COMBERTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in

the Old Village Hall on Wednesday 14 July 2004 at 7.30pm

 

Members present:

Councillors:

Mr D Charge

Mrs D Morison

Dr H Roscoe

 

Mr R Rowlands,

Mrs A Webb

Miss C Westgarth (Chairman)

In attendance: District Councillor S Harangozo, Mrs G Stoehr (Clerk) and 2 members of the public.

 

1.         First Responder Scheme – presentation by Tim Goldrein

The Chairman welcomed Mr Goldrein to the meeting. Mr Goldrein explained the background to the scheme, Government statistics on ambulance response time. He also explained how the scheme worked and how much it cost both to set up and run per annum. It was noted that Mr Goldrein already had the support in principle from Barton Parish Council who thought there was merit in a scheme being started that would cover both the villages of Barton and Comberton.

It was noted that:

·       Ambulances reached their destination in 19 minutes 90% of the time and in 8 minutes 75% of the time. Therefore having some one who was both trained and had the correct equipment could help save lives if they were able to attend an incident such as a heart attack before an ambulance arrived.

·       There are 16 schemes in the region (Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire)

·       Mr Goldrein’s background was as a safety officer for St John’s Ambulance and therefore he was able and willing to provide local support and training for a local team.

·       Barton Ward (covering Barton, Coton, Madingley) had 26 Category A calls in the last 12 months whilst Comberton Ward had 13 calls.

·       To set up a scheme five volunteers/interested people would have to be found who were willing to give up some of their tie and undertake training.

·       The initial cost to set up a scheme was in the region of £5,000 although grant funding of approximately £1,500 was currently available for a defibrillator. The initial costs were training, jackets, a defibrillator and other medical provisions.

·       Clinical Directors from MAGPAS were intending to visit Comberton Surgery who were hoping to set up a local First Responder Scheme and provide day time cover.

·       Hands on practice/training would be provided every three months to prevent volunteers getting out of practice.

In order to answer the questions:

·       Is there interest in setting up and running a local scheme?

·       Is there time?

·       Is there money available?

·       How could Mr Goldrein find out the answers?

It was agreed that Mr Goldrein should put an article in the October Comberton Contact and ask residents who were interested to make contact so that a joint public meeting with Barton could be arranged.

2.            Apologies for absence and member vacancy

Mr M Bennett(hospital), Mr A Bailey, Dr J McCabe and Mr A Hollick (holiday), Dr F Hughes and Dr C Chambers(work).

Mrs Brookfield’s resignation was noted and the District Council had been informed. If no ten electors called for an election the Parish Council would be able to co-opt to fill the vacancy.

3.         To approve the minutes of the last meeting on 9 June

On a proposition by Mrs Webb seconded by Mrs Morison, the minutes were approved as a true record and were signed by the Chairman following one amendment under item 7.1 to correct the payment to LGS Services to read £199.37.

4.            Matters arising from the meeting to note

4.1       (4.1) Webster Associates – land off Milner Road – S106 Agreement

Correspondence from Webster Associates which indicated that they were taking advice from the District Council but considered that the funding could only be made available for cycleway provision was noted. An email from Cllr Harangozo was also noted.

4.2       (4.2) ‘Contact’

It was noted that although there had been some interest in the vacancy no-one as yet had been appointed.

4.            Matters carried forward from the last meeting for discussion/decision

4.1       (10.2) Webster Associates – land off Milner Road – S106 Agreement

It was noted that no reply as yet had been received to the Council’s letter and agreed that this matter should be carried forward to the next meeting.

4.2       (11.1)            ‘Contact’

It was noted that no one had as yet formally volunteered to take on the role of Editor. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the Contact Treasurer encouraging the team to try to keep the newsletter going perhaps by buying in professional support in the short term.

4.3       (5.3) Topham and Banks – recreation ground extension

On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed to vary the order of business to take this item at the end of the meeting.

4.4       (9.2) RPG14 additional 18,000 homes in the Cambridge sub-region

The notes from the meeting between parish councils and the District Council were received and considered. It was agreed that further to the decision at the last meeting a letter should be sent to the East of England Regional Assembly objecting to additional housing in the Cambridge sub-region.

