MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 8th January 2007 at the School, Water Lane, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
PRESENT: A Milton (Chairman), 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), the Clerk and 25 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Mr J Bailey, Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC)
The Chairman stated that this is a parish council meeting not a public meeting and only parish councillors have a right to speak. Members of the public can only speak if the Chairman invites them to do so.
MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting of 11th December 2006 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
PROPOSED COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS VISION FOR NORTHSTOWE:
The Chairman welcomed Peter Duthrie, CCC Northstowe Rights of Way Project Manager. Mr Duthrie handed out copies of a presentation re Northstowe Area Footpath and Cycleway Network Project and then went through it. The project had been given £800k from Growth Areas Fund. They are investigating the benefits for surrounding villages as well as Northstowe with the aim of encouraging more people to use countryside access.
The issues/options around Oakington include:
The Chairman welcomed a new bridleway by the A14 but stated that access to it could not be via Dry Drayton road due to potential danger re traffic. It would be crucial to know where the bridleway would go near to the A14.
Mr Duthrie responded that it would be approx 0.5 mile from the A14 but routes are still being investigated with landowners re options. The Chairman responded that this would bring it roughly half way along the proposed Northstowe access road where the brook prevents construction of an underpass and so it would necessitate an over- bridge crossing, otherwise it would be too unsafe to contemplate.
The Chairman also expressed concern about upgrading some footpaths to bridleways. The Parish Council had fought hard against a bridleway through the new development on Coles Lane. There would not be enough room to have a bridleway along the footpath at Croft Lane nor would it be suitable near housing.
Coun Warboys enquired as to how motorcycles would be prevented from using the new bridleway.
Mr Duthrie stated this has caused problems in some areas and is difficult to resolve. It is possible to control by using certain types of barriers but they can cause problems to people using disability vehicles.
Coun Reeves commented that the proposed bridleway along the guided bus maintenance track is not far enough away from where the buses will run and therefore riders will put off from using it. Mr Duthrie confirmed that this view had been expressed by many people. Discussions are still ongoing with the British Horse Society about how best to resolve this but it is likely that the only alternative would be not to have a bridleway there at all.
A member of the public stated that dual bridleways/footpaths can cause problems to walkers when the ground is churned up in wet weather e.g. the one to Histon. The Chairman advised that the Parish Council had been informed that there would be a hard surface footpath alongside the guided bus route to Histon.
A member of the public felt it would be helpful to see a map of the proposed routes.
Mr Duthrie responded that this would be provided once talks with the relevant landowners had been concluded.
Mr Duthrie concluded his presentation by inviting suggestions/comments from the Parish Council and members of the public either by telephone (01223 717445), letter or e-mail (peter.duthrie@cambridgeshire.gov.uk)
MATTERS ARISING:
Sports Pavilion – The Chairman reported that it is slightly behind schedule. An updated Key Milestones chart had been provided by the architect with a revised expenditure profile. This had also been sent to SCDC with an explanation for the delay in progress.
Guided Bus – nothing new to report. The next liaison group meeting had been rearranged for 16th January.
Graffiti, Saxon Way shelter – had not yet been dealt with by Bloor Homes.
Coles Lane Development – no update re S106 monies.
Northstowe – nothing new to report.
Bus Project – nothing new to report.
Trees, Saxon Way – nothing new to report.
Airfield Road Closure – Coun Edwards had attended an area transport meeting. The airfield road was not included on the agenda. He enquired about it and was informed that it will happen when there is enough money! Coun Jenkins agreed to raise the issue again this week. It was noted that we had not been invited to make an application under the jointly funded scheme for this year.
Mill Road – it was noted that 3 out of the 4 new gullies installed are blocked.
Trees, Westwick – nothing new to report.
Cherry Orchard footpath – the Clerk had been informed by Matt Pickering that he had written to the owners of overhanging trees/bushes.
Vandalism – there had been several incidents in the last month including graffiti on bus shelter opposite village sign, graffiti on Baptist Chapel, lighted firelighter being pushed through a business premises letterbox, windows smashed and cars broken into.
Vegetation, cemetery – Chairman will contact the Probation Service and ask them to deal with it.
Coles Lane sign – not yet replaced.
Church View sign – a resident had kindly repaired it.
Parish Councillor vacancy – there had been no response to the advert placed in the community newsletter.
Fair Rents – acknowledgement had been received from Andrew Lansley, MP with a copy of his letter to The Rent Service requesting the criteria used for allocating localities.
Gully/gutter cleaning – SCDC had advised that the streets are cleaned as per a schedule (Jan/Mar/May/July/Sep/Nov) and they cannot undertake to do them more regularly.
PRECEPT 2007/08:
Copies of the expenditure/income figures for 2006/07 had been circulated prior to the meeting.
The Chairman reminded everyone that the precept was set at £33,000 last year, based on 511 households. There will be approx 70 more households this year. An increase to £39,000 would mean that each household would pay about the same amount as last year.
The pavilion is the unknown factor. It is possible that a Public Works Board loan will be needed to make up the current shortfall. However, this won’t be known until later on in the project. The S106 monies are still to be received from the Coles Lane development.
It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Coun Harradine that the precept for 2007/08 should be set at £39,000. All agreed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Northstowe Governance – email from Keith Barrand, CALC
SCDC Lands Officer – land at Coles Lane. Letter sent to Jane Clark objecting to the request from the owners of 4 The Vines to purchase part of the rear gardens of 12 and 14 Coles Lane on the basis that we see great potential for the piece of land to form part of one or more new dwellings in conjunction with the very wide strip of land to the side of no.12.
