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.

GODMANCHESTER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE GODMANCHESTER TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY 20 MARCH 2008

PRESENT: M COHEN Town Mayor,
Councillors: D BROWN, H R BUTCHER, W D BUTTERWORTH, B HENNESSY, C R HYAMS Deputy Town Mayor, E KYNOCH, Mrs A M LOOKER, S PRINCE, Mrs E TREHARNE-JONES,
G WILSON

Town Clerk: Mrs M LIDDIARD

Mace Bearer: Mr M Williams

APOLOGIES: Cllr: A GOFF, C VANE PERCY
ABSENT: Cllr: Mrs H HULL

1 member of the public was present

At the start of the meeting, all Councillors remained standing and observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Cllr Mrs Carol Godley.

MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE MAYOR reported he had represented the Town on 5 occasions and the DEPUTY MAYOR had represented the Town on 1 occasion.

THE MAYOR reminded everyone that elections would take place on 1st May 2008. Nomination papers need to be returned to Huntingdonshire District Council by noon on 4th April. Cllrs were advised that if they were not elected, their gowns and copy of The Parish Councillor’s Guide should be returned to the Town Office as soon as possible following publication of the election results.

It was AGREED if more than 17 candidates were standing for election, that the Town Council would publish a special edition of the Town Council newsletter containing information and photographs of all candidates. Printing costs for this newsletter in the region of £250 were APPROVED. The Town Clerk confirmed should 17 candidates or less stand, they would automatically fill the 17 vacancies and this special edition newsletter would not be necessary.

THE MAYOR advised that The Bridge Magazine had asked for an article from the Town Council on their recollections of CLLR MRS GODLEY. CLLR BUTTERWORTH had written an article for the Parish Magazine and he would forward a copy to CLLR HYAMS who would co-ordinate a response to the editor of The Bridge. As The Bridge Magazine is usually printed early in April, it will not contain any information about Godmanchester Town Councillors. It was therefore AGREED to submit information on a single A5 page about current Town Council membership, following the outcome of the election, and pass this to the Community Association for insertion in each copy of The Bridge.

A further reminder that the Annual Town Meeting will take place on Tuesday 1st April in the QES at 8pm. Chairs of working parties are required to give a short report, which should be forwarded to the Town Clerk in advance of the meeting.

The Town Office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

All Cllrs were reminded that a Fair Trade Event would take place on Friday 28th March in the QES in support of THE MAYOR’s chosen charity: EACH. THE MAYOR also reminded Cllrs that a resident from Godmanchester would be running in the London Marathon and was being sponsored with money being donated to EACH.

THE MAYOR reminded everyone that the French Market would be visiting the Town on Sunday 20th April.

08/18 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2008 were APPROVED and signed as a complete and accurate record.

08/19 MATTERS ARISING

CLLR BUTTERWORTH confirmed a letter had been sent to Smiths Gore seeking their agreement for the Town Council to proceed with the diversion of the existing footpath through the Allotments. A response was awaited.

CLLR HENNESSY arrived at 7.53pm

Town Clerk confirmed a meeting had taken place to discuss resurfacing the path to the West door at St Mary’s Church. The Chair of the Fabric Committee had declined the offer to resurface the path as edging would not be provided. Town Clerk would write to Reverend Busk to confirm that, as the churchyard was closed, responsibility for maintenance of the path fell to the Town Council and therefore we had a duty of care to have the path repaired. Town Clerk would also approach Highways again, requesting them to undertake the work.

Following a brief discussion of Standing Orders, THE MAYOR and DEPUTY MAYOR had AGREED to draft a page of existing Standing Orders specific to Godmanchester Town Council. All Cllrs to submit any suggestions of existing administrative procedures to them by e-mail. A draft will be available for discussion at the April Town Council meeting.

CLLR BUTTERWORTH advised work was nearing completion for the electrification of the lock at Godmanchester. Work to improve access over the bridge would be undertaken by Jacksons Engineering after the Easter break.

08/20 REVIEW OF GODMANCHESTER’S CONSERVATION AREA

Susan Smith, Assistant Conservation Officer from HDC, had attended a meeting with Godmanchester Town Council to outline proposals for changes to conservation areas. Proposals for Godmanchester would result in the conservation area being significantly enlarged although CLLR BUTTERWORTH confirmed that there would be no effect whatsoever on Godmanchester’s Parish Boundary, which would also be the demarcation line for consideration of any planning applications. The new conservation areas, would not follow parish boundaries and therefore we would find Eastside Common, within our Parish, would be covered by the Hemingford’s conservation area, and Portholme Meadow would be included in Godmanchester’s conservation area but would remain in the Brampton Parish. HDC would undertake to write to all residents who would be affected by the expansion of the conservation area. Town Clerk would respond to the consultation by confirming we had no objections to the change of boundaries.

