Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held in the
Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday May 7th 2008 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Allen, Allsopp, Fletcher, Hind, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mrs
Jarvis, Mortimore (retiring Councillor and outgoing Chairman) Mrs Newstead,
Page, Sheppard, Miss Watson, Mrs Walker and Walker with a member of the press,
the Clerk and Deputy Clerk.
3075 Chairman
Two nominations were received for Councillors Mrs Jarvis and Sheppard. A paper
vote was requested and held with the following result; one abstention, Cllr Mrs
Jarvis 7 votes and Cllr Sheppard 5 votes. Councillor Mrs Jarvis was duly elected
Chairman and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Appreciation was
extended to Cllr Mortimore for his hard work over the past year as Chairman - he
thanked members and left the meeting. Councillor Mrs Jarvis thanked fellow
members for the privilege of electing her as Chairman and she undertook to work
hard and do her best for the Council.
3076 Vice Chairman
Two nominations were received for Councillors Mrs Hurst and Sheppard. A paper
vote was requested and held with the following result; one abstention, Cllr
Sheppard 7 votes and Cllr Mrs Hurst 5 votes. Cllr Sheppard was duly elected Vice
Chairman.
3077 Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Mrs Brooks and Brooks.
3078 Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Mrs Newstead and Miss Watson declared a personal interest to minute
reference – 3087d - Meadow Road speeding traffic. Cllr Walker declared a
personal interest to any issues relating to Newark & Sherwood District Council,
Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Police.
3079 Representatives
The following representatives were appointed:
Newark Area Local Councils Association
Cllr Mrs Jarvis
British Gypsum Liaison Group
Cllr Brooks
Newark Area Local Forum
Cllr Mrs Jarvis
Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group
Cllr Fletcher, Mrs Hurst and Hurst
Newark Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Cllr Mrs Jarvis and Cllr Mrs Newstead.
Newark & Sherwood Accident Prevention Group
Cllr Hurst and Mrs Newstead
3080 Committees
The committee members and officers are as follows:
Finance and General Purposes Committee Councillors Allen, Allsopp, Mrs Brooks,
Fletcher, Hind, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Walker, Walker and Miss
Watson.
Amenities Committee Councillors Allsopp, Brooks, Hind, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mrs
Newstead, Page, Mrs Walker, Walker and Miss Watson.
Council Review Committee Councillors Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Fletcher, Hind, Hurst
and Mrs Newstead.
Planning Committee Councillor Mrs Hurst, Mrs Newstead, Page and Walker
Balderton Village Centre Sub Committee Councillors Allsopp, Hurst, Mrs Newstead,
Miss Watson and Mr Pat White (co-opted).
(The Chairman and Vice Chairman are ex-officio on all committees).
Footpath Officers Councillors Allsopp and Page.
Emergency Officers Councillor Brooks and Sheppard.
Safety Officer Councillor Hurst
3081 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday April 16th 2008,
having
been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
3082 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 3066a.1 Commemorative Tree The Clerk was asked to check with the
family on the proposed size of the plaque.
2. Re Minute 3074.6 Brandon Close Rose Garden Contact will be made with
residents to suggest they ask Newark & Sherwood Homes to carry out a re-planting
scheme at the Garden.
b) Planning
1. Re Minute 0061 Turks Head Concern was expressed regarding the possible loss
of
public parking spaces with the approved change of use to a vet surgery. The
situation will be monitored in terms of planning development to see if any
provision is made for public parking on site. Some discussion was also given to
possible alternative parking site options in the vicinity and outside Tesco on
Main Street. Traffic congestion problems are presently being experienced from
road works on Main Street where temporary traffic lights are not synchronised
with the static lights. This problem will be reported to the appropriate
authority to try and ease the problems.
3083 Committee
The minutes of the following committee was confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Planning
3084 Parish Meeting
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on April 23rd 2008 were confirmed
as a true
record and signed. No items were discussed from the minutes.
3085 Financial Statement
The details as published were correct, there being a cheque requirement for
April of
£4929.38
3086 Reports from Representatives
Councillor Mrs Newstead advised that the Newark Accident and Prevention Group is
holding its celebration day on June 24th 2008 in the Balderton Village Centre
from 1pm-4pm. The event is being publicised locally.
Councillor Walker, advising as County Councillor for Balderton, informed that he
will organise a site visit from a County representative to look at the parking
issues highlighted earlier in the meeting. He also advised that a site meeting
is being arranged regarding the project to provide a cycle track/pavement
improvements from Fernwood to Balderton to address some of the concerns raised
about the plans.
3087 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) A copy of a letter sent by Cllr Hurst to the County Council seeking a meeting
about the cycle track and pavement improvements from Fernwood to Balderton.
b) A copy of a letter sent by Cllr Mrs Hurst to the Traffic Commissioners and
County Council regarding the duplicate bus service from Fernwood to Newark.
c) Notification that the District Council require 33% of sale proceeds to
relinquish their part of the covenant on the piece of Heron Way land that this
Council wishes to sell. Members expressed their disquiet at this news – Cllr Mrs
Brooks has undertaken to respond to the District Council’s legal department
about this issue.
d) A request from a Meadow Road resident for 30mph speed restriction sign at the
junction of Meadow Road with Hawton Lane, reporting that the road is used by
many speeding vehicles. Councillor Walker undertook to raise this request with
the County Council.
3088 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Sheppard asked if the local police could be advised that an ice cream
van regularly parks outside John Hunt schools on London Road, causing both a
hazard and potential danger to all other road and pavement users.
2. Cllr Page asked whose responsibility it is to clear litter around the Lake?
This is Council property and two local people very kindly litter pick there
almost daily, but excessive numbers of young people congregate there drinking
alcohol and leave their bottles and cans behind.
3. Cllr Allen asked if there are any plans to tarmac the public footpath behind
Mount Road Cemetery? Cllr Walker advised that the issue is being considered
between the County and District Councils.
4. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked what could be done about the apparent lack of
disabled facilities for pupils at the Grove School? Cllr Walker suggested that
those concerned should write to him in order that he can raise the issue with
the Education Department.
Cllr Mrs Newstead also asked that the appropriate authority be asked to cut back
the trees and hedgerow between Rowan Way and John Hunt schools – a request will
be made to the County Council to undertake this work.
5. Cllr Fletcher asked his fellow councillors to join him in congratulating
Cllrs Mrs Jarvis and Sheppard on their election to Chairman and Vice Chairman
respectively. He also welcomed the newly elected councillors.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm