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.

MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE
TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2009

PRESENT: M COHEN Town Mayor, D BROWN, Deputy Mayor
Councillors: M DOBBIE, J DUTTON, C R HYAMS, Ms D MIDDLETON, N PAULEY, C RICHARDSON, D TAYLOR, C VANE PERCY, N WELLS, Mrs S WORTHINGTON, G WILSON

Town Clerk: Mrs M LIDDIARD
Mace Bearer: Mr M WILLIAMS

11 members of the public were in attendance

09/141 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

CLLR BUTCHER: holiday; CLLR CANT: work pattern; CLLR Mrs HULL: travelling back from Norfolk.

09/142 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

CLLR MIDDLETON: Item regarding disabled parking/Corpus Christi Lane – relates to her home address. CLLR PAULEY: Planning matter regarding Almond Close – relates to his home address. CLLR DUTTON: Planning matters as he is on the Planning Committee and also item regarding disabled parking/Corpus Christi Lane as he is a member of CCC. CLLR HYAMS: confirmed his pre-determination in relation to the presentation by Fairfield Partnership on proposed development in Godmanchester. CLLR WILSON: item relating to disabled parking/Corpus Christi Lane as he is also a member of CCC.

09/143 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

CLLR DUTTON expressed his views regarding the wording of minute 09/127. He asked CLLR BROWN to apologise for use of the word ‘maliciously’ which he considered defamatory. He said that he would consider legal action if no apology was forthcoming. CLLR DUTTON stated he did not have a malicious bone in his body, mischievous maybe but never malicious. He confirmed he had reported certain members to the Standards Committee because he believed they had breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors. CLLR BROWN noted his request and stated, that because CLLR DUTTON and CLLR HYAMS had refused to allow him sight of their original complaint, that he had concluded the complaint was made maliciously.

Following discussion, the Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September were duly APPROVED and signed as a complete and accurate record.

09/144 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION:

Mr Doherty expressed his opinion on recent disagreements between Cllrs and said that the Town Council would be judged by their actions and their results.

Mr Rankine raised a question about the likely provision of a secondary school, should the new development take place in Godmanchester. This was noted by representatives present from the Fairfield Partnership.

Mr Goddard provided his views on the footpath between Almond Close and Cambridge Road.

09/145 PRESENTATION FROM FAIRFIELD PARTNERSHIP

Gareth Edmunds from the Fairfield Partnership introduced his colleagues: Mr Steve Biart, Colin Brown and Paul Belton.

Mr Edmunds confirmed that although no planning application was ready the principle reason for addressing the Town Council meeting was to ask whether the Town Council was interested in incorporating its own land (Judith’s Field) in the development plan, with open recreation space being provided within the development site on the other side of the A1198.

Mr Brown (from January’s) confirmed the site had been promoted through the previous Local Plan. As we are aware, HDC have been consulting on the Local Development Framework, the first stage being the Core Strategy which lays out the Council’s intended strategy within the district. Following representations to HDC they had agreed to designate the land as a direction for growth, which was intended as future residential led growth. An independent examination had been led by an inspector who had made a series of recommendations which included, in principle, development of this site. Mr Brown confirmed the full extent of the land, on which they hold an option, includes Judith’s Field, and he stated there were benefits in developing Judith’s Field with provision of open space being made on the new site. General/early concept plans were offered to the Town Council showing the possibility of using Judith’s Field completely for residential development, using part of the field only, or not building on the site at all.

In terms of a timetable, Mr Brown confirmed they hoped to move forward as soon as possible but they had to prove the development would have a nil detriment to the A14, and they need to know whether Judith’s Field is included or excluded from their proposals. Mr Biart confirmed it was their intention to move the planning application forward, in advance of any A14 improvement works.

Comments were made regarding safety on the A1198 and the need for public meetings to be held in the future. THE MAYOR advised the Fairfield representatives that we would not be in a position to make a decision immediately and confirmed, that as the land is held for use by the people of Godmanchester, we would need to consult them and ask for their views.

