MEPAL PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk: Barbara Green, tel 07739 988736 or 01353 774711
Email:
Chairman: Mrs Elizabeth Stazicker, email , tel 01353 778129
NOTICE OF MEETING: Full Council Meeting
TIME: 7.30pm
DATE: Monday 9th November, 2015
VENUE: Mepal Village Hall, School Lane, Mepal
All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend for the purposes of considering and resolving the business to be transacted at the meeting as set out below.
MEMBERS 4
VACANCIES 3
QUORUM: 3
DRAFT MINUTES
414/15 TO RECORD APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor Allen Sallis; District Councillor Anna Bailey
415/15 MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
416/15 MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
None
417/15 MINUTES OF MEETING OF 12th October (Full Parish Meeting)
Agreed and signed
418/15 TO RECEIVE DISTRICT AND/OR COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
Councillor Mike Bailey (East Cambs District Council) spoke about concerns over recent hay fires on farmland just outside the village. There have been several fires in the last couple of years but there have been three in just the last few weeks. The Fire Service have checked the hay storage and are happy that there is not undue heat which might cause the fires, so the assumption is that they are dealing with arson. Neighbours are concerned and there have been issues with smoke. The Environmental team at ECDC are aware of and are monitoring the problem. There was a query about security at the farm but Mr Bradley is not at liberty to discuss this. There are also concerns about the continuing burden on the Fire Service.
Most of the straw is intended for use by the power station or the anaerobic digester. It was agreed that an Open Day would be interesting and informative and Councillor Bradley will look into this, inviting Sutton and Witcham Parish Councils to attend as well.
There was a brief discussion about Community and Social care, in the light of continuing cuts in funding and it was agreed that a closer look at Time Banking would be useful.
Cllr Bradley stayed to take part in the discussion about CCTV (421/15)
419/15 OPEN FORUM FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
· A member of the public from Wimblington addressed the meeting with questions about the Mepal anaerobic digester, as there is a prospect of another being built there. Cllr Stazicker explained that discussions prior to the Mepal application resulted in the decision that the venture was reasonable with regard to additional traffic, smells and storage. There are a few problems with slow moving tractors and mud on the road but Cllr Durose said in his view the situation had improved this year. There are reports of straw and maize blowing about on the road and the Clerk will write to the operators about asking drivers to keep wagons covered.
· Village maintenance is still an issue. The Clerk reported that N&C Glass are visiting the bus shelters tomorrow to quote for replacement panels. Highways will be contacted to advise them of the bad state of the pathway past St Mary’s Church. The parish handyman will cut back the hedges but it should be Highways’ responsibility to improve the uneven tarmac.
· There was a report that one street light on the corner of High Street is not working, and hasn’t worked for a long time. The Clerk will report this.
· The missing bin in Bridge Road has not yet been replaced. This will be followed up.
· There was a suggestion that the new Ball Wall has been built in the wrong place. The position was agreed after discussion with representatives of the football club and has been built where they wanted it.
· The horses in the field by the church have recently escaped again and the police were called. They are now investigating ways to have the horses removed and have been liaising with the parish council about this. Unfortunately the Church Commissioners who own the land have not been active in getting this done. Villagers are thanked for the care they have taken of the horses over the last few months.
· Neighbourhood Watch – the co-ordinator for Meadow Way is moving away. Kevin Evans is the East Anglian co-ordinator. Ann Roberts is the secretary for Mepal. It is suggested that the Parish Council is represented on Neighbourhood Watch and this will be discussed at the January meeting.
· There was a complaint that agricultural vehicles are being parked in Brick Lane. The Clerk will check the regulations and write to the person responsible.
420/15 MEPAL EVENTS TEAM
The Team reports a good response from the village following personal approach and the presentation at the Breakfast on 31st October. The lottery bid is nearly ready. The Parish Council insurers have been contacted and have sent their criteria for cover, which should not involve any additional fees. Councillors agreed they are happy for the recreation field to be used for the proposed activities, as long as care is taken to protect the grass and to be aware of conditions on the day. The Clerk will check that fund-raising activities are within local government regulations.
421/15 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH RE INSTALLATION OF CCTV
It was reported that 358 people have signed the Neighbourhood Watch petition in support of provision of CCTV. The petition was handed to the Clerk. There was a meeting today with ADT who feel it would be possible to install a camera near to the entrance to the village. This would be on a loop system which would not be monitored unless a crime was committed that made it necessary. District Cllr said there were concerns about the legal restrictions of CCTV and a proper system would cost in the region of £30,000. Mr Harknett did not have exact costs for the ADT installation but estimated £5,000 - £10,000. There was a long discussion about the pros and cons of the project and it was decided that members of the Parish Council would meet with the police to discuss this, with representatives of Neighbourhood Watch if they wish to attend. A report on this meeting will be given at the January meeting.
422/15 PROPOSED NEW ROAD SIGNS ON A142
Sutton Parish Council has been invited to participate in a joint scheme for new signs but rather than postpone the work further it was agreed that Mepal would push ahead. There was a comment that this should be paid for by Highways, but as they have no money available the choice is to do nothing or fund it ourselves.
423/15 MEPAL SPORTS PAVILION LICENCE
There was a discussion about whether any changes to the Pavilion licence were necessary. It was agreed that alcohol would not be sold at the Pavilion by the football club. Should any organisation book the building for an event and want to sell alcohol they will be required to purchase a temporary licence from the District Council. This will be made clear to anyone booking the building and the Clerk will write to the Licensing department to this effect.
424/15 UPDATE RE PROVISION OF BALL WALL AND REMEDIAL WORK TO FOOTBALL PITCH DRAINAGE
The Ball Wall is now complete and will be ready for use next week. It is currently roped off for protection until completely set.
It was agreed to order 20 tons of sand as recommended by Mel Pooley, up to a cost of £400. Plans need to be made for labour to distribute this and the Clerk will take this in hand.
425/15 MAINTENANCE UPDATE
· Repairs have been carried out to the tap in the ladies toilet at the Pavilion.
· Repairs have also been done to the guttering and sofits at the Pavilion but regrettably there has been further damage and more work is needed. The option is to replace plastic sofit again, or to opt for wooden ones, which will require maintenance but will be more robust. It was agreed to change to wood. The Clerk will write to the secretary of the football club and ask her to encourage players to help avoid more damage.
· Some bark has been distributed at the Play Area but it is not enough, so more (up to a value of £800) will be ordered. Simon will distribute this.
· There was a discussion about overgrowth around the Play Area and a suggestion that local scouts be asked to help with clearance, if Simon does the cutting. It was agreed that the Clerk will contact the scouts.
· Repairs to the bus shelters were discussed at 419/15.
426/15 WORKING PARTY UPDATES
a) Defibrillator provision – British Heart Foundation currently have a scheme to provide defibrillators, free of charge, to communities. An application has been sent on behalf of the Parish Council. There was some discussion about whether a locked or unlocked cabinet would be best. BHF recommend an unlocked cabinet, so this is the plan at the moment, despite the risks. There were comments that in fact these units are not often subject to theft or vandalism, so if our application is successful we must hope that will be the case.
b) Infrastructure investment – following the Chairman’s attendance at a local event it is felt that the Parish Council should consider some investment in social care and community involvement, as current services are likely to come under increased pressure and funding cuts. It was agreed that Time Banking may be a way forward, in view of some spectacular success in nearby villages. A public meeting will be arranged, with a view to maybe sharing a co-ordinator with neighbouring villages.
427/15 PRECEPT CALCULATION 2016/2017
The Chairman and Clerk have reviewed the budget and presented a report to the meeting. It was decided that £21,152 would be taken from reserves and the precept for next year would be kept at last year’s level. There was a comment from the public that the precept should not have been increased in the last four years. The precept was agreed.
428/15 PLANNING
There has been a new application regarding Motocross at Block Fen, and further discussion about the delays in reinstating the land. Unfortunately the Parish Council was only told about this today, and has not received formal notification. The Clerk will follow this up and an extraordinary meeting will need to be arranged to discuss this, in order to submit any comments within the allocated deadline. Details of this meeting will be posted on the Parish Council noticeboard and on the website.
429/15 ACTIONS UPDATE
Report on actions taken since last meeting
430/15 FINANCE
Approve cheque payments to:
A Sallis (reimburse DIY materials) £75.00
S Batchelor (reimburse DIY materials) £55.00
B Green (wages, October) £594.32
S Batchelor (wages, October) £126.48
Truelink (grass cutting) £1283.35
CAPALC (workshop day) £50.00
CGM (play bark top up) £1,000.00
SLCC (planning course) £174.00
B Green (reimburse for wreaths from British Legion) £37.00
Zurich (H&S insurance & support) £114.00
Approve Direct Debit:
SSE (Pavilion electricity) £67.63
Eon (street lighting) £19.64
431/15 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
(for information only) – to be tabled
432/15 DIARY DATES
Future dates:
Next meeting to be changed from 11th January 2016 – new date to be announced shortly; 8th February 2016 – Full Council Meetings
………………………………………………………………….. Chairman
Date: