Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the
Council Hall on Wednesday July 5th 2006 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman) Allsopp, Gibson, Hind, Mortimore, Mrs
Newstead, Miss Oram, Scott, Sheppard, Mrs Walker and White with County
Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, a member of the press, nine parishioners
and the Clerk.
2911 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher,
Mrs Scott and Miss Watson.
2912 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
2913 Vice Chairman
Two nominations for vice chairman were received - Cllr Mrs Brooks and Cllr
Mortimore. A paper vote was requested and held with the following result: Cllr
Mrs Brooks six votes, Cllr Mortimore four votes and one spoilt vote. Cllr Mrs
Brooks was duly elected in her absence as Vice Chairman.
Cllr Scott left the meeting at approximately 7.08pm.
The meeting was closed to take public comments. One parishioner asked the
Council to consider allowing Balderton Athletic FC a second Sunday morning pitch
allocation. A response is needed by early next week. This request had been
considered by the Amenities committee - groundstaff had advised that it could
not be accommodated. The Amenities Chairman Cllr White undertook to again
consider the request with the Amenities committee Vice Chairman, Clerk and
groundstaff.
Residents spoke of their concerns regarding a planning application submitted by
the County Council for a nursery unit at Chuter Ede school, their main objection
being on the grounds of vehicle congestion at the start and end of school times.
They consider that further child places at the school will exacerbate existing
traffic problems which are both hazardous for all and frustrating for residents.
They also asked why they had not received direct notification of the application
from the County Council. County Councillor Walker undertook to raise their
questions and concerns with the County planning department.
A parishioner asked for the Council’s support in promoting the public meeting on
July 20th 2006 at 6.30pm in Christ Church hall, Boundary Road, Newark which is
being chaired by Patrick Mercer M.P. about public health issues. The issue of a
second pharmacy in Balderton can be discussed there. Cllrs Allsopp and Sheppard
hope to attend the meeting.
County Councillor Mrs Saddington advised that the County Council is still
considering pavement improvements for the route to schools in the village from
the Fernwood area. Mrs Saddington also expressed her disquiet at a letter which
appeared in the Newark Advertiser criticising council representatives for
Balderton South, declaring its content unfounded and damaging.
Five parishioners left and the meeting re-opened at approximately 7.30pm.
2914 Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday May 24th
2006, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and
signed.
2915 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 2903.c1 Free Resource grant The grant recipient has repaid £57.92
to the Council as they have received more collective funding than totally
required.
2. Re Minute 2903.a1 Leisure Centre Charges Cllr Mrs Newstead undertook to make
enquiries herself about the increased charges at the Grove Leisure Centre.
3. Re minute 2909.c Code of Conduct Cllr Mrs Walker advised that she had
attended
a training update on ‘Code of Conduct & Outline of Local Investigation
Procedure’ at
Kelham Hall on Wednesday June 21st 2006. A further training session is being
planned
for September and she encouraged as many councillors as possible to attend. Some
disquiet was expressed that the certain implications of the Code may deter
people from
standing for local election and that common sense should really prevail in these
matters.
b) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1296 New Hall An alternative solution for the overflow car park has
been discussed. This involves simply fencing off the area (as before) and
allowing cars to pull onto the grassed area without installing a hard surface as
the groundstaff advise that area of the field is the driest on the site. In very
inclement weather the gates could remain closed to the area to prevent excessive
wear. All members approved this proposal. The cost of fencing and installing a
gate is £1821 which is more cost effective and less labour intensive that the
limestone surface originally planned and it means the car park can be in use as
soon as the fencing is complete.
1. 2. Re Minute 1299 Public Meeting It was noted that the public meeting on July
20th
2006 is about public health issues and not anti social issues as stated in the
minutes. It may therefore still be desirable to ask Patrick Mercer M.P. to hold
a meeting in Balderton about anti social issues.
c) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3348 Annual Audit Return 2005/06 The Statement of Assurance and
Additional Assurances Review was approved in Council and signed by the Chairman.
2916 Committee
The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record and
signed:
New Hall sub committee
Planning
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
2917 Extraordinary Meeting
The minutes of the extra-ordinary Council meeting held on June 28th 2006, having
been
previously circulated, were approved and signed.
Cllr Mortimore left the meeting at approximately 8.15pm.
2918 Fernwood Parish Status Proposal
Further discussion took place on the proposed independent parish status of the
Fernwood
area which is being applied for by the Fernwood Residents Association. The
District Council had provided projected house numbers and estimates of how the
rates would be increased in Balderton through the reduced number of households
should Fernwood be granted parish status. Concerns were raised about the
accuracy of some of these figures and it was deemed necessary to defer a
decision until they had been clarified. The Chairman undertook to call an
extraordinary meeting to consider the issue further once revised figures have
been received in order that a response can be submitted to the District Council
by its deadline of July 19th 2006. Mr Brown from the Residents Association
offered to provide the Clerk with the Association’s figures and statistics
relating to the boundary change.
Four parishioners left the meeting.
2919 Financial Statement
The details as published were correct, there being a cheque requirements for
June of
£37931.22
2920 Reports from Representatives
a) Cllr Mrs Newstead reported that the recent Accident Prevention Group day held
at the Newark Palace Theatre was a great success.
b) County Councillor Walker reported that he had been contacted by a parishioner
who had been knocked down twice recently by cyclists riding on pavements. He
asked that the press highlight this problem.
c) Cllr Mrs Walker advised that she had attended the County Council’s Building
Better Communities (BBC) initiative.
2921 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) A number of planning applications which had been viewed and approved, 0959
New dwelling with conservatory at 40 Dale Way, 0973 Extend dropped kerb, build
new wall and vehicular access at 2a Main Street and 0978 Two storey extension,
bay window and conservatory at 43 Masefield Crescent.
b) Two planning decisions- 0637 approval for a Conservatory at 88 Lacey Green,
and 0488
Telecommunications mast on London Road. Several complaints have been received
about this mast – Patrick Mercer M.P. has been advised of this and asked to take
on the fight against it. The press were asked to highlight the issue in the
local newspaper to encourage as many as possible to object further to this
application.
c) Details of approved works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders at
Fernwood.
d) An update from the Newark Primary Care Trust that second village pharmacy
request being discussed by the L.I.F.T. project people who are funding the new
health centre.
e) A questionnaire from the County Council regarding the Fiskerton household
waste recycling centre. Cllr Mrs Saddington advised that if this centre closes
the Cotham centre would be much busier which would increase traffic in this
area. The questionnaire will be completed and returned stating the Council’s
support that the Fiskerton centre be retained.
f) Notice that County Council planning consent has been granted for works at
Quarry Farm, Bowbridge Lane.
g) A request from the Rights of Way Department for a copy of a 1968 allotment
tenancy agreement with the Southwell Diocese. It is understood that this could
be critical to the footpath claim from Barnby Crossing through the Glebe Park
because there is a condition in the agreement about preventing rights of way
being created. Local enquiries will be made.
h) Notice of a planning meeting at Kelham Hall on Tuesday July 11th 2006 at
4.00pm where the application is being considered for permission to build two
properties at 50 Bullpit Road.
County Councillor Walker undertook to attend the meeting to speak in support of
the
applicants.
2922 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Allsopp asked that the local schools be contacted before the end of the
summer term to remind pupils of dangers of swimming in Balderton Lake. The
groundstaff report that several young people have recently been swimming there.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.55pm