A Lansley, MP – Rent Service criteria for allocating localities
SCDC – Small Business Rate Relief Scheme – agreed to apply again this year.
Mr Woolsey, Church View – ‘Bombs on the Airfield’ – the Chairman read out the letter received on 7th January in which it was stated that Coun Nigel Bolitho had urged residents to attend this evening’s Parish Council meeting to air views on this matter. It was also requested that this be the first item on the agenda.
The Chairman firstly pointed out that this could not be the first item as by law the agendas have to be published 7 days prior to a meeting.
He confirmed that the police, South Cambs and County Council representatives had attended our last meeting on 11th December but the first the Parish Council knew about it was on the Friday before when we had a request that one person should come and talk to us about this, and this gave insufficient time to formally publicise it or put it on the agenda. It was not a consultation. The Parish Council were simply given a broad outline as to what would be happening. It was made clear by the police, South Cambs and County Council that they would be informing residents via leaflet drop to each household that same week and therefore the Parish Council did not consider it necessary to hold a public meeting, nor to seek out and distribute additional information. Another update was issued to each household last week.
Today the police have called at each house and informed residents that the evacuation would not be taking place as no bombs had been found.
Coun Reeves stated that he had attended a meeting at SCDC on 21st December where CCC had admitted that they had not done enough to keep residents informed early on.
Mr Woolsey stated that he felt that the Parish Council could have done more on such an important issue and it did warrant holding a village meeting.
The Chairman responded that the Parish Council was not party to nor had any responsibility for any of the arrangements and the only extra information we were given was sight of a map showing the rough location where possible devices had been detected.
He again reiterated that the police/SCDC/County Council had committed to ensure everyone was informed. In response to a member of the public, the Chairman pointed out that there is no statutory duty placed on a Parish Council to keep residents informed, nor to consult. It is up to the Parish Council to decide what information it gives give out to and seeks from residents.
Coun Reeves pointed out that both the leaflets received contained contact telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and a website address for more information.
A member of the public suggested having a village e-mail circulation list and a parish website. Coun Reeves pointed out that there already is a Parish Council website available (www.oakingtonandwestwickparishcouncil.org.uk) and this has been advertised in several newsletters. He also stated that members of the public are welcome to attend Parish Council meetings to obtain information.
A member of the public enquired if the Parish Council could complain to the police/CCC on behalf of residents about the lack of communication.
A member of the public asked if the bill for this would be passed on to the developers. The Chairman thought that it would go to the English Partnerships (government quango who currently have ownership of the site)
Coun Edwards (SCDC) apologised for the lack of communication – he had attended the meeting on 21st Dec and was provided with a Q & A sheet which he found very useful. He suggested that this could be put on the Parish Council website for residents to see. He also stated that the next 2 phases of work on the airfield are on sections further away from Oakington, so hopefully residents should not be effected.
Circulation
CCC – Winter Gritting & Snow Clearing
Inspire East – tools for engaging communities
Cambs Constabulary – Histon Police Team newsletter Dec 06
Community Action – winter 06
Hilton PC – A14 upgrade
CCC – Budget for 2007/08
COPE newsletter Jan 07
CCC – Trading Standards newsletter Dec06
Guided Busway Consultation, Consultation on Landscaping – response from Impington & Histon Parish Councils
D Jenkins – CCC report Jan 07
District councillors joint report Jan 07
M Bradney – CCC report Jan 07
Clerks & Councils Direct Jan 07
PLANNING:
Oakington PCC, St Andrews Church – shed – no objections.
Mr & Mrs Bradley, Scallywags Day Nursery – alterations and extension to create enlarged nursery & single stored rear extension – no objections.
G Rowe, 38 Water Lane – extension – no objections.
BILLS FOR PAYMENT:
South Cambs DC – building regulations applications re pavilion 831.31
(cheque signed on 20.12.06)
CHS Architects Cambridge Ltd – architectural services re pavilion
As per quote 6.1.06 item 3 8812.50
R Bell – street lights & cleaning 13.12.06 – 8.1.08
4 weeks @ £46 184.00
L Lawrence – clerk’s salary 13.12.06 – 8.1.07
30 hours @ £9.02
+ telephone allowance @ £30.00
+ travel expenses @ £5.44 306.04
10133.85
It was proposed by Coun Warboys and seconded by Coun Sidaway that these bills be paid. All agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Coun Graves expressed concern about the erosion of grass verges – in particular near Westwick Hall and Mill Road. A member of the public reported that he had seen a milk van pull up on the verge in Mill Road on two occasions. Coun Ward will try to ascertain which company it is.
Coun Harradine reported there are two drains blocked in Water Lane opposite no. 98.
Coun Bolitho advised that he is trying to tackle the problem of blocked drains as they are not being cleared properly, particularly by contractors after construction work. He is planning to do a survey of blocked drains to present to CCC.
The Chairman understood that whilst road drains are owned by CCC the cleaning of them is the responsibility of SCDC but if he is doing a list, then could he add the crossroads (which have never drained properly, even before the construction of the traffic lights) and the ditch next to the airfield along Station Road.
A member of the public stated that the bus shelter in Mill Road is unusable due to smelling of stale urine and contains broken glass. The Clerk will report to the PCSO.
A member of the public reported she had received a letter from the Northstowe Area Action plan examiner re changes to the green belt.
The meeting closed at 8.55 pm.