Horningsea Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday, July 29th 2015 at Horningsea Village Hall

Present: Richard McMahon (Chairman), Michael Gingell, Margaret Starkie, Jessica Kitt (Parish Councillors), Sarah Holmes (Clerk), Robert Turner (District Councillor) and 4 members of the public.

17/15-16 Apologies were received from Robert Balm and Tessa Pleasants.

18/15-16 There were no declarations of interest.

19/15-16 Minutes of the meeting May 27th were agreed and signed.

Open Forum:  Complaint from one member of the public due to the suspension of the school bus. The conditions for the children walking to school are thought to be poor. The district councillor will send an email highlighting this although concerns have already been raised.  Quy Fen Trust request a dog poo bin, at the moment the trust is paying for the bin to be emptied. Environmental Clerk to health has been contacted and the PC are able to request apply to this at no additional cost. SCDC  Complaint from one member of the public regarding street lighting, especially for the children going to school and also the emergency services have been affected in St Johns Lane, there is little lighting which affects access to the church.  Complaint from a member of the public regarding the potholes in St John’s Lane. Clerk to contact CCC 20/15-16 Matters Arising from the minutes:  Scotsdales extension to parking: PC to review regularly  Playground: RM to write letter to the HRA for them to continue to manage the playground, although they have requested the PC organize the inspections. MS RM/JW commented that if the PC were to manage the inspections then it might be simpler to take over the management as a whole; MG commented that the HRA might not want the legal responsibility of inspections. It was proposed that the HRA would continue to manage the playground and organize the inspections and the PC will cover the cost. 21/15-16 Election of Vice Chairman Deferred to the September meeting due to few members at this meeting.

22/15-16 Casual vacancy Jessica Kitt was co-opted onto the parish council. MG proposed and MS seconded. Andrew Neeley will be invited to co-option at the September meeting. 1 Acting Clerk: Margaret Starkie, Riverside Cottages, Clayhithe, CB25 9JB Tel: 01223 863035 [email protected]

Horningsea Parish Council

23/15-16 Clerk’s resignation and recruitment of new clerk - Sarah Holmes has resigned from the clerk’s position; thanks for work carried out were expressed by the members.. The position has been advertised; there are two candidates who will be interviewed on Tuesday 4th August 2015.

24/15-16 Pension Regulations Update PC is not registered as employers. MS has completed contact nomination as required by law although the clerk’s income currently falls below the threshold for employer contributions..

25/15-16 Sale of Lugg’s Lane The purchasers have asked to change the MS to terms. MS proposed that the PC instruct the solicitors keep to the contact original agreement under the heads of terms. RM seconded. solicitors

26/15-16 Annual Return has been completed and the Internal Auditor has MS to send signed off with one qualification on recording review of budget. to External MS completed the reconciliation and notification of variances. Auditors Section 2, Statement of Governance, was completed by the chair. MG proposed agreement, seconded by RM.

27/15-16 Update on grasscutting contract MS has contacted Anthony MS Jones of Groomfields about the contract and damage to cemetery Groomfields laurals. She will meet with him on his return from holiday.

28/15-16 Document management & archiving – MS has contacted MS/CCC archivist at CCC and will organize according to their retention archives schedule.

29/15-16 School ‘bus update JK reiterated points from the open forum. 13 families have appealed the case but this appeal was lost. There is no legal obligation for the County Council to provide a school ‘bus in these circumstances.

30/15-16 Neighbourhood Police Panel meeting PCSO’s will no longer MS to attend any PC meetings due to focusing on solving cases. Full parking report appended. meeting

31/15-16 Speed Watch Update: 8 volunteers trained; more required.The MS/FDPC equipment is being borrowed, it would cost £2600 to purchase. MS will approach Fen Ditton PC to consider sharing the costs. To be considered at the next meeting. Full report appended.

32/15-16 Widening of the A14: Report circulated and appended 33/15-16 Planning application S/1690/15/FL extension at Crown & Clerk to SCDC Punchbowl: No Objections although there were concerns with comment regarding the effect on light to the church. on light to church 34/15-16 Clerk’s Report: General Updates:  Defibrillator: approached Scotsdales; no success in

2 Acting Clerk: Margaret Starkie, Riverside Cottages, Clayhithe, CB25 9JB Tel: 01223 863035 [email protected]

Horningsea Parish Council

talking to anyone.

