Stretham Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 1st August 2017 at 7pm
In the Pavilion, Short Street, Stretham
Present: Councillors,Parish (Chair), Roberts (Vice Chair), Nuttall, Murfitt, Saunt, Taylor, Pearce, Bright, Prevett, Thake, The Clerk,
1. Apologies and approval of absences
Councillor Speed – Who is unwell.
2. To receive declarations of interest and requests for dispensations
None
3. To resolve that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th July 2017 are a correct record
The Council resolved that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting on the 6th June 2017 are an accurate. Proposed by Councillor Nuttall and seconded by Councillor Saunt.
4. To receive an update on the progress of actions from the last meeting of Stretham Parish Council on 4th July 2017.
Pam is still waiting on a final decision on the short road encroachment issue. Truelink have quoted £150.00 to cut back the tree down the cemetery path towards Plantation gate, they have also quoted £250 to crown lift the filed maple tree which is over hanging the road and the play area down Short Road. I have been gathering more information required by the external auditors. Reads Street has now been resurfaced. Working with Richard and our Solicitor on the Nursery project. I am in the process of looking through all old SSRC paper work trying to locate the original accounts. I am on holiday from the 7th August – 13th August and again from the 20th August – 27th August. Councillors asked the Clerk if she could contact the PCSO to ask if there had been other reports of a blue Corsa driving erratically around the village, and how many reports had to be made until something is to be done about it. Following on from the quotes regarding cutting back the field maple tree on the recreation ground, Councillor Roberts asked that in future we be mindful of where we are planting trees and to make sure the appropriate tress are planted in the appropriate places. The Clerk to contact the Tree Warden to come and take a look at some of the tress around the recreation ground and to get advice to see what can be done with some of them.
5. To receive an update from District and County Councillor Bill Hunt
Bill was elected as County Member for South Soham and Haddenham division on the 4th May, now 61 members not 69.
A speech has been given to the Stretham WI on the 9th May
Elected as Vice Chair for Highways and community infrastructure at County on the 23rd May
James Palmer was elected at Mayor on the 4th May and Councillor Roberts was elected as
Leader of east Cambs.
County Update
An urgent repair project in underway to repair 67,500 potholes
AN increase in annual grass cutting by one cut, Parishes can choses to take the money and
do the cuts themselves.
Support for Soham, Addenbrookes, Wisbeach Stations. Also, would greatly support a
Cambridge – Bedford link and a light railway in Cambridge.
Cambridge North is now open and a link to the guided bus.
To ask residents to keep supporting the Zipper bus service.
The registry office will eventually move down to the Archive site in Ely.
Ely bypass opening has been moved back to Summer 2018.
A14 £1.4 billion upgrade on track.
An A10 upgrade and or M11 extension would be welcomed.
Work towards A1123 to B and HCV weight limit at Earith. Turners and Geoff Hobbs are
now in a compliance Scheme to be considerate when driving through villages.
Improvement needed at A142 / A14 junction.
Libraries to become hubs, so some council services will run from them. 6. Public Participation
The meeting adjourned at 07:31pm
Susanna Rippingale was in attendance to discuss the proposed Nursery project. After submitting a document to the Council regarding the Nursery requirements, she came to see if the Council had any questions. The Council advised Susanna that they would not be happy putting a high fence around the whole of the Pavilion. However, a lower fence would be considered. The Council had no further questions.
The Meeting reconvened at 07:38pm
7. To review the Heads of Terms for the nursery Project
The Finance sub-committee gave feedback to the Council on a meeting with Sally Bonnett of East Cambs (who will project manage the Refurbishment for the Nursery). The Finance sub-committee has received and reviewed 2 quotes from architects to cover the Refurbishment. It was agreed that the total budget for the refurbishment should be increased to £170,000 to include architect’s fees, given the current low interest rates available but that this should be a maximum budget for the Rental amount already agreed. The Council will be going to the Public Works Loan Board for the mortgage. The Rent will still provide a reasonable return on the refurbishment costs. The draft Heads of Terms were reviewed and minor changes for clarification were suggested. It was noted that, at this point the risk to the Parish Council would be the total Architects fees in the case that the project does not proceed.
