WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

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

MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL held on 16 March 2010 at 7.15 pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Drake, Golding, Leedell, Mack, Miller, Pike, Rockcliffe and Stevenson.

22 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: Cllr Dagnall.

MAR 10/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

MAR 10/2 Open Forum Notes

A parishioner requested that the Parish Council help to improve the surface of Fairfield Lane, which is potholed after the winter weather and that measures be taken to stop vehicles using the lane as access to the Martingales Estate. Cllr Rockcliffe advised that he has placed an order for more planings to do the lane and The Angel car park but there is a supply problem at present. Councillors supported having bollards on the footway entrances to Martingales from Fairfield Lane, but there was doubt as to whether additional signage would reduce vehicles attempting to use the lane.

Residents on the south side of Station Road adjoining the Martingales Estate urged the Council to take urgent action to seek alleviation of the flooding problem which has affected their properties in the last 18 months, since phases 4 & 5 of the development of the Estate have been started. Up to now it appears the developers have not co-operated and the Borough Council has not enforced the need for additional drainage. Cllrs Mack and Rockcliffe reported that Persimmon had agreed a French Drain in 2009, but a trench dug on the site has proved wholly ineffective. Cllr Mack is to hold a further meeting with the developers and the Borough Council and to involve the Internal Drainage Board to seek to resolve this problem. Cllr Pike advised that the developers were expecting to finish the site within a year.

Residents also complained that the houses now under construction overlooking Station Road afforded them no privacy and if correct to the planning approval should never have been granted. Councillors agreed that the site layout needed to be checked.

The clerk advised that the CAG Meetings programme is still running, despite earlier advice to the contrary, and that the next meeting is at Stoke Ferry on 18 March.

Cllr Pike advised the meeting that the village hall committee have now installed projection screens in the two halls and that the equipment will be available to all hirers.

MAR 10/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 19 January 2010

The minutes of the Council Meeting on 19 January 2010 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

MAR 10/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 19 January 2010

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £13,346.25 The clerk also advised that Mr John Church has been awarded the Mayor’s Voluntary Service Award for 2009. It was agreed that a letter of congratulation be sent to Mr Church for his award.

MAR 10/5 Co-option of a New Councillor

On a proposal from the Chairman, Mr Robert Scully, sole candidate for the vacant councillor post, was duly co-opted to the Parish Council.

MAR 10/6 Payments

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the following payments:

 *Includes recoverable VAT

MAR 10/7 Insurance Renewal

On a proposal from the Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council having received two quotations for insurance for the 2010/11 financial year, agreed to accept a 3 year term with Came & Co, through the Aviva National Parish Council Insurance Scheme, at a cost of £1485.65 a year, a saving of £350 over the quotation from the existing insurer, Aon.

MAR 10/8 Grants and Donations

* Proposed by Cllr Miller, seconded by Cllr Leedell.

MAR 10/9 Standing Orders for Local Councils Publication

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved expenditure of £25 for a revised NALC publication ‘Standing Orders for Local Councils’.

MAR 10/10 Planning Applications

Planning Applications

Note: Recommendations from the committee are available at the meeting for inspection.

Planning Decisions

The following planning decision has been received from the Borough Council:

MAR 10/11 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

On a proposal from the Chairman it was agreed that the clerk would write to the Borough Council and Persimmon seeking urgent remedy for the flooding that is occurring to the rear of properties on Station Road adjoining the Martingales Estate. Cllrs Mack and Rockcliffe also agreed to be involved with pursuing this matter, with Cllr Mack currently seeking to set up a meeting with the developers and the Borough Council.

It was also agreed that the Borough Council would be asked to assure residents that the building locations on the site overlooking Station Road are according to the planning approval.

Council expressed dissatisfaction with the response from the Director of Development Services regarding the installation of the new play equipment in Stone Close. It was agreed that the clerk respond that consultation was necessary because the site was (and is) used by residents of the Meadows Estate and because the equipment previously on the site was bought as a result of fund raising by local residents; also to query the half-fence arrangement, which does not keep dogs from the site.

