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FC 04/2014
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HADDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 9 th April 2014 at
7.30pm at the Arkenstall Village Centre, Station Road, Haddenham, Cambs.
Attendance: Cllrs Bush, Haigh, Lyon (Chairman), Norman, Page, Parr, Tindall, G Wilson and P Wilson.
1.
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING having been circulated to all members were taken as read. Cllr
Bush proposed and Cllr P Wilson seconded that the minutes should be signed as a true record of the
meeting subject to the following amendment:
Item 9J: Remove Tanya Edgell and insert Sarah Torr.
Motion carried unanimously.
2.
MATTERS ARISING (For Information Only)
a.
Ely Soham Dial-a-Ride: (See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 2d) Gillian Leeper will attend the September
meeting to discuss future plans with the Council.
b.
BT Openreach Cabinet on The Green: (See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 20) The Clerk had signed and
returned the Wayleave agreement on 14th March and the one-off payment of £798 had been banked on
27th March.
c.
Manhole cover outside the Chemist: (See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 21 para. 4) The Clerk advised
that Anglian Water had repaired the manhole cover on 17th March.
d.
Station Road Bridge: (See Minutes FC03/2014 Item 21 para. 3) The Clerk had received confirmation
that the bridge is in no danger of collapse as it has been filled in but Highways are aware of the
depressions forming in the surface and these will be patched in due course. The Inspector monitors the
bridge on a regular basis.
e.
Speeding buses: The Clerk had contacted Dews Coaches and passed on concerns that some of their
coaches had been seen exceeding the speed limit in Hillrow. Mr Dew will speak to the drivers and also
put a notice on the board to all drivers.
f.
Straw issues in Station Road: (See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 2b) Mr Roberts has continued to lobby
the District Council to keep the road and path swept and accepted that the Parish Council has limited
powers to deal with the issues.
g.
Renewable Energy Consultation: (See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 11) Cllrs Wilson had forwarded some
of the points raised at the March meeting to be included in the Draft Supplementary Planning Document
on Renewable Energy, which will be out for consultation on 17th April and will most likely come to the
Parish Council for consideration in May.
3.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs Goddard and Hugo – on holiday, Cllr Smith –
work commitments, Cllr Fairchild – ill health, District Cllr Allen and County Cllr Hunt.
4.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr G Wilson requested it to be minuted that he is also a member of the District Council Planning
Committee and although he would take part in discussions relating to Item 12, Planning Application
14/00005/FUL 80Hillrow, he would keep an open mind until it had been considered at District level.
5.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
It was agreed that members of the public who wished to address the Council on Item 13 would be
allowed to speak whilst it was being discussed.
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6.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
a.
Accounts to be authorised:
FC 04/2014
Name
Service
Itemised
Came &
Company
Insurance 2014/15
BT
Library phone March – May 14
J Manning
Total
Amount
Method
£1938.00
BACS
25.03.14
£46.28
DD
Clerks Salary March 2014
£1184.70
BACS
07.04.14
HM Revenue &
Customs
Clerks Tax & NI Jan – March 2014
£1023.95
BACS
Ely Soham
Dial-a-Ride
Grant 2014/15
£500.00
BACS
Cambs County
Council
Haddenham Youth Club 2014/15
£2,500.00
BACS
£588.00
2140
£10.50
BACS
A Carter
Supply and fit replacement side gate at Holy
Trinity Church
J Manning
(March 2014)
Postage
Keys cut for Recreation Field gate
LGSS Pension
Fund
Clerk’s Pension March 2014
£530.33
BACS
E-ON
Energy charges March 2014
£587.12
BACS
Rural Cambs
CAB
Grant 2014/15
£100.00
BACS
Arkenstall
Village Centre
Room Hire Jan – March 2014
K Fergusons
Ltd
K Fergusons
Ltd
£1.50
£9.00
BACS
Grass cutting @ Burial Ground (March 14)
Grass cutting @ all other areas (March 14)
Grass cutting @ Feast’s Green (March 14)
Litter bins (Nov 13 – March 14)
Litter picking (Nov 13 – March 14)
Hedge cutting @ Aldreth Field & Play Area and
Newtown Pocket Park
Miscellaneous
VAT @ 20%
Environment
Agency
Grass cutting @ Recreation Field (March 14)
Strimming @ Recreation Field (March 14)
VAT @ 20%
Drainage charges @ Fairchild’s Meadows
2014/15
AmeyCespa
(East) Ltd
Wheelie bin and Duty of Care charges March
2014
£64.00
£220.00
£672.00
£84.00
£704.00
£525.00
£350.00
£112.00
£533.40
£3200.40
BACS
£96.00
32.00
£25.60
£153.60
BACS
£14.44
BACS
£24.48
DD
Cllr Parr proposed and Cllr G Wilson seconded that all of the above accounts should be authorised for
payment. Motion carried unanimously.
