Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held
in the Council Hall on Wednesday June 21st 2006 at 7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors Allsopp, Colman, Gibson, Hind, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead,
Sheppard and White with Deputy Head Groundsman Mr Brown, two members of the
public and the Clerk.
Two minutes silence were held as a mark of respect in remembrance of Councillor
Lonsdale Jarvis.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Ms Atkinson,
Mrs Scott, Scott and Miss Watson.
1290 Chairman
Cllr White was nominated and duly re-elected as committee chairman.
1291 Vice Chairman
Cllr Sheppard was nominated and duly elected as committee vice chairman.
1292 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Allsopp declared a personal interest to minute reference 1300 – Lakeside
litter bins.
Councillor Colman left the meeting at approximately 7.05pm
1293 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. No issues were discussed from the update.
1294 Planning Applications:
The following applications were considered and approved subject to the following
comments:
0856 Two storey & single storey extension 15 Cottage Close
NCC Erect perimeter security fencing and gates Orchard Special School
The following planning application was considered and refused with the following
comments:
0900 Change of use to Chinese food takeaway, install plant and 33 Main Street
equipment and building work
The kitchen odours will have a detrimental affect upon neighbouring properties
and the property is adjacent to a busy junction in close proximity to a
congested stretch of Main Street. Additional vehicles in this vicinity will be
hazardous.
1295 Planning Decision:
The following application has received conditional approval and was noted:
0616 Erect garage, utility, bedroom and bathroom 29 Baines Avenue
1296 New Hall
The Chairman advised that construction work is progressing well on the new
building. The Grove Preschool has written expressing interest in renting the
smaller meeting room on a regular basis. The existing closed circuit television
(CCTV) system will need extending by one more camera to cover the front right of
the building and the recording unit upgrading from a video to a computer hard
disc recorder. The present CCTV supplier has provided one quotation
(approximately £5000) for this work and a further quotation is being sought from
another local company. The expenditure forms part of the ‘extras’ allowed in the
budget figure of £600,000 one of which was to upgrade and extend the CCTV system
but will be referred to the Finance Committee for formal approval. The Chairman
and Vice Chairman were given approval to select the preferred company to carry
out the upgrade in order that the work can be undertaken as soon as possible.
1297 Lakeside Disabled Access/Fencing Open Lakeside Areas
Quotations were reviewed for fencing off the two open areas of Lakeside at
Catkin Way and Rowan Way. RADAR locks can then be installed on gates around the
site at a relatively low cost of £14.50 each which will allow disabled users
access and prevent unauthorised vehicular access (keys to RADAR locks are
readily available to wheelchair users). It was,
RECOMMENDED that R.S. Gray & Son of Coddington be selected as the
preferred quotation at a cost of £1493 + v.a.t. and the
expenditure referred to the Finance Committee for approval.
1298 Dog Waste Bin
Consideration was given to replacing a dog waste bin at the playing field middle
gate area –
the previous bin was removed when the middle gate was closed. The staff advise
that the
existing three bins are not overflowing and consider that there is presently no
need for a
further bin.
1299 Public Meeting
Initial consideration was given to asking local M.P. Mr Patrick Mercer to chair
a public meeting with appropriate parties to discuss anti social issues in the
village. Cllr Fletcher advised that such a meeting is scheduled to take place at
Christ Church, Bowbridge Road, Newark on Thursday July 20th 2006 at 6.30pm.
Cllrs Allsopp and Sheppard undertook to attend if available and raise any
particular Balderton issues. Further consideration could then be given to asking
Mr Mercer to hold a specific public meeting for the village if this is then
deemed necessary
1300 Lakeside Litter Bins
Consideration was given to a written request from a parishioner for litter bins
at Lakeside.
Though sympathetic to the request, it is Council policy not to provide litter
bins at the Lake
as it is common practice at water sites that litter bins actually encourage
litter. Cllr Mortimore advised that one of the main reasons litter bins are not
provided is because an amount of the litter is taken from the bin and strewn
around the area. Enquiries will be made to locate and price a receptacle bin
that cannot be accessed once litter has been deposited.
1301 Quarterly Bonus
Approval was given to the payment of the groundstaff’s quarterly bonus. Staff
were
congratulated on the quality of their work particularly during this difficult
transitional time
at the field.
1302 Playing Field Gates
Reports were considered that the field gates are not being locked and unlocked
when they
should be. Some difficulties have been experienced through an additional lock
installed on
the main gates by the contractors. The smaller gates can appear locked when they
are
actually open and this may have caused confusion at times. The exact
requirements
and instructions will again be sent in writing to the playing field attendants
to prevent any
further misunderstandings. Cllr Mortimore undertook to pay attention at the
playing field
over weekends.
1303 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) A letter from the Chesters Football Club requesting football pitches on the
mornings of Sunday August 27th 2006 and Sunday September 3rd 2006 - these should
not interfere with the cricketers who play in the afternoon. Members approved
this subject to satisfactory reassurances that they will not inconvenience
cricket fixtures.
b) Notice that the five lifebuoys at the Lake were reported missing on Friday
June 16th 2006. The Lakeside area was searched but nothing found. Immediate
replacements were ordered which are now in place. The cost of the lifebuoys is
427.00
c) Appreciation from Mrs Angela Jarvis for the cards and well wishes from
councillors and staff following the sudden death of her husband Councillor
Lonsdale Jarvis. Members gave initial discussion regarding the installation of a
suitable memorial such as a bench at the new hall in his memory. Cllr Jarvis was
very supportive in his efforts for the new building and will be genuinely
missed.
d) A copy of a letter sent to residents on Williams Lane and Ainsdale Close on
Fernwood from the District Council trees officer regarding unauthorised work
which has been carried out to trees subject to tree preservation orders.
e) The Cricket Club has complained about a notice in the local paper from
Balderton Athletic Football Club who are inviting new players to attend an open
session at the playing field on Saturday June 25th from 10am to 3.00pm which
clashes with an under 11s cricket match which will be heavily attended. Further
football sessions are
(minute 1303e continued)
advertised for July 2nd, 9th and 16th from 10am to 12 noon. The Council had not
been
notified of these planned activities. Members were very concerned about the
implications of these sessions – the playing field is a public open field for
all users, but
once an activity is advertised it becomes an event and therefore requires
Council
permission which is not the case in this instance. The Cricket Club pay for
facilities for
the full season and these sessions would encroach on their fixtures and
pre-booked
allocations. Members considered that a letter should be sent immediately to
Balderton
Athletic advising that the sessions may not take place.
f) Notice that the application for a waste transfer building and recycling
facility at Quarry Farm, Hawton is being considered by the County Council on
June 27th 2006 at 10.30am.
g) An enquiry from the Department of Health who own the land at Dale Crescent
which is being purchased by the Council to ask if the council could clear the
overgrown grass in the meantime while the sale goes through. Residents are
complaining that the green is presently unusable. Mr Brown advised that the area
is not presently suitable for a mower because is far too uneven and would be
hazardous. Members considered that the Department of Health should instruct the
developer who has done much of the damage to make the land good before the
Council could consider undertaking any work there.
1304 Future agenda Items
No items were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm