Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the
Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday February 28th 2007 at 7.00pm.
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Mrs Brooks (Vice Chairman), Allsopp,
Brooks, Fletcher, Gibson, Hind, Mrs Jarvis, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Scott, Scott,
Sheppard, Mrs Walker and White. with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and
Walker, District Councillor Blaney, six members of the public, a member of the
local press and the Clerk.
2966 Apologies
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Mortimore, Miss Oram and Miss
Watson.
2967 Declarations of Interest
No declarations were made.
2968 Newark Growth Bid
District Councillor Blaney gave a presentation of the ‘New Growth Point’ bid for
Newark which originated from a government initiative announced in December 1995.
Proposals were sought for ‘accelerated growth’ areas in the country including
the East Midlands.
A successful bid was submitted which proposes 6000 homes for the area south of Balderton and Newark, with improved infrastructure and economic regeneration. The scheme would incorporate a southern relief road between the A46 and the A1 which should ease some of the congestion problems.
The bid is subject to comprehensive testing and public consultation and will be subject to regional and local planning processes. Close partnership working will need to take place to ensure it profits the area as a whole, is both workable and a success.
The scheme, if successful will take place by
2016/2020.
Members and public present raised issues relating to flooding, the need for
close planning control, support services and for all roads in the area to be
part of the integral system.
Cllr Blaney was thanked for his presentation and he left the meeting at
approximately 8.00pm. Cllr Brooks and two parishioners also left the meting. The
meeting was closed to take public comments.
Parishioners raised issues relating to the proposed development at Flowserve,
questioning the need for moving the entrance further towards the brow of the
bridge, and concerns relating to the increased traffic along Hawton Lane that
will be generated form the development of 200 houses. Forty letters of objection
have been sent to the District Council Planning Department from residents in
that area.
The Parish Council has objected to the planning
application asking the developer to consider a through route from the site to
Lowfield Lane to ease traffic problems. Another parishioner raised concerns
about speeding traffic along Hawton Lane. The parishioners were thanked for
their attendance and they left the meeting at approximately 8.15pm. The meeting
re-opened.
2969 Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday January 24th 2007,
having been circulated previously were confirmed as a true record and signed.
2970 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 2959a.1 Coddington Road Weight Restriction County Councillor Walker
advised that he had expedited this issue earlier today and will report any
progress.
b) Amenities
1. Re Minute 1358 Public Footpath no. 6 Further letters were circulated and
noted regarding requests to gate or close the footpath from Pinfold Lane to
Church Lane. County Councillor Walker advised that he will contact the
parishioners concerned for the County Council to look into the possibility of
gating the footpath at certain times.
2. Re Minute 1360 Lakeside Trees Three quotations will be obtained to fell and
remove six more trees at Lakeside which have been identified as diseased.
3. Re Minute 1355 Toilet Facilities Consideration was given to purchasing a
steel toilet block for use by the bowls club. The two toilet unit costs £2950
and is a more cost effective option than building a single toilet. The Bowls
Club Chairman has indicated that the Club would be happy in principle with this
type of facility. The unit would require plumbing and electrical connection from
the bowls pavilion.
It was, AGREED that a toilet unit be purchased
and a financial contribution requested from the Club towards the cost.
c) Finance & General Purposes
1. Re Minute 3404 Sports Hire Charges and Burial/Memorial Fees It was, AGREED
that the fees be increased by 3.5% rather than 2.5% as originally proposed
to be more in line with inflation and to help offset some costs.
2. Re Minute 3408c Building Better Communities Councillors Mrs Brooks, Brooks,
Fletcher, Mrs Jarvis and Sheppard undertook to attend the County Council event
in June 2007.
2971 Committees
The minutes of the following committees were then confirmed as a true record and
signed:
Amenities
Finance and General Purposes
2972 Financial Statements
The details as published were correct, there being a cheque requirement for
February of £12207.05
2973 Reports from Representatives
a) County Councillor Walker reported that he had obtained a copy of the County’s
plans for the cycle track currently being installed along London Road. The track
is 4 inches away from the kerb edging and will run from Hawton Lane, Balderton
to Harcourt Street in Newark. The scheduled re-surfacing of London Road from
Lakeside Shopping Centre to Main Street will commence in early Spring 2007.
b) County Councillor Mrs Saddington reported that she had attended an open
meeting at St.
Giles Church Hall on Friday February 23rd arranged by the Fernwood and District
Residents Association. Several other councillors were also in attendance. Many
of the
ongoing problems were discussed.
2974 Clerk’s Additional Information
The following items of correspondence/information have been received:
a) The concrete wall along the Cemetery boundary of Belvoir Road is in need of
repair – it needs a concrete footing base before the fence can be re-installed.
Three quotations to repair this will be obtained in readiness for the Amenities
Committee.
b) Notice that permission has been granted for a Certificate of Lawful Use or
Development at Woodlands Bungalow, Barnby Road for a skip hire business
involving the storage of 10 skips maximum and one lorry on the premises.
c) A copy of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan Summary 2007-2012 with an
invitation to comment by May 14th 2007.
d) Notice that Bullpit level crossing will be closed for essential track
maintenance work overnight on Saturday/Sunday March 3rd /4th 2007.
e) A letter of appreciation from a resident for the Council support in objecting
to a planning application which has since been refused for a multi occupancy
house at 2 London Road.
f) Notice that the District Council has committed £12,000 to carry out land
drainage work for the blocked Masefield Crescent drain.
2975 Councillors Questions
1. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked that County Highways be notified that one set of
traffic lights at the old hospital junction is facing the wrong way.
2. Cllr Mrs Walker asked District and County Councillors to keep the pressure on
the relevant authority for a school for Fernwood.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.45pm.