Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday September 14th 2005 at 7.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors Colman (Chairman), Brooks, Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram and Sheppard, with the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: were received from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Mrs Brooks who had advised she would be late attending, Fletcher, Hind, Mrs Scott, Scott and Mrs Walker, and County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllrs Jarvis and Mrs Newstead made declarations of personal interest to minute reference 3268b – grant application by Newark & District Citizens Advice Bureau.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3266 Clerk/Chairman’s
Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes.
The following item was discussed from the update:
1. Re Section 106 funding The District Council have replied to M.P. Patrick Mercer’s letter regarding Section 106 funding, but it does not address all issues – it focuses only on the Fernwood agreement. A further letter will be drafted to the District Council asking about other developments that have been carried out in the village. The question will also be raised why the authority seems to infer that Fernwood is independent from Balderton?
3267 Planning Applications
The following planning applications, which had also been reviewed by the planning committee earlier that day were considered and approved subject to any comments detailed below:
1655 104 Dwellings – phase 4a
(amended plans) Fernwood
1846 Site equestrian manager’s mobile home Bridgholme
Paddocks
An appropriate agricultural residential condition should be imposed with any permission granted, and the mobile home should only be allowed on site whilst the business is operational.
1947 Sectional
garage 12
Willow Road
2037
Conservatory
31 Manners Road
3268 Financial Assistance
Consideration was given to written applications for financial assistance
from:
a) Fernwood & District Residents Association for a notice board. Members agreed in principle to this request, but cannot grant it until the sale of the Dale Crescent green area has gone through in order that a Council notice board can be installed on Council land. All other land is presently owned by the developers.
b) Newark & District Citizens Advice Bureau towards their running costs.
It was, RECOMMENDED that a grant of £250 be paid to the Bureau
3269 Declaration Book
Approval was given to the purchase of a new Declaration of Acceptance of
Office Book at a cost of approximately £70.00.
3270 Fidelity Insurance
The internal auditor had recommended that the council’s fidelity insurance
should be reviewed. A quotation has been recently been requested from the
insurance company to increase the amount of fidelity insurance. Once the
premium is known the matter will be given further consideration.
3271Churchyard Trees
Approval was given for the Clerk to obtain written quotations from local
companies to cut back the lime trees on the southern side of the churchyard.
One tree to the front of the church will also be included in the work as it was omitted during the last programme of tree maintenance there.
The work will be subject to planning approval and will be carried out during the winter months.
3272
Coddington Road Traffic Weight
Receipt was noted of copy letters from Coddington
Parish Council sent to the County
Council regarding traffic weight issues along Coddington Road/Balderton Road and
Main Street.
Members agreed in principle to the issues raised but considered the matter should be discussed in full Council before deciding any appropriate action.
Cllr Mrs Brooks joined the meeting at approximately 7.35pm.
3273 Postal Collection
Times
Complaints have been received regarding the earlier postal collection times
in the village.
The last collection from the post office is now 5.00pm, and most post boxes are emptied at 4.00pm. This is problematic for local businesses who do not finish before these times and could lead to a build up of post being left in boxes overnight.
The Chairman undertook to raise this issue with the local post master.
3274 Church Lane
Consideration was given to a request for traffic calming measures at the
bottom of Church Lane just before the new development on the former Barkers Yard
site.
Approximately fifteen local residents have been consulted – three have responded that they consider it a beneficial idea, one has responded disagreeing with the proposal.
Members considered on balance that a traffic calming strip could create noise problems for those residents living in close proximity to it, and could not therefore support the request.
Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.45pm.
3275 Budget 2006/07
Discussion took place on any projects for inclusion in the 2006/07 budget.
One item discussed earlier in the year was for a parish funded police community
support officer – this would cost approximately £26,000.
Members considered that the Council has a major commitment with the Pavilion re-build and should not commit to any other extra expenditure until that is complete. Once the Pavilion re-build cost is known the budget will be given further consideration at the next committee meeting.
3276 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) An invitation to attend a seminar on Standards Issues at Kelham Hall on Thursday September 22nd at 6.30pm. Two representatives can attend – Cllrs Mrs Brooks and Colman undertook to attend. Cllr Sheppard expressed regret that he was unable to attend this event but would be submitting a question in writing for his colleagues to put forward on his behalf.
b) A request from an adjacent property owner that the dog waste bin be re-located from the Catkin Way Lake gate. The groundstaff will be asked to re-locate the bin to an alternative appropriate site in that area.
c) A copy of the 2001 census results from the County Council web-site. The results are shown for the North and West wards, but nothing for Balderton South. An e-mail has been sent to the County asking for further details.
d) Minutes of the Parish Council Conference held on July 6th 2005.
e) Notice of the Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting on October 24th 2005 at 7.00pm. Cllr Jarvis undertook to attend the meeting.
f) An offer from Mrs King of Age Concern to attend a meeting and give a talk about the organisation. Members asked that she be thanked for her offer, but two members of this Council have detailed knowledge of the charity owing to their many years involvement with the organisation.
g) Notice that the Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust is applying to become a Foundation Trust. Any comments on the consultation to be submitted by November 25th 2005.
h) Notice of Newark & Sherwood NHS Primary Care Trust’s Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday September 28th 2005 at Newark Town Hall commencing at 12 noon. Cllr Jarvis undertook to attend the event – any other Councillor wishing to attend to notify the Clerk.
i) A list of the licensed premises in the village that have applied to the District Council to vary licenses following the new licensing rules.
j) An open letter from Police Chief Superintendent Johnson Notice updating on local issues. Copies will be made available at the Council meeting.
k) Notice of application for transfer of licensee at the Turks Head public house.
l) Notice that two casual vacancies presently exist on the Council – one for each of the North and West wards. The District Council will be formally notified of these vacancies in order that they may be advertised.
3277 Future Agenda Items
No items were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm