Parish Council Meeting

County Council

The Structure Plan had been accepted and will now go on deposit.

It looks as though Longstanton/Oakington will be accepted as the new town; there remains only a slight possibility of this decision being changed.

The forthcoming budget will see an increase in County’s share of the Council Tax of 9.3% (£1.15 per week) for a Band D property.

Anyone who had his or her 50^th birthday on 6^th February 2002 (the Anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne) has the opportunity to be invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

Mill Hill at Swaffham Prior was to have a traffic-calming scheme. Discussions would be held to find the most acceptable solution.

The bid to have a footpath around The Old Railway Bridge in Reach did not score enough marks to qualify for inclusion in this year’s small project works. Cllr Fitch said he would ask the Rural Group for possible funding. Reasons for not being accepted appeared to be concern over the safety aspect of the path, as it is hidden from the road. This, it was thought, could attract possible attackers of pedestrians/cyclists. Cllr Fitch said that Reach PC needed to think up a strategy to encourage Highways to proceed with the project – possibly donating more funding, or offering to carry out some of the work.

The Park and Ride sites were expanding all the time. When Babraham Road was finished there would be 4100 places for cars.

It was accepted that there was a drop in the standard of bus services generally. Clare Ritson at CCC would look into individual complaints.

Steven Hill had resigned as the supervisor for the Eastern Highways division. David Groom would handle any problems.

The cycleway from Quy to Burwell was progressing. Cllr Fitch said that Sustrans had donated money for this. It was suggested that the company could possibly donate money for the Old Railway Bridge footpath.

The Chairman of the Police Authority was aware that hare coursing was becoming a problem locally. Cllr Fitch said prosecution was difficult as the hare had to be seen being killed; also the name of the owner of the dog was needed and the killing had to be witnessed. Few hare courses operated on Sundays, as this was illegal.

Burwell Village College and Bottisham Village College had been chosen as two schools within the Cambridge area who were good at dealing with ‘youth matters’

Cllr Fitch reported that over the Christmas period social services received 65% more calls than usual to its emergency service. The department had found it difficult to cope.

Cllr Robinson said he thought it unreasonable to put up council tax. Cllr Fitch agreed it was difficult for people on fixed incomes to absorb the increases.

Cllr Cane reported that David Groom from Highways had offered to create a hard area between the kerb and the pavement where lorries constantly drove over the grass. Cllr Lambert asked if this could be made to look pleasant, possibly using cobblestones. Cllr Cane agreed to speak to David Groom about this.

Complaints had been made about lorries and buses driving over the kerb onto the grass. It was agreed that parked cars made it impossible not to go over the grass when passing them. Councillors also drew Cllr Cane’s attention to a car which parked in the bus lay-by at the bottom of Fair Green, making it necessary for children to get off the school bus in the middle of the road. Cllr Cane said she would check out the by-law concerning parking in such places.

Cleanaway had missed a collection day in late January. Cllr Cane said the company could not cope with the demand as targets had exceeded expectation. ECDC were trying to get a consortium of councils going who would share lorries etc.

Cllr Cane reported that the entire board of the Fenland trust had resigned and there would be a new board. The Chairman was having to re-apply for her job.

Cllr Cane encouraged councillors to submit names of young persons who had done something useful within their community.

Isabel Hill (minor authorities governor) gave a report to councillors. She said that the school had appointed a new Deputy Head, Mrs Richards, to replace Mr Hunns. Mrs Pinhey would be taking maternity leave in the summer term. The school had held a successful science fair and also held a disco, which raised £200. Stacking stage blocks had been bought with the aid of funds raised at the Summer Fair.

Isabel Hill said that SATs would be challenging this year; the next OFSTED review would be later in the school year.

Councillors discussed school roll numbers for the forthcoming year compared with other local schools.

Cllr Fitch said the government was re-considering the Area Cost Adjustment for Cambridgeshire. This could affect the amount of money schools were given. SATs were also to be reviewed and the way in which the standard of a school is assessed.

The Fair Committee had made good progress with plans for this year’s Reach Fair. It was hoped to get the field in Swaffham Prior again for parking. This year the fairground attractions would be on the lower section of Fair Green to allow freer movement between the upper green and the playing field.

Plans for the village hall extension had been submitted for building regulations.

The Highways department at County had said it was unwilling to pay for signs, requested by Lordship Farm, directing heavy lorries through Swaffham Prior. Negotiations about payment were still taking place.

Clerk read a directive from CALC regarding councillors having to sign forms declaring finances, interests etc. It was noted that the media reported parish councillors all over the country leaving in large numbers because of this. Cllr Pearson pointed out that this was a requirement for a school governor and should not be cause for concern.

An anonymous villager had written complaining about the overgrown footpath at the bottom of Chapel Lane.

A project officer would soon be appointed to run the Devil’s Dyke refurbishment project.

The County Council were to consult directly with Parish Councils about large projects, i.e. schools, council offices, new roads, etc. In the past consultations were carried out by the District Council on behalf of County.

