Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
MINUTES of meeting of the Parish Council held on 9th November 2009 at the Sports Pavilion, Queens Way, Oakington at 7.30 pm.
Mr A Milton (Chairman), Mr J Bailey, Mr P Harradine, Mr D Reeves (Vice chair), Mrs A Christie, Mrs J Grove, Mr M Barnett, Coun S Gymer (CCC), the Clerk and 4 members of the public.
Mrs Y Graves, Coun D Jenkins (CCC), Coun N Bolitho (SCDC)
The Minutes of the meeting of 12th October 2009 were approved and then signed by the Chairman.
None
Letter received from planners confirming that there will be black-top surface on the maintenance track between Histon and Longstanton.
Coun Reeves reported that the CCC website contains some useful information on the guided bus.
noted that no ordnance searches had taken place on the airfield this year.
noted that no ordnance searches had taken place on the airfield this year.
the Chairman reported that Tony Leadley (pavilion caretaker) can now programme the lights. To ensure costs are kept to a minimum the lights won’t come on until the players press the button behind the goal.
DOE will arrange for a hole to be cut in the lighting cabinet so cables can be fed through to external socket.
A second key had been requested for the cabinet.
Coun Reeves reported that the seven bags of rubble had been moved from the paving work area to the far side of the car park. Edgar Stearn should be dealing with removing them.
Cleaning - two quotes had been received. These will be taken to the next Pavilion Committee meeting.
Tap - the Pavilion Committee is to arrange for a tap to be installed in the referee changing room for the caretaker to use.
the Chairman will circulate draft regulations.
Coun Reeves had tried to contact Mr Bell regarding the black bin without success. He will follow up on this. Coun Gymer suggested that there might be some money available from SCDC to purchase litter-picking equipment. She will investigate further and report back.
no response from external auditor regarding the additional information supplied.
two enquiries received but no applications to date.
Coun Reeves had contacted CPALC to clarify pension regulations. He was informed that if a town/parish council has five or more employees those employees can band together and request that a pension fund be set up. Therefore, this is not applicable to this council with only two employees.
the public meeting had taken place on Tuesday 3rd November and was well attended. The meeting voted for the new play area to be located half way between the existing area and the former scout hut site. It was noted that this would be subject to a planning application.
Coun Christie had circulated an email from Kasia Gdaniec, CCC Senior Archaeologist prior to the meeting. Her advice is that the playground is ‘relocated to avoid incurring expensive excavation and analysis costs. If no new area can be identified, there will be no alternative to the requirement for a full archaeological excavation and publication of the human remains.
The Chairman suggested it might be worth contacting one of our MEPs to see if there would be any European funding available for a dig.
A member of the public suggested that it might be a nice idea to leave the archaeology in place for future generations.
It was noted that wherever the play area is sited a test dig will be required, costing approx £5000.
After some discussion Coun Christie gave an undertaking that she would look into potential European funding and report back. However, if the response is negative (and to avoid further delay) it was agreed that the Playground Committee could proceed with the project on the basis of the new play area being located mid way between the existing and former scout hut site.
The Chairman asked that the Committee consider re-using some of the existing play equipment if possible. In particular the springy rides, one of which was donated by a former parish clerk and the roundabout.
In the meantime, Coun Barnett agreed to ask Edgar Stearn if he has grinding equipment to angle grind the bolts on the camel ride and fix it to the ground in two new holes.
Coun Reeves had been unable to find any bulbs. Therefore, agreed to defer planting until next year.
noted that Mr Freeman had cut back hedge near the pinch point in Water Lane.
Coun Reeves reported that the hedge in Cambridge Road near the crossroads (outside bungalows) is very overgrown. The Clerk will inform Matt Pickering.
Coun Reeves reported on the following issues raised during recent Councillor Professional Development training:
1. Volunteers - if a parish council asks members of the public to volunteer, it has to ensure the volunteers are insured. CPALC recommends that volunteers should be asked to obtain their own insurance cover.
2. Lettings - all lettings should be subject to a risk assessment. Copies of all hirers risk assessment policies should be obtained before hiring.
3. Planning applications - these can be circulated prior to a meeting but if a councillor makes a written comment on the planning application he/she must declare an interest at the meeting as the comment was not made in the public domain. CPALC recommends that all planning applications are considered at a parish council meeting to give the public the opportunity to comment before responses are sent to SCDC.
The Chairman pointed out this could mean that the responses are not submitted to SCDC within the permitted timescale of 21 days.
It was suggested that a regular planning meeting is scheduled between the monthly full parish council meetings and then cancelled if a meeting is not required.
Agreed to put this on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting.
In the meantime, Coun Reeves will check if the normal public notice would be required for planning meetings.
4. Public open session - CPALC strongly recommends that the public should be allotted a few minutes of informal discussion regarding agenda items prior to the start of the meeting. This would enable the parish council to consider the views expressed by the public and would facilitate improved communication and transparency. The Chairman stated that he normally permits the public to speak on any points raised during the meeting and he would like to continue to allow this. It was agreed to put this on the agenda for future meetings (These informal discussions would not be minuted)
5. Minutes - suggested that from the start of each new year, minutes should be numbered sequentially throughout the whole year with sub paragraphs to make cross-referencing easier. It was agreed to start this from January 2010.
Coun Reeves had attended the AGM in October which was very positive about the work done. Finances are fairly tight but they had managed to secure funding for a second bus (£149,000 from SCDC and £30,000 from Rank Foundation).
