Council Minutes
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Draft Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at the Cathodeon Centre on Thursday 20th January 2011
Present: Ms E Cornell (Chair), Mrs E Bald (Vice Chair), D Champion, Dr B Cox, Mrs S Dew, M Gee, R Hickford, J Linsdell, B Manley, G Potter, Mrs S Parry (Clerk to the Council)
County and District Councillor J Batchelor, District Councillor Mrs T Bear and Mrs K France (Press) were in attendance together with 4 members of the public.
Public Forum
Mrs Mele of Tower View thanked Cllr Champion and the Parish Council for their help and advice relating to ongoing anti social behaviour in Tower View. Cllr Champion confirmed that he had spoken with the Ombudsman who had explained the complaints procedure. Cllr Batchelor reported that he had today passed all paperwork to the CEO at SCDC resulting in the complaints process being started.
The Chair opened the meeting of the Parish Council at 8.10pm
196 Apologies. Cllr Hunt – holiday. Cllr Wilson – family reasons. Cllr Mannassi – work commitments.
197 Disclosure of Interest
Item 25 Nichols Court
Cllr Dew disclosed a personal and prejudicial interest as the owner of a property bordering the site.
Item 202 Cricket Club funding request.
Cllr Hickford declared a personal interest as a member of the Senior Cricket Club.
198 Approval of the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th January 2011. Cllr Champion proposed that the minutes be adopted as a true record of the meeting. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Bald and agreed by the meeting.
199 Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th January 2011. Under item 186, the Clerk confirmed that safety fencing had been erected around the skateramp on 12th January.
200 Consideration of the Minutes of the Planning meeting held on 6th January 2011. These were noted.
201 Cllr Hickford proposed that the payments listed below be paid. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Cox and agreed by the meeting. Cllrs Potter and Cox signed the cheques.
| *S137 | Gross | Excl VAT | ||
| Cambs County Council (7 grit bins) | 1450 | 764.93 | 651.00 | |
| Landmark Restoration (repair of Churchyard Wall) | 1451 | 210.00 | ||
| MH Electrical (UK) Ltd (PAT testing) | 1452 | 53.20 | ||
| Petty Cash | 1453 | 83.23 | ||
| CGM Ltd (salt) | 1454 | 105.75 | 90.00 | |
202 Consideration and agreement of Precept request.
A late S137 request had been received from the Junior Cricket Club. Clarification was required as to whether the Junior and Senior Cricket Clubs had been amalgamated and whether additional grant funding was being sourced. An unallocated element had been factored into the budget which could be used if funding was agreed.
The draft precept had been increased by 5% to allow for extra responsibilities which were likely to be delegated to the Parish Council due to budget cuts in the County Council. This could include some street maintenance and grass cutting.
Cllr Gee proposed that the draft Precept of £145,604 be accepted. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Cox and agreed by the meeting. Resolved
203 Report from Police and consideration of Policing, Safety and Security issues. Cllr Champion, referring to parking outside the Co-op, clarified that double yellow lines meant no parking at any time.
204 County Councillor Batchelor reported that budget cuts and redundancies were looming. Locally the entire bus subsidy budget of £2.7m would be cut. This would result in only the number 13 service on the A1307 operating; isolating eleven villages. All other services would be lost.
It was also inevitable that the highway network would deteriorate. Cllr Gee reported that potholes were not being properly repaired citing those in Bartlow Road as one example. Cllr Batchelor was asked the cost of repair per pothole. JB
205 Reports from the District Councillors
Cllr Bear reported that a street sign for Green Lane had been ordered and permission for it to be erected on the boundary wall of 100 High Street had been received. The question of why the current one on the Co op side could not be removed and relocated was asked.
Consideration of SCDC’s position on Dog Control Orders (DCO) deferred from meeting of 6th January.
Cllr Bear confirmed that the Parish Council could issue DCOs but these would have to be policed by a suitably trained and authorised person or a PCSO. However the process was onerous and careful wording of signs should be relevant to DCOs otherwise it could invalidate any case.
Discussion took place regarding the response received from SCDC regarding Nichols Court and deferred from meeting of 6th January. Cllr Batchelor was asked to investigate why Sanctuary had refused to meet with the Parish Council. He responded that only the local management of Sanctuary had refused to meet. Cllr Batchelor was asked to investigate if the footpath behind the houses on Back Road were part of the planning application. JB
Concerns were raised regarding a liaison between the SCDC Enabling Officer and a member of Sanctuary. Cllr Batchelor responded that he was aware of the situation and that all declarations of interest had been made.
Cllr Bald reported that following the recent Parish Planning Forum meeting the housing officers, developer and planners had agreed to make a site visit in March.
206 Consideration of tenders and awarding of Grass Maintenance Contract(s) 2011-2014. Cllr Hickford proposed that CGM Ltd be awarded the two Village Maintenance contracts. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Gee and agreed by the meeting. Resolved
No decision was made regarding the contract for the Cemetery. There was a large variation of price in the tenders received. It was agreed to simplify the specification and to ask all those tendering to clarify exactly what they had included in their quotation. Clerk
207 Consideration of response to LA4Y. Cllr Hickford stated that the Parish Council had been duped and mislead; this was a very serious matter and had to be resolved. Cllr Hickford proposed that CPALC be contacted for advice and a full independent inquiry by the Charity Commission be undertaken. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Champion and agreed by the meeting.
Resolved
208 A request from the Locality Team for a pro rata contribution for the provision of Youth services following budget cuts had been deferred from meeting of 6th January. Discussion took place and concerns still remained. Currently the youth service hired the premises at the Village College free of charge. However it was possible that when the College received Academy status a charge may be made. It was also unclear if the College would continue to use the Locality staffing. It was agreed to contact LVC for clarification. Clerk
It was agreed that the Locality team be contacted regarding setting up a partnership with the Parish Council. Advice would also be sought from CPALC. Clerk
209 Correspondence received and for discussion
Item 50 Request from resident to site grit bin in the vicinity of Parsonage Way. It was agreed to add this request to the Wish List which would be placed on the agenda for the meeting of 17th February when a decision would be made. Agenda 17/2
Item 52 LGSS Pension Service – Request to increase employer contribution rates as detailed. Cllr Champion proposed that the recommendations from the Local Government Pension Service to increase the employer contribution to 22.5% for 2011/12, 25.8% for 2012/13 and 29% for 2013/14 be accepted. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Cox and agreed by the meeting. Resolved
Item 57 Linton Granta Football Club - request to site memorial bench. Cllr Linsdell proposed that permission be granted to site a memorial bench on recreation Ground in memory of Barry Brewer. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Bald and agreed by the meeting. Resolved
Clarification of where it would be sited was required.
Item 62 V Harris request for permission to use the Recreation Ground for funfair. Cllr Bald proposed that permission be given to Mr Harris to hold a funfair on the Recreation Ground from 18th to 21st May inclusive at a cost of £110. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Gee and agreed by the meeting. Resolved
210 Written reports from Council representatives
Cllr Hunt had issued a Village Hall report which detailed a 5% increase in hire fees. A fund raising coffee morning had been arranged for Saturday 12th February.
211 Reports from Councillors.
The Clerk confirmed that the lease of the proposed Children’s Centre had been signed and returned.
Cllr Bald reported that hedge planting and ground preparation around the Fire Station had been carried out. Suggestions were required for the area adjacent to the path behind the Fire Station leading to Parsonage Way. This area was unsuitable for planting but could be a suitable location for a bench.
Cllr Bald would ask the Community Payback team to draw up plans and ideas for various locations in the village which were in need of improvement.
Cllr Cox reported that following a meeting with the Rector and the Diocese it had been agreed to erect a boundary fence between Church Cottage and the Rectory. It had also been suggested that part of the Rectory garden be given to the PCC for a wildlife area. Additionally it was proposed that a ramp to access the pavilion be erected through the gap in the flint wall on Church Lane.
The meeting closed at 9.50pm.
Signed ……………………………… Date ……………………
Note: Copies of reports and documents referred to in these minutes can be inspected at the Council’s office.