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 20 October 2009 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

 

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

 

10 members of the public attended the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence: Cllr Mack, Miller, Paget and Stevenson.

 

OCT 09/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

 

OCT 09/2 Open Forum Notes

6 members of the public raised the issue of cars parking along Station Road since the closure of the temporary permitted extension to the station car park. 6 letters and 1 email had also been received on this matter. Concerns were expressed about traffic accidents, traffic congestion, particularly when the level crossing is in use, danger to children crossing the road and difficulties in access driveways. Cllr Rockcliffe advised that the Police have instituted temporary No Parking arrangements along this stretch of road and that NCC Highways are working towards extending the double yellow lines along Station Road from John Davis Way to the level crossing. Mr Venni, owner of the temporary permitted extension to the existing car park, explained that he had closed the extension principally because of his objections to land acquisition procedures for the new car park.

 

Cllr Rockcliffe left the meeting at 7.15.

     

OCT 09/3 Minutes of the Council Meetings held on 8 / 24 September 2009

The minutes of the Council Meeting on  8 and 24 September 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

OCT 09/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 8 /24 September 2009

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £25,134.02. The latest expenditure figures were presented to the meeting. The clerk also advised that the latest consultation on the NCC Minerals and Waste Site Allocations Development Plan had been received and would be on the next agenda. The document has revealed that the single minerals site put forward in Watlington has been deemed as ‘Not Acceptable’ as had the 4 sites in Tottenhill.

 

OCT 09/5 Payments

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

Payee	Amount	Authority	Reason
Watlington Village Hall	£44.00	Admin	Hall hire 24 September / 20 October 09
Watlington Info Centre	£3.55	Admin	Photocopying September 09
Watlington Info Centre	£11.99	Admin	5 reams of A4 paper (Shared order)
Mazars LLP	£327.75*	Admin	External Audit 2008/9 Fee
Suffolk County Council	£345.00*	JUL 08/12	Shelter Project Seat (Grant funded)
Lightmain Company Ltd	£9694.50*	JUL 08/12	Shelter Project Shelter (Grant funded)
Kew Grasscare	£4666.70*	JUL 08/12	Shelter Project Fencing / Hedge removal
Kew Grasscare	£662.40*	JUL 08/12	Shelter Project Roots disposal – final price may vary on tonnage removed
Mrs A Bullock	£201.60	SEP 09/8	Litter Picking 08/09/09 – 17/10/09
Mr J Harrington	£174.85	SEP 09/8	Handyperson duties Sept / Oct + 3.5 hrs

 *Includes recoverable VAT

 

 

OCT 09/6 Budget 2010/2011

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council agreed that, as in previous years, £5000 should be included in the 2010/2011 budget for play equipment / new facilities.

 

Council agreed that a recommendation from the clerk to increase the weekly hours of the Litter Picker from 5 to 6 hours from 1 April at an annual cost of £300 could be brought forward in the budget proposals.

 

OCT 09/7 Clerk’s Salary

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the National Award for Local Council Clerks from
1 April 2009, which will increase the hourly rate of pay for the clerk from £9.843 to £9.941.

 

OCT 09/8 External Audit of Accounts 2008/2009

Council noted that the external audit of accounts for 2008/9 has been completed without any comments from the auditors.

 

OCT 09/9 Remembrance Sunday Representation

Cllr Leedell agreed to lay the annual remembrance wreath on behalf of the Council. On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council approved expenditure of up to £20 for the wreath.

 

OCT 09/10 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	Council Recommendation
09/01559/F	Mrs S Waddington	1 Plough Lane	Change of use from 1 to 2 dwellings	Support
09/01670/F	Cannon Developments	38 Mill Road (Jubilee Antiques)	Change of use from retail unit and stables to 2 dwellings	Object – lack of parking provision

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
09/01432/F	M & A Developments		46 Fen Road	Construction of 2 detached dwellings		Approved with 9 conditions
09/00500/F	Client of DP Wadlow		17 School Road	Modernisation and extension of bungalow		Approved with 1 condition

 

OCT 09/11 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

The clerk reported that the Borough Council are currently awaiting a response from Persimmon regarding the  Planning Authority possible enforcement notice in relation to the non-compliance with planning conditions relating to drain culverting and the provision of play equipment.

 

OCT 09/12 Rowan Close Development

The clerk reported that there is a legal issue relating to this development so an update report was not available for this meeting.

 

OCT 09/13 Highways and Transport Matters

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved that NCC Highways be asked to install no parking double yellow lines on the stretch of highway on Station Road, from John Davis Way to the station, as a matter urgency. Council noted that NCC Highways have agreed to an extension of the double yellow lines in John Davis Way. It was agreed that the clerk would contact NCC Highways regarding implementation of these arrangements.

 

 

The clerk reported on a number of other highways issues: 1) NCC Highways are monitoring the works done on Fen Road, but require a spell of wet weather to assess the new surfacing; 2) NCC Highways will monitor the puddling problem on Church Road, between the shop and the village hall path, but again require a spell of wet weather; 3) Gullies on Church Road will be cleaned out; 4) The owners of 14 John Davis Way would be asked to cut their hedge in Paige Close; 5) Kerb lowering would take place outside 15 Fen Road; 6) Broken utility covers at the junction of Chestnut Close and Fen Road, outside 28 Downham Road and at the junction of Thieves Bridge Road and Beechwood Close have been reported to the relevant utility provider.

