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MINUTES OF THE HILTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 09-07 HELD ON MONDAY 5 November 2007 IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllrs Wright (Chairman), Barradell, Fleming, Robinson, Shardlow, Stott and Ward.
In Attendance: Mr Thomas, Clerk to the Parish Council, and six parishioners.
1. To note Apologies for Absence. Cllr: Randall
2. Declarations of Interest
The Chairman explained that following nationwide experience working with the Model Code, CALC had recently issued some fresh guidance. In most respects, Hilton Parish Council was already following best practice but that a change to enable residents, and those Cllrs with a Prejudicial Interest, to speak at the same time was recommended. The Clerk was to circulate suitably redrafted Standing Orders for approval in the December meeting.
Cllrs Barradell, Robinson, and Wright advised a personal interest being members of both the Parish Council and the A14 Action Group. Noted.
3. To Approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting and the Planning Meeting held on 1 October 2007
Approved unanimously:
4. Parishioners Open Session (10 minutes).
Mr Cook explained the difficulties of parking in Church Lane. He wanted to explore the possibility of developing part of the green space on Church Lane for parking and asked the Council for their views on this proposal. Mr Cook gave the Council a proposed parking layout and costings which had been prepared by HDC. In response to questions from the Council, Mr Cook explained that not all residents welcomed the proposals and that interested residents had indicated their willingness to fund the work.
Mr Blake thanked the Council for a most successful bonfire and fireworks display and also outlined arrangements for planting the memorial trees for Mr Brittain.
Mr Salem said that he had no objection to the Planning Application at Agenda Item 14.
5. To Authorise the Payment of Accounts.
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a. £76.00 A Bush; Archive Hard-Drive
b. £1566 J A Thomas; Salary
c. £139.42 J A Thomas; Allowances
d. £580.00 JCS Services; Grass Cutting
e. £50.00 Hilton Cricket Club; Grass Cutting
f. £48.80 B Ashby Handyman’s Wages
g. £35.00 CALC Model Code Workshop.
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The payment of the above accounts was proposed by Cllr Stott seconded by Cllr Barradell and unanimously agreed.
6. Review of A14 Consultation Process.
The Chairman advised that the recent report from the Acoustic Specialist had been circulated to both Council members and the A14Action Group but had yet to be discussed in detail. A meeting to ask the specialist, Mr Hyde, further questions had been arranged for 12 November. Parish Councilors were invited and should contact the Chairman so that she could arrange a suitable venue depending on numbers. The Chairman also advised that the recent fund raising event organized by the A14AG had raised over £1300 towards the costs of the specialist and the Council thanked the A14AG for their splendid achievement. The meeting also noted the likely need for further expenditure on specialist advice or representation on the A14 proposals in future.
The Chairman announced that the Highways Agency had recently selected the “Orange Route” as their preferred choice for the uplifted A14. This was the least preferred route for Hilton. The recent A14 AG meeting had recommended that no more effort should be expended challenging the route but that its efforts should be channeled to monitoring and challenging where necessary, the detail of emerging plans where minor changes could have a significant impact on Hilton and on pressing for maximum mitigation measures. In particular, developments surrounding the junction of the A1198 and the A14 should be closely monitored. The A14 AG believed it should continue to represent the views of the village at every possible opportunity. Initial stakeholder consultation meetings had been called by the Highways Agency for 6 and 7 November and both the Council and the A14AG would be represented. Finally it was agreed to resurrect links with other villages affected by the A14 plans and the Chairman agreed to draft a letter for circulation.
7. Budget: Year to 31 Mar 09.
The Clerk presented the draft Budget for the financial year ending 31 March 2009. Since being discussed by the F&GPWG, the proposed precept bid had been raised to £19294 to take account of the report from the tree warden which indicated that the previous provision for tree maintenance was inadequate. The revised draft Precept of £19294 represented an increase of 5% over the current year and was drafted at that level to ensure that the costs of routine maintenance would continue to be met from income. The budget also made provision to fund a number of projects with a value of £24500 and these would be met from reserves. The Clerk asked the Council for any final inputs to the draft budget in good time for approval at the December meeting. The Precept bid was to be with HDC by 10 December.
8. Play Park Cleaning.
Following the decision by the Council to power-wash the play park rather than replace the rubber surface, the Clerk had sought prices for this work. Three firms had responded of which one was non compliant due to their inability to provide their own water. One of the complaint bids was for nil cost from JJ Consultants, a company owned by Mr E Rose. However, for legal purposes JJ Consultants were unable to enter into a formal contract. The Council thanked Mr Rose for his generous offer and the Clerk was to write an appropriate letter to JJ Consultants and to Mr Rose to set up the arrangement.
