Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held
in the Council Hall on Wednesday May 24th 2006 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Colman, Fletcher, Hind,
Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Sheppard, Miss Watson, Mrs Walker and White
with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, a member of the press, one
parishioner and the Clerk.
2896 Chairman
The only nomination received was for Councillor Colman. He was duly and
unanimously re-elected as chairman and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of
Office. He thanked his fellow councillors for their support during the past year
and for his re-election
2897 Vice Chairman
The only nomination received was for Cllr Jarvis who was duly elected in his
absence as
Vice Chairman. Cllr Fletcher asked that the Council’s appreciation be recorded
for Cllr
Ms Atkinson’s work and support shown to the Chairman during the past year.
2898 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Gibson, Jarvis, Mrs Scott and
Scott.
2899 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Newstead declared a prejudicial interest to minute reference 2903c.1 –
grant payment, and Cllr Sheppard declared a personal interest to minute
reference 2909.2 – problem drains.
The meeting was closed to take public comments. One parishioner asked;
a) If the loan approval for the new hall would be received in time? The Clerk
advised that the Secretary of State is presently processing requests very
quickly, and Cllr White advised that the contractor has kindly offered to accept
a delay with the final payment if necessary
b) Is it the Council’s intention to return any of the temporary buildings
presently on the playing field car park now that the football season has
finished to increase car parking space? Cllr White replied that all the
buildings on site are necessary for staff, contractors and cricketers.
County Councillor Mrs Saddington advised that Fernwood residents have requested
a further bus stop near the entrance which will be looked into when the business
park is developed, and that enquiries are being made about a safer route to
village schools for Fernwood pupils, including installing railings along the
pavement. County Councillor Walker advised that Mrs Head at The Grove School is
concerned about this and is making enquiries about providing a bus to school for
the children living in Fernwood.
2900 Representatives
The following representatives were appointed:
Newark Area Local Councils Association
Cllr Jarvis and Mr Mortimore
British Gypsum Liaison Group
Cllr Brooks
Newark Area Local Forum
Cllr Jarvis
Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group
Cllr Jarvis
Newark Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Cllr Jarvis and Cllr Mrs Newstead
Balderton Business Club
Cllr Mortimore.
2901 Committees
The committee members and officers are as follows:
Finance and General Purposes Committee Councillors Allsopp, Brooks, Mrs Brooks,
Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Mortimore Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott,
Sheppard, Miss Watson and Mrs Walker.
Amenities Councillors Allsopp, Ms Atkinson, Gibson, Hind, Mrs Newstead,
Mortimore,
Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Miss Watson and White.
Council Review Committee Councillors Hind, Mortimore, Sheppard and White.
Planning Committee Councillors Allsopp, Gibson, Mrs Newstead and Sheppard.
New Hall Sub Committee
Cllrs Allsopp, Gibson, Mortimore, Miss Watson and White.
(The Chairman and Vice Chairman are ex-officio on all committees).
Footpath Officer Mr G.Rix.
Emergency Officers Cllrs Brooks and Sheppard.
Safety Officer Cllr Sheppard.
2902 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday April 12th 2006,
having
been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2903 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
An update of ongoing matters from the minutes of the previous Council meeting
and subsequent committee meetings was circulated and noted. Updates circulated
prior to each committee meeting had been included with the minutes. The
following issues were discussed:-
a) Council
1. Re Minute 2895.2 Leisure Centre Charges The Clerk was asked to expedite a
reply about the increased charges at the Grove Leisure Centre, asking if the
number of attendees had dropped since the increases?
b) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1285 Heron Way Planning Application Approval was given to the
additional expenditure to obtain a flood risk assessment for the land as advised
by the Planning Associate. Disquiet was expressed about the need for such an
assessment but members accepted the lack of option if the application is to
proceed.
2. Re Minute 1287 Temporary Shower Facilities Cllr Allsopp advised that the
Cricket Club have identified a company at Harby who may be able to provide an
alternative shower block which may be compatible with Balderton Cricket Club’s
electricity supply. Members considered on balance that the original option to
use showering facilities at the Grove Leisure Centre was the only viable option
and should be re-offered to the Club as a reasonable compromise.
c) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3252 Financial Assistance It was,
AGREED that in pursuance of the powers conferred by Sections 137 and
139 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Council approve
the payment of £250 to Gregory Duckworth towards the cost of attendance at a
summer school during August 2006 in Durham to study Space Science as part of the
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
this being expenditure incurred in the interest of the parish or
its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner
commensurate with the expenditure.
