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 June 2009 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

 

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

 

23 members of the public attended the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence: None

 

JUN 09/1 Declarations of Interest

Councillor	Agenda Item(s)	Personal or Prejudicial	Matter Under Discussion
Cllr Drake	6(iii)	Personal	Grant to Watlington AFC
Cllr Rockcliffe	7(i) and 7(ii)	Personal	Angel Inn Smoking Shelter Planning Application 09/00417/F
Cllr Stevenson	7(i) and 7(ii)	Personal	Angel Inn Smoking Shelter Planning Application 09/00417/F

 

JUN 09/2 Open Forum

Cllr Pike reported that Mrs Suiter has been given a Premises Licence for the Glebe Field and the Recreation Ground; the licence allows Monday to Sunday 9.am until 9.pm for Regulated Entertainment and Sale Of Alcohol and 9.am until 11.00 pm once a year in July for Regulated Entertainment and Sale of Alcohol for the Music Festival. Any event will still require Parish Council approval. Cllr Pike also explained the detailed health and safety policy that has been set out for the Watstock event.

 

Parishioners expressed their concerns about the development at Rowan Close, particularly in relation to the existing site pollution and how the developers are going to discharge the conditions of the planning approval. Councillors were urged to agree a special meeting of the Council to which Borough Planning and Environmental Health Officers would be invited to address these concerns.

 

Concerns were raised about speeding in the Fen Road area and near the school. Also, it was felt that the Community Speed Watch scheme should be reconsidered. A parishioner was advised that a drainage scheme for Fen Road is due to start in July.

 

Parishioners voiced objections to the planning application for a takeaway service (09/00417/F) and concern at the way the Parish Council had dealt with the application.

 

Mr Cyril Jones spoke in support of his felling the ash tree on the Glebe Field.

  

JUN 09/3 Minutes of the Council Meetings held on 5 May 2009

The minutes of the Annual Council Meeting on 5 May 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record, subject to an amendment to the Gossip report (MAY 09/7) “1,1150” to read “1150” and “increased are” to read “increased our”.

 

The minutes of the ordinary Council Meeting on 5 May 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

JUN 09/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 5 May 2009

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £27,638.47, with over £4,400 of VAT to be recovered at the end of the month.

 

 

JUN 09/5 Payments

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

Payee	Amount	Authority	Reason
Watlington Village Hall	£22.00	Admin	Hall hire 16 June
Watlington Info Centre	£16.90	Admin	Photocopying April /May 2009
Norse Commercial Services	£97.75*	Admin	Annual Inspection of play equipment
HM Revenues & Customs	£25.59	Admin	PAYE April – June 2009
Country Grounds Mntce	£154.62*	MAY 09/22	Strimming and footpaths Glebe Field
Norfolk RCC	£25.00	DEC 08/8	Annual Subscription 2009/10
Mrs A Bullock	£171.90	SEP 08/6	Litter Picking 09/05/09 – 14/06/09
Mr J Harrington	£140.30	SEP 08/6	Handyperson duties May / June

 *Includes recoverable VAT

 

JUN 09/6 Budget 2009/2010 Revision

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved minor revisions to the 2009/2010 budget.

 

JUN 09/7 Grants and Donations

Applicant	Cause	Amount Awarded
Watlington SSC FC	Adult football pitch refurbishment	£110.  S137 award (a)
EACH	East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices	£50. S137 award (b)
Watstock	Event Fire Notices	£67.76. S137 award (c)

a.       Proposed by Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Miller

b.       Proposed by Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding

c.       Proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Pike and subject to the notices becoming the property of the Parish Council for future use.

 

JUN 09/8 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	Council
09/00789/F	Mr Wagg	66 John Davis Way	Demolition of garage and erection of single storey extension	Support
08/01871/F	Mr N Watkins	Land west of 23 Thieves Bridge Road	Revised plans for erection of two storey dwelling	Object
09/00829/F	Mr A Samways	80 Downham Road	Construction of first floor over existing bungalow	Object
09/00417/F	Mr H Bhondi	3 Church Road	Conversion and extension to form shop, takeaway and flat; Revised parking layout.	Object – inadequate parking and loss of access to forecourt *
09/00937/F	Mr G Brothers	75 Downham Road	Two storey extension	With Committee
09/00900/F	Mr S Payne	8 Babingley Close	Conservatory Extension	With Committee
09/00944/F	Watlington Pre-School	Watlington CP School	Erection of mobile classroom	With Committee

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

* 09/00417/F Proposed by Cllr Mack, seconded by Cllr Dagnall and agreed by Council unanimously.

* Cllr Stevenson declined advice from the clerk that he should consider declaring his interest in this planning application as prejudicial and subsequently took part in the discussion and voted on the matter.

