Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday September 7th 2005 at 7.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors White (Chairman), Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Colman, Gibson, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Scott, Scott and Sheppard with Cllr Brooks, Head Groundsman Mr Stevens, a member of the local press and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: were received from Councillors Ms Atkinson and Hind, County Councillors Walker and Mrs Saddington, and Parish Footpaths Officer Mr Rix.
A moments silence was held in memory of Councillors Mrs Sue Hind and Mr Roger Spencer who had recently passed away.
1218 Declarations of
Interest
Cllr White declared a personal interest to minute reference 1221.2 - Twitch
Farm.
1219 Mount Road Cemetery
Cllr Brooks raised concerns regarding ongoing anti-social behaviour in the
Cemetery. This problem has been an issue for some time. It was,
AGREED: that a small working party be formed to consider possible options and report back to the committee. Advice can also be sought from local church ministers and undertakers.
The working party’s report can also be taken into account when the Cemetery is extended. The hedge on the Mount Road side of the Cemetery will be lowered in height to allow increased visibility.
Cllrs Brooks, Gibson and Mrs Newstead undertook to be on the working party.
Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.45pm.
1220 Pavilion Renovation
The Chairman advised that the Pavilion sub committee had met three times
during the summer recess – minutes from these meetings were circulated. Revised
plans for the Pavilion have been drafted which incorporate 8 changing rooms, a
large meeting room and kitchen, toilet and shower rooms.
Cllr Jarvis presented a model he had made of the proposed building from the revised plans. The press were asked to highlight that parishioners are welcome to come in and view the model at the Council Hall.
The committee gave approval to the sub committee’s recommendation that the architect approach three or four local companies asking for their ideas and budget costings for the new building.
The architect will be asked to request that prices be known by the next committee meeting in order that full consideration can be given to any budgetary requirements for the next financial year.
The press representative left the meeting at approximately 8.00pm
1221 Clerk/Chairman’s
Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issues were discussed from the
update:
1. Re Minute 1214 Angling Club The Club’s treasurer will attend the November meeting to discuss rent and lease issues.
2. Re Minute 1215 Twitch Farm Members were asked to pay attention to the site in order that any inappropriate activity may be reported to the Planning Enforcement Officer.
1222 Planning Applications
The following Planning Applications were considered and approved with any
comments detailed below:
1857 Single storey extension
20 Christopher Crescent
1889 Single storey extension
29 Baines Avenue
1223 Planning Decisions
The following Planning Applications have been granted conditional approval
and were noted:
1024 Two storey rear extension
10 Moulton Crescent
1383
Conservatory
15 Lacey Green
1412 Loft conversion
38 Bullpit Road
1463 Conservatory
14 Simpson
Close
1493 Hoarding sign
Balderton
Hospital
1499 Conservatory
10 Meadow Road
1224 Quarterly Bonus
Approval was given to payment of the groundstaff’s quarterly bonus.
1225 Football Coaching
Sessions
Members were informed that football coaching sessions which take place on
the Playing Field during school holidays are being run as a commercial
venture.
The Pavilion changing rooms are used during the sessions. Problems have recently been experienced with storage of their equipment, and no notice was given on the last two occasions that sessions would be taking place. Discussion took place and it was,
RECOMMENDED that £20 per day be charged to the organisers, and that the sessions must be booked in advance as for any other event.
1226 Budget 2006/07
Members gave initial consideration to any budgetary requirements or projects
for inclusion in the 2006/07 financial year. The matter was deferred until
the next committee meeting when the Pavilion re-build cost should be known.
1227
Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and
were noted:
a) Notice from the Internal Drainage Board that the Environment Agency is proposing to take over responsibility of the Lowfield Drain from the Board. A reply will be drafted stating agreement in principle, but asking why the Agency is doing this and who will carry out maintenance work?
b) Notice that an appeal against a planning refusal has been allowed by the Planning Inspectorate for a dwelling at 128 Main Street.
c) Notice that the Main Street road works timetable has been extended. The one way system is now scheduled to end on October 2nd 2005.
d) Notice that the District Council is creating a tree preservation order for an oak tree in the grounds of Flowserve, Hawton Lane. Members supported this action.
e) A letter of complaint about the Council’s request to the owner of a piece of waste land on Church Lane to cut back the overgrowing vegetation which encroached onto the pavement. The originator felt that the Council should turn it’s attention to The Turks Head public house area instead.
f) Notice that a dog waste bin on Macaulay Drive has been replaced with a different model following complaint that young people were taking the waste from the bin and throwing it into gardens. The situation will be monitored.
g) Notice that the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) have indicated that building work should commence on the new health centre on Lowfield Lane in December this year. A request will be made to the PCT that the overgrown boundary hedge onto Lowfield Lane be cut back as soon as possible.
h) Notice of a planning meeting at Kelham Hall on Wednesday September 14th 2005 where an application is being considered for a dwelling at the rear of 1 Sykes Lane.
i) A written application from an allotment tenant for permission to install a pond at the allotments. Members considered on balance that this should not be granted permission on safety grounds.
1228 Future agenda Items
General disquiet was expressed regarding a recent decision of the District
Council to allow a Chinese Food Take-Away on Main Street at the present tool
hire shop premises.
This Council objected to the application and cannot understand how the village will benefit from another fast food premises. Members have received numerous complaints about this, but a copy of the District Council’s decision has not yet been received by this Council.
A letter will be drafted to the Planning Department expressing this Council’s disquiet that a decision such as this should be published in the local paper before the local Council have been advised of it.
Strict timescales apply to the Parish commenting on applications, and it was considered that the District should repay the courtesy of informing the appropriate Parish Council at the same time as the local media at least.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.30pm