GODMANCHESTER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL ON THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2000
PRESENT: Councillor Mrs LOOKER, Town Mayor
Councillors M COHEN, A GOFF, A HOOKER, Mrs HULL, E KYNOCH,
Mrs MOORE, R NORRIS, S SPENCER, A SURSHAM, Mrs TYLER,
C VANE PERCY, G WILSON
Town Clerk: W D BUTTERWORTH
APOLOGIES: Councillors COMBEN, COHEN (for late arrival)
IN ATTENDANCE: Mace Bearer H FOREN
PRESENT: No members of the public.
TOWN MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor reported that she had represented the Town on 2 occasions since the last meeting. The Deputy Mayor had represented the Town at 2 events.
TheMayor announced that Mr Malcolm Cohen had accepted the offer of co-option to the Town Council and conveyed his regret for his late arrival due to attendance at a training course.
The Mayor reminded everyone about the Christmas Carols on School Hill on 9 December at 6.30 pm and hoped that as many councillors as possible would take part.
She went on to draw attention to the examples of Standing Orders issued to all councillors and asked that everyone consider the merits of having similar documents for GMCTC. She also mentioned the CALC offers of individual and group training; anyone interested in the workshop planned for 20 January 2001 should let the Town Clerk know as soon as possible.
Councillor Mrs HULL arrived at 7.35 pm.
00/088 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 November 2000 were APPROVED and signed as an accurate and complete record.
00/089 MATTERS ARISING
The Outstanding Actions List dated 6 December 2000 was reviewed. The following matters arising from the last meeting were incomplete or required further action: (actions assigned to WPs are dealt with in the appropriate report).
00/074 (Environment) – Cllr NORRIS reported that the Town's bid under the Jointly Funded Minor Improvements Scheme for a cycle path on Post Street had been placed 5th out of 46 applications. Regrettably, only the first 4 were to be funded.
00/074 (Cemetery) – Cllr SURSHAM reported that HDC had given planning permission for work on the flank wall. The Town Clerk was to instruct the contractor accordingly.
00/086 (Environment) – The Town Clerk reported that HDC had declared its intention to clear out and tidy the storage area under the A14 flyover. The work should be completed in the next few months after which the need for improved fencing would be reviewed.
AOB 16 November 2000 – HDC had stated that GMC would be recommended for inclusion in the next phase of the Green Box kerbside-recycling scheme scheduled for FY 01 / 02.
00/090 CORRESPONDENCE
Cllr VANE PERCY arrived at 7.47pm
Cllr SPENCER arrived at 7.51pm
The correspondence listed at Appendix A not covered by the WP reports was addressed. The following was agreed:
The Council noted the intention of MEP Jeffrey Titford to raise the question
of EU funding for twinning events with the European Parliament.
The Council noted the generous offer from the friends of the QES to expend up
to £1000 on new equipment or facilities in the building. Three suggestions
were made; a portable audio loop system, a radio microphone and replacement
curtain rods. The Town Clerk was to pass the suggestions to the Friends.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance had agreed to give a presentation at the Town Meeting on 3 April 2001 and offered a video show as an additional feature. The Town Clerk was to accept the offer.
Cllr NORRIS had received all the papers and application forms connected with the Parish Paths Partnership Scheme for 2001/2002. All councillors were asked to consider what might be done and pass their ideas to Cllr NORRIS who would progress the bid.
00/091 ACCOUNTS
The accounts set out in Appendix B were APPROVED.
The Mayor asked that £89.72 be approved under S137 for the purchase of sweets for the children's Christmas Party on 9 December 2000. APPROVED.
The quotation in the sum of £147.40 from D S Pond for the replacement of the curtain tracking at JF was APPROVED.
00/092 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE
The applications and correspondence set out in Appendix C were considered. The Town Clerk was to advise HDC of the Council's recommendations.
Cllr WILSON had prepared 2 draft letters for consideration by the Council:
Comments on Supplementary Planning Guidance – Design Guidance for Extensions
to Dwellings and Residential Infilling. APPROVED
Comments on Shaping the Future of Huntingdonshire V2.1. APPROVED
The Mayor thanked Cllr WILSON for the efforts he had made to prepare the drafts.
00/093 APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS
The Council considered 9 applications for grants under S137. The following was DECIDED:
WRVS local community work – it was not possible to offer general support but the Council would consider a bid next year particularly if it related to a specific local project.
Godmanchester Baptist Church Holiday Club – as the request was for the summer of 2001, the Church was to be asked to resubmit its bid in May for consideration in June 2001.
St Anne's School PSF Table Tennis Equipment – it was agreed to award £475 for the purchase of 2 table-tennis tables.
Royal Oak Bowls Club maintenance equipment – it was agreed to grant £407.73 for the purchase of a Trulute, a Dragmat and a Drag Brush.
Coppice Woodland Project – it was agreed to award £300 for local work involving students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
Rose & Crown Quaker Centre Godmanchester – it was not possible to make a grant in support of a general building programme but the Council would be willing to consider a bid for a specific item. The Town Clerk was to advise the applicant that grants might also be available from HDC or CCC for projects aimed at providing facilities for disabled persons.
GMC Primary School security equipment – it was agreed to award £2321.60 for the purchase of a basic CCTV security system including 2 cameras.
St Mary's Mum's & Tots financial support – It was agreed to grant £250 for the purchase of a trolley, mats & covers and toys.
GMC Football & Sports Association Trust – it was agreed to award £2000 towards the modification and installation of the floodlights at Bearscroft Lane sports facility to enable the Association to comply with planning regulations. The award was subject to final planning permission being granted. (Cllrs Looker & Spencer declared an interest)
Cllr Cohen arrived at 9.30 pm
The awards were added to Appendix B after the meeting.