5.            County Councillor and District Councillor reports

5.1       The County Councillor was not present.

5.2       District Councillor

Cllr Harangozo reported on the proposed plastics recycling facility which would be situated in the parish recreation ground car park. It was noted that the Parish Council would not receive any recycling credits for this and that the plastics would be collected three times a week. It was agreed that this would be allowed for a trial period and that the District Council must notify residents in Hines Lane of the proposal.

In response to concerns regarding Stagecoach 118/119 service using coaches it was reported that these would be replaced by single deck buses from Monday.

6.         Parish Plan

It was agreed to carry this item forward to the next meeting.

7.            Finance

7.1       To receive the financial report and to approve the payment of bills appended 1 to these minutes)

The invoices and bank statements were checked. On a proposition by Miss Westgarth, seconded by Mrs Morison, the expenditure as listed in the financial report and monthly financial statement were approved:

SCDC

£352.00

Connections Bus Project

£300.00

Herald Contract Services

£716.75

Scotsdale Garden Centre

£185.00

Cambridge Audio Visual

£703.83

DD Plumbing

£927.27

C Westgarth

£139.97

Sinclair Palmer Band

£24.00

The Connections Bus Project

£600.00

Ridgeons

£60.57

Herald Contract Services

£1321.88

N Gristwood

£787.50

LG Stoehr

£460.53

LG Stoehr (Aug salary)

£460.53

N Gristwood (Aug payment)

£630.00

7.2       It was noted that the Council had been asked to provide additional information by Moore Stephens for the annual audit. A copy of the Clerk’s response was received and noted.

7.3            Approval was given for a four-draw filing cabinet to be purchased and kept at the Clerk’s home office.

7.4       It was noted that only one quotation had been obtained for the summer event due to the nature of the business and on a proposition by Miss Westgarth, seconded by Mrs Morison payment was approved to Cambs Audio Visual.

7.5       It was noted that as Tennis Club had not removed its hut completely from the site by 28 June having been asked initially to remove it on 20 April the Groundsman had been authorised by the Chairman to clear and make safe the site on the grounds of health & safety. On a proposition by Mrs Morison, seconded by Dr Roscoe the Council reiterated its support for this course of action and for an invoice to be issued to the Tennis Club to cover the Council’s costs.

7.6       It was noted that a replacement tea urn had been ordered for the pavilion.

8.         To receive reports and consider recommendations contained in the reports

8.1            Planning(1)

Taken as read

8.2       Village Hall representative and Steering Group representatives

Nothing to report.

8.3            Summer Event

The Chairman reported on the successful summer event which had been attended by approximately 250 people including children. Thanks were extended to everyone who had helped and also to the District Council for its grant of £300.

8.4            Governor’s

Mrs Morison reported on the appointment of the new Head-Teacher and the school’s recent SAT’s figures which were ‘brilliant’ and the best ever.

8.5       Tree Group(2)

Taken as read. It was noted that a damaged tree had been removed from the trees inventory.

9.         To consider matters arising out of correspondence/communications received since the last meeting

9.1       Barton Road traffic calming

In response to the two new complaints it was agreed that the Parish Council fully supported and sympathised with the comments expressed in the letters and would continue to urge the County Council and Police to take action.

9.2       A letter from Andrew Lansley MP regarding the new legislation for speed limits in villages was received and noted. It was agreed to wait to see how the County Council replied.

9.3            Concern was expressed regarding vehicles parking on the corner of Swaynes Lane and damaging the grass verge. It was agreed to write to all the neighbouring residents asking them to park with more consideration.

10.       Urgent matters brought forward with the Chairman’s consent

None.

4.3            Topham and Banks - Recreation Ground extension

On a proposition by the Chairman, carried unopposed, in accordance with S1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted the public were temporarily excluded from the meeting and were instructed to withdraw. The Clerk and Cllr Harangozo were invited to remain.

At 8.53pm the meeting was declared re-opened to the public.

 

There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8.55pm.

 

 

Signed ……………………………Chairman    ……………………date.