Council News

MVC, The Moor, Melbourn, Cambs. SG8 6EF Telephone: 01763 262494 e-mail: parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Minutes of Parish Council Meetings and Planning Committee meetings are available on the village website

Chairman Donald Mowatt 23, High Street SG8 6AL 268388 Vice-Chairman Maureen Townsend 32 New Road SG8 6ER 260959 Clerk & Office Peter Horley, MVC, The Moor, Melbourn. SG8 6EF 262494

E-mail parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Website www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/council/

Councillors Val Barrett 2 Station Road, SG8 6DX 261227 Irene Bloomfield 78 Russet Way, SG8 6HF 222558 Alan Brett 44 High Street, SG8 6DZ 260306 Rosemary Gatward 94 High Street, SG8 6AL 261225 Jose Hales 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH 221058 Michael Linnette 11 Chapel Lane, SG8 6BN 262534 Donald Mowatt White Walls, 23 High Street 268388 Andrew Mulcock 1 Lawns Close, SG8 6DR 222940 John Poley 11 Water Lane, SG8 6AY 261117 Mike Sherwen 3 Hale Close, SG8 6ET 260070 Peter Simmonett 42 Greengage Rise SG8 6DS 220363 Christopher Stead 70 Russet Way pm only 260743 Maureen Townsend 32 New Road, SG8 6BY 260959 Richard Wakerley 32 Chalkhill Barrow, SG8 6EQ 262247

Employees Handyman and Caretaker Peter Andrews 243312

Emergency mobile. 07778 682245 Village Ranger Keith Rudge, 4 Dolphin Lane, SG8 6AF 221212 Internal Auditor Bruce Huett, 20 Rose Lane SG8 6AD 232855

County Councillor Susan van de Ven 95 North End, Meldreth 261833 susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk.

District Councillors Val Barrett, 2 Station Road 261227

Jose Hales, 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH 221058

cllr.hales@josehales.me.uk South Cambs M.P. Andrew Lansley 01954 212707 South Cambs M.E.P. Robert Sturdy 01954 211790 The Parish Office is open on Mondays from 9 am to 1 pm, on Tuesdays from 2 pm from 4 pm, and on Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm. The office is not normally open on Wednesdays or Fridays. As the Clerk is sometimes out on Parish business it is advisable to ring 262494 to ensure that the Clerk is available. Meetings of the Planning Committee are normally held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month commencing at 7.15 pm. Council Meetings are normally held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7.15 pm at All Saints’ Community Hall. The Press Royston & Buntingford Mercury

Tom Ship, Media Centre 40 Ware Road,

Hertford, SG13 7HU 01992 526639 Royston Crow Heath House, Princes Mews,

Royston, SG8 6RT 245241 Fax 242231 Cambridge News David Williams, 3 Melbourn Street,

Royston, SG8 7BP 249144 Fax 244502 BBC Radio Cambridge

Reception 01223 259696

Newsroom 01223 358510

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/council/

From the Parish Clerk – Peter Horley

It is rather a quiet time in the village at this time of year, although by the time you read this the first shoots of Spring will be emerging throughout the land. However, it is a busy time for the Parish Council in one important area – the setting of the Precept which determines part of the money all households pay in Council Tax. I am very happy to report that the Parish Council has maintained the Precept at the same amount as last year, £190,309.00 which is a major achievement given rising costs and the increasing number of tasks being passed down to a local level by Government, the County Council and South Cambs District Council. It made me reflect on the number of aspects of village life that the work of the Parish Council touches on which may not be apparent to all such as funding activities for the Youth Club and BMX Trails, which not only engages our youth in positive ways but reduces the likelihood of anti-social behaviour.

The Council also provides social care funding for our senior citizens in the form of grant funding for the Mobile Warden Scheme, Lunch Clubs and our Community Transport Schemes. At the present time, the Council is successfully applying for Deeds of Dedication to protect our Open Spaces in order to prevent them from being developed in perpetuity, such as our Recreation Grounds, Stockbridge Meadows and our Play Areas. It would, however, be remiss of me not to record and pay tribute to the large number of volunteers who keep our village well-maintained and moving forward as a community such as the River Mel group, the volunteers in Stockbridge Meadows and the residents who are seeking to implement the impressive Village Plan and, I am sure, others too numerous to mention. I believe that this team work and co-operative spirit is one of the hallmarks of our village and long may it continue

From the Chairman of the Parish Council –Donald Mowatt

There are many fish in the ocean that swim and swirl But it’s the oyster that turns water into pearl Ideas numerous, as many drops as the ocean can hold But it’s the person who can turn ideas into gold

Shahriar Shahriari It is my firm belief that the Parish Council have over the years had more than their fair share of success in turning ideas into gold, as they have striven to find cost effective and workable solutions to meet the growing needs of the Community.

