Minutes of the Meeting of Milton Parish Council
held on Monday 10 June 2002 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre
Present: PK Oldham (chair) HM Smith EH Baker JE Coston [from item 6(b)]
R Day M Ellwood RJ Farrington B Jefferson DJ Lee CJ Lock
IF May TJ Siggs RT Summerfield LC Twinn RLE Waters
The clerk SJ Daniels and 7 members of the public (part)
1 Apologies for absence - none
255/02 2 Declaration of Interest
PKO reminded members of the need to declare any interests under
the Code of Conduct.
256/02 3 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 13 May 2002 were confirmed and signed
as a true record.
4 Clerk's Report
257/02 Tesco
Rats had been seen in the bushes in front of Tesco. The
Environmental Health Officer had spoken to Tesco who have employed
a firm to deal with problem but they were unable to find evidence
of infestation.
(571/01) The clerk had asked Tesco again about ways of preventing trolleys
from being wheeled into the village (as at Bar Hill). Tesco Head
Office were investigating.
258/02 Prohibition of Waiting Industrial Estate
(615/01) Noted that the proposal to install double yellow lines at the
entrance to the Country Park had been put on hold because of
various objections. Philip Sharp (CCC) was considering advertising
the proposal formally and allow the Area Joint Committee to decide
what to do. The clerk would ask for detailed information.
Action: Clerk
259/02 Committees etc
(209/02) IFM was included as a member of the Allotments Working Group.
Noted that RD and HMS were representatives on the Landfill
Liaison Group.
260/02 Waste Local Plan
(216/02) Details of the Inquiry Programme were received.
261/02 Queen's Jubilee
(219/02) Noted that SCDC were offering golden sovereigns to present to
villages that best fit the four categories below:
- Largest village event in South Cambridgeshire
- Most inclusive village event
- Most long-lasting memorial
- Most original community celebration.
As Council intended to plant an oak tree it was AGREED
to apply to SCDC for consideration in the "most long-lasting
memorial to the Golden Jubilee" category.
Action: Clerk
262/02 Listed Buildings
(222/02) Criteria used for selecting buildings for listing was received.
Noted that Ambassador Lodge was not listed as it "has been
substantially altered over the years and has had a series of
modern extensions" (letter from SCDC). LCT was not convinced that
this was the case. Ambassador Lodge however was in the Conservation
Area and as a result any alterations to the exterior would be
subject to careful consideration by the Conservation Manager of SCDC.
It was AGREED
to take no further action.
263/02 Code of Conduct/CALC
(224/02) Advert cost £13.50.
AGREED
to purchase three copies of New Standing Orders Booklet at £19.50.
Consultation paper received from DLTR concerning "Local
investigation and determination of misconduct allegations".
Noted that Charlotte Rogers-Jones had resigned as County Secretary
of CALC (leaving the area).
264/02 Noisy Alarm
(226/02) A contact number was now available in the event of a recurrence of
the problem.
265/02 SCDC Housing Strategy
(228/02) No comments were made.
266/02 Public Entertainments Licence - Milton School
An application to renew the School's Entertainments Licence was
received.
267/02 Village Fayre
AGREED
to have a stall at the Village Fayre. Theme: History Society,
Millennium Books, raising profile of Parish Council.
5 Planning
Appeals
268/02 Mr M Young 26 The Rowans - garage - allowed.
(409/01)
269/02 Mr RG Cave 63 Cambridge Road - bungalow on land at rear - allowed.
(17/02)
270/02 Mr S Hanson 18 Humphries Way - first floor side extension - allowed.
(17/02)
Decisions Received
271/02 Lancashire Industrial and Commercial Services Ltd - Penfold Farm
(602/01) Ely Road - change of use to golf practice centre including club
house par 3 golf course shop/office car park access and bridle
path/pedestrian link to rowing lake and park - approved.
Conditions: the following details to be approved by the LPA:
- siting of building, external appearance, means of access
- landscaping scheme
- surface water drainage, foul sewage disposal, floor levels of
building(s), foundations, materials for hard surfaced area
within the site, car parking provision and underground works
for the provision of services
- layout scheme of golf course
- programme of archaeological work
- ecological survey.
