Present: Mr Senior, Mrs Adams, Mrs Aylott, Mr Barnes, Mr Boyce, Mrs Elphick, Mr Hardy, Mr Lay, Mr Watson and Mrs Williams. Mrs Sharp-Parish Clerk. District Councillor Keith Baker. No Members of the Public.

Public Forum
Nothing to Report.

1. Appointment of Chair and Officers
Mr Senior was proposed as chair for another year by Mrs Aylott and Seconded by Mrs Elphick. No Vice Chair elected as nobody was prepared to take on the role at the present time.

All councillors present signed their declaration of office and also registration of interest forms.

2. Apologies for Absence
Apologies received from Mr Pickering and County Councillor Sir Peter Brown.

3. Councillors’ Declaration of Interest for items on the Agenda
Mr Senior expressed a personal interest in item 11 (c) as a resident of Bramble End.

Mr Lay expressed a prejudicial interest in item 7 as an allotment holder.

4. To sign and approve minutes of previous meeting held on 30th March 2010
Mr Senior reported that an amendment had been requested to the last minutes under item 207. All agreed that the paragraph stating “The AAGA threatened to disband to handover all responsibility for the allotments to the Parish Council should no further funds be forthcoming" should be amended to read “The AAGA stated they could disband and the Parish Council take over if the Parish Council felt this appropriate”.

Minutes Proposed by Mrs Aylott and seconded by Mr Hardy

5. Appointment of New Councillors-Mr Senior
Mr Senior welcomed Mr Boyce and Mr Barnes as new councillors. He outlined the meeting procedures and advised them of contact details etc.

The Parish Council then agreed on who would be representative for various areas within the village. These were as follows:

Bramble End - Mr Watson and Mrs Williams
CPALC - All Councillors
Churchyard - All Councillors
Flood Protection - Mr Pickering and Mrs Elphick
Health and Safety - Mr Senior
Infrastructure - All Councillors
Newsletter Editor - Mrs Aylott
Planning - Mr Barnes, Mr Watson, Mrs Williams and Mr Boyce
Police Liaison - Mr Hardy and Mr Senior
Village Green - All Councillors
Allotments - Mrs Aylott and Mr Lay
Emergency Planning - Mr Senior, Mrs Elphick, Mr Barnes, Mr Hardy and Mr Pickering
Memorial Hall - Mrs Adams and Mr Watson
Neighbourhood Watch - Mrs Aylott and Mr Hardy
Sports and Social Club - Mr Watson and Mr Lay
Youth Group - Mrs Adams and Mr Pickering
Website - Mr Senior and Mr Lay

6. Proposed Wind Farm-Mr Senior
Mr Senior advised that there had been some concern over a proposed wind farm development at Woolley Hill. The proposed development would consist of 7 wind turbines each standing 125 metres tall.

Mr Senior advised that whilst the Parish Council had not initially been consulted on this, after contacting HDC, he had received a Scoping Opinion Document. He advised that this was not a planning application, however, the Parish Council were welcome to forward their views and comments to HDC on this document and any concerns over the wind farm.

The Parish Council agreed that a response should be sent stating the main concerns would be possible noise disturbance from the turbines and also whether the turbines would be seen from the village or not.

Mr Watson advised that a “montage” could be produced by the developers which would show what areas of the village would be most affected by the sight of the turbines. All agreed that we should request this and Mr Watson agreed to draft a response to this effect. It was also agreed that the Parish Council should request information on noise and enquire about the potential for a Community Benefits Fund.

7. Allotments-Mrs Aylott
Mrs Aylott advised that the gate that had previously been purchased by the Parish Council had now been returned to HDC as it was not needed at the present time. A credit would be issued for this.

Mrs Aylott reported that Karen Kenny from the National Allotment Association had advised that the Parish Council did not have a legal responsibility to provide water or fencing at the allotments. Therefore, as requested by AAGA at the last PC meeting, that water was a top priority, AAGA had now been advised that they could proceed with the order for a borehole.

Mrs Aylott said that AAGA are in the process of organising some fundraising events and more details would be forthcoming as and when available.

Mrs Aylott advised there had been an error in the April issue of the PC Newsletter and the latest Parish Pump, as the wrong seed company had been named as supporting the Allotments. Unwins Seeds were very generous in their support with free products and advice and an apology would be printed in the August Newsletter as well as the next issue of the Parish Pump. Mr Senior would also be writing a letter of apology to Unwins Seeds.

8. Youth Group
Mrs Aylott had nothing to report on the Youth Group.

The Clerk advised that the finances would be handed over to Esther Coles, Youth Group Committee member ASAP as had been previously agreed.

Mrs Adams advised that the youth group had been well supported by volunteers and they had been well received by the Youth Workers.

9. Bus route/Heritage Bridge
Clerk advised that she had received a phone call from County Councillor Kadic advising that she had been in touch with both the Bridges Team at CCC and also Stagecoach. County Councillor Kadic had advised that the Bridges Team had agreed that all repairs needed to the bridge would be carried out and to remain vigilant about people hitting the bus and reporting it as and when possible. She had offered to bring a member of the Bridges Team to the June meeting; however, the Clerk was still awaiting confirmation of this.

The Parish Council had also been advised by County Councillor Kadic, that Stagecoach would still be against the idea of changing the bus route in order to save the Heritage Bridge. The Parish Council still felt that the bus service should be re-routed in order to save the medieval Heritage Bridge, however, felt powerless to act due to the threat of losing the bus service and also the fact that this precedent had been set in other villages.

10. Newsletter
Mrs Aylott agreed to take over as Editor of the Village Newsletter for the time being. All agreed that the distribution of newsletters needs to be readdressed in order to make sure that everyone has a distribution list appropriate to where they live as there had been a few house moves and new councillors recently. Clerk to action.

11. The Annual Report-Mrs Aylott
Mrs Aylott advised that she had prepared a draft of the Annual Report and will distribute to everyone for comments.

12. Committee Reports
(a) Clerk’s Infrastructure Report
Clerk advised that the Bus Shelter next to the Heritage Bridge was being investigated by Street Scene in order to ascertain who owns it and therefore who is responsible for the repair of the glass.

She also advised that CCC were going to repair and resurface the footbridges at Polecat Lane in June and they would be raising an order to clean the footbridges on the Village Green in the middle of June.

Mrs Aylott advised that the Brook contained a lot of litter. Clerk to investigate the possibility of another Brook Clearance. She also advised that a village resident had enquired about a missing sign on the Village Green pointing towards Rusts Lane to direct people to “The Stukeleys”. Clerk to investigate and order sign if possible

Mr Hardy advised that the grit bin at Globe Lane had been moved and was being used as a seat by youths. Clerk to ask HDC to move back to original position and fill if possible to ensure it is heavier to manoeuvre.

Clerk to investigate the ownership of trees along footpath at back of Coulson Way. Clerk also to chase up litter pick with HDC.

Churchyard: Nothing to report
Village Green: Mrs Aylott advised that she had received some complaints about the standard of grass cutting on the Village Green. Clerk to contact grass cutter and try to rectify ASAP.
General: Nothing to report

(b) Planning Applications Received:
NONE

Applications determined by Huntingdonshire District Council/Appeal:
NONE

(c) Bramble End
Monthly Inspection Report - Nothing to report
Development of the Play Area – Mrs Williams advised that the new play area is now complete and had been very well received. She advised that the Grand Opening on 16th May had been a great success. Mr Senior thanked Mrs Williams for organising the opening.

13. Correspondence
• Request for donation from Alconbury Thursday club - All agreed that a donation of £200 should be given.
• Letter from Urban and Civic requesting meeting with PC - Mr Senior requested that the Clerk contact Urban and Civic to arrange a meeting with them, preferably on site at Alconbury Airbase.

14. Responsible Finance Officer’s Report
Internal Auditor’s Report and financial monitoring of accounts
Signing of Annual Return 2009/2010-Annual Report duly signed by Chair and RFO

Cheques for signature:
• Demon – Web Hosting May 10 (paid by D/D) - £11.50
• Peter Rowlings (Tree Warden) expenses - £11.98
• C Sharp - Paint for Bramble End - £64.38
• Memorial Hall - Youth Group Rental - £99.75
• Four Seasons Grass Cutting April - £500
• Four Seasons Grass Cutting May - £500
• S Lancey-Salary - £300.17
• C Sharp-Bramble End Painting Labour Cost - £200
• Came & Company - Parish Council Insurance - £465.29
• Creative Play - £8378.74 - Bramble End Playground contribution+VAT
• CPALC Annual Membership - £432.03
• J Sharp - Salary - £437.30
• J Sharp - Training and Mileage Expenses - £221.79
• Paula Williams - Bramble End Opening Expenses - £13.00
• Grafton Projects - Stationary - £185.60
Cheques Proposed by Mrs Aylott and Seconded by Mrs Williams

15. Date of next meeting – Tuesday 29th June 2010 in The Memorial Hall.

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