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Bottisham Parish Council Minutes |
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On this page are the Minutes of Bottisham Parish Council |
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BOTTISHAM PARISH COUNCIL 3/03
Minutes of Council Meeting held in the Village College - 3rd March 2003
Present - Cllrs Astill, Boal, Bryant, Buchanan, Clark, Laister, O’Dell, and Walker. Cllr Buchanan chaired the meeting. Councillors James Fitch and Valerie Leake attended. 1. Apologies were received from Cllrs McCartney, Rayment and Tilley 2. Minutes of the meeting 3rd February were amended. Item 5 line 4 of Cllr Fitch’s County Council Report was reduced from 60,000 to 60 tonnes. The minutes were then agreed and signed. 3. Matters Arising A. St Peters Field. The Eastern Tree Surgery invoice was received for tree work. The reinstatement of the footpath and grass verges in Bell Road is being dealt with by the Highways Department. A three bedroomed house is available for shared ownership. Notices have been displayed and previous applicants contacted. It was agreed not to pursue the provision of a notice board in this area at the moment due to costs involved. B. Commemorative Jubilee mugs will be on sale at the Annual Meeting. C. The Chairman of Governors at the Primary School will contact Cllr Buchanan when the revised agreement for the Children’s Play area is ready for signature. D. Cllr Buchanan reported on the meeting of 12th February when ideas for the continuation of a public library facility were discussed. A Public Meeting has been arranged for 10.30am on Saturday 15th March. The mobile library will be on site at 9.30am. Cllr Buchanan will Chair this meeting and prepare a statement of available choices. It is hoped that a Friends of Bottisham Library Group can be formed. Cllr Astill attended the meeting at Little Downham Book Cafe on 17th February and tabled his report. E. Anglian Water are reviewing the current hydraulic model following continued drainage problems in Lode Rd and Beechwood Ave and will report their findings to the Clerk. F Concerns raised by a resident about vandalism and misuse of the brick built shelter in the High Street have been considered. Cllr Buchanan has met with PC Mark Hurry to discuss this and with the Deputy Warden at the College. The shelter will continue to be monitored. The Clerk will obtain costings for the replacement of the wooden seats with steel seats, the cost of a metal strip edging to the wooden slats and the cost of removal of the seats. This will be an agenda item at the Annual Meeting. G. The continuing problems with lettings at the College will be discussed by Cllr Buchanan with the Warden H. The Clerk outlined the background to the application for Quality Status by the Parish Council and the necessary training involved for both the Clerk and Councillors. This will be discussed further by the new Council. H. The barn at Bendyshe Farm on land owned by Peterhouse College and farmed by Mr Rayner is not safe and youngsters have been warned to keep away by the Police. The farmer is negotiating with the owners for the purchase of steel fencing for the site. The barn has been a refuge for bats and was not able to be demolished. I. Invitations to the Annual meeting on Monday 28th April. have been sent to the Editor of the Cresset, PC Mark Hurry, Peter Hains. Chrissy Barclay, District and County Cllrs and a representative from Saplings Pre School Playgroup.
4. Chairman’s Report All matters had been covered under matters arising.
5. Reports of County and District Councillors. Cllr Fitch reported on County matters and advised the Council tax increase of 9.2%. for 2003/2004. Collection of County, District, Parish rates and Police Charges is made by the District Council and payments are now due on the 1st of the month not 15th as previously. The Highways Agency had given unreserved apologies for the problems with lack of road gritting at the end of January. Cllrs Fitch and Leake had spoken with the Operations Manager from Stagecoach and the several problems raised by villagers were discussed as outlined in the March Cresset. It is expected that the planning application for a work place nursery on the College Campus will be refused as the site is within the Green Belt and does not comply with permitted exceptions. Cllr Fitch will be attending a Standards Committee meeting on 10th March when election procedures will be discussed and advised Cllrs that training on ethical issues was planned for later in the year. Cllr Laister asked Cllr Fitch to ascertain when the promised alterations to the A1303/Bell Road Junction would be done. Cllr Leake’s District Council report circulated with the minutes gave information on Broadband, Business links meetings and the grant awarded by Government to help implement e-government throughout the Council. The website is www.eastcambs.gov.uk. The District Council is keen to consult with people on housing matters and to help in assisting local people to find homes more easily. Cllr Leake has asked Gerald Tickner to clear the A1303 layby/Heath Rd area of rubbish. Specialised lorries will be sent this week.
6. CORRESPONDENCE 1. CALC. Details of Accounts and Audit Seminar on Friday 11th April 2. CCC Poster for Cambridge Word Fest 28-30 March - to be displayed. Brochure and Newsletter for projected Historical Resource and Cultural Centre Publication of the Examination in Public Panel Report on the Structure Plan Review available at £10 per copy or from the website http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/sub/eandt/planning/strplan01.htm 3. Government Department Correspondence DEFRA Letter stating that proposed changes to the Licensing Bill will not effect village halls, community facilities and church halls. These will continue to be exempt from entertainment fees. A11 Route Management Strategy comments returned regarding cramped, dangerous local junctions. We are not directly involved but a request was made for information on any further developments. 4 ECDC East Cambs Safety Community Partnership - advice about discarded needles and syringes. To be Included in the Cresset ADEC Banner Project Workshop to be held in March for groups wishing to make a banner. Standards Committee Agenda for meeting 10th March 6 pm at Ely Parish Election 1st May 2003. Documents and nomination papers distributed as necessary at the meeting. Committee Decision List for :- Community Services 4th February Environment and Transport 4th February Planning 5th February Policy and Resources 12th February Personnel 12th February Strategic Development 18th February
5. Additional post Histon Police Sector February Newsletter - 4 crimes in Bottisham Association of Burial Authorities Newsletter Jan-March - copied to Cllr Laister South Cambs NHS Primary Care Trust Bulletin No 5 Poster for 2003 Health Fayre 17th April Ely Beet Sports and Social Club - to be displayed Healthy Living East Cambs Annual Meeting 27th March at Littleport plus display and discussion on Disability and Discrimination. To be displayed. Up date from John Harris on the Carnet network now covering 13 villages. Letter of thanks from Bottisham Carpet Bowls Club for promised S137 grant for 2003/04 A poster has been displayed for South Cambs NHS Primary Care Trust advising of the imminent NHS Patient Survey.
7. Committee reports A. Planning 1. Decisions made since last Council meeting. a. 02/01196/FUL - 34 Bell Road - two storey extension - approved. b. 03/00047 /FUL - Windy Ridge 50 High Street - extensions and alterations. c. 03/00001/LBC - 109 High St - alterations to windows and doors on eastern single storey elevation - approved 2 Planning applications sent to ECDC with the following comments :- None 3. Planning Applications under consideration 1. 03/00103/FUL - 117 Lode Road - Two storey extension. New kitchen downstairs, new bedroom upstairs. Withdrawn 2. 03/00135/FUL - Bottisham Police Station - small external enclosed lobby to provide covered access to an existing disabled persons lavatory. 3. 03/00146/FUL - Brian McKay Commercial Vehicles A1303 Service Station - new workshop and offices in connection with the existing business 4. 03/00111/FUL - Cremgah, Lode Rd - demolition of bungalow and building of 2 four bedroom dwellings. Amended application. The Council considered that although our previous concerns had been partially addressed we should repeat our earlier objections requesting that this application should go to committee and a site meeting held. 4. Other matters 1. Affordable Housing Development. Consideration of additional sites (possibly land owned by Peterhouse College with access from Bell Road) following a request from ECDC. 2. Bottisham Public byway No 7 and Planning Permission E/3009/02/CW retrospective use of land as scrapyard at Green Gables Newmarket Road Bottisham. Meeting arranged with James Paice MP Friday 21st March 12.30pm at the site. 3. Parish plan. This will be discussed by the Planning Committee 5. House numbering details received for the properties at 44 Lode Road. Numbers 1A and 1B Jenyns Close. The verge outside 44 Lode Road has been only partially turved following building works. If reinstatement of the total area is not completed soon the Clerk will contact the builders 7. It was noted that sets of plans are to be kept by Cllrs and not left with the neighbours (or other interested parties) of applicants. Plans should not be photocopied.
Environment a. The replacement larger kissing gate has been delivered and invoice paid and is being fitted. The 2003 Parish Paths Partnership Claim has been acknowledged. b. The path at the rear of Cedar Walk and Maple Close is not a recorded right of way but a permissive path. Miss Barr does not own the pathway but has a right of way as recorded in her deeds to allow the passage of farm machinery. John Cooper has advised that the Council should claim a right of way - as a lost highway used by villagers without let or hindrance over the past 20 years. Cllr Boal has suggested that the Council could possibly use the land for other purposes. He was not declaring an interest in this matter. This will be discussed in committee and a recommendation proposed. c. We still do not have a replacement litter picker.
