ALCONBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting held on Tuesday 26th October 2004 in the New Memorial Hall

Present:
Mr. Dawson (Chair), Mr Brown, Mrs Dix, Mrs. Elphick, Mr Lane, Mr Senior, and Mrs Turner. Mrs. Lancey (Clerk), 8 members of the public.

Public Forum:
Notices had appeared on lamp posts in the village advertising a fish and chip van in Mill Road. The van had parked on the village green immediately before the beginning of the Parish Council meeting. The Clerk confirmed that permission had not been requested. It was agreed the village green was not suitable and the Clerk should arrange to maybe site the van elsewhere. Clerk reported that the new bus shelter in School Lane was due to be installed some time between 15th November and 24th December 2004. Clerk asked Mrs. Horner if she would kindly notify her when the X46 bus service through the village failed to turn up as it could then be duly reported. Clerk reported that the far end of School Lane would not be included in the work currently being carried out to footpaths in Manor Lane and Spinney Lane, but she had spoken to CCC and they had agreed to investigate some patching work this year. It was hoped that this part of School Lane together with the Great North Road would be included in next year’s budget. A member of the public enquired whether the reeds would be cut in the Brook this year. Clerk responded that some trimming had been carried out but that within the Flood Alleviation Scheme there were plans to have a concrete bed to the Brook with holes for a minimum amount of plants to grow through. There was a rail missing from footbridge over the Brook on the meadow leading to Church Way. Clerk to action. Members of the public from Lordsway Park complained of youths meeting under the flyover leaving a large amount of rubbish and also there was some graffiti on the bridge. Clerk had already reported the graffiti to HDC and asked the PCSOs to visit the site on a regular basis. Garden rubbish was also being dumped under the flyover. Clerk to investigate. It was also mentioned that the steelwork to the bridge at the flyover had not been painted as others had in the vicinity. Clerk to make enquiries. The grass immediately before the flyover had not been included in the regular cutting programme. Clerk to investigate.

1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Mrs Adams, Mrs Dyer, Mrs Watkin, Mr. Vanbergen, District Councillor Mrs Vanbergen and County Councillor Peter Downes

The Clerk explained that due to Mrs. Watkin being absent, Mr. Dawson had agreed to act as Chair for the evening.

2. New Parish Councillor
Mr David Senior was welcomed to the meeting and introduced to other Parish Councillors. His Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.

3. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 28th September 2004 were approved and signed.

4. Committee Reports
i. Infrastructure Report
Churchyard: No further damage had been caused to the Church.

ii. Village Green: Clerk reported that a lime tree had been badly vandalised on the green. It was most unfortunate that this tree had been planted by the late Mr. Jonklaas and Mrs. Jonklaas was understandably most concerned about the damage. Clerk had arranged for Mr. Rowlings (Tree Warden) to inspect the damage and he had requested that it should be pruned by a tree surgeon. Clerk to organise. Mr. Rowlings would speak with Mrs. Jonklaas. Clerk had arranged for damaged branches to be removed by HDC. The chestnut reported not to be in the best of health at the last meeting had been inspected by the Tree Warden and was found to be in a satisfactory condition. It was reported that there was graffiti on the gable end of one of the houses on Brookside. Clerk reported that the village sign would be removed and renovated over the Christmas period.

iii. General: Clerk reported that work to new footpaths in Sharpes Lane would commence this week. It would not include any new work leading to the footbridge pending the outcome of the Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Clerk reported that grit/salt bins had been ordered in time for the winter – one to be placed by the footbridge near the road bridge and one in the area of old Rusts Lane.

iv. Planning:
 New Applications:
 There were no new applications.

Applications Determined:
 No applications had been determined.
Clerk reported on two enforcement cases within the Parish: Admiral Windows – required landscaping has been carried out and is awaiting confirmation from Landscape Officer.
19, The Paddocks – loft conversion. No breach of plans established. Case closed.

v. Bramble End Playground
The cradle swings had been inspected by the Clerk and Mr. Brown and had shown visible signs of metal corrosion. The decision had been taken to remove both cradle swings. Clerk had subsequently contacted SMP Playgrounds (original equipment suppliers) and received a quotation for replacement swing seats of £516.61 + VAT for both swings. Dismantling the old swings and hanging the new ones would cost in the region of £50. After some discussion it was decided to try and obtain two more quotes. The question of more replacement bark surfacing was also discussed. Mr. Dawson suggested it might be worth sinking the supports further into the ground around the helicopter before renewing the bark surface. Clerk to investigate. It was agreed that the ROSPA report in April 2004 was very unsatisfactory as there had been no mention of metal corrosion. Clerk to contact ROSPA accordingly.

