Little Shelford Parish Council

Draft Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

Held on Monday 18th March 2019

 

Present: Andrew Hawthorn, Ken Turner, Brie Lury, David Jones, Bridget Sumsion,

Richard Patterson, Peter fane (SCDC Cllr)

Parish Clerk: Penny Tanna Members of the public: 0

1. Apologies received: S.Penn, D.Martin, K.Cuffley

2. Declaration of interests received: None

Public Session: None Meeting resumed:

3. To resolve the Minutes of the Parish meeting held on 21st January are an accurate record and be signed by

the Chair as such. (minutes circulated prior to meeting)

Minute: Agreed by all as a correct record, signed & dated by the Chair

4. Matters arising: PT referred cllrs to the clerks report

5. County Councillors’ Report: Cllr KC was unable to attend but sent his report which was circulated prior to the

 meeting & will be posted on the notice board.

6. South Cambridgeshire District Councillors’ report:

Cllr PF circulated his report prior to the meeting. Council tax in SCDC will increase by £5, taking the charge

for a Band D property to £145.31. They are increasing Council tax on long term empty homes to encourage

them back into use.

The Co-operative will not be moving from Gt Shelford and the wine bar planning application has been

approved. Farmers have reported an increase in fly-tipping.

He asked if the PC would like to participate in “The 1000 acre Forest”, a community forest proposal being

put together for land South of Cambridge. Also if they would be involved with the local Green group

7. Matters relating to the Pavilion, Wale Recreation Ground

a) Rabbit damage to the grounds. On inspection the rabbit damage is increasing. Rabbits are coming from

the adjacent field and the woods near the zip wire.

Contractors have suggested gassing, shooting, trapping & ferreting. Also rabbit proofing fence along the

neighbouring field. Clerk to seek estimates for this. Land owners have a legal obligation to control rabbit

populations.

Action: Clerk to approach neighbouring land owners to discuss a possible coordinated solution.

b) Height restriction barrier update. See Clerks report

c) Decision on grass cutting contract for 2019 season. 3 quotes for the agreed specification were circulated.

After some discussion cllrs agreed to appoint contractor at an annual cost of £1550

AOB: Cllr DJ reported the cricket club has booked the heavy roller and was calling for volunteers to be roll

the grounds after the necessary training and risk assessment.

Cllr DJ noted that there was some confusion with sports users of the Wale Rec. as to who is responsible for

the grass and grounds. He suggested a member of the Cricket club & Football club be included on the

Pavilion Committee.

Cllr BL has again received requests from the public for a litter bin on the Wale.

Action: Clerk to request a bin next to the Dog refuse bin at the pedestrian entrance

Action: Clerk to source replacement aluminium sign for Wale entrance

Action: Clerk to order directional sign for Wale at cost of £45

8. Accounts (documents circulated prior to meeting)

a) To receive account balances and authorise payments in accordance with the RFOs report

current acct £ 3,339.03

deposit acct £ 34,175.76

Pav/deposit acct £ 2,034.78

Less uncleared cheques £ 16.00

£ 39,533.57

bank reconciliation Payments to be presented for approval

M.M. litter picking 285

PT Feb/Mar fees 960.86

D.M. - Phone box light bulb 6.24

Talkdata - Dell laptop 516

Donation - Allsaints 150

Donation - Wildlife Group 200

Donation - SSYI 200

Donation -- Twinning Assoc. 125

SSE 1.76

Clerks expenses (postage) 16.08

Total £2,460.94

Resolved: the account balances were receive and payments list duly authorised for payment

b) Confirmation of internal audit: the clerk is to book LGS at a cost of £95

9. Roads, Traffic and Police report

a) Report on Local Highways officer’s site visit: Cllrs BL & DM met with Local Highways officer for an

inspection of the village. They covered High St, Church St & Whittlesford Rd, reviewing the condition of the

road surfaces, pavements, road markings and signage. Multiple areas of erosion were noted. The suggested

treatment requires all of High St & Church St be a continuous strip of tarmac covering the central and the

south western side of High St, the central and western side of Church St, and on Whittlesford road

individually marked pot holes. The suggested surface would contrast with the existing grey surface but this

is unavoidable. The LHO has measured up and put in a request for the work to be carried out in the

following year. Cllrs requested that he examine at the problem of narrow pavement on Bridge Ln in the

hopes of finding a solution.

