Present:
Mr. Brown (Chair), Mr Senior (Vice Chair), Mrs Aylott, Mr Dawson, Mrs Dix, Mrs Dyer, Mrs Elphick, Mrs Watkin and Mrs Williams. Mrs Lancey (Clerk) 2 members of the public.

Public Forum
Mr T.K. Mistry, Postmaster, attended the meeting in order to inform the Parish Council of his circumstances regarding the Post Office and stores in the village. He explained that he and his family had planned a pilgrimage to India for four weeks in December 2005 and had consequently requested a suspension of his licence during this period from the Post Office. This had been refused. The amount of money he would have to pay a relief postmaster was not commensurate with the sum received from the Post Office for this purpose. He had therefore been forced to resign as Postmaster. In conjunction with this he had arranged for plans to be drawn up for the whole of the site of the present Post Office which proposed the erection of two 4 bedroomed dwellings to the rear of the site and three smaller dwellings on the front of the site, one of which he proposed should be a unit to house both a shop and a Post Office. He requested the support of the Parish Council not only in lobbying the Post Office to reconsider the refusal to suspend his licence but also to give their approval in principle of the redevelopment of the site. Should the Post Office reconsider the question of suspension of his licence, he was quite prepared to withdraw his resignation.

The situation was discussed at some length and Mr Mistry was given the full support of the Parish Council. Clerk to contact the Post Office authorities concerning Mr. Mistry's licence and to arrange for a petition to be raised both in Alconbury and surrounding villages. It was agreed that it would be disastrous for the village to lose its Post Office and general stores.

1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Mrs Adams, Mr Vanbergen, County Councillors Elaine Kadic and Sir Peter Brown and District Councillor Mrs Sarah Vanbergen.

2. Councillors' Interests
Mrs Williams declared a personal interest in Planning Application 050296FUL as this particular resident was a personal friend.

3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 27th September 2005
Approved and signed.

4. Committee Reports
a) Clerk's infrastructure Report
Churchyard: Nothing to report.

Village Green: Planks to the footbridge were in need of cleaning. Clerk to organise.
A tree along Brookside was overhanging the footpath and needed pruning. Clerk explained this was to be done along with other tree work on the Green.

General:
Clerk had arranged re-surfacing of the footpath running from Bell Lane to Rusts Lane with Highways Division and said that the verges and hedgerows needed pruning. Mrs Elphick requested some lighting along this same footpath. It was agreed this might be funded through the Small Scale Environmental Improvement Schemes (see Correspondence). Clerk to action.

The footpath running from Rusts Lane to Beech End was overgrown and in need of attention. Clerk to organise.

The footbridge over the ditch at the bottom of Polecat Lane had been vandalised and subsequently repaired.

Clerk reported that Maypole Bridge was to be repaired by Ashley & Foster within the next month.

Mrs Dix asked when the stretch of the Brook at Polecat Lane was to be cleared. Clerk to chase. She also requested again that the grips should be cleared at the top of Polecat Lane. Clerk to chase.

b) Planning
New Applications:
0502969FUL - Extension to dwelling - the Mead, Brookside - No observations.
0503035FUL - Extensions to dwelling, erection of garage/workshop and change of use of land from agricultural to garden - Brooklalnds Bungalow and adjacent land Brooklands Lane - No observations.

Applications Determined:
05025000S73 - Renewal of outline planning - erection of dwelling and garages adjacent to and including 1, Globe Lane - Permission refused
0502642FUL - Replacement agricultural dwelling, Home Farm, Rusts Lane - Permission granted
0502651FUL - Change of use of agricultural land to car parking - land rear of Steve's Car Sales, Ermine Street - Permission refused

c) Bramble End Playground
Remedial work to surface had been carried out satisfactorily.

5. Matters Arising
The Parish Plan
Mr Dawson reported that copies of the Parish Plan would be distributed to all Parish Councillors in November. It was decided that presentation of the Plan should take place at a separate meeting in order to allow sufficient discussion time. Date to be arranged - possibly in December.

