Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 13th July 2009 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 Sidaway, Mrs J Grove, Coun S Edwards (SCDC), Coun N Bolitho (SCDC), Coun S Gymer (CCC) the Clerk and 3 members of the public.
Coun D Jenkins (CCC)
The Minutes of the meeting of 15th July 2009 were approved and then signed by the Chairman
None
as Sue Gymer needed to leave early, agreed to allow her to report first.
Her new CCC role includes membership of Area Joint Committee, CYPS Scrutiny Committee, Environment Committee and Fire Authority Committee.
She had spoken to Nuttalls regarding the earth bank at Oakington Stop. The earth works have all been completed and the bank will be left as it is. The Chairman asked her to reiterate our request for a turning circle at the site, as if land is available for an earth bank, there is room for a turning circle. The Clerk will supply Sue with copies of any relevant correspondence about this. There may be some money available for dropped kerbs. Sue asked if any are needed in the parish to let her know details.
The Chairman asked her to take up the issue of a reduction of the speed limit in Cambridge Road to 30mph. Several unsuccessful applications had been made under the Minor Highways Scheme. The most recent ‘excuse’ for not considering this reduction was that a national review of speed limits was taking place and the outcome awaited. However, it was noted that a 20mph speed limit reduction had been agreed for the whole of Girton (as part of a trial of 17 villages). Sue commented that Girton had scored highly on the accident criteria used for chosen villages. There is also only £15,000 in the budget to pay for the signs so only a limited number of villages were selected. However, she agreed to take up the issue of Cambridge Road again.
The Chairman reported that PCSO Ison had undertaken quite a few speed checks along the road recently and had been surprised about the high volume of speeding vehicles. The Chairman commented that when the national speed limit of 60 mph applied most drivers had to make a conscious decision to apply the brakes to slow down when they entered the 30 mph limit, whereas when going from 40 to 30 mph only a minor adjustment of the accelerator is necessary, and so they are more likely to reduce speed much more slowly. By extending the limit to Midfield Lodge, this effect would move to that location and so drivers would be more likely to be within the speed limit before reaching the inhabited stretch of road.
minutes of recent meeting had been circulated. No items relevant to Oakington.
Coun Bolitho had received a glossy brochure from Northstowe Land Plc offering 10.4 acres available for private investment on the site. (noted this is land appears to be that owned by Mr Wright, Brookfield Farm).
planning officer recommendation for approval.
nothing new to report.
Building - not yet signed over as Murfitts are still dealing with the snagging list. An inspection of the hall flooring is due to take place on Thursday 16th July.
MUGA - DOE Sports contract had been signed. Awaiting start date. SCDC Planning Dept had queried the necessity for 3m high fencing for the entirety of the area. Neil Cook had hopefully now sorted this out with Jane Lampshire, Sports Development Officer as she had been part of the consultation on the design of the MUGA.
Intruder Alarm - all fobs had now been issued. Some discussion about the need to have alarm linked to a phone line. The Alarm Company had informed the Clerk that a separate dedicated phone line would be needed. Coun Sidaway offered to investigate further.
the Chairman is still looking into the new regulations.
Coun Reeves had kindly cleared up the cemetery and filled 8 bags of non-compostable rubbish, which SCDC had removed. A lot of compostable rubbish remains, and we need to take steps to stop eliminate this problem.
He had produced a sign requesting cemetery visitors to take arisings home.
The Funeral Directors for the most recent burial had been asked to request the family to arrange to remove all arisings, and this will be the norm henceforth.
an engraved brass plaque had been purchased from Brunel Engraving Company. The Chairman will install it on the Chapel.
the Clerk will ask Roger Bell to return the additional black bin provided for village litter. Agreed to locate it at the Pavilion.
external audit not yet completed.
– the Clerk had reported the items raised at previous meeting.
