Councillors Telephone
Mrs K Gifkins9Chairman) 01638 663268
P Parkes 01638 731437
Mrs M Almond 01638730731
O. Oakervee 01638 731261
Mrs A Spurling 01638 730228
S.L. Windmill 01638 730339
D Vose 01638 730948
C. Moffat (Clerk) 01638 730643
Minutes of the Ashley Parish Council Meeting
held on 12th September 2005 in the Pavilion.
Present. Councillors Oakervee, , Almond, Windmill, and Gifkins plus Clerk Clive Moffat, Dist Cllr. Cresswell, Rosie Burton (ECDC) Stan Rees and Alan Hampton (Cambridgeshire Acre) and 3 members of the public.
Apologies ? Cllr. Vose, Spurling and Parkes.
1. Open Meeting. The issue of brambles across the entrance pathway to the pavilion was raised.
Action Clerk to remove.
Mr Bridge raised the issue of lack of detail in the agenda for the meetings. He felt that more information should be provided. This view did not seem to be shared as it was difficult to define where to stop. However the clerk will try to put more detail within reason in future agenda.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 8th August 2005. It was proposed by Cllr. Almond and seconded by Cllr. Oakervee that these be accepted. All agreed.
matters arising. The problem with the lack of oxygen in the pond had been overcome by nature and heavy storms. Fish were reported to be in abundance. All other items are contained within the agenda.
3. Correspondence. A letter had been received from P Bridge with regards 3 issues.
a. Old Suffolk Road Footpath. The end of this footpath still does not allow access to the Dalham Lidgate Rd at the southern end. This has been discussed with St Edmundsbury Council on several occasions with promises but no result. In fact the clerk had received a letter from a footpath agent of the council and had asked him to investigate this matter. The papers were passed over to P Bridge (Footpath officer).
During this discussion the issue of footpath officer was raised as P Bridge felt it was time for someone else to take up this position. Cllr. Vose had indicated an interest and it was agreed that Cllr. Vose and P Bridge would get together to discuss the position and the requirements for the job.
b. All Saints Church remains at Silverley . Access had been restricted to curtail unwanted elements and Mr Bridge felt that free access was now prevented. However Cllr Gifkins pointed out that this was the responsibility of the rector (Christine Sindall.)
Clerk to ask her with regards to future plans and report at next meeting.
c. St Mary,s Church remains on the Dalham Rd. no work had been carried out despite promises by the County council earlier this year.
Clerk to contact Cambridge County Council
Letter from CCC re meeting on waste management on the 27th Sept. Clerk to attend. This led on to a discussion with regards recycling facilities in Ashley and it was agreed that this be an item on the agenda for the next meeting.
4. Anti Social Behaviour. Mr Tully of Cambridgeshire Police was to attend the meeting but did not arrive. Clerk to investigate and perhaps put on agenda for next meeting.
5. Conservation Area ? Rosie Burton described the program for formal consultation. Letters will go out to all effected in the village on Friday the 16th September for comment. These letters will spell out the implications of becoming a conservation area. A notice will also be put in the press and a exhibition will be held at the council offices in Ely. At the end of the consultation process a public exhibition will be held in the Pavilion on the 10th October 2005 in the evening. This is to enable residents to fully understand the implications before making final comments.
During this discussion the issue of overhead wires in the village was raised as it was felt that this detracted from the village scene and expectations were that if we became a conservation area that over time these would go underground. Rosie Burton indicted that the cost would be very high and this was unlikely to ever happen.
6. Parish Plan . Mr Hampton said that only 2 local villages so far (Ashley being one) had completed a plan that had been submitted to the District Council. ECDC were most impressed with the plan, the wide range of issues addressed and the high response rate to the questionnaires. The steering group were to be congratulated. ECDC and CCC would use the plan as inputs to wider issues in the future. They have prepared a response to the action plan which was passed out at the meeting. The clerk to ensure all councillors have a copy. In the meanwhile Cllr. Gifkins will see if the past members of the steering group would like to view the comments.
Stan Rees of Cambridge Acre would be the main contact with regards future actions and liaison with ECDC . The plan must be reviewed once a year.
7. Planning. The Walnuts in the High St have made a retrospective planning application to build a wall with gate (already built) at the back of the car port. The original application was to have a drive through car port with parking behind. This had been circulated to the Cllr?s. and comments received today but not yet read. However the Cllr expressed dismay at the flagrant disregard made to the plans submitted which was becoming a common occurrence and the clerk was instructed to convey this to the planning department of ECDC.
8. Financial. Two cheques for approval. £531.13 payable to APT as the Parish Councils contribution to the Pavilion insurance. £10 to CALC for a publication. It was proposed by Cllr. Almond and seconded by Cllr. Windmill that these be approved. All agreed.
9. Churchyard Trees. ? An estimate had been received from SP Landscapes for £200 plus VAT to trim back the trees in the entrance driveway. It was proposed by Cllr Almond and seconded by Cllr. Oakervee that this be approved. All agreed.
Action Clerk
10. Recreation Ground
a. Basket Ball Net. A quotation had been received from Collier Turf Care for the supply and delivery of one basket ball post and net at £471.53 plus vat. It was pointed out that this did not include installation which would probably cost another £200 . Proposed by Cllr. Oakervee and seconded by Cllr Gifkins that this go ahead. P Bridge agreed to store the post until installation was ready.
Action Clerk
b. Children,s Play Equipment. We still await confirmation of grant aid from Hansen Trust
c. Hire of Playing Field. In the past the hire of the playing field and the changing room for football matches by teams from Newmarket had been the source of many problems caused by vandalism and misuse of the facilities. The rent received was minimal and generally not considered economical. In addition many matches now required 2 changing rooms which we did not have. Before making any policy decisions as too future use we need to establish commercial costs in Newmarket for hiring such facilities and to raise this issue at a future meeting.
Action Clerk
11. Appointment of new Parish Clerk. Two people had been interviewed by a panel of 3 councillors consisting of Cllr. Oakervee, Gifkins and Vose. Both applicants were considered good but Carol Clarkson had had considerable experience as a clerk and it was felt an offer should be made to her. This was proposed by Cllr Oakervee and seconded by Cllr Almond. All in favour.
Action Cllr Gifkins to make an offer (which would be subject to 2 references) to start 1st Oct 2005 but to work in parallel with current clerk until the end of 2005. Cllr Gifkins would also write to the other applicant who was interviewed confirming the situation.
The clerk to write to the 3 unsuccessful applicants who were not