 The following payments were approved:

Ch. No. Recipient Amount 551 Clerk’s salary June 254.53 552 Post Office (HMRC 214.60 April-June) 553 Cambs ACRE 20.52 554 Clerks Salary July 254.53 555 Clerk home working 140.00 allowance 556 Cambridge Water 16.58 557 SKH Clerk’s mileage 89.10 558 Clerk’s holiday pay 257.85 559 RMcM Expenses 55.39 560 MS Expenses 71.79 561 Post Office (HMRC Aug.) 128.20

District Councillor’s Report Local Plan The Inspectors have issued some preliminary conclusions on the LPs for SCDC and Cambridge City Council. Following SCDC’s positive response to this, the examination has been suspended, there will be further public consultation in November – December 2015 and submission of main modification in February 2016 Boundary Review This will result in the reduction of SCDC councillors and revision of the geographical area covered by District Cllrs. A consultation on SCDC website invites electors’ opinions on when elections should be held. Date of next Ordinary Parish Council meeting: Wednesday 30th September 2015

Appendix 1 Report of Sawston & Linton Area Police Panel Meeting 16th June 2015 Backround – Insp. James Sutherland explained that this meeting was being broadcast live on Twitter. The purpose was to encourage interest and participation, especially from younger members of the public. Crime figures for Cambridgeshire appear to have increased but this is mostly due to police reporting all cases brought to their attention, irrespective of seriousness or action taken, while previously those where no action could be taken, such as stolen bicycles, were not in the data reported. PCSOs will no longer attend Parish Council meetings and the number of surgeries will be reduced to allow them to focus on known crimes and crime prevention. Current priorities continue to be road safety, especially speeding, ASB and dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries. In addition, the focus is on protecting the vunerable, including child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, crimes targeted at elderly or vulnerable such as rogue trading, scams or internet fraud and human trafficking offences. The police have worked with 3 Acting Clerk: Margaret Starkie, Riverside Cottages, Clayhithe, CB25 9JB Tel: 01223 863035 [email protected]

Horningsea Parish Council

other agencies to support and protect vulnerable adults in Sawston (2), Horningsea (2, one of which is the victim of ‘phone scams), Linton, Shelford, Duxford (2, one of which was the victim of fraud) and Abingdon. Human trafficking is an issue throughout the country, including Cambridgeshire, and an awareness programme is being instigated throughout this summer. Operation Oaklands has continued with good effect in the larger villages. As well as going from door to door giving advice (and oftrn finding insecure locks) PCSOs have offered information on crime prevention, materials such as Smart-Water and shed alarms. Speeding & parking concerns The police have insufficient manpower to monitor speeding unless there is other evidence and rely on Speedwatch data and reports from the public before targeting areas with the SCC SpeedTeam. This has resulted in action being taken for 96 traffic offences; 43 for speeding and 4 for using a mobile ‘phone. Parking is still an issue but CI Sutherland reiterated that his staff concentrated on serious crime. If members of the public see cars parked illegally or on pavements causing an obstruction they should call 101. 101 service has had many complaints but the team has been increased and more trained resulting in faster answering times. Next Panel meeting – June 2015

Appendix 2 Report on A14 Improvement Meeting 22nd June

Purpose This meeting was run by Highways England (formerly the Highways Agency) to update PCs possibly affected by the improvement scheme. The application has been through public consultation and is now in the inspection stage. The proposals include a major new bypass to the south of Huntingdon, widening part of the existing A14 between Swavesey and Girton, widening part of the A14 Cambridge Northern Bypass, widening a section of the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury and demolition of the A14 viaduct at Huntingdon. Presentations included environmental impact, noise pollution mitigation, routes for construction materials, borrow pit locations, interface with Cambs. County Council highways responsibilities and effects on commercial infrastructure. Discussion Representatives from Maddingly and Dry Drayton expressed concerns over access through their villages and the resultant increase in traffic. Similar concerns were expressed by Histon and Impington and Milton PCs. I expressed concerns about the impact of moving construction material from Chesterton Sidings by a yet undefined road route to the existing A14. All these matters need to be addressed by CCC Highways into whose jurisdiction they fall. A representative had been invited but no-one from CCC was available. Further information The application can be viewed on the National Infrastructure Planning website. The complete plan is on: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/301201/Propos ed_Scheme_GA_Scroll_P1.pdf (it takes a long time to load!).

4 Acting Clerk: Margaret Starkie, Riverside Cottages, Clayhithe, CB25 9JB Tel: 01223 863035 [email protected]

Horningsea Parish Council

Appendix 3

Purpose of Speedwatch is to alert drivers to their speed in order to improve driving education. Registration numbers, speed, time and date of vehicles travelling at more than 36mph in a 30mph area are entered on police database. Police send an advisory letter to the vehicle owner. Persistent offenders receive a visit from police officers; motorists are not prosecuted. Local co-ordinator: Rowan Kitt Start date: Initial meeting and training 15 June 2015 First session 3rd July 2015 Volunteers: 8 trained; two to be trained by police co-ordinator Sessions to date: 12 Vehicles: 2963 Speeding vehicles: 77 (36mph and above) % of vehicles speeding at police contact level: 3% Maximum speed: 53mph

The team is currently borrowing the equipment from police co-ordinator and will have to pass it to another village shortly. If HPC bought its own equipment it would enable volunteers to continue reinforcing the message. A set of kit costs about £2600 More information on the scheme can be found on: https://www.cambs.police.uk/roadsafety/speedwatch/

5 Acting Clerk: Margaret Starkie, Riverside Cottages, Clayhithe, CB25 9JB Tel: 01223 863035 [email protected]