MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 7th January 2008 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 R Ward, Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC), Coun M Bradney (CCC), the Clerk and 2 members of the public.

APOLOGIES: Mrs J Sidaway, Mrs A Christie, Mr P Harradine, Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun N Bolitho (SCDC)

MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting of 10th December 2007 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Coun Y Graves re Westwick Hall planning application (adjacent resident)

MATTERS ARISING:

Impington Village College – letter of support of grant application had been sent and acknowledged.

Pavilion –
• WREN application for £30,000 towards ‘fitting out’ costs had been successful.
• Work is still on schedule despite on going gas installation problems. British Gas has only just placed an order for sub contractor to do works. However, it is scheduled for first week of March. Need to run boiler for 2 weeks after this, so laying of flooring has been deferred.
• Windows are in and scaffolding down
• Wooden partitions are being installed inside
• Dealing with the loop system and organising installation of phone line.
The Chairman had suggested that Neil Cook should make Jane Thompson (SCDC) and Cambridge Horizons aware of the potential delay caused by gas installation issues beyond our control.

Guided Bus – confirmation had been received that lighting will be dealt with when works at Gatehouse Road are completed.

Bus Project – nothing new to report.

Ditch Station Road – not yet cleared by English Partnerships.

Martyrs Graves – SCDC are not able to provide a sign. Peter Duthrie, Northstowe Rights of Way is not pushing for it. Therefore, agreed to defer further investigation on signage costs for time being. Coun Reeves will deal with overhanging hedge and speak to owner of eucalyptus tree.

Tomato Farm – an update email had been received from Frances Fry, Planning Officer (via Coun Edwards). Mr Fry had met with Mr Tirrell who confirmed a planning application re the 27 caravans and Flood Risk Assessment would be submitted by the end of February.
The officers had informed Mr Tirrell that an application is also required for the polytunnels due to the method of construction and attachment to the ground, the size and degree of permanence.

Parking Bay, Recreation Ground – nothing new re report.

Joint Action Group (JAG) – Coun Reeves had attended the meeting held with CCC on 13th Dec. Every parish council in the group was represented. The main topic focused on construction transport issues. A lengthy debate was held on whether these vehicles have a right of access via the villages. It was conceded that they probably do.
Subsequent to the meeting emails had been received suggesting that JAG members should consider budgeting for a “fighting fund” to cover administration/possible legal costs etc.
The general consensus at this meeting was that this would be a waste of resources and there would be little/ no benefit obtained.
Therefore, it was proposed by Coun Reeves and seconded by Coun Bailey that the Parish Council should not make a financial commitment to the JAG “Fighting Fund” if asked to do so. All agreed.

Northstowe – the Chairman had collected the planning application from SCDC consisting of 2 large, 1 smaller box and 3 CDS. He had already spent 2/3 days looking at it and is only about 10% of the way through the first CD. It was noted that this is going to be a huge time-consuming task.
He highlighted some of the relevant issues ascertained so far:
• The existing traffic movement figures produced are based upon a census done in June/July 07 when the road to Cottenham was closed. They have also omitted to include figures for traffic using the airfield road.
• Station Road access is clearly shown within the Northstowe site with mention of it being an emergency access (Coun Wotherspoon reported that later in the application it states that this will be a full access road by 2025)
• 19- metre high properties are to be located around the edge of Northstowe (Coun Wotherspoon suggested paying particular attention to the landscaping report/drawings on this issue)
• New Dry Drayton Road not now scheduled early in build programme, therefore flood mitigation for Oakington would be delayed, plus the run off from the other new road will seriously compound the present problems.
• Existing cycling provision rated as good through Oakington and Girton, whereas there are major problems in Longstanton Road and through the whole of Girton.
Coun Reeves had looked at the ‘flooding’ aspect of the application. Gallaghers have produced a host of figures intended to show that this is all completely under control!
Several emails had been received from JAG members suggesting ways of tackling the application and making comments on various aspects of it. The Chairman felt it would be preferable to try to tackle the plan separately and then look at others’ views at a later stage.

Minor Highways Improvement Scheme – nothing new to report.

Stocks Green Trees – letter received from SCDC confirming no objections to proposed works.
It was proposed by Coun Ward and seconded by Coun Reeves that the trees should be crowned and the quote received from Global Tree Solutions Ltd accepted (reduce crown by circa 25% to shape £450 +VAT and crown lift 2 x limes to 5.5 m over highway £100 +VAT)

Litterbins – the Clerk had written to SCDC re litter collection but had not yet received a response.