The Chairman had received a copy of a letter sent from Mrs Hymas to CCC about the overhanging hedge on footway at the junction of Water Lane/High Street.
draft easement had finally been received, although no plans were included. The Chairman had responded and asked Anglian Water to delete references to the pipeline belonging to the Parish Council and the requirement for the Parish Council to keep the outlet clear and safe. He made the point that everything to do with the pipe is the responsibility of Anglian Water.
unfortunately a letter of resignation had been received from Coun Sidaway as she is moving away from the area. Therefore, there are now two vacancies. The Clerk will notify SCDC.
PCSO had issued some penalty notices and confirmed he would continue to monitor this
Copies of the 2008/09 risk assessment had been circulated prior to the meeting.
Agreed to delete item 3 under ‘Risks that we can reasonably expect will not occur in this period’ as the scout hut had now been demolished.
Agreed all other risks noted remained relevant for 2009/10.
No additional risks identified.
The Clerk will produce an updated risk document.
Mr R Beech – request for information under Freedom of Information Act. Copies of last three years accounts supplied on 6th July.
SCDC – Gypsy & Traveller Development Plan – consultation period 10 July to 9 Oct
(Various exhibitions to take place during July)
Jo Roberts – ‘Busway Bricks’ for the Guided Busway – Coun Grove will ask the History Society members if they have any suggestions for suitable wording for the artwork to be erected near the Oakington Stop.
Coun Joan Sidaway – letter of resignation.
Guided Busway Update June 09
Cambridgeshire Archaeology Historic Environment Team Report 2008-09
Green Vision News – June 09
Local Council Review – Summer 09
COPE – July 09
Clerks & Councils Direct July 09
Community Action Summer 09
South Cambs Parish Forum meetings on 23rd Sept & 8th Oct
CCC – Position Statements – Children’s Centres Development in Cambridgeshire
CCC - Guided Busway - Discharge of Condition 5 - Lighting System
G Brasnett, land to s/w of 64 Water Lane - dwelling - refused
| Towergate Coverex - insurance for Village day | 210.00 |
| NALC - annual subscription to Local Council Review | 13.50 |
| J Milton - refund re plaque for R Warboys | 79.66 |
| South Cambs DC - Discharge of planning re MUGA fencing | 85.00 |
| Alarm Company - annual maintenance of Pavilion intruder & fire alarm + 5 alarm fobs |
775.91 |
| L Lawrence - clerk's salary 16.6.09 - 13.7.09 30 hours @ £10.07 = 302.10 + phone allowance = 30.00 + travel expenses = 5.87 + Pavilion admin, 1 hour @ 10.07 |
348.04 |
| 1512.11 |
Coun Graves expressed concern about speeding vehicles in Westwick, despite the fact that interactive signs are working. However, she hoped this would improve when Guided Bus is up and running.
Coun Grove stated that as Coun Sidaway had resigned, another councillor would need to fill her place on the Pavilion Committee. Coun Reeves agreed to take this on.
There is a dead tree on Oakington side of Gatehouse Road by the brook. The Clerk will report to Matt Pickering.
Road markings need to be put back in Dry Drayton Road following resurfacing works.
Window in Pavilion (ladies toilets) had been shattered by vandals and needs to be replaced. This had been reported to Police with a possible suspect's name. However, Tony Leadley had checked CCTV and had been unable to find any sign of perpetrator(s). (Possible 'blind spot' to be investigated)
Coun Bolitho reported that CCC had patched a number of potholes.
The Chairman stated that there is still a soft patch on Gatehouse Road which has oozed up on to the kerb. Coun Grove reported that there is still a pothole in Longstanton Road. She will advise Coun Bolitho of the exact location so he can take this up with CCC.
Coun Reeves had agreed to join the Connections Bus Management Committee.
The Clerk will write to CCC about the extension to 30 mph limit in Cambridge Road.
A member of the public asked if Longstanton Road is being closed this week due to resurfacing. The Chairman responded that a public notice in the Cambridge News notified that major work is to be done at St Michaels. Closure is to start on 15th July but it is not known how long it will be shut.
The meeting closed at 8.30 pm.