Action: Clerk to send message of thanks to LHO John O’Brien

b) Resident raised concerns about cars parking on double yellow lines in front of school.

Action: Clerk to pass concerns on to Gt Shelford PC and the school

10. Allotments – The clerk reported there are 2 plots free

11. Planning report:

KT reported that he did not attend the Parish Planning forum as the agenda items were not applicable to LS

Recent applications :

- S/0298/19/FL – 74 High St – replacement dwelling – comment submitted

- S/0748/19/FL – 37 Courtyards – single storey side extension – no comment made

- S/0707/19/FL – 40 Hauxton Rd - 1st floor side extension over garage – no comment made

- S/0683/19/TC - 29 Church St – tree re-pollarding & crown reductions – no comment made

- S/0785/19/TC – 13 High St – Fell 2 Bullace & 1 Sycamore trees – replacement trees to be planted

14. General Village matters

a) Councillors walk report: Cllr BS & PT carried out walk around the village. Gravel damage to pavements is

severe in front of some driveways in Whittlesford Rd and Church St. Gravel is beginning to damage parts of

Garden Fields Rd. There are some raised manhole covers throughout the village.

The Courtyards street sign has been mended. Camstone builders advertising hoarding is obstructing the

verge. Bus shelter gutters need attention. Brambles are encroaching on to highway in Whittlesford Rd

Action: Clerk to contact owners with gravel driveways, report the trip hazards to Highways and contact

Camstone.

b) Good Neighbours project – Cllr RP put forward a proposal that LSPC formally adopt the Good Neighbours

group in order to obtain DBS checks & apply for grants. The Good Neighbours group want to respond to the

request from some villagers to offer visits to people, but it is advisable to get DBS checks on volunteers

which requires a formal ‘organisation’ to do this. He suggests the PC set up a sub-committee for the Good

Neighbours project. Discussion followed as to how the volunteers would be managed, record keeping and

confidentiality issues. Clerk noted this would involve holding sensitive data that would have GDPR

implications and that a subcommittee would not be able to apply for Community chest grants

It was felt that there could other more beneficial ways to constitute the group.

Action: RP will investigate alternative arrangements. PT will make enquiries with other PCs.

c) Report regarding recent Community resilience event. Cllr AH attended 3 sessions covering Community

resilience including scamming & Neighbourhood Watch, Fire Safety and Vulnerable people. The Against Scams

Partnership has a 5 step plan to raise resident’s awareness of scams. They suggest all cllrs become a ‘Friend

against Scams’ by completing the online training at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/elearning/Cambridgeshire

and to appoint a ScamChampion for the village and spread the message via NHW, village magazine and social

events

Action: DM to put the training link on the village website. Clerk to do the training and circulate the

scheme information.

d) Emergency Plan initiative: AH suggested getting input from residents to assist creating the plan at the

next Village Weekend. All agreed.

15.Clerks correspondence

a) Arrangements for the Annual Village Meeting were discussed. A Good Neighbours Scheme Presentation is

to be the key note of the meeting (RP). Meeting invitations to be hand delivered by cllrs where possible.

Action: Clerk to request reports from village groups, source refreshments, put a notice in the village

magazine and advertise on notice boards.

b) Standing orders update. Following the independent auditors recommendation the PC will work to

introduce standing orders in the following year.

16. Any other business for next agenda

- Cllr KT has received a request to create a fuller barrier around the river platform as small children could

fall through the slats. It was noted that the platform is in part used for pond dipping and the study of

nature which required some access. Action: Cllr DJ to look at platform.

- BL has received a request for defibrillator training. It could be incorporated at the Village weekend.

- A complaint has been made about the new housing development sign displayed in the village.

- The playground group would like to put a table tennis table on the Wale possibly where the basketball

hoop was. Cllrs requested more information before any decision.

The meeting ended 10:15pm Annual Parish Council Meeting: Monday 20th May 2019

Annual Village Meeting: Thursday 25th April 2019

Signed __________________________________ Date _________________________

Chair, Little Shelford Parish Council