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 3 May 2005 at 7.40pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Amor, Golding, Leedell, Miller, Pike, Rockcliffe and Toates.

Borough Councillor Ansell and 5 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Dagnall; PC Bodley

MAY 05/8 Resignation of Cllr Widdowson

The Chairman advised the meeting that David Widdowson had resigned from the Council because of work commitments. The clerk advised that he would be commencing the procedure to seek a replacement councillor. It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Widdowson for his service on the Council.

MAY 05/9 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

MAY 05/10 Minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 March 2005

The Minutes of the Council meeting on 15 March 2005 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

MAY 05/11 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising (Not on the agenda)

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £37,254.46, the precept of £22,250 having been received and banked to the interest bearing account. Of this sum £11,300 is ring fenced for the play equipment project. The revised budget for 2005/2006 will be presented at the next meeting of the Council as a result of a revision to the national conditions of service for clerks.

MAY 05/12 Accounts 2004/2005

On a proposal from the Chairman Council approved the 2004/2005 unaudited accounts.

MAY 05/13 Internal Auditor

On a proposal from the Chairman Council agreed the appointment of Mrs M Doubleday as Internal Auditor for the 2004/2005 accounts.

MAY 05/14 Land Registration

On a proposal from the Chairman Council agreed to the updating of the address on the Council’s 3 registered sites, the address to be c/o Messrs Hawkins, Solicitors, at a cost of £50.

Cllr Golding reminded the meeting that the Council was still pursuing the issue of the disputed boundary on the Warren Close Play Area and that this should be taken up again when new plans were submitted for the Rowan Close development site.

MAY 05/15 Payments

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

MAY 05/16 Planning Developments

Cllr Rockcliffe advised the meeting that he had spoken to the developers and that they would be commencing work in the next couple of months on the 182 dwellings adjacent to the school, with the whole site to be completed in a single phase from west to east. Cllr Rockcliffe also advised that the developers of the Rowan Close site would be seeking to increase the density of the site up to 30 houses and that Council at the application stage should seek to ensure that surplus topsoil was removed from the site to lessen the impact of the development on Warren Close.

Council agreed that the Chairman, Cllr Rockcliffe and the clerk would represent the Council at a site meeting with the Tottenhill quarry contractors to discuss the development of the site.

MAY 05/17 Planning Applications

The following decisions were agreed:

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

MAY 05/18 Police Liaison Officer Information Exchange

The clerk reported than PC Bodley had given his apologies for absence due to work commitments and that Ady Chaplin, who is a Borough Council Community Safety Liaison Officer, had not yet responded on the issues raised by the Council at the last meeting regarding anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Toates drew attention of the meeting to an article in the Lynn News regarding the Skateboard Park, in which a Police Officer had stated that the Skateboard Park had failed because the children hadn’t been given “ownership”. The article also said the Skateboard Park had closed down. Council agreed that this matter should be an agenda item for the next meeting, with PC Bodley being invited to comment on what would be seen as a model of “ownership”, to explain the comments of his colleague.

MAY 05/190 Edward Shouldham Charity

The advice from the Charity Commissioners on the possible uses of the charity funds was noted by Council, but it was agreed that the funds, being only about £1000, should be retained for cases of individual hardship.

MAY 05/20 Highways / Traffic Management

Council noted that the zebra crossing and junction modification works were now completed and that favourable comments had been received. It was agreed to allow the scheme to settle in before further comment on its effectiveness was made.

A letter from a parishioner regarding speed control measures in Downham Road was read and discussed. Council confirmed that it had no plans to seek speed ramps and the clerk advised the meeting that NCC Highways had no such plans. The clerk to advise the parishioner accordingly.

The problem of cars parking along Downham Road at the bend near the Glebe Land was discussed and it was agreed that the clerk should contact PC Bodley regarding this with a view to it being raised at the next meeting.

The clerk reported that he had been advised by NCC Highways that kerbing was to be installed along Fen Road later in the year to deal with the problem verge erosion.

