Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes
Committee meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday February
20th 2007 at 7.00 pm
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Mrs Jarvis,
Mortimore, Sheppard and Miss Watson with County Councillor Walker and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Hind, Mrs Newstead, Miss
Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott and Mrs Walker.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest were made.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3399 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issues were discussed:
1. Re Minute 3296.1 Blocked Drain Masefield Crescent This outstanding matter
will again be expedited.
2. Re Minute 3398.2 Severn Trent Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to
contact the company for an update on the Manners Road estate issue. A letter
will be drafted asking for the outcome of the investigations promised in
November 2006.
3400 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
0118 replace flat roofs with pitched, re-build kitchen 1 Marlowe Drive
0147 Erect single storey extension 8 Fairfield Avenue
0166 Erect two storey extension 19 Waltham Close
0181 Single storey extension 35 Browning Road
0182 Kitchen extension, bedroom over existing garage 17 Catkin Way
0189 Domestic extension and new roof 57 Macaulay Drive
3401 Planning Decision
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were
noted:
0023 Extension and garage 5 Dryden Avenue
1872 Demolish office & erect 4 town houses Toll Bar House, London Rd
1885 Erect house (amended design) 2a Sibcy Lane
1886 Change use from doctor’s surgery to dwelling 9a Bullpit Road
1956 Renew consent for advertisement Aarsleff Piling, Hawton Lane
The following applications have been refused and were noted:
1909 Change use from guest house to multi-occupancy house 2 London Road
0067 Alterations and extension 9 Jericho Road
3402 Audit 2006/07 Accounts
It was noted that the external auditors for the 2006/07 accounts will again be
Hacker Young of Nottingham who have audited the accounts for the past four
years, pending tender invitations for appointment as auditors on a County wide
basis.
3403 New Road off Claypole Lane
Members noted a request made to the District Council from the developers of a
new road off Claypole Lane that it be named ‘Sylvan Way’. No objections were
raised to the request.
3404 Hire Charges and Fees 2007/08
Members considered the Council charges for sporting activity on the playing
field and Cemetery fees for the next financial year.
It was, AGREED that a global increase of 2.5% be
implemented on all charges, except Centre hire, with effective from April 2007.
3405 Village Hall Fund
Members discussed the charity account Village Hall Fund which is held with the
National Savings Bank and has a balance of £628 remaining.
It was, RECOMMENDED that the money from this
account be used towards the final invoice payable to the Balderton Village
Centre building contractors. The
Village Hall Find account will then be closed.
3406 Annual Parish Meeting
It was noted that the Annual Parish Meeting this year will be held on Wednesday
April 18th 2006 at 7.00pm in the Balderton Village Centre.
3407 Code of Conduct
Members noted receipt of a consultation document on ‘Amendments to the Model
Code of Conduct’ which includes changes to the rules on personal and prejudicial
interests. T
he government is also proposing to combine the current four individual codes (Local Authorities, Parish Councils, National Park and Broads Authorities and Police Authorities) into consolidated one. Responses to the document are invited by Friday March 9th 2007.
Cllr Sheppard requested that his previously
submitted but unanswered question about the lack of protection for local
members, be submitted with the reply. Copies of the document will be made
available for councillors to peruse.
3408 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) Details of District Council approved works to trees which are subject to
preservation orders at 3 Ainsdale Close and 69 Main Street.
b) Notice that the County Council has adopted its Statement of Community
Involvement which outlines how it proposes to consult communities for planning
functions.
c) An invitation to the County Council’s Building Better Communities annual
event at Boughton Pumping Station on Tuesday June 12th 2007 at 10am-1.30pm.
Councillors wishing to attend to notify the Clerk.
d) Notice that the County Council’s response to the Government’s White Paper on
Strong and Prosperous Communities is to support an improved two tier structure,
exploring ways to work more closely with parish councils.
e) Details of crime figures for Balderton from April – December 2006. County
Councillor Walker advised that Chief Superintendent Colbeck will attend the next
meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Police scheduled for April 16th 2007 in the
Balderton Village Centre. Cllr Mrs Jarvis advised that local MP Patrick Mercer
OBE is arranging a public meeting in Balderton to discuss
crime/behaviour/policing issues.
f) The latest County Highways Briefing Sheet notifying of the new cycle track
along London Road and pedestrian crossing installation on London Road by
Lakeside Shopping Centre.
g) An invitation from The Newark Advertiser to participate in the ‘Wedding Fair’
at Kelham Hall on Sunday October 7th 2007 to promote the Council’s new Centre as
suitable for a wedding venue. Members considered that this would be a beneficial
way of promoting the building.
It was, RECOMMENDED that a basic stand be booked
at a cost of £240.
Cllr Miss Watson undertook to assist with staffing the stand – other volunteers
are invited.
3409 Future Agenda Items
The issue of staffing at the playing field relating to attendants and locking
the gates was discussed. Members considered that this issue should be addressed
by the Amenities Committee – the Clerk undertook to speak to the committee
Chairman.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.50pm