Present: Mr. Brown (Chairman), Mr Senior, Mrs Adams, Mrs Aylott, Mr Dawson, Mrs Dix, Mrs Dyer, Mrs Elphick, and Mrs Williams. County Councillor Sir Peter Brown. Mrs Lancey (Clerk). No members of the public.

Public Forum
Mr Senior complained about the number of heavy goods vehicles using Brookside. This had caused damage to cars and damage to verges. Clerk to contact HDC to see if signs coming into the village might be improved.

1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from County Councillor Elaine Kadic, District Councillor Mrs. Vanbergen, Mr Vanbergen and Mrs Watkin.

2. Councillors' Interests
None recorded.

Mr. Brown took this opportunity of thanking those Parish Councillors who would be standing down from office after this meeting. He especially thanked Mrs Dix who had served on the Parish Council for approximately 18 years and had also served as Chair during this time. The Parish Council were most appreciative of her services. He also thanked Mr. Vanbergen and Mrs. Vanbergen who would not be standing for re-election as Councillor and District Councillor respectively.

3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 28th March 2006.
Approved and signed.

4. Committee Reports
a) Clerk's infrastructure Report
Churchyard: Nothing to report
Village Green: Horses were still galloping on the green and damaging the turf. Clerk to pursue this problem with local stables and also to check on by-laws relative to the village green with a view to displaying notices.
A faulty street light was reported opposite the ford. Clerk to action.
General: The amount of horse manure both on roads and pavements continued to be a problem. Clerk to mention this when contacting stables concerning horses galloping on the green.
Clerk reported that she had met with Mr. Summerfield the contractor now cutting the grass and there had been no problems to date.
Mrs. Adams asked for trees to be pruned in The Maltings. Clerk to action.
The bridge at the bottom of Polecat Lane had been repaired.
HDC had been requested to carry out a litter pick along the Great North Road between the crossroads and the Sports & Social Club.

b) Planning
New Applications:
0600723FUL- Change of use of outbuildings to two self-catering holiday units - Building at Spring Cottage, Coulson Way - No observations.

Applications Determined by Huntingdonshire District Council:
0600623S73 - Renewal of permission for erection of dwelling - 7, The Maltings - Permission refused.
0600678FUL - Extension to dwelling - The Mead, Brookside - Permission granted.
0600716FUL - Extension to dwelling - 8, Great North Road - Permission refused
The Parish Council felt they were unsure of reasons behind planning decisions made by HDC. Clerk to investigate any available training or a possible visit by Planning Department.

c) Bramble End Playground
Nothing to report.

5. Matters Arising
Re-routing of Footpath
The Parish Council's offered contribution of £1500 towards the cost of re-routing the footpath leading from the footbridge had been accepted and an order had been placed to undertake the works. The provision of a barrier would be addressed once the footpath had been constructed. Clerk to enquire about any new road markings.

Jointly Funded Minor Improvement Bid - Traffic Calming
The Parish Council had been asked for comments regarding the types of speed reduction features available. Clerk confirmed that this scheme would be along the Great North Road only. The preference was for flat topped road humps rather than round topped road humps. They were also in favour of give way features, rumble strips and interactive signs, but also wished to minimise subsequent noise to residents. Clerk to reply to West Highways accordingly.

Intimidating Behaviour of Dogs
Clerk had spoken with the Dog Warden at HDC and had been advised that no action could be taken in this instance.

New Emergency Gate - Airbase Perimeter
Clerk confirmed this was still with the Enforcement Division of HDC.

Broadband
The Clerk hoped to be connected to Broadband within the next few days.

6. Correspondence (A list of correspondence had been circulated to all)
Uncontested Election
Due to insufficient candidates there was an uncontested election, which meant there would be no poll. The 9 elected candidates would come into office on 9th May. Mr Dawson had to be co-opted due to the return of his nomination paper. This would leave 1 vacancy. Clerk requested Councillors to consider any applicants. Co-options had to take place within 35 working days from the date of election (4th May). Mr Dawson would not be available to attend meetings over the next 3 months due to working away.

Lighting in The Bus Shelter
The two quotations for lighting in the bus shelter had been forwarded by Claudia Waters (£1320.52 from MHB Services Ltd. and £1615.24 from Ringway Specialist Services). It was agreed that any decision should be deferred until the design of the Flood Alleviation Scheme had been finalised.

Mirror at the bottom of Rusts Lane
HDC did not recommend installation of a mirror at the bottom of Rusts Lane as they created maintenance issues and were unreliable. Clerk to respond to Mr Djanogly accordingly.

District Association Meeting Agenda
Passed to Mrs. Dyer.

