Meldreth Parish Council

www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

Meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 6th July 2023

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 notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Council meeting.

Discussions and Decisions

District and County Reports

The Council thanks our District and County Councillors for their latest report; this can be seen in Meldreth Matters on pages 28 to 29. Questions and requests for further information on this wide range of subjects can of course be raised directly with our District and County representatives. An additional point about the possible closure of rail station booking offices was discussed. It was noted with concern that a road traffic accident had occurred earlier in the day at the junction of Whitecroft Road and Station Road; more information is awaited.

Mccs

The Meldreth Hub arrangements continue to work well and are regarded by the users as a valuable social asset. The Food Bank continues to be well used but will require additional financial and supply support and steps are being considered to underpin the current arrangements.

Co-option

Following a request for applications to fill a vacancy, the Council voted to approve the co-option of Mrs. Jenni Bone to the Council. Councillor Bone was duly welcomed to the Council and took her place.

Recreation Ground and Village Infrastructure

The ditch at the end of the recreation ground has now been cleared. As previously reported, progress with other projects continues to be made. The regular report from ROSPA on our playground equipment was reviewed; a number of minor defects are apparent and these will be investigated as soon as possible so that repairs or replacements can be organised.

Village Traffic

A recent meeting of the village traffic group has considered a number of topical issues. These are summarised as follows:

 Installing more robust bollards at the Stocks triangle to deter parking and corners being cut by large turning commercial vehicles. The possibilities will now be explored and it is likely that concrete bollards will be chosen.

 The recent application for funding for a possible 20mph speed limit in the village. It was confirmed that this was only a first step in a potentially long process and if funding is approved there would then be public consultations before any proposal could be taken forward. The Council is not thereby committed to carrying out such a scheme. Further local highways Initiatives could be considered to help with speed management problems.

 There continues to be concern about hedge trimming and impeded footways and pavements but the need to protect birds in the nesting season remains an important issue. The general state of our footways remains very poor especially with regard to their use by disabled residents.

 It is hoped that action will shortly be taken by Highways to renew roads and junction markings and to deal with road signs that are obscured by foliage and other vegetation.

Residents are again reminded to report all issues on the road surface and signage on the County Council website, for which the link is as follows: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-andpathways/roadworks-and-faults.

CCTV Issues

The Council is concerned about growing vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the Recreation Ground in the vicinity of the pavilion and the play areas. The police have recently needed to be involved in an incident there and the Council has decided to improve the performance of our existing cameras and the reporting system. This may lead to further cameras being installed as a next stage. The police have been very helpful in identifying certain culprits and raising these issues with the school they attend.

Meldreth Village Hall

A recent review of legal documents has shown that the land immediately to the rear of the Village Hall (most of the car park) is actually in the ownership of the Village Hall rather than the Parish Council. The evidence presented by this report was duly confirmed by a Council vote, along with clarifying the maintenance and liability issues arising.

Village Burial Ground

Please look out for an article in Meldreth Matters asking for voluntary community help. We need help to tidy up the burial ground and the shed; the latter will in due course be used to house the restored funeral bier.

Next Parish Council Meeting

Thursday 7th September 2023 at 7.30pm in the Elin Way Community Room.

Meldreth Parish Council

Raising funds for Meldreth Matters: www.jumblebee.co.uk/meldrethmatters

Meldreth Parish Council - Contact Details http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT

Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12.30-2.30pm By appointment at other times

Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant Assistant Clerk: Mrs Sally Walmesley (01763) 269928 parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk

Cllr R Goddin (Chairman) (01763) 260061 goddin@btinternet.com

Mrs Jenni Bone

Cllr Adam Bostanci 07400 236329 adam.bostanci.pc@gmail.com

Cllr Joan Fallon (01763) 262822 c.jfallon@icloud.com

Cllr Nick Garner (01763) 268328 nickphgarner@gmail.com

Cllr Roger James (Vice Ch.) (01763) 261085 roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Cllr Alan Land (01763) 261004 conradland@btinternet.com

Cllr James Mossey 07496 324701 j.mossey1211@gmail.com

Cllr Nigel Pellatt (01763) 260909 nppellatt56@gmail.com

Church services, Women’s Group meetings, bell ringing and FOHT events are held in Holy Trinity Ch Holy Trinity Church. MLHG meetings, Parish Council meetings, Food Bank &

Hub are in the C