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 17 March 2009 at 7.09pm in Watlington Village Hall.

 

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

 

No members of the public attended the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence: None

 

MAR 09/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

 

MAR 09/2 Open Forum

No matters were raised at the Open Forum.

 

MAR 09/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 20 January 2009

The minutes of the Council meeting on 20 January 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

MAR 09/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 20 January 2009

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £22,164.74, with a year end projection of approximately £19,650, of which £10,000 will need to be released early in the new financial year as the Council’s contribution to the Phase 2 Play Equipment Project. The clerk also reported that Cllr Pike has received the Mayor’s Civil Award for voluntary Service, the ceremony having taken place last week. The clerk reported that the closing date for co-option to the Council is 30 March and at present two people have put their names forward. The clerk also reported that the Council noticeboard on St Peters Road has been removed following probable vandalism and is currently awaiting repair and that the directional finger signpost at the junction of Thieves Bridge Road has also been vandalised, this being notified to NCC.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to former councillor Derrick Murphy for his service to the Council.

 

MAR 09/5 Payments

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

Payee	Amount	Authority	Reason
Watlington Village Hall	£22.00	Admin	Hall hire 17 March 09
Watlington Info Centre	£6.60	Admin	Photocopying Jan / Feb
Clerk	£15.12	Admin	Tel. Calls 27 Oct – 25 Jan 09
HM Customs & Excise	£38.34	Admin	Tax / NI Q4 2008/2009
NPFA	£20.00	DEC08/8	2009/2010 Subscription (Due 01/04/09)
Watlington PCC	£20.00	JAN 09/13	Donation to PCC from Mr/s Howlett for the electricity for the Christmas Lights
Mrs A Bullock	£229.20	SEP 08/6	Litter Picking 17/01/09 – 08/03/09
Mr J Harrington	£134.20	SEP 08/6	Handyperson duties Feb/Mar

 

MAR 09/6 Insurance

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the renewal of the insurance arrangements with Allianz Insurance plc, the premium having risen by £66.90 (5.24%), to £1342.51, this figure including index linking. It was noted that approval has been given by the insurance company for mole control directly by the Council.

 

 

 

MAR 09/7 Grants and Donations

Applicant	Cause	Amount Awarded
WN Citizens Advice	General Funds.	£100 S.137 Donation *
Norfolk Accident Rescue Service	General Funds	£25 S.137 Donation *

* Proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe.

 

Cllr Mack agreed to investigate the First Responder Scheme.

 

MAR 09/8 Clerk’s Salary

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the National Final Salary Award for Local Council Clerks from 1 April 2008. This will increase the hourly pay rate for the clerk by an additional 0.3% from £9.814 to £9.843.

 

MAR 09/9 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	Planning Committee
09/00180/F	Mr A Cakebread	27 Plough Lane	Demolition of lean-to / construction of single storey extension	Support
09/00260/F	Mr S Withers	34 Fen Road	Single storey extension	Support
09/00352/F	Mr C Turner	62 Downham Road	Extensions and alterations to create 2 storey dwelling.	{With Planning Committee}
09/00339/F	Mr J Stratford	39 Station Road	Replacement dwelling and garage	Support

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

 

The following planning decisions have been received from the Borough Council:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address			Application	BCKLWN Decision
08/02655/F	Mr D Palmer	23 Thieves Bridge Road			Construction of detached garage	Approved with 1 condition
08/02696/F	Mr A Murray	7 Bennett Close			Single storey extension	Approved with 2 conditions
09/00069/F	Mott MacDonald	Rail Station Car park			Construction of new car park facility	Approved with 7 conditions
09/00213/F	Mr S Payne		8 Babingley Close	Conservatory extension		Withdrawn by applicant

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to delay signing up for e-consultation for planning applications as further information was needed from the Borough Council.

 

MAR 09/10 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Pike advised that since the last meeting 1 house has been exchanged, 3 reserved, 3 stock houses are available, with a further 13 just released. A total of 33 houses remain to be released.

 

Cllr Mack advised that he had arranged a site meeting on 1 April with Persimmon, BCKLWN Planning and the Internal Drainage Board to further discuss matters relating to drainage, play areas and roads on the site which remain unresolved. It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to the Internal Drainage Board for their assistance in helping deal with the flooding problems that have arisen in Station Road as a result of site activity.  

 

MAR 09/11 Local Development Framework

After a summary of the Core Strategy Regulation 25 document, Council agreed that Councillor's comments should be forwarded to the clerk to enable a response to the document to be made. It was noted that Watlington under the document is one of 37 Key Service Centres (outside of King’s Lynn, Downham Market and Hunstanton), which between them will have an allocation of 3800 dwellings under the plan, although it is expected that the current developments in the village will count towards any local housing allocation.

