Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes
Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday September 13th 2006 at
7.00 pm
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Mrs Brooks (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Sheppard and
Mrs Walker.
with County Councillor Walker, twenty two parishioners, a representative of the
local press and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Mrs Scott, Scott and Miss Watson.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Brooks declared a personal interest to the
planning application for a telecommunications mast at Hollowdyke Lane. Cllr Mrs
Newstead declared a personal interest to minute reference 3359 – Citizens Advice
Bureau application for financial assistance.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
The meeting was closed to take public comments. One group of parishioners raised
their concerns about a telecommunications mast which has been installed off
Hollowdyke Lane directly opposite their properties on Spring Lane/Gamage
Close/Sykes Lane/Wetsyke Lane. They submitted a copy of a petition with 102
signatures opposing the mast. The company O2 are scheduled to submit a planning
application for the mast which is taller than the one originally shown in an
earlier application.
A further group of parishioners spoke of their concerns about the parking problems outside Chuter Ede school and of the affect an application for a modular building at the school will have on the already congested and hazardous parking.
They put forward some suggestions to try and alleviate the problem – a site meeting has been arranged for Friday September 15th 2006 with County Council representatives and residents to discuss the issues.
The residents were thanked for their attendance, they left at approximately 7.45pm and the meeting re-opened. County Councillor Walker advised that he would report back to the Council from the Chuter Ede site meeting.
Members discussed the telecommunications mast and
a vote was taken with eleven votes for and one abstention that they support the
residents in opposing the new planning application once received. A copy of the
petition will be sent to Patrick Mercer M.P. who has been advised of the local
opposition to the mast.
Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.50pm.
3353 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is
published
with the minutes. The following item was discussed from the update:
1. Re Minute 3296 Blocked Drain Masefield Crescent Mr Palframan at the District
Council has now been asked to expedite this issue.
2. Re Minute 3344 Council Hall sale Members were very pleased to hear that the
sale has been agreed at a price of £137,000 (subject to contract).
3. Re Minute 3351d Standards Training The revised date for the seminar is
October 30th 2006 – Cllrs Sheppard and Mrs Walker undertook to attend. Any other
councillor wishing to attend should notify the Clerk.
3354 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
1288 Alterations to stairs, bin store & canopies Land adj. to 8 Pinfold Lane
1302 Single storey extension 32 Clement Avenue
3355 Planning Decision
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were
noted:
NCC Erect security fencing and gates Orchard School, London Rd
1052 Install door to make flat self contained Working Men’s Club Main St
1087 Replace conservatory 68 Manners Road
1095 Conservatory 11 Lowfield Lane
1121 Garage extension for games room 7 Glebe Park
1131 First floor extension 81 Macaulay Drive
1132 /1133 Signs, CCTV and lighting to police contact point Lakeside Centre
London Rd
3356 New Hall Expenditure
Members gave consideration to the New Hall sub committee’s proposed expenditure
relating to the building. Approval was given to the following additional
expenditure: A bar in the hall at £11,750, upgrade carpet to quality laminate
flooring in hall at £10,525 and furniture (banqueting tables and chairs) at
£6,000. Most of this expenditure will be offset by the sale price of the hall
which is higher than anticipated.
3357 Budget 2007/08
Initial consideration was given to budgetary requirements for the 2007/08
financial year. Members were reminded that if the Fernwood area is granted
independent parish status it will have a financial impact upon remaining
Balderton village ratepayers, but to reduce the present precept requirement is
not really viable. The Clerk will prepare committee ‘running cost’ estimates for
the next committee meeting and the matter will be given further consideration in
October.
3358 Working Men’s Club
Members considered a request put forward by Cllr Gibson for double yellow lines
to be
installed from the Bullpit Road junction to the Club’s entrance on Main Street.
This would ease some of the problems experienced by drivers leaving the Club car
park when vision is often quite restricted. County Councillor Walker undertook
to raise this with the Highways authority.
3359 Financial Assistance
Members considered requests for financial assistance from Newark and District
Citizens Advice Bureau and the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (W.R.V.S.).
Village residents benefit from both organisations. It was,
RECOMMENDED that grants be paid of £300 to the Citizens Advice Bureau and
£300 to the W.R.V.S.
3360 Council’s Publication Scheme
Following receipt of correspondence from the Information Commissioner’s office,
the
Council is obliged to publish its Publication Scheme. Members considered that
the scheme should be included on the Council’s web site and in the reception
area of the Council Hall.
Both these options have been endorsed by the Commissioner.
3361 Annual Parish Conference
The Conference will be held on Monday November 13th 2006 in the evening at
Kelham Hall. An invitation has been extended to submit suggested topics for
inclusion on the agenda. Any councillor wishing to attend should notify the
Clerk.
3362 District Council Gambling Policy
Members noted receipt of the District Council’s proposed statement for their
Gambling Policy. The document is available for council perusal with an
invitation to comment by November 3rd 2006.
3363 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) A request from a parishioner that the speed limit signs on Staple Lane facing
London Road be moved in order that it is before the Jericho Road estate
entrance. County Councillor Walker advised that this is already being considered
by the Highways authority.
b) Details of a fun run being held at Fernwood on Sunday September 17th at 12
noon to raise money for the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre at
Nottingham.
c) A reply from Severn Trent that they will attend a meeting to discuss
associated problems in Balderton on either October 25th or November 1st - date
to be confirmed.
d) An invitation to Newark & Sherwood Primary Care Trust’s final annual public
meeting
On Wednesday September 20th 2006 at Newark Town Hall.
e) A Christmas Lights catalogue for street installation. The new regulations for
street lights are making it difficult for smaller councils to undertake this
type of installation.
f) Notification of licence premise transfer at The Grove Inn.
g) Notice of the local government pension fund meeting on October 6th 2006 at
2.00pm in County Hall.
h) A request for a ‘No Ball Games’ sign on the children’s play area at Nelson
Road. This request will be passed onto the District Council to see if it is
their land.
i) A copy of the District Council’s F&GP committee recommendation regarding the
petition to create a separate parish council in Fernwood. This report states
that Balderton Parish would reduce to fifteen members. It has been suggested
that the purchase of the green area at Dale Crescent should be deferred until
the outcome of Fernwood’s parish independence request is known. Members
considered that it would be prudent to await the outcome of the District
Council’s endorsement of the F&GP committee. Fernwood Residents Association is
also scheduled to discuss this issue imminently.
j) A copy of a guide for councils regarding litter and the law. A request is
scheduled to be made to the District Council to co-ordinate suitable training
for local councils regarding this issue.
k) A copy of the Further Electoral Review final recommendations for Newark &
Sherwood which endorses the majority of the draft recommendations.
Future Agenda Items
1. Cllr Mrs Walker asked that the issue of unauthorised swimming in the Lake be
included on the full Council agenda.
2. Cllr Hind asked that the future of the Main Street Chemist be given
consideration at a future meeting
3. Cllr Mortimore asked that the Chuter Ede school parking issue be included on
a future committee agenda.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.35pm