Present:
Mr. Brown (Chair), Mr Senior, Mrs Adams, Mrs Aylott, Mr Dawson, Mrs Dix, Mrs Dyer, Mrs Elphick, Mr Vanbergen, Mrs Watkin and Mrs Williams. Sir Peter Brown and Ms Elaine Kadic - County Councillors. Mrs Vanbergen - District Councillor. Mrs Lancey (Clerk). 1 member of the public.

Public Forum
No matters were raised.

1. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies.

2. Councillors' Interests
Mrs Watkin expressed a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 the Alconbury Sports and Social Club as her husband Dr. Simon Watkin was a member of the Project Steering Committee and would be giving the presentation, and Mrs. Dix also expressed a personal interest as she was a Trustee of the Sports & Social Club.

3. Minutes of the Previous Meetings held on 29th November 2005, 6th December 2005, 12th December 2005 and 11th January 2006.
Approved and signed.

4. The Alconbury Sports & Social Club
Dr Simon Watkin (Trustee) and Mr. Laurence Rickard (General Manager) attended the meeting in order to give the Parish Council an update on the pending grant from the Football Foundation. Dr Watkin reported on a meeting held with the Footbal1 Foundation on 12th December 2005 when both the scope and the phasing of the project had been discussed. It had been agreed to go ahead with the full bid and the Football Foundation's representatives had been very positive. Tony Burke had been appointed as Project Manager and weekly meetings were now being held. As a result of the meeting on 12th December it had been possible to ascertain from the Football Foundation details of further information that they needed and to pin them down to a specific time table. The final submission had to be with the Football Foundation in March/April; this would then go before a Panel Meeting and then a Board Meeting hopefully in May when the final decision would be made. (The May date has yet to be confirmed. Should this meeting not go ahead the next Board Meeting would be July) The Football Foundation were asking for 35% contribution to the scheme in order to demonstrate local commitment, with the Foundation meeting the remaining 65%. The ASSC had doubled their contribution and were continuing to raise further funds. They were asking the Parish Council to continue to pledge their grant of £13,540 106 Money towards the project.

Mr Vanbergen expressed his grave concerns about the project and its local funding and also the time taken to obtain a decision from the Football Foundation. He also requested a set of latest audited accounts from Mr. Rickard. After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that it was vital to continue to show local commitment (via the Parish Council grant) to the project, and that the pledge of £13,540 should remain in place. This decision was reached especially as there were no other organisations in the village who were requesting such a grant. The Parish Council was looking forward to seeing the project reach a satisfactory conclusion later in the year. Clerk to confirm to Mr. Rickard accordingly.

5. The Bus Shelter
Following a visit from Claudia Waters of Huntingdon Community Safety Partnership and Stuart Bell, Transportation Team Leader, the clerk had been informed that a lighting engineer had inspected the site and was awaiting a quotation to install two vandal proof lights within the shelter. It had also been suggested that the sodium lights outside the shelter, together with those along the High Street, should be replaced by brighter white lights. The Parish Council felt that white lighting would be inappropriate for a conservation area and unpopular with residents along the High Street. It was also suggested that the openings in the side walls of the shelter might be enlarged to allow more daylight into the area. In view of the impending Flood Alleviation Scheme, which would mean major changes in the area, the Parish Council felt this to be a less expensive, short term option. Clerk to contact Claudia Waters accordingly.

6. The Youth Group
Mrs Adams reported on the recent Youth Group meetings. A new youth worker was still being recruited. There would now be two monthly meetings for the senior group. Together with Mrs Aylott they had visited Earith Parish Council to view their multi play facility. Details of such facilities were passed to all Councillors. The Earith installation had received 100% funding from various sources. Mrs Aylott asked the Parish Council to consider a suitable site for such an installation in Alconbury. She stressed that the site had to be agreed upon before the size and type of installation could be considered by the Youth Group and young people. The Sports & Social Club, Bramble End and the New Memorial Hall were considered as possible locations. The Parish Council thought the New Memorial Hall would be the preferred option. It was agreed that a meeting should be set up between the Youth Group and the New Memorial Hall Committee to discuss the suitability of any such installations.

7. County Councillors
Sir Peter Brown asked if he might briefly address the meeting concerning the forthcoming Council Tax proposals which would mean an increase of between 4% and 5%. The clerk confirmed that brochures detailing the proposed options would be circulated to all Councillors and Sir Peter urged them to make their views known. He also said that due to cutbacks it had been proposed that County Council grass cutting be changed from 5 to 4 cuts. A letter with these details would be sent to the Clerk and feedback on these proposals was requested.

8. The Parish Plan
Mr Dawson reported that the Parish Plan would be ready for issue at the end of February 2006. It would be distributed to the 99 households who had provided their names and addresses and more copies would be made available at the same locations that had been used for the red collection boxes. Photographs and maps were being finalised and the concluding letter from Mr. Brown, together with some suggested changes by the Parish Council, had been incorporated. The Committee had managed to extend the period for the remaining grant submission. Names and addresses of residents willing to help with implementation of The Plan and village activities were given to the clerk. It was agreed that a sub-committee might be formed to deal with Parish Plan issues and that this should be an agenda item for the February meeting.

