LITTLE PAXTON PARISH COUNCIL

36 MinFC16Oct14 LITTLE PAXTON PARISH COUNCIL of the Council: Mrs J.Gellatly, 11 Hayling Avenue, Little Paxton, PE19 6HG Telephone: 01480 470193 E-mail: littlepaxton@hotmail.com www.little-paxton.org.uk Minutes of the Full Council meeting held in the back room at Little Paxton Village Hall at 7.15pm on Thursday 16th October 2014 APPROVED Present: Cllr P. Chapman, Cllr J. Cleaver, Cllr S. Codling, Cllr S. Dean,Cllr E. Freeman, Cllr G. Gamby, Cllr S. Johnson-Proctor, Cllr J. Longbottom, Cllr J. Matheson, Cllr D. Rennie, Cllr R. Russell, Cllr K. Churchill, Cllr D. Harty & the Mrs J. Gellatly. Agenda Item Pwr Action 272. Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D. Alder (family), Cllr P. Loughran (illness) & Cllr S. Radley (work). The apologies were accepted and approved. 273. Members declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary interest & Non Statutory Disclosable Interest for items on the Agenda. Cllr J. Longbotttom declared disclosable pecuniary interest on Agenda Item 280 as he is a direct neighbour to the applicant. 274. To receive written requests for new Disclosable Pecuniary interest dispensations- None. 275. Public Forum. There were no members of the public present. 276. The Property Officer gave a report. Goal post covers to be checked daily. requested to contact the Colts about the difficulties with goal post covers. 277. Report from District & County Councillors. Cllr D. Harty gave a verbal report. Cllr K. Churchill gave a verbal report. 278. To approve and sign the Minutes of Full Council meeting dated 2 nd October 2014. It was agreed to reword Agenda Item 257 as follows: The Chairman rebuked Cllr K. Churchill for his discourteous attitude and advised the meeting would be closed if it continued. 279. Matters Arising from previous Minutes (No decisions). The reported the memorial repairs in the Churchyard will be carried out next week. The Welcome Newsletter is being updated. A quotation is awaited for the street light repairs in the playing field. attended a funding workshop at Hunts Forum. 280. Planning Applications received by HDC. (i) 1401593FUL 11 Park Avenue, Little Paxton PE19 6PB- Proposed first floor extension to the side over existing garage- Applicant Mr. B. Noonan. It was agreed No comment as a Parish Councillor is a direct neighbour. 281. Planning Applications approved by HDC. (i) 1401078FUL Little Paxton Village Hall, High Street, Little Paxton- two replace 2 no. prefabricated garages with one building for the Parish Council maintenance machines and storage- Applicant Mrs J. Gellatly. 282. Planning Aide Memoire- Cllr J. Cleaver gave a verbal report. (i) It was agreed to prepare an aide memoire to provide guidance about planning process. Cllr J Cleaver to prepare draft aide memoire for 283. Attendance at HDC Development Management Panel meetings by Parish Councillors Cllr C. Gamby gave a verbal report. Cllr J.Cleaver /

37 (i) It was agreed a Parish Councillor to attend DMP meetings if it is feasible. 284. Neighbourhood Plan progress report- the Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Group gave report. (i) It was proposed to not continue with a Neighbourhood Plan at present. Proposed Cllr J. Longbottom. Seconded Cllr S. Johnson-Proctor. It was agreed to prepare a new Parish Plan. Proposed Cllr J. Cleaver. Seconded Cllr E. Freeman. Agenda Item for next meeting. 285. Playing Field Policy & Conditions of use- toilet & changing facilities - Cllr S. Dean gave a verbal report. (i) It was agreed add a new condition regarding toilet provision at the 286. Parish Community Notice board located on a grass verge near Boardman Close. It was agreed to contact HDC and ask them reconsider their decision, enclosing the Parish Council s Risk Assessment and report from Cambridgeshire County Council Highways. 287. Litter in the village- Cllr J. Cleaver gave a verbal report. (i) It was agreed to the review litter bins in the village and ask residents to suggest possible locations for new bins. 288. To agree possible locations in the village for Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPAD) and obtain permission from property owners. (i) Fours locations identified for the CPADS are on external wall of the village hall, near the Little Paxton Pharmacy, the wall at the entrance of Skipper Way and the external wall of the proposed community building at Samuel Jones Crescent. request to obtain necessary permissions from land owners. Funding of the CPADS to be an agenda item for 289. Netball facilities on the Multi Use Games Area- Cllr J. Matheson gave a verbal report. (i) Funding of netball facilities to be an agenda item for 290. It was agreed to submit the same questions which were submitted to Flood Forum 2013 to the 19 th November 2014 Huntingdonshire Flood Forum meeting with the additional question on unrestricted development - see attached. 291. Financial Statement as at Month 6-16 th September 2014. Information only. 292. The payment of accounts for October 2014 were approved. E-on- Street light electricity Direct Debit 1884 77.74 Edge It Systems Ltd- chq s/n 012042 1885 542.40 AmeyCespa (East) Ltd- Waste collection- chq s/n 012043 JP Tylers, JPT Design- part fee for Building Regulations for 1401078FUL- MinFCApr14/MinFCJun14- chq s/n 012044 Hire or Buy Group Ltd- Maintenance materials- chq s/n 012045 The Little Paxton Community Pavilion- Paxfest 2015 hire- Invoice received after Agenda issued- chq s/n 010065 Mr. Marvel- Paxfest Magic Show Booking fee- Invoice received after Agenda issued- chq s/n 010066 Arthur Ibbett Ltd- Maintenance materials- Invoice received after Agenda issued- chq s/n 01046 1886 56.83 1887 475.00 1888 54.60 1889 25.00 1890 70.00 1891 11.74 *1 *2 *3 *4 *6 *6

