Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday January 25th 2006 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT: Councillors Colman (Chairman), Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Jarvis, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Scott, Sheppard, Mrs Walker and White with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, a member of the local press, four members of the public and the Clerk.
2867 APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Councillors Ms Atkinson, Mrs Scott and Miss Watson.
2868 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Brooks declared a personal and prejudicial interest to Amenities minute reference 1258e regarding a Tree Preservation Order at Flowserve on Hawton Lane.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.01pm to take public comments:
1. A parishioner raised his concerns about the Council’s closure of the middle gate to the Playing Field. The Chairman advised that the Council’s decision, made in November 2005 would be reviewed after six months in May 2006. The parishioner left the meeting.
2. Two parishioners asked what could be done regarding a planning application they have submitted for 50 Bullpit Road which is being recommended for refusal by the District Council planning meeting on Tuesday January 31st 2006. Cllr Fletcher undertook to request a site meeting to enable the planning committee to fully review the application.
The meeting re-opened.
2869 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on December 14th 2005, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2870 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 2846.1 Heron Way car park Advice will be sought to ascertain what course of action should now be taken against the owner of the vehicle which is left almost constantly on the car park.
2. Re Minute 2865f Acacia Road access Advice has been sought from the County Council Rights of Way Officer and the Council’s solicitor on the access issue and the owner’s proposal to block the access once a year on Christmas Day. The solicitor advised that the Council should not allow its right of way to be compromised in this way and the owner be advised accordingly. The right of way crosses an existing Public Footpath (no.1) to get to the field – if the access was to become a public footpath it could prevent the Council locking
(minute 2870a.2 continued)
the field, therefore making vulnerable the field, play equipment and buildings there including the planned new community centre/sports pavilion. The County Officer was unable to confirm that the entrance to the field would not be affected in this way. Members were reminded of the meeting held two weeks ago where Grove Street residents are requesting their play area be locked at night to prevent anti-social problems. It was,
AGREED
i) that the Council actively oppose any current or future application for the access to become a Public Footpath in order that the access remains under the control of the Council’s own right of way to protect the security of the field and property.
ii)that no further reduction in the width of the access ever be
allowed.
b) Pavilion
1. Re Minute 0006 Pavilion Re-Build Cllr White outlined the progress of the project since the last sub committee meeting – much of which was reported to the Amenities Committee meeting on January 11th 2006. It was considered that the original budget estimates which were in the region of £550-£575,000 would be realistic costs and the Council will need further funding. The initial informal approach to the District Council for planning approval on Heron Way has not been successful, though the agent is re-assessing the situation to ascertain if a smaller, one plot site could be at all possible. The sub committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow. County Councillor Walker advised that he has made initial enquiries with the County Council and there may be a possibility of obtaining some funding from the authority – the Clerk undertook to prepare necessary information as soon as possible. A loan may prove necessary, short or long term, depending upon the success of other funding sources. The new building will be a real asset to the village – the progress of the project will be related to parishioners in the next newsletter. It was unanimously,
AGREED
a) that the Council proceeds with the project.
b) that the Pavilion sub committee select the preferred contractor.
County Cllr Mrs Saddington and Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.50pm
c) Planning
d) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1250 Anti-social Behaviour A letter of appreciation has been sent to the Police Officers, District Council Officers, Grove Head Teacher and Youth Worker who attended the meeting. An increased amount of police activity has been noted in the affected areas since the meeting. County Councillor Walker advised that funding has been reduced
and the District Council may not now be able to fund a teenage shelter. District Officer Mr Thorn recommends that enquiries be made with the young people concerned to confirm that
they do want a shelter, and if they do would they be prepared to help fund raise for it? Members were encouraged to give consideration to locating a suitable venue for a shelter. The matter will be discussed further.
2. Re Minute 1258e Tree Preservation Order A District Council planning meeting is scheduled on 31st January 2006 to consider an application for a Tree Preservation Order on land at Flowserve, Hawton Lane. County Councillor Walker advised that he was attending the meeting to speak in support of the application.
(minute 2870 continued)
e) Finance and General Purposes Committee
1. Re Minute 3301 Free Resource 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 payments of£100 to Victim Support Nottinghamshire and £200 to Balderton Village Hall Fund, 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 3305 Balderton Library County Councillor Walker advised that it may be possible for the mobile library to visit more often than originally planned during the refurbishment programme.
2871 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record and duly signed:
Pavilion
Planning
Amenities
Finance & General Purposes
2872 Fernwood Independence
Consideration was given to the Council’s view regarding the Fernwood area applying for independence and having its own parish. It is understood that the Fernwood Residents Association is to raise a petition amongst residents for this – not less than 250 electors must sign it. Members supported the proposal in principle, though reassurances would be necessary that the majority of all affected residents were in favour of the change. The Council offered to help wherever possible.
2873 Financial Statement
The statements were approved. The details as published were correct, there being a cheque requirement of £2981.27 for December 2005. Copies of the 2004/05 audited accounts were also distributed and noted.
2874 Reports from Representatives
Cllr Mrs Newstead reported from the Newark Citizen’s Advice Bureau. RELATE has moved out of their building, so there is a loss of income from rent, but they are hoping to make up this shortfall by advertising space. The organisation now runs an e-mail service in addition to mail and visitors. They are short of volunteers, and are finding funding from larger organisations more difficult to obtain.
2875 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) An enquiry from a local stonemason for a memorial headstone which would be located centrally between 2 graves which have purchase rights to the same family. Members gave approval to this.
b) A request for 2 street name suggestions for Fernwood. ‘Parsons’ and ‘Walmsley’ are both names of long standing patients at the former hospital which was on the site. The names can be included on the list compiled for street name requests when received from the developers.
c) A letter from a wheelchair user, stating that the recent alterations made to the access gates and barriers around the lake are not adequate. The matter was referred to the Amenities committee for further consideration.
d) A letter from the County Council notifying that an application has been made for a Lawful Development Certificate for a Scrap yard Development at Twitch Farm. Members were urged to write factual letters to the County Council stating that the site has not been used for the past ten years as a dismantling scrap yard which is what the applicant is claiming.
e) Notice that works are underway to install a cycle track along the A1 between Claypole and Long Bennington. The work should be completed by February 17th 2006.
f) The latest County Highways Briefing Sheet advising that Jo Horton has been appointed Principal Customer Services Officer at the Newark Area Office on Kelham Road.
g) Notice that two parish councillors have been appointed to the District Council Standards Committee – Cllr B. Jackson, Collingham and Cllr r. Robins, Caunton.
h) Details from the police of a recent spate of church burglaries in the North Nottinghamshire.
i) A report from a Gibson Crescent resident that motorcycles and quad bikes are again causing disruption and concern along the footpath at the back of Cemetery. A request will be made from County Cllr Walker to the Rights of Way Department to enquire if bollards could be installed across the path to try and minimise the problems.
j) Minutes of a District Council planning meeting held on December 6th 2006 where an application for a block of 10 apartments on land adjacent to 13 Barnby Crossing was considered and refused.
2876 Councillors Questions
No questions were raised.
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 8.30pm.
A staffing matter was discussed and agreed upon.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.50pm.