Minutes of the monthly meeting of Waterbeach Parish Council held on Tuesday, 6th January, 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in the New Pavilion.

Present: Mr. D. Benton; Mrs. J. Cornwell; Dr. C. Grant; Mr. W. Grant;  Mr. D. Halsey; Mr. P. Jones; Mrs. S. Kay; Mr. M. Leeke, (Chairman); Mr. R. Lovett; Mrs. N. O’Horo;  Mr. W. Saberton; Mr. A. Shipp; Mr. M. Williamson; Mr. A. Wright.

In attendance:  Cllr. Mrs. J. Coston, the Clerk.

  1. Apologies:  there were no apologies
  2. To approve the minutes of the previous meetings:

The minutes of the monthly meeting were approved and signed.  Mr. William Grant was welcomed to his first meeting as a parish councillor.

  1. Matters arising from the Minutes of the previous monthly meeting:

Orange netting around old pavilion – the Clerk would speak to the groundsman about replacing this.

Dog bins – the four replacements and two additional ones had been delivered and the work put in hand to erect them.  Confirmation is awaited from SCDC about the siting of one of the bins.

Conifers on west boundary of recreation ground – the work to side up the conifers had been put in hand along with work on the trees on the Gault.  The Chairman had received a further letter from Mr. Leech stating that the Parish Council had not addressed the noise and light issues as a result of the cutting of the trees.

Basketball – this is again being played late at night as a result of the security light on the garage.  Work is in hand to shield the light from the basketball courts.

  1. To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 9th December:

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th December were approved and signed.

  1. Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 9th December:

Dr. Grant queried the provision of recreation facilities on the development and requested that the areas provided within the development were specific of the facilities which could be provided on them.  The parish council do not want to find themselves again unable to provide play equipment on allocated recreation areas on developments.

  1. Planning Applications:

i.        Mr. Mrs. Shevlin, 4 Pieces Terrace – extension.  Agreed.

Notification of planning appeal – Mr. Mrs. Whitehead, Crewe House, Primrose Lane

  1. Recreation Ground Committee report: to be discussed at the meeting on 20th January.
  2. Co-option of parish councillor:  no further applications.
  3. Correspondence:

Mrs. A Crick – 6 suggested locations for dog litter bins.  The contents were considered and it was agreed that some locations were covered by bins already in the locality.  It was agreed that a dog litter bin would be located on the grass area at the junction of Waddelow Road and High Street providing SCDC are in agreement.  Nikki O’Horo requested that a bin could be located at the east end of Kirby Road.  The Council agreed to this suggestion.  The list of suggestions from Mrs. Crick would be filed for future reference.  The Clerk would notify SCDC of the new locations in order that they will empty them.

SCDC - Community Services Funding Toolkit

SCDC – copy of letter sent to Milton PC reference Milton Detached

SCDC – parish precept notice

SCDC – acknowledgement of letter about Bannold Road development

CCC – notice of prohibition of driving order in Kirby Road.

CCC – Highways review

CCC – non acceptance into jointly funded minor highway improvement scheme.  Cllr. Mrs. Coston agreed that details of the scheme which CCC entered for Waterbeach should be looked into.  It is understood that the budget for the scheme was just above the limit.

CCC – changes to local bus services.  None affecting Waterbeach.

CCC – pensions forum

CCC – County Council budget for 2004 - 2005

CCC – extension of consultation period of Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Moore Stephens – annual return for the year ended 31 March 2003

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M. Dickersons – local liaison group meeting on anaerobic digestion.

Cambs. Fire & Rescue Service – integrated risk management plan

Atkins – roadworks and traffic information leaflet – December 2003 t0 February 2004

Countryside Agency – Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust – bulletin

Cambs. Constabulary – Histon sector newsletter

DEFRA – Ragwort Act.  Dr. Grant requested that Cllr. Mrs. Coston approach CCC farms about the state of their land adjacent to Cow Hollow Wood and the bridleway from Clayhithe Road to the Town Holt.   CCC highways should also be made aware of the act to control ragwort.  Cllr. Mrs. Coston would establish a contact at CCC for the enforcing of the control of ragwort.

  1. Approval of Accounts:

Mr. Shipp proposed, seconded Mr. Benton and agreed that the accounts as presented were paid.

  1. Representatives Report:

Some councillors had attended the liaison meeting at M. Dickersons.  The pilot scheme for anaerobic digestion was explained.  Concern had been raised about the amount of livestock slurry which had to be imported to the site for the plant to work.  It appeared that everything connected with the scheme would be safe.