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7.
FC 04/2014
CORRESPONDENCE
PCSO Annie reported that a scam had started recently with fraudsters pretending to be police officers
on the telephone and trying to convince people to give their bank details or withdraw large amounts of
cash, which they claim will be collected for forensic testing. She has visited the new Community Café in
the Methodist Church and will try to pop in at least once a week on her day shifts. There are still
problems with parents parking on the yellow zigzag lines outside the entrance to the school. The
stabbing that occurred in Sutton Road on 1st April is still being investigated and the police are keeping
an open mind at the moment. On the 3rd April several young men from Middlesborough were in the
village knocking on doors and wandering about in back gardens trying to sell various items. When
questioned by the police their IDs were found to be fake and confiscated.
Connecting Cambridgeshire has confirmed that the new fibre broadband cabinets have gone live and
faster broadband is now available in Haddenham, Aldreth and Wilburton. Information on how to sign up
for the new service is available on the Connecting Cambridgeshire and Haddenham websites.
Permission was given for Tinderbox Preschool to hold a cake/nearly new stall on The Green on Easter
Saturday.
A letter of thanks had been received from the Holy Trinity Church for the new hand gate in the Church
wall.
County Highways are considering holding “drop-in sessions” in the village for residents to report or
discuss any highway issues they have and wished to obtain the opinion of the Parish Council on this
idea. It was felt that finding a suitable venue would be the first major obstacle and that the sessions
would probably be a waste of time in view of that fact that it is very easy to report problems on-line or via
the Parish Council Clerk. It was agreed that it would be more useful for the Highways Officer to be
invited to attend the Road Safety Group meetings.
8.
INFORMATION FROM DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS
There was no County Council report from Cllr Hunt.
Cllr P Wilson had attended two seminars to discuss redundancies, restructure of committees and a
possible reduction in councillors from 39 to 25. The earliest this reduction could happen would be 2016
and would not affect the 2015 elections.
Cllr G Wilson had attended a planning meeting to discuss a detailed application for the Ely North Area,
involving the construction of 2000 houses with another 1000 to follow on in a second stage. This would
stretch Ely almost out to Chettisham but is within the Ely Masterplan. Positive points attached to the
application would include a new primary school and road infrastructure to be built before the houses, 5%
of the land would be available for self build and a new road would run through the development out onto
the A10 to avoid additional traffic accessing it through the centre of Ely. Cllr Wilson has some concerns
about the extra traffic but there are also plans to improve the roundabout on the A10 but not as far down
as Angel Drove.
Cllr Wilson had attended a Finance & Governance meeting to discuss the audit and internal audit
arrangements. He had also represented the District Council at the Cambs & Peterborough Joint
Transport meeting to discuss long-term transport strategy. Items discussed included a new rail station at
Soham, dualling the A10 from Ely to Stretham, resurrecting the rail lines from Wisbech to March and
public transport.
He also advised that the District Plan for Strategic Housing Land is now available and part of it is
relevant to Haddenham and a minor change to our development envelope but it complies with our
Village Vision.
9.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, WORKING GROUPS & GROUP REPRESENTATIVES
A.
Planning: The next planning meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th April at 7.00pm at the Library.
B. Environmental Overview: All councillors had received a copy of the minutes from the last meeting. The
final costs for the Groundsman and Recreation Field contracts had come in under budget at £785 and
£1086, respectively. Cllrs Norman and Haigh will carry out a risk assessment on all Parish Council
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FC 04/2014
owned trees. The Wayman’s Pits project will now be looked at again and the asset register is under
review.
C. Fairchild’s Meadows: Maintenance work is planned for the coming months to spray the thistles and
bulrushes, cut the footpaths and purchase more matting to combat the wet areas. Group members hope
to recruit volunteers to carry out a plant life count in the Wildflower Meadow and it is also hoped that a
transect of the insect life will be done over the summer.
D. Road Safety: Cllr G Wilson reported that the work in Duck Lane has not yet been completed.
E.
Aldreth Community Association: Cllr Page reported that Tinderbox Preschool is experiencing some
financial difficulty. The grass verge in School Lane needs to be cut and Cllr Norman will also look into
the possibility of inserting two or three steps into the slope on the footpath at the end of the lane.
F.
Arkenstall Centre: Blossoms & Bygones had been discussed at the last meeting and the main problem
is lack of people to help organise the event as well as help on the day. An article will be in the June
issue of Village Voice asking for volunteers for next year. The rents are now coming in on a regular
basis since Cllr Bush and Vic Ford have sorted out the invoicing system. Other funding raising events
have also raised quite a lot of money.