The East Cambridgeshire On-Line project was being launched at The Dyke’s End pub in Reach. Councillors were invited to attend.

East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership was to hold racial incident surgeries at the ECDC offices in Ely every Thursday between 2 and 4 pm.

Councillor Mary Chapple of the Member Led Review of Complaints had written asking for councillor’s views on the County Council’s complaints procedures.

The Highways and Engineering Division of County had been restructured. Mark Kemp was now the Network Manager for South and East Cambridgeshire.

Clerk to write requesting quotes for grass cutting for the coming season.

Jubilee celebrations were discussed. It was agreed to have a marquee on the green with a bar. A barbecue would be held in the evening, together with a barn dance.

Various activities would take place, such as dominoes, rounders, a picnic etc. A sub committee was formed – it was stressed that this would not be not a parish council or village hall committee activity, but a village event.

Dog walkers in Reach had requested simple seats to break up their exhausting walks. It was agreed to discuss at a later meeting.

Notes on Reach Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 6^th March 2002

Donna Radley, Conservation Officer from English nature, and Stephen Macaulay of the Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Field Unit, came to have an informal meeting with councillors about the Devil’s Dyke Restoration Project. Donna spoke about the importance of maintaining the rich vegetation of the site, and Stephen told the PC that as the largest Saxon dyke in Britain the Dyke is designated as a special area for conservation. However, it is presently in the worst condition ever, mainly due to the changing farming methods over the decades. A project officer is expected to be appointed shortly; he/she will oversee the project for 5 years, during which time the PC will be kept informed of all developments.

Cllr Fitch spoke about the 9.3% proposed increase in the County’s share of council tax in the forthcoming budget; it is the largest proportion of council tax. The increase had received support from all three parties at County.

The 111/112 and X2 were to see timetables to Reach altered for evenings and weekends. Services would not be continuing at their present levels. Cllr Fitch entreated everyone to write supporting the services if these were to remain on the timetable.

Cllr Fitch spoke about the importance of installing smoke detectors. Between 40 and 60 people die in fires in the UK each year. He gave councillors a breakdown in fire engine callouts for the year in Cambridge, Swaffham Bulbeck and Burwell; we are lucky to have such a good service locally, he said.

These are coming along well and the Quy to Bottisham path is expected to be finished by the end of March. Some Councillors voiced disapproval for the traffic lights installed at the Quy roundabout cyclepath.

Bottisham Village College has its maximum intake set at 210 for the year. As this year’s September intake is already up to 240 it is vital that parents apply for places in good time.

Landowners can now give land for public use.

The District Council share of council tax will see an increase of 15.3% next year. A Band D house will see a rise of total council tax payments from £826 to £953.26.

This seems to have settled down now. The District Council is looking at the long-term solution and are planning to buy a new vehicle. Cleanaway have been borrowing trucks to see which is the most suitable

Although the East Cambs Primary Care Trust and Fenland have merged, Cllr Cane said that the new board had not yet been set up. She was concerned that this was in place by the first quarter. GPs, nurses and primary healthcare workers had met to discuss the future of the new body.

Cllr Cane, Chairman and Clerk of Reach PC had met with David Groom, the Area Maintenance Engineer from County Highways, to discuss various highways problems in Reach.

It had been agreed (with resident’s approval) to lower the kerb to allow cars to park on the pavement. This should allow lorries going to the sewage farm to pass by, without going onto the verge on the opposite side of the road.

Higher kerbs are to be put on the verge at the bottom of Fair Green where lorries had driven over the kerb and partly destroyed the verge.

It was agreed to write to residents living near the bus stop asking them to park in a sensible manner, i.e. as close together as possible and not on the pavement nearby, or in the bus lay-by. It was hoped that as many people as possible could park on their own property to free up places for those who could not do so.

The school was waiting to hear when the next OFSTED report would be due.

There was to be an open meeting about Reach Fair on 10^th April. It was hoped many villagers would attend.

Cllr Lambert had presented suggestions to the committee about the forthcoming Jubilee Day.

Cllr Summers reported that minor crimes can now reported on the internet.

The police could be contacted for the provision of yellow cones for events, in order to keep an area free from vehicles.

It was agreed to give the contract for grass cutting for the forthcoming season to Dennis Badcock.

It was agreed to provide simple seats at various points in the village, to provide a resting place for exhausted dog walkers. Cllr Robinson had offered to provide these

Councillors discussed and approved a proposal by Anglian Water to landscape the area of the sewage works on The Hythe.

It was agreed that two councillors visit 9b Fair Green to view a conservatory, which had required planning permission.

Councillors agreed to visit The Old Chapel, Fair Green as complaints had been received about loose tiles falling off the roof and the general unkempt appearance of the site.

Cllr Lambert and the Clerk had attended the Parish Forum where the Local Code of Conduct for Members had been discussed at length. Before agreeing to sign the code councillors took reading matter away with them to consider their decisions.

Penny Lang