MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 11th September 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 Warboys, Mr R Ward, Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun N Bolitho (SCDC), Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun M Bradney (CCC), the Clerk and 5 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Coun T Wotherspoon
MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting of 10th July 2006 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING:
Guided Bus – the Chairman reported that Edmund Nuttall Ltd had been appointed as the main contractor. Coun D Reeves is to attend the liaison forum meeting on Weds concerning the Longstanton to Histon (Park Lane) stretch. A copy of the ecology management plan had been received.
Graffiti, Saxon Way shelter – a note is to be placed in the October village newsletter asking residents to consider litter picking.
Pavilion – a letter had been received from Neil Cook giving details of comparative figures. The cost for piling foundations is estimated at approx £79,000 and deep strip foundations at approx £78,500. Both the quantity surveyor and Neil recommend deep strip on the basis that the archaeologists can do their work and then clear off site completely allowing the contractor to proceed in an orderly fashion. The piling option attracts a very high risk because if significant archaeological features are revealed it would mean that the pile driving equipment would have to stand idle and that would be very expensive. It was agreed to opt for deep strip foundations.
Out of the £78,500 the estimate for archaeological work is approx £26,800. This had not been calculated in the original costings and is therefore additional monies the parish council would need to find. It is hoped that the forthcoming S106 payment and additional precept should cover this but it was agreed that the Clerk should investigate how long it would take to obtain a Public Works Board loan of £50,000 in case of need.
Coun Sidaway will ask Elaine Bailey, Community Association about previous approaches to WREN for funding.
Coun Jenkins confirmed that there would be no grant money available from Cambs County Council.
Coles Lane Development – the Chairman had received a revised copy of the S106 agreement. The Parish Council had originally requested 3 dog bins, 3 benches and 3 litterbins on the site. We had understood that the value of these was included in the figure being offered by the developer in lieu of the children’s play equipment etc. The developer initially had verbally offered to give us the equivalent value in cash, but when he discovered that these items are listed in reserved planning matters he changed his mind as they have to provide them. The Chairman has written to advise that they are not wanted, because of the antisocial implications of such things.
Northstowe – the Chairman had attended a recent workshop in Bar Hill. He had noted that none of our district or county councillors were in attendance. When he enquired as to why not, he was informed that they had been told not to come on the basis that if they took part they could be seen to be biased when discussing Northstowe at any of their subsequent meetings.
The Chairman reported that the airfield land is now under the ownership of English Partnerships who had informed Gallagher Estates that they are not at all happy with their plans as they stand and asked them to rethink them. They are also thinking in terms of splitting the settlement up into little villages which could result in less green space and more density of housing. The Chairman noted that there were no references anywhere on any of the charts or elsewhere in the presentation material to Fairfield Estates, and in response was informed that it was up to the planning inspector to decide. He had concluded that the indications were a clear confirmation that the Fairfield proposals have already been discounted, albeit informally.
Bus Project – nothing new to report.
Interactive signs – the sign from the Cottenham direction is still not working. The Clerk will report it to David Brace.
Trees, Saxon Way – still no response from Nene Housing.
ROSPA – Coun Reeves had kindly strimmed the play area and treated the weeds with Round Up.
Airfield Road – the consultation about proposed road closure had not yet taken place. Coun Bradney confirmed it would be forthcoming.
A14 Junction – the lights on the east side are still not working.
A14 traffic calming measures – it was noted that the white lines had not been done by the pinch point as agreed by David Brace.
Days Meadow – road name sign still not in place.
Mill Road – new gullies had not yet been installed.
Trees, Westwick – the Chairman had been unable to find a contact number for Mr Bull. Coun Graves had seen him working at the site recently. She agreed to ask him about replanting trees if she sees him again.
Parish charity – the Chairman will draft a note for the October newsletter.
Cycleway – Coun Jenkins reported that the work to continue the cycleway to Histon should commence shortly. He said that it will not be completed as originally planned, due to cost limitations, but he expected that it would only go as far as the level crossing, where it would join the service road alongside the guided busway into central Histon.
