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 17 June 2008 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

1 member of the public  also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Dagnall, Mack and Miller. Cllr Rockcliffe for late arrival.

JUN 08/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting. The Chairman reminded councillors of the need to state openly at meetings any declarations of interest as well as completing the declarations register.

JUN 08/2 Open Forum

Cllr Pike reported that he had attended the last CAG meeting, where the total attendance was 9 persons. He advised that Watlington remains as one of the 3 priorities for the Safer Neighbourhood Team. He also reported that village event organisers could email the PCSO Team, who will try to ensure that there is a PCSO presence during the event. The next CAG meeting is on 28 July at Fincham.

The Open Forum was re-opened briefly at 7.15 to allow a parishioner to raise an issue regarding access to the Parish Council website. Cllr Paget explained the best way to access the site (www.watlingtoninfo.com and follow the Parish Council link), which is run at nil cost to the Council by the Information Centre. He also agreed to contact Norfolk County Council regarding link access from their site.

JUN 08/3 Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 6 May 2008

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting on 6 May 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUN 08/4 Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 6 May 2008

The minutes of the ordinary Council meeting on 6 May 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUN 08/5 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 18 March 2008

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £34905.56.

JUN 08/6 Payments

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

≠ Nil payable this quarter as account £150.06 in credit for on-line filing of annual return.

JUN 08/7 Damaged Street Light in Church Road

The clerk reported that May Gurney have apologised for the delay in settling the claim for the damage to the street light and have agreed to carry out the necessary work through their own contractors.

JUN 08/8 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

All Planning Committee recommendations are available at meetings for inspection.

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

JUN 08/9 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

The clerk advised that the application by Persimmon to remove the planning condition relating to the site drainage has been withdrawn by them and that a further meeting is being arranged between Persimmon, BCKLWN Development Services, the Internal Drainage Board and the Parish Council, with Cllrs Mack and Rockcliffe attending.

Cllr Pike reported that there are concerns about the uncompleted state of some of the new roads on the site, including raised ironworks. He was also concerned that, as Persimmon seem to have stopped new builds on the site,  the upgrade of the Stone Close Play Area and the installation of other play equipment on the site would be severely delayed. It was agreed that these matters should be raised with Persimmon at the proposed site meeting.

Cllr Pike reported that there had been 4 completions on the site since the last parish council meeting.

JUN 08/10 Highways Matters

The clerk reported the following Highways updates:

i)         The report on the safety audit of the new parking arrangements outside the school was awaited.

ii)       The drain opposite the P.O. Stores is to be investigated by Highways, given that it frequently floods.

iii)      Parts of Fen Road have been marked for patching work to help alleviate the surface drainage problem.

iv)      A feasibility study on parking restrictions at the junction of John Davis Way and Station Road is currently under way and the Council will be consulted in due course.

v)        The stretch of road on John Davis Way between Stone Close and Station Road is being monitored for damage. Some minor patching work has already been marked.

{Cllr Rockcliffe arrived at this point}

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that design and costing work for the footpath link from the village hall car park round into Mill Road was well advanced and that he was hoping that works might be carried out this financial year, but certainly in the  2009/10 financial year.

JUN 08/11 Railway Station Car Park

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that negotiations with landowners are currently under way on the station car park project and efforts are being made to commit the start date to this financial year.

JUN 08/12 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that there was still no news on the release of the Big Lottery funds for the Play Equipment Project and that he had contacted Cllr Mack to once again raise the issue with the Borough Council.

Cllr Pike reported that the Youth Shelter project had been raised at the recent Youth Football Club award ceremony by David Curl and it was hoped this would generate some feedback. Cllr Pike also advised that quotations had been received for groundworks – fencing and gate – and for a shelter. It was hoped to present a full package to the next Council meeting, this to possibly include the renovation of the currently stored item of Skateboard equipment. The total project cost for all these items is expected to be in the region of £15,000, with £10,000 of this to be sought from external funding. The clerk advised that an item had appeared in the Gossip, seeking support for the project from young persons in the village.

