Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held
in the Council Hall on Wednesday November 29th 2006 at 7.00pm
PRESENT Councillors White (Chairman), Colman, Gibson, Hind, Mrs Jarvis,
Mortimore, Mrs Newstead, Scott and Miss Watson. with the Clerk.
APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Allsopp, Ms Atkinson, Mrs Brooks, Mrs Scott
and Sheppard, and Mr Brown the Deputy Head Groundsman.
1331 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
1332 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. No issues were discussed from the update.
1333 New Hall
The Chairman gave an update on progress of the new hall. The Newark Advertiser
ran a competition feature asking for name ideas with a prize for the chosen
selection – ten suggestions have been submitted and circulated to members for
consideration. The preferred choice was selected as ‘Balderton Village Centre’.
The local pre-school who had hoped to use the smaller meeting room has now advised that they cannot use the building owing to legislative child protection issues. They have expressed appreciation to the Council in trying to accommodate the group.
A request has been made for an 18th birthday party where mainly family members will be present as well as a number if invited friends. Though sympathetic, members heeded local advice (including the supervising premises manager) that 18th birthday parties are very prone to problem makers/gate crashers etc. and the Council’s policy of no parties for under 21’s should be adhered to.
Certain items have had to be purchased, namely a glass washer for the bar at £800, and a supply of cups and saucers at approximately £200. A local firm has offered to supply and fit flame retardant vertical blinds for the main hall at a cost of £1400. This is less expensive than the option of curtains and more practical - members considered that this should be accepted. Enquiries will also be made regarding supplying blinds for the Council Office and approval was given to arrange as necessary.
There will be a cost of approximately £300 to relocate the telephone lines to the new building – the existing Council numbers will not change. There may also be extra charges for laying the cables underground rather than overhead which will be safer and in line with the ‘Red Care’ on site alarm security system.
Discussion took place regarding the opening
ceremony on December 16th 2006 at 12 noon. As many members as possible will be
required to be available that day.
1334 Council Logo
Approval was given to a local group ‘Balderton Knit & Natter’ to utilise the
Council logo for a table cloth design competition entry being run by Age
Concern.
1335 Play Area Funding
Consideration was given to continuing with a District Council initiative to
apply for funding from the Big Lottery Fund for a replacement piece of play
equipment on the Playing Field. Partnership funding is required which has a
financial implication to this Council of £5000 – members considered that the
application should proceed as the total cost is £20,000 and the removed play
equipment does need replacing.
1336 Boundary Fencing
Further consideration was given to the possibility of replacing the remaining
wall and concrete panels at the car park end of the playing field fence to the
end of the Cricket Pavilion with palisade fencing to match the rest of the
boundary. Fencing is also required between the Bowls Pavilion and the end of the
new hall to help prevent misuse and tidy the area. The Cricket Club have been
approached and asked for their preference and a local firm has carried out a
site visit and will submit some suggestions. The matter can then be given
further consideration. Members considered that this work should be carried out
as part of the new hall project and therefore be undertaken in this financial
year.
1337 Budget 2007/08
Consideration was given to projects for inclusion in the next financial year.
The groundstaff have advised that they consider one mower will need replacing at
a cost of approximately £2000.
It was, RECOMMENDED that this be included in
2007/08 projects. The Council budget will be considered by the F&GP committee
next week.
1338 Bonus
Approval was given to the groundstaff’s quarterly bonus payment.
1339 Health Centre/Cemetery
Approval was given to an application made by the contractors building the new
health centre for an electricity supply to pass through the Cemetery along the
boundary wall to the new centre on Lowfield Lane. The contractor will pay the
Council £5000 for this, and assurances have been given that disruption will be
kept to a minimum.
1340 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) Notice that three planning applications were scheduled to be considered by
the County Council on Tuesday November 28th 2006 – Use of a scrap yard at Twitch
Farm, Hollowdyke Lane, Construct conveyor system between Bantycock Mine &
Jericho Works, Staple Lane and Determination of Modern Conditions for Bantycock
Quarry Balderton. County Councillor Walker informed that both British Gypsum
applications were approved at the planning meeting.
b) An invitation to take part in a joint meeting of surrounding parishes, to be hosted by the District Council regarding the impact of Newark being identified as a potential New Growth Point from a planning point of view. The meeting will be imminent – Cllr Mortimore undertook to represent the Council at any meeting. He also sought the committee’s approval to write to the East Midlands Assembly regarding the proposed plans to develop the area in the future with particular regard to infrastructure issues.
c) Notice of approved works to trees subject to preservation orders at no.s 2 & 8 Catkin Way.
d) A letter from the Rights of Way Department advising that the Council’s objection to the Acacia Road footpath application on the grounds of there being no benefit to the route becoming a registered public footpath, does not constitute legally relevant grounds. The Council has also objected on the grounds of compromising the security of the playing field – no response to this has yet been made. Members asked that a reply be drafted stating how disappointed the Council is in the County’s approach to this issue.
e) A report from a family that a grave has been vandalised in the Mount Road Cemetery, also reporting that several memorial pieces (such as vases) have been tampered with. A request has been made that the Council reconsider locking the Cemetery at night. Though sympathetic, members considered that locking the gates would not solve anti-social issues as access could be gained from other places. The police will again be asked to pay attention when on patrol in Balderton.
f) A complaint from a resident regarding the
surface of the Public Footpath which runs from Mount Road to Mead Way – it is
quite uneven, causing water to collect at wet times. County Councillor Walker
advised that the District Council has requested permission from the County
Rights of Way Department to tarmac this footpath and install a street light in
the vicinity.
1341 Future agenda Items
1. Cllr Mrs Newstead asked:
a) if the grass at the allotments could be cut when staffing commitments allow?
b) can the Millennium clock be adjusted to show the correct time?
2. Cllr Mrs Jarvis asked County Councillor Walker if any progress had been made
regarding the meeting to be arranged with the locally operating bus company? He
advised that Farndon Parish Council is still waiting to hear of a suitable date
from the bus company.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.35pm