PRESENT: A Milton (Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mrs Y Graves, Mr P Harradine, Mrs J Sidaway, Mr R Warboys, Mr R Ward, the Clerk and 3 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Coun M Bradney (CCC), Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC), Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun N Bolitho (SCDC)
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN:
It was proposed by Coun Warboys and seconded by Coun Harradine that Mr A Milton be elected Chairman for the ensuing year. All agreed. The Chairman and councillors all signed Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms and completed Register of Pecuniary Interests forms.
MINUTES – Under those present delete ‘Mrs Y Graves’. The Minutes of the meeting of 3rd April 2006 were then approved and signed by the Chairman.
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN: As there were no nominations, it was agreed to leave this post vacant for the ensuing year.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
School Governor – Coun Bailey advised he would probably be stepping down as a school governor at the end of this term. It was agreed to leave this post open for the time being. It was noted that there is no longer a statutory requirement to have a member of the Parish Council on the Governing Body.
The remaining officers were re-appointed en bloc:
Oakington Charities – Couns Graves & Warboys
Recreation Ground/play area – Coun Harradine
Responsible Financial Officer – Coun Ward
Trees & bulbs – Coun Sidaway
Community Association – Coun Sidaway
Bus Project – Coun Reeves
MATTERS ARISING:
Guided Bus – nothing new to report.
Graffiti, Saxon Way bus shelter – the Clerk has contacted City Services but unfortunately they only do work within the City. There had been no update from Coun Edwards re possible graffiti removal being undertaken by the Probation Service.
The Chairman stated that SCDC is the authority responsible for street cleaning and he considered that a bus shelter is part of street furniture and therefore SCDC should be responsible for cleaning it.
Pavilion – still awaiting archaeological report to ascertain whether a full dig will be required on the site.
Coles Lane Development – still no response from SCDC Legal Dept re S106. The Chairman had left a message for Colin Tucker today.
Northstowe – nothing new to report.
Bus Project – the Clerk read out an e-mail received from Alan Webb advising that SCDC had withdrawn funding for summer holiday sessions and requesting assistance from the Parish Council. The amount required would be 5 times the sessional fee of £60.04 (total £300.20) plus ‘anything else’ to help reduce the cost of trips for the young people. It was agreed that the £300.20 contribution should be made. However, clarification is to be sort about the funding of the additional trips as some concern was expressed that we may be subsidising young people from other villages.
Bus shelters – vandalised roof on Water Lane shelter had been replaced.
Website – this is now ‘live’ (www.oakingtonandwestwickparishcouncil.org.uk)
Coun Warboys offered to draft a basic village history for consideration.
Interactive Signs – Coun Graves reported that she thinks they are now finally working!
Footpath, Whitehall Farm – the Clerk will chase David Gilkes about provision of yellow lines there (although he had indicated that he is not hopeful due to the cost involved).
Burial Guide – received.
Trees, r/o Saxon Way – the Chairman had still not received any response from Nenehousing.
Parish Council land – the Parish Council had tried to establish ownership of Oakington Graves in the past without much success. It was agreed that the Parish Council should apply for ownership with Land Registry.
MATTERS ARISING FROM AGM:
David Gilkes, Highways Dept is to deal with the following:
ACCOUNTS 2005/06:
Copies of the draft accounts had been circulated prior to the meeting. There were no questions/queries. It was proposed by Coun Sidaway and seconded by Coun Bailey that the accounts be accepted and signed by the Chairman and Responsible Financial Officer. The Statement of Assurance on the Annual Return was read out – all areas agreed and then signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Connections Bus – sessional fee increase to £60.04 with immediate effect. Also, request for financial assistance re summer holiday sessions.
ROSPA – Play Area Inspection Report – received today. Needs to be analysed and discussed at next meeting.
Community Association – newsletter funding request. Letter read out. Agreed include in review of charges and payments at next meeting.
Circulation
A Lansley, MP – ‘concessionary’ travel in South Cambs
CALC – various
Defra – Guide for Burial Ground Managers
CCC – Corporate Plan 2006-09
Local Council Review
Clerks & Councils Direct
CPRE – Local Development Frameworks workshop
South Cambs Strategic Partnership – roadside verge management
ODPM – Local Authority Byelaws in England
Ivett & Reed – confirmation that they are now members of BRAMM. It was agreed to insist that all other stonemasons etc that we deal with should have this accreditation.
