Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held
in the Balderton Village Centre Council Hall on Wednesday June 20th 2007 at
7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors Allsopp, Gibson, Gosling, Mrs Jarvis, Mutter, Mrs Newstead,
Radley, Sheppard, Mrs Walker, Miss Watson and White with County Councillor
Walker, the Head Groundsman Mr Brown, a representative of the local press,
twenty four parishioners and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Colman, Hind and Mortimore.
1388 Chairman
Cllr White was nominated and duly re-elected as Committee Chairman.
1389 Vice Chairman
Cllr Sheppard was nominated and duly re-elected as Committee Vice Chairman.
1390 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Mrs Newstead declared a personal interest to the exempt item to be
discussed at the end of the meeting.
1391 Dog Orders
The meeting was closed to hear public comments regarding a proposal to introduce
an order for dogs to be kept on leads when on the playing field and other
Council land. The ‘Dog Watch’ group of parishioners which had met after the last
meeting submitted a list of proposals to try and help ‘police’ the playing field
for dog fouling offences.
The proposals included asking the Council to install a prominent sign on the field showing the telephone number for any dog fouling offences to be reported to immediately, and dogs to be kept off the sports pitches.
Lengthy discussion again took place about the
impact of keeping dogs on leads whilst on the playing field. The meeting
re-opened and a vote was taken with 9 votes for and 1 abstention - it was,
RECOMMENDED that no further controls be introduced at present. The situation
will be monitored over the next three months.
Cllr Radley undertook to be the liaison councillor for the Dog Watch group.
Twenty two parishioners left at approximately 7.40pm.
1392 Cemetery Extension
Consideration was given to a plan drawn up by the architect to extend the
Cemetery into the adjacent Council owned field. Members had held a site meeting
at the Cemetery
immediately prior to the meeting.
The County Council has no objection to the proposed road going over the public
footpath which runs along the back of the Cemetery.
Mr Brown had advised that the land would require levelling and re-grading to a
higher standard of turf suitable for the Cemetery - a professional schedule of
work is required.
Members approved the scheme as produced and agreed that the architect be asked
to submit a planning application to the planning authority.
1393 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issues were discussed from the update:
1. Re Minute 1364.2 A1 Carriageway The details received from the Highways Agency
regarding noise levels in the vicinity of the affected Main Street property are
quite basic, but the Clerk undertook to provide County Councillor Walker with a
copy in order to try and obtain comparable readings from the County’s noise
team.
2. Re Minute 1378.2 Village Centre Alternative designs of the entrance gate were
considered and the flat topped gate in dark green to match the railings was
considered to be the preferred option. Some suitable large pictures for the
walls have been identified – further enquiries will be made by the Clerk to
determine exact costings, sizes etc.
County Councillor Walker presented a cheque to the committee for £400 towards
bench seating outside the Centre – appreciation was extended to him.
3. Re Fly Tipping Cllr Gosling advised that the new rules and regulations at the
Cotham household recycling centre are not well known and will almost certainly
increase instances of fly tipping. The new rules need to be published to ease
understanding and prevent unnecessary journeys. A letter will be drafted to the
District Council suggesting that the issue be addressed.
1394 Planning Applications
The following applications were considered and approved subject to any comments
detailed below:
0789 Demolish building 159 Main Street
0836 Convert water tower to restaurant & bar The Water Tower, Fernwood
0814 Three bedroom dwelling Land adj. 2a Main Street
0820 Single and two storey extension 30 Clement Avenue
The following application was considered and objected to with the following
comments:
0802 Erect 13 dwellings Land adjacent to 159 Main Street
This application received outline permission following an appeal to the
Secretary of State, but members still consider that this site is too hazardous
for a development.
1395 Quarterly Bonus
Approval was given to the groundstaff’s quarterly bonus payment.
Cllr Miss Watson and one parishioner left the meeting at approximately 8.00pm.
1396 Balderton Village Centre
Consideration was given to promotion of the Centre. An updated leaflet is
required – a local photographic student has offered to take some up to date
photographs which can be incorporated into the leaflet.
Approval was given to the purchase of three external wall mounted cigarette bins
at a cost of £80 each – two for the main entrance and one for the changing room
entrance doors.
Further discussion took place regarding age restrictions for Centre parties.
It was, RECOMMENDED that the Centre be hired out
for older children under the age of
18 in the large hall only. The bar and therefore the small
room will not be allowed for this usage and a registered doorman must be
employed by the hirer. No change in policy will be implemented for 18th
birthdays.
1397 No Ball Games Signs
Further consideration was given to a request for ‘No Ball Games’ signs on parish
land at Broome Close and on County land opposite Marston Close. There has never
been a sign on Broome Close and members questioned the effectiveness of such a
sign as previously installed similar signs in the village have been almost
immediately vandalised and/or removed. Enquiries have been made with the County
Council and it is against policy to allow such signs on County land.
1398 Health Centre Signs
Members considered a letter of complaint about the number and size of signs at
the new health centre. The signs are considered to be excessive and repetitive.
A letter will be sent to the PCT asking them to reconsider them and to also
consider installing a sign advising how to find the centre from London Road.
1399 Boundary Hedge
Consideration was given to a letter from a resident whose property backs onto
the playing field, wanting to remove the section of hedge claiming it is
damaging his fence. Ownership of the hedge has not been confirmed. Members
considered that if the hedge was removed it would look unsightly. The hedge may
be cut back by up to 50% of its width to allow the fence to be repaired and/or
release pressure on it.
1400 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) A request from the District Council Environment Department for a dog waste
bin on the grassed area behind Williams Lane, Fernwood. Approval was given to
this.
b) Advice that the County Council is looking into the possibility of creating a
Gating Order
for the section of public footpath between Church Lane and Pinfold Lane.
1401 Future agenda Items
1. Cllr Sheppard asked that the Council take whatever action they can about the
long standing problem of flooding in the Manners Road area during heavy rain.
Recent storms have again caused sewage to be left on roads and in gardens.
Attempts have been made to contact the Severn Trent officers who attended the
November Council meeting but to no avail. Members considered that a letter
should be sent to OFFWAT highlighting the problem and lack of response from the
company (with a copy to the MP and Severn Trent).
2. Cllr Mutter asked that a more detailed breakdown of expenditure be included
on the Financial Statement circulated at Council meetings. The Clerk undertook
to arrange this.
3. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked if further dropped kerbs could be installed on London
Road in the vicinity of Blind Lane? County Councillor Walker undertook to raise
this with the authority.
4. Cllr Allsopp asked if Grove Rangers could have a notice board and trophy
cabinet in the Centre? He was advised that there is a notice board in the
changing rooms side that can be used by the football teams, but unfortunately
there in not sufficient room for a trophy cabinet on the premises.
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 at approximately 9.50am. Staffing and
legal issues were discussed and agreed upon.
The meeting closed at approximately 9.00pm