9. Fishing in Village Ponds.
The F&GPWG had recommended that a sign be erected banning fishing for non residents but recognized the difficulty of enforcing such a restriction. The Council accepted the recommendation but in view of the difficulties associated with this course of action agreed to monitor the situation closely. Cllr Robinson proposed, Cllr Stott seconded and it was agreed that the Clerk was to install a suitable sign in the water at Reeve Ditch at a cost not to exceed £100.
10. Ditches and Ponds.
Cllr Stott advised that the recent summer had promoted exceptional growth of vegetation in the ditches. A schedule of work had recently been circulated to the preferred contactor for pricing with the aim of undertaking work in February 2008. It was hoped that a price for the required work would be available for discussion at the December meeting.
The meeting also noted the intention to clean a minimum of two ponds during 2008 and to meet the costs from reserves.
Cllr Fleming noted the intention to remove the large beech tree near the High Street on safety grounds and stressed the need to obtain the written approval of HDC before starting work. He also suggested, in view of the cost, that we should seek further expert opinion to ensure that the removal of this tree was essential. The Chairman was to discuss this suggestion with Cllr Randall.
11. Report from F&GPWG.
The Chairman outlined the significant points arising from the F&GPWG held on 30 October, not already covered under their own agenda items, as follows:
a. Registration of The Green. Registration was now complete but there was a dispute over two small areas claimed by other parties. The solicitor had recommended against seeking rectification through the legal process. The Clerk was to obtain more detail of ownership from the Land Registry at an estimated cost of £100 to enable the Council to assess the possibility for further action.
b. Notice Boards. The Chairman explained that the F&GPWG had selected a suitable design for a new notice board at the Post Office. A price was available from a commercial provider and a local craftsman had also been asked for a quotation. Cllr Shardlow suggested that a second tradesman who operated from within the village should be asked to quote and she agreed to provide details to the Clerk.
c. Right of Access, Mr Bates. The F&GPWG had recommended that the evidence supporting Mr I Bates’ claim for a right of access over The Green was insufficient and this was supported by the Council. The Clerk was to advise Mr Bates of the views of the Council.
d. Storage Shed Village Hall. The F&GPWG saw no reason in principal to object to the plans by the Village Hall Committee to erect a storage shed alongside the Village Hall subject to suitable design. In addition, the F&GPWG felt that the Village Hall Committee should seek advice from HDC as to whether formal planning approval was needed. The Council endorsed the views of the F&GPWG. The Clerk was to advise the Village Hall Committee.
12. Council Vacancy.
The Clerk advised that the formal vacancy notice to replace Mr Adams had been on the notice boards for almost three weeks and that no interest had been shown to date. The Clerk was to place a notice in Spectrum asking for interest.
13 Investment Policy.
The Clerk advised that work to make a recommendation for a new investment policy was going well and it was hoped to make a report to the December meeting.
14. Planning Application 0703437 St Francis Toft
The Council believed that the application benefited the owner and had no significant impact on the neighbours and recommended that the application be recommended for approval.
15. Parking.
a. Church Lane. Recalling Mr Cook’s statement at Item 4 above, the Chairman explained that the Council had previously commented to HDC about the impact on parking resulting from recent developments in Church Lane. However, the Council did not own the green area and therefore they were not in position to take further action on this matter. The Council believed that interested residents should first approach the owner of the green area, who they believed was Huntingdonshire District Council, and then to draw up a formal planning application. The Parish Council would be able to comment on the formal application. The Chairman noted that it was not normally the Council’s policy to support the conversion of green areas for parking.
b. Wraggs Row. The Chairman explained that a number of residents had commented about the poor state of the end of Wraggs Row and the unsightliness of the posts and rope. The recent F&GPWG had discussed ways of resolving the conflicting views of all the parties involved and had recommended that an open meeting of stakeholders would help to draw out the issues and help the Council to arrive at the best solutions for the village. It was pointed out that some issues, especially planning enforcement, were beyond the authority of the Parish Council and lay with HDC. It was also felt that the scope of the open meeting should be widened to include the overall management of the Green. The Council agreed to call an open meeting for interested residents and to agree the timing and agenda in the December meeting. Finally, Cllr Stott recommended that the posts and ropes should be retained until April to allow the recently planted grass to establish.
16. Clerk’s Report on Parish Matters.
a. Resurfacing Rutland Green Estate. The Clerk was to ask for an on site meeting to discuss the problematic new surface recently applied to Rutland Green.
17. Councillors’ Items
a. Fireworks. Cllr Barradell advised that the display netted £1206 which was in excess of the cost of fireworks, £1088. The Council thanked Cllr Barradell and his helpers for all their hard work on organising this very successful event.
b. Council Committees and Working Groups. The Clerk advised that whilst members of specialist committees and working groups were specifically asked to attend, these meetings were open to all Cllrs should they wish to be involved.
c. Access Clare Cottage. Cllr Fleming asked that the value of the access granted to Clare Cottage be reviewed at the December meeting.
F J Wright
Chairman of Parish Council 3 December 2007
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