00/094 WORKING PARTY (WP) REPORTS
Finance. The WP had not met and no meeting was planned before the next Council meeting.
Ad Hoc (Gnd Maint). Cllr NORRIS presented a written report prepared by Cllr COMBEN. The WP had met on 5 December 2000.
It was recommended that present grass cutting regimes should remain unchanged. However, the regimes for the osier beds and the adjacent areas near to the Godmanchester Lock needed refining. AGREED. Cllr COMBEN would provide plans and estimations of areas for the Town Clerk to forward to Fergusons.
The regimes for the litterbins were correct with the exception of the cemetery where a twice-weekly arrangement was recommended. A similar regime was recommended for the new bins on Devana Park and Buttermel. AGREED. The Town Clerk was to confirm all the regimes with Fergusons.
The planting issues at Buttermel were still to be resolved. Once that has happened, Fergusons will be asked to take over the maintenance.
The regime for hedge cutting in the cemetery had proved successful. A similar regime for the hedgerow between Devana Park and Silver Street was recommended. However an initial cut to reduce it to a height of 2 meters would be necessary. AGREED. The Town Clerk was to seek an estimate from Fergusons for the work.
It was recommended that the arrangements for the hanging baskets should not be changed. AGREED. However, the Town Clerk was to write to Huntingdon TC and invite them to share in the cost of the baskets on the Town Bridge.
It was recommended that the weekly servicing and inspection of the play-areas be continued. AGREED. The Town Clerk was to seek details of the dates on which the inspections had been carried out. [note: the dates are shown on the monthly bill from Fergusons]
It was recommended that the regime of herbicide spraying in Garden of Rest and the cemetery be continued. AGREED
Benches and seats were not part of a formal maintenance programme and the Town Clerk was to request an estimate from Ashley & Foster for restaining work. Cllr NORRIS would prepare a definitive list of the benches owned by the Town Council.
It was further recommended that the area of rough grass at the end of The Causeway, adjacent to Patricia's, be added to the contract under a regime of 6 cuts per year. AGREED.
Cllr VANE PERCY asked that the Town Clerk investigate who was responsible for cleaning the steps on the Old Mill Sluice which were looking very shabby.
Environment. The WP had met on 29 November 2000. Cllr NORRIS presented a written report prepared by Cllr COMBEN.
There was some confusion about the total number of litter bins to be purchased for the Recreation Ground. However, the consensus was for 2 to replace those destroyed by vandals earlier in the year and 2 more to replace the remaining plastic bins (one near the moorings and one by the Chinese Bridge). All the bins were to be metal and similar to the existing ones. The existing bin in the cemetery was not fit for the purpose and it was AGREED that a larger unit specially designed for floral debris should replace it. The Council APPROVED up to £500 for the purchase and installation of a "Forrester" bin in wood with a galvanised liner.
The Town Clerk was to write to RGD to acknowledge their letter about Heritage Interpretation Boards and suggest that there might be opportunities in the future to take advantage of their services.
The Town Clerk was to advise HDC that the Town Council wished to take part in the National Spring Clean 2001.
The Town Clerk was to contact CCC and ask if it would be possible to attach a simple, discreet handrail to the brick walls on either side of the Chinese Bridge to assist the elderly.
The Town Clerk was to ask HDC to fit "Cyclists Dismount" signs at the Pelican crossing opposite the White Hart to reduce the danger to small children on foot. He was also to ask for cycle motifs on the cycle path surface between East Chadley Lane and Park Lane.
A competition for the best logo to be applied to cyclist's reflective jackets had been proposed for the children of St Anne's and the Community Primary School. It was AGREED that the Council would fund a small prize. Cllr SURSHAM had volunteered to progress the venture.
The present position of the litter bin in East Chadley Lane was proving ineffective. It was proposed that it be moved to a more visible location. AGREED. Cllr SURSHAM had provided a drawing showing the preferred site. The Council APPROVED up to £130 for the work involved.
CHUMMS had requested the views of the Town Council on its latest proposals. Cllr WILSON offered to help Cllr COMBEN prepare the response that would then be circulated to all councillors before the deadline of 19 January 2001. All contributions to the draft should be passed to Cllr WILSON as soon as possible.
Cllr Mrs HULL left the meeting at 10.10 pm.
Recreation and Amenities. The WP had met on 23 November 2000. The construction of the skatepark at JF was well under way with a target date for completion of mid-January. A press release and opening ceremony would be arranged nearer the day.
The WP had considered the 3 tenders for the refurbishment of the Recreation
Ground play-area and recommended Wicksteed Option 1 in the sum of £30,000.
AGREED. The acceptance would be subject to a successful bid for a grant of £13,350
from WREN and £1,650 from a third party. HDC had indicated that they should
be able to meet the third party contribution. GMCTC would allocate the remaining
£15,000.
Cllr KYNOCH objected to the decision on the grounds that he believed that there
had been insufficient consultation and that the area was prone to flooding.
The Town Clerk was to advise all 3 bidders of the decision.
Cllr VANE PERCY left the meeting at 10.19 pm
Property. There was no report from the WP
Cemetery. There was no report from the WP
Judith's Field. The Town Clerk was to discover what form an application for a grant from the Huntingdonshire County Football Association should take. [note: the Hunts FA recommended a direct approach to the Football Foundation requesting an application form]
Other Representative Groups.
The term of office of the Town Councillor Governor of the GMC Community Primary School had come to an end. Councillor Mrs HULL volunteered to stand for a further 4 years. Proposed by Cllr NORRIS and seconded by Cllr SPENCER. CARRIED.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON 18 JANUARY 2001.
The meeting ended at 10.31 pm Town Mayor