However, once in a while an idea comes along that you just know if implemented could make all the difference. One such idea was for Parish Council to approach the New Owners of the Old Police Site on the High Street and investigate the prospect of the village being afforded a small community facility on a portion of the site.

Well, the rest as they say is history, for Melbourn Parish Council … as am sure you are all now aware, are fast moving forward with the development of what can only be described as a First Class Community Hub. Occupying a frontal and prime position on the site, it will be a modern, spacious and energy efficient building designed for maximum use of space and to blend with and compliment its surroundings.

One could say perhaps … a dream come true, a central location opposite the Village Car Park so guarantying ease of access for all. Further, as well as offering a lasting home for the Village Library, it will also provide a formidable platform for many other voluntary groups, an office for the Parish Clerk and a drop in Café to allow all to meet up and enjoy light refreshments as they wish. All in all, it is intended that the Hub will play a major role in harnessing the strength of our Community, as well as going some way to help restore the heart of our wonderful Village.

Of course it has to be said that none of this would be possible were it not for the hard work and determination of so many capable folk here in our Village. Little surprise then that Melbourn continues to play a major, and yet growing part in shaping its future and I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly applaud and thank all those who have rallied to the cause and given so generously of their time.

I am delighted to confirm that the Parish Council continue to forge ahead and remain confident of their ability to deliver ever more cost effective services. Our new Clerk Peter Horsley has grown quickly into his role, and has already begun to make his presence felt, my thanks Peter and my every wish for your growing success and happiness as you serve our Community.

Finally my thanks to all for your continued support, and my every assurance that your Parish Council remains resolute in its determination to serve the best interests of the Community at all times, and in my opinion is well placed to do so. As I write on January 1st for the Spring magazine, hopes for the year ahead must be for economic stability on the broadest scale, to help smooth the path ahead for all.

We continue to be fortunate in the Melbourn area to have a number of outstanding new projects in the pipeline. This is a direct result of focused and determined hard work by local councillors and volunteer groups.

Our surrounding cluster of villages continue to pool resources, and a good example is our new youth club (‘Melbourn Area Youth Development’), which recently received a grant of £5720 which will enable us to hire a coordinator for the impressive volunteer network that has been pulled together. These volunteers help not only with running the Tuesday evening club but also for providing lifts to get there – for which many thanks.

The Melbourn Division Oil Club received a donation of £75 from its bulk buyer, Agricole, based on the number of orders received. This year the donation will go to our youth club. If you’d like to join the Oil Club, which aims to get reduced prices on home heating oil, please let me know – there is no cost and it is open to anyone.

The Pippins Children’s Centre’s new premises in the annex to the new primary school buildings will be having its official opening this spring. I went for a visit recently and was so impressed by the bright and lively atmosphere and the range of activities on offer for expectant parents and parents of young children. Pippins serves a large catchment of villages, and the only weakness in the overall picture that I could see is the obvious difficulty of access for families outside of Melbourn, or on the outskirts of the village. Suitable public transport is almost non-existent, and many of those who need what Pippins has to offer can’t afford the private transport to get there. We’ve had a few very welcome donations of baby car seats and booster seats which will come in handy when lift sharing is offered. The centre is open to all and all activities are free. The number to ring is 223400.

The Practical Solutions Group, which I chair every other month, is focusing now supporting the implementation of the Melbourn Village Plan, along with our long-term commitment to constructive activities for young people. In November we invited the South Cambs District Council officer for community transport to talk about transport opportunities for young people – of which there are, unsurprisingly, not enough. We have also been approached by the County Council about enhancing the options for elderly people to get out and about. We will be looking at specifically at activities that help older people and younger people to meet and get to know each other.

Finally, it is wonderful news that First Capital Connect have agreed to reduce the parking charge at Meldreth Station by 50% to £1.50 per day. This comes at a time when many stations are seeing parking charges skyrocket. Hopefully this will encourage more people to use the station car park, particularly in view of the very poor environment around the station entrance, where parked cars reduce general visibility, resulting in safety concerns.

If you’d like to know more about what I do on your behalf, I try to keep my website updated regularly and I send out a monthly email community newsletter (this is posted on my website). Please don’t hesitate to get in touch anytime and I will do my best to help.

Something for everyone?

The Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Rail User Group has put out a mid-winter appeal to local garden centres for any unwanted stock that may be used at our new station gardens. We have gratefully received compost in damaged bags (the compost is just fine) and a massive supply of flower and vegetable seeds (still perfectly good but officially past their shop-life).

We are now looking ahead to June when we’ll need to be planting up the platform tubs at each station, and planning our flower and veg garden at Meldreth and our wildlife garden at Shepreth.