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 6 May 2008 at 7.23pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

14 members of the public and 2 PCSOs also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Stevenson

MAY 08/7 Declarations of Interest

MAY 08/8 Open Forum

The PCSOs advised the meeting that all 6 PCSOs have now been recruited for the Watlington CAG area, with one PC and one sergeant to complete the team. They will be based at Marham, but with a vehicle and bicycles now available, they will be carrying around more regular patrols in villages in the CAG area. The PCSOs intend to hold a monthly ‘surgery’ and as such were offered the use of the Information Centre, subject to approval by the Centre’s committee. Some surprise was expressed that the PCSOs were unaware that Norfolk Constabulary have a monthly mobile police office visit to the village.

A number of parishioners present voiced objections to the planning application for a takeaway service in Church Road, on the grounds of traffic / parking problems, noise and litter pollution. Letters of objection were also handed to the Chairman. The applicant for the proposed takeaway spoke in support of his application.

A parishioner asked that the drain opposite the P.O. Stores be cleared by NCC Highways.

A parishioner advised that there are still incidents of anti-social behaviour on the Martingales Estate and that these had been reported to the last CAG meeting.

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that the subscription trip to the Palace of Westminster had been a great success and it was agreed that a letter of thanks would be sent to the MP and tour guide.

MAY 08/9 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 18 March 2008

The minutes of the Council meeting on 18 March 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record

MAY 08/10 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 18 March

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £37,862 the annual precept having been received and placed on deposit. A £150 payment has been made by HM Revenues and Customs for the

on-line filing of the Council’s end of year tax summary for 2006/7. The clerk also advised that the local byelaws are still awaiting approval from the Secretary of State, but had been assured by the Department of Communities and Local Government that they were still dealing with the matter. The clerk advised councillors to note that the planning application for 33 houses in Rowan Close has been withdrawn.

MAY 08/11 Payments

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

* Includes recoverable VAT

MAY 08/12 Accounts 2007/2008 and Annual Audit Commission Return

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the 2007/2008 accounts for internal and external audit.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the Audit Plan and Review of Effectiveness of the System of internal Audit for 2007/2008.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council completed the Annual Return for the external audit.

MAY 08/13 Appointment of Internal Auditor for the 2007/2008 Accounts

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the appointment of Mrs M Doubleday as Internal Auditor for the 2007/2008 accounts.

MAY 08/14 Budget 2008/2009

Following a discussion on the need to ensure adequate budget provision is made in 2009/2010 for additional costs of litter collection / new litter bins, Council, on a proposal from the Chairman, approved the revised budget for 2008/2009.

MAY 08/15 Grants to Millennium Green Trust and Parochial Church Council

On a proposal from the Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Mack, Council approved the annual grant of £1000 to the Millennium Green Trust (MIN FEB 05/6). On a proposal from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council approved the annual grant of £440 to the Parochial Church Council (MIN JUN 05/11). The Millennium Green Trust Accounts were made available to the meeting. Both grants are S.137 payments.

[Cllrs Golding, Paget, Pike and Rockcliffe declared a personal interest in the grant to Millennium Green Trust and took no part in the vote on this issue. Cllr Miller declared a personal interest in the grant to the Parochial Church Council and took no part in the vote on this issue.]

MAY 08/16 Damaged Street Light in Church Road

Following a report from the clerk, Council agreed a proposal from the Chairman that if a final letter to the Managing Director of May Gurney elicits no result, a County Court Small Claims case should be bought against May Gurney for the recovery of repair costs to the street light unit in Church Road.

MAY 08/17 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

* Council object by 6 votes to 3 to this application on the grounds of inadequate traffic / parking arrangements, noise and litter pollution. It was agreed that a S.106 agreement should be sought towards additional costs of litter clearance in the village if this application is approved by the Planning Authority.

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

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

Council noted that no further action is possible by the Borough Council to clear untidy land opposite 16 Station Road as it had proved impossible to contact the landowner.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the circulating of the petition from the local MP in support of 20mph zones outside of all schools, with the PO Stores, Angel Pub, Medical Centre, and WIC being asked to help obtain signatures.

Council agreed that there were no reasonable grounds to object to the removal of the telephone kiosk at the junction of Mill Road / Plough Lane.

MAY 08/18 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Mack reported that repairs to the Stone Close play area safety surfaces and swings had taken place, although the swings may still have to be removed on safety grounds. Persimmon are to redesign this site, the facilities being now totally inadequate, and to provide additional facilities on Martingales under the S.106 agreement. Cllr Mack is currently pursuing BCKLWN Development Services for the implementation of the agreement in relation to play equipment. It was agreed that the parish should be consulted on any new play equipment installed on the two sites to ensure adequate facilities for all ages ranges.

