Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on Wednesday 3rd March 1999

Present

Chairman Cllr Aves, C/Chairman Cllr Lambert, Cllrs Harrison, Pearson, Davies and Reed; Also C/Cllr Fitch.

Apologies

Apologies were received from C/Cllr Cane and Cllr Robinson.

Reports

County Council

County Council budget - Cllr Fitch confirmed his last month's reporting on the budget following County's meeting.

Social Services - old peoples' homes are to be sold into the private sector. Highways - following his reporting of a 2" deep pothole Cllr Fitch received a very good response from the Highways Department.

Buses - there is still some dispute with Cambus, hopefully there will be nochanges to buses to Reach and Swaffham Prior.

Police - 97 extra policemen have been recruited over the last three years; six more at the 'front end', 11 emergency PCs and 13 ancillary jobs. £3150,000 had been found to boost combating youth crime. Bottisham Village College swimming pool - Cllr Fitch explained how a fire had damaged the pool but confirmed it would be covered by insurance, although the first =A3.5m had to be given by CCC. He spoke about the loss of earnings as the pool would not be working for nine months.

District Council

Planning enforcement issues - An amended plan is to be submitted for Highfield Farm, Burwell Road, Reach. Planning officers have considered the stables on Ditchfield and have decided that they have been there for too long to require planning application. There has been a more recent addition but this is considered to be too small to require planning permission. Because several local residents have raised concerns about the proposed extension to Red Barn Cllr Cane has asked for the application to be considered by the Planning Committee rather than being decided by officers. Council tax - ECDC has fixed its Council tax charge which will be £357.50 for a Band D household. To this they have added the Parish precept and the County Council precept. The average District Council rate will therefore by £370. ECDC is well below the average largely because it earns substantial
interest on its reserves.

Pensioners' bus passes - the resources committee will consider a proposal to reinstate bus passes for all pensioners. ECDC has given a clear steer that it wants these passes reinstated. Cllr Cane hopes that the committee will find the £337,000 (approx) which these bus passes will cost. Eco-Op '99 - this is a series of events designed to develop methods of co-operation in food production, energy and housing. It will put forward local, regional and international models of development that are economically viable, socially responsible and that respect the environment.
One suggestion which has already come forward is the setting up of farmer's markets where local farmers sell direct to local consumers. Details of events can be got from Suzie Osborne on 01353 668833, ext. 3122. The two
most local events are:- March 9, Cambridge, 'Food deserts in Cambridgeshire'; July 15-16, Ely 'Linking the social and green economies'.

Matters arising

Clerk had spoken to Stephen Hill from the Highways Department at CCC about trees which had been planted on the public highway in Chapel Lane. He is to write telling the persons concerned that when the trees have grown, in a couple of year's time, they will be obstructing the highway and will have to be removed. He is to send a copy of the highway plans to illustrate.

Correspondence

Residents in The Hythe had written concerned about their houses being affected by the large sewerage lorries driving close by. Clerk had spoken to Stephen Plumb from the Ely Treatment Sewerage Works who said that Anglian Water, in conjunction with CCC Highways hope to widen the road and put in new kerbstones. He pointed out that parking on the side of the road, causing the lorries to drive over the verge, constitutes an obstruction, but that putting down double yellow lines would be difficult to police. Cllr Fitch pointed out that this probably would not be allowed anyway as it is a conservation area. Cllr Davies is to meet with residents to discuss possible solutions.

A letter had been received from a concerned parent whose child had tripped over tree clippings on the footpath at the end of Chapel Lane. The Rights of Way Officer from CCC said it was illegal to 'change the surface of the highway and whoever put the vegetation down is responsible and must clear it up'.

The Secretary of the Village Centre Committee had written to confirm it is happy to have the Sports Club as a sub committee.

Planning permission has been given for a new brick skin at 9, Ditchfield.

Reach Matters

It was agreed to ask Dennis Badcock to keep the cemetery tidy if he was happy to do this for a maximum of ten visits.

It was reported that planning permission to change the use of The Kings public house had been refused.

Following objections to a planning application for an extension to Red Barn the PC decided that although not objecting in principal they should voice concerns about the extent of glass used and which way the extension was facing. Clerk agreed to write to the Planning Manager at East Cambs about difficulties in the time scale of replying to planning requests.