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 4 December 2007 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

2 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllrs Miller and Stevenson.

DEC 07/1Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest at this meeting, although Cllr Mack advised he would declare an interest on the agenda item concerning the Rowan Close development if appropriate.

DEC 07/2 Open Forum

The chairman advised the meeting that a letter offering technical support for any action plans against possible post office closures had been received from the Borough Council. Council noted that as yet there was no information on the future of the village Post Office, this being expected in mid-January.

Tristan Finnis, Chairman of the Watlington Football Club, updated the meeting on the floodlighting of the Recreation Ground. All existing halogen fittings would be replaced with vandal proof fittings on twin brackets and all poles will be fully rewired. A minor works electrical certificate is now issued on completion of each work session. Mr Finnis also advised that the football club is now running its own accounts, although using the Sports & Social Club bank account and that they now have a strong committee. It was hoped that the club will be self sufficient by the start of the 2008/9 season. The club had now started to work closely with the Youth Football Club and this cooperation would prove beneficial to both clubs and the village in general. Mr Finnis also advised that new showers would be installed in the village hall by the end of December.

A letter was read from David Curl, Chairman of the Watlington Youth Football Club, thanking the Council for their urgent attention to the repairs on the Recreation Ground football pitch. The affected area will not be used again until February at the earliest. The letter also advised all players and parents to use the newly installed litter bins. A further letter was read from Mr Curl, stating that a bid has been submitted to BCKLWN for additional funding for the football wall and that works were on schedule to improve the surface of the new training area. On the advice of their contractor, the site will now be left to settle until spring, when further work will be carried out.

On the advice of the clerk regarding procedures for funding local organisations, councillors urged both football clubs to submit formal grant requests to the Council to assist their upgrading programmes.

Mr Finnis spoke on behalf of the Watlington Festival 2008, outlining possible events that might require Council approval or require licences. It was agreed that the festival organisers should try to bring forward a schedule of events for consideration at the January meeting of the Council.

DEC 07/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 23 October 2007

The Minutes of the Council Meeting on 23 October 2007 were agreed add signed as a correct record, subject to an amendment to Minute OCT 07/5, Para. 2 from “additional gravestone” to “CWGC gravestone”.

DEC 07/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 11 September 2007

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £20,563.92, with over £3000 payments due in the next month. A response is awaited from May Gurney regarding the damaged street light in Church Road, as the Council’s claim has been forwarded to them by the County Council. The clerk advised that an information DVD from the Standards Board is now in circulation amongst councillors.

DEC 07/5 External Audit of 2006/7 Accounts

Council noted that the external audit of the 2006/7 accounts had been completed without any matters arising.

DEC 07/6 Payments

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

* Includes recoverable VAT

The chairman advised that he had found the NCAPTC Young, Old and Diverse Conference very informative and that others attending the conference were impressed with this Council’s activities, particularly in relation to the Youth Forum.

DEC 07/7 Requests for Grants and Donations

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Murphy, Council agreed the following payments:

DEC 07/8 Annual Review of Subscriptions 2008

On a proposed from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed that the current four subscriptions should be renewed for 2008; namely Norfolk County Association of Parish & Town Councils, Norfolk Playing Fields Association, Norfolk Rural Community Council and the Campaign to Protect Rural England at an approximate cost of £335.

DEC 07/9 Grass Cutting Contract 2008

On a proposed from the Chairman, Council agreed that the contract with Country Grounds Maintenance for grass cutting be renewed for 2008 at a base cost of £1337.40, an increase of 3%.

DEC 07/10 Clerk’s Salary

On a proposed from the Chairman, Council approved the National Salary Award for Local Council Clerks from 1 April 2007, this increasing the clerk’s salary by 2.4%, from £9.348 to £9.579 per hour, this adding £144 to the current year’s budget.

DEC 07/11 Budget 2008/9

Council noted the draft budget for 2008/9, which would need to be agreed at the next meeting. The clerk advised that no change in the precept rate would give an increase of approximately £1400 in the precept as a result of the increase in the 2008/9 Tax Base for the parish.

DEC 07/12 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

The Planning Committee recommendations were available at the meeting for inspection.

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

Council noted that a planning application for construction of 2 dwellings between 43A and 45 Mill Road has been withdrawn, although the application had never formally been received by the Council.

DEC 07/13 Martingales Development

Cllr Pike reported that 33 houses on Martingales are now sold, 10 are reserved and a further 12 available. On The Coppice, 36 houses are now sold, 2 reserved and 7 available. In total, 100 houses have been completed on the site.

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that the S.106 money has been received by the school. Cllr Mack reported back on the site meeting between Persimmon managers, Cllr Mack, Cllr Rockcliffe, the clerk and Planning Enforcement Officers. Persimmon have responded to issues raised:

            i) Culverting of drain the north of the school – Persimmon have refused to agree that this should be culverted, but are in discussion with the Borough Council to find a solution to this issue. It was agreed that Cllr Mack would continue to press on this matter and that the clerk would write a further letter to the Planning Enforcement Officer.

            ii) Persimmon have agreed to install a knee rail around the large open space as suggested by the Council, the rail to act as a deterrent to illegal vehicular use of the open space.

            iii) Persimmon have refused to offer any additional screening or planting for 6 Bennet Close.

            iv) Persimmon will be installing white chevrons on the traffic calming hump in Stone Close, but have refused to carry out any other traffic calming measures.

            v) Persimmon have denied damage to the boundary wall at 1 John Davis Way.