2. Re Minute 3334 Loan Borrowing Approval It was unanimously,
AGREED that an application for borrowing approval for a loan of up to
£200,000 be submitted to the Secretary of State for a loan for
the new hall.
3. Re Minute 339e Cressey Holme Farm, Bullpit Road Cllr White reported that the
majority of heavy goods vehicles causing a problem in the village are generated
from this site which is operating without planning permission. The District
Council are taking enforcement action against the owners.
2904 Committee
The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
2905 Parish Meeting
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on April 26th 2006 were confirmed
as a true
record and signed. The following item was discussed from the minutes:
1. Re Minute 06/06.b Cllr Mortimore asked that the Council give full
consideration to the
requirements of the new building , inviting all members to make suggestions for
a ‘wish list’ of equipment, facilities etc. A management plan is considered
necessary and should be given imminent discussion.
2906 Extraordinary Meeting
Members approved temporary measures which are necessary to ease the pressure on
existing
groundstaff during the peak of the grass cutting season. Enquiries have been
made with a
local contractor who has worked for the council in the past, to undertake an
amount of grass
cutting. The groundstaff consider that his work would be carried out to an equal
standard
and welcome the proposal.
2907 Financial Statement
The details as published were correct, there being cheque requirements for April
of
£10164.97 and £13550.63 for May. The Clerk undertook to check that the correct
amount
had been charged for payment no. 14 - planning application fee made to Anthony
Aspbury
Associates.
2908 Reports from Representatives
County Councillor Walker reported that he had submitted a petition to the
District Council on May 9th 2006 on behalf of Fernwood residents who are seeking
independence as a parish council. This council has been provided with a copy of
the petition, with an invitation to comment by July 19th 2006. It was considered
that a special meeting should be arranged to discuss the implications of
Fernwood applying for parish status.
2909 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) Notice than the Annual Return for the 2005/06 accounts has been received and
will need to be completed in readiness for the next F&GP committee in June 2006
for full Council approval before the Council’s summer recess.
b) A request for a leave of absence from Councillors Mrs Scott and Scott owing
to ill health reasons. This was given unanimous approval. Written confirmation
will be sent along with well wishes from the Council.
c) An invitation to attend a training session on ‘Code of Conduct & Outline of
Local
Investigation Procedure’ at Kelham Hall on Wednesday June 21st 2006.
d) A planning application which had been viewed immediately before the meeting
and approved, no. 0738 - Erect conservatory at 15 Clipsham Close.
e) A number of planning decisions; 0418 New brewery signs at The Grove Inn, 0543
Extension and replace garage at 88 Main Street, 0554 Extension and replace
garage at 5 Glovers Lane, 0560 Alterations and extension at 20 Wordsworth Drive
and 0568 Extension at 56 Jericho Road.
f) Notice that footways repairs are scheduled to take place on Staple Lane and
London Road in the County Council’s programme of works for 2006/07.
g) A reply from the local M.P. regarding Cllr Sheppard’s letter of concern
regarding the Code of Conduct, vexatious complaints and lack of protection for
councillors. Cllr Fletcher undertook to raise the matter with the District
Council’s Standards Committee.
h) A request from the Clerk to attend a one day S.L.C.C. conference at
Nottingham on Thursday June 29th 2006 at a cost of £40.00. Members gave approval
to the request.
i) A report from a parishioner that a vehicle is regularly being parked
overnight on the Heron Way car park. Further enquiries will be made.
j) An invitation to the Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting
on July 24th 2006 at 7.00pm. All councillors are invited to attend. The main
speaker is Inspector Neil Dodd of Nottinghamshire Police who will be giving a
presentation on neighbourhood policing. Cllr Jarvis represents the Council on
this Group.
k) A letter from the County Council Rights of Way Department seeking the
Council’s view
About a footpath link between Mead Way and Bakewell Close. It was considered
necessary to make further enquiries before commenting.
2910 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr White asked fellow members to join him in thanking Cllr Colman for his
work during the past year and congratulating his re-election as Chairman, and to
Cllr Jarvis for his election as Vice Chairman.
2. Cllr Sheppard asked members to help residents in the Manners Road estate area
who are experiencing repeated problems of overflowing sewage. Severn Trent has
issued engineers to deal with problems on numerous occasions recently. It was
considered beneficial to invite Severn Trent representatives to attend a Council
meeting to discuss problem drains in the village as a whole which have been an
issue for many years.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.05pm