Present
Chairman Cllr Robinson, Vice-Chairman Cllr Aves, Cllrs Harrison, Summers, Hill, Moseley and Pearson; also C/Cllr Fitch.
Reports
Bottisham Village College had applied for special status.
The government had given £400m to the education sector. Schools would, therefore, be able to maintain current expenditure.
New houses were to built around Cambridge; Cllr Fitch showed councillors a draft plan of sites. The present site of Marshall’s airport would be a good site for housing but an alternative would then be needed for the airport. Cllr Fitch said building would take place ‘spasmodically’.
The County Council would be getting 10 more councillors. Cllr Fitch said his ‘patch’ had grown by over one-third in his time on the council. East Cambs was the fastest growing district in the country’s fastest growing county. County council boundaries were going to be changed; Burwell, the Swaffhams and Reach would probably make up one ward, and Bottisham, Lode, and all villages south of Newmarket (11 parishes) another.
The county council share of the council tax had been settled at a 6.9% increase, despite the loss of the fire service.
£50k had been cut from the library service. It had been thought that closures of some libraries would mean more being spent on the remaining branches, but this did not appear to be happening.
• There was to be a 2 metre limit on the height of hedges in private properties. Neighbours of properties with hedges higher than this could take the matter up with the District Council.
• Parking in Cambridge city centre was to be de-criminalised. Traffic wardens would give £60 on-the-spot fines, which would be reduced to £30 if paid within 2 weeks.
• There was to be a public inquiry about the guided bus in September of this year. It would cost £65 million to build; half would come from a grant and half from a loan. Landowners could be forced to sell if the route went through their land.
• Clerk voiced thanks to the Highways Department who had acted swiftly to organise replacement tarmac over a poorly repaired pavement trench on Fair Green.
• Cllr Robinson asked Cllr Fitch why signs had been put up encouraging cyclists to go to Cambridge via Swaffham Prior when it was agreed that the Old Railway Bridge was dangerous. He agreed to investigate.
District Council
• Despite statements at the recent Parish Forum that the District Council section of the council tax would remain at its present level, the PC heard there was to be a 5% increase.
• Discussions about moving the District Council offices to Witchford had been shelved for the present, having been turned down by a narrow margin at a full council meeting.
Swaffham Prior Primary School
• A new teacher for class 3 had started at the school.
Village hall committee
A new computer would soon be installed in the village centre.
• The Police section of council tax would increase by 14% every year.
• More helicopters and cars were to be purchased by Cambridgeshire police.
• Street robberies were down and were the lowest in 2 years.
• It cost £1m to investigate every suspicious death.
• The vicar had stated that he was happy to have the bier (when renovated) in St Etheldreda’s church on a trial run.
• New ‘Reach’ signs and salt had been ordered from the Highways department.
Correspondence
• East Cambs Democratic Services Officer had written stressing the importance of keeping information held on the District Council Register up to date. This included PC resignations, vacancies and co-options, as well as councillors’ Declarations of Interest.
• Planning permission had been granted for Mr Clark (Tigh & Righ, Great Lane) to remove a dead cherry tree and prune a tree close to his house.
Reach matters
• It was agreed to ask Dennis Badcock to continue cutting the grass in the cemetery for the coming season.
· Three letters had been received complaining about a car being driven by under-aged drivers in Reach wood. The matter was discussed and it was agreed to contact the Woodland Trust to ask advice about deterrents to this behaviour.