COVENEY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 12 January 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Coveney.
Present: Chair, M Duffield. Vice Chair, V Ingham and D Thorogood
Councillors, J Mumford, C Nix & S Thorogood.
District Councillors, B Daters & A White.
Clerk, E Bourne.
7.20 - 7.30pm Open Forum
No members of the public present.
| 1. | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE | ||||||||||||
| Councillor N Andersen was absent until 8.45pm as she was representing the Parish Council at a Youth Facility Meeting at Witchford. | |||||||||||||
| 2. | MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on Monday 8 December 2003 were agreed as correct and signed. Proposed M Duffield, Seconded D Thorogood | ||||||||||||
| 3. | MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES | ||||||||||||
| Rubbish, Jerusalem Drove - M Duffield had spoken to person responsible and reported that the rubbish would be burnt. | |||||||||||||
| Shed, 21 Main Street, Coveney - Letter received from N Brown, Development Services. The matter is in hand with the District Council. No further action required at present. | |||||||||||||
| Wardy Hill to Witcham Road - Letter received from Highways explaining that it was difficult to fund major repairs on roads of such minor classification but that the department would do its best on behalf of the Parish Council. | |||||||||||||
| Back Lane, Wardy Hill - Officer from Rights of Way Dept. had walked byway and found it impassable. Due to budget restrictions the department would not be able to assist with clearing at present. M Duffield agreed to speak to another person who may be able to clear it earlier than the County Council. Failing this it may be possible for Councillors to form a working party to clear byway themselves. | |||||||||||||
| Village Website - Clerk had received notification that Mr Tim Illingworth was operating a Coveney website (www.coveney.org.uk) and that he would be very happy to post copies of the minutes of Parish Council meetings on the site, Also, any other local information. Parish Councillors wished to thank Mr Illingworth and were pleased to accept his invitation. Clerk to contact Mr Illingworth. | |||||||||||||
| Emergency Procedures - Clerk had contacted member of Civil Protection Unit who was able to provide specimen copy of Emergency Procedures to be adopted by Parish Councils if required. V Ingham to complete. | |||||||||||||
| Kissing Gate, Wardy Hill - M Duffield had received quote from Branching Out for supplying and fixing Kissing Gate. To be placed on February agenda. | |||||||||||||
| Internal Auditor - Mr Gerry Whitfield had agreed to act as internal auditor for the current year. | |||||||||||||
| Footpath Signs - A question was raised as to how soon signs could be obtained for Footpath No 2 following its alteration. Clerk to contact Rights of Way Officer. | |||||||||||||
| Corporate Plan - D Thorogood had sent a reply to the questions raised in the Corporate Plan. | |||||||||||||
| Village Hall Notice Board - N Anderson to raise subject at forthcoming Village Hall meeting. | |||||||||||||
| 4. | PLANNING | ||||||||||||
| Appeal - Land West of 1 Jerusalem Drove - Official documentation received - Appeal dismissed | |||||||||||||
| 23 Main Street, Wardy Hill - Application approved | |||||||||||||
| Wolvey House, Coveney - Agricultural conditions lifted. | |||||||||||||
| Appeal - 2 Old Lynn Drove, Way Head, Coveney. - Notification of appeal being lodged. Councillors had no further comments to make on the application. | |||||||||||||
| 5. | STREET LIGHTING AND HIGHWAYS | ||||||||||||
| Mud on Road - School Lane, Coveney - Traffic crossing from Lane Farm, to park on land opposite, causing dangerous situation. D Thorogood to pursue. | |||||||||||||
| Manhole Covers, Jerusalem Drove, Wardy Hill - Manhole covers reported missing and causing dangerous situation. Clerk to contact Mr Groom, Highways Dept. | |||||||||||||
| Barrier - Green Corner/Coveney Drain - Barrier in dangerous condition and in need of replacement with approved barrier. Clerk to report to Mr Groom. | |||||||||||||
| 6. | REPORTS | ||||||||||||
| Neighbourhood Watch | |||||||||||||
| Crime Statistics - No reported crime for the month of December. | |||||||||||||
| Play Area - Adrian Smith unable to attend meeting to give report. Item to be placed on February agenda. | |||||||||||||
| 7. | RISK ASSESSMENT | ||||||||||||
| V Ingham had completed filling in Risk Assessment forms. Forms to be circulated to all Councillors for perusal. A nominated Health and Safety Officer to be appointed. V Ingham considering accepting the role. Clerk to approach CALC to ascertain legal implications. Item to be placed on February agenda. | |||||||||||||
| 8. | RUBBISH | ||||||||||||
| Litter Pick - J Mumford and D Thorogood to arrange. | |||||||||||||
| Fridge at Cut Corner, Wentworth Road - Clerk to notify Mr Tickner. | |||||||||||||
| Wentworth Road - Cuckoo Bridge to A142 Lay-by - Large amount of litter on verges. Clerk to contact Mr Tickner. | |||||||||||||
| Litter Bins, Wardy Hill and Opposite Church, Coveney - Catches still broken. Clerk to contact Mr Tickner again. | |||||||||||||