Interactive Signs – the Clerk is in the process of submitting a formal complaint.
Coun Bradney had also spoken to the deputy chief exec of CCC about all the non-working signs.

A14 junction lights – still not working. Matt Pickering had emailed to report that he had chased up the street lighting department again. Coun Bailey reported an accident occurred there at the weekend.

Highways issues – Matt Pickering is to attend next meeting to discuss concerns and his working practices.

Bulge footway, 59 Water Lane – Matt Pickering had confirmed that a contractor had been instructed to deal with this.

Moles, cemetery – the Chairman had seen fresh mole activity near a new grave. It was agreed to ask Five Star Pest Control to deal with them again.

Laurels, opposite church – Matt Pickering had asked the resident (3 Church View) to cut back vegetation.

PRECEPT 08/09:
Copies of estimated expenditures figures for 08/09 had been circulated prior to the meeting.
However the real ‘unknown’ factor is the pavilion costs. Rates, services, caretaking charges will all start from April but it is virtually impossible to estimate what these costs will be at this stage.
It was proposed by Coun Bailey and seconded by Coun Graves that the precept for 2008/09 should be set at £44,000. All agreed.

CORRESPONDENCE:
SCDC – Parish Precepts 08/09 – the Clerk will confirm the decision to set at £44,000.

Circulation
Local Council Review
COPE - newsletter
Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch – Substation Watch
Clerks & Councils Direct Jan 08
M Bradney (CCC) – Dec Report
D Jenkins (CCC) – Dec Report

PLANNING:
Mr & Mrs Guy, 19 Longstanton Road – chimney – no objections
Home Office, Oakington Barracks – use of land & buildings as an immigration centre for a temporary period to 30 June 2010 – no objections
Westwick Holdings Ltd, Westwick Hall – temporary mobile home & alterations to coach house, together with swimming pool and tennis court and erection of pool equipment building – no objections. The Chairman stated that there is nothing obvious in the planning application to indicate that the hall would be transformed into a hotel.

Decisions
Mr Heaney, 10 Manor Farm Close – extensions & replacement flat roof over garage – approved
Mr Moss, 9 Mead View – conservatory – approved
Mr & Mrs Williams – extension – approved

BILLS FOR PAYMENT:

C J Murfitt Ltd – interim inv 5 – pavilion construction works 101913.63
CHS Architects (Cambridge) Ltd – architect services re pavilion
50% of stage fee + hire of security fencing 24.2.07-31.7.07 10246.71
James Tomkins – paintwork on railings around Martyrs graves 420.00
Speedy Hire Centres Ltd – security fencing pavilion 1.12.07-31.12.07 145.09
R Bell – street lights & cleaning 11.12.07 – 7.1.08
4 weeks @ £49 196.00
L Lawrence – Clerk’s salary 11.12.07 – 7.1.08
30 hours @ £9.57 = £287.10
+ telephone = £30.00
+ travel expenses = £5.58 322.68
113244.11

It was proposed by Coun Reeves and seconded by Coun Bailey that these bills be paid. All agreed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

There are large cracks in the cycleway near the junction of Gatehouse Road (Girton side).

One of the bollards at the give way point in Mill Road is not lit.

It was noted that there is a lot of litter at the Rec.

A car was observed parking in the small gap between the railway crossing sign and the new posts in Station Road. The sign is also facing the park.

Coun Reeves is to attend a meeting at Cambourne on 21st Jan to discuss remaining ordinance on the airfield.

Coun Bradney apologised for the lateness of his CCC report. He had nothing new to add.

Coun Wotherspoon asked the Chairman if he would like to chair the parish meeting on the Northstowe planning application arranged by SCDC for Weds 6th Feb (provisionally at Methodist Church). This is a joint meeting to include Oakington, Cottenham, Histon, Impington and Girton Parish Councils. The Chairman felt it would be preferable for SCDC to chair.

The following meetings have also been arranged:
Drainage – Thurs 6 March 7.30- 10.30 – Oakington Primary School
Highways – Tues 4 March 8.00 – 10.30 – Longstanton Village Hall
General Public Surgery – Mon 18 Feb 7.30 – 9.30 – Oakington Primary School

Coun Wotherspoon had attended several meetings with Highways Agency, English Partnerships, CCC etc on A14 upgrade. The plans are still 6 months behind schedule and the Highways Agency is not convinced by the Transport Assessment. They are looking into interim measures and have called in a professor of transport studies to advise at planned workshops.

Coun Wotherspoon stated that the Station Road access to Northstowe is likely be a contentious issue as the planning application states that it should be made into a full access road by 2025.

There were no questions/comments from members of the public.

The meeting closed at 8.40 pm.