Parish Council Meeting

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

Cllr Fitch spoke about the progress made towards the old railway bridge footpath, and showed councillors the proposed route. Although the PC had applied for a grant towards this last year it was agreed to apply again to re-enforce the necessity of such a path.

Councillors had been unable to speak to the Secretary of State about Cambridgeshire ‘s high cost of living. As no changes are expected until 2003/4 the county’s part of the council tax might go up by 8–9% next year.

Bottisham Village College had reported a very good year for 2000/1 with 63% of pupils attaining 5 or more GCSEs at grade A. Cllr Fitch said the school was looking smart after refurbishment.

Cambs social services department was now officially up to standard. It was proving difficult to employ care assistants and also foster and adoptive parents. County had raised half a million pounds which had been matched by the health authority to try to prevent beds being ‘blocked’ by old people who stayed in hospital because there was no alternative.

Cllr Fitch said PC Mark Hurry had seven villages to look after, in addition to his work responding to fires, murders etc. He had been making a study of speeding patterns and intended carrying out more speed checks with a laser gun.

Cllr Fitch reported progress with cycle paths locally and announced the re-surfacing of Prince Albert Road in Quy. There were to be traffic signals at the junction of the A1303 and the B1102. A one-fifth reduction in speed had been reported since the installation of 55 camera boxes. Seven cameras were used at key spots in rotation.

Proposals for this were to be considered during October. The choice of Six Mile Bottom as a site was considered to be low down the list, said Cllr Fitch.

ECDC would be consulting on this soon. It was expected that a Band D house would see an increase from £64 to £100 for next year. Cllr Cane explained how the council cannot keep using their reserves to sustain the level of services currently offered. A survey was to be done and it was hoped to hear voters' opinions on council tax during ‘listening week’ as well as Parish Councillors' views at the Parish Forum.

5,000 people had signed the petition against the proposed merger of East Cambridgeshire PHC with Fenland. Cllr Cane felt this was something the Health Authority could not ignore. The council had received a £645,000 grant for a 'healthy living' initiative, which would not have been possible without the close partnership between ECDC and the East Cambs PCG.

Cllr Cane outlined plans for the East Cambridge Community Safety Partnership conference which was to be held later this month. Conference delegates were to discuss the next three-year community safety strategy, which was aimed at reducing crime.

One member was needed to stand on this committee. Cllr Cane asked parish councillors to encourage anyone they thought suitable to enrol for this. Cllr Robinson commented on the difficulty of getting people to join committees generally because of restrictions imposed upon them. Cllr Cane agreed that the Government did seem to be imposing too many conditions from the top rather than letting local people decide. However, she also thought that clearly stated standards gave people confidence.

Cllr Moseley reported the resignation of Mr Hunns. She said he had worked hard to get the school through a difficult period but now felt it was time to move on in his career.

Cllr Fitch asked if there was any truth in rumours that children from Burwell had been forced to enrol in Swaffham Prior school, as there was no room for them in Burwell school. A discussion took place about this and the right of parents to appeal against a decision to send their children to a school they didn’t like. Cllr Robinson commented that the Parsonage Close primary school in Burwell should not have been closed down.

Cllr Lambert reported that at the annual meeting Tony Jordan had been re-elected Chairman and the fair sub committee re-formed. The treasurer’s report had shown a healthy balance, but much of this would be needed to pay for the new extension to the village hall. Cllr Lambert congratulated the committee on their hard work.

There would not be a firework display this year.

Reporting on a discussion held at the village hall committee meeting, Cllr Lambert said some young people had been knocking on doors and running away; this had caused distress to some villagers.

Cllr Summers reported on the latest neighbourhood watch meeting. Trading Standards had distributed stickers for people to use, stating that they were not willing to buy from doorstep salesmen. Vulnerable old people had also been spending too much on alarm systems, which they had been persuaded to buy from unscrupulous salesmen.

Gerald Turner has kindly agreed to put up the replacement swings on Fair Green.

Cllr Lambert said he would soon be installing the central bollard at the bottom of The Hythe.

Two salt bins had been purchased.

Grahame Miller had received a report from Anglian Water detailing their proposals for tidying up around the sewage plant. A landscape designer was to produce a plan for PC discussion. The noise emanating from the plant would also be investigated.

Fundraising for this at the pub was going well. Clerk reported that it ought to be possible to obtain a small grant from ECDC, if funds were forthcoming from other sources – possibly the amenity fund and parish council.

Cllr Moseley said she didn’t think a weekly inspection of the play area was necessary. The rubbish bin there still hadn’t been emptied by Cleanaway so the rubbish had been decanted into bags for them to take away. It was agreed that this was not acceptable as Cleanaway’s contract included emptying this bin (and the one at The Hythe). Cllr Lambert complained about Cleanaway’s dropping of paper when doing the re-cycling collection.

Mr and Mrs Jordan (Red Barn, Chapel Lane) had been given approval to build a brick wall around their boundary.

Ms Almond (9 Ditchfield) had been given approval to build a single-story extension and porch.

ECDC had written asking if councillors consider that a sub-committee of the Standards Committee should be set up to look at solely parish council matters. Councillors thought this unnecessary as the District council could carry out this function alongside their own.

Councillors looked at ECDC’s proposed 3-year revenue budget, which was to be discussed at a forthcoming Parish Forum.

Clerk had received a letter from David Groom at East Highways, which said that gritting routes for Reach would be as in previous years. Stephen Hill is to pursue owners of overgrowing hedges; the hedge in Great Lane is to be trimmed in October and potholes dealt with shortly.

Details of the Histon sector community beat officers had been received. Sergeant Terry Cakebread and Julie Gilbert (community contact coordinator) are available at Histon Police Station to give advice, and for routine matters.

Councillors supported a planning application to remove an internal wall at 22, Fair Green.

The precept from ECDC was discussed for the forthcoming year. It was agreed to ask for £3600.

The problem of fly tipping in the area was discussed. Cllr Cane said people should try to take car numbers and report them to the District Council.

Grass cutting in the village was discussed and whether or not the PC lawnmower was covered by public liability insurance.

The minutes of Reach Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 14th November 2001

Those present were Chairman Cllr Lambert, Vice/Chairman Clir Robinson, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, Moseley, Pearson and Aves.

C/Cllr Fitch and D/Cllr Cane.

The minutes of last month's Parish Council meeting were agreed and signed.

Cllr Fitch was not at the meeting as he felt that, bearing in mind recent local crime, it was important that he attend the Police Liaison Committee meeting. He had wished to report that Michael Marshall had written to the Chief Executive about the travellers on his land.

Cllr Moseley reported that a new deputy head (to replace Mr Hunns) would be starting in January 2002.

Cllr Lambert said that it had been agreed between the village hall committee and the parish council to donate £500 out of the amenity fund to the war memorial refurbishment fund.

There was to be a meeting the following evening. This was the time of the year that parishioners should apply for Christmas gifts, said Cllr Robinson. Work was continuing to upgrade the youth club.

Cllr Summers reported a spate of alloyed car wheels being stolen locally.

County were considering the proposed path around the old railway bridge and had sent a map for consideration. It was agreed that the entrance/exit on the Swaffham Prior side was too close to the bridge.

Thanks were given to Gerald Turner for putting up the replacement swing seats.

Clerk reported that a small grant had been sought from ECDC for the war memorial refurbishment fund.

Following last month's reports on litter bins not being emptied, and paper being left on the road, Cllr Cane had contacted Gerald Tickner from ECDC who oversees rubbish clearing. He had written with an apology and asked that members of the public with complaints about Cleanaway contact him personally at Ely.

Next year's precept had been finalised at £3536. Cllr Aves proposed its acceptance and was seconded by Cllr Robinson.

Cllr Lambert reported that the final deterrent post had been installed at The Hythe, but needed further anchoring to make it secure. It was agreed that people needing a key to the post should contact the Dyke's End in the first instance.

The Rivercare Project Officer from the Tidy Britain Group had contacted Grahame Miller about the project to tidy up the Hythe.

The new Standards Board had send around leaflets explaining how they operate.

Mr and Mrs Haird of 1 Fair Green had been given permission to make a new drive.

County had written asking `What does your Council think is right for Cambridgeshire?', for councillors opinions on their services.

Kate Day had written to announce that she and Jamie Shackleton would be planting a tree to commemorate the birth of their son Benjamin.

Cambridgeshire Police Authority had written asking what the PC considered should be the priorities of the police in the coming year. It was agreed that the on-going gypsy problem was of concern, particularly associated crime, the mess that was left behind after their occupation, and the cars which were stolen and left burnt out.

PC had been asked to report where flooding had taken place locally after the heavy rains. Cllr Moseley agreed to answer the questionnaire.

County had agreed to a new bridleway (to be called number 15) which would continue on from bridleway number 11. This would become official if no one had

objected before November 30`". If there were objections there would be an official enquiry.

Cllr Lambert reported on the launch of the Devil's Dyke refurbishment project by English Nature, which had been given a £305,000 heritage lottery grant. The work on the Reach end of The Dyke would not be carried out until year five, said Cllr Lambert. It was agreed that the scheme should be monitored carefully by the PC.

ECDC had written to explain why it was necessary to increase this next year. Although councillors agreed that they could see that reserves had been run down some were still unhappy about the size of the increase. Clerk asked to write asking what return was realised on tourism investment, what came under the heading 'other services', and stating that the increase would be of great concern to people with fixed incomes, such as pensioners.

It was agreed to apply for the war memorial to be a listed monument. Councillors agreed a bank account should be opened for the money raised towards the refurbishment.

Tony Jordan asked if any arrangements had been made for the village to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in June 2002. It was agreed to discuss at the next meeting.

Penny Lang