Meldreth Parish Council

www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

Meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 6th April 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 which can be seen in this issue of Meldreth Matters on pages 18 to 20. Questions and requests for further information on this wide range of subjects can of course be raised directly with our District and County representatives.

The Council remains concerned about the state of our local roads, both as regards potholes and drainage. The discussions about issues such as a City traffic exclusion zone and rail links continue to be contentious as regards the ways in which the wishes of the broader community appear not to be taken into account within broad democratic principles.

Ongoing Projects Update

1. Flambards Estate: the Council will seek to accelerate the process of resolving the issues of maintenance of open spaces on the Flambards estate that are the responsibility of the Residents’ Association.

2. Churchyard Wall: the temporary stakes and boundary tapes have been in position for about a year and there is no evidence of accidents arising from the differing heights of the churchyard wall. The Council voted to remove the temporary barrier.

3. Village Hall Car Park: the Council noted that the conveyance of the land to the trustees in 1965 included a significant part of the car park and that the Council was not, nor had ever been, an owner of this area. This view is open to change if any further relevant documents indicate otherwise.

Recreation Ground and Village Infrastructure

Our equipment appears to be in generally good order but we continue to wait for the availability of contractors to carry out groundwork and other repairs. The ditch at the end of the recreation ground is due to be cleared but clearance needs to be deferred in view of the frog spawning/tadpole season.

Community Projects Funding Requests

The Council agreed two donations: £617 towards the set up costs of Meldreth Guides and £200 towards the cost of providing refreshments for the event at the Village Hall, in which the Village Hall and (newly renamed) Meldreth Hub will be co-operating to celebrate the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla in early May [see back page].

The application paperwork for Community grants/donations will be revised to clarify the Council’s policy to require all applicants to investigate other sources of funding such that the Parish Council will aim to provide a proportion of the overall costs.

Traffic Issues

After the Village meeting on 13th April [see page 17] there will be a need for an Extraordinary Council meeting to agree our submission in respect of a 20mph zone covering most of the village. The deadline for this is Sunday 30th April.

Next Parish Council Meeting

Thursday 4th May 2023 at 7.30pm in the Elin Way Community Room.

Meldreth Parish Council

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

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

Vacancy (see page 30)

(01763) 260909 nppellatt56@gmail.com

Annual Parish Meeting: Thursday 18th May

The Annual Parish meeting will be held in Meldreth Village Hall on Thursday 18th May at 8.00pm.

 Apologies for Absence

 Chairman’s Welcome

 Minutes of previous meetings

 Matters Arising from the Annual Meeting

 Chairman’s Report

 Financial Report 2021/2022

 Reports from village clubs and organisations these will be available online

 Open Discussion

Meldreth Parish Council

Vacancy for a Parish Councillor

Judy Damant

Clerk

Due to the resignation of Councillor Meridew, there is a vacancy on the above Council.

A by-election to fill the vacancy will be held if, within 14 days (computed in accordance with the Regulations) from the date below, ten electors for the said parish give notice in writing requesting that an election be held.

Such notice must be delivered to the Returning Officer at South Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6EA

If no such notice is given the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-option.

Dated: 13th April 2023

Signed: Judy Damant, Parish Clerk

Meldreth Parish Council, Parish Office, Meldreth Housing Scheme, Elin Way, Meldreth, SG8 0ET

Planning Matters

Meldreth Parish Council

The minutes of the Parish Council Planning Meetings of 2nd February, 2nd March, 6th April and 20th April were not available at the time of going to press. When available, minutes may be viewed on the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk.

Recent Planning Authority Decisions

12 Fenny Lane, 23/0015/TTPO

T 1 beech - fell due to a well established infection of the fungal pathogen honey fungus (most likely Armillaria mellea). Approved.

37 North End, 23/00501/LBC

Installation of replacement heating system. Approved

Details of all applications and all Planning Authority decisions may be viewed online: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications.

Traffic Working Group

Please see page 17 for the report from the recent Public Meeting to discuss proposals for a 20 mph area in Meldreth.

Road and Footway Condition Problems

The temporary repairs are being overtaken by new and dangerous potholes appearing. We continue to urge residents to report these and other highways issues, including disappearing road markings, by using the online reporting system (see below).

The Traffic Working Group always welcomes new volunteers.

Traffic Working Group

Meldreth Parish Council

Reporting a Highway Problem

If you have noticed a problem with a pothole, pavement surfacing, manhole cover, flooding, or verge then here is a guide to reporting the issue online.

1. Go to www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

2. Click Report > Report a highways fault. Then click on the blue box, “Report a highways fault online”.

3. The link takes you to a map of Cambridgeshire which you zoom in on to pinpoint where the problem is. The map shows the status of faults already reported in the area. Clicking on the map adds a new red pin and brings up a ‘Report a Problem’ form where you can provide a description of the problem and upload a photograph. For potholes it helps to include the depth of the pothole, as this measurement affects the response time from the council.

4. Each report is assigned a reference number so that you can track progress on a fault already reported.