Library – the December figures for the library had been e.mailed to the Clerk who would send them on to councillors.

Cllr. Jane Coston agreed to investigate the possibility of a Sunday access to Cambook in order that cataloguing could be done.

Direction signs to the library for both entrances would be requested by the Clerk from CCC.

Almshouses  -  the first stage of refurbishment had been completed with damp proofing and the installation of  double glazed windows to all units.

Street lighting – Cllr. Mrs. Coston had been informed by Tony Hull, CCC, that some funding for additional street lights is available alongside funding from SCDC.  Street lights for the locations previously stated would be requested.

Double yellow lines – the advertising of the additional lines as agreed is now taking place.  Additonal double yellow lines in Lode Avenue, Whitmore Way, the junction of Vicarage Close and Waddelow Road with the High Street has also been agreed by Mr. Sharpe, CCC, with Cllr. Mrs. Coston and will be advertised at the same time.  Cllr. Mrs. Coston had not been able to persuade Mr. Sharpe to double yellow line around the junction of Pieces Lane and Way Lane and the junction of Car Dyke/Cambridge Road with Cambridge Road – this matter would be pursued.

Cllr. Mrs. Coston suggested that a highways officer attend the next parish council meeting.  It was suggested that this meeting should wait until the Annual Parish Meeting or after the additional yellow lines had been put in place.

Cast Iron versus Guided bus – Cllr. Mrs. Coston be interested to hear parishioners views on the options.

30 in white roundels is to be painted on the new red road patches at the entrances to the village.

Dogs on recreation ground – Mr. Leeke had written an article for the Beach News.

The Clerk would contact the dog warden again about suitable large signs for the recreation ground.

  1. Village Matters.

Cemetery – the rubbish area is full and needs clearing.  The Clerk will arrange for a skip.  Complaints had been received about the overhanging copper beeches near the non war graves.  Major Dave Hornby should be contacted about ownership of these trees.

Mrs. Kay noted that the sign to the public conveniences and the recreation ground had been re-instated.

Minutes and agendas – request that these be in the library.  Mr. Williamson agreed to set up a library web address.  The minutes could then be e.mailed direct.

Denny End Road/A10 junction – this is the only junction on the A10 with no lights.  The AA recognise that the A10 between Ely and Milton is in the category of second most dangerous roads.  Cllr. Mrs. Coston is researching ways of getting this junction improved.  The value of the solar panels was questionned.  Some councillors did not consider that they shone adequately.

Fence between Chapel Close and recreation ground – SCDC state that there is no mention of a fence in the original planning application.  It is thought that all boundaries to the south of Chapel Close are

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owned by the house holders.  The matter of ownership of the fence behind Chapel Close would be investigated further.

Horse(s) on recreation ground – horse(s) grazing the field behind the church had escaped onto the recreation ground on 2nd January.  Mr. R. Cave, owner of the land should be written to as having ultimate responsibility for anything which escapes from his property onto anothers.

The bungalow in Long Drove had been dismantled.

 

The meeting ended at 9.10 p.m.

 

Additional matters, permitted for discussion following the exclusion of the public, were then discussed.

 

Chairman ………………………………………..      Date ………………………………………………

 

Minutes of the meeting of Waterbeach Parish Council held on Tuesday, 20th January 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in the New Pavilion.

Present:  Mr. D. Benton; Mrs. J. Cornwell; Dr. C. Grant;  Mr. D. Halsey; Mr. P. Jones; Mr. M. Leeke, (Chairman); Mr. R. Lovett; Mrs. N. O’Horo;  Mr. A. Shipp; Mr. M. Williamson;

In attendance:  the Clerk.

