Balderton Parish Council

Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held in the Balderton Village Centre on Wednesday October 31st 2007 at 7.00pm.

PRESENT Councillors Mortimore (Chairman), Mrs Jarvis, (Vice Chairman), Allsopp, Fletcher, Gibson, Gould, Mrs Hurst, Hurst, Mrs Newstead, Radley,
Miss Watson and Mrs Walker. with County Councillors Mrs Saddington and Walker, District Councillor Mrs Brooks, a representative of the press and the Clerk.

APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs Colman and Sheppard

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllrs Mrs Jarvis and Mrs Newstead declared a personal interest to minute reference 3451 – Newark Citizens Advice Bureau.

Cheques presented were signed and wages payments approved.

3447 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is published
with the minutes. No items were discussed from the update.

3448 Planning Applications
The following planning applications were considered and approved subject to any comments detailed below:
1280 Erect replacement front porch & retain security fencing 14 Bullpit Road
1493 Erect single storey rear extension, install pitched roof 5 Rowan Way

3449 Planning Decisions
The following planning applications have received conditional approval and were noted:

0880 Replacement conservatory 6 Jericho Road
1184 Erect first floor extension 1 Wordsworth Drive
1199 Extension Centrum Pile, Hawton Lane
1263 Use former car park as temp. builders compound Rear of 81 Stafford Avenue
1269 Erect conservatory 12 Carnell Lane
1270 Erect double garage 2 Macaulay Drive
1316 Change use from post office to lounge 90 London Road
1336 Erect 13 dwellings Rear of 159 Main Street

The following application has been refused by the District Council and was noted:
1167 Install ATM machine Main Street Post Office

3450 Code of Conduct
Members noted advice from the Standards Board for England and the District Council regarding the requirement to adopt the revised Code of Conduct for members. Cllr Allsopp advised that the revised Code has now formally replaced the old Code and that the District Council has now adopted the revised Code.

The Clerk advised that the Council is obliged to formally recognise that the new Code is in force and members must comply with the principles of it. Cllr Mrs Walker asked that the Council re-consider its decision not to voluntarily adopt the new Code.

3451 Financial Assistance
Consideration was given to a written request for financial assistance from the Newark & District Citizens Advice Bureau.

It was, RECOMMENDED that a grant of £300 be made to the Bureau.

3452 Road Safety Working Party
Members received two reports compiled by Cllrs Mrs Hurst and Hurst regarding road safety issues in Balderton. Cllr Hurst outlined the findings of the working party with recommendations for the way forward including that a sub committee be formed of no more than 3 or 4 members to follow up the work of the working group.

The Balderton Community Policeman has advised that he wants to serve on that sub committee as an ex-officio member.

Mrs Hurst advised that the County Highways department has committed £220,000 funding for pavement and cycleway improvements from Fernwood to the Turks
Head public house on London Road.

County Councillor Mrs Saddington outlined the work that had been carried out previously to secure a safer route to school for Fernwood children including attempts to reduce the speed limit in the area to 30mph.

All councillors involved were thanked for their hard work to date, with a request that members of all authorities work together to obtain the best options for the residents concerned.

3453 Standards Committee
Members gave consideration to a request to nominate a representative on the local Standards Committee at Kelham Hall in preparation for the Local Handling of Complaints from April 2008. Cllrs Gould and Hurst elected for their names to be put forward for the selection process undertaken by the District Council.

3454 Budget 2008/09
Further consideration was given to budgetary requirements for 2008/09. Revised committee ‘running cost’ estimates were circulated.

It was, AGREED that a separate meeting be arranged to fully consider and fix the budget for 2008/09.

3455 Correspondence/Information
The following correspondence and information was noted:

a) A consultation company dealing with the Potterdyke Development in Newark has offered to attend the village centre on December 11th 2007 at 10 am to answer any questions members may have about the project. Copies of the plans have been supplied for Council comment. Members considered that the plans should be reviewed by the Planning Committee prior to the scheduled meeting in order that any issues or concerns may be raised.
b) The projects submitted for Building Better Communities (BBC) scheme have been lodged for consideration at the County Council. The projects are resurfacing works to Queen Street, Grove Street, Belvoir Road and Lowfield Lane. There is still time to submit any further projects for consideration.
c) Details from the County Council regarding the authority’s view on planned closures of Post Offices. The Post Office’s consultation period ends on November 12th 2007.
d) The latest County Council publication Travel and Transport Briefing advising that carriageway repairs to Hollowdyke Lane will take place on November 12th 2007 for one week (involving closure of the road). Wolfit Avenue is subject to road works to create off road parking spaces.

3456 Future Agenda Items
Cllr Gibson raised the concern of the amount of litter in the village despite the regular litter picks carried out by the District Council in the village.

The meeting closed at approximately 8.00pm.

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