Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the
Council Hall on Wednesday March 1st 2006 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Ms Atkinson (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Mrs
Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Mrs Scott,
Scott, Sheppard and Mrs Walker with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and
Walker, a member of the local press, two members of the public and the Clerk.
2877 Apologies
Apologies were received from Councillors Brooks, Hind, Miss Watson and White.
2878 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Ms Atkinson declared a personal interest to minute reference 2885d –
Vodafone mast on London Road.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.01pm to take public comments.
One parishioner a) stated his concern that the Council may be confused over the
two different Public Footpath applications associated with the Acacia Road
access and b) reported that Public Footpath finger posts and signs are missing
at Church Lane to Queen Street, and on Clement Avenue. One parishioner spoke of
a) the dog waste bin at the main entrance to the Playing Field is in a poor
state of repair, b) his concerns regarding staff allegedly using Council
equipment for their own purpose, and c) would the Council consider paying for
speed calming measures in the village if the County Council cannot?
The Chairman thanked the public for their comments and the meeting re-opened.
County Councillor Mrs Saddington advised that a notice has been served on the
scrap yard at Quarry Farm on Hollowdyke Lane because they are operating outside
their boundary, and that free bus travel for over 60’s is now available and may
applied be for through the authority. The Chairman thanked her for the
information.
2879 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on January 25th 2006, having been
circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2880 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
An update of ongoing matters from the minutes of the previous Council meeting
and subsequent committee meetings was circulated and noted. Updates circulated
prior to each committee meeting had been included with the minutes. The
following issues were discussed:-
a) Council
b) Pavilion
c) Planning
(minute 2880 continued)
d) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1262 Planning Application for Sunnyside, Barnby Road Concerns were
expressed that a lorry company is trading from the site without an operator’s
licence – the
matter should be passed on to V.O.S.P.A.
2. Re Minute 1265 Lakeside Disabled Access Further information will be sought
and the matter referred back to committee for discussion. One possibility to be
considered is installing lockable hinges on the barriers and keys provided for
disabled users.
3. Re Minute1269.1 John Hunt Schools Road Safety County Councillor Walker
advised that he had attended a County Council seminar on safe travel to schools.
The County
Council is taking what steps it can to promote walking to school and associated
safety issues, but ultimately responsibility lies with parents and guardians.
Schools do have travel to school plans and promotional literature is readily
distributed and available.
e) Finance and General Purposes Committee
1. Re Minute 3316 Schools Merger County Councillor Walker advised that he
considers
the suggestion recently featured in the local newspaper suggesting that the
three secondary
schools in Newark and Balderton may merge, will not take place.
2881 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record and duly
signed:
Pavilion sub committee
Planning
Amenities
Finance & General Purposes
2882 Traffic Calming Measures
County Councillor Walker advised that he is scheduled to meet with Mr Charnley
from the County Highways Department on Friday March 3rd 2006 to discuss the
criteria for flashing speed warning signs. He will advise of progress made, but
it is understood that the criteria must still be met even if the Parish Council
did agree to undertake to pay for the signs.
County Councillor Mrs Saddington left the meeting at approximately 7.40pm.
2883 Financial Statement
The statements were approved. The details as published were correct, there being
cheque
requirements of £2610.46 for January 2006 and £1964.76 for February 2006.
2884 Reports from Representatives
No reports were made.
2885 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) Further enquiries have been made to change the Council’s web site to a
‘gov.uk’ site from ‘co.uk’. This can be undertaken with an initial charge of
£104.00 and then a bi-annual charge of £61.10. Members agreed that the
alteration should be made.
b) Notice that planning permission has been granted for an extension at 21
Masefield Crescent.
c) Notice that the Chairman has scheduled the Annual Parish Meeting for
Wednesday April 26th 2006 at 7.00pm in the Council Hall.
d) Notice of consultation prior to a planning application from Vodafone for a
telecommunications mast on the grass verge in front of Kwik Save on London Road.
Members considered that this is far too close to residential properties, it will
be an eyesore and should be objected to. Alternative sites should be sought.
2886 Councillors Questions
Cllr Mrs Brooks asked the Clerk to look into the situation and status of the
access link between Bakewell Close and Mead Way. Residents are experiencing
excessive problems with youths misbehaving there. It is understood that the
access is being claimed as a public footpath.
Exempt Items
It was, AGREED in accordance with the Public
Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 Section 1, that as publicity would be
prejudicial to the
public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the information in the
business to be transacted, the public and press be excluded from the remainder
of the meeting.
The press and public duly left the meeting at approximately 7.55pm.
A staffing matter was discussed and agreed upon.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.05pm.