Various conditions relating to highway safety.
No more than 450m2 floor-space of the Golf Centre complex to be
built until completion of Rowing Lake and public access.
272/02 Mr and Mrs JD Challis 57 Coles Road - extension - approved.
(170/02) Two parking spaces to be maintained.
273/02 P Garrod 13 Bene't Close - increase in garage eaves height
(234/02) - approved.
274/02 Mr and Mrs BT Robbins 42 Coles Road - extensions - approved.
(237/02) External materials to be identical to those used for existing
building.
At this point Standing Orders were suspended to allow Sherry Peck
address the meeting.
275/02 6 Travellers
a) Sherry Peck (Ormiston Trust) - Project Co-ordinator Cambridge
Travellers Initiative
PKO reminded those present that the parish included both the
Blackwell's site and Chesterton Fen, allegedly the largest
community of travellers in Europe. Chesterton Fen represented
about 5% of the population of the parish and pays about 4% of
Milton's council tax income.
As a result the Council had been trying to educate itself about
travellers. Sherry Peck from Ormiston Trust, a charity with offices
in the village which was involved with travellers through its
Cambridgeshire Travellers Initiative volunteered to talk to
Council about travellers.
She reported that:
- Cambridgeshire had the largest number of travellers in the country
- Travellers were the largest minority group in Cambridgeshire
- There were many diverse groups - the Romany and Irish groups were
protected under the Race Relations Act
- There were few legitimate stopping places in South Cambs
- There were no transit sites in South Cambs - RTS to clarify
whether there was any transit provision on the Blackwell's Site
- 25% of travellers in the country had nowhere to stop.
Thanks to SP for attending. Standing Orders were reinstated.
b) Council's Policy about Travellers
PKO felt that Council were in danger of being reactive rather than
pro-active and that Council should consider what its overall policy
should be. The consensus was that Council could reasonably act only
in response to the situations as they arise eg Landbeach Road was
being used regularly by travellers and Council should therefore
consider blocking off access.
Members felt that travellers would not move on to areas such as
Humphries Way open space or Coles Road car park. In the event of
this happening however Council would need to take any necessary
action at the time.
JEC reported that Government Policy in 1994 had directed that
caravan sites of up to 6 caravans should be tolerated for up to
28 days if not causing a nuisance.
Standing Orders were suspended temporarily to allow residents to
speak.
Council AGREED to make the following Policy (14 votes in favour
1 abstention):
Milton Parish Council will react to individual problems as they
occur with regard to travellers and would hope that the County
and South Cambs District Councils would give firm advice and support.
It was AGREED also
To invite the County and District Travellers' Liasion Officers to
an open meeting to discuss travellers' issues including Government
Policy and their respective Councils' Policy before deciding to take
any further action; and to invite Waterbeach and Landbeach Parish
Councils.
Action: JEC and RTS to co-ordinate
(154/02) c) Options for stopping up the disused part of Landbeach Road
The clerk reported on his investigations into the various options.
If the road were "stopped-up" the land would revert to the land
owners on either side (College of West Anglia and [it is believed]
County Council). County Council officers recommended downgrading
the highway to a bridleway, thus retaining bridleway and footpath
rights. The access could then be gated. Probable total cost of
downgrading to a bridleway and erecting barriers would be c £2000.
It was AGREED
To ask the County Council to downgrade the disused part of
Landbeach Road to a bridleway.
The clerk would ask the Charities for financial support and the
College of West Anglia for financial support and/or practical help
in constructing the barriers to prevent unauthorised access.
Reserves from Commuted Sums could also be used.
Action: Clerk
4 Planning (cont)
New Applications
276/02 S/1038/02 TXU Europe - erection of garage/utility, fences and gates
at North Lodge Ely Road - approve.
277/02 S/1039/02/LB TXU Europe - internal and external alterations and
refurbishment, installation of DPC and reinstatement of front door,
rear windows and chimneys; works to entrance walls and gates at
North Lodge Ely Road - approve. Council were pleased that this
application had been made.
278/02 S/1080/02 Cambridge Regional College - link road incorporating bus
pick up/drop off point - no recommendation.
