Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee
meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday April 9th 2008 at
7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Mortimore (Chairman), Mrs Jarvis, (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Gibson, Hind, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mrs Newstead, Sheppard, Miss Watson and Mrs
Walker with County Councillor Walker, a representative of the local press, five
parishioners and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Colman, Fletcher and Gould.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Mortimore declared a personal interest to minute
reference 3491i – newspaper feature re Blue Sapphires.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
The meeting was closed to take public comments. Questions were raised about the
parish rate increase, the parish referendum for naming the Council a town or
parish, and why Fernwood had been allowed to break away from Balderton. Members
replied to these issues accordingly and the meeting re-opened at 7.10pm.
3481 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 Project Money Cllr Mrs Hurst is looking forward to meeting with the new
Grove Student Council where consideration will be given to alternative projects
for the £10,000 presently committed by this Council for a BMX/skateboard ramp.
2. Re Minute 3296.1 Blocked Drain The ongoing work to the Masefield Crescent
drain was noted – it is hoped that now the blockage has been identified and
removed the drainage situation on the playing field will improve.
3482 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and supported subject to any
comments detailed below:
0302 Install 5 containerised bio fuel generators BPB Formula, Bowbridge Lane
0406 Change single brick garage to double brick garage 3 Sapling Close
0421 Single storey rear extension 37 Sibcy Lane
3483 Planning Decisions
The following planning application has received conditional approval by the
District Council and was noted:
0068 Extensions and garage 2 Milton Street
The following planning application has been refused by the District Council and
was noted:
1599 Erect one dwelling (re-submission) Adjoining 2b Main Street
3484 Village Referendum
Discussion was given to hold a village referendum to decide whether the Council
should be named a town or a parish. Several members considered that a referendum
would be a waste of money as all those parishioners that have responded are
against naming the Council a town. The Council naming issue can now be
re-considered as it is more than six months since the original decision was
taken – this can be included on a future agenda.
It was, RECOMMENDED with 7 votes for and 3 against that a referendum is not
held.
3485 Audit Requirement – Financial Risk Assessment
Members reviewed the Council’s Financial Risk Assessment (copy details
previously circulated) and were satisfied that a thorough review of all
potential risks is undertaken and appropriate measures introduced where
necessary. The Chairman reminded members of their responsibility in relation to
financial matters.
3486 Information Commissioner’s Office
The Chairman reminded members of the absolute necessity of not naming those
concerned in this issue and outlined why this issue was being discussed openly
rather than as an exempt item – all present agreed. Discussion was duly given to
an ongoing case presently being considered by the Information Commissioner’s
Office regarding a request by a parishioner to re-inspect financial records from
the 2006/07 year. The parishioner in question has run a persistent vendetta
against this Council for several years, causing a considerable amount of
administrative and member time and therefore expense. A similar case was noted
where the parishioner’s vexatious attitude against this authority has been
identified and referred to by a third party.
It was unanimously, RECOMMENDED that full support be
given to the Chairman to respond to the
Commissioner’s Office and advise that the Council cannot continue to afford to
accommodate these ongoing requests.
3487 Building Better Communities (BBC)
The County Council’s BBC annual event is being held on June 17th 2008 at
Mansfield. Just one representative per Council is able to attend. Cllr Mrs
Walker elected to attend.
3488 Council Newsletter
Consideration was given to the production of and distribution options of a
Council newsletter. It is some years since the last newsletter was compiled –
this was entirely undertaken by Cllr Mortimore who is not standing for
re-election this time. Production and delivery options were discussed, but
members considered on balance that the issue should be deferred for the new
Council to decide.
3489 Health and Safety
Approval was given to the Council’s General Statement of Health and Safety
Policy Statement.
3490 Annual Parish Meeting
Members noted that the Annual Parish Meeting will be held on April 23rd 2008 at
7.00pm in the Village Centre. A notice will be placed in the Newark Advertiser
and library, as well as the Council’s notice boards.
3491 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) Notice of a County Council meeting at County Hall on Monday April 28th 2008
at 10.30am where representations will be heard from parish councils regarding
the effect of flooding in their particular areas. Cllr Mrs Jarvis elected to
attend in the Clerk’s absence.
b) Notice of a Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting on April
28th 2008 at 7.00pm. It is anticipated that Cllr Fletcher will attend as he
represents the Council on this Group.
c) Details of a NALC run course on ‘The Council as Employer’ running on April
30th in Epperstone or in Sutton cum Lound on May 7th 2008. The cost of the
course is £40 per delegate.
d) A copy of the County Council’s recommendations for the review of Residential
Care for Older People.
e) The Health Estates Department has been advised that the proposed purchase of
the green area at Dale Crescent will no longer proceed by this Council owing to
Fernwood’s new parish status.
f) A request from the District Council for potential development sites in the
area for consideration by the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment.
The submission deadline is May 9th 2008. The District Council will also place
Notices in the local press.
g) A proposal to suspend advance purchases of grave spaces in the Mount Road
Cemetery pending completion of the extension. Members considered that this
should be implemented to protect the restricted number of remaining available
burial plots.
h) An initial informal approach has been made by Newark Police to ascertain
response for siting the Police Contact Point at the Village Centre. Members
welcomed the idea in principle that the Point be located somewhere on site, but
not inside the Centre itself owing to interruption to other Centre users.
i) Approval was given to place a supporting advert at a cost of £60 on a
features page in the local press for ‘Blue Sapphires’ dance group which is based
in Balderton.
3492 Future Agenda Items
Cllr Mrs Hurst asked that the apparent lack of consultation for a planning
application at 9a Bullpit Road be included on the Council agenda next week.
Cllr Miss Watson raised the issue of parked vehicles outside the Grove Garage on
London Road which often encroach onto the pavement causing difficulties for
people with pushchairs. This is a police matter and could be raised at the Safer
Neighbourhood Police meeting on May 19th 2008, or reported directly to Newark
Police.
Cllr Gibson raised the problems of leaving Pinfold Lane junction onto Main
Street because of restricted vision caused by the parking bay outside The
Chesters public house. This issue could also be raised with the Police.
Cllr Mrs Jarvis asked that the issue to re-consider naming the Council a town or
a parish be included on the Council agenda next week.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.30pm.