Balderton Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday September 26th 2007 at 7.00pm.

PRESENT Councillors Mortimore (Chairman), Mrs Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Fletcher, Gosling, Gould, Hind, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mutter, Mrs Newstead, Radley, Sheppard and Miss Watson with County Councillor Walker, District Councillors Mrs Brooks and Brooks, Mr Hattersley Head Teacher Chuter Ede Primary School, six parishioners, a representative of the local press and the Clerk.

3011 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Councillors Colman, Gibson, Mrs Walker and White, and County Councillor Mrs Saddington.

3012 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.

The meeting was closed to take public comments.

Representatives of the Balderton Dog Watch group outlined the reasons for their request to hold a key to the playing field gates.

Mr Hattersley of Chuter Ede School asked for the Council’s support in trying to find a solution to the persistent and increasing problems caused by parents bringing their children to school in cars.

Fernwood residents also raised concerns about pedestrian safety for parents walking school children to the village schools. 42 children living in Fernwood attend Chuter Ede school – enough for a service bus to be introduced which would mean a safer way of getting to school and also reduce the number of cars travelling to and parked at school.

The meeting re-opened and those present were assured that the matters raised would be considered – the Dog Watch Group’s application for a key was a scheduled agenda item and the road safety issues would be taken into consideration initially by the Road Safety Working Party and ultimately all members for full discussion.

Two parishioners and Mr Hattersley left the meeting.

3013 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday July 4th 2007, having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.

3014 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
b) Planning
c) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1404.1 St. Giles Churchyard Cllr Mrs Jarvis advised that she had
raised the lack of a reply from the Southwell Diocese regarding memorial safety with
Rev.Tucker who had undertaken to write to the Diocese to expedite the reply.
2. Re Minute 1414.c Bakewell Close/Mead Way footpath link District Cllr Mrs
Brooks advised that Newark and Sherwood Homes are still looking into the situation to
find an alternative route through.

d) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3437 Fernwood Road Safety Cllrs Mrs Jarvis, Mrs Hurst and Hurst  elected to be the Working Party members to identify all problem areas in the village.
2. Re Minute 3438 Town Council Discussion was given to naming the Council
‘Balderton Town Council’. A vote was taken – eight votes for, five against and 2 abstentions, and it was,  AGREED that the Council be named Balderton Town Council.

Balderton will remain a village and the name ‘Balderton Village Centre’ will not be changed.

3. Re Minute 3441 Financial Regulations The changes as proposed were unanimously agreed.
4. Re Minute 3423 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 £400 to St. Giles Church towards resurfacing work to walkways in the Church yard this being expenditure incurred in the interest of the parish or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure.

3015 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were then confirmed as a true record and signed:
Planning
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes

District Cllr Brooks left the meeting at approximately 7.50pm

3016 Planning Applications
The following application was considered and approved subject to any comments detailed below:

1316 Change of use from ex post office to sitting room 90 London Road

The following application was considered and refused with the following comment:

1336 Erect 13 dwellings (reserved matters) Land adj. to 159 Main Street
Members still consider that this development is at an unsafe location in terms of vehicular access. Members asked if Severn Trent Water had been consulted on the application because there are more than ten dwellings on the development? – this issue will be raised with the District Council

3017 Playing Field Gates
Consideration was given to a request from the ‘Balderton Dog Watch’ group to hold a key to the playing field gates. Though understanding of their reasons to hold a key, members raised some concerns. The matter was deferred to the next meeting whilst enquiries are made with the Council’s insurance company to ascertain if there are any liability implications.

3018 Financial Statements
The details as published were correct, there being cheque requirements of £9,124.27 in July, £14,085.25 for August and £6,771.77 for September.

3019 Reports from Representatives
1. County Cllr Walker advised that:
a) The surface water drains outside Main Street Post Office have been jetted and cleaned. The authority acknowledges that more frequent maintenance of drains is required to prevent build up of silt.
b) Discussion is taking place to explore the possibility of re-instating the bus service to part of Rowan Way, and of providing a service to the new health centre on Lowfield Lane.

2. District Cllr Mrs Brooks advised that a ‘Waltons’ lorry from Sutton on Trent is causing a regular hazard and obstruction by dangerously parking in the vicinity of Hawton Lane.

Cllr Miss Watson advised that the matter has been reported to the company who ask that any future instances be reported to them as and when they happen.

3.Cllr Mrs Newstead reported that Newark & District Citizens Advice Bureau had held  their AGM on Friday August 17th 2007, and she advised members of the organisations’ progress.

3020 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:

a) Notice from the County Council that a temporary 40mph speed restriction will apply along Great North Road from the A1 to Shire Lane from October 22nd 2007 – Sunday November 18th 2007.
b) The latest County Council Transport Briefing advising that the authority has purchased a vehicle which can detect and clear blocked drains in the County.
c) Details of approved works to a holly tree at The Old Hall, Main Street which is subject to a Tree Preservation Order.
d) Notice that the Parish/District Community Safety Liaison Group meeting arranged for October 29th has been cancelled and the scheduled issues will be addressed at the Parish Councils Conference on Monday November 12th 2007.
e) Notification that the Annual Audit Return has been completed by Hacker Young Auditors. The cost of the audit is £3483. 88 which includes £546.38 extra costs resulting from one parishioner’s questions. Notice of Completion of the Audit will now be published on the Council’s Notice Board.
f) Notice that motorcycles are again riding along the tracks around the Lake and on the Sustrans Cycle Track causing annoyance and potential hazards to other users and residents. Incidents should be reported to the Police as and when they happen in order that offenders can be caught. .
g) Details from the County Council about proposed closures to older people’s care homes in the County. Local home ‘Woods Court’ in Newark is staying open.
h) Notice of a day time public exhibition to be held in the Village Centre on Saturday October 13th 2007 regarding the plans for the Newark Growth Point Initiative.
h) Centre users have stated that it would be useful to have a small supply of tea plates with the cups and saucers. The cost to purchase 54 plates is £59.00 – members gave approval to this expenditure.

3021 Councillors Questions
No questions were raised.

Exempt item

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 8.20pm. A legal issue was discussed and agreed upon.

The meeting closed at approximately 8.35pm.

▲top
◄home