[Cllr Murphy had to leave the meeting at this point.]

Cllr Mack advised that he was still pursuing the drain issues relating to Martingales and that the planning application from Persimmon relating to non-culverting was still to be resolved.

Cllr Pike advised that The Coppice development is now complete and that 47 houses are occupied on Martingales. Persimmon are currently not building any further stock properties on the site.

MAY 08/19 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that: i) NCC Highways will review the parking arrangements at the school as part of the safety audit to be carried out following the new footway layout installation. Police normally attend such an audit. ii) NCC Highways will also review the footpaths coming from Martingales to Fairfield Lane to ensure that vehicular access will not be possible from the footpaths. iii) Work on resurfacing Downham Road is expected soon, this to include road repairs by the zebra crossing. iv) The footway outside of 52 Downham Road has now been resurfaced.

Cllr Pike reported that PCSO are attending at the school ‘rush hour’ on an irregular basis to help resolve the parking problems. He also advised that, unfortunately, traffic matters cannot be reported at CAG meetings.

Cllr Dagnall reported that following the installation of kerbing on Fen Road ‘puddle hollows’ are now forming in the highway. it was agreed that the clerk would report this to NCC Highways. Following a request from Cllr Mack, it was also agreed to report the continued poor state of the highway on John Davis Way from the Stone Close junction to Station Road.

Cllr Rockcliffe distributed a revised scheme drawing for the proposed footpath from the village hall car park along Lynn Road, which would now extend round into Mill Road to near the junction with Plough Lane. Council agreed on a proposal from the Chairman to support this revised scheme. The Chairman thanked Cllr Rockcliffe for his input into the plans for the extended footpath.

MAY 08/20 Railway Station Car Park

Cllr Rockcliffe introduced the redrawn plans for the rail station car park, the plans needing revision because of drainage and property access issues. The new scheme has 115 standard and 9 disability parking spaces. On a proposal from the chairman, Council approved the new scheme. The clerk advised that NCC hoped for a start date of February / March 2009 and that the scheme would cost approximately £300,000 with funding coming from NCC and First Capital Connect.

Council noted that it was unlikely that any nearby road parking restrictions would be introduced before the construction of the new car park. It was agreed that this matter would need to be re-visited at a later date.

MAY 08/21 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike advised that the committee is currently seeking quotations for both installation of the proposed youth shelter and for the associated groundworks.

Cllr Mack reported that there are legal issues to be resolved before the Phase 2 grant from the Big Lottery Fund could be received by the Council; he would continue to press for the release of the funds.

MAY 08/22 Watlington Village Festival 2008

It was agreed that a Council information stall should be staffed on 19 July, Grand Fete Day, with councillors volunteering to be on hand for an hour or two on the day. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to provide a small marquee to allow the stall to be on the Recreation Ground. Councillors agreed to forward any suggestions to display material to the clerk.

MAY 08/23 Environment Committee

Council agreed a request from the clerk to seek quotations for collapsible access barriers to the Warren Close Play Area. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to supply a suitable log to restrict vehicular access to the John Davis Way Open Space.

On a report from Cllr Dagnall, it was agreed that the Handyperson and Litter Picker be asked to tidy up the footpath link between Chestnut Close and Downham Road. On a request from Cllr Golding, it was agreed that the Handyperson seek to ensure the gate from Downham Road to the Glebe Land remains closed when not in use. The clerk advised that the Handyperson has removed some concrete post stumps near the defensive mound, this allowing better access for gang mowers. The clerk advised that the Handyperson would also be adding strengthening material under the tots’ play area gate to avoid puddle problems.

Council approved the advertising of the temporary litter picker post for 3 months in the summer.

The Chairman, Cllr Mack and Cllr Pike, with the clerk, agreed to meet Borough Council representatives to discuss the changed arrangements for litter bin emptying due to come into force in April 2009.

Cllr Pike agreed to liase with the Handyperson regarding the installation of additional dog fouling notices around the village.

MAY 08/24 Correspondence for Action

MAY 08/25 Correspondence for information

MAY 08/26 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Mack reported that he had received complaints about youths playing football in Bure Close. The clerk advised that he had seen this but it was nothing more than normal street games.

Cllr Leedell reported a new fence installation in John Davis Way which might infringe on the highway verge. The clerk to investigate this and report to NCC Highways if necessary.

Cllr Pike reported that there are still anti-social behaviour problems on the Martingales Estate and that this is being dealt with through the CAG meetings. It was noted that there is a lack of publicity for CAG meetings – the next one being on 26 May in Runcton Holme.

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.35pm

The next meeting of the Council is the Annual Council Meeting on Tuesday 17 June 2008 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         17 June 2008