Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the
Balderton Village Centre Council Hall on Wednesday January 9th 2008 at 7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors White (Chairman), Allsopp, Mrs Jarvis, Gibson, Gosling,
Mutter Mrs Newstead and Radley with County Councillor Walker, Head Groundsman Mr
Brown and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Colman, Hind, Mortimore, Sheppard, Miss
Watson and Mrs Walker.
1435 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Allsopp declared a personal interest to minute reference 1439 – planning
application no. 1765 at Bridgholme Paddocks. Cllr White declared a personal
interest to minute reference 1439 – planning application no.s 1765 at Bridgholme
Paddocks and 1754 at 159 Main Street.
1436 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 1425.1 Headstone safety The vicar has advised that he would like a
church member who is involved with Newark Cemetery to participate in the planned
suggested meeting to discuss the way forward with regard to headstone safety in
the Churchyard. This meeting is being arranged.
2. Re Minute 1432 Post Flooding Options The Grove site was suggested as a
suitable site for a storage shed to house sandbags/signs etc. This suggestion
will be put to Mr Harrison prior to his attendance in the full Council meeting
later this month.
3. Re Minute 1429 Village Centre A meeting of the Village Centre Management
committee was arranged for Wednesday January 16th 2008 at 5.30pm.
1437 Cemetery Extension
Written notification has been received of planning approval which has been
granted by the District Council. The groundstaff have indicated that they can
dig the trial pits as recommended by the Environment Agency – photographs will
be taken once the pits are dug to evidence the water level.
1438 Cemetery Fees and Charges 2008/09
Members reviewed the Cemetery charges for the next financial year. The purchase
price for a double burial plot will be increased to £250 to bring it more in
line with Newark Cemetery’s fee. Other Cemetery fees will be increased by 5%.
1439 Planning Applications
The following applications were reviewed and approved subject to any comments
detailed below:
1464 Replace 3 signs & ATM surround Sainsburys, London Road
1662 Two storey extensions and alterations 12 Shakespeare Street
1765 Site equestrian manager’s home Bridgeholme Paddocks, Coddington Road
Subject to one home only and the permission should only be in force whilst the
business is in operation – i.e. if the business changes hands or type of use,
then the home should be removed.
1846 Extension linked to granny flat 18 Derwent Court No objections in principle
to the application, but some concern was expressed about the site area which
appears to block in/encroach over a footpath which has provided a right of way
for many years.
The following application was reviewed and refused with the following comments:
1754 Substitute plots 4& 5 for 3 dwellings Land at 159 Main Street
The Council has objected to this development throughout the process on the
grounds of poor highways safety. It is now considered to be over intensive.
1440 Planning Decisions
To following planning decisions have been made by the District Council and were
noted:
1480 Erect front boundary wall 10 Longfelllow Drive (refused)
1499 Erect detached dwelling 140 Main Street (refused)
1542 Extend Cemetery Mount Road Cemetery (approved)
1596 Erect house with conservatory Fernwood (approved)
1661 Conservatory 11 Orchard Way (approved)
1839 Single storey rear extension 10 Longfellow Drive (approved)
1441 Press Reports
Concern was expressed regarding the recent incomplete press reports in the local
newspaper regarding the Council’s decision not to continue the evening floodlit
football training after a trial period. The newspaper failed to mention the
essential reason – health and safety concerns, and felt that the report was very
biased towards the Club concerned casting the Council in a poor light. The
report also failed to mention that the Club had been advised in advance not to
purchase the lights by the District Council on the grounds of insufficient
light.
It was, AGREED that the Chairman seek a right to respond by
writing to the newspaper stating all the facts.
1442 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) A letter of complaint about the Council’s decision not to continue with
floodlit football training. The letter is from a relative of one of the Club’s
managers. A copy of the original letter sent to the Club’s chairman stating the
reasons will be included in the reply.
b) A copy letter sent to Tesco Stores asking that security be improved at the
rear of the Main Street store to prevent young people gaining entry to the waste
bins. Cakes are taken from the bins and smeared over parked vehicles in the
adjacent area.
It is understood that this area is generally a problem spot where young people congregate causing anti social problems and the police have tried to target the problems and have since caught those responsible.
An application has been made for a Gating Order on the public
footpath which runs from Glovers Lane to Pinfold Lane but County Councillor
Walker doubted that this would be upheld.
c) Notice of a District Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday January
15th 2008 where application no.1500 at 2 Howard’s Gardens is being considered.
This Council has objected to the application – District Councillor Brooks will
be in attendance at the meeting and will speak in support of the Council’s
comments.
1443 Future agenda Items
Cllr Mrs Jarvis asked that the sale of the Turks Head public house and car park
be discussed at the F&GP committee. Members agreed that this issue could have
considerable consequences for parking in the vicinity as the site could be sold
for development.
Enquiries will be made with the District Council before the
meeting to ascertain the possible option for a public car park there, or an
alternative site for a Main Street local store.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.55pm