Parish Council

Meldreth Parish Council

www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

Meeting held on Thursday 3rd September 2020

This meeting was held through a video/audio link, in accordance with revised procedures provided by the Coronavirus Act 2020. The main points of this meeting are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Parish Council meeting.

Discussions and Decisions

 Traffic Management Proposals

The Council discussed traffic issues in the High Street between the station and the stocks, from the viewpoints of speed limits and the use of the road by HGVs using it as a short cut through the village. It was agreed, in liaison with County Highways, to organise two feasibility studies, one in respect of the speed limit and whether a 20 mph limit could be introduced, and the other to examine HGV traffic from the viewpoint of possibly introducing restrictions on such traffic passing through the village as opposed to servicing local businesses.

District and County Councillors’ Report

This is set out on pages 37-41 of the magazine. It was also noted that a review of planning delegation at SCDC is taking place and that there will be sessions in mid September which will enable

Parish Councils to contribute their views.

COVID-19

Local support services have been reduced but remain on standby. There is increasing concern about the virus reasserting itself in certain parts of the country and caution is needed to respect the possibility of this. The toilet facilities at the pavilion have been reopened and all the necessary measures of signage, social distancing and disinfection have been put in place. The changing rooms and showers will remain off-limits for the time being but preparatory steps will be taken forward and the latest information and guidance from the Football Association and others will be reviewed.

Pavilion Anti-Social Behaviour

The anti-vandal paint will shortly be applied to deter those attempting to climb up onto the roof of the pavilion. There has been some delay in sourcing the necessary warning notices. The paint will be applied as soon as possible.

Village Infrastructure

Repairs to the kissing gate and signposts have been completed. Other work remains outstanding, inclusding repairs to the bus shelters, and there has been difficulty in sourcing contractors to quote for and carry out this work. We have received a grant of £1,000 towards the commemorative VE Day bench and the Council agreed to meet the additional costs of delivery and installation. The bench will be installed outside the Village Hall, facing the commemorative bench on the other side of the road. An existing bench on the site will be repositioned on the Elin Way side of the Village Hall and the necessary permissions for doing this will be sought as soon as possible.

Recreation Ground Issues

Kickwall: this will be re-established at the recreation ground to replace the wall that had to be removed on safety grounds. The Council agreed that the new wall would combine a kickwall and climbing wall. Discussions will now be taken forward with contractors.

Five-a-side Pitch: the Council considers that there is not enough level space at the tennis courts end of the main football pitch to safely reposition the five-a-side pitch. This will therefore remain in its present position but this may be reconsidered in the light of an overall plan for the recreation ground, which is currently under review. It was noted that the cost of removing the goals and repositioning them would be about £380. Goal posts Storage: the large goal posts are currently stored next to the pavilion and close to the boundary fences of adjoining properties in Elin Way. The Football Club will investigate alternative locations for their storage in the vicinity of the pavilion where they would continue to be protected by the pavilion’s CCTV and not be immediately adjacent to

neighbouring properties. It was agreed that the nuisance caused by balls being kicked over residents’ fences needed to be addressed and it was hoped that the return to school would lessen the football kicking activities which are currently causing this nuisance. Progress will be further reviewed at the next Council meeting.

Trees

The Council awaits confirmation from the two tree surgery companies chosen to undertake the work needed on the village’s trees. The recent high winds have increased the workloads of most tree surgeons and there will be some delay in this process.

Cemetery

The Council agreed to seek quotes for repairing the very uneven state of the hard surface inside the gate. There will be a further report on the fencing issues previously noted, but it was agreed that it was extremely difficult to reinstate rabbit fencing which had been breached. The Council will consult with SCDC officers for advice about the management of graves and memorials.

Rates Relief Grant

A grant of £10,000 has been received. There are apparently no limits on how this money can be used and it will therefore form part of the general funding base of the Council.

Insurance

The Council has reviewed its insurance arrangements and these were reported to be in good order. Next meeting: Thursday 1st October 2020.

Meldreth Parish Council

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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 (01763) 269928 parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk

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

Mr R A Searles (Vice Ch) (01763) 260435 robert.searles@btinternet.com

Mrs C J Fallon (01763) 262822 joan.fallonpc@gmail.com

Mr N Garner (01763) 268328 nickphgarner@gmail.com

Mrs P Gilmore (01763) 263138 patgilmore.mpc@gmail.com

Dr R James (01763) 261085 roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Mr C A Land (01763) 261004 conradland@btinternet.com

Mr Nigel Pellatt (01763) 262444 nppellatt@btconnect.com

Mr A Young (01763) 263484 andrewmpc@gmail.com

Moorlands Court

Local Community Services

 Homecare – our fully trained carers visit you in your home.  Siƫng service – a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers Ɵme for themselves.  Day Centre – based at Moorlands Court, with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.  Meals service – nutriƟous, hot lunchƟme meal delivered to you.  Housekeeping – we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping. To find out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk