Godmanchester Town Council Minutes.

The Minutes of the Godmanchester Town Council are provided simply to increase ease of access for fellow residents here in GMC. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster (Stuart Bond) or Godmanchester Community Association. The Minutes are released to the public once they are approved.

Please note that the financial details are not held on this website and that only the entire Minutes as recorded in the Minutes Book have legal standing. Hard copies are posted around the town on the noticeboards and also sent to Huntingdon Library. If you have any queries please contact the Town Clerk by e-mail or telephone / fax 388 870.

PRESENT: H R BUTCHER, Town Mayor, Councillors: D BROWN, W D BUTTERWORTH, J COXHEAD, Mrs C A GODLEY, A GOFF, L HOLGATE, Mrs H HULL, C R HYAMS, E KYNOCH, Mrs A M LOOKER, Mrs B MOORE, C VANE PERCY
Town Clerk: Mrs M LIDDIARD

APOLOGIES: Cllrs: M COHEN Deputy Town Mayor, Mrs E TREHARNE-JONES,

There were 4 members of the public present

The MAYOR advised that he had represented the Town on 11 occasions since the last meeting. The DEPUTY MAYOR had represented the Town on 2 occasions since the previous meeting. Cllr Mrs LOOKER had represented the Town Council at the Luminus event to mark the refurbishment of Anderson Crescent and Cllr BUTTERWORTH had represented the Town Council at Peterborough.

Cllr KYNOCH arrived at 7.35pm
Cllr Mrs HULL arrived at 7.35pm

The MAYOR asked Cllr Mrs LOOKER to update the Town Council following the sad news that former Cllr David COMBEN and his wife had been killed in a road accident in Gloucestershire. Mr and Mrs Comben had lived in Godmanchester for more than 17 years and had only recently moved away, the news of their death was a great shock to all who knew them. Cllr Mrs LOOKER will arrange for a wreath to be sent. As a mark of respect the Town Council observed a minute silence.

The MAYOR reminded everyone of the Carol Service to take place on Saturday 17th December at 6.30pm.

The Town Office will be closed from 1pm on Friday 23rd December until 10am Tuesday 3rd January. The Town Clerk will be on holiday but the Town Clerk’s Assistant will be attending the office each day to deal with urgent matters.
The MAYOR will also be available if required.

The list of meetings for 2006 was APPROVED and the MAYOR drew attention to the meeting for 4 April when Chairs of Working Parties would need to make a presentation of the previous years activities.

Cllr Mrs MOORE arrived at 7.44pm

Licensing Act: The Town Clerk has drawn up an information sheet to be given to all hirers of either QES or Judith’s Field advising them they may need a Temporary Event Notice for their function. It places the responsibility clearly with the hirer and a tear off slip is included with this information to be returned to the Town Office as confirmation that the hirer understands their responsibility.

Geocaching on the Recreation Ground. A number of people have already been to visit the new geocache site on the recreation ground. The feedback is good so far and the Town Clerk will continue to monitor.

05/082 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2005 were APPROVED. The Town Office photocopier is not working and Kallkwik have been unable to print the minutes. Once they have been printed onto minute book paper they will be signed as a complete and accurate record.
TOWN CLERK’S NOTE: THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR.

05/083 MATTERS ARISING.

The Outstanding Actions List, dated 15 December 2005 was reviewed.

Still awaiting response from Moore Electrical regarding fixing the lights to the building. Cllr VANE-PERCY asked whether a new consent for Listed Building Consent would be required. Town Clerk to look into this.

Other outstanding actions are listed on the attached schedule.

The recently installed traffic calming schemes were reviewed. Comments had been received from Cllrs and 1 member of the public. The MAYOR would co-ordinate these comments and draft a letter to CCC.

05/084 CORRESPONDENCE.

The correspondence listed at Appendix A, not covered by the WP reports, was addressed.

CCC Draft statement of community involvement. Copy available in the Town Office if required.

NHS PCT is seeking support for the retention of the PCT. Town Clerk to write in favour of retaining Huntingdonshire PCT.

Thistle Security has provided a quotation for installation of an additional doorbell to be provided at a suitable height for disabled users. The quotation in the sum of £190 was APPROVED and Town Clerk will instruct Thistle to install the new bell.

HCSP have invited a representative from Godmanchester Town Council to attend the next Anti-Social Behaviour Thematic Group to be held on Thursday 12th January. Cllr Mrs HULL and Cllr Mrs GODLEY will attend and the MAYOR will also be available.

Councillors were advised that the Conservation Officer had reviewed the proposals for the ramp outside the Town Hall and had stated he would be against a ramp being built but that he was in favour of raising the level of the car park. There is some confusion as to ownership of the car park and the Town Clerk will contact HDC to determine ownership.

The MAYOR read the response from Inspector Pickles regarding police response to calls. Cllr Mrs HULL advised the Town Council that HCSP were undertaking a visual audit of Judith’s Field on 20th December and members were invited to attend. The Neighbourhood Watch meeting held at QES on 9 December was very well attended.

The Town Council agreed to continue membership of Parish Path Partnership.

Ferguson’s had advised that the shrubs at Devana Park and Buttermel needed pruning and suggested they would need attention this winter. The contract starts on 1 April and therefore would not be undertaken as part of the contract until the following winter. The cost of this extra work is £720 and it was AGREED to undertake the work. Town Clerk to write and confirm.

The floor in the QES has settled down. It will be reviewed again in January. Ashley and Foster will undertake 6 monthly checks on the roofs and gutters.

A letter from HDC regarding the Local Development Framework has been passed to Cllr HOLGATE.

05/085 S137 GRANTS. The following grant applications were considered:

Open Spaces Society: This is a general request for a donation and is not appropriate for a S137 Grant. REFUSED.

Macmillan Cancer Relief: A general request for a donation. £50 donation APPROVED.

Jigsaw Nursery - £500 to update Children’s book area, add to wooden train set, replace some outdoor ride on toys and a new construction set for baby area. APPROVED.

Godmanchester Kids Club. Cllr Hyams declared an interest. Request for a donation in region of £3000 to £5000 to engage an architect to produce portfolio with a view to securing a permanent home for the Kids Club. It was AGREED to contribute to this scheme and the sum of £2000 was APPROVED.

Godmanchester Scout Group – Beaver Scout Colony. Purchase of a lockable metal storage cupboard £183. APPROVED.

National Children’s Society. A general request for a donation. £50 donation APPROVED.

Huntingdon Volunteer Bureau. Request for funds to cover telephone line of £450 for the year. APPROVED.

Godmanchester Community Primary School PTA. Grant application for musical instruments and related items. £750 APPROVED.

The Town Clerk was to write to all applicants advising them of the Town Council’s decisions and noting where appropriate that exceptional circumstances had allowed a second grant to be made in this financial year.

Cllr VANE-PERCY left at 9.03pm

The meeting was adjourned at 9.00pm to allow questions from the public.

Mr Roberts, a resident in London Road made statements in relation to traffic calming, particularly along London Road, in agreement with opinions of Cllrs. These are noted and will be incorporated in the letter to CCC.

Mr Martin Dachs was introduced to the Town Council. He is the new Chair of the Picnic in the Park Committee. GMCA does a huge amount of work leading up to Gala Week and Picnic in the Park and are seeking further support from the Town Council for the 2006 event. It was confirmed that it was their intention to ensure that Town organisations provided services rather than outside commercial ventures.

Cllr Mrs GODLEY left at 9.32pm
Cllr HYAMS left at 9.32pm

The meeting reconvened at 9.33pm

A discussion concerning the grant to Picnic in the Park took place. A grant of £8320 had been requested. It was PROPOSED that the Town Council give a grant of £8000. This was APPROVED. Town Clerk to write to GMCCA and confirm.

05/086 ACCOUNTS.

The accounts set out in Appendix B were APPROVED.
It had previously been AGREED that a donation to the British Legion of £100 each year would be made following Remembrance Day and provision of the poppy wreath. Town Clerk to amend the payment.

05/087 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.

05/088 DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORTS.

Neither of the District Councillors was present, so there was no report.

05/089 WORKING PARTY (WP) REPORTS.

Cemetery. No report was available.

Environment. In his role as Chair of the Environment WP, the MAYOR advised that the fallen tree on the Recreation Ground had been reported to Willow Tree Services.

CCC had written to the residents of East Chadley Lane regarding widening of the footpath.

If required the Town Council would make a statement confirming it had been fully consulted with regards A14 improvements and routes.

Finance. There had been no meeting of the WP

Flood Defences. There had been no meeting of the WP.

Health & Safety. There had been no meeting of the WP

Judith’s Field. The wooden fence between Judith’s Field and NOKIA had been broken down. Cllr BROWN will remove the remains. It was DECIDED this fence would need replacing. Town Clerk to obtain costs. Cllr GOFF advised that the gap in the fence between Judith’s Field and Roman Way had been closed. The sensor on the light previously repaired was not working still. Town Clerk to hasten response from Ringway.

The skate ramp had been repaired. We are still awaiting advice from Steve Moller as to whether it is proposed to undertake a major overhaul of the ramps or to replace.

Other Representative Groups/Twinning/Youth Focus Group.

Cllr BUTTERWORTH suggested that the Museum be opened when the Business Meeting takes place in February next year. The MAYOR will liaise with Friends of the QES.

Youth Focus. Cllr Mrs HULL reported that there was money available for detached youth work and also someone to run it. At present the youth club is concentrating on the younger age group and there is no provision for the 16-19 year olds. It was AGREED that we supported creation of an additional youth club meeting and Cllr Mrs HULL would liaise with the co-ordinators to secure a permanent provision of a youth worker for this age group. Town Clerk would advise Cllr Mrs HULL of availability of Judith’s Field for a regular weekly meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

The MAYOR thanked everyone for their support and wished all a Happy Christmas.

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON 19 JANUARY 2006.

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