Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Nick Lodge (Southorpe) and Henry Clark (Peakirk).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 July were approved as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

To provide Councillors the opportunity to receive information and comment on the Rural Housing Strategy and Site Allocations consultation.

A presentation and report was submitted to the members of PCL regarding the establishment of a Rural Housing Strategy.  The strategy carried on work from the Rural Vision and Strategy that had previously been produced. 

PCL learned of the key themes and areas of focus within the Strategy and were advised that rural communities had been invited to further comment on the site allocations options document by 30^th October 2009.  Every parish council has received details but please contact nick@gpp-peterborough.org.uk for further information.

Following questions, the following comments were given:

• A further request for a planning officer to attend PCL will be made.
• A period of consultation on the proposed sites for development will take place in March/April 2010 including those in urban parishes.
• Information on Village Design Statements and whether they are still valid concerning the site allocations will be provided outside the meeting.
• Planning aids are available for Parishes to enable greater understanding of the planning process.

To provide Councillors the opportunity to recommend changes to the Fix It Van service to improve its work and effectiveness.

A report was submitted to PCL following a recommendation from the Scrutiny Commission for Rural Communities to consult Parishes on the need for a continued Fix It Van service.

The rural Parish Councillors present expressed their desire to see the Fix It Van continue and commended the service that was provided.   Members discussed services that the Fix It Van could provide in addition to its current provision.

Members agreed to endorse the continuation of the Fix It Van Service.

To receive information on the new Neighbourhood Councils and to receive feedback from Councillors on the issues raised from the last meeting.

A report was presented to the meeting as an introduction to the new Peterborough City Council Neighbourhood Councils.  Members were advised that the Neighbourhood Manger for each area had been selected and all three would be in post by November 2009.

The responses to the four questions raised by Adrian Chapman at the last meeting would be collated outside the meeting.

Questions were raised and responses given including:

• Meetings will be held in the neighbourhood under discussion.
• The role of Parish Councils will remain the same.
• Some Council decisions will be devolved to a local level.
• The Neighbourhood Councils will consist of elected Councillors and will therefore be accountable to the public.
• Chairmen of each committee are appointed by the Leader of the Council and chosen from the local Ward Councillors.
• Not all issues will go to the Neighbourhood Council as many would be dealt with by the Neighbourhood manager.
• Parish Councillors can be co-opted onto the Neighbourhood Councils but would not have voting rights.
• The Councils are to resolve local issues and would not be political driven.

To receive any queries and provide responses to Councillors on further issues.

Parish Councillors asked the following questions:

Q. The village of Thorney is not on the Travel Choice interactive map but it is part of Peterborough. Why is it not on the map?

A.  The initial funding for Travel Choice was to cover the urban area only.  Travelchoice schemes are being rolled out further this year.  The support officer to confirm this outside the meeting.

The chairman requested that any questions for the next meting are sent to the support officer for the meeting in advance so that responses can be provided at the meeting.

The Chairman advised that the agenda of the PCL and Scrutiny Commission should support each other but PCL should contain issues identified by Parish Councillors too.

Recommended items for the next meeting was to receive information on Village Design Statements and speed limits.

An item was recommended for the January meeting was to receive information on the value of Neighbourhood or Parish Plans.

It was further recommended to receive a review of Neighbourhood Councils two to three times a year.