The representatives of Fairfield left the meeting immediately after their presentation and the Council’s comments.

09/146 PLAY PATHFINDER GRANT APPLICATION

CLLR TAYLOR presented a report on the Play Pathfinder Grant Application. It was proposed that the Town Council formally approve the submission of the Play Pathfinder Grant Application. This was AGREED. It was proposed that the Town Council confirm its intention to award Fenland Leisure a contract to provide the specified play equipment, subject to receipt of a grant in the sum of £35,000. This was AGREED. The Town Council have already approved use of £10,000 of S106 money for appropriate surfacing costs in relation to the Play Pathfinder project. It was proposed that the Town Council approve this expenditure to be used within the project as a whole rather than specifically for surfacing costs. This was AGREED.

CLLR TAYLOR advised that one of the conditions of the grant was that if the equipment were removed within 5 years of installation, the grant would need to be refunded to CCC.

09/147 FINANCIAL/ACCOUNTS

The list of payments to be made in Appendix B was approved. CLLR BROWN declared an interest in cheque number 4253. He was advised that, following his trip to Wertheim on behalf of the Town Council, he would need to complete a record of Gifts and Hospitality.

Councillors received a copy of the Petty Cash Reconciliation for the period to 15th October 2009. Councillors also received a copy of budget calculations and were asked to submit their bids for the budget for 2010-2011 by 30th October. A Finance Working Party would be held at CLLR WILSON’s house on 5th November. Cllrs were also presented with a quarterly bank reconciliation.

The Town Clerk reported that paperwork had been completed to set up a new account with NatWest Bank. It was proposed that CLLR BUTCHER, CLLR RICHARDSON, CLLR TAYLOR and CLLR Mrs WORTHINGTON be signatories on the account with any two of four being required to sign for any transactions. This was AGREED.

It was proposed a further account be set up with the Co-op Bank. This was AGREED.

The Town Clerk confirmed the bank mandate with Barclays Bank was being updated to include new Cllrs and to remove those Cllrs who had left. All Cllrs were required to sign the mandate.

09/148 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

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

CLLR DUTTON would take up queries relating to the provision of Development Management Panel Agendas, and also quantity of supporting information in relation to consultation on planning applications with the Planning Department.

It was AGREED that the Town Council support the proposed route of the A14. It was AGREED that the Town Council support the provision of a half junction south of Wood Green Animal Shelter, giving west bound access and egress only. CLLR HYAMS would attend the meeting to be held by HDC and speak on behalf of the Town Council to confirm our support of these matters.

Residents have been asked to provide any information they have regarding the footpath between Almond Close and Cambridge Road. The Town Council will make representations to CCC in November.

09/149 PROVISION OF DISABLED PARKING SPACE/CORPUS CHRISTI LANE: ROAD MARKING

CCC has proposed the location for a disabled parking bay in Godmanchester should be in the lay-by on the same side of the road and adjacent to One-Stop. The Town Council AGREED to support this suggestion and would confirm they recommended the space should be provided at the Pinfold Road end of the lay-by. CLLR DUTTON would also make enquiries about provision of a further disabled parking bay on the opposite side of the road in the first parking space next to the pedestrian crossing.

CCC has confirmed that they do not intend progressing the matter of junction improvements at the junction of Corpus Christi Lane with Old Court Hall. As there was an accident in the last few years with a child involved, the Town Council believe CCC should review safety measures at this junction and it was suggested white lines should be painted to delineate road and pavement.

MISCELLANEOUS

(Web site note - correspondence is listed in Appendix A)

CLLR DUTTON confirmed he had spoken to Derek Bristow regarding provision of Army Cadets to assist with marshalling at the Remembrance Day Service. CLLR DUTTON was also hoping to be able to provide crowd barriers for the event.

CLLR DUTTON confirmed work to replace the Chinese Bridge was due to start on 9th November. TOWN CLERK’S NOTE: We have been advised work has now been delayed to early next year.

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON 19 NOVEMBER 2009 IN THE TOWN HALL

The meeting ended at 10.48pm Mayor

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