Minutes of the Meeting of Milton Parish Council
held on Monday 6 March 2000 at 7pm in the Community Centre
Present: RJ Farrington (chair) JE Coston R Day M Ellwood A Lakhani
DJ Lee [from 119/00] IF May PK Oldham P Mynott GM Richardson
HM Smith RT Summerfield LC Twinn
The clerk SJ Daniels
Two members of the public (part)
1 Apologies for absence RLE Waters DJ Lee [for lateness]
100/00 2 Resignation of JM Palmer - Casual Vacancy
A letter of resignation was received from JM Palmer. The vacancy
had been advertised. If no request for an election was received by
8 March Councilcould then co-opt.
101/00 3 Minutes
Minute 70/00 was amended to read "in principle subject to a
business plan." The minutes of 7 February were then approved and
signed as a true record.
4 Clerk's Report (inc matters arising)
102/00 MCC Lease
(467/98) The solicitor had been in regular correspondence recently about the
completion of the lease - in response to questions raised by the
Land Registry. The clerk had queried whether fees would be charged
for this extra work. The Land Registry required £160 to complete
the land registration. AGREED to pay (cheque 1750).
103/00 A10 Butt Lane Junction
(12/00) Copy letters from Highways Agency [and Impington Parish Council]
received. Council's comments requested. Highways Committee to
discuss.
JEC was arranging a meeting with the Highways Agency to discuss
the A10.
104/00 Cycle Scheme
(52/00) RTS reported that three objections had been received, one of which
was from Stagecoach. J Richards was due to discuss with Stagecoach.
The decision whether to proceed would now be taken at the Area
Joint Committee Meeting of 31 May.
105/00 Free Resource
(71/00) The auditor confirmed by telephone (09/02/00) his agreement that
youth workers could be paid under Section 19 Local Government
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
5 Planning
106/00 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 21 February 2000 were received and
noted.
Matters Arising
107/00 S/1359/96 Pi Research - New Access - amended alignment of hedge
(357/99) approved by SCDC.
108/00 City Council - applications for major retail development in
(358/99) central Cambridge - amendments.
109/00 S/0240/00 Car Park at Rectory - noted that the conservation officer,
(91/00) planning officer and a church representative had met and discussed
MPC's comments.
As a result a revised application would be submitted.
Decisions Received - none
New Applications
110/00 S/0948/97 Symbionics Ltd - Erection of Class B1(B) buildings for
(391/97) research and parking r/o Jeffrey's Building St John's Innovation
Park - amendments - for information only.
111/00 S/2166/89 Bridehall Developments Plc - Scientific Research
(352/98) Buildings (class B1) phase 4 Science Park (min 391/89 also refers)
- amendments. No recommendations.
112/00 S/0085/99 The College of West Anglia - erection of agricultural and
(341/99) agricultural machinery buildings, parking and tractor driving
practice area off Ely Road - minor amendments - for information
only.
Other planning business
113/00 Blackwell's Caravan Site - new buildings at this site were queried.
The clerk and RTS would follow up.
114/00 6 Youth Provision
The minutes of the Youth Committee meeting of 14 February 2000 and
of the Youth Building Steering Group of 28 February 2000 were
received.
(94/00) The clerk would soon submit a planning application.
115/00 7 Cemetery
The minutes of the Cemetery Committee of 1 March 2000 were received.
Having reflected on the minutes PKO could not see the need for a 3
metre wide path, that was essentially a pedestrian access. He had
also measured the width between graves in the "old" part of the
cemetery and felt that it would be difficult to fit in a 3 metre
wide path.
It was AGREED to amend the decision made in minute 447/99 and ask
Cambridge Paviors to quote for 1.8 metre wide path.
AGREED also not to ask for a complete exclusion of cars as
vehicular access may be needed by the disabled. This motion was
carried by 9 votes in favour with 3 abstentions.
The clerk would submit this to the Church Council. Delegated powers
were given to the clerk and PKO to take appropriate action following
the Church Council meeting of 7 March.
116/00 8 MCC Update
After the recent break-in an alarm system was being installed in the
office.
117/00 9 Sheltered Housing Update
CHS had organised a guided tour for the prospective residents.
AGREED that the chairmen of SCDC, CHS and MPC be invited to perform
the opening ceremony and that the oldest resident be involved also.
118/00 10 Abolition of Parish Councils
A letter was received from J Paice MP asking for comments about the
possible abolition of Parish Councils. It was AGREED that as this
was a political matter to thank him for his letter and reply that
"the contents are noted".
119/00 11 Bills for Payment and Money Received
Payment of cheque 1736 was confirmed.
Cheque 1729 PK Oldham - trees. PKO thanked RD and RLEW for helping
plant 150 whips on bund.
Cheque 1742 Herald Contract Services for hedge work on The Rowans
requested by clerk. Concern was raised as to whether this should
this be part of "General Maintenance".
Cheque 1750 already agreed [min 101/00].
AGREED to authorise payment of cheques 1726 to 1749 excluding 1736
[above].
PKO abstained
120/00 12 Millennium Report
A millennium ball was being organised by the Milton School
Association. Costs of hiring a marquee had escalated and a request
for funding from the millennium fund was put to Council. The ball
was unlikely to proceed without funding.
Concerns were expressed about spending public money on an event
that was making a profit for another organisation.
The motion was proposed and seconded that Council should give every
encouragement to the MSA Committee to organise a ball for 250 people
[which would make a profit together with bar takings] and would
undertake to underwrite any loss made.
An amendment (1) was proposed and seconded to donate £1000 to the
event.
An amendment (2) was proposed and seconded to make no decision at
this time [in order to give Council time to consider].
Amendment 2 was lost - 2 votes in favour, 8 against and 1
abstention.
Amendment 1 was lost - 5 votes in favour, 6 against and 1
abstention.
The substantive motion that "Council should give every encouragement
to the MSA Committee to organise a ball for 250 people and would
undertake to underwrite any loss made"
was then AGREED - 10 votes in favour, 2 abstentions.
It was AGREED to underwrite the loss up to a limit of £3000 -
4 votes in favour, 9 abstentions.
Council hoped that the event would proceed and that the MSA were
able to make some money for school equipment.
121/00 13 Crime Update
Crime figures had been circulated.
122/00 14 County Councillor's Report
(59/00) Land Purchase
AGREED under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to
exclude members of the public because of the confidential nature of
the business.
Public meeting closed at 9.15pm and reopened at 9.16pm.
Double yellow lines were being proposed at the Regional College.
(86/00) Decision on the application by Donarbon had been deferred until
June.
Cycle bridge meeting set for 7 March. It was expected that
consultation documents would be ready for the beginning of April.
123/00 15 District Councillor's Report
Nothing further to report.
124/00 16 Correspondence
CALC - Bulletins inc "Training Morning"
MAGPAS - request for donation. AGREED not to make a donation.
Cambs County Council
- budget 2000/01
- Local Councils Liaison Committee - Minutes
17 Dates of next meetings:
Planning 20 March
Council 3 April
AGREED to put on agenda for May proposal to start meetings at 7.30pm.
The meeting ended at 9.20pm.