Directional Signs - Recreation Field
A further quotation (directing traffic onto the by-pass) in the sum of £1623.43 had been received from West Highways for directional signs to the Sports & Social Club. It was agreed that funds were not available for this project. Clerk to write to ASSC accordingly.

The Local Channel
A free link had been offered between The Local Channel and the PC website. This acted like a search engine for council websites. Clerk to accept offer.

Donation Request - 1st Alconbury Scout Group
The 1st Alconbury Scout Group had requested a donation towards IT equipment. After some discussion it was agreed that £100 should be made. Clerk to action.

Donation Request - Leonard Cheshire Homes
It was decided not to make any donation. Clerk to respond accordingly. CCC - Submission Statement of Community Involvement
Passed to Mr Brown.

Nightowl - Parking
The Operations Manager of Nightowl had contacted the Clerk after the Parish Council's complaint about HGVs parking outside Truckstop, explaining that they took every possible action to stop this happening. They were prepared to come along and speak with the Parish Council. It was decided this was not necessary but that the Clerk should contact traffic police.

Ball Games - Bramble End
Clerk reported a complaint from a resident in Bramble End about children kicking balls and damaging vehicles. This complaint had been passed to the PCSOs.

7. Parish Council Representatives
Councillors had been asked to consider responsibilities for the coming year. After some discussion it was agreed that Mrs Dyer should replace Mr Vanbergen on the Planning Committee. The Flood Alleviation Scheme Committee would be expanded as the Scheme progressed. It was considered that representatives for both Buses and the Old Memorial Hall were no longer necessary. Mrs Adams and (provisionally) Mrs. Hathaway would be the Memorial Hall representatives. Mrs Adams and Mr Dawson would continue as ASSC Representatives and Mrs Dyer would continue with CALC and RAF Molesworth. Mr Dawson would continue as the Neighbourhood Watch representative. Mrs Adams and Mrs Aylott would continue with the Youth Group. Mrs Williams, Mrs Watkin and Mr Brown would continue to progress the Parish Plan, prior to the formation of various sub committees. Two new positions would be created: Mr Senior would be the Police Liaison Representative and Mrs Watkin and Mr Senior Health & Safety Representatives. These responsibilities would be confirmed at the forthcoming AGM.

8. The Parish Plan
Mr Brown reported that in Mrs Watkin's absence there would not be an update on the work of the Parish Plan sub committee. Mr Rees from Cambridgeshire ACRE had forwarded an Action Plan Template. He would like to attend the June Parish Council meeting to assist with the Action Plan. Clerk to confirm this was acceptable. The next meeting of the sub committee was provisionally booked for Monday 8th May at 2.00 pm.

9. The Youth Group
Mrs Aylott and Mrs Adams reported that no further progress had been made with the appointment of a youth worker and the group felt sorely let down by CCC. A temporary worker was in place at the moment for the Monday sessions Mr Murphy had suggested the possible direct employment by the Parish Council of a youth worker, but this was not considered feasible. Mr Brown considered that the Parish Council should write in the strongest possible terms to CCC expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation. Mrs Aylott would contact Mr Murphy for the details of the best person to write to. Sir Peter Brown had also been asked to assist. The New Memorial Hall Committee had rejected the proposal of a multi-user surface on the land adjacent to the Hall, but this decision had been reached without a presentation being made to them by the Youth Group. Mrs Aylott to ascertain their reasons for rejection of the idea and to try to arrange a meeting with the Hall Committee to discuss the situation. It was noted that as Trustees, the Parish Council could influence any intended use of the land.

10. The Memorial Hall
Mr Senior reported that the contact number displayed on the noticeboard in the hall was correct. He had made complaints on behalf of the Parish Council concerning the excessive noise from the main hall during meetings. The Hall Committee were investigating the possible use of heavy curtains across the door as sound proofing.

11. Responsible Finance Officer's Report

Payment of Accounts
Cheques for signature (notified along with Correspondence List):
Demon - Web Hosting April - £11.75
S Lancey - internet calls April.- £13.85
Clerk's Salary - April 06 - £346.38 - 42.5 hrs. @ £8.15 per hr.

Payments Proposed: Mr Senior Seconded: Mrs Dyer
Cleared balances - Current Account £20,448.13 (first half of Precept had been received from HDC) and Deposit Account £18,499.45.
Clerk was awaiting details for the year end balances for the Youth Group account. The Parish Council had been called to Audit in August 2006.

12. Date of Next Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual General Meeting will be held on 30th May 2006 in the New Memorial Hall. Please note the earlier starting time of 7.30pm.

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