It was proposed by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Bright that the Finance sub-committee are authorised to execute the Head of Terms with the changes noted once they are ready for signature and to instruct architects.
Actions: Councillor Nuttall to update Heads of Terms and letter to Rippingales. Clerk to contact the public works loan board to start discussion of mortgage.
8. To sign the paperwork to close the SSRC account It was agreed at the last Council meeting to dissolve the SSRC. All bank forms were signed to close the SSRC bank account. Councillor Nuttall to register the dissolution with the Charity Commission Website.
9. Feedback from the Sub Committee regarding the Play Park Inspection report.
The Clerk supplied Councillor Taylor with the Guarantees for the Ely Road Paly Park. This
item to be put on the next meeting agenda.
10. To consider planning applications
17/101324/VAR – No comments made
17100908/FUL – No Comments made
11. To receive planning application decisions
17100829/FUL – Planning was refused
12. To receive an update on progress of SWCLT
6 houses are now occupied. 8 from phase 1 transferred, the only one not yet occupied is a
2 bed bungalow. SWCLT would be very interested in hearing from people who are
interested in the houses. There is to be a meeting held in August to disuss moving the CLT
doctor surgery forward. This has been a very challenging process but hope to make some
progress soon.
13. To receive an update on the Nursery Project
This item was discussed at the beginning of the meeting.
14. Finance Parish Council Cheques and Bank transfers for approval and payment: Name Description Cheque Amount Number Kim Bolderson Wages 002475 £899.11 HMRC 002476 £18.24 Laura Shearing Newsletter 002477 £707.00 Les Gotobed Wages 002478 £80.00 Maureen Hutter Wages 002479 £60.00 Pete Penny Wages for Parish Room and 002480 £382.05 Pavilion James Thew Wages 002481 £80.00 Emma Fordham Trolley for delivery of Newsletters 002482 £64.95 Tim Jakes Cleaning weeds from Sadie 002483 £502.50
Balance of Current account at 28th July 2017 £20,917.45 Cheques for payment total £2,775.61 Balance once cheques have cleared £18,141.84 Clerk Breakdown Meeting Date: 1st August 2017 Description Amount Wages for June 2017 £832.00 Minus Statutory Deductions -£18.24 Expenses Total £85.35 Ink for printer £61.56 Paper £15.99 Postage £7.80
TOTAL £899.11
To authorise payments from SPC and SSRC accounts and to note income
It was proposed by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Pearce that the above
accounts be paid. All in agreement.
15. To receive correspondence
An email was received regarding the zig zag yellow lines outside of the School. The email read that without a sign being present along with the lines, then people could not actually be prosecuted. The Clerk to take this up with the Highways department, to find out if this is the case. Another email was received regarding the drain issues down at Fieldside, the council advised that the resident needed to take this issue up with Anglian Water.
An email was received regarding parking down Read Street and speeding through the village, the Clerk to speak to the police to see if extra patrols could be made in the village.
16. To receive reports from Working Parties and Sub-Committee
Amenities Working Party – A meeting is to be held at the end of August.
Eleanor’s Field Sub Committee - None
Recreation Ground Working Party – None
Feast Sub Committee - None
Finance Sub Committee – Has met and reported back to the Council regarding the Nursery project.
Footpaths Working Party – None
High Ways Working Party – None
17. To receive Councillors questions
The drains down Top Street are blocked due to a builder putting rubbish down them. The Clerk to report this to Highways. The Clerk to ad a piece in the Newsletter regarding speeding and on considerate parking in the village. The Clerk to report back to the Council regarding putting parking spaces down Top Street.
There have been reports of white vans cruising around the village, one has been abandoned, while a resident in the village had their van broken into. The Clerk to report this in the Newsletter asking people to be vigilant.
It was commented upon that the Newsletter was very late being delivered this month and that the editing of the Newsletter needs to be tightened up. The proof will now also be sent to Councillor Nuttall to approve.
The Clerk to order some plugs for the goal post holes.
To discuss additional dog poo bins around the village at the next Amenities meeting.
The meeting closed at 08:46pm.
The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday 5th September 2017 at 7pm at the Pavilion, Short Street, Stretham.