24 October 2006

Last updated: Tuesday, 24 October 2006, 06:29 PM

Members Present

I. Storr (Chairman) T. Bhachu
G. Chamberlain (Vice Chairman) J. Stewart
A. Freeman
M. Farmer
Also present:
L. Howells (Clerk to the Parish Council)

1 Apologies for absence were received from G. Atkinson, R. Lewis-Smith and R. Grenfell.

2 Minutes of Meetings held 26th September 2006 were agreed as a true and accurate record with two amendments.

3 Open session (meeting officially closes for, and reopens after this session)

a) Mike Ford – Cambridge Road Traffic Scheme
Mike Ford presented four detailed drawings and the summary of the safety audit reports on the Cambridge Road Traffic Scheme. The recommendation of Cambs County Council in the final safety audit is quoted “None of the options will improve what is generally a safe situation with traffic slowed by the presence of parked vehicles. Pedestrians do not have to cross the existing road at present. None of the schemes should replace the current situation. If necessary, drivers stopping for any length of time should be encouraged to park on the shop forecourt.”
Mike Ford reported that the accident record on this stretch of road shows there has only been two minor accidents in recent years. It was felt there were more that had gone unreported. Disappointment was expressed that the experts had concluded they could not improve the lot of Hardwick residents and others using this road. Mike Ford was thanked for his work over the past 18 months. It was agreed to reproduce Mike Ford’s letter in the Hardwick Happenings. It was requested that the Clerk write to CCC to express HPC’s disappointment with the outcome.

b) Diane and Jim from HSSC asked if they could hold a summer ball on the recreation ground on Sat 14th July 2007. The marquee would also be in use on the Sunday when it would be an open day available to all residents and include a bouncy castle and children’s disco. The Saturday night would start around 18.00hrs with a champagne reception and sit down 5 course meal at 19.00hrs. A live band would perform from 21.00 to 00.30hrs. Security fencing – being looked into – would be placed round the marquee and security guards (minimum of 4) would be in place throughout. Fire regulations would be strictly adhered to. The Parish Council liked the concept of the ball and open day. Councillors raised the issue of licenses and these would be obtained/or are in place by HSSC. It was requested that residents on Egremont Road and Limes Road be written to at a later stage so they were aware of the event. The aspect of noise was raised. HSSC are to investigate the noise requirement and operate within the agreed noise limit.

c) Graham Bird/David Horton – Hardwick Website
Graham Bird attended the meeting following the questionnaire he had circulated. He explained about the handover of the site and the finance for the software and hosting of the site. He was given authorisation to spend up to £200 purchasing the necessary items, proposed Malcolm Farmer and seconded Alan Freeman. He explained that he was willing to help the village by creating a new website that would be ready early next year. He asked for a deadline, HPC felt that this was a bit strict and asked him to do his best. He will be invited to the December meeting for a progress update. Feedback is to be provided by HPC as to what we would like. It was felt that modernisation of the site, a review of current content and the ability for users to be able to update their areas would be beneficial. It is to be requested in the parish magazine for further feedback from residents. Graham asked about getting some new photographs produced for the site. The Clerk is to ask a photographer who lives locally who has just been awarded an FRPS from the Royal Photographic Society.

4 Matters Arising from previous minutes (for information only)

CALC have advised that it is necessary to build a disabled ramp facility on to the top bus stop on St Neots Road. Quotes are to be sought. The first quote has arrived and is £1237.

The Cahill’s Corner Street lamp is still out. The Clerk is to pass the contacts over to Ian Storr to deal with and a copy to Jim Stewart.

Secura-cam has been out and fixed the new anti vandal bracket to the CCTV cameras. The repaired 16 channel recorder is now installed and the new cameras are hooked on and running. The whole system is to be checked weekly for hard drive faults.

Algar Signcraft are to make and install the sign not allowing ball games for over 10year olds between Limes and Laxton Avenue (1st LHS cul de sac)

Weed clearance has been actioned and has been passed to D Vacher at Highways.

5 Other Matters:

A) Playground Inspections
Richard Grenfell had inspected St Mary’s Church and there was nothing major to report. The cracked tarmac path has already been reported to highways.
The Clerk has inspected Egremont Road and found eight slats to be missing. These are on order for replacement. The other play areas will be inspected this week.
A meeting had taken place the previous day between Nigel Tucker of Bidwells, Ian Storr HPC Chairman and the Clerk. This meeting took the form of a discussion and site visit. Mr Tucker is to assist with the valuation of the LEAP. It was proposed by Malcolm Farmer and seconded by Alan Freeman that a limit of £500 costs be incurred by Mr Tucker, before referral back to HPC is required.
At the previous day’s meeting Mr Tucker explained the situation is complicated for the developer who may have sold most of the homes. The meeting asked that Mr Tucker be reminded that he is working for HPC in this negotiation and whilst the developer has to sort things out with his own customers the developer has a contractual obligation to HPC which is the negotiation that HPC is interested in.
The Clerk is to pass this information on to Benjamin Smith to ask him to work with Mr Tucker to aid the valuation or negotiation process.

