A meeting of Croydon Parish Council was held on Wednesday 21 February 2007 in the Reading Room at 8.00pm.

 

Apologies:  Mr Hancock - abroad, Mr Wittey and Mrs Hurst - unwell, Mrs Straw - late arrival.

 

Present:  Mr Wheeler, Mr Martin, Mrs Straw, Mr Sole, County and District Councillor Kindersley, District Councill Elsby and the Clerk.

 

Minutes:  of the last meeting, previously circulated, were agreed and signed.

 

Matters Arising:

Cemetery:   It was proposed by Mr Martin and seconded by Mr Sole that post and rail fencing be used to separate the churchyard extension from the remaining glebe land.  All in favour.  Clerk to write to SCDC Planning for approval before work can be instigated.  Consent under Section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 has been obtained for the ditch.  Mr Martin and Mr Sole are pursuing costings for the necessary works and will report back to the meeting.   Mr Martin also stated that he will be asking whoever does the drainage works for the churchyard to quote for his own drive, and wished this to be recorded to avoid any misunderstanding.

 

Village Matters:

Round Your Way:  As no reply received from SCDC, the Clerk rang to chase it up.  Although the site address was not mentioned, Mr Sexton was aware of the problem and said that the occupants had been advised that planning permission was needed, and he would send an officer to see them.  He also said that a letter had been sent to Council in early January.  As it had not been received, an e-mail copy was sent to the Clerk which was read out to the meeting.  Clerk was asked to see if there were any further developments.

Collapsing Road:  Mr Vacher will liaise with DEFRA regarding the works necessary at the west end of the High Street.  Councillors asked that this item remain on the agenda until the work has actually been done.

Insurance:  Now that there is a footpath warden, Clerk to check with CALC about the insurance cover required, and contact Cornhill Insurance.

Footpath 17:  Behind Low Farm and Acacia Farm, was reported as being obstructed by an electric fence.  Clerk has sent the relevant information to CCC - Dominic Doble.

 

Correspondence:

Milton Country Park:  Council has been approached by a Milton resident to see if it would consider supporting the campaign to save the park.  After a short discussion it was proposed by Mr Sole and seconded by Mr Wheeler that Council supports the campaign.  Clerk to write to SCDC in this vein.

Data Protection:  The Data Protection Act requires written authorisation for details to be published on the SCDC website.  It was decided that only the Clerk’s details and the Chairman’s e-mail address should go onto this.  Clerk to action.

CALC:  The trainings for the coming year were brought to Council’s attention, and the Bulletins distributed.

Review of Quality Parish Council Status:  If the Local Government and Public Involvement Health Bill is enacted, there is a possibility that a statutory scheme could succeed the current Quality Town and Parish Council Scheme.  It is therefore inappropriate to hold a review of the scheme at the moment.

 

 

Revised Model Code of Conduct:  Chairman volunteered to read the literature supplied.

SCLDF:  Adoption of Core strategy.  Check the link www.scambs.gov.uk/ldf and if not

happy then please complain.

 

Cllr Kindersley’s Report:  Proposed changes to the East of England plan will be far reaching and affect the whole of South Cambs.  The 508,000 houses originally planned for the area is now a floor, not a ceiling.  There is potential for 11,000 jobs at Stansted when the second runway is built, but no houses being planned in North Essex to cover the workers.  They would have to commute from around the area.  The planes from Stansted would stack over Croydon, so constant aircraft activity above the village.  Cambridge is likely to increase in size, with no assurance that the developments will have the required infrastructure.  Some of the promised road schemes have disappeared completely from the revised Strategy.  The Government proposes to replace S106 with Planning Gain.  This means that money from developers which was originally used to improve roads, build schools, village halls, etc in the area where the development took place, will go straight to the Government.  The Government will keep 30% of the money and distribute the other 70% in the area, which is not necessarily where the S106 money would have gone.  Council will be writing to express its concern about the above.  Clerk and Chairman to liaise on this letter.

Cambridge Water Company:  Letter regarding replacement of water pipes on Lower Road.  Apparently the traffic lights have been hit and miss, and Council was surprised that the new road surface was already being dug up!

Postwatch:  Council requested that it be kept informed of developments regarding local postal facilities.

Parish Paths Partnership:  Acknowledgement of Council’s registration received.

Countryside Access Issues:  Poster put up as requested - other literature passed to Mr Jenkins.

EEAPTC News:  Important issues on the proposed house building in South Cambs, which The Chairman will link to the village website.

Village of the Year:  It was agreed to pass the literature to Mrs Wheeler, so that the improvements to the Reading Room might be entered into the Aspect of Village Life category.

CCC Budget: Cllr Kindersley reported that the increase will be 85p per week for a Band D property, but there will also be many cuts.

 

Finance:

Cheques:  Cheques for the website - £46-99, CALC Subs - £59-94 and Reading Room Grant - £1000-00 were put forward for approval.  It was proposed by Mrs Straw and seconded by Mr Sole that they be signed.  All in favour.

Bank Statement:  The balance in the current account on 30 January 2007 was

£2043-03.

 

Planning: 

Crail:  Council was disappointed with the reply from SCDC.  It was proposed by Mr Martin and seconded by Mr Wheeler that a summary of the Crail story be sent to the Ombudsman to ascertain if there is a case against SCDC.  If so, further data can be sent.  Clerk to liaise with Chairman on this letter.

Croydon Farm:  Swimming pool refused.

Catkins:  Garage amendments.  It was proposed by Mr Sole and seconded by Mrs Straw that a response of no objections be sent.  All in favour.

 

Items for next agenda:

None put forward.

 

Date of next meeting - Wednesday 21 March 2007 in the Reading Room at 8.00pm.

 

 

As there was no further business the meeting closed at 9.31pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Signed                                                                        Date