Parish Council Meeting

Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on 4th December 1996

Present

Those present were Cllr J. Robinson (Chairman), Cllrs Aves, Lambert, Harrison, Reed, Pearson & Davies; also C/Cllr Fitch

Apologies

Apologies received from D/Cllr Webb

The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

Matters arising
Overgrown hedges: Chairman is to visit the overgrown droves with John Robinson from County. It is their responsibility to clear droves up to 30ft wide to let traffic through.
Barrier in Great Lane: Clerk had written to Stephen Hill at the Highways Department and he is to erect a reflector post at one end.
Kill your Speed Campaign: Chairman is awaiting more details.
Telephone Box Fair Green: Following complaints of loud ringing at night BT have 'muffled' it.

Reports
C/Cllr Fitch reported on the last full County Council meeting. He told the PC about the CC budget, the closure of some benefits offices and the resolution to ban all handguns Nursery voucher scheme - C/Cllr Fitch explained how this worked. Road changes - PC were told of road improvements at Lode cross roads, the junction at Teversham between Newmarket Road and  Airport way and plans for the Park and Ride on Newmarket Road. County Farms Estate: a charter has been given to it. It is the  most profitable Farm Estate owned by a local authority and plough  between 2.5 and 3 million pounds back into services. Planning applications in Reach: long discussion between PC and  C/Cllr Fitch about what seem to be inconsistent decisions in planning. C/Cllr Fitch agreed to speak to the head of the planning department but strongly defended the ECDC. Chairman had been to PCC meeting and told PC about possible building of 5 or 6 houses at Cage Hill, Swaffham Prior if CCC will sell Cambridge housing the land. Cllr Pearson reported on Swaffham Prior School Finance Committee meeting and spoke of the financial uncertainties of the nursery voucher scheme.

Correspondence
Clerk had received letter from PCC asking for help in restoring medieval arch behind St. Etheldreda's Church.

Playing field update
Cllr Pearson told PC about progress in conveyancing. Cllr Davies reported County Farms would start fencing land next to Steward ship land soon. Worry was expressed that machinery used would damage newly planted grass.

Reach Matters
Precept - PC agreed on figures for next year.
New Notice Board - The Village Hall committee have been asked about possibility of sharing a board.
Swing repairs - quotes have been received for repairs.
Bus shelter -  £56 had been spent cleaning industrial grease off shelter. Letters had been received suggesting the shelter is removed. Long discussion took place about this and the possibility of removing the seat and/or sides but this was dismissed. Cllr Robinson is to look into price of surveillance cameras.
Barrier in Great Lane - members of the public complained about this.
Chairman and Clerk to visit owner of house to discuss.

Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on 8th January 1997

Present : Cllr Robinson (Chairman), Cllrs Aves, Harrison, Reed, Pearson; also C/Cllr Fitch, D/Cllr Webb and members of public.

Apologies : Cllrs Lambert and Davies

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

Reports
C/Cllr Fitch spoke about District Auditor's report. Finances are well controlled and working between County, District and Parish Councils is excellent. Management of Social Services at CCC needs to be strengthened.
Budget: Education would not be affected apart from the loss of some teaching jobs. The Fire service in this area will not be affected.

Private stables - C/Cllr Fitch had looked into the policy and explained what he had learned. A discussion followed about stabling in Reach and general grievances re planning. 2 councillors are to go to an ECDC meeting to voice the councils opinion.

Buses - 2 more buses may stop going through Reach. C/Cllr Fitch is to protest strongly about one which serves the Prospect Trust when it's employees are going home.
D/Cllrr Webb told PC about sports centres promotion and applications for 3 big shopping complexes on northern fringe of Cambridge. There are government proposals to have rate relief for village shops. There were to be some cuts in A & E care in some hospitals but luckily funds had reprieved them.

Correspondence
Clerk had received complaints from residents in The Hythe about the mess left after the bonfire.
Dog fouling laws - PC agreed which areas should be designated 'dog free'.

Playing field update
Progress re conveyancing is slow. Hedging cannot be done until this is finalised. Fencing has been done by County Farms who did not spoil the new grass. Committee has applied for a Cambridge Evening News Challenge Award to fund all-round playing surface. Car Park surface and dispute over measurements still unresolved.

