MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 8th December 2008 at the Sports Pavilion, Queens Way, Oakington at 7.30 pm.

PRESENT:

Mr A Milton (Chairman), Mr D Reeves (Vice Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mrs Y Graves, Mr P Harradine, Mrs J Sidaway, Mr R Ward, Mrs J Grove, Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun M Bradney (CCC), the Clerk and 3 members of the public.

APOLOGIES

Mrs A Christie, Coun Simon Edwards (SCDC), Coun D Jenkins (CCC) - for late arrival. The Chairman welcomed Mrs Julie Grove

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of 3rd November 2008 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

None

MATTERS ARISING:

A14 Improvement Scheme - it was noted that public exhibitions are currently taking place at Girton College (finishing Tues 9th Dec)

Northstowe - the Chairman had written to Bob Menzies, CCC Guided Bus Team about the state of the Station Road ditch but had not even received an acknowledgement.

Interactive Signs - Coun Bradney (CCC) had not yet received a report on the second speed survey. He will follow up. He committed to try to find a way to get the signs operative.

Saturday Markets - planning officer is recommending approval of the application.

Play Area - as Coun Christie did not attend the meeting there was no update.

Sports Pavilion - Coun Sidaway reported that Neil Cook had updated her on progress of the Football Foundation grant application. Jane Lampshire, Sports Development Officer, SCDC has requested a meeting with the Pavilion Committee & Jim Hill, FA to review the application before submission.
The Pavilion Committee have enquired as to the repayment period for the Parish Council loan of

AIRFIELD ROAD:

An email to Coun. Reeves from Stephen Moore concerning the potential closure of the road and containing defamatory remarks about the PC had been circulated prior to the meeting.
The Chairman read out extracts from Local Council Administration concerning 'Defamation', 'Privilege' and 'Fair Comment'. It was noted that what can be construed as fair comment on a matter of public interest is not actionable.

Coun Reeves explained that he felt it would be in the public and Parish Council interest to share this email even though it was addressed to him personally and he had made it clear in his original email that the comments made were his personal views.

The Chairman handed out a list of statements he had drawn up about Longstanton Road and then read them out. This included a report on the site meeting he attended with CCC and Longstanton PC. The CCC officer had made it clear that the full costs of the consultation, installation of the gate and lifetime maintenance would fall to one or both of the parish councils. The site meeting concluded with agreement that both parish councils would consult with their parishes. However, before he had chance to report back to the PC the Oakington Community Newsletter had published a piece on the road, seeking resident's opinions. The Chairman felt this negated a meaningful Parish Council consultation at this stage.

He then invited comment on his report.

Coun Jenkins (CCC) took issue with the statement regarding 'party political motivation' and asked him to withdraw that suggestion. The Chairman agreed.
He also agreed to remove the detail in paragraph one relating to an unnamed individual.
It was agreed that the remainder of the document should be accepted and attached to the minutes of this meeting.
The Chairman advised that the Parish Council does not have the power to provide the gate. Therefore, it would have come from Section 137 which is limited to

GRASS CUTTING CONTRACT 2009:

The Chairman handed out a breakdown of the 5 quotes received and additional notes. It was agreed to exclude S P Landscapes quote straight away as it did not match the specification.
Tenders were considered from the following: Buchans, Herald Contract Services, JDF Landscapes & R Bartingale.
The Chairman reminded everyone out that it had been agreed that the Recreation Ground would be cut to general purpose standard. He felt it would cost significantly more than these quotes to have grass cuttings collected each time it is cut.
After some discussion, it was proposed by Coun Reeves and seconded by Coun Harradine that the contract for 2009 should be awarded to Mr R Bartingale. There were no amendments proposed.
The Chairman reported that Mr Bartingale had not charged for the recent cut of the cemetery hedge and requested that the

CORRESPONDENCE:

Yesteryear Road Run - the Chairman had received a verbal request for the vintage vehicles to be allowed to park on the Recreation Ground next year. It was generally felt this could cause access problems and agreed he should suggest it would be preferable for the organisers to publicise that they stop along the airfield road to give residents the opportunity to view the vehicles close up.