| Site of broken bench, Coveney Pond - Site dangerous. V Ingham to provide safety markers until new bench installed. | |||||||||||||
| 9. | CORRESPONDENCE | ||||||||||||
| Ely Soham Dial-a-Ride - Invitation to launch of new service. Clerk to attend if possible.. | |||||||||||||
| Declaration of Interest - Reminder - Councillors had no further items to add. | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Performance Assessment - ECDC - Parish Councils | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Performance Assessment - ECDC - Open Spaces - D Thorogood agreed to complete draft and to pass to M Duffield for approval. Clerk to copy forms and give to D Thorogood. | |||||||||||||
| County Council Budget 2004/2005 - Councillors to reply independently. | |||||||||||||
| Parks and Open Spaces - Benches - Letter received offering surplus benches to Parish Councils. Clerk had made provisional application but system had been over-subscribed. Further benches to become available in the spring. | |||||||||||||
| Positively Diverse Workshop - No Councillors were available to attend this workshop. | |||||||||||||
| Parish Forum - To be held on Monday 16 February at 7.00pm. D Thorogood and J Mumford to attend. | |||||||||||||
| Access Point Update/Local Access Forum/Equine Issues (DEFRA) - Distributed to Councillors prior to meeting for perusal. D Thorogood drafted reply to DEFRA on equine issues. Clerk to type and send. | |||||||||||||
| Parish Path Partnership 2004/2005 - Application Form received. It was decided not to join the Partnership this year, but agreed that Clerk should contact Rosemary Lucas with a view to her continuing her work on Parish paths. | |||||||||||||
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Councillor N Anderson returned to meeting. |
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| 10. | FINANCE | ||||||||||||
| Financial Reconciliation presented. | |||||||||||||
| Play Area Benches - Quote received from Branching Out for 2 x 6' Benches. £375 + VAT for supply of both benches. Councillors agreed that due to difficulty in obtaining other quotes and due to the Council's commitment to supporting local charitable institutions, the quote from Branching Out would be accepted without further requests for estimates. M Duffield to confirm with Branching Out. | |||||||||||||
| Insurance - Pound - Clerk had made provisional arrangements with Allianz-Cornhill for insurance cover for the Pound. Councillors reiterated their belief that £20,000 was an acceptable level of cover. It was decided that the contents of the Pound had no replacement value - of interest value only. | |||||||||||||
| Donation Request - Victim Support - Due to limited funds it would not be possible to make a donation to this cause. Clerk to notify charity of this decision. | |||||||||||||
| KH Services - Grass Cutting - Following a favourable report from the Play Area Committee it was agreed to ask KH Services to continue cutting the Play Area grass for the coming season. Clerk to contact KH Services and to send contract based on this season's contract. | |||||||||||||
| Expenditure | |||||||||||||
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| 11. | VILLAGE SIGN | ||||||||||||
| T Bourne had removed old sign. D Thorogood to transport to Great Saling for copy to be made. Parish Council to pay transport expenses. | |||||||||||||
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| 12. | THE POND, COVENEY | ||||||||||||
| Pond Planting - S Thorogood had spoken to The Countryside Projects Unit who will visit in the spring to give advice on pond planting and availability of small grants for the purpose. A request was made for a small grant from the Parish Council to supply further water lilies for the pond. To be placed on February agenda - Finance | |||||||||||||
| Damaged Bench - It was suggested that the oak back of the damaged bench could be used in the construction of the new one. M Duffield to make enquiries. | |||||||||||||
| Extra Bench - S Thorogood requested that the Council consider providing a new bench to be placed behind the pond, an area which is now accessible to pedestrians. The possibilities of using bog oak were discussed. Councillors to look into various possibilities before next meeting. Item to be placed on February Agenda - Finance | |||||||||||||
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| 13. | COVENEY IN BLOOM | ||||||||||||
| It was proposed that a hanging basket competition be held in Coveney and Wardy Hill during the summer months. The competition would be organised by the Church Fete Committee and it was agreed that it could be sponsored by the Parish Council, who would provide a small prize. Judging to take place in July. Clerk to place notice in Parish Magazine. Prize to be discussed at next meeting. | |||||||||||||
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| 14. | IN-HOUSE TRAINING | ||||||||||||
| To take place at Coveney Village Hall on Monday 26 January 2004 at 7.00pm. M Duffield to provide refreshments. | |||||||||||||
| 15. | DATE OF NEXT MEETING | ||||||||||||
| Monday 9 February 2004 at 7.20pm | |||||||||||||
| V Ingham gave his apologies for the next meeting. | |||||||||||||
| The meeting closed at 9.45pm. |