G. Youth Club: Cllrs G Wilson, Parr and Page had visited the Club on 31st March and met several
members. The present membership is 20 boys and 4 girls and the Youth Leader would like to introduce
some different activities to try to encourage more girls to join. The Club has a tuck shop and holds
regular art, craft and games activities, which have included looking at the winter Olympics. Shrove
Tuesday was celebrated by making pancakes and on St Patrick’s Day leprechaun pom poms were
made. They supported Climate week with various activities and over the next few weeks there are plans
to celebrate Easter and Shakespeare Day. During March the idea of starting a youth council was
introduced and 9 young people volunteered for different roles at the first meeting.
10. MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY FULL COUNCIL MEETING having been circulated to all
members were taken as read. Cllr Tindall proposed and Cllr Parr seconded that the minutes should be
signed as a true record of the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
11. MATTERS ARISING FROM EXTRAORDINARY MEETING (For Information Only)
a.
School and surgery capacity: (See Minutes EFC 01/2014 Item 4) The Clerk had received additional
information that Haddenham School is already at capacity and one family has been asked to look
elsewhere for next year. There may be a temporary classroom and funding for one extra teacher but this
would only be for one year and after that the school would have to fund it out of existing resources. The
same capacity problems exist for Wilburton, Witchford and Sutton primary schools. The surgery is over
capacity and finding it very difficult to recruit new doctors.
b.
Planning application: (See Minutes EFC 01/2014 Item 4) Cllr P Wilson has “called in” the application
for 100 houses off Wilburton Road to ensure that it goes to the Planning Committee and is not
determined by the Planning Officer.
12. PLANNING APPLICATION 14/00005/FUL 80 HILLROW, HADDENHAM
(See Minutes EFC 01/2014 Item 4) This application had been considered on 24 th March and the Clerk
had obtained clarification from the Planning Officer regarding the change of use to garden land. She had
advised as follows:
“The land for which the change of use to garden land is sought currently has the appearance of being
part of the garden of 80 Hillrow. There is no boundary between the area immediately to the rear of the
dwelling and the land. However inspection of aerial photographs from 1998 and 2003 shows that
polytunnels were sited on the site, our assumption being therefore that the land at this time was used for
agricultural purposes and not as garden land. It is unclear when the use of the land changed. The aerial
photograph from 2009 shows that the polytunnels had been removed and that the land had become
more domesticated. We therefore requested the applicant to submit an application for the change of use
of the land as he advised that he wanted to replace the existing outbuilding. Generally if planning
permission is granted for the change of use of agricultural land to garden land a condition is imposed
removing permitted development rights to erect buildings incidental to the enjoyment of a dwelling
house”.
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An email from the neighbour of 80 Hillrow had also been received setting out his objections to the
application and this was conveyed to the Parish Council during their discussion but mainly related to
boundary issues, which are a legal matter and not under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council.
Cllr Page proposed and Cllr Bush seconded that the change of use to garden land should be accepted
but a condition must be imposed to remove permitted development rights to erect buildings on that land.
Motion carried by a show of 8 hands. Cllr G Wilson abstained.
13. REPORT FROM CLLR HUGO REGARDING DISTRICT COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING FOR
TEMPORARY MAST AT BERRY FEN
Cllr Hugo had attended the District Council Planning Meeting on 2 nd April when Planning Application
13/01102/FUL for the erection of a temporary anemometer mast at Berry Fen was considered. He put
forward all of the Parish Councils objections, which had been submitted previously. Mr Steve Cheetham
also spoke on behalf of parishioners objecting to the application. REG Windpower presented their case
but advised that they would not release the findings of the data collected from the mast and that they
intend to submit a planning application for the actual wind farm in summer 2014. Permission was
granted by the committee for the mast to be erected.
Cllr G Wilson is a member of the District Planning Committee and he explained to the Parish Council
that he had voted in favour of permission being granted because the committee has to follow certain
rules and can only refuse an application on planning grounds. Once this has happened the applicant can
appeal to the Planning Inspector who could grant permission and order costs to be paid by the District
Council. Cllr Wilson felt that it was inevitable that the mast would be approved and he therefore voted for
it but ensured that an additional statement was recorded against the permission stating: “The
anemometer has been approved on the basis of an assessment of the temporary impacts associated
with this particular type of development. This decision does not in any way prejudice the future
consideration of any application for wind turbines on that site. Any such application would be considered
on its own merits in accordance with local and National Policy”.
