1. Apologies were received from Cllr Buchanan, George Buchanan and John Overton.

Councillor Valerie Leake chaired the meeting. 7 Councillors and 21 villagers attended.

The Chairman welcomed PC Mark Hurry our newly appointed Community Beat Officer. He again apologised for being unable to attend the recent Traffic and Transport meeting and explained that he was responsible for 7 villages. Burwell problems take a lot of his time but with 20 recorded crimes in Bottisham already this year including 6 burglaries he is aware that we need a police presence. He was unwilling to issue his mobile phone number to the general public but it has been given to the Clerk.

2. The minutes of the 2000 Annual Parish Meeting were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

a. Progress had been made on all issues raised at the last annual meeting and would be reported on later. A letter was sent to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the impact on local Post Offices by published changes in benefit payments. Both this letter and the subsequent reply were printed in the Cresset and the Council continued to monitor the situation.

4 Reports

a. The Chairman Valerie Leake reported on the Council’s work over the year which was based on the recent Community Appraisal and followed the practical ideas discussed at the joint workshop with Cambridgeshire ACRE held in October. A Village Guide has been most ably produced by Cllrs John Walker and David Tilley. Work has started on preparing a Village Design Guide by the Planning Committee chaired by Cllr Buchanan and the Environment Committee chaired by Cllr Meade and the proposals will be discussed at a public meeting. The scheme by Hastoe Housing Association for 14 Affordable homes for rent in Bell Road is nearing fruition. All legal agreements have been signed and the archaeological survey will soon take place. Building work should start in the summer and properties should be ready for occupation by next spring. The Sensory Garden at the College is taking shape and we continue to be members of the Parish Paths Partnership. David Frost has carried out many maintenance tasks, from repainting seats and the church gates to positioning the new seat on the Triangle provided by Bottisham WI. Thanks were extended to Kathryn Meade who completed the mural in the bus shelter.

The contentious subject of speeding and parking was discussed at another public meeting and resulted in the identificatio n of many small measures to help the situation. These will be followed through but in the meantime we need to amount an awareness raising campaign to let local people know that speeding and inconsiderate parking habits are not acceptable in Bottisham.

We have improved communications between Parish Council and villagers by providing ‘pen portraits’ of Councillors within the Cresset, by including details of items under consideration in meeting agendas and publishing agenda and minutes on the Bottisham Website. Cllr Leake thanked all Councillors and the Clerk for their support during the year.

b. County Council - Cllr Fitch reported on recent constitution changes and that the Council now consists of a Leader and Cabinet - a maximum of 10 people. Education standards in the County and especially in Bottisham are excellent, the Social Services provision for children is now back to acceptable standards and the sale of Queens Court to Hereward Housing Association is expected soon. The Fire and Rescue services continues to work well. The extended Newmarket Rd Park and Ride scheme is well used, the A14 study is nearing completion and the Fordham bypass should start next year. The Structure Plan at present under review needs to be closely watched especially with the proposal for a new town at Six Mile Bottom. The Council Tax continues to rise each year and the Council is continuing to press for the Area Cost Adjustment to be applied to Cambridge.

c. District Council - Valerie Leake reported that the constitution changes had not been necessary as the population of the District is less than 85,000. Committees have been retained but decisions will be made more quickly and several executive directors have been appointed. The Local Agenda 21 strategy has been launched and will inform and advise the public in dealing with recycling problems. The Best Value programme is continuing and is proving to be an inspection procedure comparable to Ofsted for Schools. The Periodic Electoral Review for electoral wards within the District is taking place and it may be necessary for Bottisham to be linked with Brinkley, Westley Waterless and Burrough Green if a viable alternative is not found.

James Fitch reported that an increase in Council Tax for 2002/2003 could be expected as the income from the interest from the sale of housing stock to Hereward Housing is now coming to an end. Bottisham has received Grant Aid for the Sensory Garden and for the Church and with the setting up of Sportsdec the significant grants received by the swimming pool and sports complex should continue.

