Planning

Meldreth Parish Council

www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

This meeting was held in the Community Room in Elin Way. The main points of the meeting are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website noted above and on the Parish Council noticeboard; these will be presented for approval at the next Council meeting.

Discussions and Decisions

Council Elections 2022

There was no election for the Parish Council as the number of nominations (nine) equalled the number of seats. One new councillor was appointed, Helen Meridew, and she was welcomed to the

Council.

Council Appointments and Procedures

Appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. These appointments are annual and the following were elected for the forthcoming year after duly being proposed and seconded: Chairman: Councillor

Richard Goddin; Vice Chairman Councillor Roger James.

After Councillors had signed Acceptances of Office and submitted

Registers of Interests, the Council duly voted to adopt the new Code of Conduct. This can be viewed on the Council’s website.

Planning Committee

This is the only formal Council committee (as opposed to working groups) and the following were elected as its members: Councillors

Joan Fallon, Richard Goddin, Roger James, Alan Land, Martin

McGarry and Nigel Pellatt.

District and County Councillors’ Reports

The Council thanked our County and District Councillors for keeping us informed. Attention was drawn to the improvements that are planned for the footpath underpass on the approach to Meldreth

Station [see page 45].

Local and Regional Planning Issues

Since the last Council meeting there have been no further reports on the Thakeham “new town” proposals, the Oxford - Cambridge Arc and the Local Development plan.

Covid 19

Restrictions have now been lifted but the Council continues to recommend discretion and caution. The village support arrangements remain in place for the time being.

Flambards Close Update

At a meeting between Council representatives and the Residents Association officers on 7th March it was agreed that the Association officers would consult further with their residents about repairs needed under the Lease and would then meet again with the Council to consider the way forward. The Council was informed that no further information has been received; a further approach will be made by the Council and will need to address the possibility of direct action.

Jubilee Celebrations

The Council received a request for funding from those organising the Church Fete. It was noted that a significant share of the net profits from the Church Fete will be retained by the Church and on this basis the Council is unable to provide financial assistance, as this would be contrary to the relevant legislation. As a separate item, the Council has agreed to contribute towards the provision of additional portable toilets elsewhere in the village and will also make a donation to the Scarecrow Festival, which is a popular event and well supported by the community.

Recreation Ground

The latest monthly inspection report indicates that the play and gym equipment is well used. There is a need to arrange repairs to some of the surfaces and to installations and the Council will attend to this as soon as possible. A proposal to install some additional play equipment such as a table tennis facility and a seesaw has been deferred pending a physical inspection of such equipment at other locations.

Vandalism

This continues to be a growing issue in our village and damage being caused to signs and other infrastructure will result in considerable additional costs to the community. All residents are urged to help by reporting incidents and identifying those responsible.