18 July 2006

Last updated: Tuesday, 18 July 2006, 06:33 PM

Members Present:
I. Storr (Chairman)R. Grenfell
G. Chamberlain (Chairman)J. Stewart
R. Lewis-SmithM. Farmer
Also present:
L. Howells (Clerk to the Parish Council), D. Baldwin (County Councillor)

Apologies Apologies for absence were received from Grace Atkinson and Alan Freeman.
Minutes of Meetings held 27th June 2006 were agreed as a correct and accurate report without amendments.
Open session (meeting officially closes for, and reopens after this session)
Item 8 (a)
Mrs Haddadi spoke of planning permission for house adjacent to 18 Ellison Lane. Grenville Chamberlain said that he had advised Mrs Haddadi and Mr Clarke to produce revised drawings so that land outside the boundary was not included. Mrs Haddadi explained this had been done and would be submitted for full planning approval. Grenville Chamberlain informed the meeting the situation was complicated because of land transacted through Mrs Haddadi and Mr Clarke and had therefore instructed the Clerk to contact the solicitors to ensure the integrity of the land involved.

Item 6 (e)
The Hardwick allotment initiative has got off to a good start. Mr Baker has fixed an AGM for Sept 26th to sort out the administrative needs to form a committee. Investigation of land has been undertaken resulting in two possible sites.
Site 1 – An aerial view of the site that belongs to Chivers Farms and lies close to the Church and houses on Main Street was studied. This was felt more suitable than the possible site where the current A428 is located (Site 2). Those representing the Allotments group pointed out that in addition to land they would need water, secure access, parking, all weather and rubbish and compost facilities. Most importantly they would need a long tenure or ownership of the land by HPC, to ensure their efforts would produce a good facility for many years to come. The Clerk is to draft a letter to Mrs Chivers to investigate the usage of this land. The County & District Councillors were asked to seek out any help that there might be from their organisations. The Chairman said that Terry Rae is responsible for all the Cambridge City allotments and may be able to advise.

CCC Hardwick Traffic Scheme
HPC is keen to find a solution to the congestion outside the village shop and on Cambridge Road. At present the ‘do nothing’ situation seems to be the highways department’s view both from David Lines and the safety audit team. Our design consultant, Mike Ford, has recently submitted for formal audit the By Pass Scheme and the Parking Opposite scheme so we can then determine which if any of the four schemes investigated can go further: a brief review of the schemes to date followed.

a) parking on shop side formalised, road widening, speeds up traffic, poor driveway visibility
b) layby opposite side of road, dangers on road crossing
c) by pass scheme – roundabout, lighting issues, traffic management
d) parking off road on other side – travellers, maintenance as not adopted by CCC, hanging around, ASBO
A question of need arose and Jim Stewart referred to the survey carried out in which over 75% of villagers wanted to see some form of solution to this issue.
Mike Ford has been asked to get formal feedback on all of the schemes so that HPC can clearly see the options. The By Pass Scheme was shown again at the meeting and feedback on this is required from Highways Department, Mr Baldwin will look into this at CCC and the Clerk will keep him up to date with developments. Mr Ford hopes to attend either the September or October meeting with a review.
Matters Arising from previous minutes (for information only)
The Mobile Warden Scheme was discussed and Grenville Chamberlain explained the proposition that would assist older and disabled people to remain living independently in their homes for as long as possible. In principle this scheme looks as if it would benefit members of the Hardwick Community and research is to be undertaken to determine the need.
The skate park criminal damage to the CCTV cameras was reported as a crime ref CF0357230706 on the 4th July. The police have not been out yet to investigate.

At the first PARC meeting there were no youngsters present despite initial enthusiasm at CVC. A further attempt to get youngsters involved is to take place this Thursday 20th July.

The Parish Councillor vacancy has been advertised on HPC notice board, upon notification from SCDC that an election is not required it will be possible to put up the co option notice. The Clerk did write to Mrs Jones to thank her for her input over her eight years service.

Other Matters:
A) Accounts Internal Audit & Statement of Assurance The internal audit of Hardwick Parish Council has been carried out as indicated in Appendix 5 of the Audit Commission’s Practitioners’ Guide for the Governance and Accountability of Local Councils in England and Wales. All the questions were answered favourably and the report has been signed. The Statement of Assurance was read through in full and all sections agreed. Proposed Malcolm Farmer and Seconded Grenville Chamberlain, carried unanimously.
B) Playground Inspections and repairs
ARD were requested to come out and fix some minor problems at the play parks following the large amount of remedial work carried out and this has been done.
Richard Grenfell had inspected the Church Play Area. He reported that there are wooden slats on the bench which are loose and weeds around the swings.
C) Skatepark Barrier Test Report
Mr Dibble is awaiting a comment back from Hardwick Parish Council on the test report. The report was read out. The conclusion of the final acoustic test report is as follows:
A noise barrier some 3 m high has been erected across the full width of the boundary which separates the complainant’s property from the Hardwick Skate Park.
Completion testing was carried out on 5th April 2006 by acoustic experts representing both HPC and SCDC. The results show that 14dB attenuation has been achieved reducing the residual skate boarding noise level to around 45dB.
Since the combined attenuation due to distance and barrier together amount to more than doubling and quadrupling that provided by a 30m distance separation (i.e. the minimum standard recommended in the NFPA standard) it is the opinion that a “best practicable means” solution to noise complaint has been achieved.
The Hardwick Parish Council accepts the experts report in full and our solicitor is to be instructed to serve the report on the legal team at SCDC.
D) Maintenance
Several manufacturers of clear bus shelters have been contacted and various solutions considered. This week Garrick Outdoor shelters is to measure up the site and check suitability for an Enclosed flat roof shelter with one entry sprayed to a colour of choice. The price for this including installation is £2183.00. The Clerk is to write to Allianz Cornhill seeking the approval for this which is closer to the insurance value and a better solution than the previous brick shelter. A site survey is due on 20th July.
T&S Groundworks have been out to quote on a footpath and block paved area outside of the pavilion. Their quote is for £4270.00 for the path and £5510.00 for the Chelsea sets blocked area. It was decided to think this one over at the present time.