9. Committee Reports
(a) Clerk's infrastructure Report
Churchyard: Nothing to report.
Village Green: Burleigh Tree Surgery had commenced pruning some of the trees on the village green. The work on the willow tree would begin as soon as the District Council had given their permission. Favourable comments had been received on the work so far. The seat opposite Brookside still had not been repaired and returned. Clerk to chase.
General: The footpath running from Bell Lane to Beech End had been cleared of weeds and overhanging branches cut back.
The clerk reported that Fergusons had informed her that they would not be able to continue with the grass cutting contract in the village this year. It was therefore necessary to go out to tender. She was in the process of drawing up a specification and finding suitable companies. Mrs Elphick enquired whether it would be possible to re-route the path coming from the footbridge to the edge of the green in order that it might lead to the kerb opposite Coulson Way, hence creating a safer crossing at this dangerous junction. Clerk to contact Highways. Spinney Lane was also in need of re-surfacing. Clerk to contact Highways.

(b) Planning
New Applications:
0600107FUL- Extension to dwelling - 22 Spinney Lane - No observations.

Applications Determined:
0502969FUL - Extension to dwelling, The Mead, Brookside - Permission refused.
0503035FUL - Extension to dwelling/ erection of garage/workshop, and change of use of land from agricultural to garden - Brooklands Bungalow - permission granted.
0503386TELDET - Erection of 12 mtr. Steel telecommunications pole and microwave dish, The Surgery - permission refused.
0503640FUL - Erection of Conservatory - 9 Willow End - permission granted.
0503721FUL - Extension to dwelling - 6 Beech End - permission granted
0503740FUL/0503741LBC - Erection of Conservatory - 25 Great North Road - permission granted.
0503822S73 - Renewal of permission of change of use of aircraft shelter to explosive storage - Alconbury Airfield - permission granted.

(c) Bramble End Playground
ROSPA Inspection had been carried out. Comment had been made that the chains on the junior swings needed monitoring. As the next inspection was due in April, no further action necessary at this time. The edges to the new surface could be a possible trip zone but it was felt that given time the grass would overcome this problem.

10. Matters Arising
Jointly Funded Minor Improvement Bids 2006/07
The bid for Speed Reduction measures had been approved. No further details available at this time.
Small Scale Scheme - Low Level Lighting
Clerk reported that this application had not been successful.
Directional Signs - Sports & Social Club
Clarification of wording was required. Clerk to pursue.

11. Correspondence (A list of correspondence had been circulated to all)
Memorial Hall - Car Park
Request for feedback on the improvements to the Hall's car park had been received. The Parish Council thought the change to be a great improvement. Clerk to respond accordingly.

Standards of Conduct in English Local Government - circulated to all.

The Fair
Clerk had been contacted by W.J.F. Thurston with a view to the fair returning to the village 15/16/17 June 2006. This was most welcome. Clerk to action.

Dual Use of Footpath Alconbury to Huntingdon
Support requested from Stukeley Parish Council. Clerk to clarify exact location.

CALC - Elected Councillors
A reminder had been received that now was the time for councils who may have vacancies at the May election to encourage people to stand for council. Clerk requested that should Councillors be thinking of standing down in May, they could inform her accordingly.

Norfolk, Suffolk andCambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority's Consultation Document - available on request. Acknowledgement also received of the Parish Council's letter of support of Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust.

Cambridgeshire County Council Budget Leaflet 2006/07
Copies passed to Councillors for comment.

Mobile Library Service
Notification that this will be fortnightly as from 26th January. Timetable displayed on noticeboard.

Victim Support
Letter of thanks received for recent donation.

Registration of Financial and Other Interests
Update forms available for Councillors.

CALC/HDC Liaison Meeting
Notification of next meeting when discussion topic will be 106 Money.

Planning Applications Workshop run by CPRE - 11th March 2006
No-one available to attend.

12. Responsible Finance Officer's Report
Payment of Accounts
Cheques for signature (now notified along with Correspondence List):
Caresco Donation - £100
Macmillan Cancer Relief Donation - £100
A.C. Green - footpath clearance Bell Lane-Beech End - £150
Grafton Projects - stationery - £17.61
Paul Tait - Website Maintenance 2005 - £235
Demon - Web Hosting December/January - £23.50
S Lancey - internet calls Dec/Jan - £17.56
Clerk's Salary - January 06 - £346.38 - 42.5 hrs. @ £8.15 per hr.

Youth Group Account
Roger Read - First Aid Kit/Accident Book/Stationery - £32.57

Cleared balances - Current Account £11,914.50 and Deposit Account £18,408.67
Cleared balances - Parish Plan Account - £186.21
- Youth Group Account - £5501.09

A meeting to discuss adoption of financial regulations was arranged for Tuesday 21st February.

13. Any Other Business
Mr Dawson enquired as to why there seemed to be very infrequent reports given on the activities of the New Memorial Hall Committee. Mr.Vanbergen explained that meetings were only held every other month. He reported that the main hall would be closed between 3-7 March in order that the floor could be resurfaced. The change in licensing laws had been dealt with. It was agreed that The New Memorial Hall should be an ongoing agenda item from now on.

14. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 7.45pm on Tuesday 28th February 2006 in the New Memorial Hall.

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