Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes
Committee meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday April 4th
2007 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Mrs Brooks (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott,
Sheppard and Miss Watson with Cllr Ms Atkinson, County Councillor Walker and the
Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Hind, Mrs Jarvis and Miss Watson.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Mrs Newstead declared a personal and prejudicial
interest to minute reference 3417 – financial application. Cllrs Allsopp and Mrs
Brooks both declared a personal interest to minute reference 3418d - John Hunt
School. Cllr Brooks declared a personal interest to minute reference 3411 -
planning applications.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3410 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issue was discussed:
1. Re Minute 3405 Village Hall Fund The closure of this account will be
mentioned at the Council meeting for the local press to include a note of
appreciation for all those involved in past fund raising activities for the
fund.
3411 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
0325 Change use to light industrial & alterations Warehouse A, Claypole Lane
0340 First floor front extension 23 Kingsway
0361 Dwelling and access (re-submission) Rear of 252/254 London Road
3412 Planning Decisions
The following planning application has received conditional approval and was
noted:
0207 First floor front extension 2 Orchard Way The following application has
been withdrawn and was noted:
0334 Conservatory 30 Christopher Crescent
3413 Council Hall Sale
The sale of the Hall has been agreed at £112,000 to the two local people
originally wanting to purchase it. Previously interested parties had been
re-contacted by the estate agent to invite re-viewings. A Church group had
undertaken three surveys of the property but ultimately only offered a reduced
price to that of the £112,000 offered by the local couple. It is anticipated
that the sale should now progress without further delay.
3414 Planning Consultations
The District Council has requested that this Council undertake a trial period of
obtaining planning application consultations on-line rather than by post. The
authority would send notification of Balderton consultations on line and office
staff would download the plans, consultation forms etc.
The District Council would consider providing any
necessary computer hardware, e.g. an A3 photocopier to make the administrative
task easier. They are seeking to secure these arrangements to comply with
governmental guidelines regarding streamlining the planning process. Members
agreed that a trial period could be undertaken subject to an A3 photocopier
being provided by the District Council.
3415 Outstanding Debt
Members were advised of a minor outstanding debt of £18 for hire of the old
Pavilion in 2005. Numerous attempts have been made to obtain the money but to no
avail. Cllr Ms Atkinson undertook to provide up to date contact details of the
organisation concerned in order that the matter can be expedited again.
3416 Parking Enforcement Regulations
Members noted receipt of a County Council document reviewing all existing
parking
regulations to ensure they are correct, prior to the County Council undertaking
responsibility
for parking enforcement. Three minor anomalies have been identified for
Balderton.
3417 Financial Assistance
Cllr Mrs Newstead left the meeting for the duration of this agenda item.
Consideration was given to an application for financial assistance from a local
student to attend a summer college in London with the National Academy for
Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY). Discussion took place regarding sponsorship
of any other Balderton pupils who may also be selected to attend NAGTY sessions.
Details have been requested from local schools of any other pupils residing in
Balderton who are chosen for NAGTY events, but nothing has yet been received.
It was, RECOMMENDED that a grant of £200 be paid
to the family to allow the student to attend the summer college. Further
consideration will be given to sponsoring any other qualifying Balderton
students once details are known.
3418 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) A letter from a resident claiming that a cat had necessitated veterinary
treatment following treading on anti-vandal paint along a stretch of the playing
field concrete fence.
The paint is entirely harmless to animals. Though sympathetic, members
considered that appropriate steps have to be taken to protect Council property,
and the Council is not responsible for the veterinary cost incurred.
b) Notice that the Deputy Head Groundsman has completed twenty five years
service with
the Council. Members approved payment of a gift to the value of £100 in line
with past
similar awards to other staff.
c) An open letter from Chief Superintendent David Colbeck advising that Newark
Police
will be allocated a Chief Inspector (to be appointed), and Inspector Andy Gan
has been
selected to work alongside.
c) A request from John Hunt Junior School for financial assistance towards the
cost of the D.A.R.E. project for 74 Year 6 pupils at a cost of £10 each. This
request will be considered at the next finance meeting.
d) Notifications from the County Council that that the future of Cotham
household and recycling centre is being considered. Planning approval for the
site expires on November 30th 2007 and the authority must decide whether to seek
approval to extend the life of the site for two years while it tries to secure a
replacement. Any comments should be submitted on the questionnaire provided by
May 31st 2007. The Fiskerton site will remain open until 2012 subject to
retaining licence approval. An appeal has been lodged against the County
Council’s refusal for permission to operate the Staple Landfill site on Bank
Holidays.
e) An e-mail from a resident concerned about the hazardous situation caused by
vehicles which double park outside Tesco on Main Street. This issue has been
addressed before by the Council, but to no avail. Parking enforcement
regulations have been taken over by the County Council – once these are in place
a new system may clamp down more heavily on illegal and hazardous parking.
f) Notification that the Co-op has donated £250 towards the new Village Centre.
The Chairman, Cllr Colman has made two donations from his Chairman’s Allowance
during this past year to the project. £8000 has also been donated for the
building from District Councillors Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher and Hind.
Appreciation was expressed to all concerned.
g) Notice of a Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting on Monday
April 30th 2007 at Kelham Hall. Cllr Fletcher hopes to attend this meeting.
h) The latest County Highways Briefing Sheet notifying that Mr Chris Charnley
has been appointed Head of Services at the Newark Office.
i) Notes of the Interim Parish Conference held on February 21st 2007. The next
conference will be held on July 2nd 2007 – suggestions are invited for topic
discussion. Cllr Mortimore suggested that a fairer rating system for Balderton
be discussed.
j) Notice that the New Island Restaurant has applied for a premises licence
variation.
k) Notice that a Dispersal Order has been put in place in Edwinstowe to reduce
groups of young people causing anti-social behaviour. The Order aids the police
in dealing with those concerned.
3419 Future Agenda Items
1. Cllr Mrs Walker advised that the Fernwood and District Residents Association
would
like a second post box on the site – just one post box is situated in the Dale
Crescent
area. A second one somewhere on the opposite side of the estate would be useful.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.35pm.