MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 9th July 2007 at the School, Water Lane, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
PRESENT: A Milton (Chairman), Mr D Reeves (Vice Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mrs Y Graves, Mr P Harradine Mrs J Sidaway, Mr R Warboys, Mr R Ward, Coun N Bolitho (SCDC), Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC), Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun M Bradney (CCC), the Clerk and 5 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Mrs A Christie and Mr R Warboys (for late arrival)
MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting of 11th June 2007 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING:
Pavilion – work has now started. Coun Sidaway and the Clerk had attended a VAT workshop organised by CALC. The VAT inspector had advised that as this project is for a sports pavilion rather than a village hall it would not be possible to reclaim all the VAT costs incurred. However, he had admitted that the ‘rules’ are open to interpretation. The Chairman read out the relevant extract from H M Customs & Excise (Local authorities and similar bodies) in which it states that if a ‘public authority charges members of the public for sporting or recreational activities, it is not acting in its capacity as a public authority’. Therefore, this is considered to be a business activity. The Chairman pointed out that the sports hall would be let out to local charitable organisations rather than ‘members of the public’. It was agreed to proceed as intended and to submit claims to recover all VAT incurred.
At the request of the Community Association permission was granted for archaeological artefacts to be displayed in 3 ‘cut-outs’ in the pavilion building walls.
Coun Sidaway reported that the Village Day had raised a total of £2600 to date.
Guided Bus – an e-mail had been sent by Bob Menzies, CCC via the Clerk on Thursday 5th July informing the Parish Council that it would be necessary to close Station Rd at the rail crossing from 16th July to late Oct due to the ‘significant’ amount of work to be done for that junction. Subsequently, letters had been delivered to some households giving the impression that the road would be open outside the work periods. The Chairman had contacted Bob Menzies who agreed to reissue letters clarifying that the road would remain closed at all times throughout the whole period. It appears that not every household has received a letter. The Clerk will place a copy on each notice board. It was agreed that the lack of advance notice on this is not acceptable. Couns Jenkins and Bradney had complained to Bob Menzies and apologised on his behalf.
Bus Project – an activity afternoon is being held on Saturday 21st July from 3 – 6 pm on the Recreation Ground. Members of the Parish Council are invited to attend.
Mill Road – the Chairman had met with Matt Pickering and showed him all areas of blocked drains (Water Lane near Queens Way, High St/Water Lane junction, Cambridge Road by Mansel farm and Cross Roads). Matt agreed to have them jetted out.
Martyrs Graves – nothing new to report.
Tomato Farm – the Chairman read out an email from Melissa Reynolds, Planning Officer (sent via Coun Edwards). The existing greenhouse is awaiting a FRA. The caravans were refused planning permission on the lack of FRA but EH are also concerned about the standard of accommodation. The owner had already been informed that they need planning permission. However, he ignored advice and went ahead with them anyway.
20 mph safety zone – Coun Reeves had consulted with the headteacher. She agreed to review this next term. However, she advised that no parents had commented that a speed reduction zone is needed.
Interactive signs – still not working. Coun Bradney reported that this was discussed at the last AJC and the responsibility for dealing with sorting them out has been moved to a different dept.
Tree debris, ditch – Couns Bailey, Ward and Reeves kindly agreed to form a working party to deal with removing the wood etc in August. Coun Warboys offered help with his tractor if needed.
Parking bay, Recreation Ground – Coun Christie had agreed to draft a legal agreement.
Dead tree, Water Lane – still not removed.
Verge, Longstanton Rd – had been partially cut. It needs to be included on the grass cutting contract so that it is dealt with each year.
MODEL CODE OF CODUCT:
Copies of the Model Code of Conduct for Parish and Town Council had been distributed to each councillor prior to the meeting together with advice from CALC.
The following resolution was proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Reeves and agreed:
The Parish Council should adopt the Parish and Town Councils Model Code of Conduct including paragraph 12(2) with effect from 1st Sept 2007 and put in place light touch rules of operation, namely “If a councillor with a prejudicial interest wishes to speak on an agenda item then that interest and intention must be stated immediately after Item 1 on the Agenda. The public will be allowed a maximum of six speakers who may provide information for up to three minutes only and each person may only speak once, The Chairman will look to secure a balance of public speakers. The public participation in not to be part of the debate but merely fact giving and answering questions in the same manner as the councillor with the prejudicial interest”.
It was also agreed that CALC should advertise the code adoption on behalf of the Parish Council.
Standing Orders will be amended accordingly.
BANK ACCOUNT – CHANGE OF SIGNATORIES:
The Clerk reported that Alliance & Leicester signatory mandate now only allows for the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and RFO to be account holders plus up to two additional members as authorised signatories.