Cllr Pike reported that the Youth Forum Summary was being updated and that the details would be included in the 3-5 village facilities plan . He also advised that it was hoped that work on repairing the area under the Tots’ Play area would begin soon.

A letter from the College of West Anglia regarding summer activities for younger persons was discussed. It was agreed that the clerk would respond offering support and seeking further information.

JUN 08/13 Watlington Village Festival 2008

The following arrangements were agreed for the Council information stall at the Grand Fete on 19 July:

i)         Cllr Rockcliffe to provide a small marquee; Cllr Pike to assist on installation / equipping.

ii)       Cllrs Lacey, Rockcliffe, and Murphy to be in attendance on the day at times between 12 – 4pm, along with the clerk. Other volunteers to be sought.

iii)      The clerk to provide display material.

iv)      Cllr Rockcliffe to provide name badges and A3 size parish map.

JUN 08/14 Environment Committee

Council noted that the new open spaces byelaws come into force on 18 June and that they have been posted on the village website and copied to the Safer Neighbourhood Team. The clerk advised that the Community Projects Committee would be investigating an upgrading of site signage as a result of the introduction of the byelaws. This would include the temporary sign at the Warren Close Play Area, reported by Cllr Golding as having water damage.

Cllr Pike reported on the site meeting with BCKLWN attended also by Cllr Mack and the clerk regarding rubbish collection services from April 2009.. A review of current bin locations was carried out and possible new arrangements discussed. A report on the meeting is awaited from BCKLWN. Cllr Pike reported that Environmental Services will help out (out their discretion) at village events by providing rubbish receptacles  - the 2008 Festival organisers have been advised.

Following advice from the clerk and BCKLWN on the disposal of waste, Council agreed a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, that the Council hire a trade waste skip at a cost of £465 (Ex-VAT) this financial year and £615 (Ex-VAT) in a full year to meet the Council’s obligations under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act. Cllr Pike advised that the bin would be sited alongside the village hall trade waste bin. The clerk advised that funding would come from the £150 on-line filing refund, part from reserves and part from the Environmental Committee and Community Projects Committee Repairs and Renewals funds.

Following discussion, Council approved a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, that the post of temporary litter picker be offered to Mrs Sue Bearpark.

On a proposal from the Chairman it was agreed that the clerk should respond to the Borough Council Green Spaces Strategy document, urging that attention also be given to village green spaces as the document was heavily weighted towards Hunstanton, King’s Lynn and Downham Market.

It was agreed that an idea from Cllr Murphy for a ‘Watlington in Bloom’ competition be included on the agenda for the next meeting, along with the idea for the provision of allotments.

A email from a parishioner regarding anti-social behaviour and ball games on the John Davis Way Open Space was discussed. It was agreed that the clerk should respond with information about the PCSO scheme and that the Council could not be responsible for private fencing backing onto the site.

An email from a parishioner regarding dog fouling on her verge area in Fen Road was discussed. It was agreed that Cllr Golding would contact the parishioner regarding reporting dog fouling and that Cllr Pike would contact her regarding fouling notices. The clerk would also respond to advise that the Council would not be installing an additional dog waste bin. The clerk also advised that he had spoken to the parishioner to advise her on the procedure for reporting untidy land to the rear of her property.

Cllr Golding reported the anti-social behaviour of the contents of the dog  waste bin in Fairfield Lane being thrown into the adjacent ditch. The clerk advised that he would contact BCKLWN Environmental Services again to see if they have taken any action to remove the material from the ditch.

JUN 08/15 Correspondence for information

JUN 08/16 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Golding reported that the surface water flooding relief scheme in Chestnut Close is due to start on 30 June.

There being no other business the Council rose at 8.28pm

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 29 July 2008 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         29 July 2008