WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk: Colin Vince, 17 Bure Close, Watlington, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk PE33 0TN

DRAFT MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL held on 29 July 2008 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Leedell, Mack, Murphy, Paget, Pike, Stevenson and Rockcliffe.

1 member of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: Cllrs Golding and Miller.

JUL 08/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JUL 08/2 Open Forum

Cllr Pike reported on the CAG meeting at Fincham. A new public communications officer has been appointed to give more publicity to these meetings – this one was very poorly attended. 56 incidents were reported in the whole of the Watlington CAG area in the last 2 months. No incidents were reported from the 2008 Watlington Festival. Watlington remains on the CAG priority action list. The priority given to combating the anti-social behaviour on the Martingales Estate has proved successful. It was agreed that members of the public be urged to attend CAG meetings as they are for the benefit of the whole community. The next meeting is on 26 September at Barton Bendish, when a Police Architectural Liaison Officer will be present to discuss CCTV.

A parishioner expressed his thanks to the 2008 Festival organisers for providing such a well organised and very successful week and thanked the Council for their support of the event as a whole.

JUL 08/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 17 June 2008

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting on 17 June 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUL 08/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 17 June 2008

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £33,215.23. The clerk advised that the trade waste bin was now installed and that the new street light had now been installed in Church Road.

JUL 08/5 Payments

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the following payments be made:

*Includes recoverable VAT

JUL 08/6 Edward Shouldham Charity

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the Edward Shouldham Charity accounts for 2007/8.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the advertising of the charity land for the period 11 October 2008 to 10 October 2009.

JUL 08/7 Street Lighting Maintenance Contract

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to renew the street lighting maintenance contract with MHB Services for a further 3 years. Charges remained unchanged.

JUL 08/8 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

All Planning Committee recommendations are available at meetings for inspection.

The following planning decision from BCKLWN was noted:

An email from a parishioner regarding the Council’s decision to oppose the planning application for a takeaway in the village was read. Council noted the contents about the decision, which had split the Council 6 votes to 3 when the application was considered at the meeting in May.

JUL 08/9 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllrs Mack and Rockcliffe reported on the site meeting with the Borough Planning Team, the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and Persimmon, at which the continuing drainage issues, the play areas, road surfacing and footpath bollards were raised. The meeting had established that the IDB could authorise the necessary culverting works, despite Persimmon insisting that they did not own the drain. Cllr Mack will continue to press the planning officers to ensure that Persimmon carry out these works. It was agreed that the clerk would write to the planning officer, copied to Persimmon and the IDB, on this matter.

Cllr Mack advised that the planning officer had given Persimmon until the end of the month to respond regarding the installation of the new play area and the refurbishment of the Stone Close Play Area. The Borough Council had been requested at the site meeting to consult with the Parish Council about the play equipment to be installed on these sites.

JUL 08/10 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that the safety audit on the new road layout around the school was still awaited. Highways would be looking at the footpaths coming out of Martingales onto Fairfield Lane to assess the need for bollards. Also, Cllr Rockcliffe advised that a ‘No Through Road’ sign is due to be installed at the entrance to Fairfield Lane. The clerk advised that repair work on the footway in Station Road (Britton Close area) would take place in October.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the NCC Highways scheme for a prohibition of waiting in the John Davis Way, Station Road and Britton Close junction area, to maintain visibility for road users and pedestrians at all times.

Following parishioner concerns, it was agreed that the clerk would raise the issue of the surfacing work on Fen Road, which had not addressed the issue of the excess puddles along this stretch of road.

JUL 08/11 Railway Station Car Park

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that negotiations with landowners are on-going.

JUL 08/12 Community Projects Committee                                              

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Paget, Council agreed the release of the £5000 in the Play Equipment budget, the seeking of external grant funding and the installation of a Shelter on the Recreation Ground, with associated groundworks at a total projected cost of £13,100. The Chairman expressed the Council’s thanks for the committee’s work on this project.

It was agreed that the clerk would investigate the No Smoking legislation in relation to the shelter.

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Paget, Council agreed repair and renewal work to the Skateboard Park at a total cost of £2,400, funding requirements to be included in the bid for the Shelter.

Cllr Mack advised that legal documentation was now available at the Borough Council for the clerk to sign to move towards the release of the £18,500 grant for the play / fitness equipment for the 6-12 age group.

JUL 08/13 Watlington Village Festival 2008

Letters of congratulations to the festival organisers were read for producing a well run, well attended and enjoyable event. Many of the local clubs had increased membership as a result of the activities and the ‘Lets Get Active’ event had been well supported. An apology had been received from the stage announcer for the bad language he used at the Watstock event. Cllr Pike advised that the organisers were looking to run a single weekend event next year and would be looking to local groups to run other events around this.

Councillors were pleased to note that there had been no policing incidents during the week and that arrangements for clearing up went smoothly after the Watstock evening. On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that a letter of congratulations be sent to the festival organisers.

JUL 08/14 Environment Committee

Council noted the resignation of the Litter Picker, Rebecca Charlton. It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to her for the conscientious way she had carried out her duties. On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the Litter Picker post be advertised and that the appointment to the post be delegated to the Chairman and clerk.

Cllr Pike advised that new signs had gone up on the Council’s open spaces to reflect the introduction of the new byelaws relating to no camping and no fires on these sites and to the opening and closing of Council gates at the sites.

The clerk advised that the overhanging hedging on the Britton Close – Stiffkey Close footpath had now been cut back. Cllr Mack agreed to a site visit with the clerk to discuss management and security of this path.

Cllrs Leedell, Mack and Murphy agreed to form a working group to investigate the provision of allotments for parishioners, their first task to be to consider land options in and around the parish. It was noted that there are currently available plots at the Runcton Holme Allotments.

On a proposal from Cllr Murphy, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed to support a Watlington in Bloom garden competition for June 2009. Cllr Murphy agreed to provide publicity material for the Gossip; he will also approach the school to ask that they join in and will approach the Borough Council for funding support.

Following receipt of an email from the Youth Football Team, Council agreed a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, that mole control be brought in again to the Recreation Ground.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to allow the Youth Football Club to temporarily remove the south end goal posts on the Recreation Ground for re-turfing work.

JUL 08/15 Boundary Committee Review for Norfolk

Following discussion on the merits of the Boundary Committee proposals for a single unitary authority for Norfolk and Lowestoft, it was agreed that Councillors be urged to attend the review meeting with the Committee on 4 August and that Councillors review information available on the proposals and alternatives, so that consideration can be given at the next meeting to a Council response. Areas for consideration could include cost of implementing any changes and the impact on the Parish Council and local residents.

JUL 08/16 Correspondence for information

JUL 08/17 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Mack asked that the Community Speed Watch Scheme to be included on the next agenda.

Cllr Murphy advised that he was drawing together interested parties to seek that the parish participates in the July 2009 Inter-Village Games and that any interested individuals or clubs should contact him.

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.00pm

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 9 September 2008 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         9 September 2008