B) Maintenance
The roof tiles and guttering has been repaired on the Pavilion.
The all weather pitch lights are now all out. The situation has worsened from the 4 bulbs not working to complete rewiring of the tower nearest to the Pavilion required. This job is on order with Ringway.
All the CCTV is up, running and working.
Potholes, road line markings and the flattened bus stop have all been reported for repair

C) Land Registry
A meeting took place down at the Church to check out exactly the boundary of the land being registered with HPC and representatives of St Mary’s. On a scale map the boundary was drawn. This map together with the names and addresses of those able to make a statement about the land has been supplied to Mills & Reeve.

6 Correspondence:

D) Moore Stephens has written to say that the external audit has been signed off without any qualification. The Clerk was thanked for her efforts with this.

E) Mills & Reeve – advice
This advice has been noted and acted upon.

7 Correspondence Table Review:

A) CALC – Courses
B) Disability Sport Focus
C) Greenbelt Landscape Study (NW)
D) Community Planning
E) Gypsy & Traveller frameworks – this item was taken by G Chamberlain for comment during the consultation period.
F) Fire Regs

8 Planning:

A) S/1801/06/F S Majka 109 Bramley Way
extensions to house and garage
no recommendation
B) S/1416/06/F 100 Houses Society 124-158 Main Street amendments
no recommendation to this amendment
C) S/1919/O6/F C McKee 6 Main St
2 dwellings refuse
one of the proposed new houses is too close to No 16 Main Street. The gaps between the houses should be equalised by moving the first new house close to the boundary on the east. This would improve the street scene in the conservation area. The tree is a lesser consideration in this case.

D) S/1935/06/PNT BT Mad Tel Exchange Cambridge Road
15 metre high telecom pole refuse

9 Account presented for approval for Payment:

A) £530.66 Clerk’s salary Sept
B) £96.46 J Dyer village cleaner
C) £440.00 Victoire Press
D) £24.57 Madingley Mulch
E) £153.93 Secura-cam
F) £85.00 D Phillips
G) £423.00 Moore Stephens
H) £44.12 Admin expenses, BT, post, travel
I) £ 63.65 Staples
J) £163.64 LGPS
K) £3.68 Mrs E Instone-Brewer

10 Income received:

A) 103.52 NSIB
B) 312.60 HSSC
C) 48.92 bank interest
D) 1809.00 Allianz Cornhill
E) 22250.00 Precept part2
F) 823.80 HH Magazine
G) 17.60 HH Magazine

11 Any Other Business – (Councillors & Clerk comment for future discussion)

1) Tejinder Bhachu was asked about residents picking up Dr’s prescriptions from the Toft Surgery at his shop/Post Office. He confirmed this had been done for many years. Tejinder confirmed that he would be happy to provide the same level of service from Comberton Surgery. It was asked that HPC write to Comberton dispensary to request that they set up this service with Tejinder at his shop/Post Office.

2) Jim Stewart advised the meeting that the Hardwick CPS Governors are looking at safer routes to school. The Parish Council will become involved in the development of these initiatives. Items such as traffic calming near Cahill’s corner and interactive street signs are envisaged.

3) The signage at Grenadier Walk and the wooden fence are in very poor repair.

4) Grenville Chamberlain attended the Police Neighbourhood Panel Consultation. Major areas for action are anti social behaviour and speeding. Hardwick is to offer to host a forum.

5) The village walkabout was discussed.
Quotes for the work identified as phase 1 near the Pavilion are to be sought. This includes waste area, recycling bank, landscape on Egremont Road to close old gap, tarmac extension, linage and disabled bays. Also up righting of lampposts, waste bin posts and a new no golf sign.
At Pump Lane, tree work and pavement repairs are to be reported and ordered.
On St Neots Road drop kerbs, bus stop sign up right, graffiti, remove raised concrete lumps on top bus stop and disabled ramps are to be followed up. The manhole was looked at again that needs a full repair. This has been reported.
Finally the work on the A428 was viewed and an assessment of the remaining land size made.

12 The meeting closed at 21.45hrs. Date and Time of the next meeting of Hardwick Parish Council is to be Tuesday 28th November at 7.45pm in the Community Room, Hardwick Community Primary School, Limes Rd, Hardwick

Signature Date

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