28 February 2006

Last updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2006, 06:54 AM

Members Present

G. Chamberlain (Chair of Meeting)
G. Atkinson
M. Farmer
R. Grenfell
R. Lewis-Smith

Also present:
L. Howells (Clerk to the Parish Council)

Apologies for absence

I. Storr (Chairman), J. Stewart, A. Jones & A. Freeman.

Minutes of Meeting held on 24th January 2006 agreed as a true and accurate record without amendment.

Open session

Len Thornton, a youth participation officer consultant for SCDC attended. He reported that SCDC employs him to look at Youth Inclusion Work. He has much experience in working with young people involved in criminal activity or with difficult backgrounds. Unfortunately due to illness it has not been possible for Len to move the Hardwick Project forward at this time and he was aware that no youngsters attended the previous meeting that was set up to help them. It was commented that perhaps this was due to a lack of interest from the young people in what was being offered. Len thought it unsurprising that the youth had not turned up as youth culture at present is not one of inclusion. A lack of parental responsibility exacerbates the problem.

Grenville Chamberlain wished Len well with his project and explained that there was an open invitation to the local youth to form a Youth Parish Council. It is hoped that the Youth Parish Council would be inclusive of all the youth village groups in Hardwick. Len plans to investigate successful village groups and was going to the Youth Club following the meeting. The results of the meeting of March 9th are eagerly awaited.

Matters Arising from previous minutes (for information only)

Jim Rogers had reported that the overflow from the village pond to the manhole cover is clear. However from the manhole cover to the surface water drainage is blocked. Simply Drain Services are due out in the next week to jet this blockage.

Further correspondence concerning the precise location of the cricket nets has gone to the planning department SCDC. A complaint has been received about the cricket shed that needs dismantling. This has been passed to Chris Fuller.

An update on the street light situation has been received from CALC. which states the lights which have not been taken over by parish councils or Cambridgeshire County Council will be turned off on April 1st. Final agreement has yet to be reached but it is expected that CCC will take over 250 lights from SCDC. Yesterday a further communication was received from SCDC stating that if Parish Councils take over responsibility for power and routine maintenance, then the call on the SCDC budget will be greatly reduced it has therefore been decided that in these circumstances this Council will be able to use this budget to retain responsibility, as now, for carrying out priority-based renewals and replacements. It is believed by SCDC that under this partnership arrangement it would no longer be necessary for Parish Councils to insure the lights against impact damage or provide contingency and sinking fund arrangements for replacements and renewals.

Street Lights were discussed at length and the HPC dissatisfaction of SCDC shedding their responsibility for the lights at short notice is to be reported to SCDC. The Clerk was asked to write a letter strongly expressing the concerns of HPC and highlighting the following points:

Street lights are in all SCDC villages and the efficiencies of managing these and other core central services (such as waste) is what the SCDC Council Tax contribution should be for.

Hardwick Parish Council has been battling for 24 months to get a street light at Cahills Corner (on the dangerous bend on Main Street/Cambridge Road) repaired. It is unknown why this is not possible despite continual assurances that this light is at the top of the list and will be done imminently.

It appears that SCDC’s financial mismanagement which resulted in them being capped by central government is providing them with the opportunity to shed valuable high profile services whilst perhaps remaining inefficient in house.

Dissatisfaction was expressed at the severance pay being proposed for high ranking personnel at SCDC and the large use of consultants to implement basic in house work.

Hardwick Parish Council has appointed Mrs Rachel Burford to take over the role of village cleaner from Mr Claude Shepherd, whilst he recovers from his illness. Mrs Burford has had explained the risk assessment for the job and been issued with suitable equipment for removal of the rubbish. The Parish Council would like to express their thanks to Mrs Burford for the considerable improvement already seen throughout the village.

The Clerk has met with Nuttall’s to discuss what may come of the land that will be left over when a portion of the existing A428 disappears following the opening of the new road in September 2007. The land belongs to the Highways Agency.

The situation is that the Highways Agency, land division will consider this request when the road scheme is complete. The rules state that first the land has to be offered to the person it was purchased from; thereafter it is possible to consider other applicants. In view of the shortage of recreation land in Hardwick, as demonstrated in the recent audit, it is possible that this may receive a favourable response from the Highways Agency. In the meantime Nuttall’s will bear in mind the possible future use of the land when considering fencing requirements etc.

Other Matters

A) Play park Inspections
Egremont Road has been inspected and there was reported 5 slats broken and the gate being difficult to shut. One swing seat is damaged and immediate repair of these items is to be sought. The rocking items require greasing. The ROSPA annual inspection report has been booked for April. The Pavilion windows were reported damaged and new double glazed units on order are expected to be installed at the beginning of March. Darren Phillips has been asked to take a look at all the Pavilion guttering joints. Worcester Road & Grenadier Walk have no major work needed at present.