Reach matters
New notice board: Clerk told PC about possible cost. Village Hall committee are not keen to donate towards board as they already have one.
Swing repairs: Repair is to be done soon. Discussion followed about possible moving and/or new equipment at top of green.
Bus shelter: Chairman quoted costs of surveillance cameras (about£300). It was agreed noise problem not too bad at present and that nothing would be done unless it re-occurred. Then the internal seat would be removed and the bin re-sited.
Crash barrier, Great Lane: Owner of house had been contacted and was reluctant to have it removed as she had paid for it. Mr. Hill of Highways Department said it would be difficult to move.
Gang mowers: Chairman is to have them repaired.
St. Etheldreda's Arch: Clerk reported the Arch is badly in need of repair and the Chairman is to speak to the Vicar about urgency.
Fair Green: Clerk is to write to head of Planning Department about ruts in green near Memorial following siting of seat.

Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on 5th February 1997

Present :  Cllr Robinson (Chairman), Cllrs Aves, Lambert, Reed, Harrison, Pearson and Davies; also C/Cllr Fitch and D/Cllr Webb.

The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

Reports
Chairman reported that Swaffham Prior Charities have been asked for donation of  £3000 to upgrade Swaffham Prior Village Hall  (cost about £100,000).
C/Cllr Fitch talked about CCC Budget discussion to take place on 11th  February. It had been a tough budget but cuts were not too drastic.
Unitary authority at Peterbourgh were recruiting from CCC. About 50 teaching jobs may have to go. An Inspector would be seeing if the recommendations by the Bridge report on social services were being implemented. County Records Office is to be closed on Mondays.
Roads: Lode crossroads had been re-surfaced. Work has started on the Park and Ride at Newmarket Road and c/Cllr Fitch quoted figures forecasting traffic change.
D/Cllr Webb told PC about a Parish Council survey and asked if Reach would like him to volunteer to be in the working group.
Stables: The PC discussed the refusal of Planning Application for a local stable. This will be discussed again after Councillors have attended the ECDC meeting on 11th February at which they hope to voice concerns of Reach PC on planning procedure generally.
The Millennium bid for Ely waterway has been turned down.

Matters arising
The bonfire site at The Hythe has been cleaned up by the Village Hall Committee.
Buses: the 4.30 bus (from Newmarket to Cambridge) is likely to be retained.
Mud on the road: letters had been received from residents of Great Lane concerning farm machinery leaving mud on the road. Clerk is to write to Mr. Hill of Highways Department to see if drainage can be improved.
Barrier, Great Lane: More complaints had been received from residents about this. Clerk to write to the Conservation Officer for his views as the barrier is in the Conservation area.

Playing field update
Paper work for the conveyancing is hoped to be done in about 3 weeks. This is for the purchase of the playing field and it is hoped to purchase the Car Park at a later date. Access is to be through the Car Park. Hedging will be done when conveyancing finalised. Cllr Reed is getting estimates for the work.

Reach matters
New notice board: A quote had been received which was considered rather high. Cllr Pearson said there was a possibility of purchasing old notice boards from ex-police houses. The PCC were interested in the idea of sharing a board with the PC.

Swings: the swings on Fair Green have now been repaired. A discussiontook place about possible removal of these swings and/or new equipment at the top of the green. Cllr Pearson suggested asking for public opinion re leaving or moving. the bus stop (Fair Green): Residents opposite bus shelter had complained to Stagecoach about buses stopping on the grass verge and causing mud. Stagecoach suggested a new stop (for buses to Newmarket) outside the Village Hall but this was considered inappropriate as the Hall is often busy. It was agreed suggesting to Stagecoach that the buses do a 'figure of eight' and stop at the Bus shelter before continuing to Newmarket.
Arch at St. Etheldreda's Church: Cllr Pearson had spoken to the vicar about the urgency of repairs.
Clearing of village droves: Chairman told PC they were to be done and the landowners of the adjoining land are to be charged for the clearing.
Railway bridge: Cllr Reed reported thorn cuttings and grease had been put underneath.
Millennium fund - Cllr Pearson asked if residents of Reach had any possible ideas so PC could apply for funding. Grass cutting - tenders are to be invited for cutting of grass at cemetery.
Penny Lang