 

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

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	BCKLWN Decision
09/00403/F	Enterprise Inns	Angel Inn, 41 School Road	Erection of free standing smoking shelter	Approved – 1 condition

 

 

 

JUN 09/9 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Pike reported that work on the site has now recommenced.

 

Cllr Mack reported that he has received a reply from the Planning Enforcement Team, which stated that no further action could be taken on seeking the enforcement of culverting the drain adjacent to the school. It was agreed that the Council could not let this matter drop and the options that remain are to seek an agreement with Persimmon to share the costs with Norfolk County Council on a riparian basis or to seek to appeal against the refusal of the Borough Council to enforce the planning condition. It was agreed that Cllr Mack would liaise with the clerk over this issue and that a letter be sent to the Planning Officer stating the position the Council will be taking as set out above.

 

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

 

JUN 09/10 Rowan Close Development

Given concerns raised at the Open Forum about pollution issues, Council agreed to hold an additional meeting at which a Planning Officer and a Environmental Quality Team Officer would be invited to address the issues raised in the discharging of the conditions imposed on the development under planning approval 06/00145/FM. It was noted that the development is for 3 and 4 bedroom houses.

 

JUN 09/11 Local Development Framework

The Council had no comments to make on the initial consultation for the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document. The site allocations document is expected in September / October.

 

JUN 09/12 Highways and Transport Matters

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that modifications had been made to drainage plans for the rail station car park, but the planned start date is still mid-August.

 

The clerk reported that the drainage scheme for Fen Road has been given a July start date by NCC Highways.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed not to pursue the installation of a salt bin on the John Davis Way – Rectory Lane cycle / footway link because of continuing concerns over potential accident litigation.

 

JUN 09/13 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that the order for the groundworks to remove 20m of hedging and install fencing and gate near the Skateboard Park for the Youth Shelter Project has been place with Kew Grasscare, the work due to commence in September after the return to school and after the nesting season.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Paget, Council approved expenditure of £130 ex-VAT for sand for the Recreation Ground swings, approximately £60 ex-VAT for bark chippings for the swings at the Warren Close Play Area and £140 ex-VAT for a replacement litter bin for the Warren Close Play Area, funding to come from the Play Equipment Repairs Fund.

 

Cllr Pike reported that the suggestions raised at the Open Forum are being summarised and commented upon by the Committee and it is hoped to distribute copies to councillors for consideration and then subsequent discussion at the July Council meeting.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Stevenson, Council approved that the Watstock Committee could restrict access to the Glebe and Recreation Ground sites during Watstock if the site number limits are likely to be breached.

 

JUN 09/14 Environment Committee

Cllr Golding advised the meeting that other local landowners have been approached in addition to Mr Pope for the letting of allotment land, but no offers have been received. On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed that Mr Pope be written to again with a deadline of 7 July for a response and that an alternative offer letter on the same terms be sent to Mr Pearson to rent one hectare of land on the site to the rear of Fen Road.

 

After hearing Mr Jones’ statement to the Open Forum and considering his recent email, Council agreed that he be given permission to remove the remaining branch on the ash tree on the Glebe Field, under the conditions outlined in his email and that he be asked to carry out the work before the Watstock Event.

 

 

Overhanging branches were reported by Cllr Dagnall at the junction of Rectory Lane / Downham Road and the Mill Road / Glebe footpath. The clerk to action appropriately. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to speak to the owners at No.1 Thieves Bridge Road about an overhanging willow tree.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, it was agreed that the clerk would approach the Handyperson with a view to having the play area litter bins emptied twice a week during the May – September period and that compensation of an additional one hour a week be paid to the Handyperson during this period at an annual cost of £128.

 

 

JUN 09/15 Correspondence for Action

From	Subject	Action
WN Voluntary and Community Action	Seeking a 15 minute slot to talk  on partnership delivery / funding	Agreed for a meeting later in the year.
NALC	Executive Committee Nominations	No nominations

 

 

JUN 09/16 Correspondence for information

From	Subject	Information Note
Father James Nolan	Thank you letter for Churchyard grant
Norfolk Constabulary	Mobile Police station Timetable	July – December 2009
FLUA	The Fenman Issue 2/2009
Clerks & Council	Direct Magazine	Held by clerk
DM Action Group	Minutes of 08/05/09 meeting
BCKLWN	Sports Development Update Spring 2009
CPRE	Norfolk Notes / Annual Report 2008
BCKLWN	Funding Opportunities Information
BCKLWN	Community Development Leaflet
BCKLWN	LDF Display Notices	To noticeboards
CPRE	Fieldwork Magazine June 2009
CCLA Investments	Edward Shouldham Charity	Income £2.74; Balance £1417.33
NALC	Norfolk Link May 2009
BCKLWN	Standards Committee 22/06/09
NPFA	AGM 16 July / Minutes of 2008 AGM