Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 8th February 2010 at the Sports Pavilion, Queens Way, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
Mr A Milton (Chairman), Mr D Reeves Vice Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mrs Y Graves, Mr P Harradine, Mrs J Grove, Mr M Barnett, Mrs J Mowatt, Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun S Gymer (CCC), the Clerk and 2 members of the public.
10. Mrs A Christie, Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun T Wotherspoon (SCDC)
11. The Minutes of the meeting of 11th January 2010 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
12. None
13.1 Item ref 4.1 Potential Redevelopment of West Goods Yard - nothing new to report.
13.2 Item ref 4.2 Guided Bus - Coun Reeves had attended the recent liaison group meeting and raised the following issues:
Sloping platform - Bob Menzies stated that rolling tests show that the slope is sufficient for drainage but is not hazardous for people.
Flooding - CCC is trying to get Environment Agency to agree to connect ditch in field to Beck Brook. Failing that CCC will raise the section of maintenance track that floods.
Gritting - P & R staff will be responsible for gritting bus stops.
13.3 Item ref 4.3 Northstowe - Couns Grove & Reeves will attend Northstowe Forum meeting on 10th Feb.
Chairman reported that Tim Wotherspoon is now the portfolio holder for Northstowe.
13.4 Item ref 4.4 Pavilion - Neil cook is dealing with the issue of leaking roof and the failed pane of glass in hall doors. There is still an alarm failure on the rear door that requires investigation.
13.5 Item refs 4.5 Cemetery - regulations had been amended and are now complete.
13.6 Item ref 4.6 Litter - 2 residents had already volunteered to litter pick.
13.7 Item ref 4.7 Play Area - an email had been received from Duncan Sayer, Lecturer in Archaeology, Lancashire University offering to undertake a student excavation in spring/summer that would be ‘substantially’ cheaper than a commercial one. It would require the parish council to hire a JCB and access to a local camping ground would be needed.
After some discussion it was agreed to contact Oxford Archaeology East to ask if they would accept the proposal and liaise with the History Society to ascertain if they are interested in being involved with this.
Couns Grove & Reeves will progress this.
13.8 Item ref 4.8 Connections Bus - Coun Reeves had attended a recent management meeting. A new fundraiser had suggested a ‘book of offers’ idea which could generate income of £10K for the project.
Notification had been received of a weekly fee increase from £83.14 to £87.44 with effect from 20th April 10.
13.9 Item ref 4.9 Pinch Point, Cambridge Rd - Coun Gymer reported that there is no budget available for this at present. Highways had confirmed it would be feasible to look at the work after 1st April but could make no commitment re funding.
Coun Reeves highlighted a section of the Growth Area Fund report which stated that £300k had been spent/allocated to Oakington for traffic calming and cycle-way provision in 2004-2012. He will ask the Northstowe Forum meeting if this has all been spent.
13.10 Item ref 4.11 Flooding - noted that gully cleaning in Mill Road appeared to have helped the flooding issue so far.
13.11 Item ref 4.13 Cherry Orchard footpath - Coun Gymer had not been able to establish who is responsible for dealing with this. She will seek advice from Matt Pickering as he had arranged for the previous patching work to be done.
13.12 Item ref 4.14 Interactive sign at Westwick - still not working. Coun Gymer will follow up.
13.13 Item ref 4.16 New Woodland - tree-planting day on Sat 27th Feb.
13.14 Item ref 6.2 Allotments - agreed to have this as an agenda item at annual parish meeting on 28th April.
In the meantime, various options for potential land will be investigated further.
(Coun Reeves reported that Charlotte Jordan’s winter pasture is not available for lease/purchase at present.)
13.15 Item ref 6.3 Vehicular access, Stocks Green - this is registered as a village green and therefore it is illegal to take vehicles on there. However, the parish council had granted an easement to no. 10 High Street to allow the resident access to her property and to the Baptist Chapel to park on the Green during services. The former owner of 45 High Street did not apply for access within the stipulated timescale when the easement was granted. The parish council does not have the power to grant access rights now. The Chairman had responded to Miller & Sands Solicitors accordingly.
It was noted that the new owners of no. 45 had moved in.
13.16 Item ref 6.4 Street Lights - Coun Gymer had reported the issue of dirty light covers.
13.17 Item ref 9.1 Hedges - noted that the hedge near the school had now been cut back.
Coun Mowatt had spoken to the shop owner about the overgrown bushes near the shop. He is prepared to cut them back but would like a dog bin installed in return as dog owners are using his litter bin for dog waste. Coun Mowatt will ask him where he would like it located so an application can be made to SCDC.