PLANNING:
Mr B Baxter, 2 Vicarage Close – removal of flowering cherry tree – no objections
Mrs Mckie – 68 High Street – alterations (installation of 4 solar panels on south facing roof) ref S/0648/06/F & S/0649/06/LB – no objections
C Tirrell – Oakington Tomato Farm – siting of 13 mobile homes S/0627/06/F – strongly opposed particularly in view of the illegal siting and occupation of mobile homes at Smith Fen,etc.
Rev J Alexander, Church of St Andrew – erection of meeting rooms building – amended plan – flood risk assessment. S/2289/05/F – no objections
Amended plan – revised siting and no. of rooflights. Revised internal layout – no objections
Oakington Parish Council, Recreation Ground, Queens Way – erection of sports pavilion and MUGA S/0694/06/ - no objections
H Price, land at Moor Drove, Cottenham Rd, Histon –siting of 12 caravans Ref S/0647/06/F (consultation on application in neighbouring parish) – objection.
The Parish Council considers it is very important to keep Green Belt and green field sites free from all kinds of development in order to protect the identities of villages
N Hancock, adj 2 The Drift – dwelling S/0726/06/F – no objections. But, seek clarification of the specification for the driveway and if it is to be loose stones to ask for a 2 metre strip of tarmac along the frontage to prevent spillage on to The Drift.
D Moore, 33 Water Lane – garage. Objections. The Chairman read out a draft response expressing concern that the proposed garage may not be used for domestic purposes.
R Jackson, 5 High Street – extensions. Objections. Concern raised about the overbearing size of the proposed porch and about the unattractive appearance of the rear extension.
Decisions
Mr & Mrs Upton, 15 Church View – extension – approved
Mr & Mrs Goodyer ,13 High Street – erection of garden room/cart shed (amended plans to include doors, rooflight and 2 windows – approved
Welney Farms Ltd, land at Slate Hall Farm – change of use from agricultural B2 & B8 land to End of Vehicle Life use – approved under delegated powers
BILLS FOR PAYMENT:
CHS Architects (Cambridge) Ltd – architectural services re sports pavilion
(develop scheme design & provide info for other consultants, liase with QS,
prepare drawings & submit planning application – 15% of fee = £5625.00+VAT
+ hire of security fencing = £143.36+VAT 6777.82
Dawson Plant Hire Ltd – JCB hire, labour, rubbish away re archaeological dig 1642.06
Allianz Cornhill Insurance Plc – annual insurance renewal 974.25
Playsafety Ltd – inspection of children’s play area 84.60
Cambridgeshire County Council – hire of school hall 9.1.06 – 8.5.06 32.00
C J Murfitt Ltd – repairs to bus shelter roof, Water Lane 246.54
Print-Out – photocopying annual newsletter & AGM 53.80
Connections Bus Project – 10 visits 9.1.06 – 27.3.06 580.00
R Bell – street lights & cleaning – 4.4.06 – 8.5.06, 5 weeks @ £44 220.00
L Lawrence – Clerk’s salary 4.4.06 – 8.5.06
37.5 hours @ £8.45
+ telephone allowance = £30.00
+ travel expenses = £6.57 353.46
10964.53
It was proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Graves that these bills be paid. All agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Coun Ward thanked the Clerk for her work in preparing the annual accounts.
He also sought clarification re the Parish Council’s position on Gallagher’s proposed access road to Northstowe via Station Road. The Chairman read out an extract of the minutes of November 2004 relating to this matter in which is clearly stated that the Parish Council had taken a vote and agreed that there should be no access road to Northstowe via Oakington.
Coun Sidaway asked if anything could be done about the car that is often parked in Coles Lane very close to the junction of High Street. Agreed to contact PC Rogerson to ask if he could speak to the owner.
Coun Graves reported that the Mill Road sign near High Street has been vandalised and now says ‘ill Road’. Coun Ward agreed to see if he can remove the paint.
It was noted that some buses are still not travelling down Mill Road, even though the work is now virtually completed.
The Chairman had reported the missing bollard from the pinch point in Water Lane.
The Clerk had reported the cracked manhole cover in Cambridge Road but it had not yet been dealt with. She will chase up Anglia Water Authority.
It was agreed to discuss setting money aside for the pavilion at the next meeting.
A member of the public reported that the day after the AGM she had received a phone message update about Neighbourhood Watch.
The meeting closed at 8.55 pm.