Minutes of the Meeting of Milton Parish Council
held on Monday 6 December 1999 at 7pm in the Community Centre
Present: RLE Waters (chair) JE Coston R Day M Ellwood IF May
PK Oldham GM Richardson HM Smith (from min 580/99)
RT Summerfield LC Twinn
The clerk SJ Daniels
A member of the public (part)
1 Apologies for absence RJ Farrington A Lakhani DJ Lee
HM Smith (for lateness)
575/99 2 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 1 November 1999 were approved and
signed as a true record.
3 Clerk's report (inc matters arising)
576/99 South Cambs Local Plan: Deposit 1999
(106/99) A Schedule of Proposed Changes had been published and MPC's
comments accepted.
577/99 Audit
(476/99) Certificate for 1998/99 was received.
578/99 Casual Vacancy
Council could co-opt. One candidate had offered himself for the
position. The vacancy was being advertised in the Village View.
579/99 Impact
(493/99) No reply received. RLEW would draft a letter.
580/99 Disposal of bins
(434/99) Cheque from Guilden Morden Parish Council not yet received.
Histon & Impington had not yet collected bins.
581/99 Halingway
(435/99) Our comments are to be put before the Cam Conservators early in the
new year. The Conservators, however, having limited funds, could
see no reason why they should be responsible for maintenance of the
tarmac stretch. They suggested that MPC might wish to pay for
improvements, as their responsibility was to maintain to the
standard of a footpath. The Hospice supported MPC' request by
letter.
RLEW would explore through the Parish Paths Partnership and
possibly through WREN.
582/99 Play Areas
(437/99) No written reply from Wicksteed had been received. The clerk had
also written complaining about time taken to do repairs on The
Sycamores Rec Ground (on behalf of ORG). Wicksteed promised by
phone to effect repairs immediately (19 November).
583/99 Cemetery Path/Drive
(447/99) Contractors were informed that Council wanted work to start in late
March/April. No reply received to date.
584/99 Odour
(500/99) AWA had identified a trade effluent at Cottenham "which may give
rise" to odour problems. This trade effluent had been controlled
since beginning of November. In addition chemical dosing at
Cottenham was being increased to reduce generation of odours at
Cambridge sewage works.
585/99 Community Care
(516/99) Final Job Description circulated. As Cornhill did not have a
"sickness" policy, GMG Financial services had supplied Council
with two options.
Noted that the warden was more worried about short-term sickness
than long term.
AGREED that Community Care Working Group discuss and advise Finance
Committee before 31 January 2000.
586/99 Christmas Lights
(523/99) Confirmed that in 1998 D Collins was paid £35 for erecting lights.
AGREED therefore to pay the same in 1999.
587/99 Police Resources
(537/99) Replies received from MP and Home Office. Noted that it was the
responsibility of the Chief Constable and Police Authority to spend
the resources and they had the power to raise further revenue
through the Council Tax.
588/99 Cycle Scheme
(552/99) The request to incorporate a bus shelter into the cycle scheme was
being looked at. CCC's response should be received within a month.
589/99 A10/A14 Interchange
(555/99) Highways Agency in response to the public meeting "has concluded
that safety ...would not be improved by extending operation" of
the traffic signals.
A study would assess the junction layout, traffic flow and accident
data to identify other possible improvements. Recommendations of
the study when completed would be sent to MPC.
Butt Lane Junction
Copy letter sent by Impington Parish Council received.
AGREED to send another letter to Highways Agency with following
points:
- Lack of consultation
- Results of consultants' study not received
- Their proposals were completely inadequate
- Provision of a roundabout was correct course of action.
Copies to J Paice MP and J Edwards, County Council.
590/99 Section 137/Rate Precept
AGREED to include an article explaining Section 137 LGA 1972 and
rate precept in Parish Councillor's Handbook.
591/99 Meeting Dates 2000
Dates for meetings in 2000 had been circulated. It was noted that
dates of meetings agreed by Council/committee should not be
arbitrarily changed.
592/99 4 Land Purchase
Owing to the confidential nature of the business of this item
it was AGREED using the powers of the Public Bodies (admissions
to Meetings) Act 1960 to exclude members of the public.
The meeting re-opened at 7.55pm with 9 members + the clerk present.
593/99 5 Planning
The minutes of the Planning Meeting of 22 November 1999 were
received.
(278/99) Appeal - College of West Anglia - S/0084/99 Landbeach Road -
residential development.
AGREED to make following comments: -
Contrary to Policy H5 of South Cambs Plan (1993) and Policy SE13
of the Deposit Plan (1999) - the site is outside the village
framework of the built-up area of the village.
Concerned about the potential hazards caused by the position of
the access to the proposed residential development on the bend in
Landbeach Road and in close proximity to the bus stop.
Should the appeal be granted then Section 5.8 page 15 of the
Strategic Development Plan concerning the proposal for a Section
106 Agreement to prevent further residential development should
be taken up.
594/99 Footpath Coles Road Recreation Ground
(508/99) In response to SCDC Housing and Community Services Director it was
AGREED to confirm that MPC would build the path close to the
boundary with Recreation Close and would be happy for SCDC to
contribute towards that part of the path on their land.
595/99 Application S/1775/99 2 Peter Goodin Close - the following comments
(548/99) were sent to SCDC: Concerned about over development of the site and
close proximity to neighbouring properties. Support neighbour's
comments.
Decisions Received
596/99 Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd - two fume stacks to replace
(510/99) three low level chiller and access ladder - approved.
597/99 Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd Unit 191 Science Park -
(511/99) portable building for contract carpenters - approved.
598/99 Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd Unit 191 Science Park -
(512/99) portable building forcontract cleaners - approved.
599/99 Mr & Mrs Coston 67 Coles Road - porch - approved. External
(514/99) materials to be identical to those used for existing building.
600/99 A Johannson 62 Butt Lane - extension - approved.
(513/99)
6 Minutes:
601/99 The minutes of the Highways meeting of 22 November 1999 were
received. Purchase of bus shelter - min 552/99 - deferred.
RLEW and RJF were due to meet Ed Thornton on 9 December to discuss
verge near industrial estate.
(557/99) AGREED by all to accept SCDC's quotation of £45 + VAT for clearing
up the skip at the entrance of the field near Tesco; also to ask
SCDC to clean up the rubbish regularly from the old A10.
602/99 The minutes of the Maintenance meeting of 29 November 1999 were
received.
603/99 The minutes of the Play meeting of 29 November 1999 were received.
AGREED by all to accept recommendation in minute 569/99 to buy two
replacement maypole seats and chains at a cost of £321.
604/99 7 Budget request from Play Committee
(573/99) A design for a proposed area for young teenagers as proposed by MCC
Recreation Group (ORG) and quotation were received. ORG intended
applying for grants and requested support of up to £20,000 from MPC.
AGREED that formal request be made to Finance Committee at its
budget setting meeting.
Noted that the Youth Committee intended discussing the project also.
The Youth Committee was given authority to proceed with employing
extra youth workers as there was money in the "youth" budget.
605/99 8 Millennium Working Party
A report of the recent meeting was received. Noted that the Working
Party had done everything necessary to comply with insurance
requirements for the fireworks event. Approximately £1700 had been
spent so far. As it was necessary to have a qualified first aider
at the event £50 had been spent to send a steward on a first aid
course using power under Local Government Act 1972 section 145.
Council's thanks were expressed to JEC for her efforts.
606/99 9 MCC Update:
Application for grant for 2000/01
Apologies from DTW for not being present.
The financial agreement between MPC and MCC obliged MCC to present
at this meeting an up to date financial statement, budget forecast
for the following year and an application for grant aid. It was not
possible for a budget forecast to be presented, as the working
groups had not yet reported back.
MCC were requesting a £20,000 grant for 2000/01 - to be discussed
by Finance Committee.
607/99 10 Membership 2000 - ACRE
AGREED to renew membership to Cambridgeshire ACRE at £20 - 6 votes
in favour 4 abstentions.
608/99 11 Media Relations
AGREED by all that the statement prepared by PKO be accepted as
MPC Policy and incorporated in Standing Orders and that
RLEW be Council's Press Officer.
609/99 12 Cambs County Council budget consultation
Proposed that Council make no response to the consultation document.
An amendment was carried by 6 votes in favour, 2 against and 2
abstentions that Council comments that "local front line services
should be protected".
A further amendment was proposed with the result that the following
motion was AGREED with 7 votes in favour, 2 against and 1
abstention: "Local front line services should be protected. MPC
should write to central government noting the County Council's
problems with the Standard Spending Assessment and the unfair deal
that the County Council is getting and requesting that the SSA be
reviewed."
610/99 13 Request by Cambridge Victim Support for donation
AGREED 8 votes in favour and 2 abstentions not to make a donation to
Cambridge Victim Support.
611/99 14 Sheltered Housing Update
RLEW would arrange a meeting with CHS as various details needed to
be discussed.
612/99 15 Bills for Payment and Money Received (See schedule)
Cheques 1664 to 1669 and cheque 54 account no 2 having been paid
were confirmed.
AGREED to pay cheques 1670 to 1686 and to give chairman and vice
chairman authority to calculate final payment due to Anglian &
Midland for basketball court.
613/99 16 Crime Update
Noted that the number of reported crimes was higher than during
1998 and was rising.
614/99 17 County Councillor's Report
MPC supported JEC's attempts to improve horse-riding facilities
as requested by a resident.
615/99 18 District Councillor's Report
The South Area Joint Committee was due to meet on 7 December. MPC's
request for a pinch point at the northern approach to the village
had already been rejected. Research into lorry parking along the
A14 corridor had been carried out.
The legal department of SCDC had sent out letters threatening
prosecution for failing to complete the "Register of Electors"
form. As a result all forms had been returned. The legal department
had decided not to send out letters to Chesterton Fen.
A "rough sleepers" count was taking place during the first week
in December.
616/99 19 Correspondence:
Waggon & Horses - transfer of licence to a new landlord
SCDC - oldest tree
Campaign for warm homes bill - update
Cambridge City Primary Care Group - report
South Cambs Primary Care Group - bulletin
Cambs County Council Social Services
- private & voluntary homes directory
Cambs County Council - Parish Paths Partnership (P3)
Rowing Trust - October 1999 bulletin
20 Dates of next meetings:
Youth 7 December 1999
Planning 20 December 1999
Council 10 January 2000
Youth to be arranged
Finance 31 January
The meeting ended at 10.00pm.