Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday March 30th 2005 at 7.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors White
(Chairman), Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Colman, Hind, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Scott,
Scott, Sheppard and Spencer
with Parish Footpaths Officer Mr Rix, Mr Mortimore (Pavilion sub committee),
Head Groundsman Mr Stevens, six parishioners and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: were received from Councillors Ms Atkinson, Gibson and Mrs Hind.
1177 Declaration of Interest
All members present declared a personal interest to minute reference 1181 -
planning application no. 0641 at 39 Russell Avenue, and Cllr Mrs Newstead
declared a personal interest to minute reference 1178 - Glebe Park/Barnby
Crossing footpath.
1178 Parish Footpaths
Members received an update on footpath issues from Mr Rix, Parish Footpaths
Officer who advised that a further short stretch of footpath is being formally
included onto path no.1 from Macaulay Drive to Coronation Street.
Once this is finalised a request will be submitted to the County for it to be re-surfaced with tarmac to mach the rest of the path.
He also advised that the County Council is considering a public footpath application between Glebe Park and Barnby Crossing.
Members noted a letter from the County Council, previously circulated, asking for further details regarding history of the route and the council's past involvement in installing signs across it advising it was not a public right of way.
The meeting was closed to take any public comments regarding footpath issues. A parishioner advised that it is understood the village vicar of the time put a closure order on the above Glebe Park route in 1975.
The meeting re-opened. Mr Rix advised that any facts relating to such footpath claims have to be documented and substantiated, and the council can only reply to the County's letter with tangible facts available.
Mr Rix was thanked for his attendance and information and he left the meeting at approximately 7.25pm.
1179 Lakeside/Fishing Issues
The meeting was closed to hear representatives from the Grove Angling Club
regarding Lakeside fishing issues.
The first related to designated wheelchair user fishing points at the Lake - for the club to install such specific platforms would have a considerable affect on their public liability insurance.
The second matter concerned day ticket sales - they advised that the introduction fifteen months ago of 'guest tickets' where anyone wishing to fish must be accompanied by a Club member has been very successful.
The meeting re-opened - correspondences received on this and associated Lakeside issues were considered. The committee felt that the Council was under an obligation to look into providing designated wheelchair user friendly fishing points.
Enquiries will be made to ascertain whose liability insurance this affects (Council and/or Angling Club). A letter was considered which questioned the accessibility around the Lake for wheelchair users, particularly the gates and barriers. The Clerk was asked to obtain appropriate information and advise from outside agencies on this subject in order that the whole subject be given future consideration.
The chairman advised that he had met with the contractor regarding the disabled park project and discussed the bank re-enforcement work which is necessary in the area. This work is to be carried out in conjunction with the project.
1180 Clerk/Chairman's Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issue was discussed from the update:
1. Re Allotment to rent The long outstanding issue of rent increase will
be expedited with the agents.
1181 Planning Applications
The following Planning Applications were considered and approved with any
comments detailed below:
0558 change use to operating centre for 4 commercial vehicles Chestnut House
Barnby Rd The meeting closed t hear the proprietor of the business who advised
that the vehicles are 18 tonne rigid car transporter lorries, and the site will
be used to park the lorries overnight.
The meeting re-opened. Approval was given subject to an operational weight restriction of 18 tonnes per lorry.
0589 New dwelling with
conservatory 20 Oakfield Road
0631 Extension for dining room, utility & shower 2 Shelley Close
0641 Extension & conservatory 39 Russell Avenue
NCC Construct household waste recycling centre Quarry Farm Bowbridge Lane
Disquiet was expressed that the centre is already operational and that the the
original application was misleading regarding the close proximity of residential
properties.
It was noted however, that plans include widening the access road to try and
ease congestion problems for residents.
The following applications had
been considered and approved by members before the meeting owing to District
Council required reply dates:
0337 Erect conservatory 39 Church Lane
0552 Two story extension 24 Warwick Road
0554 Annexe extension Hill View Bullpit Road
0570 Conservatory 15 Southfield
0573 Two story side extension 3 Shakespeare S
1182 Planning Decisions
The following Planning Applications have been granted conditional approval and
were noted:
0211 Erect two storey extension 50 Jericho Road
0228 Conservatory 11 Dale Way
0254 Extensions and pitched roof over flat roof 59 Macaulay Drive
1183 Pavilion Renovation
Discussion took place on the Pavilion re-build project. The Clerk has been
assisting KAM by providing additional information for the Football Foundation
bid.
The architect has advised that Newark & Sherwood District Council suggest full planning permission is applied for - just the matter of windows needs to be confirmed.
Approval was given to the sub-committee to review any drawings to speed the application process. Mr John Folwell of the Football association had reviewed the development plan compiled by KAM and considered it to be good.
He recommends the council need to apply for 50/50 funding as money is very tight.
1184 Dale Crescent
Consideration was given to a request for a second dog waste bin in the Dale
Crescent area. A bin was installed, after request, on the edge of the green last
week, but a resident is stating that there is still dog fouling outside his
property and wants the bin re-sitting or another one installing.
As the site is only 150 yards from the existing bin members did not feel this request justified. The District Council dog warden will be asked to try and help in the situation.
1185 The Hollies, Barnby Road
The former homeless persons unit on Barnby Road was discussed. The building is
owned by the District Council and is on the open market for sale with certain
'buy back' conditions.
The Clerk had been advised last week that it is still on the market, but if there is no interest it may be necessary to refer it to the planning department to review any planning conditions or specifications.
The meeting was closed to hear a parishioner who has formed a charity "Hope House School" to raise funds to open schools for children who are 'educationally fragile' with severe autism, dispraxia etc.
The Hollies is considered to be a suitable site as they are now concentrating on former schools/hospitals etc. The parishioner had been told that the site was no longer on the market, despite declaring an interest in purchasing it.
The meeting re-opened. Members considered that the charity should be encouraged and that it would beneficial to the organisation and the and the Barnby Road area if the site could be utilised in this way, and the Council's support in principle should be given to the possibility. Cllr Hind undertook to make appropriate enquiries at District Council on the matter.
1186
Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and were
noted:
a) A complaint about old ambulances parked on a private residential drive on Heron Way. Though sympathetic, Councils have no jurisdiction unless it it becomes an environmental health issue.
b) Notice from the library that a minor amount amount of vandalism took place there in the early part of last week and the council's locked cupboard was slightly damaged which contains a village footpath map, along with slight damage to the varnish on the bench outside the library.
The librarians had cleaned the area as much as possible but believed the bench may need re-varnishing - this work will be undertaken by the ground staff. A letter of appreciation will be sent to the librarians for the action taken.
c) Notice from the Bowls Club that they wish to host a Ladies County Match on May 24th 2005, and would like use of the Pavilion.
d) Notice that a District Council planning meeting took place on Tuesday March 29th 2005 where two village applications were scheduled to be considered; 0218 Retain windows at 9 Bullpit Road and 02919 Children's nursery at 24 Bullpit Road.
e) Notice of application to renew the Public Entertainment Licence at St. Giles Hall.
f) Formal notice of temporary closure of the Grove Street post office. The Post Office is exploring ways to restore service there as soon as possible.
1187 Future agenda Items
No items were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 9.10pm