CASTOR PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE  MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4th APRIL 2007  8.00 P.M. IN THE SCHOOL HALL

 

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Tracey Blackmore, Eleanor Hoggart and Walter Howard. Members of the public present: Cllr Diane Lamb, Ian Sheldon and Kerry Davies

2.      MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING held on Wednesday 7th March 2007 had been circulated prior to the meeting and a copy placed on the Notice Board. It was proposed by Andy Smith and seconded by Martin Chillcott that these be signed.

3.      AGENDA ORDER – The agenda order was not revised.

4.      PLANNING

a) Appeal regarding Ambleside, Mill Lane, Castor – Mr Chillcott has sent the letter regarding this.

5.      MATTERS ARISING

a)      Road Safety - City Council will have their new budget for the coming year soon and hopefully the flashing speed sign is included in this.

b)      Glebefield – Nothing to report

c)      Village Seats/Gates –Unfortunately the new picnic bench that was installed down Splash Lane has been stolen. John Taylor will look into another one and will oversee the installation. The Chairman’s bench has been installed on the green.

d)      Plaque for Chairman’s Bench – Martin Chillcott and Cllr. John Holdich are looking into wording for this.

e)      Clay Lane development – Nothing to report at the moment

f)        Quality Status – Some members of the council had a meeting with Ian from CALC to discuss this matter, prior to the meeting. It seemed to be that overall view that this is the way forward and Castor and Ailsworth parish Councils should be working towards this together.

g)      Plot 26 Stone wall – Andy Smith has this in hand

h)      Granite posts on the Green and other areas – awaiting quotation on this matter

i)        Village Cross – after discussion it was decided that this needs to be discussed further with Rev. William Burke.

6.      FINANCE –

Payments: St. Kyneburgha PCC re Heating Fund           £5,000.00

                J.A. Smith re installations of benches            £    390.00

                Mrs S. Henson wages for March                  £    198.51

 

                Current Account                £1,686.67

                Deposit Account               £50,765.81

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                                                        £52,452.48

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                      Payments to be made:

a)      Additional payment for installations of the gates - £360.00 – proposed by Andy Smith and seconded by John Howard

b)      Anglian Water  - £29.29 – proposed by Andy Smith and seconded by John Howard

c)      Peterborough City Council Landscaping Charges - £307.86 – proposed by Andy Smith, seconded by John Taylor

d)      Audit –a letter had been received from our auditors, Moore Stephens informing us that our audit this year would be on 1st June – this was causing concern with timescales etc – the clerk will contact them to see if this date can be changed.

7.      VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT – Ian Sheldon reported to the meeting that the repairs to the floor were now finished – cost - £3,500. It was also discussed that Ian needs more support with regard to the Village hall management.

8.      CORRESPONDENCE – A thank you letter was received from St. Kyneburgha PCC with regard to the £5,000.00 donation to the Church-heating fund.

9.      REPORTS AND ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA

Martin Chillcott would like the parish council to look into updating the Children’s Play Area in Allotment Lane – possibly with a new piece of equipment.

Andy Smith suggested purchasing a rotavator for use by the allotment holders- he will look into cost etc.

The clerk reported that Mr Nicholls has taken his cattle out of Ferryfields due to the condition of the neighbouring fence causing concern. The clerk will write to Mr J. Wood and Milton Estates.

The clerk will contact City Council, asking it they will re-instate the no cycling sign at Benams Close and Manor Farm Lane.

Mr Sheldon asked if the red telephone box on Peterborough Road could be given a coat of paint, windows mended etc. The Clerk will contact BT with a view that the village adopt the external of the box, if BT keep the technology.

Agenda items:

Road safety – JT

   Glebefield – TB/JT

   Clay Lane development – TB/JT

   Children’s Play Area – MC

   Plot 26 – Stone wall – AS

   Quality Status – JT

   Granite posts – WB/JT

   Bench in Splash Lane – JT

   Village Cross – JT

   Rotavator for allotments - AS  

10.  QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR  - None

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.10 p.m.

 

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL ON WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY – IT WILL BE THE AGM AT 7.45 FOLLOWED BY OUR NORMAL MONTHLY MEETING AT 8 P.M. IN THE VILLAGE HALL