DEC 07/14 Rowan Close Housing Development

Before discussion it was agreed that Cllr Mack need not declare an interest on this item as discussion was only of a general nature at this stage, the formal planning application having not yet been received. Following discussion of the expected application for 33 dwellings in Rowan Close, it was agreed that the clerk would write to the developers within the community consultation scheme, in particular in relation to the ground level height of the site, the pollution problems, the boundary hedge and the increase in the number of houses. It was agreed that if necessary a special meeting of the Council would be called to consider the formal application.

DEC 07/15 Light Pollution Standard Clause in Planning Applications

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the following clause be included in responses to future planning applications:

Norfolk County Council recognises in its Environment Lighting Zones policy the importance of preserving dark landscapes and dark skies. In order to minimise light pollution the Parish Council recommend that any outdoor light associated with this proposed development should be: 1) Fully shielded (enclosed in full flat glass cut-off fitments); 2) directed downwards (mounted horizontally to the ground and not tilted upwards); 3) switched on only when needed (no dusk to dawn lamps); 4) White light low-energy lamps (Philips Cosmopolis or fluorescent) and not orange or pink sodium sources.

DEC 07/16 Highways Matters

The clerk advised that NCC Highways have marked out for the previously agreed road signage, that a repair to the road surface by the zebra crossing will be carried out, that the anti-climbing paint has been applied to the street lights on the Lacey Close footpath and that the request for double yellow lines at the John Davis Way / Station Road junction are on the Traffic Management Programme. It was agreed that the clerk would write to NCC Highways highlighting the urgent need for the zebra crossing lines to be refreshed. It was noted that hedge cutting work had not been carried out at 14 Station Road (Paige Close boundary) and that this matters would now be forwarded to NCC Highways for action.

DEC 07/17 Rail Station Car Park

Cllr Mack advised that the chairman of the Fen Lines Users’ Association had reported that there was now a possibility that First Capital Connect would soon include the upgrade of the car park in their capital programme. It was noted that the temporary extension car park was still open and that an average of 80 cars use the car park daily.

DEC 07/18 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that a decision on the Big Lottery grant application for funding towards the Play Equipment Project Stage 2 is expected this month.

Cllr Pike reported that the Youth Forum Summary is now available on the village website and that requests for feedback from village organisations had now been forwarded. Responses would be collated for a future Council meeting. The Sports & Social Club have responded on 4 items – opening times are now displayed, younger persons can use the toilet facilities, but should advise staff, a disco is being arranged and they will not install an external vending machine. Cllr Leedell reported that there is now a Youth Page in the Gossip, compiled by Elliott Suiter, who has joined the Gossip Editorial Team.

Cllr Pike reported that the village consultation on a village youth shelter is included in the current issue of the Gossip and that a site meeting had been held with the Police to discuss possible locations for a shelter. Cllr Pike read the Police report to the meeting, which will be included in the consultation analysis. It was noted that if a youth shelter were to be installed on the Recreation Ground, it would be necessary to remove a portion of the Leylandii hedging near the Skateboard Park.

Council noted that letters have been sent to hedge owners bordering the Warren Close Play Area seeking that they cut back their hedging and that the Handyperson is currently cutting the south boundary hedge.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed necessary expenditure of £225 ex-VAT for repair work to the Recreation Ground football pitch, funding to come from the Community Projects Committee Repairs Fund under Minute JUN 04/14.

DEC 07 19 Glebe Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the installation of footpath entrance marker bollards by the green container and a single bollard by the gate entrance to match the set at the east footpath entrance, the work to be carried out by the Handyperson.

DEC 07/20 Environment Committee

A plan was agreed for the 2008 Christmas Tree. The chairman would seek the permission of Mr/s Howlett for use of their electricity supply, Cllr Rockcliffe would approach Mr Prior for the donation of a suitable tree and Cllrs Paget and Pike, will assistance from other councillors, would organise the erection of the tree, most likely on 16 December.

Cllr Pike reported that it appeared that the new dog bin along the school cycleway / footway was not being emptied. The clerk to notify the Borough Council.

DEC 07/21 Correspondence for Action

DEC 07/22 Correspondence for information

DEC 07/23 Members Information Exchange

Cllrs Mack, Murphy and Rockcliffe advised the meeting that options for the restructuring of Norfolk into unitary status were now available on both the Borough Council and County Council websites and that any restructuring of the county local authorities could have a significant impact on parish councils

Cllr Pike advised that this meeting had clashed with the latest CAG meeting and that the clerk had not received a response to an email requesting a change of date for the CAG meeting. It was agreed that the clerk would advise the Safer Neighbourhood Team of the Council’s 2008 meetings schedule to hopefully avoid future date clashes.

There being no other business the Council rose at 8.53pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 22 January 2008 in the Village Hall at 7.00pm.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         22 January 2008