Minutes of the Meeting of Milton Parish Council
held on Monday 12 April 1999 at 7pm in the Community Centre
Present: RLE Waters (chair) RJ Farrington JE Coston (exc 153/99)
R Day DJ Lee IF May CF Nunn PK Oldham J Sandford
HM Smith SJ Snaith RT Summerfield LC Twinn EY Wakeling
and the clerk SJ Daniels
1. Apologies for absence none
137/99 2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 1 March 1999 were approved and
signed as a true record.
3. Clerk's report (inc matters arising)
138/99 Memorial Green
(464/98) Land Certificate had now been received and was being kept
by the solicitor.
139/99 Emergency Plan - (Meeting Monday 11 January 1999)
(554/98) Emergency Plan 15 years ago was based on nuclear war scenario.
The idea was to make an inventory of resources available in
the village. Post 'nuclear threat' this had been put on the
back burner. Six districts and county work together. County
now had Civil Protection Department. There was no full time
officer in any district. There was a single point of contact
paging system in the county. For example emergency services
would page Tony Leadley if they needed his assistance. He would
then contact other relevant people. He gets on average three
calls a week. In any major incident police would take control.
Parish council is not in front line. There was no need any longer
for parish emergency plan BUT parish council should nominate
someone with local knowledge for TL to contact if necessary.
AGREED - point of contact to be clerk (with local knowledge and
general overview of facilities) - chairman and vice
chairman to be back up. As the community centre
was the likely rest/evacuation centre for the village
the issue of whether MCC, in the event of a power failure,
should have a back up generator was raised.
140/99 Dog Bins
(574/98) The dog bins had all been installed. SCDC had been asked
to empty each bin only as it would cost £1.50 per bin to replace
with bags. The clerk was awaiting clarification in writing.
141/99 A10/A14 Interchange (see 468/98)
(61/99) Lights
The timing of the lights has been altered since 6 October.
The settings for the traffic lights controller were due to
be reviewed in about one month.
Lane Markings
The County Council's thoughts on lane markings had not altered.
(They prefer flexibility of lane usage and doubt that lane
markings would actually enhance lane discipline). The Accident
Investigation team were not aware that lack of markings was
resulting in an injury accident problem. Our comments were
being passed to the Highways Agency.
142/99 Landfill Site - East Waste
(85/99) Cover was applied to the site daily a small area being worked
at a time and sealed quickly with green waste and soils.
Reports of litter blow and/or odour should be made to East Waste
(phone Paul Farrington 0780 681190 or 01223 860955 or Clive
Carr 07771 891951).
Planning permission required the site to be restored to
agricultural use.
Some limited tree planting had taken place but general tree
planting would not be allowed because of possible damage by
roots to the clay capping (letter from County Council).
Members recollected a promise that the land could be used for
recreational use.
The clerk: to investigate.
143/99 Public Entertainments Licences
(104/99) The licences for the Waggon & Horses and White Horse had been
granted with conditions:
Maximum of two entertainments per month on Fridays and Saturdays,
the Waggon & Horses' licence being for a period of six months.
Windows and doors to be kept shut during entertainment.
Notice of events to be publicised (Waggon to inform EHO and MPC).
Noted that the White Horse had laid a tarmac surface car park
with sleeping policeman. The landlord had promised to talk to
his area manager about the noise problems with the 'bouncy castle'.
144/99 Street Trading Consent
(104/99) Note from clerk:- If traders wish to trade on the verge in
Cambridge Road, High Street or Ely Road they must obtain a
"Consent" from SCDC as this road is a "Consent Street". Traders
are allowed to trade anywhere else without permission.
If we ever wish to turn any other road into a "Consent Street"
we need to ask SCDC.
145/99 Industrial Estate
(127/99) Paul Quigley SCDC had indicated that the old A10 would be
cleaned of litter as part of the litter cleaning contract.
The clerk had asked Herald Contract Services to cut the verge
as part of his contract. JEC proposed that the industrial estate
road should be named after a tree - not seconded.
AGREED (by 12 votes to 2) to ask SCDC to name the road Doggett Way
- after a former owner of the land.
4. Planning
146/99 The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting of 22 March 1999
were received.
Decisions received
147/99 East Waste - variation of conditions - approved.
(52/99)
New Applications
148/99 S/0415/99/A The White Horse - signs - Sign G deleted - noted.
(125/99)
149/99 S/0425/99 Mr & Mrs D Foster 169 The Sycamores - two storey
side extension.
AGREED to defer comments to Chairman of Planning under
delegated powers.
150/99 5 Youth/Play Minutes
The minutes of the Youth/Play Committee of 22 March were received.
Concerns about the quality of the new woodchip in the play areas
were expressed.
The clerk: to investigate.
6 Recommendations of Youth/Play Committee
151/99 a) Roller hockey/basketball
(135/99) AGREED that, subject to the approval of the Milton Community
Centre and Recreation Grounds Management Committee, Council
would accept the quotation by Anglian and Midland of £25,657
for the installation of roller hockey (30m x 15m) and
basketball (32m x 19m) areas, plus a sum for contingencies
up to an overall figure of £30,000; the cost to be met by
funds held from the granting of the lease the recreation land
used for sheltered housing.
152/99 b) Swings at Humphries Way Open Space
(136/99) AGREED to purchase a double swing from Playdale at a cost
of £2553, to be met from commuted sums.
153/99 7 Cemetery
Roadway
AGREED to ask for three quotes for the installation of a roadway
for the whole length of the cemetery.
Policy for spreading of ashes
The clerk: to research the practice of other cemeteries.
Land drains
Noted that a gravedigger had recently broken a land drain.
The clerk: to investigate position of land drains.
CFN: to seek professional advice.
154/99 8 Standing Orders
(102/99) AGREED (by 12 votes to 2) to approve the Standing Orders
dated 16 March 1999 including minor amendments.
JEC proposed a six month trial period - not seconded.
155/99 9 Milton Parish Council Policies
AGREED that the document produced by the clerk correctly
reflected the Policies of the Council.
156/99 10 MCC Joint Meeting
RLEW and the chairman of MCC had agreed that the April meeting
would be chaired and minuted by MCC and the October meeting
chaired and minuted by MPC.
157/99 11 Annual Parish Meeting
Agreed to ask Cambridge Housing Society to give a Sheltered
Housing update to the APM. Other items on the agenda would
include reports from the County Councillor, District Councillor,
Chairman, Millennium Committee and the Charities.
158/99 12 Sheltered Housing Update
(103/99) Noted that a strip of land along the side of 51 Cambridge
Road had not been included on the original plan.
AGREED that the chairman and vice chairman sign a Deed of
Variation to include this strip of land.
159/99 13 Salaries Review
AGREED to defer until new scales for 1999 become available and
that any increases would be backdated to April 1st.
160/99 14 Money Received and Bills for Payment (Schedule attached)
AGREED to confirm bills already paid - Cheques 1489 to 1490,
1507 to 1508 and cheques 47 to 48 No. 2 Account; and
to authorise the following payments - Cheques
1491 to 1517 (excluding 1507/8).
Noted that £108,000 commuted sums had been transferred to Midland
Bank 6 months Fixed Deposit at 5% interest.
161/99 15 Crime Update
Noted that six crimes had been reported in February - four at
Tesco, two at Dillons and nine crimes during March.
PKO and RLEW had visited Police HQ to discuss ways in which the
dissemination of information for Neighourhood Watch could be
improved.
162/99 16 County Councillor's Report
Village View
Village View accounts were presented to Council - to be
circulated.
Cycle Bridge
The feasibility study had now been completed and the County
Council were awaiting the Government's comments in June.
Further consultation and a meeting would take place in October.
It was hoped that the bridge would be built early 2001.
RTS commented that thanks to JEC's persistence the bridge would
almost certainly now be built.
Land Purchase
JEC presented a map showing all the land in the village owned by
the County Council and proposed that Council ask whether the
County would be prepared to sell any of its land for recreation
purposes.
The clerk: to pursue.
Community Transport
Eleven people had expressed interest in the scheme.
AGREED that £265 be set aside each year for the provision of
transport to take the elderly shopping (thirteen trips
per year).
Noted that JEC was asking the Charities for a similar amount.
Settlement at Waterbeach
The proposals for a new settlement at Waterbeach would have
implications for Milton. JEC suggested that Council consider
these proposals at a future meeting.
The Clerk: to circulate relevant documents.
Traffic through village
JEC had received a letter suggesting ways of reducing the
amount of traffic during peak times. It was agreed that the
Highways committee would discuss.
Pedestrian Crossings - Science Park
No information had yet been received.
JEC: to make inquiries.
163/99 16 District Councillor's Report
Planning Applications
a) Hospice: the planning officers shared some of Council's
concerns. The application was due to be considered at the
Planning Committee on 5 May.
b) Farm College: one or two issues were being considered again
by the Farm College.
164/99 17 Correspondence
County Council - winter gritting of High Street would be included
in the 1999/2000 review.
The clerk: to write in support that Cambridge Road/High Street be
included.
Campaign for warm homes bill.
SCDC - Public Entertainments Licence. Noted that C Morris had
applied for an occasional licence at the Trinity Centre.
SCDC - Election. Ten candidates had been elected. Council would
need to co-opt five new councillors at the May meeting.
The chairman thanked the retiring members for their public service.
The meeting ended at 10.10pm.