Minutes of a meeting of Wimblington Parish Council held on Tuesday 9th February 2016 in the small room of the Parish Hall, Addison Road Wimblington at 7.00 pm.
Present M T Davis (Chairman), Mrs P Amos (Clerk), Cllr J Clarke; Cllr J Rose; Cllr S Coulson; Cllr P Crawford; Cllr G Bellard.
Number / Title / Action0016/16 / Apologies for Absence / PCSO Carol Holloway; Liz Wright; Julie Dent
0017/16 / Confirmation of minutes / RESOLVED – that the minutes of meeting held on 13th January 2016 were correctly recorded and that they be signed as being a true record. Proposed: Joanne Rose. Seconded: Pauline Crawford.
0018/16 / Crime report / PCSO has been patrolling the area and spoken to residents and local shops about any concerns they may have and received very positive feedback about how nice it is to live in the village.
Patrolled outside Thomas Eaton School concerning parking issues – Words of advice given to parents about parking inconsiderately.
New Horizon Bus will be in the Village Hall Car Park on Friday 26th February 2016 Between 11.15am-12.15pm for a cuppa and chat.
0019/16 / Fenland District council / Report by Cllr M Davis: Nothing general to report, FDC business plans re the cost savings review are yet to be produced. The council tax rate is likely to go up by 1.99%. It was resolved that we would not increase the precept any further than already agreed.
0020/16 / Cambridgeshire County Council / No report has been received from David Connor
0021/16 / Matters Arising / a) Street lights -further to minute 0006/16(a) The Chairman attended a meeting with other chairs of other parish councils and 2 reps from Skanska, and Cllr Simon King, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for street lighting. The Chairman reported there will be no more money on offer, but we do have the money necessary, in hand to pay for the new street lights. The precept will be going up which will help cover costs. From a sample survey done by Skanska, the five lights inspected in Wimblington are considered Amber so not Cat 2 as notified by FDC and Balfour Beatty. This situation was replicated throughout the sample survey; The Skanska report has been given to Simon King. The Balfour Beatty contract is now up for review, so the County Council may move to Skanska. We will probably have to survey all lights, which we will have to pay for. We make the decision as to which light are to be replaced. 17 Cat 1 lights have already been replaced which were paid for by FDC. Also Skanska charge only £1100.00 per light, as opposed to the £1200.00 quoted by Balfour Beatty. We need to find out whether FDC will still pay for the maintenance if we employ Skanska as FDC’s current contract is with Balfour Beatty. We need to wait for Simon King to come back to us with information. We do not want FDC to tell us to pay for our own maintenance.
b) New Cemetery – further to minute 0006/6(b) We’re still waiting for Andy Thomas and Russell to sort out the drainage. Allotment Association have already agreed that we can join in to their piping. The Allotment Ass do not recommend their ground worker and we will therefore have to find another contractor to do the work. / RW
0022/16 / Payments / The members to consider the following: accounts for payment:
a)
Payments / NET / VAT / £
PC World / WPC laptop / 440.82 / 88.16 / 528.98
British Gas / Gas / 155.88 / 7.79 / 163.67
N Wright / CCTV etc / 767.00
PRS / Music licence / 105.97 / 21.19 / 127.16
Ridgeons / Slabs for graveyard / 248.50 / 49.70 / 298.20
FDC / Empty wheelie bins Jan – March / 125.42 / 250.84
FDC / Empty wheelie bins / 125.42
M Moulton / Booking clerk cuties / 98.10
Lisa Duff / Cleaning duties / 167.50
Pat Amos / Clerk salary / 645.83
CAPALC course for new clerk will be £200.00
c) G Bellard to do check list/audit for Allotments and cemetery
d) J Clarke to do check list/audit list for playing field
e) Julie Dent to do check list/audit for Parkfield
f) Joanne Rose to do check list/audits for hall
It was agreed that the clerk should purchase a portable hard drive with automatic back-up software in order to ensure that the Parish Council laptop was regularly backed up. / GB
PA
0023/16 / Planning / F/YR16/0023/F Carty 24 Addison Rd – 2bed 2 storey dwelling facing March Rd. discussed – It was considered that this was overdevelopment of the site and site will be too crowded.
NOTE: application for 3 bungalows at Bridge Lane has been refused by FDC and refused under appeal. / PA to send in completed form
0024/16 / Highway matters/Street lighting/
Transport / a) Street lights reported issues: FPC1 outside number 4 (?)Church St.NO HGV sign still on floor
Lots of rubbish being thrown over into Woodmans Walk. Has been reported; MD to talk to Circle or Cambridge housing. Hedge at Blue Lane still needs cutting MD will speak to T Knowles.
Grip at Bridge lane still to be dug out / PC
MD
00025/16 / Recreation ground / a) WMPF: Cllr Clarke has walked round and it seems OK, grass quite long and needs cutting.
b) Parkfield: no report
0026/16 / New Cemetery/ Churchyard / a) New cemetery: The levelling of the headstones, letters have been sent out to relatives of those whose gravestones are leaning. One relative - Mrs Howlett has asked about being buried at Wimblington, it was resolved that she would have to pay non- resident rate, as she had not lived in the village for many years. Advise to be sought from Russell Wright as to whether she could be interred with her parents. Write to N DiGiovanni to ask whether she would like to level the ground at their relatives grave, or shall we do it.
b) Wimblington St Peters Church: P Crawford reported that its looking lovely. Work has been done to take down unsightly stones and tidy it all up, she has been told that a new vicar will be moving in to the village. / PA to
contactRW and write to N DiGiovanni
0027/16 / Parish Hall / General matters: To keep on the case re roof/repairs.