It was proposed by Coun Harradine and seconded by Coun Warboys that Yvonne Graves, Derek Chapman, Nick Harrison and Stephen Moore should be removed from the account.
Couns Warboys and Harradine will remain as the two additional signatories. Coun Reeves (Vice chair) is to be added as account holder.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Community Association – letter of thanks for permission to use the Recreation Ground for Village Day and for agreeing to pay for public liability insurance. (invoice enclosed). It was agreed that we should write to Elaine Bailey and thank her and the Community Association for their efforts.
Circulation
A Lansley, MP – copy of letter from Rent Service re review of localities in Cambs.
Cambridgeshire ACRE – Patient & Public Involvement in Health
SCDC – Local Development Framework – public consultation on site-specific policies DPD Objection Sites 2
CCC – Changes to mobile library routes
PPI in Health
COPE – newsletter July
Clerks & Councils Direct – July 07
Local Council Review – Jul 07
P Duthrie, CCC – Progress with Northstowe Rights of Way Project
CCC – Night Owl Truckstop closure
CCC – Byways open to all traffic
Monthly reports from D Jenkins & M Bradney (CCC)
CALC – CPALC Policy Development
PLANNING:
Mr & Mrs Bradley, Scallywags Day Nursery – alterations & extensions to create enlarged nursery space – no objection
P Sadler, Oakington Garden Centre – canopy – no objection
Westwick Holdings Ltd, Westwick Hall – conservatory – no objection
The Chairman read out a letter of complaint to Gareth Jones, Planning Dept about the Parish Council being deprived of its democratic right to comment on the amendment to the application for 5 High Street. He had today received notification that planning permission had been granted but there was no mention of car parking.
Dr G Butlin, 9 Longstanton Rd – extension - approved
BILLS FOR PAYMENT:
Oakington Sports Pavilion 1833.00
Print-out – photocopy for AGM 7.99
D Reeves – refund re start up/hosting of new PC website (123) 34.16
R Bell – street lights & cleaning 12.6.07 – 9.7.07
4 weeks @ £49 196.00
L Lawrence – clerk’s salary from 12.6.07 – 9.7.07
30 hours @ £9.02 = 270.60
+ telephone allowance = £30.00
+travel expenses = £21.22 321.82
Woodgate & Partners – insurance for Village Day 210.00
2602.97
It was proposed by Coun Warboys and seconded by Coun Sidaway that these bills be paid. All agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
The bollards at the A14 junction are not lit and the grass verge needs cutting there.
There is no sign from Cottenham direction informing motorists of the forthcoming road closure.
Mr Bull’s hedge at Westwick needs to be cut back.
Four posts have been installed outside Westwick Hall rather than further along on the verge towards Oakington.
The waste bin by the bus shelter opposite the village sign is completely obscured by vegetation.
Coun Warboys reported that a new 12 inch diameter pipe had been installed along the Drift which will hopefully alleviate the flooding problem.
Coun Reeves reported that Mr Bartingale had offered to supply some bark mulch for the play area and to rotavate the area – both free of charge. The Chairman thanked him but pointed out that there is a difference between bark and play bark and we cannot use the wrong sort. Coun Reeves agreed to investigate further.
The Chairman thought that the Saturday Markets must have exceeded the maximum permitted in each calendar year. The Clerk will check with the enforcement officer.
Several members had attended the recent Northstowe exhibition. The Chairman reported on the following information he had obtained:
· The draft ‘masterplan’ shows a road from Station Road, Oakington to Northstowe (albeit it hidden under some bushes!). After lengthy heated discussions with Richard Sutcliffe- Smith from Communiqué, the Chairman was informed that this road would be for emergency access only.
· There is to be a burial ground on Dry Drayton Road side. The Chairman enquired about the depth of graves but the developers appeared to be unaware it is possible to have double or triple depth graves.
· There is no longer a relief channel in the plans – partly due to the fact that there are springs there and the soil condition won’t allow it.
· A sewage treatment works is to be built near the Longstanton Park & Ride
· A ‘sports hub’ is to be located near Oakington.
Coun Wotherspoon reported that the first meeting of the Joint Development Control Committee had been arranged for 2nd August. No terms of reference or standing orders had been agreed yet. He handed out a few copies of the draft masterplan and stated that this should be very much viewed as a work in progress and he does not in any way endorse this scheme.
The full outline planning application is due from Gallaghers in October. There will be consultation on this.
Coun Wotherspoon had also been appointed as chair of the SCDC Corporate Governors Committee.
Coun Bolitho reported that the Rent Service is currently reviewing the localities and a decision should be forthcoming in 3 months as to which locality Oakington has been placed in.
A member of the public reported that young child had recently been soaked with muddy water due to the blocked drains.
The meeting closed at 9 pm.