Cllr Parr proposed and Cllr Bush seconded that a letter should be sent to the Planning Officer stating
that the Parish Council is disappointed but accepts the approval decision by the Planning Committee.
However, the Council would insist that the anemometer data should be collected for a minimum of 12
months before a planning application is submitted and should be made available, as recommended in
the PPS22 Companion Guide, at the very least to the Planning Officer for this case. Motion carried by a
show of 7 hands. Cllrs Norman and G Wilson abstained.
14. PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL DOG BINS
Cllr Parr proposed and Cllr Page seconded that two dog bins should be purchased at a cost of £159.67
+ VAT each, one to be sited near the bottom end of the Non Conformist Burial Ground and the other in
Lode Way near the sign post at the end of Hod Hall Lane. Motion carried unanimously.
(Litter Act 1982 ss 5,6)
15. SEATING ARRANGEMENT FOR PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
Some councillors had found it difficult to hear properly at the March meeting due to the seating
arrangement but the Clerk had sorted it out with the Caretaker prior to the meeting and everyone agreed
it was better. Cllr Tindall wondered if the May meeting could be held in Room 2 to assess if it was
quieter than Room 1 and the Clerk will enquire with Vic Ford if this is possible.
16. QUOTES FOR LAND REGISTRATION WORK
(See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 20) The Clerk had obtained two alternative quotes for registration of the
parish land and it was agreed that Ward Gethin Archer of Ely should be asked to carry out the work on
behalf of the Parish Council at an estimated cost of £1340.
(Land Registration Act 2000 ss 4 & 58)
17. ALDRETH TELEPHONE BOX
Cllr Parr proposed and Cllr Page seconded that Aldreth Community Association should be given
permission to have responsibility for the Aldreth telephone box, to be used for advertising events in the
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village. Motion carried unanimously. The Association also intends to give the box a new coat of paint in
the near future.
18. TREE WORK AT THE CLOSED CEMETERY
Cllr G Wilson proposed and Cllr Parr seconded that an order should be issued to Conway Tree
Specialists to carry out pollarding work on four Lime trees in the Closed Cemetery at a cost of £300.
(Local Government Act 1894 s8(1)(i))
19. WHEELIE BIN AT CEMETERY
Cllr P Wilson proposed and Cllr Parr seconded that a 660 ltr general waste wheelie bin should be
obtained from AmeyCespa (East) Ltd at a cost of £14.96 + VAT per month (once a month empty and
duty of care charge) to be placed at Haddenham Cemetery for the disposal of dead flowers and
wrappers, etc. Motion carried unanimously.
(Litter Act 1982 ss 5,6)
20. REQUEST FROM HADDENHAM SCOUTS
Cllr Parr proposed and Cllr Tindall seconded that permission should be granted for Haddenham Scouts
to hold a cake stall on The Green on Saturday 31st May from 10.00am. Motion carried unanimously.
21. MATTERS TO REPORT
Cllr Norman advised that in the light of Blossoms & Bygones being cancelled the Friends of Haddenham
would be resurrecting the Haddenham Fen Ride this year in June. They intend to make it a bigger affair,
incorporating a visit to the brick museum and a picnic.
Cllr Page had noticed a lot of Spartan Race signs on the verges coming into the village and the Clerk
will contact County Highways about this.
Cllr G Wilson reported that the new A14 proposals are now available on-line.
Cllr Tindall reported that the grass area on the Froize End side of the entrance to Linden Way is
becoming very unkempt and the Clerk will find out whose responsibility it is to cut it.
The Clerk wished to remind all councillors that the Annual Parish Meeting would be held on Wednesday
16th April.
(See Minutes FC 02/2014 Item 8 para. 3). The Clerk had received a reply regarding the query about bus
stops in the High Street/Hop Row. Paul Nelson advised that the route of the proposed service would be
along Station Road, High Street, Linden End, Duck Lane and Wilburton Road and therefore the stop
would be in the High Street. He had also confirmed that they would look to be clearer on the times
shown on the timetable for Aldreth.
(See Minutes FC 02/2014 Item 14) A response had been received from Cambs County Council advising
that the funding cuts had been authorised but a new £500,000 funding pot will be set up to be spent on
public transport with an emphasis on community transport.
(See Minutes FC 03/2014 Item 21 para. 2) Planings have been supplied by the County Council and
spread at Hod Hall Lane by the Community Payback Crew. Cllr Norman would have a look to see if it
has addressed the issue at the end of the lane where vehicles pass each other.
22. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting and will be held on Wednesday 14th May 2014 at 7.30pm
at the Arkenstall Village Centre, Station Road, Haddenham, Cambs.
There being no further business the meeting was called to a close at 9.25pm.
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