Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 3rd December 2003

Present

Chairman Cllr Robinson, V/Chairman Cllr Aves, Cllrs Harrison, Summers,

Moseley, Hill, and Pearson; also D/Cllr Cane.

Visit

John Selby, conservation officer from East Cambridgeshire District Council, came to talk about the enhancement scheme in Reach. Replacement streetlights had been installed on the village hall side of Fair Green under phase two of the enhancement scheme. John said that there had been a drop in

funding for conservation and to replace the lights and put in underground cabling on the other side of the green would be expensive.

He said it would lower the cost to increase the space between the lights, but the county council street lighting department would be unlikely to agree to this and, therefore, would not adopt the lights if they were not up to agreed modern electrical standards. Clerk agreed to contact the chief lighting engineer at CCC to discuss possibilities.

Reports

District Council

Draft budget

The government had effectively given no increase in funds for this year. Staff salaries at ECDC were lower than neighbouring district councils resulting in some good people leaving. Conservation areas would be low on the list of priorities for the coming year.

Conservation performance assessment

Internal audits had taken place. All reviews had said that not enough was being spent. Cllr Cane said it was ‘a challenge’. Government auditors were inspecting in March 2004. Council tax

A discussion took place regarding council tax. Cllr Cane agreed it was difficult

for people on a fixed income to afford. It was ‘not a fair tax’ she said.

Swaffham Prior Primary School

The financial side of the running of the school looked bleak, said Cllr Pearson.

The area cost adjustment appeared to be reducing not increasing, with a 2% cut on all school budgets. This was particularly worrying to small schools and particularly unfortunate for Swaffham Prior primary school, which had worked hard to attain a glowing OFSTED report. Cllr Cane said that the Cambs County Council actually spent more on education than the government guidelines.

Village hall committee

Cllr Harrison said the building of the proposed extension would be put out to tender again, but this time it was agreed that the hall would be shut during the building works, as this would cut costs.

Swaffham Prior PCC

Regarding the constitution of the charity: when representation went down from seven to six some years ago a second Reach representative was lost. It was agreed to ask if an alternative councillor could attend PCC meetings if

Cllr Robinson was unavailable.

Police liaison committee

The travellers who had recently camped on Blackberry Drove had left.

Matters arising

Old Railway Bridge

Patrick Joyce, the County Cycling Projects Officer, had replied to a letter from the PC suggesting that the Old Railway Bridge be lowered for safety reasons. He said he would be surveying the area as some services were thought to be buried there and this would have an impact on any decision.

Police community support officers

Councillors agreed to find out more about the new scheme, although it was agreed that the precept would not allow for any funding from the PC.

National Trust

In reply to a letter from Helen Platt, Philip Broadbent-Yale (NT’s Area Manager) outlined maintenance and access of the land acquired at Burwell Fen Farm. He said that there was no bridleway access to the paths but they were happy for ‘permissive access for horses’. Gates were unlocked at present but when stock were introduced they would be locked, with keys obtainable from the Property Manager at Wicken Fen or the Fenland Bridleway Association.

Correspondence

Helen Platt had asked for road signs saying ‘Please slow down for horse’, saying local people drove with no thought for other road users. Clerk had contacted highways department; a spokesman had declined the suggestion, saying such signs were only considered appropriate in areas with a large

number of horses on the road (such as Newmarket) or where a bridleway cuts across a main road.

ECDC had given consent for tree works to be carried out at 48a Great Lane.

The Audit Commission was to reduce the audit fee for small councils.

County’s Countryside Services were to close the Tree and Hedge Scheme from July 2004.

The Rural Housing Enabler, who visited the PC in July, had written asking if any decision had been made with regard to areas for affordable housing.

Councillors agreed that the only appropriate land might be that owned by

County Farms.

The County Council Records Service had drawn the PC’s attention to the fact that the land known as the Drying Ground in The Hythe had mistakenly been mapped as being common land on access land maps. Clerk to contact the department to find out who owned the land.

County had invited the PC to take part in the Parish Path Partnership for

2004/2005. Councillors declined.

Reach matters

Planning application – High Cloud Stud (second submission)

The site had been moved nearer the road after a previous application had been rejected as being in ‘open countryside’ and outside the village envelope.

Councillors approved the new siting but thought the house was far too big and constituted an over-development of the site. Materials were thought not to be in keeping with other houses in the area.

Horningsea/Burwell overhead electricity cabling

Chairman asked Cllr Aves about reports that 18metre-wide belts of trees and hedges were to be planted on farmland to screen the cabling. Cllr Aves (who declared an interest) confirmed the information.