Chairman Cllr Robinson, V/Chairman Cllr Aves, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, and Pearson.
The meeting commenced with the election of officers as follows:
Chairman: John Robinson
Vice Chairman: Michael Aves
Swaffham Prior Primary School: Bryan Pearson/Jenny Moseley
Village Hall Committee: Joyce Harrison/Ian Hill
Swaffham Prior PCC: John Robinson
Police Liaison Committee: Dave Summers
Tree Officer (honorary post): John Reed
Reports
Swaffham Prior Primary School
Cllr Pearson reported a slight fall in the school roll.
The Deputy Head, Mary Richards, had resigned and would be leaving at Christmas; her replacement would be appointed in the autumn.
Village hall committee
Three quotes had now been tendered for the extension to the village centre.
• The Executive Director of East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Legal and Democratic Services, Eleanor Hoggart, had written to say she was willing to obtain counsel’s advice on the matter of Reach Parish Council taking over the freehold of The Dyke’s End pub from Reach for a Pint Ltd.
• Clerk had arranged with Eastern Highways to cut back the vegetation near the Old Railway Bridge.
• Brian Hicks, the travellers’ liaison officer from ECDC had visited the travellers whose horses were still tethered on Blackberry Drove. The travellers themselves were camped on Headlake Drove, which is in Swaffham Prior parish. Mr Hicks said that Swaffham Prior PC was keen to get the family moved but he wanted them to stay as their children were at Bottisham School.
• Clerk had obtained a quote for safety surfacing for the play area.
Correspondence
• The secretary to the Mayor of Cambridge, Sue Edwards, had written concerning the problems of accommodating 20+ vehicles from the City Council on Reach Fair Day. A copy of her letter had been forwarded to Tony Jordan, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, for his comments.
• Mr Coley of Weirs Farm, Burwell Road, had been given planning permission to build a garage and workshop.
• ECDC were to hold a special parish forum to discuss the council’s proposed shortlist of sites for its future office accommodation.
• The East Highways Division of the County Council were to hold their 2005/06 bidding round for the Jointly Funded Minor Highways Improvement. Councillors agreed to put forward a joint proposal with Swaffham Prior to get a path put around the Old Railway Bridge.
• The Hon Gen Sec of GOBA had written about its members having mooring difficulties owing to the long grass and thistles etc. Clerk had contacted the Environment Agency who had agreed to cut back the weed in the water. It was agreed that the grass also needed cutting back.
Reach matters
• Planning application from Dr Maata, Burwell Road, for an outside swimming pool. No objection.
• Planning application from Mr and Mrs Neve for a summer room at the rear of Fair Green Cottages. No objection.
• Ely Treatment Sewerage Works had applied for planning permission to extend the sewerage works on The Hythe. This was ‘to upgrade, in order to improve the quality of discharge to the river.’ Clerk and Chairman were to meet with the contractor to discuss.