Meeting of Cheveley Parish Council Held in the Community Room, Cheveley School on Tuesday

MEETING OF CHEVELEY PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM, CHEVELEY SCHOOL ON TUESDAY 22ND APRIL 2008 COMMENCING AT 7.30 P.M.

Public Open Forum

At the Public Open Forum prior to the meeting the following points were raised:

Mr Wilson of 197 High Street Cheveley provided the Parish Council with his objections to planning application reference 08/00308/FUL and provided Councillors with a copy of his letter to East Cambridgeshire District Councils (E.C.D.C.) planning department. His view was that the proposed extension would have an impact on his privacy and right to light, that it was close to the boundary and the scale and design was not in keeping with the area. The Chairman thanked Mr Wilson for his representations and confirmed that this matter would be discussed under Agenda item 6. Planning.
Mr Champion of 193 High Street Cheveley provided the Parish Council with his objections to planning application reference 08/00308/FUL and provided Councillors with photographs to substantiate his view that the proposed extension would have an impact on his privacy and right to light. The Chairman thanked Mr Champion for his representations and confirmed that this matter would be discussed under Agenda item 6. Planning.

PRESENT: Chairman, Cedric Burton (CB); Vice-Chairman, Janet Martin; Ted Rolfe; Jill Segger; Brian Taylor (BT); Sallie Thomas;

CLERK: Elaine Taylor

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

District Councillor, Carl Poole (business matters); District Councillor, Peter Cresswell (business matters)

2. TO SIGN AND APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING DATED 8TH APRIL 2008

It was proposed by Sallie Thomas, seconded by Jill Segger, and unanimously resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 8th April 2008 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record of proceedings.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES (FOR INFORMATION ONLY)

Matters Arising

The Clerk reported that an attendance warning letter had been hand delivered to Councillor White and that under the Local Government Act 1972 he would be required to attend a meeting prior to 11th June 2008.

On-going

Finance (b)

The Clerk reported that she had attended the Archiving Documents and Freedom of Information workshop at CALC and would report back at a future meeting. On-going

Finance

The Clerk reported that the expenditure within budget heads would be reviewed at the end of quarter one.

On-going

The Clerk is still to complete and return the CALC affiliation fee for 2008/09. On-going

Risk Assessment

The Clerk is still to update the Inventory of Assets as required.On-going

Cemetery

The Clerk and Chairman are still to draft an appeal letter to raise funds for refurbishment of the Cemetery path. On-going

The clerk will produce the document containing the procedures for informal burials at the May meeting.

On-going

Recycling

The Clerk reported that Mr Barry McKenney the Recycling Officer at E.C.D.C. had confirmed that in quarters one and two the Parish Council had obtained a £31.47 (thirty-one pounds and 47 pence) credit for under one tonne of plastic and a £139.88 (one-hundred and thirty-nine pounds and 88 pence) credit for four tonnes of glass. The overall annual loss due to the removal of the plastic recycling banks at the Recreation Ground would be approximately £70.00 (seventy pounds) per year.

Highways

A meeting is still to be arranged for the Highways Working Party Group to meet with Ashley Parish Council’s Highways Working Party. On-going

Urgent Matters

The Clerk has reported the deterioration in the condition of the High Street to Paul Butcher at C.C.C. Highways.

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Sallie Thomas declared a personal interest in agenda item 6(a) reference 08/00308/FUL.

5. COUNCILLOR VACANCIES

The Chairman reported that a resignation had been received from Jonathan Heath.

(a) The Parish council noted that three vacancies exist in the North Ward and now one vacancy in South Ward.

(b) It was agreed that the “recruitment letter” should be distributed at the earliest opportunity. The Clerk reported that these letters had not been received from Jonathan Heath. Cedric Burton proposed, Janet Martin seconded, and it was unanimously resolved that the Clerk be authorised to have the letter reproduced in full colour up to a maximum net cost of £236.60 (two-hundred and thirty-six pounds and 60 pence).

AP Clerk

6. PLANNING

(a) The Parish Council considered the Planning applications received at Appendix 1

08/00308/FUL: Two storey rear extension at 195 High Street, Cheveley, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9DG. (Mr & Mrs Hopkins)

The Parish council agreed that there were no material grounds to object to this application. Cedric Burton proposed, Janet Martin seconded, and it was unanimously resolved to submit to E.C.D.C. planning department the following response;

The Parish Council is concerned about the potential for

* overlooking adjacent properties,

* loss of light to No 193 and

* the design of the extension which is not in keeping with the existing character of the property or the neighbouring properties.

