ICKLETON PARISH
COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held
on Wednesday 15 November 2006 at 7.30 pm in Ickleton Village Hall
Present: James Macdonald (Chairman),
Sheila Birch, Tim Pavelin, Peter Wombwell, Mark Stone-Wigg, Jocelyn Flitton (Parish
Clerk), Timothy Stone (County Councillor), Mick Martin and 4 members of the
public.
179/06 Apologies for absence: Jane Hurst, Lewis Duke,
Robin Driver and John Williams (District Councillor) – previous
engagements. Terry Sadler (Emergency
engagement)
The Chairman brought the
next item forward.
192/06 Imperial War Museum: Mick Martin, (who works at Imperial War
Museum, Duxford and is a Duxford Parish Councillor), came along to explain the
flight paths/heights of planes that fly over Ickleton to Stansted. Graphs were shown which showed the flights
in and out of Stansted with the appropriate heights at various points. At the moment, there are an average of 650
daily movements, which will be increased in July 2007 to 770. Stansted are looking to increase this to 850
flights a day on the single runway but within the same time scale. All the Stansted and Luton planes in the
holding area West of Cambridge are at 7,000 feet, descending to a minimum of
2,500 feet if carrying out a missed approach procedure. There is a plan to create three holding
areas, this will be effective from about March 2009 and will remove almost all
air traffic from directly over the village.
On a separate matter, Mr Martin assured the Council that they would be
kept informed on the progress of the IWM Duxford planning proposals, once the
planning inspector has reached his decision in early 2007. A vote of thanks was
given to Mr Martin for taking the time and trouble to talk to us – this was
very much appreciated. Action: Clerk
180/06 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on
18 October 2006: The minutes of the meeting
were approved and signed by the Chairman.
181/06 Adjournment for questions from members of the
public: None
277/05 Village parking – Following a meeting with
Mike Cooper (Highways) it was agreed that a meeting would be arranged to
discuss this further with Timothy Stone (County Councillor). Action: Clerk
296/05 Gt Chesterford bridge & grass verge – A letter had
been received from the Chairman of Essex County Council. A response was to be sent saying the Parish
Council were disappointed that no immediate action could be taken and that we
would continue to notify them of any accidents that occur. It will also be pointed out that the hedges
need trimming again. Action: Clerk
028/06 Chapel roof – in the absence of Robin
Driver there was nothing to report.
Action: RD
Village seats – C Frankau as
yet to complete repairing the village seats.
Action: Clerk
053/06 Land Registry – We have instructed Adams
Harrison to go ahead with the draft Deed of Variation to incorporate the
revised plan relating to the Village Hall.
The Clerk will also ask them to make enquiries relating to Coploe Pit. Action: Clerk
068/06 ‘Brightening up’ village: Jane Hurst and Jocelyn Flitton had a meeting
with Mike Cooper (Highways) on 3 November 2006. The following points were discussed: (a) planting trees in the field along Frogge
Street (b) planting more bulbs around the village on wide grass verges (c)
installing gates near the 30 mph speed signs in Frogge Street and Duxford Road.
The Millennium Committee is willing to donate some money towards this project,
providing they have no responsibility.
The Clerk was asked to obtain quotations for the gates.
Action: Clerk
071/06 Cemetery – retaining board – C Frankau to
carry out this work. Action:
Clerk
087/06 Tipped soil adj Tylers Yard – to be reviewed
as next meeting when the work should have been completed. Action: Clerk
134/06 Lime tree: The Clerk to contact the Tree & Landscape Officer to see if
she wishes to carry out a site visit. Action: Clerk
Street Lighting – SCDC have replied saying they have no plans to vary the times at which the streetlights are switched on and off. The initial view is that the cost of installing or altering the timing mechanisms for each light could outweigh any power savings.
Flashing speed signs: A response had been received from the CCC
but it was felt the costs were way too high.