MAY 05/21 Railway Station Facilities

The Chairman reported that the Secretary of State for transport had declined a meeting at the railway station to discuss the parking problems. It was agreed by Council that when the new franchisee for the train service is known that they be contacted regarding an extension of the car parking facilities. The new franchise is due to commence in April 2006

The clerk reported that Customer Information Service boards are due for installation in June, giving on-line train information for passengers.

MAY 05/22 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that the installation start date for the new play equipment is provisionally fixed for 29 June.

MAY 05/23 Glebe Committee

The Chairman reported that work on the fencing along the Downham Road entrance to the Glebe site was due to start in the week commencing 9 May.

It was agreed that the committee would meet on 9 May to discuss the cutting needs of the Glebe Field margins.

The Chairman read out a petition of 114 signatories seeking additional sporting facilities, particularly on the Glebe Land. The Chairman then allowed open discussion including members of the public to discuss this matter and the plans of the village football clubs.

After the general discussion, Council confirmed that it was willing to listen to any application for additional sports facilities in the village and would look forward to seeing such proposals from any group and to provide facilitating help whenever possible.

Council agreed to minute their strong objections to the disparaging remarks about members of the Glebe Committee made in the accompanying letter to the petition, when the Council had finally after many years of trying achieved the lease on the site and had management plans for the areas outside of the central football pitch.

Members of the football clubs advised that all liaison could go through the Sports & Social Club and it was agreed that representatives would meet with members of the Glebe Committee on 9 May, where they would set out a case for having one senior and one junior pitch on the site and arrangements for co-management of the large field could be agreed.

MAY 05/24 Environment Committee

Cllr Miller reported on the site visit to the John Davis Way Open Space following a parishioner complaint and on her subsequent conversations with residents overlooking the site, which appeared to show that there was no or little access by illegal vehicles. The clerk reported that the parishioner had telephone to complain that his fence had been damaged and he was seeking a separate fenced off area for ball games. After discussion it was agreed that Cllrs Miller and Leedell would continue to monitor the site, that no action be taken to install bollards to stop access and that the access point to Paige Close be left without further drainage as it was not a registered footpath. The clerk to advise the parishioner accordingly.

It was noted that the planings had been put down on the Warren Close Play Area entrance from Warren Close.

On a proposal from the Chairman Council agreed to provide the Litter Picker with a forward pushable trolley for her work at an approximate cost of £40

On a proposal from the Chairman Council was agreed that the generous offer from Mr G Beaumont be taken up to try and clean off the graffiti from the village sign plinth.

The clerk reported that he had spoken to BCKLWN regarding litter in the Fairfield Lane and that a BCKLWN Litter Picker would carry out a clearance as far as practicable within agreed safety rules.

On a proposal from the Chairman Council agreed to purchase a strimmer head for the brushcutter at a cost of approximately £25.

Cllr Pike on behalf of the Community Projects Committee agreed to arrange for the removal and

re-installation of play information signs currently stored by Cllrs Miller and Golding.

The following tasks were agreed for the Handyperson: Dog Bin installation on Britton Close; kerbing and bollard work around the Village Pound, along with a re-installation of the seat (these items to be done in conjunction with the Community Projects Committee).

Council noted that an exit inhibitor may be required at the Church Road entrance to the Recreation Ground. Cllr Garton is investigating this matter.

On a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Miller it was agreed by Council that the half price offer for bulbs from BCKLWN, to by used primarily at the village gateway signs, should be taken up at a cost of approximately £47.

MAY 05/25 Footway Lighting

The clerk advised the meeting that the issue of the security and lighting at the Britton Close area had been taken up with the BCKLWN Chief Executive on his recent village visit. BCllr Ansell agreed to follow up the matter once again.

Following information provided by McAlpines that a flat lantern glass would not greatly alter the light spillage on the Dulcie’s Path footway light, Council agreed on a proposal from Cllr Toates, seconded by Cllr Golding that the order for the repair of the light be issued.

MAY 05/26 Correspondence for action

MAY 05/27 Correspondence for information

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.55pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 14 June 2005 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         14 June 2005