These concerns could be overcome through amendment to the application through

* a significant reduction in the overall size (length, width and height) of the extension to lessen its impact

* reducing the amount of glass and providing a more conventional and smaller window in the east elevation to match the style of the property.

This would also result in preserving the privacy of neighbouring properties.

The Parish Council would like it noted that the information provided on this application was unsatisfactory with incomplete plans showing no detailed dimensions, an inaccurate and potentially misleading site plan and no "design and access statement" included to detail materials.

08/00253/OUT: Outline application for No.2 detached houses with detached garages at 70 Centre Drive, Cheveley, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8AW. (Mrs Abbey Nutter)

The clerk reported that a letter of objection had been received regarding this application. The Councillor comments were unanimous in objection to this application.

(b) The Parish Council received the Recommendations Made By Parish Council at Appendix 1.

(d) The Parish Council noted there were no Applications Refused at Appendix 1.

(e) The Parish Council received the Other details at Appendix 1.

(f) The Chairman reported that he had met with Alan Dover regarding outstanding concerns relating to the Newmarket “Kings Meadow” development on Friday 11th April 2008 and he is now awaiting revised responses. The Chairman further reported that he had been given copies of the draft “Duchess Drive Management Plan (15 September 2006)” and the “Management Scheme for Duchess Drive, Newmarket (March 2008) that confirmed the management of open spaces would not be the responsibility of the Parish Council. The clerk will circulate the reports to Councillors.

AP Clerk

7. RISK ASSESSMENT

The Parish Council reviewed the reported outcome of the annual Risk Assessment at Appendix 2. Janet Martin proposed, Sallie Thomas seconded, and it was unanimously resolved that the Clerk look into archiving burial records, complete the asset register with the required values, check ownership of the bench at Spurling Close, display “no smoking” signs in the bus shelters, look into obtaining plastic signage for the Cemetery and obtaining quotations for works required under risk assessment and maintenance.

AP Clerk

8. SOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PANELS MEETING

The Clerk reported feedback from the South Neighbourhood Panels Meeting held on Tuesday 1st April 2008 as provided by its Chairman, District Councillor Carl Poole in his email dated 5 April 2008. The Parish council noted that due to Councillor Heath’s resignation a replacement representative would be required for the Panel. The Clerk will advise E.C.D.C. of the resignation and request that all correspondence be sent to the Clerk in the interim.

AP Clerk

9. PARISH PLAN

The Chairman reported amendments to the Residents Summary draft document which had been circulated. Jill Segger volunteered to proof read the finalised document. Janet Martin proposed, Jill Segger seconded, and it was unanimously resolved that the Parish Plan working group be authorised to print and distribute eight-hundred and fifty copies of the residents summary document with delegated powers of expenditure within the confines of the Parish Plan budget for 2008/2009. Brian Taylor volunteered to obtain quotations for the printing and distribution costs and supply these to the working group.

AP BT

Janet Martin expressed thanks on behalf of the Parish council to the working group that had enabled the Parish plan to reach this point.

10. NATS TERMINAL CONTROL NORTH – AIRSPACE CHANGE PROPOSAL

After much discussion Janet Martin proposed, Jill Segger seconded, and it was unanimously resolved that the Parish Council submit its own consultation response that would be based on the following points

The parish council understands the need for an airspace review
The parish council is unhappy with how the consultation has been conducted with no direct engagement and no open meetings
No clear indication of number of flights that will use the hold, the likely annual increase of this and the resulting noise levels, how often it will be necessary for planes to fly at 4000 feet and what is the intention post 2014
Specific concerns relate to preservation of the special character of this Parish, potential detriment of noise and health and the retention of the Bloodstock and Horse Racing Industry within the area
Request that locations are reviewed with the view to relocate them away from rural areas and the Bloodstock industry to areas of existing high levels of environmental noise such as motorways and dual carriageways or consider the investment in an infrastructure that allows alternative stacking arrangements.
The Parish Council recognises that some unconsidered arguments have been forward with a hint of scaremongering and some local groups have assumed the worse case scenario without examining facts, thus local people may have been led to believe that the effect will be much worse than it is likely to be in reality.
The Parish Council considers that it is not easy to find a solution which everyone will be happy with

11. LITTER BINS

Due to time constraints the Chairman declared this item postponed to the May meeting.

12. PARISH TREES POLICY

The Chairman reported that the Working Group had met on Saturday 19th April 2008 and drafted a policy. The Chairman will circulate the draft policy for consideration at a future meeting.

AP CB

13. URGENT MATTERS

There were no urgent matters to report.

14. DATES OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Tuesday 20th May 2008 – Annual Parish Meeting

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.52 p.m.

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Signed …………………………………………………………. Dated ……………………………