Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday October 26th 2005 at 7.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors Colman (Chairman), Ms Atkinson, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard and Mrs Walker with County Councillor Walker and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Jarvis.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllrs Mrs Brooks and Scott made declarations of personal interest to minute reference 3281 – grant application by John Hunt Junior School. Cllr Fletcher declared a personal interest to minute reference - 3278.2 Standards Issues.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3278 Clerk/Chairman’s
Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update
is published with the minutes. The following item were discussed from the
update:
1. Re Building Better Communities One of the projects put forward is for re-furbishment of the rose garden at Brandon Close. Cllr Scott advised that the District Council have now pruned the roses back, but not cleared the site. Cllr Mrs Walker advised that a bid had also been submitted to the scheme to install parking bays on Wolfit Avenue.
2. Re Minute 3276a Standards Issues Members agreed that Cllr Sheppards’s letter be sent on to the Deputy Prime Ministers Office as suggested by the District Council.
3279 Planning
Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to
any comments detailed below:
2128 Erect 33 dwellings, phase
3 (amended plans) Fernwood
2279 Erect 34 houses, phase 2 (revised house types)
Fernwood
2329 Front extension and pitched roof to garage
76 Manners Road
3280 Planning
Decisions
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and
were noted:
1857 Extensions and pitched
roof to garage 20 Christopher Cres.
1947 Erect sectional garage
12 Willow Road
The following planning applications have been refused and were noted:
1920 Wooden chalet
Plot 3
Coddington Road
2098 Erect house and garage
Rear of 254 London Rd
3281 Financial Assistance
Cllrs Mrs Brooks and Scott left the meeting for the duration of this item.
Consideration was given to a written application for financial assistance from
John Hunt Junior School for 62 Year 6 pupils to undertake the D.A.R.E.
programme, at a cost of £10 each. It was,
RECOMMENDED: that a grant of £620 be paid to the school
3282 Main Street
Discussion took place upon the benefits and implications of a one way system
for traffic along Main Street such as the system recently used by the County
Council during re-surfacing work. Other roads in the vicinity were congested at
times resulting from the traffic flow. Problems were also experienced by less
able bodied and elderly people because bus services could not take passengers
directly to the Chemist shop area. It was considered that a permanent one way
system along Main Street would not benefit the village as a whole.
3283 Fidelity
Insurance
The internal auditor had recommended that the council’s fidelity insurance
should be reviewed. An additional premium of £196.95 is required to increase
the amount to £600,000.
It was, RECOMMENDED that the fidelity insurance be increased and the additional premium paid.
3284 Budget 2006/07
Discussion took place on the 2006/07 budget requirement. Copies of the
committee ‘running cost’ estimates, previously circulated, were approved. No
projects other than the new Pavilion are planned for the next financial year.
The Amenities committee has recommended that a budget of £600,000 is required
for the Pavilion re-build project (approximately £400,000 will be realised from
the Lowfield land sale and interest made from investment).
The shortfall of £200,000 may have to be covered by a loan should the sale of Lakeside land and WREN grant not be successful. Approval was given to applying for a loan should it be needed in the future.
It was considered necessary to include the estimated cost of six months loan repayments in the budget. The Amenities and F&GP running costs are estimated to be £239,550 plus six months loan repayments estimated to be in the region of £8,450 giving a total of £248000.
Income from sporting activity, room hire, burials and memorials is estimated to be in the region of £20,000 which gives a requirement of approximately £228,000. It was considered that it may be necessary to increase the budget by approximately 4.5% to £230,000 for 2006/07.
The matter will be given further consideration in December when the next precept requirement must be set before the end of the current calendar year. Further details may be known at that time regarding the feasibility of obtaining planning permission for the small area of Lakeside land, and therefore its sale value.
Any financial implications which may arise should the Council take on any maintenance commitments at Fernwood will be considered when specialised advice has been obtained and the matter discussed further.
3285 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) An invitation for the Council to apply for a grant of £2,500 from Central Networks for Christmas lights and decorations. An application will be submitted.
b) Notice that the Nottinghamshire Police Authority has published its Annual Policing Plan and Annual Report.
c) Details of approval to fell a Field maple which is subject to a tree preservation order, at 42 Church Lane. The tree has been found to be unstable.
d) More magistrates are required in Nottinghamshire – a recruiting notice has been displayed on the Council notice board.
e) A copy of the District Council’s Interim Policy Note: Planning Provision for Affordable Housing.
f) Notice that a decision has been made regarding a complaint made in 2004 against Cllr Hind to the Standards Board. It has been found that no action needs to be taken in relation to issues raised.
g) An invitation to the Parish Conference on November 14th 2005 at 6.30pm. Topics this year are Improving Customer Services, Presentations by Individual Services, Parish Council Module – Website, and Access to Council Services. Those attending are encouraged to submit questions in advance. Cllrs Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher, Mortimore and Mrs Walker undertook to attend. Any other councillor wishing to attend to notify the Clerk.
h) A reminder that members are invited to join the Royal British Legion at the Remembrance Parade and Service on Sunday November 13th 2005 commencing at the Turks Head public house car park at 10.30am.
i) Notice that a small group of parents and children wants to hire the Pavilion for two hours every Friday afternoon from 1pm – 3pm. Members agreed that a reduced rate of £5.00 per hour could be charged for this long term booking because of the reduced use of the Pavilion at present owing to its condition.
j) A list of licensed premises in the area that have applied to the District Council to vary licenses following the new licensing rules. The Rose and Crown Public House has applied to be able to close an hour later on special occasions.
k) An open letter from Police Chief Superintendent Johnson Notice updating on local issues.
k) Notice that an appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against a planning refusal to erect a dwelling at the rear of The Coach House, 93a Main Street. A letter outlining the Council’s objections to the application will be drafted and sent to the Planning Inspectorate.
l) Notice that planning application no. 1655 – erect 104 dwellings at Fernwood (phase 4) has been withdrawn by David Wilson Homes.
3286 Future Agenda
Items
1. Cllr Mrs Walker asked that the police be notified of an Ice Cream Van
which parks outside the John Hunt School causing an obstruction at the end of
every school day.
2. Cllr Brooks advised that members of the Cemetery Working Party are meeting at Mount Road Cemetery on Saturday October 29th at 2.00pm to discuss the problem issues there. Any interested councillor is welcome to attend.
3.Cllr Ms Atkinson asked that an item relating to an ongoing staffing issue be discussed at the Council meeting on Wednesday November 2nd 2005. As this is a staffing matter it will be an exempt agenda item.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm