Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday April 6th at 7.00pm.
PRESENT: Councillors Hind (Chairman), Colman (Vice Chairman), Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Gibson, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Spencer and Mrs Walker.
with County Councillor Walker, District Councillor Walker, three parishioners and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: were received from Cllrs Mrs Fletcher, Fletcher, Jarvis and Miss Oram and Mr Mortimore.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None were made.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3233 Grove School
The meeting was closed to hear Mrs Head, the head teacher from the Grove School
who outlined the Science College Status that the school hopes to achieve.
The school would become a specialist school in science, but not at the expense of other subjects. To apply for this school must submit a bid which contains a community action plan showing how such a school would benefit the community.
Mrs Head asked the Council to consider the proposal and show support not through finance, but by submitting a letter of support for inclusion in the action plan for the bid submission. The school is applying to local business in the Newark area for funding.
Mrs Head was thanked for her information and attendance, and she left the meeting at approximately 7.35pm.
Parishioners spoke against a planning application for dwelling in the garden of 10 Glovers Lane. Objections raised included loss of light and privacy to adjacent properties, and highways grounds as the Lane is narrow with no pavements, and well used by pedestrians using the public footpath as a short cut from Pinfold lane to Main Street.
The parishioners were thanked for their comments and the meeting re-opened. Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.45pm.
3234 Clerk/Chairman's Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following items were discussed from the update:
1. Re Minute 3231b No Ball Games signs The District Council have installed a sign on the corner of Queens Street and Lacey Green. They have also advised that they are letting the grass grow quite long to try and further prevent ball games being played there.
2. Re Minute 3211 Council Web-site Members were reminded that a group photograph of councillors is scheduled to be taken immediately before the council meeting next week. It was considered that the web site text could be used for text in the next Council newsletter.
3235 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
0646 Conservatory 82 Southfield
0649 Conservatory (retrospective) 51 Lacey Green
0658 Rear Extension 16 Keats Road
The following planning
application was considered and objected to with the following comments:
0628 Erect dwelling Adjacent to 10 Glovers Lane
This would have a detrimental affect on adjacent properties in terms of loss of
light and privacy. Glovers Lane is very narrow and has no pavements, though it
is heavily used by pedestrians cutting through to Main Street.
A further property at the end of this Lane would add to existing traffic problems experienced by residents in the vicinity. The problem is exacerbated by visitors to Tesco Express on Main Street who park and/or try to turn round on Glovers Lane.
0324 Site mobile home for holiday
accommodation 14 Barnby Crossing
Members considered that as the mobile home would be sited to the front of the
property it would have a detrimental affect upon adjacent properties in terms of
loss of light and privacy.
The parishioners were thanked for their attendance and they left the meeting.
3236 Planning Decisions
The following planning application has been refused and was noted:
0276 Erection of Dwelling Land adjacent to 128 Main Street
3237 Financial Assistance
Consideration was given to written applications for funding from:
a) The Grove School who are looking to raise £50,000 to apply for 'Science
College Status' in October 2005
b) W.R.V.S
c) Childline
It was'
RECOMMENDED: that as mentioned earlier in the meeting, the Grove School are
actually seeking a public statement of support from the Council, rather than
financial assistance.
It was considered that it is a very worth while project which can only benefit the pupils, staff and businesses in the area in terms of future employees. A letter should be drafted stating the council's support for the bid.
The committee considered it inappropriate to make a grant to either of the charities W.R.V.S or Childline because the Council may not make a free resource payment without evidence of direct benefit to inhabitants of the parish.
3238 Street Naming
Consideration was given for naming suggestions for residential developments at
the rear of The Vicarage, Main Street and rear of Sibcy Lane.
It was,
RECOMMENDED:
a) that the development to the rear of The Vicarage be named Fitzgerald Way in
remembrance of former councillor Mr Chris Fitzgerald.
b) that the development off Sibcy Lane be named Clarke's Gardens as the site was
the former Danny Lyp garden centre owned by Mr and Mrs Clarke. These
recommendations will be submitted to the developers for any comments.
3239 Annual Parish Meeting
The meeting will be held on May 18th at 6.30pm in the Council Hall immediately
before the scheduled F&GP committee meeting commences. Discussion took place
upon the preferred option of advertising the meeting and members considered that
a notice be placed in the Newark Advertiser and notices be displayed in the
village on appropriate notice boards.
3240 Standards Board Review
The Standards Board for England review of the Code of Conduct was considered.
All Council members had been supplied with a copy of the consultation document.
Any member wishing to respond to the document should do so as soon as possible.
3241 Community Support Officer
A letter from Nottinghamshire Police was discussed regarding the possibility of
a parish council funded Police Community Support Officer. The Clerk advised that
attempts have been made to obtain outline costings and other implications, but
no response has yet been made. The committee agreed to discuss the matter once
further information has been received.
3242
Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) A complaint has been made regarding old ambulances which are again being
parked on the Heron Way car park. Consideration was given to the need for a sign
advising that overnight parking is not allowed - advise will be sought from the
District Council for exact wording for the sign.
There are other vehicles which are regularly parked on the car park - two believed without road tax. The Clerk was asked to make appropriate enquiries and write to any traceable owners.
b) A letter from a resident asking what the Parish Council does with its money raised from the Council Tax. A copy of the Council's published accounts for 2003/04 will be sent to the parishioner.
c) A letter of response to an appeal outcome issued by the Council to a parishioner's request for information which had been requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
The letter advises that the matter has been referred to the Information Commissioner as the applicant is unhappy with the Council's handling and response to the application.
The committee considered it preferable that the matter should be dealt with by the Commissioner and the applicant will be advised accordingly.
d) Information from the Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs; a CD-ROM regarding broadband for rural areas, and information regarding Quality Parishes and Parish Planning, encouraging councils to achieve Quality Status.
e) A pouch laminator which is suitable for laminating council notices etc., reduced from £230 to £70. It is for sale from the council's regular stationary suppliers.
It was,
RECOMMENDED: that it be purchased
f) A District Council initial consultation paper; 'Towards a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)' regarding the Local Development Framework which will replace Local Plans.
Any response to this initial consultation exercise should be submitted by May 12th 2005. This will be followed by a final SCI document in the autumn. A copy of the consultation paper will be distributed to all members for any response.
g) Notice that the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands has been published.
h) A letter from William Ghent House Senior Citizens Association asking for the Council's assistance in obtaining improved street lighting in the vicinity of Ghent House and Gibson Crescent. It was suggested that sensor lights on the building would ease the problem - this will be put forward to the District Council.
i) A request from Newark Photographic Society for permissions to store six exhibition boards in the Council Hall. The boards will be used to display old and new photographs of Balderton for a project.
The council has pledged to support the Society in this project, but there is no-where suitable in the Hall where they can be stored. There may by room in the Pavilion - enquiries will be made.
3243 Future Agenda Items
None were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.55pm