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24 April 2007

Last updated: Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 06:42 AM

Present

Tejinder Bhachu
Ron Lewis-Smith
Grenville Chamberlain
Jim Stewart (also District Cllr)
Richard Grenfell
Ian Storr (Chairman)

In attendance

Mr Chris Jackson (One Hundred Housing) and Mrs Gail Stoehr (Minutes Secretary, LGS Services)

Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs M Farmer and Mrs G Atkinson and also Mrs L Howells (Clerk – on sick leave). The Council sends its best wishes to Mrs Howells for her speedy recovery. Mrs Gail Stoehr from LGS Services was introduced to the Council. It was agreed to appoint LGS Services to provide admin and clerking support at a cost of £15 plus VAT plus expenses until Mrs Howell’s return.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 March 2007

The minutes were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman (proposed Cllr Chamberlain, 2nd Cllr Grenfell) after the following two amendments: Item 4 change ‘as’ to ‘and’ Item D – delete the wording in brackets.

On a proposition by the Chairman it was agreed to vary the order of business to take the planning application from One Hundred Housing next.

D) S/2201/06/F/RMc Hundred Housing – Balancing pond to serve affordable houses
Mr Chris Jackson from One Hundred Housing was welcomed to the meeting and invited to outline the planning application. It was noted that this reapplication had been necessary to move the balancing pond away from the nearby badger sett. Hardwick Parish Council agreed to recommend to SCDC that the application be approved (Proposed Cllr Chamberlain, Seconded Cllr Grenfell)

Matters arising from the previous meeting

4A) (4i) It was noted that Rob Mongovan was still at SCDC and that it was Nick Grimshaw who had left. Cllr Stewart reported that Pat Matthews, Land Drainage Manager at SCDC will look at the pond on his return from holiday and indicate if SCDC can assist.

4B) (5A) Cllr Grenfell reported that the swings at St Mary’s had been checked and were ok. He will return the lease for the Sports and Social Club to Irena.

4C) (4) As the streetlight has now been repaired it was agreed that the cheque to CCC could now be released. 4D) (5B) In response to the email from Stephen Rose, Secretary to Hardwick Sports & Social Club, it was agreed that temporary referred to the structure not being an integral part of the main building and the Council did not want another door knocking through and that that may mean the alarm would require modifying.

4E) (10 3) Mrs Howells had attended the Crime and Disorder Partnership meeting.

4F) (4) A letter had been received from Whippet Coaches about the bus shelter incident saying they are completing their enquiries and will respond fully in due course. 3 Open Session On a proposition by the Chairman the meeting was temporarily adjourned to allow Mrs Carr to address the meeting. The meeting was reopened at 8.15pm. In response to Mrs Carr, of Ashmead Drive, it was agreed that the tree surgeon, when next in the village, would look at the trees at the wood adjacent to Mrs Carr’s home. Also Mrs Carr is to be given the background to the recent complaint about a tree.

Cllr Freeman arrived.

Other Matters

A) Playpark inspections

Cllr Grenfell reported on the play inspections and the play equipment check sheets for the month were considered. Glass near the skateboard park is to be monitored.

B) Saxon Place development

Cllr Stewart reported on discussions with David Rush at SCDC in particular that the planning permission and S106 Agreement could not be varied without agreement of all parties which was unlikely to be granted. The developer therefore has an obligation to provide the LEAP on the POS in the development. It was agreed that Cllr Stewart should arrange a meeting between the Parish Council, SCDC and the developer to discuss further. An invoice from Mills and Reeve and the clause that the developer should cover the Council’s reasonable cost arising from the S106, transfer etc was considered. It was agreed to ask the Cambridge office to handle future negotiations on the Council’s behalf as it may be better placed to support the Council in the negotiations as they have had direct experience of both SCDC and this particular developer. It was also agreed to seek a breakdown of the invoice and if this is covered by the S106 before payment and to consider this further at the next meeting.

C) Maintenance

C i) Bench at Wimpole Way with dog bin

The litter bin and dog bin consultation by SCDC was briefly considered. It was agreed to carry this matter forward pending further information including the size and costs for a dog bin.

C ii) Quotations for slabs by the pavilion

Two quotations received were considered. It was agreed that the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and Cllr Stewart should meet with the Sports and Social Club, draw up a specification for the required work and then three quotations would be obtained for consideration at a future meeting.

C iii) Footpath from Egremont Road to play area

One quotation and one estimate for the work were considered. It was agreed not to seek a third quotation and that the quotation from T&S Groundworks for £4847 plus VAT be approved (proposed Cllr Chamberlain, 2nd Cllr Stewart).

C iv) Tree quotes near the pavilion, land adjacent to 7 Sudley Grove, adjacent to Grenadier Walk car park

Cllr Stewart declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the room. The three quotations received were considered and the one from Town and Country Tree Surgery for £600 plus VAT was approved (proposed Cllr Freeman, Cllr Chamberlain). Cllr Stewart rejoined the meeting.

C v) Land adjacent to 144 Limes Road

The quotation from Lawson Tree and Hedge Garden Services for £175 to replace the two end posts in pail fence was approved (proposed Cllr Chamberlain, seconded Cllr Grenfell)

C vi) Dog bin installation, work along St Neots Road

The quotation from Lawson Tree and Hedge Garden Services for £90 was approved (proposed Cllr Bhachu, 2nd Cllr Stewart).

C vii) 111 Limes Road, bramble clearance and new post

The quotation from Lawson Tree and Hedge Garden Services for £150 was approved (Cllr Chamberlain, seconded Cllr Storr) On a proposition by the Chairman item 5e was taken next.

5E) WH Matthews

The letter from WH Matthews saying there was no right to repair contained in the lease was noted. The quotation from Town & Country Tree Surgery for £600 plus VAT was approved (proposed Cllr Storr, seconded Cllr Chamberlain).

Correspondence

D) Moore Stephens – Annual Audit March 31st 2007

The annual audit timetable and requirements including internal audit was considered. Given the current circumstances i.e. the Clerk to the Parish Council being on sick leave, it was agreed to seek a time extension for the audit and to include the accounts and internal audit on the next agenda.

E) WH Matthews Taken earlier.

F) Ensign Carried forward.

G) SCDC Grounds maintenance contract
Details of the SCDC contract and maintenance areas had been received.

H) Charity Commission Annual Return
Carried forward to the next meeting.

I) Parish Council election
Seven members had been returned uncontested to the Parish Council and would officially take their seat four days after 3 May. Two seats may be filled by co-option. There was a consensus that the co-option should be delayed until the new housing was all occupied.

J) Cambridge Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted It was noted that a representative from Camsight was willing to attend a meeting if so wished.

Correspondence Table Review

a) Cambourne Neighbourhood Panel
The new neighbourhood panel, policing arrangements and forthcoming panel meeting in Comberton in May were noted. It was agreed that Parish Council members should attend if possible.

b) PARC
Katie Low had emailed to say that the activity day on 17 June would go ahead despite possible problems with equipment and funding although the event may have to be scaled down. The next four items were all noted.

c) D Baldwin County Councillors Report for next meeting

f) COPE

g) CALC Training courses

h) Consultation on draft planning obligation strategy 2007

Planning

a) S/0497/07/F Mrs P Joslin, 39 St Neots Road – New dwelling following demolition of existing No recommendation.

b) S/0484/07/F Mr M Kousoulou, 21 Cambridge Road – extension increase height of 2 dormers
Cllr Lewis-Smith declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the meeting. No recommendation with a comment that the boundaries as depicted should be checked. Cllr Lewis-Smith rejoined the meeting.

c) S/0054/07/CC Hardwick School Limes Road – extension to provide entrance lobby No objection.

d) A Sawyer & CL Pidoux, 2 Limes Road – extension No recommendation.

e) S/2201/06/F/RMc Hundred Housing – Balancing pond to serve affordable houses Taken earlier.

Account presented for approval for payment

a) £1830.65 Mills & Reeve
b) £89.91 Madingley Mulch
c) £9.99 Madingley Mulch
d) £215.42 Grounds by Rounds
e) £58.75 Signwork
f) £480.00 Victoire Press
g) £25 School Hire HCPS
h) £18.95 Shaw & Sons Ltd
i) £532.53 L Howells
j) £96.46 J Dyer
k) £163.64 LGPS
l) £22.79 BT, phone, fax & travel

All of the above were approved for payment (proposed Cllr Chamberlain, 2nd Cllr Freeman). The invoices were checked before the cheques were signed by two members.

Income

The following were noted.

a) £52.54 Bank interst
b) £350.00 D Hart
c) £94.60 HH Magazine
d) £401.44 HSSC Cleaning contribution

Any other business

a) A letter is to be sent to Cllr Farmer and Cllr Mrs Atkinson thanking them for their contribution to the Council.
b) A sunken metal cover in the pavement outside 6 Manor Crescent is to be reported to the Street-work Co-ordinator.
c) Quotations are to be obtained for updating the map near the shop with the new roads in the village and also for a new map to be placed in the Saxon Place development.
d) In response to residents concerns SCDC is to be asked to undertake tree works near its sheltered accommodation in Limes Close.
e) It was noted that badgers have preferred routes and that they do not like these disturbed. Cllr Stewart is to check with Rob Mongovan at SCDC that that this has been taken in to account.
f) The condition of Millers Way for pedestrians was considered. It was agreed as this is a public right of way the landowner and Cambs County Council has a responsibility to provide a safe route. A letter is to be sent to the Countryside Services team and if necessary Cllr Grenfell will meet an officer on site to discuss further.
g) It was noted with disappointment that following the recent clean up by members an area near Limes Road has become littered again.
h) Complaints about vermin near the commercial centre in St Neots Road were considered. It was agreed to send a letter to Mr Faruq asking that he gets SCDC Environmental Health in to clear the vermin.

Date and time of next meeting

It was agreed that the First and Annual Meeting of the Hardwick Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 15 May 2007 at 7.45pm if the school is available. Cllrs Stewart and Grenfell both tendered their apologies as they will both be out of parish. There was no further business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.38pm.