Notes on the Annual meeting of Reach  Parish  Council  held  on Wednesday 3rd June 1998

Present          

Chairman Cllr Aves, V/Chairman Cllr  Lambert, Cllrs Robinson, Pearson,  Reed and Davies;  also  D/Cllr  Cane, C/Cllr Fitch and members of the public.

Chairman's Report

Cllr  Aves said he thought the year had started on  a  depressing note as we didn't have a District Councillor and the purchase  of the  playing field still had not been completed. A seat  has  now been  built around the Jubilee Tree which fits in well with  its surroundings  and it is hoped the new notice board will  soon  be finished. The Parish Council had decided to accept the  ownership of the Burial Ground. Councillors had agreed to restrict the post of Chairman to three years. The problem of gypsies seemed to have been resolved with the dumping of soil along the edges of Barston Drove. CCC had asked if there were any areas in the village  that could be landscaped under a new scheme. The Local Plan had been a big issue in Reach causing much discussion and representations to the Parish Council. A public meeting about the possible change of use  of the Kings pub (opposed by the PC) had been called with  a good  response. The year had eventually seen the purchase of  the playing field which Cllr Aves hoped would soon be in use. He said the  whole community  had been stunned by the  death  of  Steven Folkes.  As Steven was a keen sportsman it had been suggested  to name the sports field after him which was a fitting memorial.

Cllr  Aves thanked Cllr Fitch, D/Cllr Cane, the councillors  and the clerk for their hard work throughout the year.

County County Report

Cllr  Fitch  said  he tried to keep in  touch  with  the  village through  'Out of Reach'. He spoke about Peterborough  becoming  a unitary  authority  and the new senior officers  which  had  been elected at CCC.

Finances - the CCC had a budget of 328m which was 9m short of the figure  needed to maintain existing services. The Government  had decided  this  was the right figure and  therefore  spending  was controlled  by  them.  Council tax had gone  up and  cuts  made.

Education  was the biggest service at £350 per person  per  annum and  Cllr  Fitch spoke about the very good exam results  in  this area,  there being no failing schools following  OFSTED  reports. Community  education  had lost 1.5m as it is a  voluntary  sector unlike children's education which is compulsory.

Social Services spend £130 per head per annum. It had been forced to focus on children following problems in the county. Cllr Fitch thought this was unfair on the old and vulnerable.

Highways spend about £30 per head per annum. Trunk roads are the responsibility of the Government, all other roads and paths  the CCC.  There is great congestion in Cambridge. Cllr Fitch said he is continually working at possible cycle routes. Bus passes  have gone up as money saved on this service is channelled into others.

There  is to be no funding by the government for the Fordham  by-pass.  Speed cameras are used on a large scale. 18  cameras  last year  picked  up 12,200 people and there was a 15%  reduction  in accidents

Fire and rescue costs about £20 per head. 12,500 emergencies were attended during the year - 4000 fires, 750 road traffic accidents and  the  unusual problem of dealing with the floods  at  Easter.

False  alarms  are slightly down but are  a  perpetual nuisance. Negotiations  are going with David R  Smith  about  Burwell  Fire station.

There may be more cuts to the library service if there is not  an increase in borrowing.

Waste  has gone up by 13% in the last 18 months which  may  cause the landfill tax to go up in the next two to three years.

Cllr  Fitch  said there are a lot of pirated CDs  at  the  moment giving  trading standards  problems.

Bogus callers  are  also a nuisance.

Police - crime is down and detection up, the helicopter has  been a great success.

County Farms Estate - this is still a great success. It  provides £2m  a year from the surplus in its trading which is  desperately needed  for  services. It also provides some  money  for  capital funds. Some £5m a year in total comes from them.

Questions for Cllr Fitch

Cllr Robinson told Cllr Fitch of the problems contacting  Stephen Hill  at the Highways Department with regard to various  problems in the village. He also told him about areas of grass which  have not been cut. Cllr Fitch said he would try to help.

A member of the public commented on the fact that a street  light near her home was on 24 hours a day and that paths near her  were not  cut. Chairman told her to tell the Clerk who  would  contact the appropriate department.

A  member of the public said she was worried about the  new  lane discipline  on the Quy Roundabout. This was discussed but it  was agreed it is an improvement.

District Council Report

D/Cllr  Charlotte Cane told the meeting she had only been on  the District Council for just over four months. She thought that  the Council  is  not  as good as it could be  at  setting  strategic objectives and meeting them, but is efficient at providing basic services.

Rate collection has a very low level of arrears and complaints.

Cleanway has just completed its first full year of its  contract. 900 tonnes of household waste was recycled in 1997.

The  Disabled Access Group has met several times during the  year to  discuss  a wide range of issues. A representative  from  this area is needed.

The  Home Energy Conservation Strategy has been set up  with  the aim of reducing the use of domestic energy.

Cllr Cane told the meeting she is to push for the ECDC to put  a proper environmental protection strategy into place and start  to take action.

The Draft Local Plan has now reached the stage where is has to go to Public Inquiry. The meeting was told that Mr Rodney Housden is pursuing his objection to the plan and is asking for land to  the north  east  of  the High Street to be designated  for  'a small number of quality homes'. ECDC is opposing him and the result  of the Inquiry should by known by June next year.

Questions for Cllr Cane

Cllr  Lambert  asked if the Planning Department  had  decided  to demand perspectives from plans submitted to them. Cllr Cane  said this  was not required by law but the Planning Officer was  going to look into the matter.

Reach Matters

Cllr Pearson proposed that the playing field be named The  Steven Folkes Memorial Playing Field. This was seconded by Cllr Robinson and the proposal agreed.

A member of the public complained about the state of the verge of The  Hythe.  Cllr Davies said the lorry for  the  sewerage  works tended  to come on a Saturday morning when there were  more  cars parked at the side of the road and therefore damaged the verge.

Cllr Lambert asked Mr Lester from the Kings pub about the  mobile food unit parked outside the pub. Mr Lester said he had  received no complaints about the van and it would remain 'for the  moment' and that he had a licence for it.

A  discussion took place about the grass cutting in the  village. It was agreed that it was unsatisfactory and possible purchase of new mowers was again discussed.

Cllr  Aves  thanked  members of the public  for  coming  and  the meeting was closed.