Newton Parish Clerk said they had completed the ‘Minor Improvement
Schemes’ form giving 2 years prior history.
She recommended that we talk to Timothy Stone regarding this. Action: Clerk
Black bins and collection of black sacks – Nothing to
report in the absence of John Williams. Action: JW
150/06 Churchyard flint wall – Tim Pavelin
declared a non-prejudicial interest.
Andy Hoare said that he thought it best if the pavement side of the
flint wall was sprayed with weed killer and the weeds left to die. The Clerk was asked to contact Ron
Coulson. The Parish Council agreed to
accept Mr Hoare’s quotation for the internal repair of the flint wall at an
estimated cost of £370. Action: Clerk (2)
Rail Track – No response. Item to be dropped from Agenda.
154/06 Allotments: The Chairman had been in discussion with
another landowner, who was considering the proposal. Action: JM
163/06 Carr & Bircher
skip lorries – A letter had been received stating they currently had nine skips in
Ickleton and six in Duxford plus additional sand/aggregate deliveries. They are currently doing their part by
recycling 85% of all rubbish returned to their site.
168/06 Flooding Cemetery
corner: Peter Wombwell will organise
the gullies to be dug out to allow the water to drain into the field. Action: PW
191/06 Neighbourhood Watch – The Clerk is
currently talking to some residents who are considering taking on this role. Action: Clerk
Two members of the public
left the meeting.
SCDC - Street Lights in Ickleton
SCDC - Revised Code of Conduct Training Sessions
SCDC - Grants (Community/Village Sports/Arts)
CCC - Listening to your views questionnaire
CCC - Guide to driving near water
CCC - Senior Management structure
CCC - Duxford Airfield Management Liaison minutes
CCC - Street Lighting Maintenance & Energy 2006/07
CCC - Tackling the growing challenge of congestion in Cambs.
CCC - Camclerks
CCC - Consultation on Registration Service in Cambridgeshire
CCC - Life on the Verge newsletter
CCC - Cambs & Peterborough Minerals & Waste (inc. DVD)
CCC - Cambs Youth Banks
CCC - Cambridge United Football in the Community
CCC - Myers Bus Service
CCC - Cambs. Association for Local History
SVC - Sawston Village College – forward planning
CALC - Newsletters/Courses/The Bulletin
Carr & Bircher Response to letter sent dated 19 October
S Peck - Neighbourhood Watch
Crocus FC - Football pitch & dog fouling
Buchans - Grounds maintenance
SSE - Stop Stansted Expansion – News on Airport Expansion Prop.
Letters sent:
Herald Contract Retaining board
V Mila - Playground – Spring bird & horse
C Frankau - Quotation accepted (Retaining board)
Network Rail - Chase letter to one dated 25 September
Newton PC - Flashing speed signs
Mr & Mrs Head Neighbourhood Watch
C&VF - Community & Voluntary Forum
C&DCMS - Invitation – Cambridge & District Community Mediation Serv.
Cambs. Cons. - Cambridgeshire Constabulary Newsletter
NALC - Magazine
CPRE - Voice magazine/Xmas catalogue/
C&CD - Clerks & Councils Direct magazine
CA - Countryside Alliance
Wicksteed - Catalogue
IVH - Fly tipping in Village Hall Car Park
185/06 Planning applications:
S/1881/06/F – Double Garage
– 60 Frogge Street – Mr and Mrs J Raynham – No recommendation.
S/1997/06/LB – Alteration -
Installation of Metal Flexible Flue Liners in Drawing and Sitting Room Chimneys
- Norman Hall, 21 Church Street – P J Owen – No recommendation.
Planning application refused
by SCDC:
S/1556/06/LB – Replacement
of Living Room Window – 30 Abbey Street – Mrs J Hurst
The Parish Council raised
concerns relating to Listed Buildings in the village. The Clerk was asked to contact the Planning department and ask if
they would be willing to attend a Parish Council meeting. Action: Clerk
SCDC Gypsy & Traveller
Development Plan Document: Timothy
Stone (County Councillor) recommended that the Parish Council should send a
reply/response by 24 November. Action: JM/Clerk
Planning proposal - 31/33
Abbey Street: The Chairman had met with John
Holt and discussed his proposals and there was nothing further to say at this
moment.
