Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes
Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday June 28th 2006 at 7.10
pm
PRESENT Councillors Colman (Chairman), Allsopp, Mrs Brooks, Brooks, Fletcher,
Gibson, Hind, Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Miss Oram, Scott and Mrs Walker
with County Councillor Walker, one parishioner, a representative of the local
press and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Ms Atkinson, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard and
Miss Watson.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Mrs Walker declared a prejudicial interest to
minute reference 3346 – East Midlands Police.
Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.
3341 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters were circulated and noted. The update is
published
with the minutes. The following item was discussed from the update:
1. Re Minute 3329.1 Speed calming County Councillor Walker advised that an
interactive speed calming sign will be installed along Hawton Lane for a three
month trial period during the next financial year.
3342 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any
comments detailed below:
NCC Amend opening hours to allow Bank Holiday opening Staple Landfill, Cotham
NCC Site modular building for out of school use Chuter Ede Primary
0902 Erect 3 bedroom house (outline) Adj. to 24 Moulton Cres.
0922 Extensions and alterations 90 Hawton Lane
0943 Extension over kitchen 46 Wolfit Avenue
0946 Two storey extension 2 Airfield Cottages
3343 Planning Decision
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were
noted:
0668 Pitched roof over garage, alterations, extensions 123b Main Street
0182 Erect 108 dwellings Phase 4a, Fernwood
0487 Demolish garage, porch, erect same & kitchen, conservatory 22 Manners Road
0697 Convert old forge shop to dwelling 74a Main Street
0698 Re-instate sash windows forming internal partitions 74a Main Street
0700 Erect double garage and adjacent small store East View, Barnby Road
The following planning application has been refused and was noted:
0504 Erect 13 dwellings Rear of 159 Main Street
3344 Council Hall
Members gave consideration to the New Hall sub committee’s recommendation to
sell
the Council Hall to help fund the new hall on the playing field. The building
has been given
a market value of approximately £100,000 by two independent valuers. The
District Audit
Office has advised that they do not value Council properties for sale purposes.
It was,
AGREED that the Hall be sold and that a competitive estate agent’s fee be
Secured by the Clerk.
3345 Loan Borrowing Approval
Members noted receipt of formal borrowing approval from the Secretary of State
for a loan
of up to £200,000 for the New hall on the playing field. Discussion took place
on the
amount which may be needed initially before all possible sources of income have
been
forthcoming (i.e. sale of council hall, sale of land at Heron Way). The grant
from W.R.E.N.
of £33,000 has been confirmed and this will be paid direct to the contractor. It
is necessary
to initially borrow £167,000. Borrowing options have been explored and the
Council’s bank
has advised that the loan can be re-paid at any time without penalty, but the
Public Works
Loan Board would impose a penalty if the loan is re-paid early. It is
anticipated that the
Council presently has sufficient funds to pay the contractor the scheduled stage
payments
until October and the bank has advised it is necessary to commence organising
the loan now
as security of the playing field land will be required against the loan. It was,
RECOMMENDED that a loan of £167,000 be arranged with the bank. The loan will be
paid off as and when other anticipated funding sources are received.
3346 East Midlands Police Forces
Members had been provided with a copy of a questionnaire from Nottinghamshire
Police
Authority regarding the proposed merger of local police forces. The Home
Secretary is
proposing to merge Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire,
Northamptonshire and
Derbyshire into a ‘super force’. The committee voted at the last meeting to
object to the
merger. A completed questionnaire will be submitted on behalf of the Council.
3347 Financial Regulations
Members noted that Financial Regulation 4.5 should be amended to show the
recently appointed Internal Auditor Mrs P.Hemphill. This amendment will be
carried out and a copy of the revised Regulations provided for councillors.
3348 Annual Return 2005/06
The Annual Return for the 2005/06 accounts audit has been received and
completed. The
Internal Auditor has visited and undertaken the internal audit which has been
signed as unqualified. Members expressed appreciation to the Assistant Clerk and
Clerk for their hard work. The date for the External Audit is August 31st 2006
and the statutory notice declaring this has been published on the Council notice
board. The Statement of Assurance will be completed and signed by the Chairman
and Clerk at the full Council meeting next week.
3349 Amenities Expenditure
Approval was given to the Amenities Committee proposed expenditure for the
following:
a) Fencing off open areas of Lakeside at a cost of approximately £1754 plus
necessary RADAR locks. County Councillor Walker suggested that the Council
submit a request to him seeking County Council funding towards this project –
the Clerk undertook to draft a letter.
b) Upgrade and extension of the CCTV system at the playing field and new
building at an approximate cost of £5000.
c) A fertiliser/top dressing spreader at a cost of £195.
3350 Casual Vacancy
Members noted the formal declaration of a casual vacancy on the Balderton West
Ward
following the sudden death of Councillor Lonsdale Jarvis. The Returning Officer
will be
notified and notices declaring the vacancy will be displayed in the Ward. As
Councillor
Jarvis was Vice Chairman of the Council, nominations will be sought and the
issue included
on the Council meeting agenda.
3351 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:
a) A letter from the County Council updating on various ongoing highway issues.
b) A copy of the County Council’s Statement of Community Involvement Submission
Draft which is a consultation document with an invitation to comment by July
28th 2006.
c) An open letter from police Chief Supt. Johnson.
d) Notice that the District Council has re-scheduled a further Standards
Training session for Thursday September 7th 2006 at Kelham Hall. The time is not
known at this stage but expected to be in the evening
e) A further request for comments from the telecommunications company who want
to install a mast on London Road outside Kwik Save. A further letter of
objection will be sent to the company, urging them to find an alternative, more
appropriate site.
3352 Future Agenda Items
No items were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 7.40pm