MINUTES of
meeting of the Parish Council held on 6th February 2006 at the
School, Water Lane, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
PRESENT: A Milton (Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mrs Y Graves, Mr P Harradine, Mr D Reeves, Mrs J Sidaway, Mr R Ward, Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun M Bradney (CCC) the Clerk and 4 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Mr
R Warboys – for late arrival.
MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting of 9th January 2006 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING:
PC Rogerson – the Chairman had prepared a list of village crimes and circulated it. This list was then given to PC Rogerson for him to transfer into words suitable for a formal police statement.
Parish Plans – nothing new to report.
Pavilion Project – the Chairman had been contacted by SCDC Press Dept last Thursday advising that they were preparing a press release for the following day. Nothing happened. Subsequently, an e-mail had been received from Jane Thompson, SCDC advising that the decision had been delayed and is now expected within 2 weeks.
It was proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Harradine that a Pavilion sub-committee should be formed and given powers to undertake the day to day running of the Pavilion project. It was agreed that the members of the sub-committee should be Coun Sidaway, Coun Ward and the Chairman. It was also agreed that a minimum of two committee members would be required for any decision-making.
Coun Sidaway is to obtain confirmation from Jane Thompson that SCDC will still project manage as previously agreed.
Coles Lane Development – Colin Tucker, SCDC Legal Dept had advised that the S106 agreement will need to be formally varied as the present agreement requires the Parish Council to undertake management of the green space. He requested a letter confirming the changes required and confirmation from Taylor Woodrow that they are in agreement. The Chairman will deal with this.
Traffic calming – the Chairman had received a visit from Mr Carter and his neighbour regarding the number of accidents/near misses at the new ‘Give Way’ point in Water Lane. The residents had also experienced difficulty getting into their driveways. A site meeting had been arranged with David Brace, CCC for Wednesday 15 Feb at 10.30 pm to discuss further.
Rapid Transit – Bob Menzies, CCC Guided Bus Team is to attend the March meeting.
Northstowe – Coun Bradney had sent an e-mail to the Parish Council following his investigation of our concerns re Northstowe. This had been circulated. Although the Area Action Plan states that there should not be a link road from Station Road, Gallaghers have included it in their planning application and therefore CCC has to look into the pros and cons. At this stage CCC neither endorses nor condemns it.
Bus Project – launch day for the new bus had been put back to Saturday 25 Feb, 10.30am.
Traffic, Longstanton Road – nothing new to report.
Bus Shelter roofs – the developers have not completed the paintwork on the new shelter near Saxon Way. The Clerk will contact Bloor Homes.
Westwick Bridge – road closure is due to commence from 9pm this evening for a period of 20 days.
SCDC Streetlights – the Chairman had written to SCDC. However, the response was as expected. They are not willing to continue to fund lighting these lights.
The Chairman had also been ‘conned’ into to appearing on a regional news programme on the understanding that Sawston PC had agreed to participate. This did not happen and some of the key points were cut out of the item when aired. e.g. the Chairman had stated that the recycling credits taken away from us by SCDC would more than pay for the lights to be kept on.
Coun Bradney,CCC, did not think it was likely that CCC would adopt them.
Therefore, reluctantly it was felt that the Parish Council had morally no option but to ensure the lights remained on.
It was proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Reeves that the Parish Council formally adopt the 13 streetlights in question. All agreed.
Church Footpath – one elderly resident had complained to Karen Champion, CCC Rights of Way that the elder along the footpath could have been cut back more aesthetically.
Vehicle, Stocks Green – the Chairman had not observed any damage to the grass recently but will continue to monitor the situation.
New Bus Shelter, Cambridge Rd – David Gilkes had advised that the area of ponding water had been marked up since last August and he would chase the contractor for a date to deal with it.
Manhole Cover, Water Lane – this belongs to Cambridge Water Company and David Gilkes had reported the damage to them.
Drains, Meadow Farm Close – David Gilkes advised he would have them cleared.
Neighbourhood Police Panel – the Chairman had agreed to attend the first meeting, due to be held at Histon Junior School on 23rd Feb.
WEBSITE:
The Chairman stated that the community website recently shutdown by police was in no way connected to this proposed website.
Quite a lengthy discussion took place on suggested items for the website including current minutes, old historical minutes (the Chairman is gradually transferring old hand written minutes on to computer), Coun Warboys’ village histories, welcome pack information, E-Cops.
It was then proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Sidaway that the Parish Council should proceed with an official website. All agreed
The following was then agreed:
Further consideration is to be given whether to include details of other village organisations as concern was raised that the website may become a community website rather than a parish council site.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Royal
Mail – Proposed changes to CB1-5 Postcodes (CB4- 5 to become CB24 - 25)
SCDC
– Local Development Framework – updated errata
Keith
Barrand, CALC – urging Parish Council to submit a ‘wish list’ of items to
be considered under S106 re Northstowe. It was agreed to defer this until next
meeting so that further consideration could be given.
PLANNING:
Ely Diocesan Office, The Vicarage Water Lane – work on beech tree to reduce weight & sail affect – no objections.
Metal frame structure recently erected in a garden of house in Water Lane had been reported to the Planning enforcement officer.
Decisions
N Hancock, land adj 2 The Drift – permission for dwelling refused
St Andrews Church – Erection of meeting rooms building – officer recommends refusal. However, subsequently the Development & Conservation Control Committee had agreed to approve subject to required flood mitigation measures.
BILLS FOR PAYMENT:
C J Murfitt Ltd – repairs to 3 bus shelters: terminus Water Lane,
Water Lane/High St, Cambridge Road 916.50
CALC – Affiliation fee 2006-07 340.57
R Bell – Street lights & cleaning 10.1.06 – 6.2.06
4 weeks @ £44 176.00
L Lawrence – Clerk’s salary 10.1.06 – 6.2.06
30 hours @ £8.45 = £253.50
+ telephone allowance = £30.00
+ travel expenses = £5.05 288.55
1721.62
It was proposed by Coun Graves and seconded by Coun Reeves that these bills be paid. All agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
A
resident had complained about the ‘wobbly’ bus shelter in Cambridge Road
opposite the allotments. The Clerk will report to CCC.
Several
residents had complained about litter near the crossroads. The Clerk will ask
Roger Bell to have a blitz on that area.
The
bus stop at the Water Lane terminus is still leaning over at an angle. The Clerk
will report to CCC once again.
Station
Road ditch is full of brambles and litter. The Clerk will contact David Gilkes
again.
It
was suggested that a 20 mph school safety zone is required in Water Lane. Coun
Bradney understood that these are planned for each school in the county. Coun
Jenkins agreed to take up with Safer Routes to School as funding is available.
One
of the drains in Station Road has sunken and there is quite a large dip next to
it. The Clerk will contact David Gilkes.
The
verge opposite Mansell Farm, Cambridge Road needs to be curbed, because the
distance between the carriageway and the deep ditch is very narrow at this
point, and following the duct laying work carried out by BT it is becoming very
dangerous.
Coun
Warboys again expressed concern about the planned road narrowing for Mill Road.
He suggested that it should be a temporary measure initially and then its impact
assessed. Coun Jenkins advised it is unlikely that it would be possible at this
late stage to vary what had already been agreed, i.e. a permanent change.
Coun
Warboys also expressed concern that having no road from Cottenham direction to
Northstowe would mean a huge increase in traffic coming through the village to
reach Northstowe. The Chairman reiterated that we are pressing for a new road
from the Cottenham direction, just not one that would cut our parish in two. He
stated that the Parish Council must be united on this and continue to fight for
the residents of Westwick as well as Oakington.
Coun
Jenkins reported that it is likely that CCC would be increasing Council Tax by
5%, which came as no surprise to anyone!
A
member of the public enquired about the Northstowe S106 including the
preservation of other war relics on the airfield (apart from the Parish
Council’s desire to preserve the pill box on Station Road).
The Chairman responded that the outline planning application states that
certain items would be retained – we just don’t know which ones yet.
Another
member of the public expressed concern that cuttings from the hedge along
Longstanton Road (near crossroads) had been left on the grass verge. The Clerk
will ask David Gilkes where the highway boundary is there.
The
meeting closed at 8.45 pm.