Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday January 11th 2006 at 6.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors White (Chairman), Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Colman, Gibson, Hind, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Scott and Sheppard with Inspector Butler and PC Stannard of Newark Police, Mrs Head head teacher Grove School, Mel Thorn and Lyn Pallett of Newark & Sherwood District Council, Dominic O’Callaghan Notts County Council Youth Services, Councillors Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher and Miss Oram, County Councillor Walker, Head Groundsman Mr Stevens, thirty seven members of the public and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Mrs Scott and Miss Watson.
1249 Declarations of Interest Cllr Allsopp declared a personal interest to minute reference 1257 allotments.
1250 Anti Social Behaviour/Young Persons Facilities The meeting was closed to meet those present regarding anti social problems presently being experienced in the village, and of any options for alternative occupation for those causing the problems.
Many of the public present advised of their experiences of young people’s unacceptable behaviour including minor vandalism, threatening behaviour and intimidation.
The present areas which appear to be the worst affected presently were reported as Grove Street and Wolfit Avenue. Many believed that the worst offenders are not from Balderton.
The police advised that they are aware of the problem areas and undertake programmes to try and ease the situation. Most of the instances are not crime, but anti social issues.
The mobile CCTV unit has been deployed in the village. He urged residents to report all incidents to hep local police intelligence.
Lyn Pallett, the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator advised that action can be taken against those responsible, but names and details must be submitted in order for an Order to be activated.
Mel Thorn, the District Council Community Safety Officer, advised that the provision of a teenage shelter can create a meeting place for young people to congregate.
There are fourteen such shelters throughout the District, and only one has caused any real problems in the past but those problems were eased with appropriate action taken.
Mr Thorn also advised that residents’ request for the play area at the bottom of Grove Street to be locked at night had been rejected by the authority, but the matter would be referred back for further consideration with involvement from all agencies.
Dominic O’Callaghan from County Youth Services advised that he would visit the areas to liaise with the young people and see if Youth Services could help in any way.
Mrs Head from the Grove School suggested the school could be used to help spread information among young people, and asked if the Grove youth club hours could be extended to help provide further supervised, occupation for young people.
The Chairman concluded by urging all services involved to adopt a joint approach and he thanked all who had attended the meeting. Inspector Gilbert, PC Stannard, Mrs Pallett, Mr Thorn, Mrs Head, Mr O’Callaghan, Cllrs Mrs Brooks and Brooks, and twenty nine parishioners left the meeting at approximately 7.30pm.
Further public comments were taken whilst the meeting was still closed: One parishioner raised concerns about the professional fees for the new Pavilion/hall project.
Two parishioners raised objections about closure of the playing field middle gate and one asked if a child was injured whilst climbing over the locked gate is the Council liable?
The Clerk was asked to make enquiries.
Two parishioners asked the Council for their help in asking the appropriate authority to clear a blocked drain on the footpath link between Priory Close and Manners Road. The man hole cover there is also being damaged by the council’s small tractor during grass cutting.
Enquiries will be made. One parishioner re-stated his concerns about staff use of Council vehicles and equipment, and asked that the playing field opening times be displayed as stated at an earlier meeting.
The meeting re-opened. Discussion took place about the issues discussed at the commencement of the meeting. It may be possible for the District Council to provide a teenage shelter for Balderton – County Councillor Walker asked for, and received members support to this possibility, subject to finding a suitable venue.
1251 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 1136 Fernwood The meeting held at Kelham Hall on Monday January 9th 2006 had been well attended. The future status of Fernwood in relation to village independence has not been formally discussed in Council and will be included on the full Council meeting agenda.
2. Re Cemetery Working Party The Party’s finding will be discussed at a future meeting.
1252 Planning Applications The following applications were considered and approved subject to any details below:
2605 Remove window, brick up and
alter 74/74a Main Street
2738 Erect 8 apartments with car parking
Adjacent to 13 Barnby Crossing
2746 Erect single storey extension
35 Bullpit Road
1253 Planning Decisions The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were noted:
2274 Erect concrete sectional garage
2 Haddon Drive
2429 Use premises as day nursery 52 London Road
2514 Erect conservatory 7 The
Woodwards
2594 Erect conservatory 69
Manners Road
1254 Pavilion Renovation The Chairman apologised to members for the cancelled meeting scheduled for January 4th 2006, advising that unfortunately the sub committee had not been able to proceed with Mr Scarborough’s quotation owing to a lack of promised information regarding the specification and further figures awaited. His original budget price had not covered several items compared to the other three quotes received.
Two of the other companies who had submitted an initial budget price were in contact with the sub committee and making presentations about their proposals.
The Council’s integrity has been unfairly questioned relating to the project. The Chairman, responding to questions at the commencement of the meeting gave a full history of the project to date, explaining why, on financial grounds the sub committee had chosen the ‘design and build’ option. All procedures have been carried out in accordance with Council regulations . Once the preferred contractor has been selected and a full specification produced, that specification will be open to full inspection by anyone interested.
1255 Council Vehicles/Equipment The use of Council vehicles and equipment by staff for personal reasons was considered and it was confirmed that the use by staff of any Council equipment is not permissible for personal use.
1256 Headstone Safety The Clerk had made initial enquiries with local stonemasons to ascertain if they provide any appropriate service or advice for the removal or re-fixing of unsafe memorials.
The church warden had also been asked to approach the Southwell Diocese for their policy on this issue.
Once all facts are known a report will be submitted to the committee for their consideration.
1257 Allotment Notice Board Approval was given in principle to the provision of a wooden notice board at the allotments, to be sited within the compound. Prices will be obtained and the matter referred back to committee.
1258 Information/Correspondence The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were noted:
a) A letter from an allotment tenant regarding rats on the site. The District Council pest control officer will be asked to inspect the area.
b) A request from Balderton Athletic F.C. for permission to use portable floodlights on the Playing Field for winter evening football sessions. Members approved this, but the situation will be monitored for any adjacent resident’s complaints. The team must liaise with the groundstaff to ensure they move around the pitches to ensure the ground is not too worn.
c) A request for No Cycling signs at either end of Public Footpath no.1. This will be referred to the County Council.
d) Notice that Russell Avenue will be closed for drain repairs from Monday January 23rd to Friday January 27th 2006.
e) Notice that an objection has been lodged against a Tree Preservation Order to a tree on Flowserve, Hawton Road. The District Council will consider the matter at a meeting on January 31st 2006.
f) A copy letter from Mr Thorn , Community Safety Officer that playing football in the street is a criminal offence. Persistent problems of this nature are experienced in the Macaulay Drive area and Mr Thorn has written to residents in that vicinity.
g) Notice of approved works to trees on Fernwood which are subject to a Tree Preservation Order.
1259 Future agenda Items
1. Cllr Mortimore advised on behalf of Cllr Brooks that problems are being experienced with young people at the garages on Coleman Avenue. The District Council will be advised of this and a suggestion made that anti-vandal paint be applied to try and ease the problems.
2. Cllr Scott asked that the police be advised of a taxi which parks on the pavement causing an obstruction outside 133b Main Street.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.30pm