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 13 June 2006 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Garton, Golding, Leedell, Miller and Pike.

BCllr Ansell and 3 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllrs Paget & Toates; PC Bodley.

JUN 06/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JUN 06/2 Resignation of Cllr Finnis and Election of New Councillor

The chairman read a letter of resignation from Cllr Finnis, who has resigned because of work commitments. It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Finnis for his service on the Council. It was noted that a poll has been called for the vacancy and on a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed that given the cost of £299 it would not fund poll cards for the election.

JUN 06/3 Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 2 May 2006

The Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting on 2 May 2006 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUN 06/4 Matters Arising from the Annual Council Meeting

There were no matters arising from the Annual Council Meeting.

JUN 06/5 Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 2 May 2006

The Minutes of the ordinary Council meeting on 2 May 2006 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUN 06/6 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Ordinary Council Meeting

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £26346.29. There were no matters arising from the Minutes.

JUN 06/7 Budget 2006/2007

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the revised 2006/2007 budget.

Council noted that the annual charge for street lighting power is to rise again, by 20% / £305 in a full year from 1 July 2006.

JUN 06/8 Annual Audit Return 2005/2006

Council completed the required Annual Return for the internal and external audit of the accounts.

JUN 06/9 Edward Shouldham Charity Accounts 2005/2006

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the 2005/2006 Edward Shouldham Charity Accounts.

JUN 06/10 Millennium Green Trust

Council received the accounts of the Millennium Green Trust, attention having been drawn to the notes accompanying the accounts. Cllr Pike reported that, other than general maintenance currently being carried out, the Trust was concerned at the high cost of the proposed maze at £11,000 and that this was being rethought. The proposed bridge installation is on hold at present.

JUN 06/11 Payments

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

* Includes VAT

JUN 06/12 Requests for Grants and Donations

Council agreed the following donations :

 The above payments are S137 payments.

*  Proposed by Cllr Garton, seconded by Cllr Dagnall.

** Proposed by Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Leedell.

It was agreed that the clerk would write to the Sports & Social Club and to Mr Finnis regarding the organisational structure of the adult football before considering their grant application further.

JUN 06/13 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

Planning permission was also granted for revised house types on plots 48 & 49 (06/00629/F), 57, 58 & 59 (06/00649/F), 64 & 65 (06/00651/F), 69 (06/00653/F), 71 (06/00640/F), 84, 85, 86 & 87 (06/00648/F),

91 (06/00647/F), 92 (06/00644/F) and 103 (06/00642/F) at Martingales with 1 condition on each approval.

JUN 06/14 Draft Statement of Community Involvement Norfolk Minerals and Waste Development Framework

The Council had no further comments on the Draft Statement of Community Involvement.

JUN 06/15 Police Liaison Officer Information Exchange

The clerk reported on behalf of PC Bodley that there were 6 reported crimes during the period 2 May to 12 June, 3 thefts from vehicles, 2 criminal damage and 1 burglary other than a dwelling. Over the same period 4 incidents of anti-social behaviour were reported.

The Council discussed the issue of probable increased anti-social behaviour during the summer period and it was agreed that one of the major ways of combating this would be to ensure that all incidents are reported to the police, thus possibly allowing the use of Dispersal Orders and obtaining increased local police resources. It was proposed by Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding that £200 be set aside for the printing of approximately 1000 6” x 4”  cards for distribution through village organisations urging that all incidents of anti-social behaviour are reported. The clerk to write to village organisations about supporting the initiative and to obtain costings; Cllr Pike to liase with PC Bodley regarding content.

Council noted a Norfolk Constabulary leaflet on Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, these to be in place by 2008.

Council noted a meeting on 26 June concerning police force amalgamation.

Council was pleased to note that an incident using mobile phone video recording of anti-social behaviour had been reported to the police.

JUN 06/16Highways Matters

The chairman reported that a meeting had been held with the NCC Highways Engineer on 11 May, where the Parish Council’s views on speeding and the need for surfacing works on Church Road were restated. The NCC officer had indicated that it was unlikely that there would be any action on speeding given budget constraints. No further information on the ‘minor works’ scheme had been provided by NCC. The report from the Speed Awareness Message (SAM) Team was still awaited.

A letter from a parishioner had been received regarding speeding in Downham Road at the bend near the Glebe Land. It was agreed that the chairman would visit the parishioner to explain the Council’s support for speeding controls but pointing out the difficulties in convincing NCC, as the relevant authority, of the need for action.

