Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 14th March 2005 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Coveney.

Present: Chair, M Duffield, Vice Chair, D Thorogood & V Ingham . Councillors S Thorogood, C Nix and T Maton. District Councillor, A White. Clerk, H Merrick

7.20-7.30 Open Forum

S Nix was present from 7.30pm to 7.45pm.

1.	HEALTH AND SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT.
	The Health and Safety announcement was read out by the Clerk
2.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
	Apologies were received from B Daters and J Mumford.
3.	MINUTES OF THE MEETING
	held on Monday 7th February 2005 were read, agreed and signed.
4.	PARISH PLAN
	Sue Nix reported on the progress of the Parish Plan Steering Group. A database has been purchased and a draft questionnaire has been piloted with a small number of parishioners. The Steering Group is going to agree the final questionnaire design, decide how to gather views from children under seven, and print, despatch and collect questionnaires. Sue Nix asked the Parish Council to agree the wording of the letter within the questionnaire from the Parish Council. The Councillors agreed with the letter.
	S Nix left the meeting at 7.45pm.
5.	MATTERS ARISING.
	Parking Main Street, Wardy Hill - M Duffield is going to present the petition and speak at the Environment and Transport Area Joint Committee on 4th April. Clerk to inform K Sharma.
	Public Byways open to all Traffic - A reply has been received from Andy Davidson. Clerk to reply to letter asking for repair guidelines to be send to farmers with a deadline for the work to be completed. C Nix believes that payment from Andy Davidson would imply a contract.
	Camping Close Stile - C Nix to speak to N Fyfe.
	Missing Bridge Railings - Clerk to chase Ed Thornton.
	Youth Club Funding - Coveney PCC has agreed in principle to pay for the hire of the Village Hall for the Youth Club. Clerk to contact M Oliver to arrange for the Youth Leaders and young people to meet Malcolm Cooper.
	Flooding - Back Lane, Wardy Hill - Plans show a sewage pipe running along Back Lane where flooding has occurred. V Ingham to contact Anglian Water to investigate.
6.	PLANNING.
	It was noted that the planning application for the site south of 14 Main Street, Coveney has been refused.
7.	STREET LIGHTING AND HIGHWAYS.
	Street Signs - The "Welcome to Coveney" sign at the south side of the Village has damaged lettering. Clerk to report.
8.	REPORTS.
	Neighbourhood /Countryside Watch - S Thorogood reported that there has been no reported crime in the Parish this month. Operation Dornier resulted in a 41% drop in illegal hare coursing mainly due to the 100 prosecutions so far. Dornier will be wound down over the summer but will be back in the autumn. The hotline will remain in operation over the summer.
9.	PARISH COUNCIL PAPERS
	D Thorogood has looked through the box of old Parish Council papers from C Nix. Councillors agreed which papers should be archived in the County Record Office and which should be destroyed. The Clerk gave D Thorogood some old minutes for archiving.
10.	TREE ADJACENT TO 16 SCHOOL LANE, COVENEY
	There is a dead tree outside this property and the householder has asked for permission to remove it. The Parish Council agreed.
11.	RUBBISH
	Fly-tipping - There is still rubbish in the bushes in the A142 Lay By. Clerk to contact G Tickner.
	Rubbish Bins and Recycling Collections- D Thorogood has drafted two letters regarding emptying of rubbish bins and the poor paper recycling collection. Clerk to type and send.
12.	CORRESPONDENCE
	Circulation Envelope Prince’s Trust - Pass to Parish magazine. Freedom of Information Act 2000 - There is a twenty day deadline for replying to requests for information. Any requests should be made in writing or by telephone to the Clerk. If the Clerk has any doubt regarding the nature of the request she will contact the Chair. Any copies /postage will be charged to the applicant.
	Summer Holiday Activities Roadshow 2005 - East Cambs Sports Development have proposed a children’s roadshow on 25th July. S Thorogood agreed to be the contact person for the day. The availability of indoor and toilet facilities will be decided closer to the time.
	Cambridgeshire County Council Bus Service Information - Clerk to be contact.
	Calor Cambridgeshire Village of the Year 2005 - The Parish Council decided not to enter.
13.	FINANCE
	Audit for 2003-2004 - The external audit has been closed.
	Financial Reconciliation - Presented to Councillors.
	Income - None received.
	Village Hall assistance for refurbishment - No request has been received.
	Expenditure: 000339 Coveney Village Hall Parish Plan Hire £ 50.00 000340 Coveney Village Hall Hall Hire £ 117.50 000341 Helen Merrick Wages Nov-Feb, Expenses Dec-Feb £ 629.22 000342 CALC Local Council Review £ 13.00 000343 Ely & District Citizens Advice Bureau Donation £ 25.00
	Clerk Contract of Employment - Clerk to amend contract , sign and give to M Duffield.
	Ely & District Citizens Advice Bureau - Ely CAB has requested that Coveney Parish Council become a member. The Parish Council decided that resources do not allow them to take up membership at this time. The Parish Council decided to give a donation of £25.00 to assist them in their work - Proposed S Thorogood, seconded D Thorogood and agreed by all Parish Councillors. Clerk to send a letter.
	Play Area Grass Cutting - KH Services can no longer cut the Play Area grass. The Parish Councillors agreed to change to MJS Gardening Services. The cost per cut will be £28.00, an increase of £0.50 per cut.
14.	DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
	Monday 11th April 2005 at 7.20pm.
	The meeting closed at 9.25pm.