Notes on Reach Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 5th March 2003

Present

Chairman Cllr Lambert, V/Cllr Robinson, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, Pearson, Moseley and Aves; also D/Cllr Cane.

County Council

Highways

The B1102 road entering Swaffham Bulbeck from Lode is to be improved. There have been many small accidents here as the tall trees prevent the sun melting winter ice on the sharp bend. Interactive signs are shortly to be installed where the B1102 runs through Swaffham Prior.

Street lighting

There is soon to be a major confrontation with 24Seven as they have be very bad at carrying out repair work to streetlights. CCC are looking for an alternative supplier, although this wouldn’t be in the near future as 24Seven’s contract runs until June 2004.

District Council

Conservation lighting scheme

Cllr Cane had been looking into the confusion regarding the street lighting conservation scheme in Reach. She had found out that the scheme was in three phases, not two. Cllr Cane said she was keen to see the completion of schemes that had started. These schemes took up a lot of the Conservation Officer’s time and the Planning Department was already overstretched.

Cleanaway

Cllr Cane reported that the rubbish lorries had been sabotaged so there might be a delay in collection.

Police

There was to be government funding for community police officers who would deal with minor crime such as vandalism and youth crime; the government would pay half and the community the other half (possibly from parish councils etc.). They would not be taken off the beat except in exceptional circumstances. There followed a discussion on the funding of police as councillors thought electors were already paying for the police through their council tax. The boundaries of the new community police would be the same as the District, i.e. they would report to Ely.

Swaffham Prior Primary School

The budget had been approved; it was tighter than previously.

Following an outstanding OFSTED report it was hoped that recruitment would improve and numbers increase.

Swaffham Prior PCC

Cllr Robinson reported no response to Reach Clerk’s letter about the constitution of the charity. He was concerned that as the only member from Reach if he could not attend the village was not represented. He was also worried that as the church was now linked with Burwell, Swaffham PCC would be less interested in Reach. Clerk to write saying that the Charity Commission would be consulted if the matter of representation was not discussed in the near future.

Matters arising

Trees felled on The Hythe

Cllr Lambert reported that he had been to The Hythe to view where trees had been felled without permission. He said that the area looked tidier, although he agreed that permission should have been sought from the tree officer at ECDC. Councillors noted that a village resident appeared to be living on a boat on The Hythe. To be investigated.

Intimidation by resident

Cllr Lambert had also visited the byway running down from Swaffham Road at the back of Ditchfield, where residents had complained of intimidation by one particular resident. Cllr Lambert reported that the resident’s dog, although barking, was tethered.

Clerk had written a letter to the person concerned, after seeking advice from the CCC Rights of Way Officer. He had explained that the byway was a BOAT (byway open to all traffic) and the CCC had no problem with residents planting flowers etc. along the side of the track.

Broadband

Cllr Lambert had discussed this with Ian Hill who would be offering a package to Reach residents. A small aerial might have to be installed for the area covered by the internet provider, but this would not be obtrusive.

Correspondence

Reach had been invited to enter the Village of the Year competition. Cllr Pearson agreed to coordinate the bid.

A letter from ECDC informed the PC that following planning discussions there would be an inquiry regarding the Horningsea to Burwell overhead electricity cabling. ECDC had written about dog fouling. There is a £50 fixed penalty for dog owners allowing their animals to foul on designated public land. The PC was urged to publicise this point and to encourage the public to report incidents.

Newmarket Lions Club had written asking if they could display a notice regarding their organisation. It was agreed that this would be in order.

Planning permission had been given to Dr and Mrs Matta of 31 Burwell Road to

build an extension to their house.

Reach matters

PC discussed a letter inviting the Chairman to lunch with the Mayor on Reach Fair Day. It was agreed that Cllr Lambert attend the lunch.

Cllr Robinson had found various items in the bus shelter at Ditchfield which led him to believe that young people were glue sniffing. Councillors discussed the best way to deal with this, including publishing information about drug abuse in Out of Reach.

It was reported that another car had been dumped in Barston Drove. Clerk said she can only report if the registration number is known.

Cllr Pearson said that the sale of the Dyke’s End pub was down to two buyers. The lease was proving rather complicated.

Public forum

Ian Hill asked the PC to alert the authorities to some BT/internet cabling in Burwell Road, which although capped was still sticking out of the ground. Clerk to contact the Highways department.

Helen Platt said it was not right that the trees in The Hythe had been cut down without permission from the District Council. She argued that it might set a president, encouraging other people to do the same. Cllr Lambert reiterated his previous remarks about the trees.

Helen also suggested a petition be organised in protest about the overhead cabling from Burwell to Horningsea. Councillors agreed that for the time being, particularly in view of the proposed inquiry, there was little point.

Regarding the glue sniffing issue, Helen said young people in the village were bored.

Cllr Robinson retorted that activities in the area, such as the Swaffham Prior youth club were not used enough anyway, as the children would rather hang around the villages in groups as be organised. He praised the efforts of the youth club organisers.