COMBERTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in
the Old Village Hall on Wednesday 12 January 2005 at
7.30pm
|
Members present: Councillors: |
Mr A Bailey Mr M Bennett Mr D Charge Dr C Chambers Mr A Hollick |
Dr F Hughes Mrs D Morison Mr R Rowlands Mrs A Webb Miss C Westgarth (Chairman) |
In attendance: Cllr R Martlew, Mrs G Stoehr (Clerk) and 2 members of the public.
Apologies were received from Mrs S Hyde, Dr J McCabe, Dr H Roscoe also from and Cllr S Harangozo.
2. To approve the minutes of the last meeting on
On a proposition by Mrs Morison, seconded by Mr Rowlands, the minutes were approved as true records and were signed by the Chairman with the following the inclusion of Mr Bennett in those present at the meeting and in item 6.2 to show Mrs Morison.
3. Matters arising from the last
meeting
3.
It was noted that a site meeting had been arranged for 8 February and agreed to carry this matter forward to the next meeting.
3.2
CCC outstanding matters
3.3 The email reply from Mr Oakman was considered and whilst noting that some of the matters eg kerbing at the sensory garden had now been resolved other items had not. It was agreed to write listing the items as follows so that they could be monitored at the next meeting:
·
The Parish
Council is aware that the kerbing has been completed. It is however very
disappointed that this was done without consultation with the Parish Council
·
A large
and deep (6-8 inches) pothole is still outstanding in
·
traffic calming lighting issue in
·
Traffic calming at
· The Parish Council understands from Mr Cooper that work to the roadside drains in West Street was prevented some time back when a resident prevented the workman from undertaking the work. The Parish Council wishes to request once again that the problems with the roadside drains are rectified and finds it incomprehensible that one resident can stop work which is to the benefit of all residents, pedestrians and road users
· It was noted that a email from a resident had been received highlighting an accident involving a vehicle and a telegraph pole in Long Road. It was agreed that this should be sent to Mr Oakman to raise his awareness yet again of the problems surrounding the traffic calming scheme in Long Road and also asking him to reply.
3.4
NVHSG representative
On a proposition by Miss Westgarth, seconded by Mrs Webb, Mr Hollick was appointed the Parish Council’s representative on the NVHSG.
3.5 Website
It was agreed to carry this forward to the next meeting.
4.
4.1 Cllr
Harangozo’s report[1]
was noted in his absence including:
·
the new
·
the second plastics bank at the recreation ground
·
black bin collections
4.2 Cllr Martlew reported on the County Council’s budget deliberations and the delays to the A428 & A14 improvements scheme.
5. Parish Plan
It was reported that the youth shelter was due
to be installed in February and agreed that either a spare litter bin or a
relocated one should be installed near the shelter.
6. Finance
6.
The invoices and bank statements were checked. On a
proposition by Mrs Morison, seconded by Mr Rowlands, the expenditure as listed
in the financial report and monthly financial statement was approved in accordance with its
powers:
|
Connections Bus Project |
600.00 |
|
Five Star |
50.00 |
|
|
411.25 |
|
Herald Contract Services |
94.00 |
|
Ridgeons |
28.71 |
|
SLCC |
82.00 |
|
|
787.00 |
|
C Westgarth |
29.22 |
|
LG Stoehr (salary) |
123.50 |
|
LGS Services |
640.67 |
It
was noted that Inland Revenue had agreed to an annual payment of PAYE & NI
if contribution was due.
6.2 To consider the tenders received and to award the grasscutting and village maintenance contracts
The tenders as received were
considered for both completeness and price against the tender specification.
The cost implications of cutting
the parish verges was considered. On a proposition by Mrs Morison, seconded by
Miss Westgarth it was resolved that the verges be handed back to the County Council
unless it agreed to substantially increase its grant to cover the full cost of
cutting.
It was also resolved that MD
Landscapes be offered the three year contract for all areas detailed in the
specification except the village verges as this represented best value. This
was on the following conditions otherwise the contract would be awarded to
Herald Contract Services:
·
Two satisfactory commercial references are received
·
Satisfactory insurance cover, licences, risk assessment policy etc are
received
It was noted that the contract would include conditions relating to performance whilst under contract and early termination criteria if aspects of the contract are not completed satisfactorily.
6.3 To consider the recommendations from the working group and to approve the Budget for FY ending 2006 including S137 payments (requests for donations)
The report from the working group and accompanying draft budget[2] were received and considered.
6.3.1 On a proposition by Miss Westgarth, seconded by Mr Charge it was resolved that now the land purchase negotiations had been concluded that the matter now be placed in the public domain and the cost implications of the land purchase be considered whilst the budget was being discussed.
6.3.2 Noting the high running costs of the
recreation ground and the pavilion and in order to try to solve the problems
still relating to the management of the pavilion and the fees it was agreed that
Miss Morison, Miss Westgarth, Mrs Webb and Mr Rowlands should meet to consider the implications for
a recreation ground trust being set up and to bring a recommendation to the
next meeting.
6.3.3 Each of the earmarked reserves and also the general reserves were reviewed and it was agreed that:
·
The
project for the bus shelter in
·
the
funds earmarked for Waymarking (additional) £
·
Village
Design Statement (£2000 earmarked) It was agreed that this project should be
achieved with a fund of £1000. Released to the general fund £
·
£5,000
of the money which had previously been earmarked for the PCSOS funding which
had been released to the general fund at the last meeting be used to fund the
youth workers project identified in the Parish Plan
6.3.4 It was noted that the following S137 requests had already been received from:
·
St
Mary's Church (maintenance of the Church yard) £750
·
Comberton
Contact - £700
·
Comberton
Mobile Warden & Self Help Scheme - £3000 (full accounts have already been
circulated last autumn)
·
The Old School House (no
accounts or amount specified)
6.3.5 The
working group had suggested other beneficiaries in its report. On a proposition
by Mrs Morison, seconded by Miss Westgarth it was agreed that £4600 be included
for S
6.3.6 A request from the bowls club that the Parish Council purchase materials for replacement fencing and offering to install the fencing themselves was considered. On a proposition by Mr Rowlands, seconded by Miss Westgarth it was agreed that the materials should be purchased this financial year and that the kind offer from the Bowls Club be gratefully accepted with the Groundsman overseeing the work.
6.3.7 On a proposition by Mrs Morison, seconded by Mr Bennett the draft budget was amended to include an extra £1,000 in the contingency. It was then resolved unanimously the at the Budget(appended 2 to these minutes) be approved.
6.4 To set the Precept for FY ending 2006
On a proposition by Miss Westgarth, seconded by Mrs Morison and carried unanimously it was resolved that the Precept be set at £50,560.
6.5
Audit conclusion
It was noted that the Audit had been concluded and that Moore Stephens had found everything in order. The end of audit notice and a copy of the annual return had been placed on the notice board as required by legislation.
7. To receive reports and consider recommendations contained
in the reports
7.
Taken as read.
7.2 Village
Hall representative and Steering Group Representatives
Mr Hollick reported that the meeting regarding the queens Award for Voluntary Service had gone well and that the trustees were not meeting again until the new village hall proposal had been costed.
7.3 Christmas lights event
It was noted that had been excellent with approximately 200-225 people attending. Thanks were expressed to the WI and the Salvation Army band.
8. Vandalism to the Memorial
Vandalism on 6 January to the memorial and the visit by PC Chris Bradley to the Chairman were noted. Concern was expressed that the belated response and attitude of the Police to the incident had been poor. It was agreed to write to the Police, place an article in Contact asking parents if they knew where their children were in the evenings and also to see how the memorial could best be repaired.
It was noted that PC Bradley was moving to police in Cambourne and a new officer would be appointed to cover Comberton and surrounding villages.
The implications of the Crime and Disorder Act and parish councils’ ability to fine would be clarified with CALC.
9. To consider matters arising out of correspondence/communications received since the last meeting
9.
Two letters from Mr Banyard were
received and considered. The Parish Council invited Mr Banyard to address the
Council so that it could respond to his questions. It was agreed that the Clerk
would also formally write.
9.2 East of
This had
been received and passed to the Planning Committee to make recommendation if
and as necessary to the Parish Council at the next meeting.
9.3 SCDC Access Point
Information
on the access point was noted. It was still unclear if the Parish Council was
required to do anything.
9.4 Barton Road equity share
Correspondence
from the District Council indicating that criteria for the equity share housing
in
The
letter from Bidwells, acting as agents for Messrs Topham and banks in the
negotiations was considered. On a proposition by Mr Bennett seconded by Miss
Westgarth it was resolved that the Parish Council was unable to agree to the suggestion that it pays
Bidwells’ fees of £
It was further
resolved that Mills and Reeve Solicitors be instructed to act on the Council’s
behalf in the purchase of the land.
None.
There was no further business and the meeting closed at
Signed ……………………………Chairman ……………………date.