Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday December 14th 2005 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT: Councillors Colman (Chairman), Ms Atkinson (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Scott, Sheppard, Mrs Walker, Miss Watson and White with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, a member of the local press, nine members of the public, the Assistant to the Clerk and the Clerk.
2857 Apologies Apologies were received from Councillors Brooks, Miss Oram and Mrs Scott.
2858 Declarations of Interest No declarations were made.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.01pm to take public comments:
1. A parishioner raised his concerns about the Council’s handling of the Pavilion re-build project, particularly focussing on contract and tendering procedures. Certain allegations were made about the Council’s integrity relating to the project, questioning a local contractor’s involvement. He also stated his objection to the closure of the middle gate to the Playing Field.
2. A parishioner asked the Council if they intend to introduce hand held speed guns to try and reduce speeding traffic issues in the village.
3. A parishioner who owns the pedestrian access from Acacia Road to the Playing Field over which the Council has a right of way informed members that in order to prevent the access from becoming a registered public footpath he intends to close the access once a year. He proposed that Christmas Day should be the nominated day as this is when the Playing Field is kept locked.
The meeting re-opened. The Chairman advised that the issues raised by parishioners would be addressed as and when they occurred during the course of the meeting.
2859 Minutes The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on November 2nd 2005, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2860 Clerk/Chairman’s Update An update of ongoing matters from the minutes of the previous Council meeting and subsequent committee meetings was circulated and noted. Updates circulated prior to each committee meeting had been included with the minutes. The following issues were discussed:
a) Council
1. Re Minute 2851a1 Fernwood The proposed meeting with the District Council, Tenants Association representatives and Parish Council has been arranged for Monday January 9th 2006 at 5.00pm in Kelham Hall. Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Colman, Jarvis, Mortimore and Mrs Walker undertook to attend. Cllrs Mrs Brooks, Brooks and Fletcher will attend as District Council representatives, and County Cllrs Mrs Saddington and Walker will also attend.
b) Planning
1. Re Minute 0012 Local Development Plan Members considered that the Council’s response to question12 regarding the land between Balderton and Newark should be that the policy remains the same - development should be restricted to keep the definition between the town and this village.
c) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1244.2 Headstone Safety Training To try and keep the cost as low as possible, enquires will be made with local stonemasons to ascertain their cost for laying flat any memorial stones deemed unsafe by Council staff.
2. Re Minute 1235 New Pavilion Members took exception to the speculative comments made at the beginning of the meeting by a parishioner. Cllr White outlined the latest developments which were recorded in the circulated sub committee minutes from a meeting held on Tuesday December 13th 2005. He reassured the meeting that the external architect had advised that to get the best building for the Council in the most cost effective way it was considered preferable to approach companies for a ‘Design and Build’ budget price.
Any building will comply with strict planning authority building regulations and the Council has conducted itself with entire propriety. He advised that subject to receipt of a written quotation and a satisfactory site visit to a building at Oakham, the sub committee recommends at this time that Mr Jason Scarborough of Bingham is the preferred contractor.
His quoted budget price is substantially cheaper than the other three companies and he has considerable experience in constructing public buildings. The following resolution was made by Cllr Mortimore and it was unanimously
AGREED that as per Council Financial Regulation 11c, standing orders be waived to negotiate the contract with Mr Scarborough without further competition subject to further satisfactory enquiries by the sub committee and the Council’s architect.
3. Re Minute 1243 Middle Field Gate Discussion took place on the recent decision to close the middle gate to the Playing Field. Two written complaints and three verbal complaints have been made about the matter since the gate was closed on Monday November 7th 2005.
The groundstaff had submitted a written statement outlining that they find their task easier without the middle gate, and that for safety grounds the young female attendant does not have to walk through the Acacia Road access to lock the gate at dusk.
Members considered that on balance the gate should remain closed for six months and that the situation be monitored. The issue will be reviewed in May 2006.
d) Finance and General Purposes Committee
1. Re Minute 3271 Churchyard Trees Three quotations have been requested, but only one received from the contractor who carried out previous work in the churchyard on behalf of the Council. Members considered that the quotation was a reasonable price.
