Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 7 FEBRUARY 2011 at the Sports Pavilion, Queens Way, Oakington at 7.30pm.
Mr P Harradine, Mr D Reeves (Chairman), Mrs A Christie, Mrs J Grove, Mr L Navarro, Mr M Barnett, Mrs J Mowatt (Vice-chair), Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun L Harford (SCDC) Coun D Jenkins (CCC), the Clerk, and 5 members of the public.
18.1 The Minutes of the meeting of 10th January 2011 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
19.1 None.
20.1 Mrs Graves reported that the light opposite her property in Westwick is not working. (No.8)
20.2 Mrs Graves reported that there is a tree leaning over the Busway track near the brook bridge.
(Coun Jenkins will report both items)
21.1 Written report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
Coun Jenkins reported that the C6 bus service would not be affected by CCC budget cuts as it is not a subsidised service.
He will report back on reduction in post 16 provision and the current situation re pre-school funding.
22.1 Written report by Coun Harford had been circulated prior to the meeting.
22.2 Coun Edwards updated the Council on SCDC finances. Council tax will be frozen in 2011/2012 but likely to increase the following year.
The Government had passed on £2.5m Housing Revenue debt.
22.3 Coun Edwards will look into provision of a litterbin at Midfield bus shelter.
23.1. Item Ref 11/ 7.2 Allotments – No update from Ed Durrant, CCC.
Coun Edwards offered to follow up.
Informal meeting had taken place this evening with Stephen Conrad, CCC Strategy & Estates and Mike Sugden, Lovell Partnership re potential development of Mansell Farm site including possibility of some allotment land next to the site.
23.2 Item Ref 11/7.3 Broadband speeds – Coun Barnett reported there is little likelihood of the Histon exchange being upgraded in the near future.
He has had a discussion with a broadband company which is installing a transmitter at the Science Park and can provide minimum 20MB speeds. A small antenna would need to be installed at a high point in the village. Cost not yet known.
23.3 Item Ref 11/7.4 Connections Bus – still no response to advert for volunteers.
23.4 Item Ref 11/7.6 Airfield Road – Coun Jenkins reported that CCC had arranged a meeting on 1st March 4.30pm –6.30pm at Castle Court with Longstanton, Oakington and Girton PCs. The Chairman will attend.
23.5 Item Ref 11/7.7 Tomato Farm – Coun Jenkins and Gymer had met with officers and pointed out the issues with the overhanging trees. They will follow up on this.
23.6 Item Ref 11/7.8 Airfield Hedge – Coun Mowatt reported that HCA had confirmed that the hedge on Mill Road side of airfield would be dealt with.
24.1 Coun Christie reported that latest quote for the work is £120K +VAT. (This is likely to be reduced by a few thousand.) Quote includes installation but not dismantling/clearance of the existing play area.
She will bring 3 written quotes to the next meeting.
The outcome of the WREN application (for a maximum of £50k) would be known in May.
An application to SCDC would be submitted this month.
Awaiting outcome of Big Lottery bid.
Donarbon will not accept an application until funding is achieved from another provider first.
She was asked to produce a rough schedule.
It was agreed that it would not be possible for the Council to make a decision on the final contribution until the results of the grant applications are known.
25.1 Contribution towards costs from Pavilion Committee – proposed by Coun Harradine and seconded by Coun Mowatt that the Council accepts the offer of £6,000 towards costs for 2010/11. All agreed.
Noted that MUGA and lottery income was down slightly this year.
The Clerk had negotiated a new 2-year contract with British Gas for gas supply, equating to a saving of approx £600 PA.
The Clerk confirmed there is now a procedure in place for all lettings. This forms part of the hire agreement.
25.2 Flood damage – the Chairman had met with Pica Flooring who had installed the original hall flooring. There is a small amount of lifting but it does not require any attention. Pica recommended removal of the tape used to mark out a badminton court and suggested it would be preferable to paint lines on the flooring and then lacquer over at a cost of approx £1,000. The Pavilion Committee is to ascertain if the local badminton group is likely to continue in the long term as painted lines would cost approx £300.
The Heatsure service agreement with British Gas may need to be re-negotiated or cancelled as it appears it doesn’t cover the whole system. A quote will also be obtained from Munro.
26. 1 Coun Barnett handed out examples of suggested signs and a location diagram.
Wording was agreed but some concern expressed about the size of some of the signs.
Cost will be approx £630 in total.
Agreed Coun Barnett would get them printed on A3 paper initially to see if suitable.
Final decision to be made at March meeting.
27.1 The Clerk had circulated a draft Risk Assessment and Risk Schedule prior to the meeting. Agreed to add in ‘Outside Events – oversight of risk assessments produced by other organisations/clubs’.
The Risk Assessment for 2011 was then approved.
The Clerk will update the Schedule when required.
Coun Barnett will ask the Community Association to produce a risk assessment for Village Day by the May Parish Council meeting.
Coun Grove will ask the Yesteryear organisers to provide a risk assessment for the Road Run by the March meeting as they will be using the Recreation Ground.
28.1 Agreed that Coun Mowatt should replace Mr Milton as a bank account signatory.
The Clerk is awaiting the necessary forms from Santander. Coun Christie kindly offered to complete Certificate of Identification form.
Noted that Santander had charged £3.52 overdraft interest due to an error on their part in not processing a telephone transfer request. The Chairman is to follow up on this.
Agreed to consider opening a second bank account with another bank due to the £50,000 limit on FSA Compensation Scheme. The Clerk will investigate options and report back at March meeting.
29.1. Sarah Shepherd, CCC (email) – inviting a councillor to attend the new bridge at Mansell Wood re a press release to publicise the farms estate. Coun Navarro offered to attend.
29.2 Circulation
(Emails circulated prior to meeting.)
CCC- Airfield Road meeting 1st March, 4.30pm – 6.30pm at Castle Court – Chairman to attend.
Councillor Professional Dev Training with Girton PC 1 – 3 Feb – Coun Navarro had attended and found it very useful.
SCDC – Speeding stickers for bins
SCDC – Parish Council Liaison meeting – 29 March 7- 8.30pm, South Cambs Hall
CCC – message from Mark Lloyd, Chief Exec re budget cuts
Councillors’ Surgeries – commencing 4 Feb – on notice boards
CPALC Winter Bulletin – copy to each councillor
CPALC – Allotment workshop, 5 March – Coun Navarro to attend
SCDC – Planning service survey
CCC – Parish Council’s HCV meeting, 2 March 7-9pm Swavesey VC
Clerks and Councils Direct
SLCC – Cambs Branch Newsletter Feb 11
30.1 To consider new application- Mrs I Hessey, 2A The Drift – siting of mobile home Ref S/0007/11 – (The Chairman declared an interest as applicant is a near neighbour) - no objections from other members.
(Coun Harford will look into this further as the original application Ref S/0365/10) had been approved in Nov 10.)
30.2 To consider new application – Coun T Bygott, 9 Station Road – two storey side & rear extensions Ref S/0116/11 – no objections
30.3 To consider new application for tree works in Conservation Area – I Bradley, Scallywags Day Nursery – removal of 2 pear trees Ref C/11/40/074 – no objections
30.4 Notification of appeal against refusal by Mr and Mrs Andrews, 1 Station Road – extensions Ref S/0794/10/F
30.5 Decisions
T McDonald, 10 Arcadia Gardens – single storey side extension Ref S/1761/10 – approved.
31.1 Approval of outstanding invoices as follows:
Cambridgeshire CC – annual maintenance & energy street lighting
2010/11 609.90
Munro Building Services – works to HWS expansion tank &
Air pressures – Pavilion 588.38
Town & Country Tree Surgery – ivy removal from poplars at Rec 293.75
Connections Bus Project – 13 visits 6.9.10 – 13.12.10 1136.72
Richmond Fellowship – weed & litter removal, play area 45.00
T Leadley – Pavilion caretaker’s salary 1.1.11 – 31.1.11 as per t/sheet 184.00
L Lawrence – Clerk’s salary 11.1.11 – 7.2.11
40 hours @ LC2 P37 = £641.20
+ phone allowance = £30.00
+ travel expenses = £1.80
+ Pavilion admin – 4.5 hours @ LC1 P23 = £47.25 720.25
Direct Debits
British Gas Business – Pavilion electricity 1.12.10 – 31.12.10 181.44
British Gas Business – Pavilion gas 1.12.10- 31.12.10 368.51
British Gas Business – Heatsure boiler service agreement 33.29
Total 4161.24
It was proposed by Coun Harradine and seconded by Coun Navarro that these bills be paid. Agreed.
32.1 Coun Mowatt had reported fly tipping in the Pavilion car park. She had taken the licence plate number and reported it but this had proved to be a false plate.
32.2 Coun Mowatt had witnessed a father helping his child climb on to the Pavilion roof. She had reported the incident to the Police.
32.3 The Chairman updated the Council on the following meetings he had attended: North Area Flooding, Histon Sector Police Liaison Group, Northstowe Parish Forum and SCDC Parish Forum.
32.4 Dead muntjac deer near the church footpath had been reported to SCDC but is still there. Coun Edwards will follow up.
32.5 Mill Road potholes had been reported via www.fixmystreet.com. CCC had confirmed they would be dealt with.
32.6 Coun Navarro enquired if anyone had demographics information for the parish as it would be useful to look at this to develop a plan for the village. This prompted a suggestion of considering a Parish Plan. Agreed to put on agenda for March meeting. Noted that the 2011 Census would provide the statistical information.
32.7 The Chairman had drafted the annual newsletter and will circulate for comment.
32.8 Coun Barnett's belated apologies for absence from February meeting were accepted.
The meeting closed at 9.07pm
powered by Typomania