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

 

Apologies:  Mr Hancock - abroad.

 

Present:  Mr Wheeler, Mr Martin, Mrs Straw, Mr Wittey, Mrs Hurst, Mr Sole, and the Clerk.

 

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

 

Matters Arising:

Cemetery:  Mr Martin has obtained two quotes for drainage work and fencing from contractors on the CCC Approved Contractors’ list.  Websters at Impington quoted £6000 + VAT, and Cobbs at Orwell has verbally quoted £4897 + VAT, with a written quotation to follow.   Councillors believed that the quotation from the Impington based firm is higher due to travel costs.  It was therefore decided that a third quote from an even more distant Approved Contractor could be more expensive.  A decision on which contractor to employ will be made at the AGM.  Clerk has written to SCDC Planning Department regarding the fence as per the landscaping conditions of the Planning Approval.  A reply is awaited.  When the drainage work is completed, there will probably be a requirement for a new fence at the Church Lane boundary and a gate for the churchyard extension.

Revised Model Code of Conduct:  The chairman has read the document and reported that it is very similar to the original, but the language has been clarified in parts of the document.

East of England Plan:  Clerk and Chairman liaised on the final letter, which has been sent to CCC and Go-East. 

 

Village Matters:

Round Your Way:  Cllr Kindersley advised that as the Planners are absolutely snowed under, Council should write to The Enforcement Officer, Tony Marks, with a copy to Paul Sexton regarding the Portakabin problem.

Collapsing Road:  Mr Vacher is liaising 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:  Clerk has checked with CALC and Cornhill Insurance regarding cover for volunteers assisting with footpaths and litter picking.  The good news is that voluntary workers are covered under the current policy.  The bad news is that Council has to provide a written policy for Risk Management approved by the Council.  The risk to someone walking a footpath on their own needs to be assessed.  What is the risk of them being attacked, falling over and breaking a leg or falling into a deep ditch and being unable to get out.  Should the volunteer carry a mobile phone with a Councillor’s number on speed dial?  Should there be two volunteers?  All this depends on the length and remoteness of the paths.  For litter picking, Council needs to supply all volunteers with proper heavy duty gloves, pick-up sticks, heavy footwear and appropriate receptacles.  One volunteer will need to be qualified in the use of spent needles and have an appropriate container for them.  (Apparently, it is not Aids but Hepatitis C that is the killer.)  Decision on a village womble deferred.

St George’s Day:  Organisations are being encouraged to celebrate St George’s Day and the British culture. Council has decided to host a quiz for this on Friday 20 April in the Hall from 7.30pm.  Mr Sole, Mr Martin and Mrs Straw have volunteered to research the questions and Mr Martin is to be the Quizmaster.  Numbers will be limited to 6 teams of 8 players.  Prizes will be bottles of wine for the winners.  Croydon residents only as there will be a free buffet - bring your own drinks.  Clerk to purchase food (rolls, cheese, sausages, pickled onions, apples, crisps etc), prizes and decorations.  Clerk and Chairman will liaise to produce a poster for the event, otherwise word of mouth by councillors.

Electoral Register:  One person has been added and one removed.

 

Correspondence:

Milton Country Park:  SCDC have written to say that the future of Milton Country Park is looking safer as funding is being sought from private enterprise.

Willows:  Willows are important to riverside biodiversity and leaflets for their care received and distributed.  Poster has been put in the notice board.

CALC:  Notice of office relocation to ground floor, VAT workshop and flyer from the Association of Burial Authorities advertising their work and cost of membership.

Library Times:  A new time for the library van in Croydon.  Poster put on the board and to be added to the website.

Bus Timetable Changes:   Do not affect local services.

Andrew Lansley:  Has sent a copy of his letter of objection to the East of England plan.  His objections are very similar to those Council has sent.

New Model Contract of Employment for Clerks:  Clerk does not have a contract of employment and does not feel the need for one.

Local Access Forum:  Comments on accessibility of footpaths required.  To be passed to Mr Jenkins.

Bedlam Cottages:  Mr and Mrs Ralph sent a summary of their boundary works adjacent to the bridleway for Council’s information.

CCC:  A Civil Protection Officer has written asking for the space available for burials in the village if there was to be a pandemic flu outbreak.  Clerk to reply that the churchyard is already full and an extension is being planned, but that it belongs to the church.

Memorial Safety:  Letter from the Dept of Constitutional Affairs received regarding safety of memorial headstones.   Clerk to reply that the burial ground is not Council’s responsibility and pass the letter to the churchwarden.

 

Planning: 

Crail:  Clerk has liaised with the Chairman regarding the proposed letter to the Ombudsman, and met with Cllr Kindersley for assistance.  He advised that if the procedure that SCDC followed was challenged, Council would not achieve anything as it was legitimate, however unpopular it may have been.  Chairman was also advised that it might be incorrect for a Parish Council to write to an Ombudsman, but individuals can.  Cllr Kindersley will verify this point and let the Chairman know.  Walnut Tree House:  Work to trees with a TPO at the front of the site requested.  Council has no objections.

Valley Farm:  Barn on the opposite side of the road to Valley Farm refused.

Croydon Farm:  A second application for a swimming pool received.  It was proposed by Mr Martin and seconded by Mrs Straw that a response of No Objections be sent.  All in favour.

 

Finance:

Bank Statement:  The balance in the current account on 27 February 2007 was

£1966-04.

 

Items for next agenda:

None put forward.

 

Date of next meeting - Wednesday 18 April 2007 in the Reading Room at 7.30pm.

 

 

As there was no further business the meeting closed at 9.18pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Signed                                                                        Date