|
Parish Council: Meeting minutes 23 August 2011Last updated: Tuesday, 23 August 2011, 11:10 PM
Meeting held on Tuesday 23 August 2011 in the Pavilion at 7.45 pm
Present: Cllrs I Storr (Chairman), A Gill, P Joslin, J Bowen, A Freeman, H Seaber-Shinn and J Stewart. In attendance: Mrs K Baptie (Minutes Secretary, LGS Services).
Open public session including reports from the County and District Councillors
1. Apologies for absence and declarations of interest Apologies were received from Cllr Chamberlain (out of parish). 2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2011 The minutes of the meeting on 27 July 2011 were approved (Prop AG, 2nd PJ), and signed by the Chairman, following correction to spelling errors on page 209, first paragraph, line 2, 'they' and line 15, 'then', and page 212, item 5.3 'Ashmead'. 3. Matters arising and carried forward from the last or previous meeting The Clerk's report was noted. 3.0.1 (3.1) Millers Way Enquiries are to be made with Land Registry regarding ownership of Millers Way, if this has not already been done. 3.0.2 (6.1) Proposal to remove fencing adjacent to skate park The self set tree needs to be removed and it was agreed to clarify whether Ian Lawson had been asked to do this. 3.0.3 The salt bin near the Pavilion has been filled. 3.1 Millennium Way footbridge update and CCC grant report and to consider quotes if received Cllr Joslin reported on her meeting with County Council Officers and updated the meeting on the proposals. It was agreed to obtain quotes from Roland Fletcher for the following;
Further quotes will be obtained if Council's Financial Regulations requires this. 3.2 Legionella Report The Pavilion has been given the all clear and the £130 plus VAT quote from Primec for annual testing was accepted. LGS Services are to be invited to quote for carrying out the interim tests recommended in the report. 4. Correspondence/communications received 4.1 Hardwick Sports & Social Club - changing rooms upgrade and quotation Having considered the list of requirements, it was agreed to write to the Football Club that the Parish Council would be willing to meet 50% of the costs if the other users would do like wise. The Parish Council also wished to point out that whilst it was happy to match fund the costs, in order to comply with financial regulations, it is obliged to obtain a couple of alternative quotes for the works. 4.2 ACRE Queen Elizabeth Challenge 2012 It was agreed to put forward the recreation ground and also the St Mary's Play Area Cllr Storr will be the contact for the matter. 5. Planning applications and decision notices 5.1 Planning applications received None. 5.2 SCDC Decision and appeal notices 5.2.1 S/1135/11 - Pet-Paks, 175 St Neots Rd - SCDC approved 5.2.2 S/0730/11 - Hardwick Community School - 4 bay mobile classroom - application withdrawn 5.2.3 S/0905/11 - Blue Lion, 74 Main Street - Timber decked section to existing pub garden area (retrospective) - appeal. 5.3 Tree works applications None. The hedge needs cutting back in Limes Rd, and behind the Recreation Ground and also brambles on the pathway between the Pavilion path on Limes Rd going to the school, where the wire fence is to be cut back. The hedge at 16 Egremont Rd is becoming rather bulky and encroaching on the pavement. A letter is to be sent to the owner asking him to kindly cut it back. A letter is to be sent to the Highways Dept regarding 2 trees planted fairly recently on Cambridge Rd, which are looking a bit weary, a dead tree in the hedge opposite 23 Cambridge Rd and also a couple of dead Elms opposite 39 St Neots Rd. Also noted are some Horse Chestnuts that are not looking great; however, the official recommendation from the Tree Officer is that these will probably survive. It was agreed to accept the offer of a free Jubilee Oak from the District Council to plant in commemoration of the Queens Jubilee and think about where best to plant it. Cllr Gill will contact Andrew Grimmer at SCDC. 6. Members reports and items for decision 6.1 Proposal for Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration Cllr Joslin read out some articles on the kind of celebratory events proposed in different places for next year and asked if the Parish Council wished to organise an event. It was felt that whilst the Parish Council would support any Jubilee celebrations in the village, it did not wish to be responsible for organising any. 7. Finance, risk assessment and procedural matters 7.1 To receive the financial report and approve the payment of bills The financial report was received and considered and invoices and bank statements were checked. The payments as listed in the report were unanimously approved for payment (Prop PJ, 2nd JS), plus Algar £161.40 (signs), Lawson Tree £160.00 (tree work near 105 Limes Rd), Lawson Tree £80.00 (fence removal near skate park), Lawson Tree £40.00 (litter bin installation) and LGS Services (Admin support) £1269.45. Credits received since the last meeting were noted.
It was noted that Lloyds TSB had changed the bank account because the income had exceeded £50,000. This change would have incurred charges of approximately £120 per annum; however, these have been challenged by the Clerk and Lloyds have agreed to drop the recent invoice for £10.63 and future charges. The Parish Council wished to thank the Clerk for her perseverance. 7.1.1 Financial Regulations It was agreed to update the financial regulations policy to link to the Internal Controls Policy and to reflect current practice detailing how often it checks its bank statements against financial reports, initialing invoices when payments are approved (two signatures when invoices relate to an officer or a member). 7.2 Play area inspection reports and skate park inspection report Inspection reports were received from Cllrs Freeman and Stewart. A quotation for a 'no kite flying' sign at the play area near the Church is to be obtained as the current sign has been vandalised. A progress report on rerouting the overhead cables is to be provided. 7.3 Bus Shelter- opposite Millers Way Garrick's revised quote from £250 to £108 for a replacement perspex panel was considered and it was agreed to accept the quote and to ask Mr Lawson to fit the panel. 8. Members items for the next agenda and for the Clerk's information and Closure of meeting Enquiries are to be made with Redmayne, Arnold Harris on Hills Rd, to find out what is happening to the derelict site on St Neots Rd, as the sign has recently been taken down and someone was seen cutting the grass with a strimmer. There are some trees on Cambridge Rd, past Egremont Rd that need cutting back, also an overgrown hedge on Chivers land. Jim Rogers is to be asked to cut back the suckers growing out from a tree at the end of Egremont Rd and Cambridge Rd.. An update on the speed stickers that were ordered was required for the next meeting. A number of members commented on the level of swearing from the football players which they feel is unacceptable in an environment where young children are watching. A letter is to be sent to the Cambridge FA at Histon Football Club saying the Parish Council abhors the amount of swearing at public football pitches where young children are present, asking them to take appropriate action. A copy is to be sent to the Chairman of Hardwick FC. The Millennium Path is to be raised as an agenda item again next month. An update on the phone box in Main St is to be an agenda item next month. There was no further business and the meeting closed at 9.10 pm.
|
