Parish Council Meeting

Those present were Chairman Cllr Lambert, Vice/Chairman Cllr Robinson, Cllrs Aves, Summers, Harrison and Moseley; also C/Cllr Fitch and D/Cllr Cane.

Cllr Fitch told councillors that PC Paul Davies was leaving the area. He may be replaced by a contract police officer from Histon. Cllr Fitch commented that although the telephone was answered promptly when the police were phoned there was a tendency to be left 'hanging on' for some time before being put through to the correct department. Cllr Robinson pointed out that there is a special number to call when reporting hare coursers.

County have £371 million available to spend for the coming year. The Council Tax demand for a band D property is likely to go up by 8% to £668. Cllr Fitch pointed out that Cambridgeshire is the third lowest cost-wise for Council Tax and this is unlikely to change.

County have elected to have a Leader/Cabinet structure unlike ECDC, although this would depend on the party state at the next General Election.

Consultation for the next Structure Plan is already underway.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alan Gray is retiring. He is to be replaced by Tom Carroll who is moving back to the County to take up the post. Cllr Fitch said this showed the high reputation of Cambridgeshire Fire Service.

The Fordham by-pass and the Millennium cycleway are under construction. Cllr Fitch said the cycleway was not progressing as fast as the committee would have liked.

The road between Springhall Farm and Bill Pedley's is to be re-surfaced in the near future.

80% of the responsibility of schools was now down to the school itself. The involvement of the LEA would soon be 'whittled' down to 10%. Cllr Moseley commented that 'governors are doing all the work'.

Queen's Court at Bottisham was to join Hereward Housing but will come under the name 'Methodist homes for the aged'. It will be updated.

The new surgery at Bottisham was under construction. It will include a dental facility.

The CCC has been given £12 million to link schools with the internet.

As it was thought an important issue Cllr Fitch was asked if he could confirm that PC Davies would be replaced.

Cllr Cane thanked the PC for inviting her to the unveiling of the Reach Fair plaque, which she said had been an enjoyable occasion. She asked the Clerk if there had been any comment from the Conservation Officer about the fact that planning permission had not been sought before the plaque had been put up.

ECDC are looking into the lack of funding for district sports facilities. The council has put aside £36,000 to help towards sports development. In return sports clubs have to show good business plans and a variety of choices, rather than competing against one another.

The register of electors will now be up-dated each month. Parish Councils can elect to have the final register in either December or February.

Three school governors had reviewed the Head's 'performance management'.

Staff are to be trained in use of the internet.

The final pupil roll did not reach the target for the next financial band.

Councillors discussed the proposed plans to close off certain roads on Reach Fair Day. They had no objection.

The new housing scheme financed by the PCC was to have its official opening.

Stephen Haydon (acting tree officer for ECDC) had arranged to meet the Clerk to discuss damage done to two trees in the village, and the care of trees generally.

Steven Hill from Highways had agreed to re-surface the minor road running down from Great Lane to the byway.

David Groom, Divisional Maintenance Engineer for CCC East Highways Division had written to confirm the construction of a new kerb and haunch in Burwell Road (opposite no 21).

The Road Safety Officer at County had send posters highlighting the seatbelt campaign.

Mrs Evelyn Knowles, Mayor of Cambridge and her assistant Sue Edwards had both written thanking the PC for their 'wonderful welcome and general hospitality' when they visited the village to unveil the octocentenary plaque.

The Cambridgeshire Countryside Watch had written asking if the PC would like to become a member. Councillors are to consider.

The Home Energy Conservation Officer from ECDC, Niki Davis, had written offering to come and talk to interested groups. Councillors were concerned that she might not want come to talk to such a small audience.

Clerk to follow up.

An application to amend plans for Appletree Cottage, Great Lane, was approved.

Cllr Summers asked if planning permission had been sought for a double garage in Ditchfield.

Cllr Robinson had made enquiries regarding the cost of posts at the bottom of The Hythe. Three posts were likely to cost about £600. Cllr Robinson proposed that installation of the posts should be carried out at some point; he was seconded by Cllr Summers. Clerk to enquire if there is a grant which could cover the cost and whether Steven Hill would install them.

Grahame Miller and Cllr Lambert had met Ian Hirst from the Environment Agency to discuss possible moorings on The Hythe for visiting boats for Reach Fair. It was agreed to let Grahame be responsible for this. Clerk to enquire about grants.

Clerk to get three quotes for this year's grass cutting.