Speeding/Traffic
The Clerk reported that due to staff sickness the speeding survey had not yet been carried out. A letter had been received from Mr Wade acknowledging his receipt and concerns over the Jointly Funded Minor Improvement Scheme submission. Mrs. Dyer reported that after Mrs Watkin's attendance at an RAF Molesworth liaison meeting, some informal traffic surveys had been carried out to identify the numbers of US personnel travelling through the village. She would report on any further corrective measures after the next meeting which was in November. This would be a November agenda item.

6. Correspondence (A list of correspondence had been circulated to all)
Alconbury & Brampton Surgeries - Radio Mast
Notification had been received of an impending planning application for a radio mast in order that the surgery might receive Broadband which is essential for the new NHS IT system. This was discussed and it was agreed there should be no objections.

Victim Support - Request for Donation
It was agreed that a donation should be made of £50. Clerk to action.

HDC Overview & Scrutiny Panels
HDC had requested suggestions for studies that might be undertaken by these Panels. No suggestions were made.

HDC Funding Opportunities for Small Scale Environmental Improvement Schemes and Local Transport Plan Schemes
As reported under 4 (iii) Infrastructure - General, a bid should be made for lighting along the footpath from Bell Lane leading to Rusts Lane. The bid should also include additional lighting at the bottom of Polecat Lane. Clerk reported that it might also be possible to obtain funding for the replacement bus shelter via these Schemes. Clerk to action.

Review of The East Midlands Regional Plan: Options for Change Consultation - Passed to Mr. Brown.

Parish Path Partnership Scheme 2006 - Passed to Mrs Watkin.

7. Responsible Finance Officer's Report
There were no queries concerning the mid year budget statements.

Payment of Accounts
Cheques for signature (now notified along with Correspondence List):
Burleigh Tree Surgery - £176.50 - emergency work to willow tree
Demon - £11.75 - Web Hosting October
S Lancey - £10.19 - internet calls
Clerk's Salary - October 05 - £346.38 - 42.5 hrs. @ £8.15 per hr.
Payments were proposed by Mr Senior and seconded by Mrs Dix

Cleared balances - Current Account £14,851.74 and Deposit Account £18,314.46
Cleared balances - Parish Plan Account - £217.86
- Youth Group Account - £5710.89

Clerk reported that the Precept Budget for 2006/2007 had to be submitted by 16th December 2005. She suggested that she should prepare a draft budget which would be circulated to all Councillors prior to the November meeting. It could then be finalised at the November meeting. Any financial implications arising from the Parish Plan could be incorporated into the Budget. Clerk asked all Councillors to consider any anticipated spend for the following financial year.

8. The Youth Group
In the absence of both Mrs Adams and Mrs Vanbergen, a report from Mrs Vanbergen together with a copy of the last minutes of the Youth Group had been circulated to all Councillors. On reading these documents, the Parish Council were very disturbed that there appeared to have been little progress with the project, especially as they had set aside substantial funds. They considered the Youth Group had been sorely let down by the County Council Youth Service and that consequently it had lost control and was lacking direction.

Mrs Watkin suggested that payment for administrative assistance might be of use in areas such as promotion of forthcoming events, and that the money set aside by the Parish Council might be used for this purpose. They also wished to know who the target youth group were who had not been attracted to organised events, and what type of anti-social behaviour now had to dealt with in the village. Clerk to feed back to Mrs. Vanbergen who in turn would report back to the Youth Group.
It was suggested that another Parish Council Representative on the Youth Group might be of assistance, and Mrs Aylott agreed to undertake this role. It was also suggested that the ASSC might put forward a representative. Mr. Dawson to investigate. Clerk to inform Mrs Vanbergen.

9. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on 29th November 2005 in the New Memorial Hall and will start at 7.45. Clerk reminded Councillors that this meeting would be attended by Mr Robert Roweth, County HCV Route Manager who would be discussing the new A14.

Please note that Group CALC training will take place on Monday 7th November in the New Memorial Hall between 7 and 10pm.

Return to top

Close this window