MAR 09/12 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that repair work is scheduled for the uneven footway surface by the village pump and that the overhanging shrubbery on the cycle / footway link between John Davis Way and the school has kindly been cleared by NCC Highways. Unfortunately, the lantern direction of the street light near the Stiffkey Close entrance to the footpath link with Britton Close could not be altered as the footpath is not adopted.

 

Council agreed that the clerk would speak to the Handyperson regarding the possible installation of a salt bin on the cycle / footway link between John Davis Way and the school.

 

A letter from a parishioner regarding traffic safety on the southern bend of Fen Road was read. After discussion, it was agreed that the clerk would write to NCC Highways regarding possible roadway markings and whether a hedge at the corner should be cut back. Also that the property owner to be written to directly regarding the hedge.

 

MAR 09/13 Railway Station Car Park

Council noted that planning approval has now been given for the car park scheme to go ahead.

 

MAR 09/14 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that now the grant for the Phase 2 Play Project had been assured, the order has now been placed with Miracle Design and Play Ltd and that a site meeting is due to be held this week. Cllr Rockcliffe was thanked for allowing the equipment to be stored on his property during installation; this will save over £300 in costs.

 

Cllr Pike reported that the Youth Shelter Project is still in the grant seeking stage.

 

Cllr Pike reported on the Open Forum to be held on 4 April. There would be a number of themes, including youth issues, green issues, allotments, transport matters, parish plans and village clubs and societies. Invites have been sent to a wide range of individuals and groups to try and attract a wide a representation of the local community as possible. It was agreed that as many Councillors as possible should attend to help deal with issues raised by parishioners.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the extension of the Premises Licence application by Mrs Julia Suiter to include the Recreation Ground.

 

Cllr Pike reported that the Green Summit organised by NRCC had provided much useful information on a wide range of topics including composting, allotments, car schemes, building design, insulation schemes and solar lighting.

 

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that the Gold Summit organised by NRCC had provided useful information on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the rural community and that Parish Council would be encouraged to support SMEs in their local area.

 

MAR 09/15 Environment Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the trade waste bin arrangements with BCKLWN for the coming year, with a reduction in the size of the bin used from 1100 litres to 770 litres, saving £139 over the course of a year.

 

Given the pricing of a new bin to meet standards set by BCKLWN, it was agreed that the litter bin at Britton Close should not be replaced at present. Cllrs Pike and Rockcliffe agreed to arrange for the removal of the existing bin which is no longer serviceable.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the adoption of the bins on the Millennium Green Field to meet trade waste regulations and also agreed a request from the Millennium Green Trust that they would like to maintain the bins on behalf of the Council and continue to empty the bins on a regular basis.

 

Following detailed discussion on the provision of allotments, on a proposal from the Chairman it was agreed:

i)                     Nicholas Hancox Solicitors be engaged to draft an lease offer letter and to advise on rents and terms for leasing allotments.

ii)                   To write to Mr Pope offering to lease 1 hectare of land at Mill Road/Thieves Bridge Road

iii)                  To call an open meeting, to include all those registered for an allotment, to discuss developments regarding allotment provision.

 

Cllr Golding asked that the overhanging hedges on the Gypsy Lane footpath be cut back, the clerk to forward this information to Norfolk County Council.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the increased annual rental of £502.40 for the remaining 5 years of the lease on the Glebe Land, backdated to 1 January 2009, based on an agreed area of 6.28 acres. Council noted that if the Diocese agreed to renew the lease the Council would be given the first option.

 

Following receipt of a letter from the WI regarding the Village Map outside the PO Stores, the Community Projects Committee agreed to look into possible replacement ideas given that the map is now out of date.

 

MAR 09/16 Correspondence for Action

From	Subject		Action
Rural Services Network	Membership		Agreed to become members. There is a nil cost to the Council.
BCKLWN		Dog Control Order Hunstanton Beach	No comments

 

 

MAR 09/17 Correspondence for information

From	Subject	Information Note
CPRE	Norfolk Voice Newsletter Winter 2009
NALC	‘Summit’ meetings 7 / 11 March	Attended by Cllrs Pike, Rockcliffe and the clerk
Wash Estuary Group	Photographic Competition
BCKLWN	Funding Opportunities Jan /Feb
NCC	Norfolk Local Area Agreement 200-2011	Guide to countywide priorities
NALC	Norfolk Link January 2009
BCKLWN	Funding for Sport
Local Action Group	Minutes of 13/02/09
FLUA	The Fenman Issue 1/2009
BCKLWN	Open Water Risk Assessments
Standards Board	Newsletter February 2009
Councils and Clerks	Direct Magazine March 2009	Held by clerk
CCLA Investments	Edward Shouldham Charity	Income £3.92
CPRE	Fieldwork Magazine March 2009