It has been requested that the car park at Egremont Road needs to be relined, and tarmac placed along the tree edge and a disabled parking bay installed this was noted for future action.

There have been four attempts to repair the damage to the skate park cameras this month. Securacam have been out on 3 occasions and Coulsons have been out once. Securacam has rewired all the electrics’ at the top of the post that were damaged. Coulsons have worked on the main post. Today Ringway came out and have found the fault. One of the lamps has also been damaged and is shorting out with water contact. As the electrics on the lamp and the cameras is not split this was shorting out the electric to the cameras too. The cameras are now on and the lamps off. Rewiring of the post is required along with the replacement lamp and casing which has been placed on order.

E) Egremont Road Car Park
The Chairman raised the issue of complaints from villagers concerning teenagers hanging around in cars at Egremont Rd Car Park. The anti social behaviour appears to include drink, drugs, abusive behaviour, noise, fast driving, swearing and intimidation of innocent passers by. It was agreed that this is to be reported to The Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police, Ms Julie Spence, to deal with as a police issue. Harwick Parish Council is to install CCTV coverage and signage of the car parking areas and a quote for £1745.00 from Secura cam was approved. Proposed I Storr, seconded G Chamberlain carried unanimously.
Correspondence:
A) Howard Baker – allotments – (taken in open session)
B) Allianz Cornhill
Have authorised the bus stop repairs for a brick build. A new letter informing them of the updated situation with the see through shelter is to be sent.
C) CCC Street Light Maintenance
Details the maintenance schedule from CCC for Hardwick street lights has been received for Hardwick with costs per lamp for electricity and maintenance. The full inventory will be checked by the Clerk and CCC will invoice in October the annual charge.
D) SCDC Village Services and amenities
this directory contains details of all villages services and amenities including housing lists. On this list there are 272 people waiting for housing in Hardwick. Between 2001 and 2004 only 10 properties came up and were re-let.
E) Royal Mail – postcode changes
Hardwick will change to CB23. In late September all homeowners will be advised of their new postcode.
Correspondence Table Review:
A) Care Network – Mobile Warden Scheme
dealt with in Matters Arising
B) CCC St Andrew’s St/Hobson St
C) SCDC Gambling Act 2005 – draft policy
D) SCDC The Transformation Project
E) CCC – Changes to Local Bus Services
F) SCDC Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership – meeting
G) Tackle Hate Crime in Your Area
H) CALC Training courses
Planning: Jim Stewart took no part in this discussion.
A)S/1070/06/RMMr & Mrs E Clark adj 18 Ellison Lanedealt with in Open Session
B)S/1198/06/FS Grain extensions and double garage 67 St Neots Roadno recommendation
C)S/1243/06/FL Bennett 4 Bramley Wayno recommendation
Account presented for approval for Payment:
A)618.74Clerk’s salary July
B)10.00CALC
C)185.00A Withington Accountancy Services
D)60.00Hardwick Community Primary School
E)35.48Admin, BT expenses
F)109.22A Yeomans – village cleaning
G)189.95Coulson Building Group
H)520.00Victoire Press
I)851.88ARD Design Ltd
J)1949.68ARD Design Ltd
K)193.37LGPS – Cambs CC
L)56.40Secura cam
Income received:
A)99.88NSIB
B)43.83bank interest
C)1464.67VAT BACS payment
D)424.07SCDC Recycling
E)168.30Hardwick Happenings
Any Other Business – (Councillors & Clerk comment for future discussion)
1) Issues of who is eligible for the affordable homes at Saxon Place has been raised. The Village amenities booklet shows that there are some 272 people/families on the Hardwick waiting list and it is this list that tenants connected with Hardwick will come from. Enquiries are to be directed to SCDC Housing Dept. Our County Councillor added that the allocation of this scarce resource is a problem in all villages and will lead to inevitable disappointment.
2) Comments concerning the Chairman’s report have been raised. Steve Rose’s email was read out in full. S Rose’s view and comment is to be attributed to him personally and not on behalf of HSSC or HFC at the APM. The Chairman’s comment on the traffic scheme and cycle path issues was noted as his personal view.
3) The Guided Bus has received approval from CCC and hopefully in four years time both this service and the widening of the A14 may have been achieved.
4) Mr Tom Fletcher has requested signage for Papworth Hospital. This request will be transferred to Highways Dept.
5) The Nuttalls newsletter showing the HPC visit was available.
6) Cars driving at high speed were reported driving along Cambridge Road. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are happy to be trained with radar equipment.
7) The village walkabout date will be set at the next meeting.
Date and Time of the next meeting of Hardwick Parish Council is to be Tuesday 29th August at 7.45pm in the Ken Turner Room, The Pavilion/Sports & Social Club, Egremont Rd, Hardwick.

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