Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in the
Council Hall on Wednesday April 18th 2007 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Cllr Colman chairing the meeting, with twenty residents, three non
residents, a representative of the local press and the Clerk to the Council
APOLOGIES were accepted from Parish Councillor Gibson, County Councillor Mrs
Saddington, Clerk to the Balderton Parochial Charity Mr Holland and Mrs M.
Holland.
07/01 Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on April 26th 2006 were taken as
read and approved, having been previously approved and signed at a subsequent
meeting of the
Parish Council. No items were discussed from the minutes.
07/02 Parish Council Accounts
Copies of the Parish Council’s estimates for 2007/2008, with copies of the
unaudited accounts for 2006/07 were circulated and noted.
07/03 Parochial Charity Account
A copy of the charity’s accounts were circulated and noted. Cllr Brooks, a
Charity trustee gave a resume of the organisation’s ability to award grants. He
advised that in the event of Fernwood gaining independent parish status anyone
living there would not qualify for a grant owing to the present regulations of
the Charity.
07/04 Reports from Committee Chairmen
Cllr White, Chairman of the Amenities Committee gave a resume of the activities
during the past year which has been an historical one for the Council. The new
Balderton Village Centre building on the playing field which commenced last
April was completed on time in December 2006.
He gave an outline of the number of bookings for the new building and of income to date. He advised that the Council is presently challenging a Customs and Excise decision that the full VAT element of the project cannot be claimed back, despite written confirmation gained that it could be, received before the project commenced.
Major staffing issues have occurred this year – one groundsman left in April 2006, and one member of the team has been on long term sick leave since October 2006.
It is hoped that this situation will be resolved shortly and decisions made as to future staffing requirements. Two new playing field attendant/caretakers are working well with the new building arrangements.
Appreciation was extended to all Council staff
concerned who have worked hard in instigating operational systems for the new
building. In terms of projects for this year; a new gate and fence is planned
for installation at the entrance to the field, and the Mount Road Cemetery
extension is again under discussion.
07/05 Questions Raised
The following questions/points were raised, some of which had been submitted
previously;
1. Mr B. Fenton asked why the Balderton Community Charge had been increased? The
increase is primarily accounted for because of the new building – exact running
costs and income
estimates are not known in this first year.
The sale of the Council Hall and of the building
plot at Lakeside had not been confirmed at the time of setting the budget (which
is required by January every year) and contingencies had to be built in to cover
costs. Parish Council accounts may not, by law be overdrawn.
Once the building has been operational for six/nine months it will be easier to
assess next year’s budgetary requirements and possibly some Council running
costs could be offset by the income generated from the Centre.
Cllr Mortimore stated that this Council should never apologise for its running
costs as the services provided are very good value for money and everything is
spent in, and for Balderton. Cllr Mrs Walker reminded those present that the
original estimate for a similar new building was £1.3million and the actual cost
of £620,000 was significantly reduced owing to the ‘Design and Build’ option
taken.
2. Mr Davidson considered that it is entirely appropriate for a village the size
of Balderton to have a building like this, but perhaps a better explanation of
the increase in rates could have been included with the rates bills?
3. Mr Charles Brown asked if it would be useful to have a separate budget for
the new Centre with cost offset by income? This could be looked at when
the Council has a better idea of running costs and income.
4. Cllr White asked on behalf of Mrs B.Clipsham;
a) what could be done to ease the parking congestion problems on Main Street
caused by illegal parking outside Tesco? The County Council is taking on
responsibility for parking offences and it is hoped that more fixed penalty
tickets will be issued than previously by the Police in order that the
Council can recoup some of their costs.
b) what can be done about the amount of chewing gum on the pavement in the same
area?
The District Council Cleansing Department will be
contacted to request a chewing gum clearance treatment on the pavements in the
Main Street area, and a letter will be sent to Tesco highlighting both these
problems..
5. Mr V. Hall had submitted written questions in his absence;
a) had the Council implemented a management plan for the Village Centre?
b) would the Council consider employing a marketing student to help market the
Centre? These questions were referred to the Amenities Committee for
consideration.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.35pm.