Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on Wednesday 12th May 1999

Present

Cllrs Aves, Lambert, Robinson, Harrison, Pearson, Summers and Moseley; also C/Cllr Fitch and D/Cllr Cane.

Election of officers
Chairman - Michael Aves
V/Chairman - Keith Lambert
Village Hall - Keith Lambert, Jenny Moseley
Swaffham Prior PCC - John Robinson
Police Committee - Dave Summers
Tree Officer - it was decided to ask John Reed if he would be honorary tree
officer.

Chairman
Michael Aves welcomed two new councillors, Dave Summers and Jenny Moseley. He also thanked the outgoing councillors John Reed and Gareth Davies for their time on the council.

Reports

County Council

Cllr Fitch reported that the new Chairman at County is Cllr John Eddy; the new Vice/Chairman is Cllr Wendy Silby. The council has recommended the closure of Coleridge School, Cambridge in 2001. The case is now with the Department of Education for a decision. Cllr Fitch said there might be a slight knock-on effect at Bottisham Village College if more children had to be accommodated there. He also

emphasised the importance of parents checking that their children are on the enrolment list if they are going to BVC in the coming year.

Work to repair the verges in The Hythe will begin shortly.

Weeds next to the highway are to be sprayed by a person walking with a back-pack rather than driving a 'buggy'.

A proposed half-hourly fast service from Cambridge to Bury St Edmunds via Newmarket has raised a storm of protest as it will not go through the villages.

County farms have had another successful year making over £10m in sales and surplus (this includes £2.5 in rent).

Cllr Robinson told Cllr Fitch about an NFU meeting he had attended where it was suggested Marshalls should move to Waterbeach airfield, leaving building land available at their present site. A discussion followed.

District Council

Cllr Cane is to chase up the provision of a bin for the playing field and

the moving of rubbish dumped on Barston Drove.

The owners of the Swan Lake grain store had been asked not to allow their lorries to be driven through Reach village. A discussion took place about the use of the store and lorries using village roads generally.

The planning committee at ECDC had decided that they could not give a decision about the request for outline planning at 11 Chapel Lane until a more detailed plan was submitted. Cllr Cane told the council that ECDC was now a political council following the recent local elections. 20 of the 37 councillors are Liberal Democrats and she has been elected the council leader. There is going to be a more open council which it is hoped will result in better feedback.

Village Hall Committee

The rubbish at the bonfire site in The Hythe had been cleared up. Cllr Lambert said a superb job had been done by the committee in making Reach Fair a resounding success. He reported discussions about the constitution of the committee and what funds raised could be officially used for.

Matters Arising

The street light damaged when a lorry got stuck at the bottom of Fair Green is to be replaced shortly.

Correspondence

Cambridge City Council had written offering to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Reach Fair Charter by King John. PC agreed to discuss how best to do this at the next meeting.

The Annual maintenance of vegetation on rights of way is to take place during May.

The charity Victim Support had written asking for financial aid. Clerk to write to CALC for more information .

The Cambridge Core Traffic Scheme are proposing to close Emmanuel Road in Cambridge.

The rural transport partnership at County have produced an action pack 'Let's get going' which considers the rural transport problem and offers solutions.

The Travellers' Liaison Officer from County had sent a new leaflet about gypsies, travellers and the law.

Sunday buses are being introduced which will travel between Cambridge and Ely. Clerk asked Cllr Fitch to speak to the transport manager about the state of the timetable in Reach and the lack of publicity re late night buses.

Reach Matters

Cllr Moseley asked if the directional sign for Reach Fen removed from Great Lane could be replaced.

It was reported that the sign at the bottom of Chapel Lane is not pointing in the right direction.

Cllr Aves told the PC that Mr and Mrs Folkes had bought a seat which they wished to put at the new playing field in remembrance of their son Steven.

A small child had pulled one of the goal posts over at the playing field. As the goalposts have to be moved constantly they cannot be anchored to the ground.

Cllr Lambert complained about mud from farm traffic on the road and also buses going onto the grass verges, particularly when buses travelling in opposite directions pass each other. Clerk to ask Highways if the road on Fair Green could be widened. It was agreed that kerbing would not be suitable.

It was decided to follow the example of the planning department at ECDC and allow a speaker (for or against) two minutes at any discussion of a planning request during a Parish Council meeting. It was emphasised that the Parish Council does not make the decisions, this is done at District Council level.

Cllr Lambert raised the issue of procedure. It was agreed that members of the public could raise a point during a meeting at the discretion of the Chairman.