Hexcel – The Chairman
of Hinxton Parish Council had contacted our Chairman, as they had held an open
meeting in the village, which had raised concerns about one chemical in
particular that is being used. The
Parish Council agreed that we notify SCDC that this has been brought to our
attention and that we wished to be kept informed and updated on this application. Action: Clerk
District Councillor - See Appendix I
County Councillor - See Appendix II
188/06 Finance (Bank Balances) including payments
to:
Harts - £69.51 Adams Harrison - £697.50
R Coulson - £2030.00
Community Account: £695.34 (following transfer of £3,000)
Business Base Rate Tracker Account: £16,561.99
Risk Assessment: The Chairman will e-mail the draft report
for comments. Item to be put on next
month’s Agenda. Action: JM/Clerk
RoSPA report & repairs – C Frankau
still had two items outstanding. Action:
Clerk
Spring bird & horse - Mark Stone-Wigg will complete the insurance
claim form and return to the Clerk. It
was agreed that a notice should be put in Icene apologising for the delay in
repairing/replacing these items, saying that in the meantime they should not be
used. C Frankau to be asked to ‘tape’
them off. Action: M S-W/Clerk
Tennis Courts – Another
meeting had been held during which funding and location were discussed and
whether it should be run as a club or open for general use. The Committee will need to produce a
business plan. The Clerk asked if she
could be copied in on the minutes so they could be circulated to the
Councillors. Action: M S-W
Football pitch / Dog Fouling – Crocus
Football Club had written to say they appreciated the effort that was being
given to the pitch and reported one further incident of dog fouling.
190/06 Coploe Pit:
Sheila Birch reported that she was still trying to establish the
ownership of the pit. The Clerk will
check the archived minutes and contact Adams Harrison (see 53/06). Cambridge Conservation Volunteers came and
cleared the pit last Sunday. The Clerk
was asked to contact C Frankau as there was a bonfire to be lit. Mrs Birch had also contacted Wildlife Trust
with regard to obtaining a grant to clear the undergrowth back to the
chalk. Peter Wombwell suggested putting
sheep into the pit. It was agreed he
would organise this in liaison with Sheila Birch. Action: SB/PW/JAF
191/06 Cemetery:
Guidelines/Markers – No response had
been received regarding either of these matters. A decision/response will be made at next month’s meeting with
regard to Mr W Holdgate’s request. Action: Clerk
193/06 Adjournment for questions by members of the
public: None
194/06 Date and time of next meeting: Wednesday 13 December 2006 @ 7.30 pm.
There being no other
business the meeting closed at 9.45 pm.
Chairman:
Date:
Appendix I
John Williams (District
Councillor)
Notes for Ickleton Parish
Council, Wednesday 15 November, 2006
1. Street lighting - not
answering letters.
I was able to see the
elusive Paul Quigley yesterday and he apologised for the not replying by his
department and you will now have his reply.
I should say that it is not
exactly an infrequent problem….I encounter it particularly with people anxious
about housing matters, and I have complained about it.
Incidentally the housing
officer for this area - Yvette Holmes - has now left the Council.
2.Throwaway tyres
If old tyres are on the
verge at the side of a road, the collection of those is regarded as fly tipping
and the District Council is responsible.
The procedure is to report
it to the SCDC Contact Centre: Tel: 08450 450 063. The District Council will
come and collect it.
3. Hexcel
For information:
Following from the Hexcel
application, discussions and meetings have been going on with myself
and Tim Stone with Hexcel, SCDC
Planning Dept, Duxford Parish Council, Hinxton Parish Council.
Basically we are looking to
work towards alleviating the problem of site worker traffic affecting
Duxford during the construction period.
Hinxton PC's concern is the
view of the buildings across the fields from certain angles.
As I see it the discussions
with all parties engendered by this application are fruitful in the sense
that it focuses attention on the growing problem of the traffic
infrastructure of the area, and makes us consider beginning pressure now
on trying to get long-term future improvements much nearer in
time.
The use of Duxford and
Ickleton as rat-runs is not going to go away, with or without Hexcel. The A.505
traffic queues will not get less, only more.
As I see it the realistic
solutions are either
(a) A flyover at the Sawston
roundabout, or
(b) making Junction 9
two-way in both directions. I have my own thoughts - I would be interested in
comments on the geographical practicality of this latter solution.
Appendix II
Timothy Stone - County Councillor's Report 15th
November 2006
Budget
2007/8
The County Council's Budget
process has started for the next year.
The position is extremely
discouraging. Amongst other things the
cost of looking after older people has gone millions of pounds way over budget
because of more people in care and more expensive care packages needed. This was partly as a result of bad
forecasting last year.
At this stage the budget
panel meetings are still being conducted in confidence while options are being
considered. But already senior officers
are known to be losing their jobs in another round of restructuring. Service cuts are almost inevitable and the
atmosphere is sombre while we try to thrash out the issues.
The government has been
entirely unhelpful. They refuse to
acknowledge the problems of growth in Cambridgeshire and consider that
inflation is running at 2% while the cost of fuel - a significant cost to the
council - has risen by some 40%.
Discretionary
Traffic Management
In the light of current
financial problems the County has frozen all discretionary traffic management
schemes for this year. This applies to minor traffic management measures, for
example traffic signs, road markings and traffic regulation orders that are not
part of an approved scheme from a capital budget.
Time will tell how much - if
anything - will be available next year.
Footway
Lighting
You should by now have
received the first bill for street lighting.
Please let me know if you haven't.
The cost for power is
currently running at 6p per kilowatt, but there is every chance that when the
contract comes up for renewal next year the price could be closer to 8p, which
is what it is in the open market now.
The County tries to set its contract price in the summer months because
prices seem to be lower at that time of year.
You will recall that in a
bizarre U-turn, when the District Council was trying to pass on the cost of
footway lighting to Parishes, they agreed to maintain ownership of the lighting
stock and insure it. Now the County
Council has decided that it has to proceed to a Private Finance Initiative to
up-date its lighting stock because a fair proportion of lamp columns and
fittings is 20 years or so beyond its useful life.
It may offer the opportunity
to the Districts to join in the scheme and that may ultimately have
repercussions on Parishes. You may like
to consider whether you would like to have more say over the lighting stock in
the village.
Hexcel
The County is strictly
involved only in the highways aspect of Hexcel's application. At the moment officers are examining the
environmental assessment and trying to predict some of the transport outcomes
through a transport assessment. They
will also be considering access and road width amongst other things. They appreciate that the District Council is
pressing for a reply but they believe that a proper study is more valuable than
a quick one.
You may be aware that
members of Hinxton Parish Council are intending to leaflet Ickleton and Duxford
to try to stimulate opposition to the Hexcel expansion. This will be on a number of grounds,
including the transport and of the use of dangerous chemicals, visual intrusion
and extending the factory site beyond the boundaries set in the local plan.
Duxford Parish Council is in
favour of the expansion but has recommended rejection at this stage because it
considers that the traffic during the construction phase will be more than
Hunts Road can take.
Travellers
Sites
This is strictly a District
Council matter but you should have been told of South Cambridgeshire's draft
travellers plan. This is currently out
for consultation and the whole plan can be seen on the website. From about page 34 there are details of the
proposed criteria for the establishment of travellers' sites. The District Council is particularly keen
that Parish Councils should consider these criteria. If, at a later date, applications come forward which meet the
criteria then it will be too late for parish Councils to object.