Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held
in the Balderton Village Centre Council Hall on Wednesday September 12th 2007 at
7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors White (Chairman), Allsopp, Gibson, Mrs Jarvis, Mortimore,
Mutter, Mrs Newstead, Radley and White with Cllrs Fletcher, Mrs Hurst and Hurst,
District Councillor Mrs Brooks, Head Groundsman Mr Brown, sixteen parishioners
and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Colman, Sheppard, Mrs Walker and Miss Watson
and County Councillor Walker.
Cllr Colman had requested a leave of absence for three months due to ill health.
This was duly approved, and well wishes extended to him by all.
1402 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Allsopp declared a personal and prejudicial interest to minute reference
1406 – winter evening football training on the playing field. Cllr Mrs Newstead
declared a personal interest to minute reference 1408 – allotments agreement.
Cllr White declared a personal interest to minute reference 1413 – Twitch Farm.
1403 Dog Orders
Cllr Radley updated members of the situation following the three month ‘trial’
period of monitoring dog behaviour and fouling incidents on the playing field -
the situation had essentially improved. Mr Brown advised that the main problem
seemed to be in the evenings when Council staff were not on site and he asked
the Dog Watch Group for their help in policing the field during those times.
The meeting was closed to hear public comments. A request was made for a dog
waste bin along the eastern boundary of the field to encourage owners to clear
up after their dogs. The Clerk undertook to ask the District Council if a bin
located there could be emptied - the authority has a policy of bins being
situated adjacent to vehicular access for ease of operation.
Suggestions were made that the Dog Warden patrol the area more often and that
the grass in the tree areas be cut shorter to ease clearing up after dogs. The
meeting re-opened and
it was, RECOMMENDED that no further controls be
introduced as long as the present standards remain the same. The Dog Watch group
will continue to liaise with Cllr Radley to report back periodically to
committee.
A request was also made that the Dog Watch Group be given a key to the playing
field to let themselves on earlier – this matter was referred to the full
Council for consideration.
Ten parishioners left at approximately 7.30pm.
1404 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 1306 Headstone safety Cllr Mrs Jarvis undertook to try and expedite
the written confirmation awaited from the Southwell Diocese regarding memorial
stone safety not being the Council’s responsibility.
2. Re Minute 1386d Village Centre Approval was given for the purchase of three
large pictures which have been sourced locally at a cost of less than £20 each.
.
1405 Planning Applications
The following application was considered and objected to with the comments
detailed below:
1270 Erect garage 2 Macaulay Close
It was considered that the garage is too large and disproportionate in size to
the dwelling. It will have a detrimental affect upon neighbouring properties.
The District Council planning committee will be asked to hold a site meeting
there to fully consider the proposal
1406 Floodlit Football Training
Cllr Allsopp left the meeting for the duration of this item.
Members considered a written request from Grove Rangers FC to use the playing
field on
winter evenings for floodlit football training using portable lighting.
A similar request from Balderton Athletic FC last
year was approved on a trial basis subject to any complaints from neighbouring
properties. The team are scheduled to commence that trial next month. Some
concerns were expressed about security of the field during the dark nights,
problems with locking up a dark field, should the attendant be on duty during
the training? etc.
Conditions of use for Balderton Athletic will be; no floodlit evening football
on the field after 7.30pm, the attendant must be on duty to supervise security
and activity (this cost must be met by the club), the groundstaff have the
ultimate say to cancel sessions if adverse weather or turf conditions dictate,
and the trial will last for one month.
It was, AGREED that the Grove Rangers request be
deferred until the outcome is known about the imminent trial by Balderton
Athletic FC.
1407 Boundary Hedge
Consideration was given to a further letter from a resident whose property backs
onto the
playing field, now suggesting that the Council install a further section of
steel palisade fence (the Council’s boundary fence to the Grove school field) to
continue that which is behind his neighbours section of hedge.
Members considered that it is not the Council’s responsibility to carry out this
work and incur further expense. The resident will have to replace and pay for
any new boundary installed in place of the hedge.
1408 Allotment Agreement
Minor adjustments were agreed to the Council’s allotment agreement, copies of
which had been previously circulated, to include clauses advising tenants about
appropriate use of fires and storage of any fuel.