S/1115/02 Mr & Mrs W Gunn 199 The Rowans - extension - no
recommendation (comments not to be sent off immediately to
allow neighbour time to comment).
279/02 S/1141/02 Amedis Pharmaceuticals Ltd - Unit 162 Science Park -
alterations to building including 8 roof mounted flues and erection
of external store - refuse - concerned about unsightly flues and
the emissions from them.
(7 votes in favour 4 against and 4 abstentions).
280/02 5 Play
The minutes of the Play Committee meeting of 29 May were received.
A response for grant aid from WREN towards the skate park was
expected on 11 June.
281/02 7 Landfill Liaison Meeting
A report of the recent meeting was received.
282/02 8 Ditch Cambridge Road - disposal of sludge at allotments site
(151/02) It was proposed that
Council allow Pat Matthews of SCDC to dump the sludge from the
ditch at Cambridge Road on the heap of manure at the allotments site.
The following amendment was AGREED -
11 votes in favour 2 against and 2 abstentions -
"provided that he obtains permission from the Environment Agency
first".
It was then AGREED by all
to allow Pat Matthews of SCDC to dump the sludge from the ditch
at Cambridge Road on the heap of manure at the allotments site,
provided that he obtains permission from the Environment Agency
first.
Noted that the Land Drainage Act allows for the sludge to be
dumped on the verge.
283/02 9 Highways
- A report of the meeting with Stuart Mallott was circulated. It
was anticipated that the various cycle scheme defects would now
be put right.
- Minor Improvements Ely Road (min 151/02) - a request to move the
30 mph at the Ely Road further north was received. The clerk would
explain that the County Council would not agree to this - as
drivers tend to ignore signs that they feel are inappropriate.
- Proposal to advertise "Removal of Automatic 30mph Speed Limit due
to Street Lighting Proposed Order" on A10 and part Butt Lane
received.
It was AGREED
to object on the grounds that as there was such a bad accident
record at the Butt Lane/A10 junction the speed limit from the
interchange to this junction should be 40 mph (not 60 mph).
(10 votes in favour 2 against and 3 abstentions).
- Noted that work to install traffic lights at the Butt Lane/A10
junction was due to start in June.
284/02 10 Photocopier
JEC, RJF, HMS and RLEW declared an interest.
The clerk reported that Copy IT were refusing to renew the service
agreement on the 'old' MCC photocopier.
It was AGREED
that at the time that this machine becomes unusable MPC allows MCC
to supervise use of the Parish Council photocopier by affiliated
clubs and collect any receipts and pass on the clerk.
This agreement to be reviewed.
Charges to remain at 3p per copy and 5p per individual.
285/02 11 Race Relations Act 2000
AGREED to discuss the Following Resolution at the July meeting:
"Milton Parish Council acknowledges the general duty placed upon
it by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Council will
continue within its functions and policies to have due regard to
the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of
opportunity and promote racial equality between people of
different racial groups."
HMS reported that there was no 2001 census data available on
ethnicity and that the 1991 census was not helpful in
determining ethnicity.
286/02 12 MCC Update
A small committee comprising RJF, IFM and Julie Gray was
organising the Summer Fayre.
287/02 13 Bills for Payment and Money Received
CONFIRMED the payment of cheques 2335 to 2339
AGREED to authorise payment of cheques 2340 to 2348
The clerk would remind Herald (ch 2345) that according to the
contract he should pick up the grass at War Memorial Green.
288/02 14 Crime Update
Crime figures were circulated. There had been an increase in
crime during May.
289/02 15 Detached Youth Workers
PKO reported that he had met with the two detached youth workers
who were being funded by the County Council.
290/02 16 County Councillor's report
Nothing to report.
291/02 17 District Councillor's report
Electoral Review - Milton would elect one district councillor in
2003 for one year. In 2004 the whole of the district council would
be elected including two councillors for Milton.
Willow Pollarding - a report from the Conservation Advisory Group
was passed on to the Trees Officer.
292/02 18 Correspondence
South Cambs Community Safety Partnership Strategy
April 2002 - March 2005
South Cambs Primary Care Trust - Bulletin1 (first of monthly edition)
19 Dates of next meetings
Youth - 12 June
Council - 1 July
The meeting ended at 10.25pm.