MAR 10/12 Rowan Close Development

The clerk advised that there was no further information on this development at present, as the Planning Officer is still awaiting a response from the developer on issues relating to the site levels and the construction of the footpath link to the Warren Close Play Area.

MAR 10/13 Red Telephone Kiosk Mill Road

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed that given the location and the poor state of the unit, the Council would not adopt this telephone kiosk.

MAR 10/14 Scheme for Support of Vulnerable Persons

Discussion was held on how such a scheme could be organised. It was agreed that councillors would look at a scheme organised in Suffolk and that the clerk would write to NALC and the Norfolk RCC to suggest a similar scheme for this county.

MAR 10/15 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework

Council noted there will be a further consultation on possible mineral extraction sites - 1 in Watlington and 4 in Tottenhill – in summer 2010.

MAR 10/16 Highways and Transport Matters

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that he had ordered new planings for Fairfield Lane and The Angel car park. It was agreed that the clerk would write to NCC Highways & Persimmon to seek that bollards be installed at a suitable point to stop vehicular access to Martingales. The Chairman agreed to speak a parishioner living along the lane about signage residents could install on their own behalf, given that the lane is not an adopted road. NCC Highways have declined to install further notices at the entrance to the lane.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to support the NCC proposal to convert Fairfield Lane to a shared use footway / cycletrack facility. It was also agreed to write to NCC urging that the facility needs to include the lane part of Fairfield Lane, given the poor quality of this surface, and to the school to update them and request that no vehicles use the lane. Cllr Rockcliffe advised that he was seeking costings for the culverting of the drain parallel to the footpath, as this is not included in the scheme proposal.

The clerk reported on a number of highways items considered at previous meetings:

a)    The possibility of extending the 30mph zone on Lynn Road back to the Plough Lane junction is under review by NCC Highways, but may not meet the criteria for zoning.

b)     NCC Highways are still dealing with the hedging problem at 14 John Davis Way.

c)    The directional sign at the junction of Thieves Bridge Road and Downham Road has been ‘removed’ on 3 occasions in the last year and NCC Highways are reluctant to replace at present.

d)    NCC Highways have agreed to a scheme of works to alleviate the puddling problem on Church Road.

e)    The contractors will be returning to resurface Fen Road in mid-spring.

f)     NCC Highways have advised that the dropped crossing work in Fen Road will completed in spring.

g)    NCC Highways have agreed to a scheme of works to install additional drainage at the dropped crossing outside the school.

h)    Most of the reported potholes have now been filled.

Council noted that the part-night lighting scheme has been approved by the County Council and that there will be a 3 year programme to complete the process. Before any work is carried out in specific location, 3 months notice will be given to allow for considerations.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that revised land purchase proposals are now to be put to Network Rail for consideration, which may allow the rail car park scheme to go forward.

MAR 10/17 Community Projects Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the Committee be asked to bring forward detailed proposals for a new map / noticeboard outside the PO Stores and for the removal of another section of the Leylandii hedging at the Recreation Ground to be replaced by bowtop fencing.

MAR 10/18 Allotments

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the signing of the 5 year lease on the Britton Close allotment site, subject to plotholders still wishing to take plots if a water supply is not provided.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Miller, Council agreed not to install a water supply on the Britton Close allotment site because of the cost, approximately £1000, and the short term nature of the lease.

It was agreed that the clerk advise the plotholders for Britton Close regarding water on the site to give them the option to withdraw and to offer to reserves if necessary.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council approved the proposal to proceed with a compulsory hiring of land in the village for allotments at the Baker’s Field site in Mill Road. [Voting 6 in favour; 2 abstentions]

MAR 10/19 Environment Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the annual trade waste bin for 2010/2011 at a total annual cost for a weekly collection of £552.92 ex-VAT plus £31.50 for the Controlled Waste Transfer Notice.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed a professional inspection by Ravencroft Arboriculture Services of the large oak tree on the Glebe Field, at a cost of £185.

MAR 10/20 Correspondence for information

MAR 10/21 Correspondence for information

There being no other business, Council rose at 9.20pm.

The next meeting of the Council is the Annual Council Meeting, followed by an ordinary Council Meeting, on Tuesday 4 May in the Village Hall at 7.00pm.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                 4 May 2010