1409 Playing Field Drainage
The persistent problem of the flooded field was discussed during the recent wet
spell. Once
remedial work has been carried out by the District Council on the adjacent
Masefield Crescent drain where this is a known blockage, the situation may ease.
However, members considered that it may be useful to obtain specialised advice
to see if there is anything that could be done to try and prevent future
problems.
The Newark Area Internal Drainage Board has advised that it would not carry out
inspection/advisory work. Cllr White undertook to make enquiries with a suitable
specialist regarding the cost to provide an independent report about the field
drainage.
1410 Quarterly Bonus
Approval was given to the groundstaff’s quarterly bonus payment. Appreciation
was extended to the staff who have continued to work to a very high standard at
a time of reduced staffing levels.
1411 2008/09 Budget
Initial consideration was given to budgetary requirements for 2008/09. Draft
committee ‘running costs’ were circulated and discussed. More details will be
supplied in readiness for the next committee meeting when further financial
details should be known.
1412 Risk and Resilience Conference
Members noted a District Council conference to review the impact of the summer
floods and determine what can be done to minimise the impact of such events. It
will take place on October 4th 2007 from 6.30-9.15pm at Kelham Hall – two free
places are guaranteed for every parish council. Cllrs Allsopp and Fletcher
advised that they would be attending.
1413 Twitch Farm
The County Council has advised that a second application for a Certificate of
Lawfulness has been applied for at Twitch farm to operate a dismantling scrap
yard. An appeal is pending on the first application which was refused by the
County Council.
It was, AGREED that the application be objected
to on the grounds that the site has not
been used as a dismantling scrap yard for the past ten years as is
being claimed by the applicant.
1414 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) Notice that an allotment tenant has suffered from some of his property being
vandalised and stolen. The incident took place over the past weekend.
b) A note of appreciation from Balderton Bowls Club toward Council staff for
their assistance during the use of facilities for a Ladies County Match held on
Friday August 31st 2007.
c) Notification from the County Council that the application for a Modification
Order for the route through from Bakewell Close to Mead Way has been
investigated and turned down.
d) Details of approved works to trees which are subject to Preservation Orders
at 31 Dale Crescent and Highfields School.
e) Details of the annual Play Area Inspection for the Playing Field site,
highlighting some necessary minor work.
f) Notice of the local Citizens Advice Bureau’s AGM to be held in the Village
Centre on Friday September 14th 2007 at 1.00pm. Cllrs Mrs Jarvis and Mrs
Newstead advised that they would be attending the meeting.
g) Details of a Flood Recovery Grant Scheme available from the District Council.
A restricted amount of funding (totalling £200,000) has been made available to
the authority for financial relief for those most affected.
h) A copy of a formal complaint submitted to the District Council regarding the
handling of the planning application for ‘Byron’ on London Road and of the
development itself.
i) Notice that one of the Centre/Field attendants has resigned and it has not
been possible to secure a replacement to date. Cllr Mortimore had kindly helped
to staff the Centre the previous weekend. Discussion took place upon the option
whether to employ a full time caretaker who would oversee sporting and party
activity, and depending upon those time commitments during a working week, give
some assistance to the groundstaff. Mr Brown however advised that he considered
a third full time groundsman is required. As the very busy summer season is
almost over it was decided that a third groundsman be employed from next Spring.
Further notices will be displayed to try and secure a second attendant to
oversee Centre out of office hours activity.
j) Members were advised that the small Kubota tractor went in for repairs during
the committee summer recess and was deemed to be outside acceptable levels of
present health and safety standards. The work necessary to bring it in line
would not have been economically viable and both the Council Chairman and
Committee Chairman had approved a necessary replacement purchase. This
expenditure will also be discussed and formally approved at the Finance meeting
next week.
1415 Future agenda Items
1. Mr Brown asked that the committee consider necessary horticultural treatments
for the bowling green and playing field. It is believed that the playing field
is deficient in lime. Approval was given for the groundsmen to obtain a free
turf assessment from a specialised company to advise what treatments may be
needed.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.10pm