Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday May 25th 2005 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT: Councillors Ms Atkinson, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Colman, Fletcher, Gibson, Jarvis, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Spencer, Mrs Walker and White
with County Councillor Walker, Mr Mortimore (Pavilion sub committee), a member of the press, one parishioner, the Assistant to the Clerk and the Clerk.
2815 Chairman
Two nominations were received for Chairman - Cllrs Colman and Hind. A paper
vote was requested and held. Cllr Colman was duly elected as chairman and
signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
2816 Vice Chairman
The only nomination received was for Cllr Ms Atkinson who was duly elected
as Vice Chairman.
2817 Apologies
Were accepted from Cllrs Mrs Hind and Hind who had advised they may be late
joining the meeting, and County Councillor Mrs Saddington..
2818 Declarations of
Interest
Cllr White declared a personal interest to Amenities minute reference 1191 -
planning application for dog boarding kennels on paddock no 3 Coddington Road.
2819 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 Spencer
Newark Citizens’ Advice
Bureau
Cllr Jarvis and Cllr Mrs Newstead
District Council Crime and
Disorder Panel
Cllrs Jarvis and Spencer
Balderton Business Club
Cllr Spencer, Mr Hall and Mr Mortimore.
2820 Committees
The committee members and officers are as follows:
Finance and General
Purposes Committee
Councillors Brooks, Mrs Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Jarvis, Mrs Newstead,
Miss Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Spencer and
Mrs Walker.
Amenities
Councillors Ms Atkinson, Gibson, Mrs Hind, Hind, Jarvis, Mrs Newstead,
Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard, Spencer and
White.
Council Review
Committee
Councillors Colman, Spencer and White.
Planning Sub Committee
Councillors Brooks, Gibson, Mrs Newstead and Spencer.
Pavilion Sub Committee
Cllrs Jarvis and White and Mr Mortimore (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.
2821 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday April 13th
2005, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and
signed.
2822 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
Cllrs Mrs Hind and Hind joined the meeting.
b) Amenities
1.
Re Minute 1195 Cycle track
Cllr Brooks asked when motorised vehicles go on the track. Cllr Sheppard
advised that it is mainly weekends and evenings when motorcycles and cars use
the track. A full map of the track showing where the route ends will be
requested from Sustrans.
c) Finance & General Purposes
1.
Re Minute 3244.1 Street naming
Disquiet was expressed that Parish Council suggestions for street naming are no
longer automatically accepted, but have to be approved by the developers who
make the final decision.
2.
Re Minute 3249 Memorial safety testing
Concern was expressed at the cost
of employing external surveyors to test the safety of memorial headstones in the
Cemetery. Enquiries will be made to ascertain if suitable training can be
undertaken by the head groundsman for the Council to carry out this essential
work ‘in house’. The Council’s insurance company would also need to approve
this. Future consideration should be given to a change of policy regarding
approved memorials in the Cemetery, such as only allowing low headstones or
sloping plaques to try and minimise future long term risks. It was,
AGREED that the committee’s recommendation to employ Zurich Municipal to carry out the work be rejected at this time whilst further enquiries are made.
3. 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 £200 to Nottinghamshire Police to help launch the ‘Junior Crimestoppers’ scheme in the Balderton area this being expenditure incurred in the interest of the parish or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure.
4. Re Minute 3254a County Council seminar Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Colman, Gibson, Mrs Newstead and Mrs Walker undertook to attend the event about ‘Building Better Communities’ at Boughton Pumping Station on Wednesday June 22nd 2005 from 10am to 1.30pm
2823 Committee
The minutes of the following committees were confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
2824 Hydrotherapy Pool
Concern was expressed at how long the hydrotherapy pool has been closed at
the old hospital site on Fernwood. The reported reason for the closure is a
leak. The pool has always been widely used and much local effort and money has
been given to the facility in the past.
It was, AGREED that representatives from the Newark & Sherwood Primary Care Trust be invited to a public meeting to discuss these concerns.
2825 Parish Meeting
A slight grammatical adjustment was agreed to the minutes under
‘Apologies’. The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on May 18th
2005 were then confirmed as a true record and signed.
2826 Financial
Statement
The details as published were correct, there being cheque requirements for
April of £29397.40 and £25990.34 for May.
2827 Reports from
Representatives
No reports were made.
2828 Clerk’s
Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) A reply from the District Council Enforcement Officer advising that there is nothing from a planning point of view that can be done to ease the parking and congestion problems outside Tesco Express on Main Street.
b) The County Council’s Community Strategy 2005-2009, draft for consultation with a response date of June 3rd 2005.
c) A letter from a Southfield resident asking for the Council’s support in installing a No Ball Games sign on the grassed area there. The grass is District Council property. A letter of support asking for a suitable sign will be submitted to Kelham Hall.
b) A number of planning applications which had been viewed immediately before the meeting and were approved; Erect conservatory 24 Wordsworth Drive, 1144/1145 Vary time limits for a development at the rear of 159 Main Street. The following application had been viewed and was objected to; Erect house at the rear of The Coach House, Main Street - members considered that this was out of keeping with the character and density of housing in the Conservation Area, and contravenes the original permission granted for one property only which already exists behind The Coach House.
c) Two planning decisions; conditional approval has been granted for an extension at 3 Macaulay Drive, and a Green waste Composting Operation at land adjacent to Cotham Lane, Cotham.
d) Notice that the Grove Leisure Centre are applying to renew their annual public entertainment licence.
e) A copy of the District Council’s statement relating to the appeal against the planning refusal for a dwelling at 128 Main Street.
f) An invitation from the District Council to suggest any changes relating to the Boundary Commission’s Review for local government electoral arrangements. Any suggestions to be submitted to Boundary Committee, London by August 8th 2005. The matter was referred to the F&GP for consideration.
g) A letter thanking the Council and staff for a memorial bench which has been installed at the Playing Field in the memory of the late John Henderson who had been involved for many years in local football. The family have asked that the new changing room facilities at the Pavilion be named after Mr Henderson, and would like to meet to discuss contributing to the project. The matter was referred to the Amenities Committee for consideration.
h) The casual vacancy for Balderton West Ward was formally declared. Notices publishing the vacancy will be displayed immediately in the Ward
2829 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Gibson asked members to join him in congratulating Cllrs Colman and Ms Atkinson on their election to Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.
2. Cllr Fletcher asked members to join him in thanking Cllr Hind and Cllr Mrs Hind for their hard work and support during Cllr Hind’s three year term of Chairman.
3. Cllr Jarvis asked members to be aware that much positive feedback has been made about the Lakeside project.
4. Cllr Brooks asked the Clerk to check if there are any implications for him being a member of the planning sub committee whilst serving as a District Councillor.
The meeting was closed at approximately 7.50pm to hear a parishioners’ comments about the Glebe Park to Barnby Crossing footpath application. The meeting re-opened.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.55pm