There have been some problems delivering the data of the Secura-cam hard drive. This is to be further investigated to see if we should request a replacement system. In addition quotes are to be obtained to add cameras to overlook the car park and All Weather Pitch. Intimidation by teenagers in their cars to local residents is now a police issue. Patrol car visits are also to be requested. The litter issue was discussed and the inability of some youths to assist when requested was noted.

The skate park is to be noise tested again on April 5th & 6th in accordance with the legal outcome negotiated last year between SCDC and HPC. Ken Dibble, has accepted this work.

The meeting was reminded that the village clean up will take place on Saturday April 22nd.

B) HSSC
The Clerk has met with staff of HSSC to review their risk assessments and insurance cover in their capacity as tenant for the Pavilion. The Clerk was pleased to report that the risk assessments and safety procedures were in good order and much recent work has been done by Liz Coe on the electrical and fire regulations to ensure they are up to current best practice. The kitchen is in the process of a re fit so the risk assessment here will be carried out upon completion of this work. An update of the risks in the cloakrooms and changing rooms was carried out. Here the main risks seem to be from slippage if the floor should be wet or soapy, and use of very hot water in the taps and showers. Appropriate signage of these risks is to be displayed and cleaning staff and users will be asked to ensure the floor is left as dry as possible after use.
The HSSC insurance cover provides public liability cover 24/7, 365 days a year for users of the premises of the Pavilion, Egremont Road. This is deemed satisfactory by HPC.

HSSC is planning on upgrading the kitchen and big screen. HPC is pleased that improvements will be made.

Maintenance
Pavilion slabs have been worked on by Mr Bays to minimise any trip risks.
Improvements to the landscaping on Limes Rd are being completed by Lawson Tree.
Pot holes on Limes Rd and Egremont Rd have been repaired, as has St Neots Road by the A428 main roundabout.

Work on the disabled ramp at the Pavilion has been completed and the kitchen hatch has been blocked up. The boot scraper has been installed. HSSC are to be charged a £250 contribution to this work as previously agreed.

A new financial reserve account is now in place for HPC which is linked to the business account. Money on this account is on a 30 day call down and the signatures required are any combination of at least two of Messrs Storr, Chamberlain or Farmer.

Correspondence

A) SCDC – Permanent 2 bay cricket net. Decision deferred until April 7th latest.
B) Land Registry. The Clerk is to seek a list of further unregistered land in Hardwick for registration alongside the Church Play Area.
C) CCC Grass cutting rates 2006. The grass cutting rates for 2006 were approved from CCC. Proposed Malcolm Farmer seconded Richard Grenfell carried unanimously.
D) Hardwick Scout & Guide Hut. Letter of thanks was duly noted
E) SCDC – Street Naming Enterprise site. HPC will put forward the names Chestnut Close and Meridian Close. The unsuitability of Edgar Close and Portway Close will be detailed to planning officials.
F) Sports Drainage Solutions. Keep on file.

Correspondence Table Review

A) CALC
B) Camb & Peterborough Waste Development
C) Parish Paths Partnership
D) Community Access Point Meeting
E) SCDC – Recycling Credit Payments
F) SCDC Race Equality Scheme
G) CCC Cambridge Archaeology
H) Cambridgeshire ACRE – parish plans open evening

Planning

A)S/0155/06/FS Davey extension – no recommendation
B)S/0165/06/FS Rust extension – no recommendation
C)S/2297/05/RMTaylor Woodrow 42 houses St Neots Rd – a request for pucker fencing to improve privacy and screening was made, but overall HPC – no recommendation
D)S/0172/06/FT Nash extensions – no recommendation

Account presented for approval for Payment

A)244.98Tennis 2000 Ltd
B)547.38L Howells (Clerk)
C)480.00Victoire Press
D)80.00Lawson Tree
E)32.81Admin expenses & cleaning equipment
F)2123.23Grass cutting & spiking rec.
G)114.56Simply Drain Services
H)1372.42Ian Sharpe Construction
I)93.60Mrs R Burford

Income

A)99.88NSIB
B)480.00Hardwick Football Club
C)67.50Hardwick Shepreth Cricket Club
D)1202.82BACS
E)430.05Recycling Credit
F)285.50H H Magazine

Any Other Business

(Councillors & Clerk comment for future discussion)

The shop traffic design scheme is to be shown by Mike Ford at the next meeting. The importance of this scheme is felt more important following the increased congestion being experienced outside the village shop. The Clerk was asked to request that Denzil Baldwin CCC and Andrew Lansley MP also be in attendance at this meeting. Nuttall’s are interested to tender for this scheme if it could be completed whilst they are still on site at Childerley.

The Meeting closed at 22.05. The Date and Time of the next meeting of Hardwick Parish Council is to be Tuesday 28th March 2006 at 7.45pm in the Community Room Hardwick Community Primary School.