From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
Setting off for the VH on a beautiful evening, I could hear noisy motors on
Dencora Field annoying the elderly residents of The Beeches yet again, while
little kids on small bikes criss-crossed Lower End. Then, a group of immature
androids crouched over scooters raced together down the centre of the High
Street, around the bend towards the play area - and Lower End. How many of our
young people will reach adulthood unscathed?
During the meeting, it was very enjoyable to see many wellinformed neighbours trooping in to cast their votes for our future in Europe. (There may also have been others). That's a BIG issue. Item no. 1 on the agenda for next month's PC meeting will be the election of a new chairman of the PC to replace Trevor Jones. That's a BIG issue too.
Cllr James Fitch was understandably busy elsewhere on election night. Cllr Allen Alderson had to leave early for similar reasons, but not before telling us that ECDC has fared well in satisfaction surveys. The ECDC offices location question was now being sensibly discussed in an adult fashion by all political persuasions, as it should have been from the start. The criteria upon which to judge between 3 or 4 options are being thrashed out now, to enable a decision to be made this year. ECDC, with Trilogy Telecom Ltd., expect to have a BroadBand facility via BT landlines enabled in the Burwell telephone exchange by September 2004. That means BB for all who want it, and the possibility of low cost telephone calls too.
The present vacancy on the PC remains open. Next month there will be two vacancies so, in a sense, productivity is up. The new climbing frame was also up, waiting only for safety surface installation and a ROSPA inspection before it can be used. ROSPA claim to have inspected the play area again, and submitted a bill for doing so. Curiously, their report looked suspiciously like last year's, including some items that were sorted out long ago. They must return for the climbing frame, check again properly, and only then get paid. The damaged chestnut tree in the VH car park can now be replaced, though the services of a professional tree surgeon were recommended for its removal. Mr E. Day said he owned a chain saw, and possessed a doctorate in advanced tree surgery. The budget summary for 2004/2005 was examined minutely, though approval of the past years accounts was deferred until a few missing pennies could be found - a computer glitch, no doubt. A 33% saving over last year's insurance costs was achieved by shopping around. Advice from ECDC on funding is needed for necessary roof repairs at the Village Pound.
Much discussion devoted to the new village award proposed at the Annual Assembly centred around how it was to be managed, and by whom. The feeling was that the PC represented a cross section of villagers, so who better to do it? but how to do this? and how to do that? It was clear that more thought is needed. Announcement (s) of awards, if any, should sensibly come at the Annual Assembly in May.
On Coopers Lane, tyre tracks on the grass and a broken rail (recently re-fixed) suggest that someone is unhappy about it being just a footpath between the cemetery gates and the bend at the top of the High Street end. CCC will be asked to effect repairs. Vandal action is also apparent on the footpath between Coopers Green and Cage Hill, where fly tipping includes asbestos rubbish. The culprits are not known (yet).
Richard Freeman from the Burwell Tigers Junior Football Club addressed the PC with proposals to use the playing field, with a start theoretically possible in September 2006. This was all good and welcome news, but details, including security arrangements, must wait until the owners of the land have been consulted. The Sports & Social Club supports the idea too.
(A site for village tennis courts is also needed. Think about it).