Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday April 5th 2006 at 7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Allsopp,
Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher, Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram,
Sheppard and Mrs Walker with County Councillor Walker, ten parishioners, a
representative of the local press and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Gibson, Hind, Mrs Scott, Scott and Miss
Watson.
Cllr Ms Atkinson had advised she hoped to be able to attend the meeting later.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Fletcher declared a
personal interest to minute reference 3318 – planning application no.0504 at 159
Main Street. Cllr Jarvis declared a personal interest to minute reference 3326 –
waste bin for churchyard.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
The meeting was closed at approximately 7.01pm to take public comments. Concerns
were raised about a planning application to install a telecommunications mast on
London Road in front of the Kwik Save store. Local residents have raised a
petition and presented a copy of it to the Council. Their objections are based
on adverse health affects, visual pollution and affects on property values.
A second group of parishioners raised their objections to a planning application
for 13 dwellings on land at 159 Main Street. Their objections are based on poor
visibility when exiting the site, existing heavy lorries and traffic on Main
Street often travelling at speed, and spoiling an area of natural history
interest. Previous applications for the site have been objected to by this
Council.
A resident advised of the problems being experienced on the link between Mead
Way and Bakewell Close. Extensive anti-social behaviour issues are being
experienced by residents, including vandalism, pets being harmed, severe
taunting and threatening behaviour. The police are aware of the problems. The
resident is trying to buy the land to prevent it becoming a right of way to try
and ease the situation. The District Council and Newark & Sherwood Homes are
involved in the problem, but the resident considers that the local M.P. and
press should be made aware of all issues. District Councillors have tried to
help where possible and County Councillor Walker undertook to do whatever he
could in relation to the problems.
The Chairman thanked those present for their comments, nine parishioners left
and the meeting re-opened at approximately 7.30pm.
3317 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is
published
with the minutes. The following items were discussed from the update:
1. Re Building Better Communities County Cllr Walker advised that he understands
the Council has been successful with one of its bids made to the County Council
under the initiative and official notification will be received in due course.
(minute 3317 continued)
2. Re Minute 311 Speed calming County Councillor Walker advised that Mr Charnley
of the County Highways Department considered that Balderton does meet the
necessary criteria to be considered for flashing speed warning signs. A
pedestrian crossing is planned for London Road near to Lakeside shopping centre,
and the authority may look into reducing the speed limit to 30 m.p.h. where
schools are situated.
3318 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
0418 Brewery signs Grove Public House
0487 Demolish garage, porch, erect same & kitchen, conservatory 22 Manners Road
0543 Extension & replacement garage 88 Main Street
0554 Extension to replace garage 5 Glovers Lane
The following planning applications were considered and objected to with the
following comments:
0488 Install 13.4m high telecommunications post London Road
Members considered that this site is unsuitable for a telecommunications mast;
it is far too close to residential properties and will be an eyesore. Health
issues relating to such masts are also a concern.
0504 Residential development Rear of 159 Main Street
Members considered that access from the site will have restricted visibility
onto a hazardous stretch of Main Street close to the bridge and the bend. The
development will have a detrimental affect on the rear open aspect of the
neighbouring properties.
3319 Planning Decision
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were
noted:
0181 Erect 16 dwellings Phase 2, Fernwood
0197 Erect side and rear extension Woodlands, Barnby Rod
0249 Erect conservatory 3 Laburnum Close
0282 Rear extension 24 Collinson Lane
3320 Street Naming
Members gave consideration to a request to suggest a street name for the
residential development adjacent to 13 Barnby Crossing. It was,
RECOMMENDED that Fitzgerald Close be submitted as a suggestion.
3321 Annual Parish Meeting
Consideration was given to the preferred method of publicising the Annual Parish
Meeting scheduled for April 26th 2006. It was,
AGREED that a suitably sized notice be placed in the local newspaper.
3322 Secondary Schools
Discussion took place on a recent local newspaper article regarding the possible
merging of the three secondary schools in Newark and Balderton. Village history
is tied in
with the Grove School and loss of the site would mean loss of a large green area
in
Balderton. It was considered vital for the local community that Balderton
retains a secondary school, and a letter will be drafted to the County Council
Director of Education to this effect. Copies of the letter will be sent to the
M.P., Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Storey, and County Cllr Walker. Cllr
Walker advised about the future of secondary schools in this area; it is highly
unlikely the three schools would ever merge into one. A County Council working
party’s findings are due to be heard in June, and a decision may be known in
August.
3323 District Council Consultations
Members noted receipt of two consultations from the District Council; ‘Green
Spaces
Strategy’ and ‘A Waste Strategy for Newark & Sherwood’. A full copy of the Green
Spaces
Strategy will be requested and reviewed. The Waste Strategy specific questions
will be responded to with suggestions that unsolicited junk mail should be
stopped to help reduce waste, and the elderly/infirm should not be expected to
take their waste to external stations.
3324 Statement of Community Involvement
Members noted receipt of the District Council’s Community Involvement Statement
which outlines how the authority intends to consult on elements of the new Local
Development Framework, and how consultations on planning applications will be
undertaken.
3325 Internal Auditor
The Clerk advised that enquiries were ongoing to appoint a new Internal Auditor
to the Council and an arrangement should be finalised shortly.
3326 St. Giles Churchyard
Members gave approval in principle to a request from the church for a further
waste basket in the vicinity of the garden of remembrance. Prices will be
obtained and the church will be asked exactly what style they would prefer. .
Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.45pm.
3327 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) A letter from local residents who have painted the exterior of their property
several different colours, explaining why they had done it - to protest about
the planning system.
b) Notice from the Post Office that a review is being undertaken of the closure
of the Grove Street/London Road post office which has been closed for 12 months.
They have been unable to find a suitable candidate and are seeking evidence of
any material changes in the surrounding area to help restore a service otherwise
the service will be considered non viable for the remaining network of post
offices.
c) An invitation to a have a free link for the Council’s website to the ‘Local
Channel’ which is a search engine for local councils . Members agreed to accept
the offer as there is no financial implication to the Council.
(minute 3327 continued)
d) A letter from the District Council Monitoring Officer advising that where
members rent or own property in the parish it needs to be included on the
Register of Interest. Any updates should be submitted as soon as possible.
e) A request from a resident that the cul-de-sac/no through road sign at the top
of Church Lane be made prominent as several vehicles including lorries go down
the lane believing they can get through to London Road. These vehicles then have
difficulty turning round. County Cllr Walker undertook to take this matter up
with the Highways Department.
f) A letter from Land Registry urging parishioners to register land which may be
as yet unregistered. A poster provided will be displayed.
g) Details of an invitation from the District Council of a free entry into the
E-Business Directory for all businesses in the area.
h) Notice that an insurance broker made enquiries to obtain a more competitive
insurance quotation for the Council, but was unable to secure any improvement on
the existing scheme with Zurich.
i) Notice of how to obtain a guide for the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment
Act 2005 which allows parish councils to issue fixed penalty notices for litter
and graffiti. Anyone authorised by a council to issue tickets must undertake
training – details of courses are being finalised. A copy of the guide will be
obtained from DEFRA.
3328 Future Agenda Items
1. Cllr Mrs Newstead reported that one of the speed limit signs is still
facing the wrong way on Baines Avenue. This has been reported before and County
Cllr Walker advised that the Highways Department are aware of the problem.
2. Cllr Mrs Brooks advised that the Millennium Clock opposite Coronation Street
is not working. The Clerk undertook to deal with this.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.10pm