38 Cambridgeshire County Council- reposition playing field sign -Invoice received after Agenda issued- chq s/n 01047 1892 272.14 293. Information. Date of Full Council meeting 6 th & 20 th November 2014. Meeting closed at 8.58pm. Signed Chairman Powers 1. Parish Councils Act 1957 s3. 2. Local Government Act 1972 s.143. 3. Litter Act 1983 s5 & 6. 4. Local Government (Misc Provisions) Act 1976 5. Open Spaces Act c1906 s9/10. 6. Local Government Act 1972 s 145. Little Paxton - Flooding issues. Mill Lane: Difficulty: Road closure increases traffic congestion to whole of St Neots area. Most significant are roads leading into St Neots at peak periods. Flood average 3-6 days per annum. Current flow of information: Flooding peak expected - Environment Agency alert Police (road closed), CCC (Flood signage displayed) & all other local bodies. Flooding wane - Environment Agency alert Police, CCC (Bridge inspection conducted road signage removed), alert Police (road open) & all other local bodies. Priority advance flood warning system. Before an imminent high alert - warning transmitted by Environment Agency to Highways agency for A1, A14 signage displays with route deviation. Simultaneous broadcast to Local radio stations and local televised news, with all local Schools being informed. Benefit: Provides motorists with option to use alternative route or stagger travel. Should provide some alleviation to congested areas owing to deviation of traffic to main arterial routes, where possible. Cost effective short-term solution. Negative: Does not eradicate congestion. Installation of improved signage. Additional warning signage to be installed at key points in St Neots (to be determined) to provide advance warning of Mill Lane closure volunteers could activate signs upon alert (telephone tree?). Benefit: Provides additional information for residents likely to travel through St Neots and/or Little Paxton. Negative: Does not eradicate congestion. Improvement to existing road layout. Ignoring cost, I believe, significant factors must be considered for the well being of Little Paxton before this can ever be considered. Potential alterations to the existing road layout may significantly affect the level, direction or flow of water, whilst in flood. The surrounding land

39 naturally allows water to flow around and away from the village. Any alteration could lead to significant danger to residents. Navigation channel: Difficulty: Due to year-on-year neglect there is significant build-up of silt and detritus from St Neots Lock to Offord Lock. Draft in certain locations; dangerously low at fractionally over 2ft. Draft clearance for craft - officially 1.2 (M). 'V' formation of silt and debris has caused restrictions to flow thus adding to created build-up. Immediate remedial works and clearing by dredging of Navigation channel to maximise draft clearance and flow of water together with the removal of debris. Survey of river to determine potential draft difficulties with remedial works carried out. Benefit: Significant improvement to flow of water during times of flood through essential maintenance and removal of hazards. Negative: Cost and responsibility to which agency? Gullies & Culverts: Difficulty: Road gullies have been permitted to build up with debris thereby forcing the water to run-off adding to the adverse effects caused by flooding. Some Culverts have recently been improved, following a prolonged period of neglect. A survey of all surrounding ditches, gullies, culverts and manholes to determine any potential hazards, reported in turn to the necessary council/body/authority for any remedial works as necessary. A routine program of inspection and maintenance conducted on an annual basis* post flooding or at specific time of year (Autumn). Benefits: I believe village volunteers reporting to Parish/Town/District/County Councillor for highlighting any located issue could undertake this suggestion. Allowing for a relatively speedy solution to potential hazards, once highlighted -assuming the relevant agency will accept report and responsibility. Negative: Cross-agency co-operation required with individual agency budgets being brought into play. Conclusion: If nothing is done the situation will not improve. Some of the flood difficulties could be easily and cost effectively alleviated with the implementation of regular surveying and pro-active issue management. This will incur short-term costs but provide long-term benefits. The main difficulty is multi-agency involvement, an avoidance of responsibility with an ever-increasing level of potential cost. Little Paxton should not be prepared to accept any improvement to alleviate traffic congestion at the potential detriment to the safety of residents within the village. Unrestricted development: Difficulty: In recent years buildings for various purposes have been erected on land immediately adjacent to the River Ouse Navigation channel within the flood plain. Planning consent has been applied for in two cases, there is no routine enforcement operation in place for ensuring the underside of these raised dwellings are kept clear to allow free flow of flood water. Suggestion: To ensure maximum possible safety for the village of Little Paxton and it s 1800 properties a regular inspection from land and water should be conducted to ensure the free flow of water under and around the developed plots.

40 Buildings without consent should be inspected to ensure all possible measures for the protection of the watercourse; environment and the village as a whole are carried out. All dwellings should be required to apply for planning consent, with sufficient notification to all potentially affected residents.