d. The Park Estate (Bottisham) Resident’s Society Ltd’s request for assistance with grass cutting charges is to be discussed in Committee. The Highways Department have agreed that they had adopted the verges but that the Society have always been responsible for the grass cutting e. The committee will discuss the maintenance of seats and other village furniture. It was agreed that the up-dating of the Village maps would be very expensive and that a current street map or ordinance survey sheet could be placed in the noticeboard on the Triangle to show the recent changes. f. The footpath by the side of Tudor House is overgrown with ivy. The Clerk will write to the owner of Tudor House advising that it is our intention to cut the roots (which are on the path) at ground level in the near future. g. The Chairman will contact the Village College about the damage to the Youth Club wall where the brick work is flaking. The safety of the wall is to be checked. h. The stones left on the verges in Lode Road from last summer when the road was widened have still not been removed. The Clerk will contact Andrew Tipple so that the verges can be cut by Mr Bugg. I. The footpath to the Pightle from Tunbridge Lane starts with a grassy slope. The committee will investigate whether this needs alteration.
C. Cemetery Cllr Laister reported that :- I. Work on the cemetery/bowling green hedge has been completed. Members of the Royal British Legion will be asked to set hedging on their side of the boundary by Cllr Buchanan ii. John Selby Conservation Officer has offered a grant of £3810 towards the repair of paths to the Church doors. The Clerk will confirm in writing accepting the conditions as set. John Henry, Contractors state that their quotation is valid until 30th April. The Clerk will contact the Churchwardens to ascertain when the alterations within the Church will start. Andrew Tipple has stated that the path from the front gate to the rear gate is not maintainable under public expense. We had advice from John Cooper, (Rights of Way Officer) before the meeting with Mr Tipple, that this is part of Path 2 and having been tarmaced in the past should now be maintained by the Highways Department. The Clerk will write referring him to conversations with John Cooper and David Groom and Cllr Laister on 14th January.. iii. To comply with the tree report, which itemises necessary tree work, will be very expensive and It could be a saving in the long term if the trees were felled. This will be discussed at a cemetery committee meeting. It was agreed to accept the Urban Forestry quotation of £685 for work on the Church sycamore tree if Stephen Hayden who prepared the Tree Report advises Cllr Laister that the tree should not be removed completely. The Prospect Trust have removed epicormic growth from the trees and invoices have been received. v. Changes to the cemetery fees form to make it clearer will be discussed at the committee meeting. vi. The condition of the stone walls surrounding the Churchyard which are possibly being eroded by ivy growth will also be discussed. vii. An enquiry has been sent to the War Graves Commission concerning the method of cleaning of the 5 War Memorial headstones which we/volunteers are willing to do. viii. A suggestion that part or all of the Churchyard should not be regularly cut but left to grow with wild flowers (as Quy Churchyard) will be discussed.
D. Finance Alan Fair our internal auditor will meet with the Chairman Cllr McCartney, Cllr Laister and the Clerk on Tuesday 4th March to review the systems.
8. Notified business. a. There were no volunteers for the Minor Authority Governor Vacancy on the Board of Governors for the Bottisham Community Primary School. b. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact First Copy Ltd accepting their offer of a replacement White Swan notice. This should preferably be a replacement hanging sign but a wall sign would be acceptable. c. The request by Aleph One for support of the general concept for the use, management and interconnection of video cameras will be discussed at the next meeting. Copies of the relevant information will be made for Cllrs. d. Ladies visiting the cemetery have suggested a seat be installed in an appropriate spot (for reminiscing etc!). This was referred to the Cemetery committee. e. The Clerk will contact Mr Green about the loose plank on the stile near his farm.
9. Accounts The following cheques were signed Centre wire - replacement kissing gate 162.99 signed 20/2/2 TXU Energi - Monthly Payment. 8.61 CALC - subscription - Association of Burial Authorities 35.00 S Overton - February Salary and 45 additional hours to March 3rd 2003 561.25 S Overton - Computer Allowance 100.00 S Overton - Balance of office expenses 200.00 S Overton - Petty Cash for litter pickers 18.50 Asset Management Services Ltd - Quarterly Lighting Maintenance Contract 30.57 Eastern Tree Surgery - Tree work in Bell Road 370.13 David Frost - rim lock for cupboard door 26.50 Prospects Trust - work on paths, old cemetery hedge and trees in the Churchyard 208.00 Ely Diocesan Board of Finance - 6 Cemetery Fees at £3.50 for 2002/2003 21.00 CCC Bottisham Village College - photocopying 7/01/03 to 4/02/03 30.16 Prospects Trust - Churchyard Trees 368.00
10. Next Meeting
Monday 7th April 2003 7.30pm Round Room at Bottisham Village College
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