Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday November 30th 2005 at 7.00pm
PRESENT: Councillors White (Chairman), Jarvis (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Ms Atkinson, Colman, Gibson, Mortimore, Mrs Scott, Scott and Sheppard with County Councillor Walker, Head Groundsman Mr Stevens, eight members of the public and the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: were received from Cllrs Hind, Mrs Newstead and Miss Watson.
1241 Declarations of
Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
1242 Grove Angling
Club
The meeting was closed to meet two representatives of the Grove Angling
Club. The Club’s rent has been fixed at £500 for several years and the
committee considered it should be reviewed.
In addition to the rent a payment is made in compensation of day ticket sales which were banned two year ago. The Club Treasurer advised members on the Club’s financial situation and of the work carried out by the Club. Members expressed their appreciation to the Club for the maintenance work carried out there.
The meeting re-opened and it was, RECOMMENDED that the rent be increased by 3% for 2006.
1243 Playing Field Middle
Gate
The meeting was closed to hear three parishioners regarding the Council’s
recent decision to close the Playing Field middle gate. They expressed their
disquiet about the inconvenience caused by the closure and asked the reasons why
the decision had been taken. Opening and closing times were also discussed, and
a request made that the times be more specific.
The meeting re-opened and it was, RECOMMENDED that the proposal to Suspend Standing Orders be placed on the full Council agenda to allow this issue to be re-considered within 6 months of the original decision.
Councillor Mortimore left the meeting at approx 8.00pm. The meeting was closed to hear two parishioners concerns regarding young people causing anti-social behaviour problems and minor damage in the Grove Street area, particularly congregating in the play area at the bottom of Grove Street. The police have been informed of the problems and the Balderton Beat Officer P.C. Stannard is aware of the situation and pays attention when possible. The residents have requested the District Council to install security fencing and a gate to the play area in order that it may be locked after dark.
The meeting re-opened. It was considered that the problems are part of the larger issue of lack of structured youth activity and should be discussed at the next committee meeting in January 2006 in greater detail. The Clerk was asked to invite the police, appropriate District Council and County Council officers. A letter of support for the fence request will be submitted to the District Council.
1244 Clerk/Chairman’s
Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issues were discussed from the
update:
1. Re Minute 1231 Teenage shelter Members were pleased to note Mrs Head’s offer to attend the next committee meeting to discuss the issues associated with a teenage shelter , though she does not consider this is the answer to young people ‘hanging around’ the village. It was,
AGREED that the meeting on January 11th 2006 commence at 6.00pm in order that the issue may be given full discussion. The following will be invited to attend; Mrs Head, District Council officers Mel Thorn and Lynn Parrot, P.C. Stannard, and an outreach youth worker from the County Council.
2. Re Headstone Safety Training Members noted the need for a portable gantry to lay down any unsafe headstones or memorial stones. Members considered that the issue should be considered in greater detail at the next committee meeting and the Clerk was asked to make enquiries with local stonemasons to ascertain if they provide any appropriate service. Edwinstowe and Ollerton Parish Councils, and the Southwell Diocese will also be approached to see if they would be interested in sharing the cost and ownership of the piece of a gantry.
1245 Pavilion
Renovation
The Chairman advised that the architect is waiting for two more quotations.
He hoped that the sub committee could then review the quotations and make a
recommendation to the next committee. The need to ascertain if planning
permission will be successful is essential to the project and the Clerk was
asked to expedite the planning consultants who are making an initial informal
approach to the planning authority. Some discussion took place upon changing
the name from Pavilion to Village Hall as the new building will provide much
improved meeting facilities and venue. A village hall could also be subject to
increased grant opportunities in the future. An improved marketing structure is
necessary to promote the new facilities once building work commences.
1246 Lakeside Banks
The area immediately in front of the Orchid Close disabled park is in need
of bank re-enforcement work. The grassed bank installed there as part of the
park project is being ripped out by the wild fowl as they come up to feed.
Advice will be sought and enquiries made for simple, effective bank erosion
measures such as installing large boulders into the waters edge.
1247
Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and
were noted:
a) A request for a twelve inch high stone angel memorial to be installed on a grave in the Garden of Remembrance in Mount Road Cemetery. The only existing memorials permitted in the Garden of Remembrance are recumbent plaques which produce a neat, uniformed Remembrance area. Though sympathetic to the situation, members considered on balance that the request should be refused. Any unusual memorial may attract unwanted attention.
b) An invitation to attend the DARE graduation ceremony at John Hunt Junior School on Wednesday December 7th 2005 at 2.15pm. Councillors Scott undertook to attend and advised that he believed Cllr Mrs Brooks would also be attending.
c) A questionnaire about the proposed restructure of the East Midlands Police Force. Copies will be circulated to all members to be returned by December 5th 2005.
d) Notice of a District Council planning meeting on Tuesday December 6th 2005 at 5.30pm where an application is being considered and recommended for refusal for 10 apartments at land adjacent to 13 Barnby Crossing.
e) Notice that the County Council is to pollard a Poplar tree in the grounds of Orchard Special School.
1248 Future agenda Items
1. Cllr Brooks had submitted a request that the Cemetery Working Party’s findings be discussed at the next committee meeting.
2. A parishioner requested that reported personal use of Council equipment be included on the next committee agenda.
The meeting closed at approximately 9.00pm