There were no questions to either Councillor but Edmund Rank invited any villager considering the use of solar energy to call on him.

d. Bottisham Community Primary School - this report prepared by Janet Aves the joint Parish Council representative for Bottisham, Lode and Quy was read by the Clerk. There had been an excellent Ofsted report, results for Standard Assessment Tests were on a par with or above the national average and it was felt that the pupils are benefiting from excellent teaching and a happy atmosphere.

e. Bottisham Village College - Peter Hains thanked the Parish Council for their moral and financial support during the year and felt there was a continuing good relationship between the College and the local community. The College continues to be oversubscribed, and has been appointed a Beacon School providing training and leadership to other schools. However the best examination results ever, the updating of Food and Technology rooms, 4 computer suites and an excellent Community Education department (which in conjunction with Linton and Burwell runs 250 classes with over 2000 students) does not counteract the national shortage of teaching staff in view of the expensive housing prices in the area. Villagers were asked to support the County Council’s action in for the Area Cost Adjustment being applied to Cambridge to ensure comparative funding to schools in Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Oxford. The Turning the Red Lights Green Charity has resulted in 31 classes offering help and raising awareness of those with learning difficulties. The Sensory Garden was beginning to take shape and should prove to be an asset for the village. Peter acknowledged the litter problem explaining that pupils clear nearby areas and said he would not ban pupils from the shops at lunchtime as local shops would lose necessary trade. Cllr Walker thanked Peter for his excellent leadership of a very good school and for his support to the local community

f. Bottisham Local Charities. - The Local Charities Report and statement of account to 31st December 2000 was circulated. There were no questions for Margret Coles the secretary.

g. First Bottisham Scout Group - no report

h. Bottisham Swimming Pool Association - Peter Swannell’s written report was read by the Clerk. He outlined the problems experienced with the boiler and dilution fan, showers and changing room temperatures and closure of the pool for 5 weeks over the Christmas period to repair and repaint the lining. Admissions are slowly increasing and it is to be hoped that the difficult financial situation soon improves.

l. Cresset Village Magazine - no report.

j. Saplings Playgroup - Lorraine Hookham explained the play opportunities for 2 to 3 years old and the facilities available. Funding received from the Parish Council was used to fund those unable to meet the costs and for those children requiring special help on a 1 to 1 basis. The community is welcome to come in to look around and to help and share skills.

5. Any Other Business

Cllr Walker proposed a woodland area not a manicured park on this site and the meeting supported this recommendation. A steering group will be formed and an article placed in the Cresset to gauge the level of interest.

Cllrs Laister and McCartney explained that there were only 20 plots now available in the present cemetery. The land next to Hilton Park Care Centre was not suitable to be used as a burial ground on the advice of the Environment Agency regarding the high water table. The possible sites were at the rear of the Church on part of the Primary School field, land to each side of the Scout Hut, land at the end of both Mulberry Close and Rowan Close and off Bell Road opposite the area now to be used for affordable housing. It was agreed that each of the suggested sites presented problems but the most suitable area would be the Primary School land to the rear of the Church. There was little contribution from the meeting but it was agreed that the present cemetery should be reviewed to assess the provision of more spaces. A public meeting will be called before any action is taken.

It was agreed that a 15 minute session would be held before the start of official business for a 3 month period. It would then be reviewed by the Council.

Planning meetings are difficult to arrange in advance as applications are received throughout the month. An agenda for meetings would be placed on the noticeboard advising the date, time and place and residents with particular concerns could attend.

e. The audited Accounts of the Parish Council to 31st March 2000 were distributed together with a Receipts and Payments Statement for the year to 31st March 2001. The accounts to 31st March 2001 are still to be finalised, agreed by the Council and audited.

f. Questions from the Floor

Concerns were raised about the Parish Council objection to planning application E/01/0030/FUL Stocks Restaurant - for change of use from Restaurant to classification B1 (business use).

The Council had agreed that there was insufficient information from the developer concerning the type of business envisaged and whether the property would be sublet to several companies, the parking area approached from Stocks Close was inadequate and there was need to preserve housing in Bottisham. The development of the former White Swan had been approved for business purposes and had improved the look to the entrance of the village but Stocks Restaurant was at the heart of the village amongst residential homes. There had been objections by many nearby residents. There are sites available for business or light industrial use in the village at present - the newly designed Tunbridge Court Business Park and the Crystal Structures site in Tunbridge Lane which could be developed.