252/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Nothing to report from Highways. Clerk has made enquiries about when the faulty lights in Cattle Dyke will be replaced. Nigel Godfrey who was dealing with this matter has now left Fenland DC and John Knott has replaced him. Unfortunately it appears that the lights had not as yet been ordered. The order has now been placed and the lights should be erected and working by week commencing 2nd February 2009. (2) Play Equipment Councillor Carroll has found out that an employee of Fenland DC is employed to undertake feasibility studies for grant applications. Arrangements have been made for her to go into the school to find out from the children what play equipment they would like to see on the Playing Field. Information gathered with the Village Plan in the Youth Survey can also be used. Close the section above

240/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Play Equipment on Highfields Estate Will become the responsibility of Cambs CC when Twiggdens leave the site Visit to North Level Pumping Station Councillor Holt gave information about the visit and also mentioned that North Level need a flood watch warden 241/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters E-mail received from Fred Hardwick. Gullies outside the Woodmans to be cleaned out. (2) Jointly Funded Minor Highways Improvements Programme 2009-10 Top 4 schemes to be undertaken – Chatteris Wenny Road, March Upwell Road/St Peter’s Road, Newton High Road and Wisbech Bowthorpe Road. Gorefield came 6th on the list (3) Play Equipment Three quotes have now been received for different schemes: £64,000, £22,000 and £42,800. Councillor Carroll has been looking into sources of funding and has been advised by Acre that a consultation needs to be done in the village to find out what facilities would be required. They would undertake this over two days at a cost of £625 + VAT. Before agreeing to this Councillor Carroll will find out if this can be undertaken through the help of Fenland DC. Before any equipment is placed on the field the Playing Field should consider the possibility of the Parish Council taking over guardianship of the field. Councillor Mrs Hall will do a survey of the equipment that is available in the village. (4) Streetlights The replacement streetlight brackets have been order for Cattle Dyke at a cost of £800 each. Close the section above

229/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Speed Watch Equipment Training Nobody has expressed any interest in under going the training Pocket Park Rubbish has been cleared away 230/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters E-mail received from Fred Hardwick. The intended repairs to the footway within St Mark’s Road will not now be taking place. Highways are only doing emergency repairs only until further notice. Work has started on the replacement of the Chapel Lane footbridge. (2) Play Equipment Councillor Carroll did not attend this meeting so this item will be discussed further at the next meeting. Query made as to who will be responsible for the play area on the Highfields Estate once the developers leave the site. At the present time the gate at the entrance appears to be locked. Gorefield is to receive a grant of £1,028 from the Big Lottery Funding to Support the Development of Play Facilities. Councillor Carroll will contact Philip Peacock from Cambs Acre who is working in partnership with Fenland DC in the administration of the grant. (3) North Level IDB visit Councillor Holt is attending. Councillor Cooke is not now able to attend (4) Streetlights An e-mail has been received from the engineer responsible for the streetlights in the village. He wished to highlight the problems with two streetlight in Cattle Dyke FPC 3 and 4, both are un-repairable and need replacing. One option would be to replace them with streetlight brackets as they are at the moment or have complete new columns put in their places. Query as to whether the prices quoted are for each light or for both. If the cost is £800 for each bracket then clerk to give the go ahead for two new brackets. Close the section above

217/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA North Level District IDB Visit to of their pumping station to be held on Wednesday 8th October 2008 commencing at 9 am. Councillors Holt and Cooke to attend 218/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters E-mail received from Fred Hardwick. He has marked and measures a few lengths of the footway in St Mark’s Road for relaying the binder and surface courses. Will raise an order for the repair once the target cost has been received. (2) Play Equipment Councillor Carroll has met with Wicksteed Park Ltd and received a quote for the supply of a new children’s play area, utilising the existing rocking rocket and some items for older residents. Their quotation is £54,692. Have yet to receive a quote from Park Leisure and SMP. Gorefield is to receive a grant of £1,028 from the Big Lottery Funding to Support the Development of Play Facilities. Councillor Carroll will contact Philip Peacock from Cambs Acre who is working in partnership with Fenland DC in the administration of the grant. (3) Changes to Contracted Bus Services A consultation document has been received from Cambs CC Transportation Department asking for comments about the proposed withdrawing of the subsidy made to WHF for the journey at 17.40 from Wisbech via Gorefield to Holbeach Drove. All the comments made by the members of the public who attended this meeting will be passed on to Cambs CC. No alternative bus after 2 pm except the school service. If subsidy is withdrawn the whole service could come under threat. The cost of a taxi is £6.00 each way. They understand that there is not a great number of people using this service could not an alternative service to be found to cover this route. Close the section above

