The Mayor reported that she had represented the Town on 4 occasions since the last meeting.

She announced that the arrangements for the Service of Rededication at the Parish Church had been changed. Councillors were asked to be in church by 7.20 pm with partners but without gowns. The Service would be preceded by the Carol Service on School Hill at 6.30 pm and the Children's Party in the QES to which 70 children had been invited.

The Mayor noted that the Town Office had been open for almost a year and asked that the Town Clerk and his assistant be thanked for the part that they had played in making it a success.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 1999 APPROVED and signed as an accurate and complete record.

The following matters arising from the last meeting were incomplete or required further action:

99/048(2): Town Mini-Guide - Councillor VANE PERCY was continuing to work on the updated version.

99/059: Bascraft Way S106 agreement - no further development had been reported.

99/065(1): Barrier for the Old Mill Sluice - see Environment WP report.

99/065(6): Proposal to demolish mortuary - see Correspondence.

99/065(7): Site for recycling bins - the HDC plans were still awaited.

99/082(5): Red blocks & road signs - The Town Clerk had contacted CCC who had a significant backlog of work. However, a response was promised soon.

The Town Clerk reported that the bills associated with the vandalism on 13 Nov 99 were; boarding QES circa £75, boarding Town Hall £24, new windows in QES £49, new windows in Town Hall £220 (all ex-VAT). Total £368 +VAT. The Insurance excess was £250. It was DECIDED that a claim would not be submitted to the insurance company. However, it was noted that the company had been advised of the incident.

99/098(1): EEDA Strategy for the East of England - Councillor COMBEN commended the paper which outlined the role of EEDA, defined the geographic limits and identified the skills available within the area. No input was required but it was agreed that the Town Clerk should hold the document and that it should be available to all councillors from the Town Office.

99/098(4): CCC questionnaire on Environment and Transport - deferred to next meeting

99/098(5): Traffic survey on Cambridge Road - Councillor GODLEY advised that the 2^nd survey had not yet taken place. She would provide the report when it was available.

99/098(7): Cambs Fire & Rescue Performance Plan - The report was non-contentious and would be held by the Town Clerk.

99/098(8): Replacement of trees on The Avenue - see Environment WP report.

99/099: Claim against BT - the Town Clerk reported that he had written to BT and was awaiting a reply.

99/099: Arrangements for utilities - the Town Clerk has written to both the gas and electricity suppliers to assess the benefits of a single supplier for both utilities. However, the tariffs and offers were changing all the time. He would offer a recommendation at the end of the FY.

99/100: Noise pollution from A14/A1198 - see Correspondence.

99/100: 6 Cambridge Road - the situation with the planning permission was unchanged.

99/101: New flooring at QES & JF - the order for the new flooring had been placed and the work was planned for the week before Christmas.

99/101: Rising damp at JF - the Town Clerk was asked to invite Mr D Stokes to assess the whole building in order to gauge what work was needed.

99/101: New doormats - the new mats had been fitted in both the QES and JF.

Councillor Mrs TYLER arrived at 7.55 pm

The correspondence listed at Appendix A was addressed. The following was agreed (the numbers refer to the Appendix serial number):

1. Barrier for the Old Mill Sluice - see Environment WP report.

2. The Council noted the letter of thanks from the Millennium Sub-committee.

3. Councillors noted the deadline for responses to the Community Plan questionnaire.

4. Councillor Godley reported that she had read the documents on residential care homes and that no action was required. It was DECIDED that the Town Clerk would hold a library of such documents in the Town Office and advertise their availability.

5. Parish Path Partnership - see Environment WP report.

6. The Council noted the letter of thanks from Miss Hine following the repair of the memorial bench.

7. It was DECIDED to accept the kind offer of a Millennium tree from PT Pinner & Son. A site would be selected at the next meeting.

8. The Town Clerk reported that the land registration documents for Buttermel Meadow had been lodged with Copleys for safekeeping.

9. The Council noted the intention of HDC to review the arrangements for the administration of the cemetery sometime in the near future.

10. Councillors noted the concerns of the residents of Saxon Close. The issue would be considered at the next planning meeting.

11. The proposal to demolish the mortuary caused a lively debate. All possible alternative uses had been explored but none had found widespread favour. The Town Council would incur significant bills for rates, water rates and maintenance if it took over the building. Although nobody wished to see the building demolished, there was no longer an alternative. It was DECIDED by a majority vote that the building be demolished and the area grassed over. The car park should be properly edged at the same time. Councillor KYNOCH stated that he had no confidence in the decision.

12. The Council noted with some disappointment the HDC response to the request for a survey of noise and air pollution. The matter was to be considered at the next planning WP.

13. Town Council Estimates 2000/01 - see Finance WP report.

The accounts set out in Appendix B were APPROVED.

