The issue of who leases the village shop was discussed.  On a proposition by J Lang, seconded by T Footman it was agreed that Cambridge First Limited should be asked to try and lease the shop out on behalf of the parish council in the first instance.  This is to be done as soon as work starts on the development.  An official copy of a draft deed has been received.

 

31.  The village development

 

31.1 Developer matters, Taylor Woodrow, Banner, JS Bloor, Ashwell Homes and Beechdale Homes.

 

Taylor Woodrow – A copy of a letter sent by C Taylor, SCDC to Daniel Browne, Taylor Woodrow dated 3rd February 2005 was read.   The letter asked for proposals for securing the permanent maintenance of the storm cell in connection with 6 units at Highfields.

 

Banner Homes – see 28.2 paragraphs 1.

 

JS Bloor – No further action to report.

 

Ashwell Homes – It was noted that the new access road of Highfields Road has been resurfaced.  They are currently awaiting CCC permission to undertake the works on the public highway and anticipate carrying out the work in 4 – 6 weeks time.

 

32.  A428 Bypass.

 

A copy of the article published in the Cambridge Evening News has now been obtained.  A letter dated 15th February 2005 from County Cllr Shona Johnstone and County Cllr John Reynolds has been received.  The Government announced in December that the A428 upgrade was to be deferred with the earliest likely starting date 2008.  The County Council has asked for support from the parish council to assist in adding weight in lobbying Government ministers to immediately reinstate the scheme.  Caldecote Parish Council supports this scheme and will send a letter to this effect copying it to Andrew Lansley MP.

 

33.  Parish clerk’s resignation.

 

On a proposition by the chairman 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 it was decided to discuss this issue at the end of the parish meeting.  The public and clerk were excluded from the meeting and were instructed to withdraw.

 

34.  Finance.

 

34.1  Caldecote Church Finance.

 

The parish council has received a written request from Caldecote Church for financial assistance.  It was noted that due to new committee members on the church board some confusion over the issue of allocation of parish council grants had arisen.  On a proposition by B Drayton, seconded by F Wolton it was agreed to make a donation of £300 towards the cost of grass cutting and maintenance of the church for the year 2004.  Any further requests for assistance will need to be made in the next financial year.  A letter is to be sent to this effect.

 

B Drayton bought to the attention of the parish council that the bank where the new railings are to be placed is being damaged along with the first few steps by Lorries.

 

The meeting was briefly closed to discuss design and use of steps and to allow the members of public a say.  The meeting was re-opened and B Drayton confirmed that the full planning application would now be put in.  The parish clerk handed him the cheque to cover the planning application fee.

 

34.2 Dog Bins.

 

It was bought to the attention of the parish council that dogs are frequently leaving behind their mess along West Drive.  On a proposition by P Philips, seconded by B Drayton it was agreed to purchase 2 new dog bins.  A site visit is to be undertaken to establish exactly where they are to be placed.  P Philips is to let the clerk know the details of the bins to be ordered.

 

34.3 To receive the financial report and approve the payment of bills.

 

The financial statement was received and considered and the invoices and bank statements were available for checking. On a proposition by the Cllr T Footman, seconded by a Cllr P Philips the following payments were approved:

     

K Martlew

£33.00

Mrs. L Hazel (salary)

£310.40

CALC (affiliation fee for 2005/06)

£311.91

Objenix limited (domain name)

£47.00

Mr. P Philips (re-imbursement of trees) *

£556.77

CALC (training travel costs)

£55.90

The Ramblers (membership renewal)

£24.00

C Stopp (re-imbursement CALC publication)

£10.00

L Hazel (stationary)

£17.04

CALC (accounts training)

£60.00

 

*The Cheque for Mr. P Philips is incorrect and has been cancelled.  It was noted that Mr. Philips is to be re-imbursed for the purchase of soil for the sum of £250.27.  The supplier P C & S L Simpson is to be paid direct (purchase of trees) for the sum of £306.50.

 

The parish clerk clarified that the receipt from CALC for H & S Checklist in the finance book is the publication that C Stopp bought and is seeking re-imbursement for.

 

A cheque for £300 was written out for the grass cutting and maintenance of the churchyard.

 

The parish clerk bought to the attention of the parish council that K Martlew still has 2 cheques outstanding for the sum of £99.00.  It was agreed that she should be contacted and asked to present the cheques to the bank before the end of the financial year.

 

The parish council were asked if they would like a Barclays Business Card but declined.

 

35.  Councilors’ items.

 

The concrete bollard outside No: 38 Highfields Road is broken.

 

It has been bought to the attention of the parish council that cars are driving up Bosserts Way over the footpath and into West Drive.  Mike Cooper is to be contacted with the possibility of erecting bollards north and south at the top of Bosserts Way to prevent this from happening as it is dangerous.  It was requested if Bollards could also be erected at the no through road, which is along Highfields Road past West Drive near the petrol garage, to stop people parking there. 

 

The Hedge along the footpath from West Drive to BP Garage has recently been cut but the clippings have not been taken away.  It was agreed that the chairman will contact Taylors to request that they kindly remove the clippings with immediate effect.

 

The following potholes were noted: outside No: 56 and No: 74 Highfields Road, in the middle of the road by West Winds and on the highway outside the pumping station. 

 

Caldecote parish council noted that parking outside the school was still an issue.

 

The specification for the bus shelter was discussed and the final details confirmed.  B Drayton is to draw up the final specification and hand it to the clerk to enable her to send it to Herald Contract Services.

 

A resident from Banner Homes has approached the clerk to enquire who owns the street lights on the Banner Homes Development as 2 are not working.  It was noted that as the road has not yet been adopted the lights are still the responsibility of Banner Homes.  It was noted that SCDC has placed plaques with contact details on all the lights that fall under there jurisdiction.

 

36. Closure of meeting and Parish Matters

 

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.45 pm.

 

Signed……………………………….    Dated ……………………………….