JUN 06/17 Rail Station Car Park

The chairman reported on the site meeting with NCC and Mott McDonald regarding the rail station car park upgrade feasibility study, where the Parish Council’s views on street parking were again emphasised. Possible layout plans were seen, extending the car park towards Gypsy Lane, but there would be difficulties in the planning permission phase regarding the traffic access points to the site. Council noted the continued access being allowed to the ‘extension’ car park at present.

An e-mail from BCKLWN was read regarding the car park scheme in which it was clear that the Borough Council has not been consulted on the NCC feasibility study and appears not to be in favour of the study. On a chairman’s proposal it was agreed that the clerk should write to the MP and Fen Line Users’ Association expressing concern over what appears to be disparate approaches to dealing with this matter.

JUN 06/18 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike advised that work on the removal of old play equipment at Warren Close Play Area and the Recreation Ground would commence this week, along with renovation work on the swings at Warren Close Play Area and the creation of the mound barrier to replace Lacey’s Dyke to the rear of the Village Hall. Cllr Pike also advised that the football club had used 60 tons of soil for the renovation of the Glebe football pitch and this had partially in-filled the dyke, so he and Cllr Toates had rebuilt the fence boundary at this point to stop vehicular access until the mound barrier work was completed. A start date is awaited for the landscaping work around the village pound.

Cllr Pike reported that the Committee is waiting on quotation figures from Wicksteed Leisure for phase two of the Play Equipment Project. This quote will then be used as a basis for competitive quotes and the seeking of grant support for the project.

Cllr Pike would speak to Wicksteed about the damaged fencing on the tots’ play area, which appears to have been damaged by a vehicular impact.

A request from the Pre-School Relocation Project Team for a Summer Extravaganza on the Recreation Ground and Glebe Field on 14 July 2007 was approved in principle, subject to the usual consultations on event management. A letter of thanks for the £1000 grant awarded by the Council to the group was also read at this point, the letter also updating the Council on the relocation project.

JUN 06/19 Glebe Committee

It was agreed that members of the committee should have a site meeting to discuss any site management issues.

Watlington Youth Football Club have agreed to repaint the kit container.

A letter regarding leasing part of the Glebe Land for car parking was read by the clerk, who advised Council that the lease of the Glebe Land precluded any sub-letting agreements and precluded any use of the site other than for recreational purposes. It was agreed that the clerk write accordingly to the parishioner.

JUN 06/20 Environment Committee

Following advice from the Handyperson that the strimmer was not longer serviceable, on a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed the purchase of a new petrol strimmer up to a cost of £150.

Members of the committee agreed to carry out a survey of dog bin locations in the village, advice on the usage of the current bins to be sought from the dog warden and taking in account the need for a new bin at the easterly entry point to the Glebe Land from the Village Hall car park. The clerk advised that the replacement dog bin for the Downham Road entrance was on order from BCKLWN.

The clerk advised that 2 persons had applied for the vacant Litter Picker post. After discussion on the increase in littering in the summer months and the need for extra hours and the viability of splitting the available hours, Council agreed on a chairman’s proposal that the permanent 5 hours a week position should be offered to Mrs Powell and that an additional temporary post of 3 hours a week for 3 months be offered to Miss Charlton at an additional staffing cost of £197 and possible additional equipment costs. It was also agreed that the hi-visibility padded jacket owned by Mrs Zagorska be purchased for the new Litter Picker at a cost of £7.50.

It was agreed that a thank you bouquet of flowers for the excellent work carried out by the retiring litter picker, Mrs Zagorska, would be bought by councillor subscription, Cllr Miller to organise.

The clerk advised the Council on the jobs completed and outstanding for the Handyperson. No additional tasks were added to the list.

JUN 06/21 Correspondence for Action

JUN 06/22 Correspondence for information

JUN 06/23 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Leedell advised that a large lorry was parking on occasions in John Davis Way, blocking part of the footway and that she would be reporting the obstruction to the police.

Cllr Miller advised that vehicular visibility when turning into Downham Road from Thieves Bridge Road is poor because of obscuring hedge lines. It was agreed that the clerk would write to NCC Highways accordingly, at the same time advising of the displaced Thieves Bridge Road sign.

No member of the public present wished to speak to the meeting.

There being no other business the Council rose at 8.45pm.

The next meeting of the Council is at 7.00pm on Tuesday 25 July 2006 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         25 July 2006