Coun Reeves reported that he is coming under increasing pressure to become a Bus project trustee. However, he already undertakes a significant amount of work on parish matters including the Pavilion Committee, maintaining martyrs graves, weed spraying on play area and various meetings.
After some discussion, responsibility for the following was agreed:
Pavilion Committee - Coun Barnett
Martyrs Graves - Coun Bailey
Play area weed spraying - Coun Harradine
This will enable Coun Reeves to take on the role of Bus trustee.
SCDC - South Cambs Local Development Framework Public Participation
Statement of Community Involvement and Supp Planning Documents
Comberton PC - Planning Delegation in Controversial Cases
Oakington WI (Helen Williams) - declining honeybee population. The Chairman read out this letter. Agreed that if the WI could specify some suitable bee-friendly plants, the Parish Council would arrange for them to be planted at the far side of the Rec near the bank.
HCV Issues & Countywide Advisory Freight Map
CCC - invitation to attend open day at Whittlesford depot on 16th Dec 10 - 2pm
E-Cops email advising PCSO Stuart Ison is being replaced by Shaun White on 9 Nov 09
SCDC - Civil Emergencies - suggested plan. The Chairman will circulate for comment.
CPALC - AGM 21 Nov 09 at 10.00 am - information pack
CCC - Future Cambridgeshire - Response on the Regional Strategy
COPE - Nov/Dec newsletter
Tree Warden Relaunch South Cambs
A Lansley, MP - A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton improvement scheme
A Lansley, MP - RSS Gypsy & Traveller Review
D Jenkins & S Gymer - CCC Oct update
Highways Agency - Stakeholder News Oct 09
SCDC Parish Planning Forum, Thurs 10 Dec 4.30-7.00pm - agenda
Mr J Lucas, 27 High Street - fencing (retrospective) - no objections.
Oakington Garden Centre - Mr Sadler had spoken to the Chairman about his plans to extend the covered area in line with the existing. Plans were shown to the Council at the meeting. It was agreed that the Chairman should write to Mr Sadler informing him that the Council is fully supportive and the garden centre is an asset to the village.
Fernbrae Estates Overseas Ltd, offices at level crossing, Station Road - removal of condition 3 of planning permission S/1745/02/F - approved
Mr & Mrs Critchley, 12 Saxon Close - extension - approved
DOE Sport Ltd - MUGA - final invoice: 2059.65
CPALC - Councillors Profession Development training (D Reeves & J Groves): 210.00
The Alarm Company - engineer call out on 6th Oct (rear door alarm): 65.00
J Milton - refund electrical components for MUGA lighting switch: 91.57
T Leadley - caretaker’s salary 1.10.09 - 31.10.09: 196.00
24.5 hours @ £8 = £196.00
L Lawrence - Clerk’s salary 13.10.09 - 9.11.09: 472.90
30 hours @ £10.50 = £315.00
+ phone allowance = £30.00
+ travel expenses = £6.10
+ backdated salary to 1.4.09
210 hours @ 43p = £90.30
+ Pavilion admin 1.10.09-31.10.09
3 hours @ £10.50 = £31.50
Total: 3095.12
It was proposed by Coun Reeves and seconded by Coun Harradine that these bills be paid.
Coun Barnett asked how he should handle public questions/enquiries outside the meetings. The Chairman responded that is it normally acceptable to just bring these to the meetings. However, if a decision is required on a matter. (e.g. something that required funding) this would need to be put on the agenda.
He could also take the matter to the Chairman or ask the person to write to the Parish Council.
Coun Christie enquired if it would be possible to revisit the need for a pinch point in Cambridge Road.
Several residents had complained that it causes traffic problems (particularly when cars are parked near the crossroads and when the bus stops there.) Drivers often ignore the priority signs too.
The Chairman explained that it was put in place to allow a wider footway to be constructed over the bridge.
Coun Gymer offered to ask Matt Pickering if any safety checks have been undertaken at the pinch point recently. She will also find out if any funding would be possible under the Northstowe Rights of Way project for a new footway over the bridge.
However, it was noted that this would require the relevant landowners to give up some land.
The Clerk will find out when the next leaf clearance is due. (The problem is particularly bad in Longstanton Road towards the crossroads and in Cambridge Road towards the bridge)
Coun Grove showed the meeting photographs of the recent flooding in Mill Road. She had contacted Matt Pickering and will email him the photos.
Coun Grove is considering becoming a tree warden.
The Chairman confirmed that CCC Rights of Way is aware that the land on the corner of Mill Road/Church View is a public bridleway (although unusable at present).
Coun Gymer will ask Matt Pickering if it would be possible to have white lines put in the centre of Longstanton Road so that motorists are aware if they are on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Coun Reeves asked if it would be possible to find a way to preserve the martyrs graves. There were cleaned a few years ago by monumental masons who informed the Council that all that can be done is regular cleaning with brush and water.
Coun Reeves offered to talk to SCDC conservation team about the viability of installing a low shelter over them to help protect them from the elements.
The Chairman reported that the new homeowner in High Street had offered the Parish Council a monkey puzzle tree that has outgrown its pot. It was felt that there is nowhere suitable to locate this on the Rec.
Coun Reeves asked Coun Gymer about the £5million CCC deficit. She had attended a recent scrutiny committee meeting about this but a full explanation had not been forthcoming. She was aware that £1million was due to CCC staff salary increases. There will be some quite substantial cutbacks as this situation has to be resolved by the end of the financial year.
There were no comments/questions from members of the public.
The meeting closed at 9.20 pm
powered by Typomania