Westwick bridge work – Coun Graves reported that the site has still not been tidied. There are cones, road signs, barriers and sandbags left behind. The temporary footbridge is still in place and the sign advertising the work is still up. Coun Bradney agreed to take up these issues. There was talk of Cambridge Water still having work to do there.
Hedge, Stocks Green – the Chairman reported that the leylandii had been cut back but he had not yet seen the owner of the hedge.
Cemetery gates – the Chairman and his son had tried to install the new galvanised posts but they had found concrete posts hidden in the hedge behind the old wood ones. They hope to complete the work shortly.
Saturday market – this had now moved to land on Dry Drayton Road. The owners of the business park next to the site had contacted the Chairman and had a meeting with him, as they are concerned about the safety of vehicles turning on to/off Dry Drayton Road and the safety of their premises. The Chairman suggested they write to the Planning Dept and CCC Highways Dept. They are also looking into the possibility that there are badgers in the brook near the site. They were concerned that moves were being made to use different fields, possibly to get round the 12 (14) day planning rules.
CORRESPONDENCE:
R Yellon – copy of an email sent to CCC Highways Dept expressing concerns about bollards and lack of lighting near footpath in Cherry Orchard. The Chairman advised that the Parish Council would have to pay for an additional light (and possibly future maintenance costs). It was agreed that members would take a look at the site between now and the next meeting and a decision would be made at the October meeting.
Community Association – letter advising that the management of the pavilion had not yet been discussed as there was not a quorum at the last CA meeting.
A list of the costings for newsletter advertising was enclosed together with the production expenses for the year.
It was reiterated that the Parish Council had agreed to make an annual donation towards the costs. Coun Sidaway was asked to enquire at the next CA meeting if the amount suggested of £200 would be sufficient. If so, a cheque would be drawn up for the October meeting.
CALC – Ian Dewar had telephoned the Clerk to request to attend our November meeting to discuss attaining Quality Status. After some discussion, it was decided that there would be no obvious benefits of working towards the accreditation at this stage.
Circulation
Cambridge Wind Farm – appeal against planning refusal
SCDC, Gambling Act – draft policy
SCDC – Changes to Development Control System
CCC – Proposed revisions to Regional Spatial Strategy for East of England
SCDC – Advice to Parish members in relation to Code of Conduct
Histon – Neighbourhood Policing Partnership meeting notes
Oakington Motorsports Ltd – licence withdrawn
Connections Bus Project – report Apr-Jul 06
Encams – Litter and the law
CALC – proposed changes to constitution
CALC – AGM – October 14th
Clerks & Councils Direct Sept 06
Local Council Review
Community Action – Autumn 2006
Cambridgeshire Celebrates Age 2006
PLANNING:
South Cambs Primary Care Trust, site at level crossing Station Rd – variation of condition 5 of planning permission S/1745/02/F- objection
Fernbrae Estates Ltd, site at level crossing – removal of condition 3 of planning permission S/1745/02/F which restricts the number of employees working on the site – objection – considered there is no justification for allowing any tinkering with the layout of the access to these premises until the road layout for the new guided bus is approved.
Mr & Mrs C Brookes, 98 Water Lane – porch – no objections
Mr & Mrs Lawrence, 4 Meadow Farm Close – extension – no objections
Mr P Bradley, 4 Mead View – extension – no objections
D Moore, 33 Water Lane – replacement garage – objections on the basis that the application is ambiguous. It states it is for a replacement garage but the drawing refers to a shed/store. The Parish Council is strongly opposed to everything except a garage that is strictly for domestic purposes only.
K Moore, 1 Station Road Cottages, Westwick – removal of 3 poplar trees - no objections
Decisions
C Tirrell, Oakington Tomato Farm – siting of 13 mobile homes – refused
Oakington & Westwick PC – erection of Sports Pavilion & MUGA – approved
J Rowe, 38 Water Lane – extension – refused
Mr & Mrs Leggett, 41 Coles Lane – extension – approved
Mr & Mrs Whitmore, 17 Coles Lane – extensions - approved
Rev J Alexander, St Andrews Church – erection of meeting rooms building- approved
N Hancock, adj 2 The Drift – dwelling – approved
G Butlin, 9 Longstanton Rd – extension – approved
South Cambs Primary Care Trust, site at level crossing – variation of condition 5 – officer recommends approval
Fernbrae Estates Ltd, offices at Level Crossing – variation of condition 3 which restricts the number of employees working on the site – refused.