The Town Mayor asked for approval for £80 for sweets for the children's Christmas Party. APPROVED

Councillor HOLLOWOOD asked the Town Clerk to provide details of the total cost of vandalism during the current FY.

Councillor WILSON arrived at 8.30 pm, Councillor NORRIS arrived at 8.40 pm

The applications and correspondence set out in Appendix C were considered. The Town Clerk was to advise HDC of the Council's recommendations.

The Council noted the proposed alteration to the surface of Bridleway 5 and the Town Clerk was to write to Sustrans to discover who would maintain the new surface and to clarify the width. Councillor KYNOCH advised the meeting of a number of other local cycleways that were under consideration including one that would require a bridge to be built across the Ouse near Houghton.

9.04 pm Meeting Closed for public questions. Record is at Appendix D

9.15 pm Meeting Reconvened.

Finance. There had not been a meeting of the Finance WP. However, Councillor Mrs MOORE reported that the District Audit had been completed and that there had been no adverse comments. The precept for 2000/01 had been re-costed to allow for up to £20,000 for a safety surface for the Recreation Ground play area and £3,000 for CCTV. The Town Clerk had investigated the charges proposed by HDC for the administration of the Godmanchester cemetery and declared that the income and expenditure would balance out. It was proposed that the precept for 2000/01 be set at £99,000 - a reduction of £2,000 on the current year. AGREED.

Environmental. The WP had met on 7 December 1999. Councellor COMBEN provided a comprehensive written report. A framework planting plan for Buttermel Meadow was discussed and it was AGREED that the detailed specification be prepared and tenders invited for site clearance and planting works. HDC had offered to fund the planting of replacement Lime trees on the Avenue and the Civic Society was willing to provide £300 towards the cost of protective fences for the new trees. The WP would progress the work. The WP had reviewed the issue of the litterbin outside 3 Windsor Close and Councillor NORRIS recommended an alternative site on the other side of the road by the bus stop. This was AGREED and the Town Clerk was to clear the new location with HDC and then arrange for the bin to be moved.

The merits of the different types of bollard for the Old Mill Sluice were still being considered. However, it was agreed that the work would best be done at the same time as the Environment Agency carries out the major repairs to the sluice. The Council had responded positively to the draft Habitat Action Plans produced by Bedfordshire County Council and had stressed the need to support planning applications that incorporate wildlife habitats and appropriate landscape treatment. Finally, Councillor NORRIS was reviewing the opportunities afforded by the Parish Path partnership Scheme. The Town Clerk was to reiterate the request for a right of way around Monk's Pit in the reply. Deadline was 31 January 2000.

Ad Hoc (Agency). The WP had proposed the employment of a handyman as part of the arrangements for grounds maintenance post 1 April 2000. A draft job description and draft advertisement had been circulated for comments. The employment of a handyman was AGREED in principle as was the need to advertise the post in January 2000. Councillor COMBEN asked that comments on the drafts be provided to him by 17 December 1999. The WP had also asked the Town Clerk to request details of costs from Fergusons for works not previously included within the tender for grass cutting and litterbin emptying. The response was awaited. The next meeting of the Agency WP would be at 8.00 pm on 5 January 2000 at 26 Earning Street.

Recreation and Amenities. No report was available from the Recreation & Amenities WP. The Council noted that the football fixture list was still incomplete.

Property. There was no report from the Property WP.

Millennium. There was no report on Millennium issues.

Youth Clubs. Councillor Mrs HULL had spoken to Margret Ward and enquired about the Outreach work. The study was still ongoing and initial results would be available soon. Councillor Mrs HULL suggested that she ask for a formal report. AGREED

Swimming Pool. Councillor NORRIS delivered a comprehensive report on the Community Swimming Pool. After the first 6 months of operation it was apparent that the pool was running at a substantial loss. Steps had been taken to identify the causes of the overspend and to find ways of rectifying the problems. It was clear that radical action would be necessary if the Pool Committee was to ensure that this valuable facility could be maintained for the community.

It was AGREED to award a grant of £400 to the Jack & Jill Pre School for new equipment. It was further AGREED to award £500 to the Noah's Ark Playgroup for a parachute canopy and musical instruments.

Councillors expressed surprise that more applications had not been received. It was proposed that the availability be advertised in the Bridge magazine and on the Town notice board. Councillor HOLLOWOOD asked the Town Clerk to provide a list of successful applicants over the last 12 months.

No reply had been received from HDC regarding the Town's application for CCTV cover. The matter was deferred until the next meeting.

The Town Clerk advised that there had been an increasing number of problems associated with the itinerant living rough in Judith's Field. The horse had been running loose in the Town on several occasions and the dogs had bitten one resident. The horse and the German Shepherd dog had been taken to Wood Green. Environmental Health had been given an undertaking by the man that he would be leaving the area on 7 January 2000. It was DECIDED that if the man had not left by the next meeting, legal action would be taken to evict him for trespass.