207/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Repairs are being carried out on Fendyke Lane Bridge, a new kerb is being installed also. A replacement footbridge has been ordered but as yet no date has been given for its erection. (2) Play Equipment Councillor Carroll was unable to attend this meeting but he has been in contact with Wicksteed Park Leisure Ltd who have agreed to design and cost some new equipment free of charge. Still waiting to arrange a date for their visit. (3) Salt Bin The Chairman has been approached by a resident from Harolds Bridge asking if a salt bin can be provided. Fred Hardwick has provided information regarding these. The Parish Council would be responsible for training volunteers, providing public liability insurance in case of any accidents, to obtain weather forecasts and instruct the volunteers how much salt to apply plus many health and safety issues. It was agreed that this was too onerous for the Parish Council to take responsibility for. A letter to be sent to the resident. Close the section above

194/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Post Office Closure Meeting Councillors Holt and Davall are to attend on behalf of the Parish Council 195/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Contractors are to reinstate the pot hole at the Halifax site, but they have 3 months in which to complete the works. Chapel Lane foot bridge has been closed off due to the extent of the rotten timber under the Tarmac surface. E-mail received from Gareth Guest of Cambs CC Highway stating that they are now looking at their budgets and current bridge priorities before they can commit to a replacement footbridge. Clerk will e-mail Highways again to try to get a firm commitment from them to replace the bridge. Fendyke Lane bridge railing still not repaired, this has once again been reported. Cats eyes have been taken from the High Road, to be reported to Fred Hardwick. Gully in Gote Lane need cleaning out, this should once again be reported. Close the section above

184/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Playing Field Councillor Carroll will now be attending their meetings representing The Sports and Amenity Centre 185/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Fendyke Lane Bridge still not repaired, will be reported again. Bye roads have been top-dressed but none of the potholes were filled. Fred Hardwick to be informed of dissatisfaction. Footpath damaged outside building site on High Road, Fred Hardwick to be advised. (2) Repositioning of Streetlight Letter received from MTC Ltd on behalf of the developers of the site at West End asking where the streetlight should be repositioned. Agreed that it should be moved towards West End at the edge of the new access. (3) Parish Plan Another new litter bin has been ordered and will be erected in the area of West End (4) Adult Play Equipment Councillor Carroll waiting for a response to an e-mail sent to manufacturers re costs Close the section above

175/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters E-mail received from Fred Hardwick, replacement 30 mph has been ordered and will be fitted soon. Repairs to Fendyke Lane bridge should be by the end of the month. Chapel Lane footbridge - Cambs Highways have agreed to replace the bridge and this should be completed during the summer holidays. (2) Village Welcome Pack These are now available and will be delivered to everyone in the village shortly (3) Community Life Awards 2008-05-22 Decided not to enter this year (4) Parish Plan One of the priorities from the plan for the Parish Council to provide was litter bins. Three new ones have been provided but one was suggested at West End. Chairman will contact Fendland DC about another one. (5) Playing Field Nothing further heard from the playing field committee. Chairman and Councillor Carroll are to attend their Annual General Meeting (6) Adult Play Equipment This equipment is suitable for children over 12 years of age. The company involved usually design a complete scheme from toddlers to adults. Councillor Carroll will do more research on grants etc. Close the section above

164/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Village Maintenance Trees in Churchill Road have now been cut down, but stumps left. Councillor Cooke explained that this was the right way to do it and then eventually the stumps will rot away. 165/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters E-mail received from Fred Hardwick, he has marked up areas in the village for repair now he is just waiting to be given the funds to undertake the repairs. He will contact the owners of the trees at the Leverington Common/Mill Lane junction with a few to getting them cut back. Fendyke Lane has been reported to the Bridge section and will be repaired when they have a gang to do it. Pot hole at Halifax's entrance, this has been reported for repair. (2) Playing Field Nothing further has been heard from the playing field committee. Will be discussed further at the next meeting (3) Village Welcome Pack This has now gone to the printers. (4) Senior Citizens Play Area Clerk had been sent some information about this, which Councillor Carroll took away to consider. Close the section above

Chairman's Report The village continues to grow with the ongoing building work at Oxfield Drive by Twigden and despite local and Parish Council objection another site for 14 homes of High Road gained approval. Planning also come to the fore on other occasions. One controversial application was the application for a care home at Fitton End and while this was rejected at the first attempt it did get approved in a modified form later in the year. Another planning application resulted in a complaint against a Councillor being made to the Standards Board for England. This was investigated and dismissed. An appeal against FDC's decision to refuse the application was also lost at appeal. In September the Parish Plan working group presented the Council with the completed Parish Plan. The Fenland Strategic Partnership has now adopted the plan to enable local views to influence service providers. The Parish Council has acted on some of the point's raised in the action Plan set out by the Plan and will continue to monitor progress and delivery. Finally able to agree a final draft for the first edition of the welcome pack and this should soon be available for distribution. Perry Holmes, FDC Monitoring Officer, attended our September meeting to update us on the new Code of Conduct, while Nigel Brown, Head of Planning at FDC attended our November meeting to update us on local planning matter and enforcement. The Parish Council provided the Christmas tree and lights at the Church and arranged for the planting of a permanent tree at the same location. The Council still has concerns about vehicle speeds through the village along with the parking problems associated with the Oxfield Drive development. Preliminary discussion about the PC becoming Trustees of the playing field... ongoing. During the year the local pub went through a bad spell and subsequently closed. While this is still the case it should reopen soon and hopefully will again be able to accommodate the Luncheon Club. As a Council we continue To be consulted on all planning applications and make comments and observations as appropriate. To administer our Parish affairs and finances and were able to keep our Parish precept increase to a minimum. To comment on all matters concerning the Parish at District and County levels. Thanks must go to PC Coales for her work in the community and her regular attendance at our meetings. Likewise John Dubber our FDC Liason contact whose has kept the Council informed of FDC issues on a regular basis as well as following up local problems on our behalf. Sadly John is leaving FDC so will no longer attend our meetings. I would like to wish him well in his future employment. Sadly Councillor Hardy died during the year and following a by-election the Member elected to serve the County Division of Roman Bank was Peter Humphrey. My thanks must go to all the members of the Council for their input and involvement during the year. A special thank you to those of you who have attended any meetings, seminars or presentations for or on behalf of the Council. Finally special thanks to our Clerk, Rosemary, for all her hard work during the year. Close the section above

148/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Village Maintenance Trees in Churchill Road still need to be removed. 149/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Fred Hardwick is looking into the encroachment at Honey Hill (2) Village Welcome Pack The Welcome Pack is now ready for printing, the idea is to have is printed as an A5 booklet, full colour for the cover and 2 colour inner pages, folded and stapled. To print 750 copies on gloss 130 gm paper will cost £360. If 80 gm paper is used it will cost £348. Agreed to proceed with the thicker paper. (3) Playing Field The information received from NALC reference to the Parish Council taking over as trustees of the Playing Field was circulated to all the Councillors. Councillors agreed that the Parish Council would be willing to take over as custodian trustees of the playing field if that is the wish of the Playing Field Committee subject to approval by the Charity Commission. Close the section above

141/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Village Maintenance Trees in Churchill Road still need to be removed. 142/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Nothing to report. (2) Litter Bins Three new litter bins have been installed by Fenland DC at a cost of approximately £500 each, two along the High Road and one in Gote Lane. The one in Gote Lane has been put on the other side of the road to the footpath. (3) Village Welcome Pack This is nearly ready for printing. Close the section above

130/08 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA Village Maintenance Hedge cuttings still to be clear away. Trees in Churchill Road have been cut back but still need to be removed. Christmas Tree has now been removed from the Church Yard a permanent tree will be put in its place 131/08 MATTERS ARISING ON THE AGENDA (1) Highway Matters Encroachment at Honey Hill Road to be reported again. (2) Litter Bins Agreed to go ahead with the provision of some new bins, possibly at High Road/West End, Wolf Lane/High Road, Gote Lane, Churchill Road, Back Road. Chairman will meet with someone form Fenland DC to discuss where best they can be positioned and make sure they will be emptied regularly. (3) Village Welcome Pack All the details have been passed on to John Timms. Close the section above