Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the
Council Hall on Wednesday November 1st 2006 at 6.30pm.
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman) Allsopp, Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind,
Mrs Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Scott, Sheppard, Mrs Walker,
Miss Watson and White
with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, two representative of Severn
Trent Water, one member of the public, a member of the local press and the
Clerk.
2936 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Ms Atkinson and Mrs Scott. Cllr Mrs Brooks
had advised she would be late attending the meeting owing to earlier attendance
at another meeting.
2937 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
2938 Severn Trent Water
Two representatives from Severn Trent Water, Mrs Margaret Burrup and Mr Tony
Smith were introduced and welcomed to the meeting. Issues were raised relating
to flooding, blocked drains and general inadequacies of the drainage system in
Balderton.
They advised that some of the problems are caused by improper use of the sewer drains for disposal of inappropriate items such as nappies. The officers undertook to look into certain specific problems in the Manners Rd/Haddon Drive/Marquis Avenue area, advising that a full inspection of that area would be carried out. Major work is planned and budgeted for five years in advance.
Hard surface gardens and drives create increased
run off and provide less naturally effective soak-away areas. Concerns were also
raised regarding the inability of the organisation to comment on planning
applications for developments of less than ten dwellings. Changes to legislation
are necessary to allow the water companies more power to be involved in planning
issues.
Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.05pm. The representatives were
thanked for their attendance and information. They left the meeting at
approximately 7.10pm.
2939 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday September 20th 2006,
having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2940 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
1. Re Minute 2933b Fernwood Notice Board County Councillor Mrs Saddington
advised that she had donated £100 from County funding towards the project.
Cllr Mrs Brooks joined the meeting at approximately 7.20pm.
b) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1321.1 Headstone safety Rev. Tucker has advised that the Diocese
believes that this Council is not responsible for memorial safety in the St.
Giles churchyard and that the Diocese will send a letter to this effect.
2. Re Minute 1324 Acacia Road access Following receipt of a letter about this
issue which was circulated at the meeting, members considered that no further
response should be necessary. The situation has been discussed extensively and
minute 1324 fully explains the Council’s stance on the matter.
3. Re Minute 1326 User Agreements Further consideration was given to this issue
and members considered that the regular teams who use the changing rooms should
pay a bond to insure against any damage to the facilities, refundable if no
damage is incurred.
c) Finance & General Purposes
d) Council Review
1. Re Minute 0068 Playing Field/Caretaking Attendant Applications have been
received for the post – members agreed that Cllrs Colman, Sheppard and White
meet with the Clerk to shortlist the applicants, arrange interviews and appoint
as necessary. .
e) New Hall
1. Re Opening Ceremony Cllr White advised that the changing room side of the
building should be in use within the next few weeks. Members were advised that
Mr Wholmsley would unfortunately not be available to open the new hall. It was
considered appropriate to ask Mr Paul Johnson to open it – he is a previous
local cricketer, County player and now a Notts County Cricket Club coach. The
preferred date is considered to be Saturday December 16that 12 noon.
2941 Committees
Cllr Mrs Jarvis’ name had been omitted from those present in the Amenities and
the F&GP minutes – these alterations were made and the minutes of the following
committees were then confirmed as a true record and signed:
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
Planning
Council Review
New Hall sub committee
2942 Financial Statements
The details as published were correct, there being cheque requirements for
September of £98335.57 and for October of £128,618.18.
2943 Reports from Representatives
a) County Councillor Walker reported that:
1. Trading Standards are working with the Police to tackle unlawful use of
mini-motorbikes.
2. The pedestrian crossing scheduled for installation on London Road near to the
Lakeside Shopping Centre has been delayed slightly.
3. Flowserve is submitting an application for a development of 200 houses on the
Lowfield Lane site. It has been suggested that a joint meeting should be held
with the company, Parish and District Councils to discuss the application.
b) County Councillor Mrs Saddington reported that a traffic survey was taken to
assess the
number of school children travelling on cycle or foot from Fernwood to
Balderton, which showed very low numbers. Further details are required to assess
the need of
a school bus – Cllrs Mrs Saddington and Mrs Walker undertook to try and get the
relevant numbers from local schools and the developers.
Cllr Miss Watson left the meeting at approximately 8.05pm.
2944 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) Information from Barnby-in-the-Willows parish council that members are
concerned about the number of heavy goods vehicles cutting through the village
to the A17. The council has contacted Tarmac Topblock about this as many of the
lorries belong to the company. The problem is exacerbated by the vehicle weight
restriction on Coddington roads. Similar problems are experienced in Balderton.
County Councillor Walker undertook to look into the issue.
b) A suggestion from a resident that certain areas of Balderton could be made
subject to byelaws where no alcohol may be consumed in open places. Ollerton and
Edwinstowe councils are both considering taking these measures to try and
support the police with anti-social issues. A police representative would attend
a meeting to advise about this. Members considered that this could be useful and
the matter will be discussed further after the new hall is operational and the
Council office has been re-located.
c) Notice that the District Council has been asked to co-ordinate training for
parish councils
on behalf of ENCAM to issue fixed penalty notices for litter etc.
(minute 2944 continued)
d) Notice that an appeal has been lodged against a planning refusal for a
dwelling at 24 Moulton Crescent.
e) A request from Sustrans to ask if the Council has any objection to
directional signs being placed at the end of Lowfield Lane where the cycle track
can be accessed. Members raised no objections to this proposal. Sustrans are
also asking for volunteers for regular litter picks etc. – anyone interested to
contact local volunteer Mr Hudson.
f) A copy of the District Council’s ‘Core Strategy Preferred Options’ which sets
out the scale and location of future development in our area, with an invitation
to comment by December 15th 2006. Cllr Mortimore undertook to review the
document.
g) A copy of the County Council’s consultation document for its Waste Core
Strategy and Development Control Policies, with an invitation to comment by
December 8th 2006.
h) A letter of complaint about old ambulances parked at a private address on
Heron Way, advising that one of the ambulances parks across the pavement.
Obstruction of the highway is a police matter and the report will be passed onto
the local police.
i) The Cemetery gates are in need of repair – essential repairs to the Mount
Road set will cost approximately £250. The gates are presently in a poor
condition. An option has also been made to remove, strip and re-paint both sets
at a total cost of £800. Members agreed that this expenditure should be approved
and the work carried out as soon as possible.
2945 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Mrs Brooks asked that the Millennium Clock be altered to show the
correct time.
2. Cllr Mrs Walker asked if members were aware that several properties in the
village have been the target for egg throwing? The police are aware of the
situation and have undertaken specific patrols to counteract the problems.
3. Cllr Mrs Jarvis asked what the average time scale is for the County Council
to attend to non-working street-lights? A lamp on Mallard Green has been out for
two weeks – the Clerk undertook to expedite this.
4. Cllr Fletcher asked County Councillor Walker if there was any progress on the
Working Men’s’ Club request for a no parking line at the entrance to the Club on
Main Street? County Councillor Walker undertook to expedite this.
5. Cllr Colman asked members for their support to his suggestion that any
questions to be raised by the public at meetings should be submitted in time for
inclusion on published agendas – this would allow time to make enquiries/prepare
any necessary answers etc. Members considered that this would be useful, though
all parishioners are welcome to attend meetings without prior notice.
Exempt Agenda Item
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 8.20pm. A staffing
issue was discussed and agreed upon.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.40pm.