Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Council meeting held in the Balderton
Village Centre on Wednesday March 5th 2008 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Mortimore (Chairman), Mrs Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Fletcher, Gould, Mrs Hurst, Mutter, Mrs Newstead, Radley, Sheppard, Mrs Walker
and Miss Watson. with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, District
Councillor Mrs Brooks, a representative of the local press and the Clerk.
3053 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Councillors Colman, Gibson, Hind, Hurst and White.
3054 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
The meeting was closed to hear Councillor Mrs Saddington who advised that this
is the last meeting she will be attending as County Councillor for Balderton
South Ward owing to Fernwood gaining its own parish. Well wishes were extended
to all members for both Fernwood and Balderton Councils and appreciation
expressed to Councillor Saddington for her work supporting the village in the
past. She was thanked for her attendance, she left and the meeting resumed.
3055 Minutes
The minutes of the Council meeting held on Wednesday January 23rd 2008, having
been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
3056 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 3044 Town Council Referendum Discussion was given to the preferred
method of holding a village referendum for the option of naming the Council a
Town or a Parish. It is not feasible to include this with the parish elections,
if contested on May 1st. 2008. Members considered that the issue should be given
further consideration on a future agenda.
b) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1449 Village Pavements County Councillor Walker advised that Mr
Alan Birt from the County Highways Department and himself had inspected many of
the village pavements earlier that day. The authority will shortly be producing
a list of highway works, listing them in priority order. Councillor Walker also
advised that the request to widen the pavement along London Road from Sibcy Lane
to Main Street may be undertaken as part of planned highway improvements from
Fernwood. He has requested that copies of those plans be provided for this
Council to peruse. Councillor Walker was thanked for his effort in enlisting the
authority’s local involvement.
2. Re Minute 1452d Public Footpaths Cllrs Allsopp and Miss Watson reported back
from their attendance at a County training course on surveying public footpaths.
Both had found the course both informative and enjoyable, and advised that they
would undertake the yearly survey of footpaths in the village.
c) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3476 Financial Assistance
It was, AGREED with 9 votes for and 3 abstentions,
that in pursuance of the powers conferred by Sections 137 and 139 of the Local
Government Act 1972 the Council approve the payment of £500 to the Sunday Youth
Group at St. Giles Church towards the cost of purchasing computers, 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 3466 Project money Cllr Radley advised that he had been unable to
attend the Student Council meeting at the Grove School on Thursday February 28th
2008, but was hoping to speak to the teacher who liaises with the Student
Council as soon as possible.
3057 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were then confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Planning
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
3058 Planning Applications
The following application was considered and approved subject to any comments
detailed below:
0198 Single storey extension 32 Granby Drive
3059 Financial Statements
The details as published and circulated were correct, there being cheque
requirements of £7763.77 for January and £8221.80 for February.
3060 Reports from Representatives
No reports were made.
3061 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
1. A widow’s request for permission to plant a commemorative tree with a brass
plaque, to be planted behind the bowling green. Her late husband was a Balderton
Bowls Club member. The groundstaff have no objection to the proposal and members
supported the request.
2. A suggestion from a parishioner that the Council produce a newsletter.
Members considered that this issue should be included on a future F&GP committee
agenda to discuss details.
3. A request from administrative staff for a ruling on burial charges. Members
re-enforced an understanding that the late address of the deceased dictates the
fee, not the purchaser.
4. A copy of a letter from the Methodist Church sent to the contractor currently
carrying out gas supply works along Main Street and London Road, raising
concerns about the length of time being taken to carry out the work and apparent
lack of time the contractors are on site (usually just 5 hours a day). Members
concurred with the concerns raised and a letter will be sent from this Council
to the contractor.
5. A copy of the Draft East Midlands Spatial Strategy report outlining support
in principle for the Newark Growth Bid proposal.
3062 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Allsopp asked that the Council look into the possibility of introducing
‘No Drinking’ orders in open areas of the village. The matter will be included
on the next Amenities Committee agenda for discussion.
2. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked that the lack of pubic conveniences in Newark be
discussed at a future meeting.
Well wishes were extended from, and to the Balderton South Ward members in
anticipation that this may be their last attendance at a Balderton Town Council
meeting before the Fernwood Parish is established.
Exempt 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 8.00pm. A staffing
issue was discussed and agreed upon.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.10pm.