COVENEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 8 March 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Coveney.

Present: Chair, M Duffield. Vice Chair, D Thorogood & V Ingham
Councillors, J Mumford, C Nix & S Thorogood.
District Councillors, B Daters & A White.
Clerk, E Bourne.
(By invitation - R Dyer)

7.20 - 7.30pm Open Forum
No members of the public present.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None.
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on Monday 9 February 2004 were read, agreed and signed. Proposed J Mumford, Seconded S Thorogood
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
Footpath No 2 - Markers had been provided by A Davison but posts had not been received. K Sparrow had kindly offered to erect signposts at either end of Pingle Lane.
Bus Service 125 - Letter received confirming bus still going to run on Thursdays but probably at slightly different times to present bus.
Back Lane, Wardy Hill - Good attendance at lane clearance. Clerk to contact A Davison re. water lying on drove and some encroachment. Piles of bricks still to be disposed of. V Ingham to find which authority responsible for man-holes. Letter to be sent to A Cornwell thanking him for use of tractor and trailer and donation of fuel. Notices of thanks to be displayed. Clerk to do.
Village Sign - Sign had been collected by D Thorogood and was displayed at meeting. T Bourne to erect sign. Clerk to send letters to release grants. Official reinstatement to take place at Coveney Pound on Easter Saturday, 10 April, 2004 at 11am. Refreshments to be served in Coveney Village Hall afterwards. Notice to be displayed. Clerk to do.
Replacement Bench, Coveney Pond - Bench now installed and original plaque in place.
Equine Issues - Letter received from DEFRA. To be kept on file.
Parish Plan - Initial meeting to be held on Monday 26 April 2004 at 7.30pm in Coveney Village Hall. Clerk to contact S Nix re. making contact with M Hebbard before the meeting for suggested agenda. Clerk to promote meeting through Parish Magazine, website and posters.
4. PLANNING
2 Storey Extension, 11 Park Close, Coveney. - No objections.
5. STREET LIGHTING AND HIGHWAYS
Emergency Traffic Diversions - Traffic diverted from A142 through Coveney and Wardy Hill in emergencies causing disruption. Clerk to write to Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Traffic Division and ask that consideration be given to the preparation of a contingency plan that incorporates a one-way system of traffic.
6. REPORTS
Coveney Village Hall - R Dyer reported that work was ongoing by volunteers. Main hall floor had been resurfaced and bar area was being decorated. AGM to be held on 24 March 2004 at 7.30pm. Litter and aggravation still causing concern in Car Park. Reasonable bookings were being made. A new padlock had been bought for the Notice Board.
Neighbourhood Watch - Crime figures for January - 3 reported offences. No reported crime in February. S and D Thorogood had attended Co-ordinator's Meeting. Main focus was on anti-social behaviour.
Parish Forum - D Thorogood reported. Subjects raised by Coveney representatives were1) Rubbish - Removal of all rubbish at site of fly-tipping essential as debris encouraged further tipping, and 2) Request that all Planning Applications affecting Coveney Parish be sent to Clerk, even applications in other Parishes e.g. parts of West Fen Road. D Thorogood to draft letter to G Tickner re fly-tipping. Clerk to type and send.
Witchford Youth Facility - Minutes of Meeting held on 16 February 2004 received. Next Meeting - 15 March 2004
7. RISK ASSESSMENT/ASSETS REGISTER
Assets Register - The following additions were to be placed on the Assets Register: Village Pound, MUGA, Play Area Gate, Jetty at Coveney Pond and new benches. J Mumford to make inquiries as to ownership of lych-gate and bier.
Risk Assessment - D Thorogood to do risk assessment on Coveney Pound and also on benches at Coveney pond and at 37 Main Street, Coveney. It was decided that as water is very shallow in Coveney Pond it was a low risk area and therefore did not need a buoy. V Ingham to investigate need for kick board on jetty. Clerk displayed new risk assessment register and layout was agreed as acceptable by Councillors. A Risk Assessment Day was arranged for Saturday 12 June 2004 at 10.00am starting from Coveney Village Hall Car Park with all Councillors to attend if possible.
8. RUBBISH
Litter Pick - M Duffield had completed a litter pick in Wardy Hill, V Ingham in School Lane and its environs and S Thorogood in Village Hall Car Park and Play Area..
Recycling, Way Head - Properties at Way Head had been issued with recycling boxes but these were not being collected. Clerk to contact Cleanaway.
Village Hall Car Park - Chronic litter problem. S Thorogood suggested a weekly litter pick here, possibly by Village Hall committee members. Possibility of signs discussed. Clerk to contact J Wardle re. supplier and price.
Litter Bins. - Coveney Play Area bins not being emptied by Cleanaway. S Thorogood willing to empty and put on roadside for collection but would need a key to bins. All bins need to be emptied weekly. Clerk to contact Cleanaway via G Tickner.
9. CORRESPONDENCE
Bus Stop Flags and Timetable Cases. - Letter received from Cambridgeshire County Council. No action required.
Adoption of Waste Local Plan - Details of Notice of Adoption and Plans can be viewed at Planning Dept., East Cambridgeshire District Council, The Grange, Ely until 29 March 2004
Open Spaces and Leisure Facilities, Questionnaire - To be completed by D Thorogood.
CALC Representation with District Council - Councillors gave their full support. Clerk to contact CALC.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service - Letter received from District Manager offering to give presentation. Not thought necessary at present but Clerk to write and show Council's appreciation of the work done by the service.
10. FINANCE
Financial Reconciliation presented.
Lawn Mower Servicing. - Coveney mower at present being serviced, Wardy Hill mower to be sent this week at an estimated cost of £90.
Income/Expenditure
CALC Local Council Review £12.50 000299
E P Bourne Salary/Expenses £332.64 000300
Coveney Village Hall Annual Hire Charges £82.50 000301
Branching Out Ltd. Make and Install 2 Benches £445.63 000302
Kissing Gate, Wardy Hill - Clerk to contact Centre Wire (specialists) for quote. Also to contact A Davison for names of preferred Contractors to install Kissing Gate and approximate cost. Clerk to also make necessary arrangements with A Winters, owner of land.
Donation in memory of Ben Melton - Resolution withdrawn due to legalities.
Coveney Village Hall, Donation Request - Request made for financial help with renovations to Hall. Councillors agreed to give financial help but also suggested Village Hall Committee contact WREN and ACRE for possible grants. Actual amounts to be discussed at a later meeting when details of grants (if any) are known. Consideration might be given to paying the 11% needed to unlock WREN grant.
Back Lane Clearance - Refreshment Expenses - Councillor Duffield did not wish to be reimbursed for these expenses.
Financial Regulations Update - New Financial Regulations received. Clerk to bring to next meeting with figures inserted where necessary.
Internet Banking - New mandate to be signed before this can be set in place. Clerk to get details of Councillors who personally bank with Parish Council's Bankers and then to arrange for other Councillors' documents to be shown at Bank. N Anderson's name to be removed from existing bank mandate.
11. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Annual Parish Meeting to be held on Monday 10 May 2004.
Andy Davison and Fred Langford both able to attend. Meeting to begin at 7.00pm.
12. PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY
Clerk had received 3 enquiries to date but no actual applications. Applications close on 31 March 2004.
13. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Monday 5 April 2004 at 7.20pm
(Meeting one week earlier than usual because of Easter)
The meeting closed at 9.50pm