Heating to be set to come on every day, especially in the mornings of Monday Tuesday and Wednesday morning ready for use in afternoons. Lesley Donovan has donated a monitor and wall bracket so that we can see the CCTV.
Quotes for new cupboards are £1200.00 upwards. We will cost it out ourselves.
CCTV now installed and contact alarms fitted to fire exit doors.
Smoke alarms not yet done
Hand driers – 1 has been purchased – to be fitted, Mrs Moulton to speak to her son
The clerk reported on the meeting with the Cambs Fire Service – a number of deficiencies were identified, namely – 1. Fire risk assessment not suitable – new one downloaded from Fire Service and sent to Joanne; 2. Any electrical work to be carried out by competent person in accordance with current regulations of institute of Electrical engineers. PAT testing must be done; 3. Fire safety policy not sufficient or suitable – must review and make more site specific; 4. We must have a fire warning system, powered by electrical supply, 3 companies approached – waiting for visits – Rosefire have been; New flame are visiting tomorrow and Norfolk Fire and Security on Thursday. 5. Emergency escape lights not working/adequate – bulbs have been replaced (add to audit/check) Additional emergency light need to be placed in the disabled toilet and the main hall area; 6. Safety drills to be established; 7. Fire alarm system to be tested weekly, (cleaner) any defects to be corrected and logged in fire precautions book, emergency light to be tested daily/monthly (Joanne)/annually – the annual test to be carried out by servicing contractor – to be set up with successful installer. 8. Employees to be given relevant and comprehensive information on risk, preventative measures, procedures. Nominated firefighting persons, (added to hall hire conditions) assistants in evacuation; 9. Periodic regular fire/safety training to employees.
We are still awaiting builders/roofers to actually turn up!
Wi fi - £10 for 10 GB or £17 per month for unlimited wi fi in hall – discussion decided to hold fire PA to try to find a cheaper deal. / PA
JR
MM
PA to arrange guarantee
PA
PA JR
PA
PA
PA
0028/16 / Fun Day/Christmas Lights / Cllr Rose to report: Xmas lights:- The carpenters quotes so far for the cupboard are very expensive, race night on 20th to raise funds, leaflet drop will go ahead soon.
Fun day: – dog show in March, with raffle and hot dogs, GB suggested bucket for donations on the day. Prises are amazing, Jan who has organised the dog show has dealt with all of them. Everything else in hand – theme for the fun day is a day at the sea side.
0029/16 / Correspondence/other matters / 1 letter received, from FDC advising of application received from STAY for community right to bid for the Anchor. Application to be considered before 26.1.16
Village sign is leaning (by the mound) probably moved by vandals. J Rose has investigated and had Richard Ward to look, quote from Brain Elmore to concrete back in, is about £50.00 to have pretty iron extra, would cost a total of £90.00. David Green will help by using his lifting eqpt. Cost of refurbishment would be free, (lady in village) as long as we supply/replace her acrylic paints. Painting to be done in the hall. We need a larger top for the sign also a skirt for the bottom. It was resolved that a total of £250.00 is pre authorised, for the work. Sarah Coulson will donate some bulbs to be planted around the bottom. Pauline to buy the wood preservative 5 L tin needed. (she will donate).
Neighbourhood Watch – service level engagement, we have a new officer in March, who wants to make realistic arrangements. They only 7 staff to cover whole area. He is working with all areas to come up with arrangement to suit all including Wisbech. The document/arrangement will be brought in across Fenland, explaining what each area expects from the Police. J Rose to forward the agreement to all Councillors, to comment. Annual forum last month with 6 different officers, NW have no funds now, but that meeting was at the hall. J Rose asked whether the meeting hall could be used free of charge instead of the meetings being held at an individual’s house. This was unanimously agreed. There is to be a recruitment drive for new members for NW. Last one done 2 years ago. Speed watch now has 5 volunteers, but nothing has been done yet. M Davis offered to attend NW meetings; The speed watch kit has now been found, so a speed watch could now go ahead, meetings are bi-monthly.
Pensions PA to check eligibility for staff.
J Clarke has web site up to date.
G Bellard reported that Ransonmoor wind farm would like to put up application for grant on our web site – all in agreement.
Queens 90th birthday and beacon lighting – discussion resolved not to light beacon as the official date is on a Thursday night. If it had been a Saturday, something could have been done.
M Davis – very conscious that the hall is becoming tatty/unsightly. Firstly, we must resolve the roofing or do we need a new roof? Perhaps form a sub- committee to fund raise to bring hall up to date. Probably need new floor as the current one is not insulated and the disabled toilet not very nice. We need to draw up a shopping list and then look for funds/grants. Consider application to Fisher Parkinson We can then try to get matching funding. GB suggested going to each trade: solar; flooring; roofing for prices. Burnthouse windmills give grants. All agreed to sub- committee with separate meeting. All attending will be on sub- committee.
MD will e-mail dates for sub- committee meeting – all agreed on Tuesdays. All agreed that we should concentrate on this, this year.
S Coulson is having Lionel Warden School going to her farm to do an activity with RSPB. Mr West is the new headmaster at Wimblington school, so she will approach them to see if they are also interested.
Meting closed at 21.10 / SC
PC
JR
PA
JC
MD
0030/16 / Date of next meeting / Tuesday 8th March 2016