Notes on the meeting of Reach Parish Council held on
Wednesday 1st December 1999
Those present were Chairman, Cllr
Aves, V/Chairman Cllr Lambert, Cllrs Summers, Robinson and Pearson; also C/Cllr
Fitch and D/Cllr Cane.
Apologies
Apologies received from Cllrs
Harrison and Moseley.
Reports
County Council
Finance
Finance for the county has gone up by £15m. Cllr Fitch said it was annoying
that the cost of living allowance had not been adjusted, he thought the county
was 'struggling'. Performance-related pay for teachers won't be as much as was
hoped. The county precept is to go up by 7.5 - 8%.
General
The Council chamber now has new loud-speakers and an electronic voting system
for councillors to vote for/against/abstain.
The library in Cambridge city centre
is to open from 9 to 7 (Monday to Friday) and 9 to 5.30 on Saturday (Sunday
opening would cost an extra £30,000).
Education
Cllr Fitch said he thought the county should receive more money for
schools s achievement was comparatively high nationally. Burwell Village College
is suffering from 'cash starvation'. The Warden from Bottisham Village college
is to attend a jamboree in London to celebrate their exceptional results in last
year GCSEs.
Social Services
Complaints had dropped by 44% with the loss of Peterborough; there were signs of
improvement in the department, progress was being made.
Police
5,000 more police were planned over the next five years. Cllr Fitch wondered how
this would be achieved - possibly through an increased precept. The 'detective'
side had been sectorised and crime was mostly down locally.
Highways The
Newmarket Road Park and Road had been awarded a medal by the Landscaping
Association.
The cycleway programme was advancing and £200,000 was to be spent on the Quy to Bottisham (via Bell Road) path. The Fen Edge scheme would be next.
Fire
The Fire Authority want to buy the land at present occupied by the Burwell Fire
Station, at nil cost, from John Smiths.
Questions to Cllr Fitch Cllr
Robinson asked Cllr Fitch if he was aware that farmers were being asked for
protection money (or they will be robbed); he also asked about the cost of
policemen retiring early.
District Council
The draft electoral register has been
published. The rate support grant has gone up by 7.5% - a major review is taking
place. Cllr Cane said the grant was generous as the District is sparsely
populated, in three years time there may be possible major cuts. The Council Tax
would be increasing by 7.5% to plan for the increase.
The Crime and Disorder Partnership is
looking behind the crime figures. ECDC has relatively low crime figures; youth
and domestic crime are prominent target areas.
Swaffham Prior
Primary School
HM Inspectors have done their first
statutory examination of the school after the OFSTED inspection. Their report
back was very positive on progress made. However the costs of the Special
Measures remained a source of controversy between the school and the County
education department with deadlock on discussions over whether the school would
receive additional funding. The Caretaker of the school, Mrs Day, is to retire
at the end of term after 29 years of service. It was agreed to donate £10
towards a leaving fund which was to be put towards renovating the school clock
and renaming it after her.
Swaffham Prior
PCC
The charity is to distribute £3000
to pensioners and single-parent families (between 25-30) and £200 for a
Christmas lunch. One parishioner is to be given £200 for a trip to Nepal.
The building of the houses at the top
of Cage Hill is progressing. £500 is to be given to the Baptist Chapel towards
an overhaul.
Millennium
committee
The Reach amenity fund had agreed to
donate money for the village New Year's Eve party in the village hall. The book
was progressing well and mugs for the children would be sent soon. Quotes for
the Churchyard seat had been sent to ECDC for approval
Matters arising
A discussion took place about the
sign for long vehicles at the bottom of Fair Green and the street light on the
Old Post Office wall.
Correspondence
A letter from Janet Hall of Great
Lane asked the PC for suggestions for parking when she opens her garden to the
public for the Red Cross next summer.
The transfer document for the purchase of the Old Burial Ground had been sent
from the District Solicitor. This was signed by Cllrs Aves and Lambert and
witnessed.
Paul Davis, the Community Officer, from the Histon Sector of Cambridgeshire Constabulary had written telling the PC of the restructuring at Histon. He requested the minutes of future meetings.
Bottisham Village College had written
asking from donations from Parish Councils in its catchment area to help with
the re-building of the swimming pool damaged earlier in the year by fire. PC
declined to contribute.
The draft register of electors has
been published. Amendments were requested to be returned to the Electoral
Services at ECDC by December 13th.
Reach Matters
It was reported that the bark surface
on the new playing field play area has become impacted.
The Precept for the coming year has
been calculated as being £3457. Cllr Lambert proposed that this should be
agreed and it was seconded by Cllr Summers; all councillors agreed.
Wicksteed leisure have inspected the
swings on Fair Green and submitted their report.