INCOME:
South Cambs DC – pavilion project claim no. 1 for work carried out
1 Nov 05 to 30 Jun 06 19400.86
I Sinclair – grave space for Mrs T E Sinclair (non resident) 291.00
BILLS FOR PAYMENT:
Connections Bus Project – 12 visits @ £60.04 from 24.4.06 – 17.7.06 720.48
R Bell – street lights & cleaning – 11.7.06 – 11.9.06
9 weeks @ £46 414.00
L Lawrence- clerk’s salary 11.7.06 – 11.9.06
67.5 hours @ £9.02
+ travel = £7.07
+ telephone allowance = £60.00 675.92
D Reeves – refund re sprayer and Round Up to treat weeds, play area 47.88 1858.28
It was proposed by Coun Sidaway and seconded by Coun Bailey that these bills be paid. All agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
The sign at the crossroads, Water Lane has been folded in half.
The light covers on the signs in Mill Road are still hanging off.
Covers have been removed from some of the streetlights in Cambridge Road.
The bus shelter in Cambridge Road is still wobbly. The Clerk had had several conversations with CCC Passenger Transport Team about this issue over the last few weeks. They have been unable to establish that they own the shelter. The Chairman reported that the Parish Council owned the original cantilever shelter on the site but this was removed and replaced by CCC when the dual use cycleway was installed in 1995, as it did not meet the requirements. Ownership of the new shelter was never offered to the Parish Council. CCC had had remedial works carried out on several previous occasions. Coun Bradney had also been pursuing this matter and agreed to try to take it up again.
There is a dead tree near the bus stop opposite the village sign. The Clerk will report to David Gilkes as it is on part of the highway.
The bushes, etc near the shelter opposite Midfield are overgrown again. Coun Reeves kindly offered to cut them back. The Clerk will speak to Mr Freeman, the tenant farmer first.
Coun Reeves has got the No Dogs, No Glass sign. He will attempt to reinstall it near the play area using lost head screws.
The Chairman reported that the stability of gravestones is becoming an increasingly prominent issue. He has found 2 in the cemetery that are definitely loose but it would need proper measuring equipment to determine if they would come under the criteria where something needs to be done. It was agreed to send a formal letter to the relatives giving them the choice of getting a proper test done or making them stable. The Chairman will circulate a draft letter for comment.
Coun Edwards reported that the Core Strategy element of the LDF Examination in Public had been completed. SCDC is only the third authority in the country to go to EiP and both the others had had their Core Strategy thrown out! SCDC should get their report back in October.
If it is successful the Northstowe Area Action Plan EiP will be heard over a period of 3 weeks commencing 5th December.
Coun Edwards had spoken to Andrew Beyer, Environmental Health re the missing bricks in the building at the crossroads. He had subsequently visited the site and reported that the wall remains vertical and shows only minimal signs of movement. However, he would continue to monitor the situation.
The annual Funding Fair is due to take place on 14th Sept. Coun Sidaway will inform the Community Association.
The residents of the house in Dry Drayton Road under SCDC Notice of Eviction are due to have their case heard at the end of September.
Coun Bolitho reported that he had met with our MEP to discuss noise/pollution traffic issues in Cottenham and had been informed about the European Noise Directive. He had also discovered that CCC has a budget for noise & pollution control. The Chairman suggested monitoring pollution levels at Westwick to hopefully strengthen the case against having an access road to Northstowe there.
Coun Bolitho also reported that a number of people on housing benefit are having their benefits cut as SCDC Housing Dept are reassessing fair rents and cutting them dramatically.
A member of the public enquired about the problematic junction at High Street/Water Lane. The Chairman reported that David Brace had agreed to have the white lines repainted in a different position so that vehicles exiting High Street are more square on to Water Lane and so have a better view. This will also allow more room for drivers turning into High Street from the Cottenham direction.
Coun Bradney reported that CCC had changed contractors from Ringway to Atkins and as a result there are delays in doing this type of work.
The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.