5. Matters Arising
i. Flood Alleviation Scheme: Mrs. Dyer, Mr. Brown and the Clerk had attended a Flood Alleviation Scheme meeting on 15th October 2004. Clerk explained that the meeting had been held by The Environment Agency together with Atkins Water (Consultants working on behalf of the EA) in order to acquaint representatives of HDC, Alconbury and Alconbury Weston Parish Councils and the local MP of their preferred option in respect of the Flood Alleviation Scheme. The meeting had been for consultatioan purposes only and at this point in time no response was required from the Parish Council. The document handed out at the meeting had been circulated to all Councillors. The Environment Agency anticipated sending this same document to all residents in the village and to also hold an exhibition in the New Memorial Hall in order to acquaint everyone of their plans. It was hoped that this might happen before Christmas 2004. The plans were discussed at some length. The Parish Council expressed their concern that they should be kept fully informed of any action taken by the Environment Agency.

ii. American Traffic through the village: Mrs Dyer would be unable to attend the next RAF Molesworth liaison meeting but had expressed the view that the problem of American traffic coming through the village was worse rather than better. It was suggested that some signs might help to encourage drivers to use the by-pass. Clerk to investigate.

iii. Burger Van – The Mill PH Car Park: Clerk reported that HDC had become involved with this item in order to ensure that the owners of the van would be compliant with the necessary environmental health legislation. The van anticipated being there for 2 nights a week and not 7 as was first thought.

iv. Parking – The Maltings: Clerk reported that she had received a further enquiry concerning the parking of vehicles in The Maltings pointing out that in the minutes of the last meeting Mrs. Vanbergen had been present whilst discussion took place on this topic. Clerk had confirmed that Mrs. Vanbergen had left the meeting prior to any such discussion, but that it had not been appropriate to minute this as she was not able to participate in the meeting unless invited to do so.

v. Noise from the main hall: As requested, the Clerk had contacted the Scouts concerning the noise level coming from the main hall during Parish Council meetings. It had been suggested by the Scouts that the Parish Council might consider moving their meeting night to coincide with the WI meeting in the main hall, but as several Parish Council members were also WI members this was not a viable solution. The Scouts would endeavour to keep noise to a minimum during meeting times.

6. Correspondence (A list of all correspondence had been circulated)
i. Alconbury School PTA: A request for a donation had been received from Alconbury School PTA. Clerk to organise the completion of Application for Funding Form.

ii Funding for Small Environmental Schemes: After some discussion it was agreed that the clerk might investigate the possibility of additional lighting between Alconbury and Alconbury Weston. Closing date 15th November 2004.

iii Changes to Bus Service Tenders April 2005: None listed directly affected Alconbury. However, the Clerk and Mrs. Dix had returned the forms and again taken the opportunity to stress the inconvenience caused by the lack of service to Bedford via St. Neots.

iv New Memorial Hall Book: A book to record faults is now available to user groups in the hall.

v. Lost Highways Project: Circulated to all Councillors. It was not considered relevant to Alconbury.

vi. Huntingdon Primary Care Trust – Summary of Draft Strategy for Older Peoples’s Services in Huntingdonshire - Circulated to Councillors.

vii. Annual Report – Huntingdonshire NHS Primary Care Trust – Circulated to all councillors.

viii. Draft Statement of Licensing Policy: Passed to members of the New Memorial Hall Committee.

ix. CALC AGM: Passed to Mrs. Dyer who will attend.

x. Launch of Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Community Strategy: Circulated to all Councillors.

xi. Letter from HDC re. Standards Board/Freemasonry and The Code of Conduct – Circulated to all Councillors.

xii. Lobby Group, Dual Hatted Members and The Code of Conduct: Circulated to all Councillors.

xiii. National Cycle Network Signs: The National Cycle Network passes through Alconbury from Alconbury Weston. The Millennium Commission is offering decorative cast “fingerpost” type signs. The Parish Council agreed they would be interested in such a sign. Clerk to action.

7. Responsible Finance Officer’s Report
i. Moore Stephens: Clerk reported that the Audited Annual Return for 2003/2004 had been returned from Moore Stevens. Letter had been displayed to say that the Audit is now closed.

ii. Payment of Accounts:
The following cheques were presented for payment:
Moore Stephens – Annual Audit 03/04 - £152.75
Grafton Projects - stationery - £5.26
Clerks’ Salary – October (32 hours @ £7.76) - £248.32
Contract Sign Systems – ASSC Signage - £307.85

ii. Free Balances: Clerk reported free balances at Deposit Acct. £21,595.28 and Current Acct. £13,208.30 Parish Plan funds of £864.47 had been transferred to a separate account. The second half of the Annual Precept had been received.

iii The Precept Budget 2005/2006: The amount required for the Parish Council Precept for 2005/2006 needed to be notified to HDC by 10th December 2004. The Clerk had supplied actual spend year to date to all councillors and asked them to consider potential areas of expenditure for next year. Any suggestions should be made for inclusion in the budget at the next Parish Council meeting on 30th November.

8. Representative Reports
i. Safer Routes to School
In Mrs. Dyer’s absence Clerk reported that the first working party had been held on 27th September and that the first project was the distribution of Route to School maps to all parents. These would be collated on completion and it was hoped to hold another meeting before Christmas.

9. Any Other Business
Mr Dawson reported that Neighbourhood Watch were organising a sponsored pram race between Alconbury and Alconbury Weston on 15th May 2005, followed by a barbeque. Funds would be in aid of leukaemia research. The race would be between all three pubs and the Sports & Social Club.

10. Date of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting was arranged for Tuesday 30th November 2004 at 7.45pm in the New Memorial Hall.

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