Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 21st November at 7.15pm
Present: Cllr Barbara Cooper (chairperson)
Cllr Will Bevan
Cllr Mrs Bobbie Coe
Cllr Ben Holland
Cllr Peter White
Sharon Brown (Clerk)
Also present: Cllr Mark Howell, CCC and Christine Morton, Skylark editor.
OPEN FORUM
No Matters were raised.
59 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None
60 MEMBERS’ DECLARATION OF INTEREST FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Coe declared an interest in item 64c).
61 TO SIGN AND APPROVE MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the last meeting were proposed by Cllr Bevan, seconded by Cllr Coe and unanimously approved.
62 REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS
Cllr Howell, CCC highlighted:
a) the East – West Rail non-statutory consultation and local meetings available,
b) the re-surfacing of the B1046 – Longstowe to Little Gransden.
He also highlighted several South Cambs District matters:
c) the Traveller’s Needs Assessment being undertaken by the District Council,
d) the SCDC 4- day week and that the Labour government agreed the value of the trial and was it was therefore not requesting further data the matter.
63 MATTERS ARISING/TO REPORT FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES (FOR INFORMATION) ONLY) – COUNNCIL TO REPORT THE FOLLOWING
a) Neighbourhood Plan – Minutes of 21/10/2024: Noted. Thanks were expressed to the chairman of the Working Group for the detailed work being carried out.
b) Road accidents in the village – update:
– Motor cycle accident by Bellams Lane / B1046 bend, Tues 22/10/24.
– Car crash involving a police car and one other vehicle at junction A1198 & B1046, 24/10/24.
64 FINANCE
a) Accounts update – mid-Sept – mid-Oct 2024: Noted.
b) Village Noticeboards – backboard replacement to 2x large boards:
Agreed, to the purchase of locally cut steel sheets and associated items. Action – Cllr Holland.
c) Village sign refurbishment – Mrs R. Coe, (paid on receipt of sign) 1961.40: Reimbursement agreed.
d) Village Hall hire – Parish Council 2023/24 £150.00 and 2024/25 £150.00: Agreed.
e) Clerk’s Pay and Expenses mid-Oct – mid-Nov 2024 £212.90, HMRC £53.20.
f) Draft Budget 2024/25 and Precept proposal: Proposed by Cllr Coe, seconded by Cllr White and unanimously agreed, the budget proposal and the precept of £9500 for 2025/26. The precept remains the same as last year.
65 TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
24/04096/OUT planning application at Fox Rd was discussed. Noted that Bourn PC would be dealing with this as a matter of course.
66 TO CONSIDER OTHER MATTERS
a) Silos at the Red House: Agreed, Cllr Cooper will write to the owners again to clarify the concerns and request a planning application be made for these two other silos.
b) Village sign repair – update: The sign has now been delivered. A fund-raising box will be put out at the Christmas Fair.
c) Dial-a-ride bus services – update: Cllr Coe and Cllr White continuing to look into the matter.
d) Village Hall update: The building upgrade work date now January 2025. There is no village Afternoon Tea at the end of the month, this being replaced by the Christmas Fair on Saturday 23rd November.
e) LHI round – 2025/2026: Agreed, to make an application for MVAS equipment and to source match funding if possible.
67 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Correspondence for discussion at the Parish Council meeting; details are available from the Clerk:
a) Government consultation re. online meetings: Agreed online meetings extremely useful when necessary and to respond to the consultation.
b) TTRO 25-123 Proposed Road Closure, High Street, Longstowe, 13/01 to 09/02/2025. Agreed, the resurfacing work long overdue and response to be sent accordingly.
c) CCC Highways – Capitally Funded Highway Maintenance Schemes: Information on the online meeting to be forwarded to Cllr Cooper.
d) CCC Highways – Village Verge Maintenance Consultation: Noted, that each section of grass cutting is now itemised by Highways and the Clerk has sent a response as to sections cut by the Parish Council.
68 SKYLARK – TO CONSIDER ANY EDITIORIAL MATTERS
Items for the December issue: Obituary – liaison with family needed, Christmas Fair review, Parish Council notes from Cllr Cooper, Village sign fundraising thermometer update.
69 DATE OF THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER, AT 7.15PM, AT LONGSTOWE VILLAGE HALL.
Signed by Date December 2024
Chairperson