It was agreed to transfer the millennium fund bank account into the current account.

Cllr Aves requested that a salt bin be provided on Swan Corner.

Cllr Lambert asked Councillors if they would like to make a 'wish list' of things they would like to see in Reach in the future.

Tony Jordan asked if the yellow light bulbs in lights at the bottom of Fair Green would be changed to white (to fit in with the new lights). He also requested the use of the village hall for the village hall committee at the end of Reach Fair Day. Cllr Harrison thought this might not be possible.

Those present were Chairman Cllr Lambert, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, Pearson and Moseley; also C/Cllr Fitch.

Stephen Macaulay from the Archaeological Unit at Cambridgeshire County Council came to talk to the Parish Council about the management of the Devil's Dyke.

He said that a Lottery bid had been made. If successful, a 99-year project would start in the autumn. In conjunction with English Nature and the Wildlife Trust, County plan to manage the Dyke better - more signs would be put up etc. Erosion (made worse by grazing sheep) would be tackled by putting soil to grass and putting up more gates and fences. In answer to a query Mr Macaulay said that the Dyke belongs to various people (a public and private mixture) e.g. the Jockey Club.

Following a query made last month, Cllr Fitch told councillors that PC Paul Davies is to be replaced when he leaves the area. Sergeant Cakebread from Histon will take over strictly-police matters and a civilian will take over non-police matters. The new PC is apparently keen on the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Cllr Fitch said there was an under-provision of training for the Police Force. 12 recruits are being trained every month rather than the projected 16.

The Fire Service is asking for more recruits to be retained firemen (i.e. part-timers).
There were 558 hoax calls last year to the fire service (up to the end of February 2001). This was part of a consistent decline over the last five years.

Cllr Fitch reported that his personal ambition to see the area served by a cycle/pathway was going well

Teachers are to get a 4.1% pay settlement. This would put pressure on school budgets.

A new bus strategy has been developed. As there is a greatly subsidised service for Reach the Clerk was asked to enquire how much the service was used.

In Cllr Cane's absence Cllr Fitch reported that the District budget had been agreed. There would be a 5% increase in their section of the Council Tax.

Cllr Lambert asked Cllr Fitch why it was that the Police section of the Council Tax had been increased more than the District and what the extra monies were for.

The School had now been officially signed off 'special measures'. Governors were disappointed not to be encouraged by having this acknowledged by County.

It was also agreed that the community in general would play a larger part in children's education in the future with support staff, IT etc. Schools would be encouraging parents to help more.

Cllr Lambert said that the Planning Department at ECDC were not happy with proposed plans for an extension to the village hall; it required a somewhat 'grander' plan.

A suggestion for a community room in the new plans had been well received.

This year's financial statement was 'healthy'.

The Chairman and Clerk had been to Ely for the annual Parish Forum meeting. One point raised was that ECDC were keen to install computers in certain villages in the District - Reach being one of them. A possible venue for the computer and relevant problems/bonuses were discussed.

The 4th option for new political management arrangements had also been discussed.

The Chairman had been to a presentation at ECDC about injuries from accidents on play equipment. He said the play equipment in the Reach play area had to be inspected every week and a logbook kept. Clerk was asked to arrange to meet with Chris Fennell from District at the play area to talk over relevant matters.

Clerk reported that yellow bulbs (the old streetlights) could not be replaced with white ones (as requested by Mr Jordan last month). Mrs Kirkpatrick from The Old Post Office had asked if the light attached to her house could be removed and a replacement light situated further around The Hythe. PC were reluctant to have it removed because of the safety issue. Clerk to discuss with lighting engineer from County.

The proposed installation of deterrent posts at the bottom of The Hythe was also discussed. Steven Hill from Highways had expressed a willingness to install them on the concrete road and to supply at cost price. Clerk to arrange a meeting with him and Cllr Lambert to discuss.

Clerk had written for three quotes for this year's grass cutting. Although Mr Badcock had been unwell he was willing to continue cutting the grass.

It was agreed to donate £35 to the Swaffham Prior Summer Playscheme.

Kate Day, Countryside Services Team Leader from CCC had written endorsing the Government's guidelines requesting path users to keep off farmland until the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease has passed.

An application to erect a shed in the garden of Mr and Mrs Kerry of Fair Green was approved.

The issue of mud on the roads of the village was discussed. Although it was recognised that Reach is a farming community it was agreed that something should be done to improve the situation.

Penny Lang