Present Chairman Cllr Lambert, Vice/Chairman Cllr Robinson, Cllrs Summers, Pearson, Aves, and Moseley; also C/Cllr Fitch.

Cllr Fitch spoke about the small changes in the County Council and District Council following the recent national and local elections. He said that by the next District election the boundary may be changed, but Cllr Cane would remain as councillor for the Swaffhams and Reach. Keith Walters is the new Leader at the District Council.

The revenue for parish councils in this area (including Burwell but excluding Bottisham) is currently £81,500. 20% of this revenue funds pensions in the police service.

The proposed footpath around the old railway bridge is still under consideration by County Farms (who own the land which will be used). Cllr Fitch showed the PC a plan of the proposed route.

The Quy to Lode and Lode to Swaffham Bulbeck footpaths should be going ahead soon. Cllr Fitch wants them to be constructed at the same time.

A questionnaire about where new housing settlements should be situated had received 2,500 responses. Great Abingdon was the most popular site with Six Mile Bottom quoted a long way down the list. The PC discussed, and generally thought that the Marshall’s airport site would be the best place.

Three quarters of people answering the questionnaire said they wanted a reduction in car use.

One million customers have now used the Newmarket Road Park and Ride site.

There is now a travelling pothole repair team.

The school’s annual report has been sent out to parents. In answer to a question Cllr Pearson said that the school role for the coming school year is not yet full. There followed a discussion about who funds extra teachers etc now there is a new law which makes it illegal to have classes with more than 30 children.

Cllr Robinson ran through the PCC’s distribution of monies; he told councillors that the scout hut at Swaffham Prior was in need of new windows.

The Christmas fund may not be able to distribute to as many people as in previous years.

Cllr Robinson has had two quotes for repair to the war memorial on Fair Green. It is hoped that the Dyke’s End pub and the PCC will contribute, as well as possibly the village amenity fund.

Cllr Summers reported that the liaison officer Julie Gilbert is doing a good job.

Our new community policeman PC Hurry is to produce a ‘plan of action’.

People serving under-age drinkers are to be fined in the future (i.e. the people actually serving them, not the landlord.

The police list of local crime committed in the past month was discussed.

Clerk reported that the light, which Tony Jordan had complained about, is going to be removed under the second stage of the enhancement scheme.

The Rights of Way Officer had been contacted regarding the poor state of byways, as they had not had their seasonal cut. This has been delayed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. The Devil’s Dyke is due to be cut shortly. Cllr Pearson asked if it would definitely be done before Swaffham Prior school walked their children along it on 11^th July.

Following a query last month from Grahame Miller about improving Reach Lode, the Clerk read out a letter received in March from Roger Handford, Team Leader, Fisheries and Recreation. Mr Handford had said that it could prove expensive to provide moorings for boats and the issue of liability might be a problem. It had been decided at a past Parish Council meeting that it would prove too difficult to provide moorings.

The ‘unsuitable for long vehicle’ sign which had been stolen is to be replaced by the Highways Department.

Phil Sharpe from the Highways Department at County had reported that he has nearly finalised the positioning of directional signs in Swaffham Prior for Lordship Farm.

Correspondence

ECDC had written requesting final comments on the Periodic Electoral Review.

Cambridgeshire Health Authority had sent a document ‘summarising the range of changes proposed to local services and organisations to make them more responsive to patient needs and the changing demands on the NHS and its partners’.

County’s East Highways Division had sent their ‘Best Value Review of Street Works Management’. They had also sent a questionnaire about how they and the utilities manage street works.

The new Road Safety Campaign is about cutting speeds from 35 mph to 30 mph in built up areas.

Brian Smith, County’s Director of Environment and Transport, had written saying that he was in agreement with the application to add a public bridleway to the Definitive Map and Statement at Reach. The publication of the order will be followed by a six-week period of public notice, during which objections may be sent to the County Council. If there are any objections a local public inquiry will be held at which objectors and interested parties may put their case personally to an independent Inspector, who will determine whether or not the Order should be confirmed. The councillors discussed and agreed that they all supported the application.

Cllr Summers (on behalf of mothers with children in pushchairs) asked if the drove could be flattened, as it was difficult to negotiate the ruts with a pushchair. Cllrs Robinson and Aves said the drove was an unadopted right of way. Cllr Aves said it would be impossible to do as requested, as people had over time put broken concrete and stones along the drove which could damage machinery.

Cllr Summers also questioned the safety of the concrete bridge at the bottom of The Hythe. Clerk replied that it was shortly to be replaced. Councillors were not happy that the PC had not been consulted about the design/materials etc. of the bridge.

Cllr Moseley said that gypsies had left a lot of mess in Barston Drove when they left recently. Cllr Robinson agreed to contact the gypsy liaison officer, Brian Hicks.

Following complaints about a dog wandering the village and fouling in people’s gardens, Clerk to contact Dog Warden for advice.

Cllr Pearson had met with Chris Fennell, the Recreation Development Officer from ECDC, to discuss routine inspection of the play equipment. It was agreed to do this on a weekly basis, using a standard form provided by the council. The council had also agreed to give the PC a grant towards the cost of replacing the swing chains and seats on Fair Green.