Minutes from 18 December 2007

Last updated: Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 08:56 PM

Present

Cllrs: Ian Storr (Chairman), Jim Stewart, Alan Freeman, Richard Grenfell, Grenville Chamberlain, Anthony Gill, Pauline Joslin and Tejinder Bhachu.

In attendance

Mrs L Hazel (LGS Services).

Open Public Session

It was noted that Anthony Gill and Pauline Joslin had been co-opted onto the Parish Council as agreed at the extra ordinary meeting held on 11 December 2007. Both Cllr’s were invited to sign the Declarations of Acceptance of Office which they both duly signed and were welcomed to the Parish Council.

Minutes

1. To approve apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

1.0 Apologies were noted from Cllr Cripps (out of Parish).

1.0.1 There were no declarations of interest.

2. To approve the minutes of the meetings on 27 November and 11 December 2007

2.0.1 On a proposition by Cllr Storr, seconded by Cllr Stewart the minutes of the meeting on 27 November were approved as a true record after the following amendments:

Item: 3.1 pg 35 first line the words ‘secret written’ should be deleted.

Item: 3.4

‘Cambridge County Council’ should read ‘Cambridgeshire County Council’.
‘MHIS but requesting if they’ should be changed to ‘MHIS but requested that they’.

‘noted that the PCSO’s covers’ should be changed to ‘noted that the Police and PCSO’s covers’.
Item: 3.5
the word ’honoured’ should be deleted from the first line.
‘The contractor’ should read ‘T & G’ and ‘he’ should be changed to ‘they’.

the following bullet point should be added: It was agreed that an early payment of £9,000 should be paid before Christmas provided the work is nearly completed.
Item: 3.6 ‘John Cobb & Sons, T&S’ should read ‘John Cobb & Sons and T&G’.

The correct time that the meeting finished should be recorded as 9.17 pm and not 10.17 pm.

The Chairman signed the minutes.

2.0.2 On a proposition by Cllr Storr, seconded by Cllr Stewart the minutes of the meeting of 11 December were approved as a true record after the following minor amendment:
Richard Grenfell’s name is to be removed from members present and shown under apologies.

Item: 2 the word ‘secret’ is to be changed to ‘confidential’.
The minutes will be signed by the Chairman at the next meeting.

3. Matters arising and carried forward from the last meeting

3.1 (3.3) Secura-Cam Repairs

Cllr Storr updated the Parish Council on the current position. It was noted that Secura-Cam has repaired the lights at the back of the pavilion. While Secura-Cam were carrying out their repairs along with the Chairman who was also present at the time they noted that there are 2 bulbs missing from the lights at the tennis courts which will
need replacing and that the wires on one of the lights have been tampered with and are hanging loose which will need to be repaired. The Chairman asked that this be
repaired straight away that day. The Chairman confirmed that he has reported to the Highways Authority that the light on the footpath in Limes Road towards the Pavilion
is not working and along with 2 other lights that require attention.

3.2 (3.4) Police Speed Survey

The recent e-mail from John Bunyan confirming that he will be doing work around the school at the times requested (picking up & dropping off time) was noted. A site
meeting has been arranged with Graham Lowe at CCC on 10 January 2008 at 10am outside the shop. It was commented on that it was shame that the site meeting was
not earlier when children are being dropped off at School as there will be more traffic around. It was noted that several members have recently seen Police cars driving
through the village.

3.3 (7.4.2) Skateboard rivet work

The reply from Freestyle to the Parish Councils previous letter re-confirming their quote for the riveting work only as £2650 was noted. The Parish Council was still not
happy with this response and it was agreed that another letter should be sent asking Freestyle to provide an exact breakdown of the costs/quote. This item is to be carried
forward to the next meeting.

3.4 (8.0.1) Manhole Cover – It was noted that Dennis Vacher has made safe the raised drains and will undertake a more permanent repair in the New Year.

3.5 (7.4.0) Bus Shelter – An order has been placed for a replacement shelter and that it will have disabled access.

3.6 (3.7) Smoking Shelter. Cllr Storr reported on the current position. Plans of the new shelter were handed around for members to look at. It was noted that guttering if required can be added at a later date. There will not be a problem with rain/water due to the overhang of the existing roof line and the new shelter will come just above door height.

On a proposition by Cllr Freeman, seconded by Cllr Chamberlain it was agreed to progress to the next stage which will be to undertake consultation with the Sports &
Social Club and obtain quotes. The vote was recorded as 7 for and 1 against.

4. Members reports and items

4.0.1 (3.0.1) Pond de-weeding. Cllr Stewart confirmed that the work is to be carried out on Thursday 20 December 2007.

4.0.2 Play park inspection reports

The reports were noted. There are still missing slats on the small play equipment on Egremont Road as reported at the last meeting. Ian Lawson is to be asked to complete this work as soon as possible. The broken glass in Egremont Road play area has now been cleared.

4.0.2.1 St Marys play area – Broken glass/bottles in the tunnel will be cleared by Cllr Grenfell as soon as he is able.

4.0.3 (8.0.2) Millers Way – Cllr Stewart reported. It was noted that a reply dated 7 December from CCC has been received stating that the evidence will need to be
provided that Millers Way is used as a footpath. It was agreed that the reply drafted should be sent informing CCC that the Parish Council is not simply making an assertion unsupported be evidence but that it is testifying collectively as the elected representatives of Hardwick namely that Millers Way is used as a public right of way
and has been for many decades.

4.0.4 (4.1) Damaged bench in front of Church – Cllr Freeman confirmed that the commemorative plaque is still intact and has been salvaged. The bench is approximately 8ft. Materials for a replacement bench were considered and the preference was for a wooden bench. It was agreed that Cllr Grenfell would look into the cost of replacement benches and consult the family who had donated the bench as to their preferences and bring a recommendation to the meeting.

5. Correspondence/communications received

5.1 Planning Application Consultation on national standard

Noted.

6. Planning applications and decision notices

6.1 S/2288/07/F 6 Main Street – Creation of new access. There was no paperwork for this application. Cllr Chamberlain reported that he had seen the application on the website and recommended that the Parish Council makes no recommendation on this application. This was agreed.

6.2 S/2264/07/F 31 Laxton Avenue – Extension
The Parish Council makes no recommendation.

6.3 S/2192/07/F 65 St Neots Road – Multi fuel burner flue (amended design)
The Parish Council makes no recommendation.

Decisions – The following were noted
S/1948/07/O 62 Ellison Lane – Approved by SCDC.

7. Finance, risk assessment and procedural matters

7.1 To approve the payment of bills

The financial report was received and considered and invoices and bank statements were checked. On a proposition by Cllr Chamberlain, seconded by Cllr Bhachu the
payments as listed in the report were approved for:

Freestyle Skateparks (site inspection) £581.63
T&s Groundworks Ltd (deposit on railings) £2000.00
T&s Groundworks Ltd (deposit on surfacing) £7000.00
Secura – Cam (UK) Ltd (CCTV) £470.00
J Dyer (salary) £96.46
L G Stoehr (salary) £140.40
LGS Services (admin support) £1057.58
Town and Country Tree Surgery (tree work) £763.75

The payroll details had not been received from Payroll Café at the time of the report. Members are to start thinking about projects and items of expenditure that they would
like to see in the budget next year which is due to be set in January.

7.2 Members Training

Details of the CALC training days for 2008 were considered. The following members expressed interest in attending the following courses:
Cllr Joslin – April 12, May 17 and June 7
Cllr Chamberlain: April 9 and May 14
Cllr Bhachu: March 5, April 9 and May 14

Cllr Storr: March 5, April 9 and May 14
Other members should contact with the Clerk who will make the necessary arrangements.

7.3 Biodiversity Duty

The Parish Council formally noted its duty and agreed to have due regard for this in its decision making process.

7.4 Street Lighting Maintenance Energy 2007-2008

It was unclear from the schedule who is responsible for maintenance of the lights i.e. SCDC or Parish Council. It was queried why the lights in Cambridge Road were not
listed Clarification is required and information is to be provided on the different types of lights mentioned.

8. Members items for the next agenda and for the Clerk’s information and Closure of meeting

8.0.1 It was agreed by the Parish Council that it would be useful to have a complete breakdown of all expenditure available to all members when setting the budget.

8.0.2 Flaking paintwork on the street light in Cambridge Road near the corner is to be reported.

8.0.3 Cllr Joslin reported that, as member of the public, she had asked the Environmental Health Department to undertake a noise emission survey of the DVLA proposals at
the ex-Burden’s site It had been confirmed by the Environmental Officer that they will recommended approval of the planning application.

8.0.4 Cllr Bachu reported that Merton Walk footpath is inaccessible to wheelchair users or individuals with buggies due to the poor state of the surface. It was agreed that this should be reported to Dennis Vacher, Highway Supervisor.

8.0.5 A street light in Merton Walk/Limes road is permanently switched on. This is to be reported.

8.0.6 There is a depression in the footpath opposite the School in Limes Road and a depression in the footpath outside 2 Laxton Avenue adjacent to the Post Box.
Highways Department is to be informed of these.

8.0.7 Grenadier Walk – It was noted that letters have been sent to some residents in Grenadier Walk who have been leaving rubbish bags out on the wrong day.

The next meeting is to be held on 22 January 2008 in the Primary School.

There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.20 pm