Notes of the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on Wednesday 3rd May 2000

Present

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

Election of officers

Chairman - Cllr Aves Vice-Chairman - Cllr Lambert Village Hall - Cllrs Lambert and Moseley. Swaffham Prior PCC - Cllr Robinson. Tree Officer (honorary post) - John Reed. Police liaison committee - Cllr Summers.

Reports

County Council

Highways Cllr Fitch reported that the proposed Fordham by-pass would now terminate north of Landwade Road. This would help to keep the Turners' large vehicles out of Fordham and would save on the cost of rebuilding two bridges. Cambridgeshire figures for motor vehicles show a 2-3% rise in traffic for 1999 and a 27% rise over the last 10 years. The A142 has seen a 41% growth in traffic since 1999, which is twice the UK rate. The accident rate is down but the death rate from traffic accidents is three times that for the same period last year. A cash boost of £200,000 from County funds has been recycled into roads. A ban on resurfacing 'C' roads and cul-de-sacs will be lifted in May. Post Offices The petition drawn up by CCC objecting to the proposed closure of many local post offices had been put to ECDC and accepted officially before being presented to government.

Social Services Queen's Court, the old people's home at Bottisham, is to be sold imminently. Children's services will cease to be inspected in July; the risk to children is now considered negligible and the service considered to be up to standard. Police Young persons in the 11-16 age group are responsible for 50% of all crime. This is being tackled on a partnership basis (as reported in last month's minutes re 'visit'). Fire service The Audit commission showed that this is costing one quarter less than the average for England.

Education 52% of pupils in the county passed five GCSEs at A*-C grade. This is 3-4% better than the national average. Cllr Fitch pointed out that the Cambridgeshire is less well off than other counties. County Farms End of year accounts enabled £5.5m to be recycled back in the county council.

Question Cllr Pearson raised the high cost of demolishing the old railway bridge between Reach and Swaffham Prior (to make a path) and the listing position of the item in future projects. This was discussed and it was decided to write to John Edwards at Highways to ask for an additional re-costing of the path not demolishing the bridge.

District Council

The Local Plan will be adopted 28 days from press publication (4th/11th May) and will be published if there are no objections. This will affect future planning applications until the year 2006.

Swaffham Prior Primary School

Cllr Pearson reported that the school would hopefully be out of 'special measures' by the end of June.

Village Hall Committee

Cllr Lambert suggested the Parish Council send a letter of congratulation to the committee for the success of this year's Fair.

Swaffham Prior PCC

No local residents had applied to rent the new houses being built in Cage Hill, Swaffham Prior.

Millennium Committee

Cllr Aves reported that Grahame Miller had agreed to continue editing the Reach book which it was intended was now to be published in time for Christmas. Many commemorative 2000 mugs had been sold at the fair.

Matters arising

Steven Hill had agreed to surface the entrance to the cemetery. He also agreed to donate spare road surface planings for the vergeside parking area on The Hythe, providing the PC lay down some hardcore to prepare the area. Clerk reported that Shirley Blake from ECDC was willing to re-consider a grant for the street light in Chapel Lane even though this would have to be done retrospectively.

Correspondence

The annual maintenance of vegetation on rights of way is to take place between 8th and 26th May.

Reach matters ECDC are sending a representative to plant a tree in Reach to celebrate the millennium. It was agreed that a white beam tree should be planted at the Dyke's End part of Fair Green. Cllr Aves told the PC that the Mayor of Cambridge is wanting to donate a commemorative plaque, or sundial, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Reach fair Charter next January. It was agreed to discuss further. It was agreed that Fair Green needed rolling following the fair. A meeting to discuss two planning applications had taken place the previous week. The procedure of such meetings was questioned as two objectors had been denied access. It was agreed that the best course of action would be for the Clerk to ask ECDC planning department for an occasional extension of the time given to send back comments, thus allowing all applications to be considered at the monthly PC meeting. At any such meeting the person applying for the permission should be given two minutes to put forward any points, as should a representative of any objectors. It was agreed that a proxy vote (if a councillor was unable to attend a meeting) would not be admissible. NB. Planning meeting held on 26.4.00 An application for an extension to Mr and Mrs Cane's house at 34 Swaffham Road was approved. Mr and Mrs Aves had applied for permission to erect a barn at Hilltop Farm. Councillors were not happy with the positioning and suggested it be erected inside the farmyard envelope. The aspect from Great Lane was also felt to be 'uncompromising'.