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

Cllr Fitch spoke about the progress made towards the old railway bridge footpath, and showed councillors the proposed route. Although the PC had applied for a grant towards this last year it was agreed to apply again to re-enforce the necessity of such a path.

Councillors had been unable to speak to the Secretary of State about Cambridgeshire ‘s high cost of living. As no changes are expected until 2003/4 the county’s part of the council tax might go up by 8–9% next year.

Bottisham Village College had reported a very good year for 2000/1 with 63% of pupils attaining 5 or more GCSEs at grade A. Cllr Fitch said the school was looking smart after refurbishment.

Cambs social services department was now officially up to standard. It was proving difficult to employ care assistants and also foster and adoptive parents. County had raised half a million pounds which had been matched by the health authority to try to prevent beds being ‘blocked’ by old people who stayed in hospital because there was no alternative.

Cllr Fitch said PC Mark Hurry had seven villages to look after, in addition to his work responding to fires, murders etc. He had been making a study of speeding patterns and intended carrying out more speed checks with a laser gun.

Cllr Fitch reported progress with cycle paths locally and announced the re-surfacing of Prince Albert Road in Quy. There were to be traffic signals at the junction of the A1303 and the B1102. A one-fifth reduction in speed had been reported since the installation of 55 camera boxes. Seven cameras were used at key spots in rotation.

Proposals for this were to be considered during October. The choice of Six Mile Bottom as a site was considered to be low down the list, said Cllr Fitch.

ECDC would be consulting on this soon. It was expected that a Band D house would see an increase from £64 to £100 for next year. Cllr Cane explained how the council cannot keep using their reserves to sustain the level of services currently offered. A survey was to be done and it was hoped to hear voters' opinions on council tax during ‘listening week’ as well as Parish Councillors' views at the Parish Forum.

5,000 people had signed the petition against the proposed merger of East Cambridgeshire PHC with Fenland. Cllr Cane felt this was something the Health Authority could not ignore. The council had received a £645,000 grant for a 'healthy living' initiative, which would not have been possible without the close partnership between ECDC and the East Cambs PCG.

Cllr Cane outlined plans for the East Cambridge Community Safety Partnership conference which was to be held later this month. Conference delegates were to discuss the next three-year community safety strategy, which was aimed at reducing crime.

One member was needed to stand on this committee. Cllr Cane asked parish councillors to encourage anyone they thought suitable to enrol for this. Cllr Robinson commented on the difficulty of getting people to join committees generally because of restrictions imposed upon them. Cllr Cane agreed that the Government did seem to be imposing too many conditions from the top rather than letting local people decide. However, she also thought that clearly stated standards gave people confidence.

Cllr Moseley reported the resignation of Mr Hunns. She said he had worked hard to get the school through a difficult period but now felt it was time to move on in his career.

Cllr Fitch asked if there was any truth in rumours that children from Burwell had been forced to enrol in Swaffham Prior school, as there was no room for them in Burwell school. A discussion took place about this and the right of parents to appeal against a decision to send their children to a school they didn’t like. Cllr Robinson commented that the Parsonage Close primary school in Burwell should not have been closed down.

Cllr Lambert reported that at the annual meeting Tony Jordan had been re-elected Chairman and the fair sub committee re-formed. The treasurer’s report had shown a healthy balance, but much of this would be needed to pay for the new extension to the village hall. Cllr Lambert congratulated the committee on their hard work.

There would not be a firework display this year.

Reporting on a discussion held at the village hall committee meeting, Cllr Lambert said some young people had been knocking on doors and running away; this had caused distress to some villagers.

Cllr Summers reported on the latest neighbourhood watch meeting. Trading Standards had distributed stickers for people to use, stating that they were not willing to buy from doorstep salesmen. Vulnerable old people had also been spending too much on alarm systems, which they had been persuaded to buy from unscrupulous salesmen.

Gerald Turner has kindly agreed to put up the replacement swings on Fair Green.

Cllr Lambert said he would soon be installing the central bollard at the bottom of The Hythe.

Two salt bins had been purchased.

Grahame Miller had received a report from Anglian Water detailing their proposals for tidying up around the sewage plant. A landscape designer was to produce a plan for PC discussion. The noise emanating from the plant would also be investigated.

Fundraising for this at the pub was going well. Clerk reported that it ought to be possible to obtain a small grant from ECDC, if funds were forthcoming from other sources – possibly the amenity fund and parish council.

Cllr Moseley said she didn’t think a weekly inspection of the play area was necessary. The rubbish bin there still hadn’t been emptied by Cleanaway so the rubbish had been decanted into bags for them to take away. It was agreed that this was not acceptable as Cleanaway’s contract included emptying this bin (and the one at The Hythe). Cllr Lambert complained about Cleanaway’s dropping of paper when doing the re-cycling collection.

Mr and Mrs Jordan (Red Barn, Chapel Lane) had been given approval to build a brick wall around their boundary.

Ms Almond (9 Ditchfield) had been given approval to build a single-story extension and porch.

ECDC had written asking if councillors consider that a sub-committee of the Standards Committee should be set up to look at solely parish council matters. Councillors thought this unnecessary as the District council could carry out this function alongside their own.

Councillors looked at ECDC’s proposed 3-year revenue budget, which was to be discussed at a forthcoming Parish Forum.

Clerk had received a letter from David Groom at East Highways, which said that gritting routes for Reach would be as in previous years. Stephen Hill is to pursue owners of overgrowing hedges; the hedge in Great Lane is to be trimmed in October and potholes dealt with shortly.

Details of the Histon sector community beat officers had been received. Sergeant Terry Cakebread and Julie Gilbert (community contact coordinator) are available at Histon Police Station to give advice, and for routine matters.

Councillors supported a planning application to remove an internal wall at 22, Fair Green.

The precept from ECDC was discussed for the forthcoming year. It was agreed to ask for £3600.

The problem of fly tipping in the area was discussed. Cllr Cane said people should try to take car numbers and report them to the District Council.

Grass cutting in the village was discussed and whether or not the PC lawnmower was covered by public liability insurance.