A resident had complained again about moles in the cemetery. The Chairman informed her that a pest control firm had dealt with them several times over the past year but they keep returning. It was generally felt that it was not cost effective to continue to call out the pest control firm so regularly. However, it was agreed to keep this under review.

Perretts Amusements - request to hold a traditional fair on Recreation Ground on 17th, 18th & 19th July. After a lengthy discussion it was proposed by Coun Harradine and seconded by Coun Reeves that the request should be denied on the basis of potential noise nuisance from generators to nearby residents. The Clerk will, however, inform Mrs Perrett of the planned Village Day next June and suggest she contacts the Pavilion Committee.

CCC - Street Lighting Maintenance & Energy 2008/09. Total cost for maintenance will be

PLANNING

Bedford Markets, Phypers Farm, Dry Drayton Rd - change of use from pasture land to be used for public car boot sales & associated parking on Saturdays and Bank Holidays between 7 am and 9pm (retrospective application) - Objections on road safety basis.
(Chairman's Delegation Meeting - 10 Dec - officer recommendation for approval)
Coun Bradney agreed to contact David Lines regarding the road safety issues already raised on several occasions.

Mr G Brasnett, Plot 2 64 Water Lane - 3 bedroom detached house - no objections.
Mr/Ms V & P Brasnett, land to s/w of 64 Water Lane - dwelling - no objections

Decisions

H Beaumont, 1 Cambridge Road - extension - approved
Mrs Kuok, 32 Saxon Close - extension - approved
Ms P Hall - 7 Croft Lane - extension - approved.

BILLS FOR PAYMENT:

Mick George	demolition & removal of scout hut	5875.00
R Bartingale	grass cutting from 9.2.08 - 9.10.08	3072.00
Stearn Construction Ltd	erection of lamp columns, bollards & posts at Sports Pavilion	1196.00
AFP Health & Safety Consultants	final invoice re planning supervision fees, Pavilion	611.00
Cambridgeshire ACRE	annual membership 2009	25.00
A J Milton	refund re bulbs & post box for Pavilion	95.28
Cancer Research UK	donation in memory of Ralph Warboys	20.00
D Reeves	refund re bulbs	11.92
R Bell	street lights & cleaning 4.11.08 - 8.12.08 5 weeks @   Direct Debits : 11785.93 British Gas Business - Pavilion electricity 1.10.08 - 31.10.08 : 92.13 British Gas Business - Pavilion gas 1.10.08 - 31.10.08 : 91.42 It was proposed by Coun Ward and seconded by Coun Harradine that these bills be paid. All agreed.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS A new trustee is needed for the Oakington Charities. Coun Bailey kindly offered. Hedge at No. 4/6 High Street is overhanging footway. Coun Ward suggested minuting the date the interactive signs were installed so that everyone is aware of how long they have never worked! (thought to be 2005) Coun Grove reported there is often a lot of surface water outside the kitchen at rear of pub, making it treacherous when it freezes. Coun Bailey suggested consideration should be given to a 'permanent' memorial to Ralph Warboys. Coun Grove agreed to seek ideas from the History Society. Noted that his family should also be consulted. A kerbstone at the Cambridge Road narrowing needs to be reinstalled. Coun Bradney reported that David Lines had already responded to his email about the Saturday Markets and confirmed he would be contacting the relevant planning officer. The Chairman and Coun Reeves had attended a joint CCC, SCDC, PCs meeting on 'working together'. The Chairman had not found it very useful, and one speaker let slip that, unlike District and County Councils, Parish Councils are not capped, thereby revealing a possible hidden agenda, like the passing on of the costs of certain street lights a few years ago. Much was made by various speakers about Parish Plans, but representatives of Linton and others were quick to point out that theirs took a lot of time and effort to produce, but they felt that they disappeared into a black hole when they were handed in to the higher authorities. Coun Bradney had also attended and reported that the new Local Area Agreement stipulates that there has got to be partnership working and CCC will be judged on how it works with parish councils. A member of the public reported that the roots of the tree on Stocks Green are lifting the tarmac on the footpath. Coun Bradney agreed to contact Matt Pickering about this. The meeting closed at 9.30 pm. Archive LONGSTANTON ROAD December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 Archive - April 2008 and earlier