Kings Ripton Parish Council Meeting
M4
A Meeting of Kings Ripton Parish Council was held at Kings Ripton Village Hall, School Lane, Kings Ripton, PE28 2NL, on Tuesday 4th September 2012 at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillors Mick Toates (Chairman); Brian Petre; Ros Townsend; Joan Evans & Zelda Barter-Rayner
In attendance: Cambridgeshire County Councillor Victor Lucas DL; Huntingdonshire District Councillor Robin Howe; Claire Tunnicliffe, Parish Clerk & Mr Roy Collett member of the public.
32. APOLOGIES
None were declared.
33. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none.
35. MINUTES
Copies of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 19th June (M3) had been circulated following their informal approval by the Chairman. It was
RESOLVED that the minutes were a correct record and they were duly signed by the Chairman.
36. PUBLIC FORUM
The Chairman receiving an indication that a Member of the public wished to address the meeting proposed to adjourn and it was
RESOLVED to do so.
Mr Collett commented that the village seemed to have experienced very little problem with this year’s Secret Garden Party (SGP) but the Council must not be complacent in the future. It was agreed that the direction of the wind had helped with the noise being carried away from the village.
Councillor Howe reported that he had received a complaint from a Kings Ripton resident concerning the noise but had spoken to neighbours who had reported that they had no issue with the noise.
Councillor Howe explained that he was waiting for data from Huntingdonshire District Council which would provide a summary of the complaints recorded. Once the data had been received a meeting would be arranged concerning the local parish Councils surrounding the site of the SGP.
A discussion followed the arrangements that had been put into place by the SGP organisers and noted that regular patrols had occurred throughout the weekend. Members felt that the complaints phone number had been advertised well in the village but residents needed to be reminded to raise any complaints they had no matter how small.
A Member asked if the conditions of the licence had been breached and the condition of licence was discussed further. A number of points were raised such as the provision of data quality supplied by the organisers of the SGP; the time frame to produce the data & the sound limit on acoustic music and events throughout the night. It was also felt that Huntingdonshire District Council should have their own monitoring systems in place. Members noted the principal officers at Huntingdon District Council were on holiday at the time of the event and that their Line Managers should be available throughout the weekend and not their Deputies.
The Chairman thanked Mr Collet, Councillor Lucas DL and Councillor Howe for their comments and it was
RESOLVED to re-convene.
36. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Before the Chairman gave his report he highlighted the fire exits in the hall.
The Chairman then reported that he had received invitations from St Neots Town Council & Ramsey Town Council to attend a Civic Service that would both take place on 9th September 2012. The Chairman and Vice Chairman were unable to attend either event and asked if there was a Member who would be able to accept the invite. Unfortunately as no one was able to attend it was
RESOLVED to send apologies and note with thanks.
Members heard that Huntingdonshire District Council had announced changes to the plastic recycling. Information could be found on the District Council’s website and would be communicated to all residents of Kings Ripton website.
The Chairman informed those present that he would be attending a meeting at Pathfinder House on 13th September on the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036
Members were informed that the Plan sets out the strategy for development in the whole of Huntingdonshire which incorporates policies for managing development and site specific proposals of development in the context of the new national planning policy.
Dates of the public consultation on the Plan would take place throughout the district in October and Members were handed a list of the consultation dates. A discussion followed on devising a Parish plan and an example of a questionnaire was handed to Members.
Members were advised that they would be required to adopt a planning policy for the village to address any further housing development in the future.
The Chairman asked for an update on the lopping of the trees on the allotment site. Members were advised that Brian Ogden, Arboricultural Officer at Huntingdon District Council had confirmed that as the trees are in a conservation area and permission is required before any work is carried out.
Clerks note: An application for tree works: works to trees subject to a tree preservation order (TPO) and/or notification of proposed works to trees in a conservation area. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 has been downloaded for completion.
37. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL
Councillor V Lucas DL reminded Members that as part of the ‘Connecting Cambridgeshire’ campaign, Cambridgeshire County Council were inviting members of the community to volunteer for the role of Community Broadband Champions. The Champion would be required to promote the benefits of broadband access locally; encourage residents to register their demand; support and encourage internet use and arrange or support local events to highlight the campaign.
The Chairman responded that the campaign would be promoted to Kings Ripton residents via the Parish website and the Ripton News.
Councillor Lucas DL expressed his support for the Parish Council’s application to introduce traffic calming measures in the village as part of the programme of the minor highway improvement scheme. A discussion followed about the scheme which would be considered further when the costings of the scheme were known.
Councillor Howe informed Members that the planning application (Ref: 1201158OUT) for the redevelopment of the former Alconbury airfield had been submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council. The development would consist of 5,000 new houses and up to 290,000 square metres of a mix of office or industrial employment floor space. The development would also include shops, community facilities, schools, sports facilities and open spaces. Members were reminded that public consultations would take place in September, the dates of which had been posted on the Parish notice board.
It was
RESOLVED to thank Councillor Lucas DL and Councillor Howe for their comments.
Clerk’s note: Both Councillors Lucas DL and Councillor Howe gave apologies and left the meeting at 7.45pm.
38. PARISH CLERK’S REPORT
The Clerk reported the following that Huntingdonshire District Council had been contacted to ask for advice on how to compile a Parish Plan and if any funding would be available.
With regards to the village sign the Clerk had requested a copy of the drawing that had been submitted by Mr Townsend. With the design available comparative quotations could be sought. A short discussion followed and it was
RESOLVED to place the design in the Ripton News and on the website asking residents to submit their own design; feedback on the current design and any ideas that they had.
Members were shown a breakdown of expenditure for the Jubilee celebrations at a cost of £2,588.76
Members were then asked to consider the following training for the Parish Clerk
- General Power of Competence, 20th September 2012, 7.00pm,
Bluntisham Village Hall, £35
Accounts & End of Year Accounts, 9th September 2012, 7.00pm, Bluntisham Village Hall, £35.
It was
RESOLVED to approve training and note the report with thanks.
Clerk’s note: Councillor Barter Rayner gave apologies and left the meeting at 8.00pm.
39. CODE OF CONDUCT
Members were asked to consider for adoption a suitable Code of Conduct for Members of Kings Ripton Parish Council. Copies of Huntingdonshire District Council’s Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct recommended by the National Association of Local Councils had previously been circulated. Members were reminded that under the Localism Act 2011 the Council must adopt a new Code of Conduct which complies with the requirement of the Act. The Code would apply to all Councillors when they act in their role as Councillors of Kings Ripton Parish Council. It was agreed that more time was needed to consider each Code or adoption of the Council’s own Code of Conduct and therefore
RESOLVED to postpone until the November meeting of the Parish Council.
40. FINANCE
40.1 The following accounts were approved for payment;
(i). Cheque No 000424: Payment to Parish Clerk for wages July & August £200
(ii) Cheque No 000425: Payment to Parish Clerk for travel expenses for July & August. £27.00
(iii) Cheque No 0000 : Renewal of Annual Insurance £187.02
(iv) Cheque No 000 : Payment to Mr Collett for parking at Burghley House Jubilee Celebrations £20.00
It was RESOLVED to approve payment and the cheques were duly signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
40.2 Members next noted the following the following expenditure:
(i) Cheque No 000420: Outstanding payment to Running Imp for Jubilee Mugs £17.65
(ii) Cheque No 000421: *Payment to Silicon Bay Limited for website training £36.00
Previous Cheque No 000417 cancelled as VAT had not been added.
(ii) Cheque No 000422: Payment to Moore Stephens for completion of External Audit £88.80
(iii) Cheque No 000423: Payment to CAPALC for affiliation membership £62.65
It was RESOLVED to note with thanks
41. CORRESPONDENCE
No matters were raised.
42. ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
Members asked for the following items to be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting.
- Code of Conduct
- Update on trees on the allotment site.
- Alconbury Weald
- Village Sign
- Traffic Calming Measures.
43. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
November 6th 2012, Village Hall, School Lane, Kings Ripton.
CHAIRMAN