14.1 Proposed by Chairman and seconded by Coun Reeves that the Pavilion Committee contribution for 2009/10 should be set at £2000. All agreed.
Noted that this will not cover the cost of annual utility bills.
15.1 SCDC - Development of Land to West of 5 High Street - payment of Public Open Space Contribution. Couns Milton & Reeves signed Indemnity for the payment of £3102.04
15.2 Connections Bus Project - notification of increase of weekly session amount from £83.24 to £87.44 with effect from 20 April 10.
15.3 Duncan Sayer, Lecturer in Archaeology at University of Central Lancashire - offering to do a training excavation at Rec for students in spring/summer. (Email)
Clerk & Councils Direct Jan 2010
Connections Bus - Sept - Dec 09 report
CCC - Consultation on Cambridgeshire’s Third Local Transport Plan
COPE newsletter Feb 2010
S Gymer - CCC Jan update
Histon Neighbourhood Panel notes 12 Jan 10
SCDC - Adoption of Site Specific Development Plan Document
CCC - Rights of Way Improvement Plan - due to reduced Government funding all countryside access projects will be terminated with effect from 1 April 10.
SCDC - Parish Councils Liaison Meeting notes 25th Nov 09
Clerk & Councils Direct Jan 10
Connections Bus Project - report Sept - Dec 09
CCC - Consultation on Cambridgeshire’s Third Local Transport Plan
16.1 Mrs Sweeney, 2 Lowbury Crescent, ref S/1668/09/F - extension - approved
16.1 Approval of outstanding accounts as follows:
| R Bartingale | grass cutting/hedge pruning 2009 as per schedule | 3034.00 |
| T Leadley | Pavilion caretaker salary 1.1.10-31.1.10 19.5 hours @ £8 |
156.00 |
| L Lawrence | Clerk’s salary 12.1.10-8.2.10 30 hours’ £10.50= £315.00 + phone allowance = £30.00 + travel expenses = £6.10 + Pavilion admin = £31.50 + refund printer toner cartridge = £30.45 | 413.05 |
| British Gas Business | Pavilion Gas 1.12.09-31.12.09 | 222.18M |
| British Gas Business | Pavilion Electricity 1.12.09-31.12.09 | 300.07 |
It was proposed by Coun Reeves and seconded by Coun Grove that these bills be paid.
Agreed.
17.1 Guided Bus stop - noted that the grass bank had been churned up by cyclists/walkers who had not been able to use the maintenance track due to flooding. The contractor will be responsible for rectifying this.
17.2 MUGA paved area - noted that young people have been climbing the MUGA fence on Monday evenings to switch on lights so they can see to play basketball on the paved area. This had been reported to Connections Bus workers who had spoken to those concerned. The young people had requested a second basketball post and this is being used as a ‘carrot’ to deter future attempts to switch the MUGA lights on.
It was understood that the Pavilion Comm. is to arrange for some PIR lights to be installed in that area. Couns Grove & Barnett will raise this at the next Pavilion meeting.
17.3 Gritting - Coun Bailey enquired if there had been a change of policy as the roads were treacherous after the heavy frost on 1st Feb.
Coun Gymer responded that it was due to Government policy allowing grit to be diverted to other areas in greater need. As a result CCC had only 1 or 2 days salt in stock so were being more economical with it and only gritting the main routes. Coun Gymer didn’t know if new grit supplies had been received.
17.4 Gas contractors appear to be digging up roads in various places and then leaving the ‘holes’ for weeks (e.g. Girton, Lambs Lane Cottenham). No one knew why this is happening.
17.5 Accident near school - Coun Gymer will arrange for the glass to be cleared away.
17.6 Pavilion hire - a number of requests had been received to hire the Pavilion for private parties. Noted that due to HMRC constraints the Pavilion can only be hired for sport-related activities. The Pavilion Comm. is to issue a policy notice on this and publish in the newsletter.
17.7 Hedges - Coun Mowatt is dealing with contacting the owners of various overgrown hedges. She had obtained a quote for £25 per hour for hedge cutting. Agreed to ask R Bartingale to quote also.
17.8 Coun Gymer suggested putting forward a planning proposal to allow Northstowe residents cycle/walking access to the existing pubs and shops in Oakington & Longstanton as way of helping to attract more trade to these businesses. No objections provided that Longstanton Road & Station Road are not opened up to vehicles.
There were no comments/questions from members of the public.
The meeting closed at 8.45pm
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