Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the
Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday July 4th 2007 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Mortimore (Chairman), Mrs Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Fletcher, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mutter, Mrs Newstead, Radley, Mrs Walker, Miss
Watson and White with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, a
representative of the local press and the Clerk.
3002 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Councillors Colman, Gibson, Gosling, Gould, Hind
and Sheppard, and District Councillors Mrs Brooks and Brooks.
The Chairman reminded members of the necessity of lawful procedures at meetings,
including adhering to the published agenda. Any business to be transacted and
decisions made must be included on that agenda – non agenda items may be raised
but discussed only.
3003 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
3004 Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday May 16th
2007, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and
signed.
3005 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 2995.1 Main Street/Tesco Store Cllr Miss Watson advised that the
police are periodically issuing parking tickets to vehicles parked on the double
yellow lines in this vicinity.
2. Re Minute 2997 Planning Applications Cllr Mutter requested that Cllr Radley
(a member of the planning committee) be specifically advised of any applications
relating to the Fernwood area.
3. Re Minute 3001.6 Bullying Incident Cllr Mrs Walker provided further details
of the bullying incident which had occurred on the children’s play area in April
of this year.
Further signs have since been installed advising that unlawful incidents will
result in criminal proceedings.
b) Council Review
1. Re Minute 0070 Groundstaff Cllr White advised that the local contractor is
unable to carry out any extra grass cutting. One of the part time playing field
attendants has been deployed to assist with certain tasks to try and alleviate
pressure while the staffing situation is monitored.
c) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1393.1 A1 Noise Levels County Councillor Walker reported that the
information supplied by the Highways Agency had been submitted to the County
Council’s noise team who had reviewed it. They have advised that the readings
are a fair report of the situation.
2. Re Minute 1393.2 Village Centre Appreciation was extended to Cllr Mrs
Newstead for the wheelchair and walking frame donated for use at the Centre.
2. Re Minute 1398 Health Centre Signs Cllr Mrs Hurst advised that the number and
size of signs on the site may be requirements of the company who has funded the
Centre rather that the choice of the Primary Care Trust.
d) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3423 Financial Assistance
It was, AGREED that in pursuance of the powers
conferred by Sections 137 and 139 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Council
approve the payments of:
£490 to Chuter Ede Primary School and
£740 to John Hunt Junior School for the D.A.R.E. programme
£300 to Blue Sapphires Cheerleaders as a contribution towards the cost of
attending a competition in South Carolina
£2000 to Grove School for equal distribution amongst students qualifying for the
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
this being expenditure incurred in the interest of the parish or its inhabitants
and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure.
2. Re Minute 3424 WREN The Charity Commission has advised that the ‘Village Hall
Fund’ has essentially ended as an active charity. This is because the funds have
all been spent, the account has been closed, and the trustees have no plan or
intention of trying to fund raise for a village hall because the Council has
essentially provided the same.
This was noted by members who re-confirmed that any charity money spent on the
new building was done so with the very best of intentions for the local
community.
3. Re Minute 3427 Audit The prepared accounts for 2006/07 were approved.
3006 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were then confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Council Review
Planning
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
3007 Financial Statements
The details as published were correct, there being cheque requirements for May
of £3805.07 and £8969.95 for June.
3008 Reports from Representatives
The Chairman advised that this agenda item is the designated area for
representatives of the County and District Councils to update the Council, as
well as for members who represent the Council on external bodies.
1. County Cllr Walker advised that:
a) The appeal against planning refusal for the scrap yard on Hollowdyke Lane is
scheduled to be heard in September.
b) The medieval hedge which runs along Lacey Green is in an overgrown and poor
state. He has arranged to meet with the District Council Trees and Woodlands
Officer Mr Catchpole to discuss remedial work to this protected hedge.
2. Cllr Mrs Newstead reported that the ‘Falls Awareness Day’ she had organised
on behalf of the Newark & Sherwood Accident Prevention Group, held at the
Balderton Village Centre on Tuesday June 26th had been very well attended.
Members present who had attended congratulated Cllr Mrs Newstead on the event
which had been enjoyed by all.
3009 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) A copy of a letter sent from Mrs Head at the Grove School to all pupils
advising that the school may take over the Newark High School site. This
situation will be closely monitored – Cllr Fletcher undertook to keep members
updated of any development.
b) Notice from the County Council that resurfacing works are scheduled to take
place on Staple Lane/London Road during the school summer holidays.
c) Notice that the groundstaff require a replacement hedge trimmer at an
approximate cost of £320.
d) A warning notice from the police that distraction burglaries area taking
place in the Newark area.
e) Notice from the District Council that the bid has been successful which was
submitted to WREN to provide a piece of play equipment for the children’s play
area on the field.
f) Initial notice from Patrick Mercer MP’s office that the possible date of the
public meeting to discuss the flooding situation in Balderton is Wednesday
August 8th 2007. This is to be confirmed.
3010 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Mrs Jarvis asked if the Mount Road Cemetery gates could be locked at
night? A family’s memorial bench has been vandalised twice. It was considered
that locking the gates at night would not prevent those intent on gaining
access. The new CCTV system at the back of the health centre which borders the
site may deter vandals, and security of the site will be taken into account when
the Cemetery extension is planned.
2. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked councillors to be aware that approval has finally
been given
for cycle sheds to be installed at John Hunt school.
3. Cllr Mutter asked fellow councillors if anyone was experiencing delays in the
time post is delivered to homes? Members advised that delivery times vary
greatly, and are often now in the afternoons.
3. Cllr Mrs Hurst asked if members would be interested in asking representatives
to attend
meetings to explain issues such as drug awareness, community help, the probation
service etc? Many of these speakers are scheduled to attend the Safer
Neighbourhood Police Meetings so members should be able to learn more about
these by attending those meetings.
4. Cllr Mortimore asked members to give future consideration to the benefits of
this Council opting for Town Council status.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm.