Balderton Parish Council

Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday January 17th 2007 at 7.00 pm

PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Mrs Brooks (Vice Chairman), Brooks, Fletcher, Mrs Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Mrs Walker and Miss Watson with County Councillor Walker, a representative of the local press, one parishioner and the Clerk.

APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Allsopp, Gibson, Hind, Mrs Newstead and Miss Oram.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Brooks declared a personal interest to minute reference 3396 – charity event application for Village Centre.

Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.

3388 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is published with the minutes. No items were discussed from the update.

3389 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any comments detailed below:
1919 Single storey extension 17 Wolfit Avenue
1920 Two storey extension 37 Hawton Lane
1956 Renew consent for advertising Aarsleff, Hawton Lane
0015 Demolish porch, erect new porch 12 Spring Lane
0023 Extension and garage 5 Dryden Avenue

3390 Planning Decision
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were noted:
1752 Conservatory 101 Hawton Lane
1763 Timber and double glazed conservatory 26 Glebe Park
1791 5 bedroom house with detached garage 50 Bullpit Road
NCC Modern conditions for Bantycock Quarry Staple Lane

The following application has been refused and was noted:
1771 New garage with bedroom & bathroom over 35 Browning Road

3391 Budget 2007/08
Further discussion took place and consideration was given to budgetary requirements for the 2007/08 financial year. The Heron Way planning application has now been granted approval which should realise approximately £50,000 when sold, and the sale of the Council Hall will almost cover the cost of the loan taken to date (£120,000).

The agreed projects for the next year combined with the committee running cost estimates give a gross estimated expenditure of £283,350.00. With anticipated general income and capital income from sale of the Heron Way plot it is estimated that an increase of £20,000 is necessary to meet anticipated expenditure. The increase in precept gives an average increase of 2.5% compared with last year per village household owing to new dwellings in Balderton over the past year.

It was, RECOMMENDED that the precept for 2007/08 be set at £250,000.

3392 External Audit
Members noted the receipt of the completed External Auditor’s report for the 2005/06 accounts. Notice of completion of the audit will be published on the Council’s notice board. Appreciation was extended to the Deputy Clerk and Clerk for their accounting and audit preparation work.

3393 Parish Councils Conference
Members noted receipt of the notice for the Parish Council’s Conference on February 21st 2007 at Kelham Hall commencing at 6.45pm. The agenda’s theme is ‘Cleaner, Safer, Greener’ with an opportunity to submit questions in advance. Councillors wishing to attend to notify the Clerk at the full Council meeting.

3394 Hope House School
Members noted that Hope House School for severely autistic children has opened on Barnby Lane. The school is a registered charity and members wish it every success. Members considered that a grant should be made to the school as a welcome gesture.

It was, RECOMMENDED that a grant of £250 be made to the school.

3395 Fernwood
Members noted receipt of a letter from the District Council concerning the formation of a separate parish for Fernwood and the request from the Residents Association for a meeting to discuss preparations of the intermediate position until the decision is made in 2008. The proposed meeting date is Tuesday March 20th 2007 at 4.00pm in Kelham Hall. The District Council asks that Parish Council representatives attend the meeting – Councillors
Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Colman, Fletcher, Mrs Jarvis, Sheppard and Mrs Walker undertook to attend.

3396 Fund Raising Event
Consideration was given to a written application for use of the Balderton Village Centre for a fund raising event by a local football club on Easter Sunday. All proceeds will be shared between the Notts/Air Ambulance and a local charity. Members considered that a reduced rate of 50% should be charged on this occasion, but this will not set a precedent regarding future applications which should all be considered individually.

Councillor Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.45pm

3397 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:

a) An invitation for a few councillors to attend the formal opening of the Co-operative Store at Lakeside Shopping Centre on Tuesday February 20th 2007 at 11.30am. Cllrs Mrs Brooks, Fletcher and Mrs Jarvis undertook to attend.
b) An invitation to comment upon the Nottinghamshire Police budgets for 2007/08 – replies should be sent by January 19th 2007. A response will be made that increases would be tolerated if guarantees are given that policing services would increase in this area.
c) An estimate from the District Council that local elections in May 2007 will cost the parish council £6886.00.
d) Notice of a public meeting on health services chaired by Patrick Mercer MP on Thursday February 1st 2007 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. in Christ Church Hall,. Boundary Road, Newark.
e) Notice of a Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting on January 29th 2007 at 7.00pm. Cllr Fletcher intends to attend the meeting.
f) Notice that a meeting has been arranged with a Flowserve representative on Monday January 22nd 2007 at 6.30pm in the Balderton Village Centre to discuss the planning application for 200 dwellings on the Hawton Lane site. A representative will be invited to also attend from the District Council planning authority.

3398 Future Agenda Items
1. Cllr Scott asked what could be done about the poor state of pavements in the village, particularly in the Main Street area? County Councillor Walker undertook to look into this issue.
2. Cllr Sheppard asked that an update be sought from Severn Trent Water following the meeting where company representatives attended in November. Extreme sewerage problems are still being experienced in the Manners Road estate area .

The meeting closed at approximately 7.55pm

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