Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 14th June 2010 at the Sports Pavilion, Queens Way, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
Mr J Bailey, Mr P Harradine, Mr D Reeves (Chairman), Mrs A Christie, Mrs J Grove, Mr M Barnett, Mrs J Mowatt (Vice-chair), Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC) (part meeting), Coun L Harford (SCDC), Coun D Jenkins (CCC) (part meeting), Coun S Gymer (CCC) (part meeting), the Clerk and 3 members of the public.
51. Mr L Navarro.
52. The Minutes of the meeting of 17th May 2010 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
53. None.
As Coun Jenkins (CCC) needed to leave the meeting early, he was invited by the Chairman to highlight items raised in the CCC May report.
Disappointingly, there had been very little progress on the Guided Bus. CCC cabinet is to be updated tomorrow.
Concern about the reduction in grant funding which will inevitably result in some reductions in services.
He had visited Oakington Primary School today and was very impressed. A 'good' Ofsted report had just been received by the school.
54.1 Item Ref 45.4 Station Road Ditch - Mr Milton was not in attendance. Therefore, no update on progress available.
54.2 Item Ref 45.7 Village Pond - the Chairman reported that Pat Matthews (SCDC) had arranged for gully to be cleared and a new metal grid placed on the outlet. Agreed to leave cleaning until later in the year.
54.3 Item Ref 45.8 Tomato Farm Leylandii - Coun Gymer will follow up with Keith Faunch (Highways).
In response to a question, she confirmed that if the owner does not comply with a written request to cut it back, CCC can do it and charge the owner.
54.4 Item Ref 45.9 Cemetery Hedge - Coun Grove had obtained a quote from Clarks of Balsham for £38.62 + VAT for 10 yards of 4ft high chestnut paling (supply only). Agreed to purchase for the section opposite MUGA.
54.5 Item Ref 45.10 Accounts 2009/10 - Clerk reported that the external auditor had acknowledged receipt of the annual return.
A proposal form had been received from Allianz to obtain a quote for increase in Fidelity Guarantee. Agreed to submit for cover of £100,000. Chairman and Vice-chair signed the proposal form at end of meeting.
54.6 Item Ref 45.12 Highways Issues - the following issues were reported to Couns Gymer and Harland:
• Pothole at cross roads had been filled but is already back again.
• Still glass on Water Lane at pinch point.
• Chairman asked Coun Harland to obtain clarification on the road sweeping procedure - how often and where do they clean?
• Graffiti on 'Give Way' sign in Cambridge Road
• Graffiti on 'Reduce your speed' sign in Dry Drayton Rd
• Direction sign near pinch point in Cambridge Road completely obscured by overhanging trees
55.1 Update from Coun Christie - not much to report at present. Play Committee will be holding a stall on Village Day and displaying final plans. She will bring any comments back to next meeting.
In response to a question, she confirmed that one main contractor would be appointed to deal with the whole project.
55.2 Future S106 contributions - agreed in principle that any future contributions would be allocated to the play area. Noted that home owner/developer has to be consulted.
55.3 Facebook - Coun Christie assured the meeting that she would monitor the Facebook page and ensure any inappropriate comments posted on the 'wall' are deleted. So far, all comments had been positive and supportive. Noted it provides a useful source of obtaining feedback from residents.
55.4 Digger quote - a written quote had been received from Gavin Stearn for £1816.85 + VAT. Verbal quote from Edgar Stearn was for approx £1000. The Chairman will follow up on this.
55.5 Contribution towards Saxons display on Village Day - proposed by Coun Grove and seconded by Coun Christie that a contribution of a maximum of £500 should be made to University of Central Lancashire towards costs of the display.
A vote was taken and all agreed.
55.6 Temporary siting of tool store and site hut on car park - the Chairman and Coun Grove had agreed the location with the archaeology team.
55.7 Existing play area weeds - Coun Harradine had sprayed the weeds with Round-up and will do so again. He had obtained a quote for digging over the bark, etc (£300).
Agreed not to proceed with this as much of the bark is now just soil so it would not be worth the financial outlay.
The Chairman will remove the holly bush.
Noted that some of the Rec trees need some work on them. (including the removal of one chestnut)
56.1 The Chairman updated the meeting on progress to date.
The Cambridge Road allotments are privately owned and administered by Mr Koehler, Oakington and Westwick Allotment Society.
The land was made available in 1942 and at that time satisfied the Parish Council's duty to provide allotments.
Part of the existing allotment land is hired to a man who keeps ponies there. (equivalent of 4 plots). The owner was consulted on this at the time and there is a formal agreement in place.
Mr Koehler had informed the Chairman that there is only one person on the waiting list and there is currently one plot available. The Clerk pointed out that the Parish Council also has a waiting list of approx 8 people.
It was agreed that she should obtain feedback from them as to whether they still require an allotment and if they had contacted Mr Koehler.
The Chairman is also meeting with Peter Studdert and Ed Durrant (SCDC) on 2nd July regarding the Parish Council acquiring (buying or leasing) some land near the guided bus track.
Couns Christie and Mowatt will contact Mr Koehler for information on the current lettings structure and inform him of the Parish Council waiting list.
(Coun Bailey left the meeting at this point).
57.1 Minutes of the most recent Pavilion Committee meeting had been circulated by the Clerk. No major concerns or issues were raised.
The Chairman updated the meeting on the VAT situation. HMRC had not issued a definitive response to the query regarding hiring the Pavilion for private parties and had referred the Parish Council back to Public Notice 749. The Chairman had looked at further information online but reported that it is extremely complicated.
After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that the Chairman could contact an HMRC VAT officer for guidance and ask if he/she could attend our next meeting. The Chairman will also seek advise from CPALC.
58.1 After a lengthy discussion the following was agreed:
• Coun Barnett to draft a model specification for enhanced grass cutting on the Rec in general but the 'pitch' area in particular.
• Coun Barnett to look into the cost for signage - e.g. 'No Dogs on Recreation Ground', 'Dog Walk'
• Consider installing another dog waste bin near 'dog walk' July agenda
59.1 Coun Barnett will report on this at next meeting. July agenda
60.1 Noted that there is a need to avoid misunderstandings and be transparent in all communications on the behalf of the Parish Council. Agreed the following:
• All correspondence sent on behalf of the Parish Council should be copied to the Clerk for the files.
• Draft letters should be taken to a meeting for approval or circulated by email for consensus.
• If writing on behalf of the Parish Council, a statement must not be made if the relevant matter has not been previously agreed at a meeting.
• All personal correspondence should include the disclaimer that they are the personal opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the view of the Parish Council.
61.1 CCC - Strategy and Estates - potential delivery of 'exceptions' housing site of 33 units at Mansel Farm, Cambridge Road - read out by Clerk. Agreed to discuss at next meeting. July agenda
61.2 RoSPA - Play Area Inspection Report 28 April 2010 - no 'high' risk concerns. Report will be circulated.
61.3 SCDC - Telephone Kiosks - Clerk will obtain more information on current usage of phone box in Longstanton Road and retention options.
61.4 RAF - Annual Pathfinder March - Saturday 19 June
61.5 SCDC - Parish Council Member on Standards Committee - 2 supporting statements read out by Clerk.
61.6 SCDC - Confirmation from Monitoring Officer that Register of Members' Interests forms have been received.
61.7 Circulation
CCC - D Jenkins and S Gymer - May report - circulated by email prior to meeting
Northstowe Parish Forum - minutes 24 May 10
COPE Newsletter June 10
Cambridgeshire ACRE - Products and Services Guide
Highways Agency - A14 Trunk Road - Side Roads Order amendments
Local Council Review - Summer 10
62.1 Miss R Denton-Cowell, 1 Longstanton Road - change of use from retail to beauty salon ref S/0662/10/F - Recommend: APPROVAL but express concern re lack of car parking spaces.
62.2 Mr C Nunn, 2 Phypers Cottages, Dry Drayton Rd - extensions - ref S/0832/10/F
Recommend: APPROVAL.
Decisions
62.3 S Green, 19 Mead View ref S/0496/10/F - front roof extension - approved
63.1 Approval of outstanding accounts as follows:
| Playsafety Ltd | annual inspection of play area | 81.08 |
| P Harradine | refund weed killer, play area | 17.95 |
| T Leadley | caretaker's salary May 10 | 148.00 |
| L Lawrence | clerk's salary 18.5.10-14.6.10 (30hrs) | £315.00 |
| + telephone allowance | £30.00 | |
| travel expenses | £4.21 | |
| Pavilion admin (2.5 hrs) | £26.25 | |
| 375.46 |
BT - Pavilion phone - rent 1.6.10-31.8.10, calls 27.4 -10.5 60.62
Direct Debits
British Gas Business - Pavilion Gas 1.5.10-31.5.10 96.39
British Gas Business - Pavilion Electricity 1.5.10-31.5.10 178.16
957.66
It was proposed by Coun Grove and seconded by Coun Mowatt that these bills be paid. Agreed.
50.1 Coun Harradine suggested obtaining a quote to have existing play area weeds dealt with.
50.2 Coun Mowatt reported that the Saxon Close bus shelter graffiti had been painted over and looks much better.
50.3 Coun Christie would like the Parish Council to adopt a 'more positive approach to young people' as outlined in the recent survey undertaken by Andrew Lansley, MP.
50.4 Coun Christie congratulated Coun Barnett on the 'unofficial musings of a parish councillor' in the community newsletter.
50.5 Coun Navarro would like the Parish Council to pursue the issue of poor Broadband speeds in the village. Coun Barnett will bring some suggestions to the next meeting. (June Agenda)
50.6 Some residents had asked why the Yesteryear Road Run vehicles had not diverted though the village to the Rec this year. The Chairman stated that the organisers had established a preferred route in advance as they had experienced problems last year getting the vehicles past parked cars.
50.7 Coun Grove reported that the overgrown woodland area on the Histon footpath is to be dealt with by Andrew Grimmer (Tree Officer, SCDC).
50.8 Coun Wotherspoon (SCDC) had nothing new to report.
50.9 Mr Milton reported the following:
• He will hand the Cemetery documents etc to the Clerk. Agreed that he could work with her to explain procedures.
• Pothole near crossroads has been filled in but is already starting to form again.
• He asked Coun Barnett to put the new Parish Council contact details in the next newsletter
• He thanked everyone for their help and support over the past years.
There were no other questions/comments from members of the public.
The meeting closed at 9.05pm
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