It was, AGREED that the quotation of £480 be accepted from Richardsons Tree Surgeons of Newark.
2. Re Minute 3292 Complaints Code of Practice Approval was given to the circulated Code of Practice for Complaints Handling.
It was, AGREED that the Code of Practice be adopted by the Council.
3. Re Minute 3294c Christmas Decorations The Chairman advised that the following properties have been selected as the winners for this year; 11 Wilfred Avenue and 24 Sheridan Close. 32 Macaulay Drive was selected as the Chairman’s Choice.
2861Committees The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record subject to any amendments detailed below, and duly signed:
Planning
Amenities
Finance & General Purposes – Councillor Miss Watson advised that she had objected to the proposed precept requirement increase. The recorded votes against the proposal should therefore be amended in minute reference 3293 to ‘two’. This was duly amended.
2862 Anti Social Behaviour Cllr Jarvis reported that M.P. Patrick Mercer is prepared to hold a local public meeting to address village anti-social issues with particular focus on the need for continuity policing.
The Council has already arranged a meeting with interested parties to address these issues on Wednesday January 11th 2006 at 6.00pm. Members considered that it may be beneficial to wait until after that meeting before deciding what further action to take. Inspector Butler will be invited to attend if possible on that date.
2863 Reports from Representatives County Councillor Walker reported that he had attended the D.A.R.E. ceremony at John Hunt Junior School and the presentation event at the Grove School. He had been impressed with pupil achievement at both schools.
2864 Financial Statement The statements were approved. The details as published were correct, there being a cheque requirement of £4316.25 for November 2005.
2865 Clerk’s Additional Information The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) Notice that a planning application has been withdrawn to erect floodlighting and vary permitted use for sorting at Quarry Farm, Bowbridge Lane. Two planning applications have received conditional approval; 2304 erect double garage at Spinney Corner 88b Main Street, and demolish bakery and erect new dwelling at 20 Smith Street.
b) Four planning applications which were reviewed by members immediately prior to the meeting and approved; 2428 Conservatory at 25 Russell Avenue, 2540 Two storey extension at 150 London Road, 2606 Wooden fence between 74 & 74a Main Street, and 2682 Display new advertisement signs at Wolsley UK, Hawton Lane.
c) A letter from a local resident introducing himself as a self employed service engineer and groundsman.
d) An invitation to attend a demonstration of BT internet transmitted CCTV camera systems, to be held at Kelham Hall on January 18th 2006 at 10am. The cost of the system is approximately £17,000 payable over three years. The Clerk undertook to try and attend the event.
e) A copy of the notes from the Parish Council Conference held on November 14th 2005.
f) A letter from the owner of the Acacia Road access to the Playing Field stating his intention to close the access whilst the Playing Field remains locked on Christmas Day (as stated in person at the commencement of the meeting). Members considered that legal advice must be obtained before a formal response could be given.
g) The issue raised by a parishioner earlier concerning speed trap guns will be included on a future agenda for consideration. Members gave initial discussion to this, stating that traffic calming measures in general for the village should be addressed.
2866 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Scott asked if any progress had been made regarding the damaged name plate sign on Alvey Road. The Clerk advised that a report had been made to the District Council and that the matter would be expedited.
2. Cllr Sheppard asked the Clerk to advise the police that an ice cream van is again parking outside John Hunt schools on London Road at the end of the school day. He also asked if any reply had been received from his letter to the Deputy Prime Ministers Office regarding the Code of Conduct. The Clerk undertook to expedite the reply.
Councillor Mrs Brooks left the meeting at approximately 8.10pm
Exempt Items
It was, AGREED in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 Section 1, that as publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the information in the business to be transacted, the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting.
The press and public duly left the meeting.
Three staffing matters were discussed and agreed upon.
Seasonal greetings were exchanged and the meeting closed at approximately 8.25pm