  1. Apologies: Mr. W. Grant; Mr. W. Saberton; Mr. A. Wright;
  2. Planning Applications:
    1. P. Munro, 48 Denny End Road – erection of 2 houses following demolition of existing bungalow.  Agreed.
    2. Mr. Mrs. Askham, Dog & Duck Farm, Long Drove – annexe.  Refused.  Considered to be a completely new development outside the village envelope with the potential to be a separate dwelling.  Footprint is not the same – decision should be made in line with Lock Farm application where footprint had to be the same.
    3. D. Cooper, r/o 17 High Street – 2 dwellings.  Refused.  Overdevelopment.  Access visibibility, in particular as it is opposite Cattells Lane is inadequate.  3 dwellings sharing 5 parking spaces does not provide adequate parking bearing in mind there are businesses on the same site.
    4. Hayler Developments, r/o 13 Pieces Lane – 2 houses.  Approved.
    5. A. Hardingham, 6 Greenside – erection of house and garage and store/office following part demolition of existing premises.  Refused.  S.E. aspect of Ash Tree House will be significantly affected.  Would prefer to see dwelling more centrally sited.  Concerns that access is sufficient particularly when there are people visiting takeaway . Enduring condition that there are no further 1st floor windows. Before any work commences a 4m fence is erected around ash tree.  Concern expressed about the quality and accuracy of the plans, in particular tree position in relation to dwelling and boundary.  It would not have been possible to consider plan if original had not been available.  A Tree Preservation Order should be requested on the ash tree detailed in the application.
    6. Mr. Mrs. Treipp, 25 High Street – reduce crowns of yews by 25% to form high hedge.  Approved.
    7. Mr. Mrs. Pick, 17 Greenside – fell silver birch and trim branches of spruce to give 2m clearance to adjacent building.  Approved.
    8. Scottish & Newcastle, Bridge Hotel – new signage amendment.  Approved.

SCDC replies:

Permission granted:

Ms. J. Allan, 16 High Street – addition of chimney to annexe

P. Garner, 5 Burgess Road – extension and conversion of dwelling into 2 flats.

Ms. F McCaul, 32 Greenside – extension to outbuildings to form garden room, lobby & WC.

Hayler Developments Ltd. R/o 13 Pieces Lane – reserved matters of design and external appearance for erection of 6 houses.

 

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  1. Recreation Ground Committee report – see forwarded mail:

Mr. Williamson had circulated a re-drafted copy of the minutes of the Recreation Ground Committee meeting held on 10th December, 2003.  He was concerned that the minutes contained some items that he had asked to be kept confidential, and that some comments did not reflect what had been an extremely useful and productive meeting.  It was agreed that Mr. Jones would request that minutes of the recreation ground committee are forwarded to the Clerk as soon after the meeting as possible.

Job description for grounds person - it was agreed that Mr. Jones, who would be attending the meeting of the Recreation Ground Committee on 27th January, would request that suggestions  should be made to the Clerk for 3rd February.  The Clerk would contact Sawston and Histon Parish Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Association of Local Councils, the Institute of Groundsmanship and ACAS for information.  Contracts of employment would also be researched.

Turfcare survey – this had now been received and the Chairman had examined the report.  The fundamental issue which had been identified was that the topsoil is compacted thus limiting the percolation of water through the soil profile encouraging a “thatch” to build up.  A remediation plan to improve the surface structure and alleviate the compaction thus increasing the percolation through the soil profile was recommended. 

For budgeting purposes the Clerk had approached two companies for estimates of suitable equipment to achieve reduction of compaction.  The Clerk displayed a demonstration disc with each of the different blade/tine options for an aerator for which an estimate had been received.

It was agreed that the Council would adopt a regime to improve the sward of the recreation ground by the application of fertiliser where required, aerating and harrowing.  Mr. Jones would put to the recreation ground committee that the football clubs should investigate assistance from the Football Association in the purchase of an aerator.

Electrical equipment testing/removal of unused equipment – evidence of this being done has not yet been seen by the Council.  Mr. Jones would raise this again at the meeting on 27th January.

The groundsman had reported that the light sensor in the first changing room had been damaged apparently by a football.

Waterbeach Youth and Community Building Committee – the Council had received a document setting out the relative merits of the old pavilion and new pavilion site.  It was agreed that this document be copied to the secretary of the Recreation Ground Committee and the WAY committee.  Their views would be considered when the document is discussed by the Council on 3rd February.

Dog signs – the Clerk had contacted the dog warden who had recommended that signs could be obtained for the entrances to the recreation ground from Algar Signs who hold a template of the dog fouling logo.  The dog warden should be contacted for advice on additional wording.  A budget figure would be included for the provision of large signs at the entrances to the recreation ground.

Tennis courts – the groundsman would be applying moss killer to the courts as soon as conditions permit.

Ladies Football – a letter had been received thanking the parish council for the offer of use of the training facilities in the past and that they have been unable to organise training sessions.  They hope to be able to make use of the facilities in future if available.

Garage door – problems have arisen with the closing of the door.  An estimate for £1300 had been received to remove the personnel door from the roller shutter, replace full length slats in the door and put a secure personnel door in the side of the garage.  It was agreed that this should be done immediately.

Double yellow lines – a letter had been received from CCC with a map showing the proposed additional yellow lines.  Mrs. Kay should be consulted before approval is sent to CCC, Highways.

 

      Chairman …………………………………………      Date  ………………………………………...

 

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