 

It was agreed that hedges outside No.52 Downham Road, into Rectory Lane, and at the junction of Mill Road and Thieves Bridge Road (No.31) be reported to NCC Highways, along with the need that the temporary street redirect sign at the housing site in Thieves Bridge Road should be lit at night.  At this site construction vehicles are parking on the footway, footway parking being a problem also in other parts of the village.

 

The overgrown hedging along the Mill Road – Glebe footpath to be reported again.

 

Council noted that work on the Village Hall – Mill Lane footway is imminent.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council passed a vote of confidence in and thanks for the continuing hard work carried out by Cllr Rockcliffe in his duty as both parish and county councillor and for his due diligence in facilitating the proposed upgrade of the rail station car park.

 

OCT 09/14 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that the Youth Shelter has now been installed and that the additional seat would be installed by the end of the week. The new fencing and gate have been delayed, this as a result of the need to let the ground settle where the Leylandii hedge has been removed and the lack of rain to help that process.

Cllr Pike agreed to investigate a problem with the solar lighting on the shelter.

 

Council agreed that given the all steel construction of the shelter no insurance provision would be made.

 

Council agreed that the Planning and Environment Committees should forward the following items from the Open Forum 1) A 20mph zone for Rectory Lane / Fen Road for school safety; 2) Follow-up on the cycleway to school link along Fairfield Lane; 3) Undertake a review of lighting on non-estate areas footpaths and footways; 4) Seek to install additional planters around and opposite the village sign; 5) Encourage BCKLWN to introduce a monthly doorstep recycling scheme, similar to those in The Netherlands; 6) Organise a Spring Clean of the village in 2010.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved that the Community Projects Committee start feasibility project for the conversion of the basketball court to a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and that prices be sought for a replacement embankment slide at the Warren Close Play Area.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the seeking of quotations for the replacement of the short run of fence on the boundary between the Angel Public House and the Post Office Stores.

  

A letter from Mrs Julia Suiter updating the Council on Watstock 2010 was read and discussed. On a proposal from the Chairman, it was agreed that a letter be send assuring the Watstock Committee of the Council’s continued support, agreement on a single entrance for the site and agreement on arrangements for temporary parking on the Recreation Ground. It was also agreed that the Council would make a grant application to Watstock for funds towards new play equipment at the appropriate time.

 

OCT 09/15 Environment Committee

Cllr Golding reported that Mr Pearson hoped to be able to give a response regarding a possible allocation of land for allotments by the end of November. The clerk advised that a firm proposal for a minimum 5 year term for use of the Britton Close site is expected this week. He also advised that Local Development Framework Spatial Plan is not now expected before January and that, although there had been interest for sharing a garden, nobody had come forward with an offer to share their garden.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Dagnall, Council agreed that the current extent of cutting on the Glebe Field be continued and that the defensive mound should be cut at the same time as the grass, once the daffodils have finished their cycle. It was agreed that Cllr Pike and the clerk would meet with Watlington Adult Football Club to progress the arrangements for grass cutting on the Glebe Field for 2010.

 

 

The Chairman agreed to see the householder of 47 Downham Road regarding encroachment of shrubbery from the Glebe Downham Road Strip. Council was minded that this area should be cut back to grass, the extent of the cut to be agreed.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the quotation from Kew Grasscare for the cutting of the Recreation Ground boundary hedge be accepted and that a similar twice yearly cut be arranged.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed that the litter bin at the junction of Britton Close and Station Road be replaced with a bin that meets BCKLWN standards at a cost of £400 and that BCKLWN be approached to provide the internal ‘wheelie bin’. Cllr Pike agreed to liaise with the Handyperson about removing the existing bin.

 

Cllr Pike agreed to liaise with other parties to set plans into action for the 2009 Christmas Tree.

 

On a request from Cllr Golding, the clerk agreed to speak to the handyperson about painting the swings at the Warren Close Play Area.

 

Cllr Pike agreed to investigate state of the hedge boundaries at the Warren Close Play Area.

 

OCT 09/16 Correspondence for Action

From	Subject	Council Decision
BCKLWN	Mayor’s Civil Awards 2009.	Deferred to the next agenda.
BCKLWN	Mayor’s Award for Design in The Environment.	No nominations.
WNVCA	Membership	Not to be taken up.

 

 

OCT 09/17 Correspondence for information

From	Subject	Information Note
Norfolk Lowland Search & Rescue	Thank you letter for £25 donation
Vitalise	Thank you letter for £25 donation
Macmillan Cancer	Thank you letter for £25 donation
Norfolk RCC	Signpost magazine September 09
Mr W Zipfell	£100 rental for Shouldham Charity paid
BCKLWN	Standards Board 28/09 & 02/09 Agendas
Environment Agency	Great Ouse Tidal River Open Day	Notified by email
Barclays	Edward Shouldham Account	Balance £303.46
NCC	Norfolk’s Older People’s Strategy 2009/11	Summary document
NALC	Norfolk Link Newsletter	Held by clerk
CCLA Investments	Edward Shouldham Charity	Balance £1428.16
BCKLWN	Code of Conduct Interests Advice	Circulated to councillors
BCKLWN	Standards Committee 28/09/09

 

OCT 09/18 Members Information Exchange / Agenda Items

Cllr Pike advised that the Millennium Green Trust would be holding 10 year birthday celebrations next year.