Annual Report

17/06/2011

FULBOURN PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2010/2011

Chairman's Report.
This year has been the first gathering of the new council which was elected in May 2010. It has been good to welcome new faces around the table, but sad to lose old colleages.

It has been another busy year with many ups and downs. The closing of the Post Office has been a big blow to the village. For a long time we were given to understand that the Fulbourn Co-op would be one of the sites that was to be tried as a new venue that was proposed by Post Office Counters. This has however, fallen through and the Post Office, together with the Parish Council are now looking at other venues. However, the Parish Council has laid on a bus service to Gt. Wilbraham on a Wednesday morning to take residents to the Post Office there to collect pensions.

Another setback for village residents was the closure of Home Close Day Centre. With the joint efforts of several carers, helpers and with the backing of S.C.D.C., the Parish Council and the co-operation of the residents, a Day Care Centre has been opened for two days a week on Mondays and Tuesdays at Chaplins Close. A Friday Lunch Club has also been set up at the Fulbourn Centre.

As a result of the Parish Plan, the Fulbourn Forum was set up and during the past year they have organised visits to a Re-cycling centre, set up a number of herb gardens in the village, carried out successful litter picks and have a long term plan to plant a community orchard.

We are a large village with lots of pressures, but we do have a good team working on your behalf and I would like to thank everyone for all their hard work.

Jo Patten, Chairman, Fulbourn Parish Council.

What we did in 2010/2011

The Fulbourn Parish Council has joined with F.A.4.Y. (Fulbourn Action for Youth) who have set up a trust with a view to developing the area which includes the Youth Club (Old Institute Building), the Guide Hut and the Scout Hut. The Parish Council proposes to become a partner in this venture and together, we would like to provide a new hall for the Scouts and another for the Youth Club with shared facilities. It will not happen overnight since we need to apply for grants, but the Parish Council does have S106 monies that are to be used for the benefit of Youth.

A Patient Participation Group has been set up and meets regularly at the Surgery. The new cycle rack and automatic doors are the result of their efforts.

This year we have worked hard on improving our ways of communicating with you all and the web site has been re-launched. We have also published a new version of our village booklet, which has been delivered to every house in the parish. If these do not provide all the information you require, or you have information to impart, then get in touch.

The Cemetery is maintained and managed by the Parish Council and has been kept to a high standard by our local contractor, who also looks after the War Memorial, waters the new trees on Pound Hill and litter picks the Recreation Ground. The Council has set up a Land Fund, looking towards the future when we shall need to purchase more land for extending the Cemetery.

The Recreation Ground Working Party oversee the day to day management of the ground and its facilities, over the past year, the increased use of the new children's play area has been heartening to see, as has the usage of the older children's Skate Park. We are in the process of applying for grants to purchase Adult Outdoor Exercise Equipment to save you going to the Gym! We hope to have it in place during the coming year. Unfortunately, we have had various acts of vandalism around the Recreation Ground to contend with, but have had the full support and co-operation Of our two P.C.S.O's in dealing with these incidents.

The Planning Committee meets more frequently than any other. This year there has been a steady flow of planning applications and next year we will have the re-development of the Ida Darwin site to contend with.

On the Beechwoods Estate the Parish Council has replaced the notice board, also the regular cutting of the grass there has been welcomed by the residents following the Parish Council taking over the contract from C.C.C.

Several members of the Parish Council are Trustees of the Local Charities and the Almshouses.

The Parish Council continue to look for suitable land to provide extra allotments which are badly needed. This year we provided money for fencing in order to keep out the rabbits. If this is successful, we will look at doing something similar at the Cemetery.

For the first time, Christmas lights were erected on Stocks Hill on a tree near to the village sign, these were put up by members of the Parish Council. We believe this was the best display we have had so far. Daffodil bulbs were donated by Parish Council members and planted by them on Tuppenny Green at Balsham Road.

COUNCIL CONTACTS

The Parish Council meets on the second Wednesday of the month (except in August) at the Fulbourn Centre and you are welcome to attend and speak if you wish, at the beginning of the Meeting.

The Parish Office is at the Fulbourn Centre and is open to the public on Mon, Wed, and Fri. from 9.30 a.m. To 12 p.m.

FULBOURN PARISH COUNCILLORS

Chairman: Jo Patten, 01223 880852
Vice Chairman, Malcolm Webdale, 01223 880081
Alan Bullen, 01223 880729
Sid Dawson, 01223 510307
Mary Drage, 01223 880712
Alison Farmer, 01223 880704
Stan Hardwick, 01223 880215
Robert Lacey, 01223 881469
Tina Lockwood, 01223 881713
Julian Mair, 01223 572181
Robin Newell, 01223 880129
Neil Scarr, 01223 880517
Jim Stalley, 01223 880353
Gill Ward, 01223 881757
John Williams, 01223 880940

Income & Expenditure 2010-2011

Fulbourn Parish Council web site: www.fulbournpc.org