08/21 RESTORATION AND CLEANING OF GRADE II LISTED TOWN HALL

Following submission of our bid for Small Scale Environmental Improvement Schemes, HDC have advised that a grant of £12,000 will be awarded. The initial quote for this project was in the region of £25,000. It was AGREED that the Town Council had a duty to ensure repairs were carried out to the building and that support for the project was AGREED in principle. The next stage will be to identify contractors willing to tender for this project. It was also suggested this project should be overseen by a project manager and Town Clerk would approach HDC for advice on this issue and also production of a thorough specification for tender document.

08/22 CORRESPONDENCE see Appendix A

GMC Community Association requested permission to place a plaque in the Queen Elizabeth School Hall in memory of Harry Foren, who had been President of the Community Association for many years and a very involved member of the community, as well as holding the role as Mace Bearer for the Town Council. The Town Council was pleased to APPROVE this request and the Town Clerk would also include Mr Foren’s name as a suggestion to HDC for future street names. Town Clerk to advise GMC CA.

The meeting was adjourned at 9.00pm for questions from members of the public. There being none, the meeting was reconvened at 9.01pm

CLLR BUTTERWORTH confirmed a letter raising complaints about the works to install new lighting columns in Chadley Lane had been received, signed by several residents. Town Clerk was trying to arrange an on-site meeting with the Lighting Engineer from CCC but a copy of the letter would be forwarded to CCC with a request that they respond directly to the residents. Town Clerk to advise residents of actions taken.

CLLR HYAMS reported that we were being asked by Cambs ACRE to resubmit our application for a Biffaward in relation to our bid for funds for the skatepark, in full. He had arranged to meet with Cambs ACRE along with CLLR GOFF to establish the exact details of information required.

CLLR HYAMS confirmed he had attended a briefing regarding the proposals for changes in air traffic stacking overhead in Cambridgeshire. Proposals include a dedicated stacking route for Luton Airport where aircraft will enter this zone over Camborne at 14,000 feet and reduce their altitude in increments of 1000 feet as they circle within the stacking area. The lowest point will be 7,000 feet and it is anticipated the greatest effect will be experienced in Gamlingay where aircraft will then descend to Luton airport from the 7000 foot holding pattern. The peak time for stacking is between 6am – 9am.

CLLR MRS TREHARNE-JONES requested confirmation from HDC that the Section 106 money could be held until a suitable project for provision of play equipment had been identified. Town Clerk would write to confirm any time limit on claiming this funding.

St Mary’s had acknowledged and agreed the terms for the next three years grass cutting in the Churchyard. They thanked the Town Council for their continued support.

08/23 ACCOUNTS

The accounts set out in Appendix B were APPROVED. A petty cash account for the period ending 20th March 2008 was presented to the Council.

08/24 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

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

08/25 DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCIL REPORTS

CLLR HYAMS reported that he had obtained agreement from the AJC to forward copies of the agenda to Godmanchester Town Council when any items affecting Huntingdon were listed. This had not been happening but CLLR HYAMS had stressed anything happening in Huntingdon affected Godmanchester.

CLLR HYAMS had been contacted by a resident following a brawl outside the Royal Oak Pub on 14th March. Information from the Police confirmed around 60 youths were involved in the incident, but many of these youths came from outside Godmanchester.

08/26 WORKING PARTY (WP) REPORTS: not covered by correspondence

CLLR BUTTERWORTH confirmed consideration was being given to the issue of appropriate limited access signs for 7.5T vehicles into London Road from the A1198.

MISCELLANEOUS

Town Clerk had asked for guidance on the number of bookings previously agreed by the Town Council for The Friends of QES. It was confirmed there was no rigid agreement and Town Clerk would liaise with The Friends with regard future and existing bookings.

CLLR KYNOCH asked that the end of the cycle path at the junction of The Avenue and Post Street be brought to the attention of Highways as the end of the cycle route was in a particularly dangerous location. Town Clerk would write.

CLLR MRS LOOKER advised she hoped there would be a Youth Focus Group meeting held in the near future.

The date for the 2008 Annual Litter Pick was set for SATURDAY 19TH APRIL. Meet at the Town Hall at 10am. Town Clerk to arrange for litter pickers, gloves, sacks etc.

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON 17 APRIL 2008

The meeting ended at 10.25pm Mayor

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