Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 4^th September 2001

Those present were Chairman Cllr Lambert, Vice/Chairman Cllr Robinson, Cllrs Summers, Harrison, Pearson, and Aves; also D/Cllr Cane.

In Cllr Fitch’s absence Cllr Cane said that he and Cllr Sal Brinton (both Lib Dem) were not in favour of the proposed re-arrangement of Primary Care Trusts.

Cllr Cane spoke about the proposed changes to the boundaries of health authorities and the consultations which had taken place.

ECDC have looked at possible savings in council tax. Cllr Cane reported that it is impossible to make any significant savings without cutting into essential services. Council taxpayers would probably be ‘looking at a substantial council tax increase’ in the future.

Cllr Robinson reported that tenders have been sought to improve the frontage of the youth club in Swaffham Prior.

Cllr Summers spoke about gypsies leaving burnt-out cars in the fen. This aroused a heated discussion about the provision of accommodation for gypsies.

The Strategic Biodiversity Planner from Anglian Water had met with Grahame Miller and the Clerk to discuss ways of improving the site near the sewage works on The Hythe.

Councillors discussed the new bridge across the lode at The Hythe and agreed that it was a great improvement on the old one. Clerk to arrange for a new rubbish bin to be placed there as the old one had been removed during the bridge construction.

The District Solicitor had written setting out details of which legal requirements were necessary before the Old Burial Ground on Swaffham Road could be tidied up. Cllr Harrison agreed to make a list of the old gravestones. Cllr Cane suggested that local schoolchildren might be interested in making it part of a project.

County Highways were to fill salt bins in October. Salt would only be placed in bins, not on verges. PC was asked to identify sites of overhanging hedges and trees so they could be pruned or trimmed.

The Local Government Commission for England had written to say that the PC’s views on the Periodic Electoral Review for East Cambridgeshire had been noted and would be taken into account in forming its draft recommendations.

The Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy had been published and was now available for viewing at ECDC.

Burwell Parish Council had written inviting councillors to an in-house training sessions for parish councillors .

It was agreed that councillors should attend.

PC had received a letter complaining about a dog wandering the village. The Dog Warden from ECDC had already been informed about the dog but it was agreed to contact her again. The writer also complained about a barking dog and asked if it was possible to have dog ‘pooper’ bags be made available to the village. Councillors discussed and agreed to ask the dog warden from ECDC to write something in Out of Reach to make dog owners aware of the undesirability of dog mess on paths and verges.