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 21 October 2008 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

 

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

 

3 members of the public also attended the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence: Cllrs Mack and Stevenson.  Cllr Rockcliffe for lateness.

 

 

OCT 08/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

 

OCT 08/2 Open Forum

Cllr Pike confirmed that the Watlington PCSO Team would be out in full force on Halloween Night. He also reported that there is the possibility of youngsters holding Friday night parties on the Recreation Ground and undertook to contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team regarding this and to remind them that the Council’s byelaws apply.

 

The recent school break-in was discussed and it was noted that a person was in custody. Cllr Pike reported that Watlington has remained on the priority list following the recent CAG meeting. It was agreed that it would be useful to publicise photos of the PCSO Team in the Village Hall and through the Gossip. The next CAG meeting is on 21 November at West Winch.

 

The clerk advised that he would report again the blocked drain opposite the P.O. Stores.

 

A parishioner raised the matter of cycling on the Millennium Green footpaths. Cllr Pike agreed to take this issue to the next meeting of the Trust.

 

A parishioner raised the issue of parking on School Road. It was agreed that footway parking was a problem throughout the village and that the Council should consider this under Highways matters.

 

On a request from Cllr Miller it was agreed that the Handyperson be asked to take over emptying the litter bin by the football container as it needed to be emptied regularly.

 

 

OCT 08/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 9 September 2008

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting on 9 September 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

OCT 08/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meetings on 9 September  2008

The clerk advised that the current balance of funds is £28,715.51 and that the Council’s reserve funds are lodged in a deposit account with Barclays.

 

OCT 08/5 Remembrance Sunday Representation

Cllr Leedell or Cllr Paget will lay the wreath on behalf of the Parish Council and parishioners on Remembrance Sunday, 9 November. On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that up to £20 (Section 137 funding) be budgeted for the wreath.

 

 

 

OCT 08/6 Payments

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

Payee	Amount	Authority	Reason
Watlington Village Hall	£21.00	Admin	Hall hire 21 Oct 08
Watlington Info Centre	£10.15	Admin	Photocopying Aug / Sept 08
Clerk	£11.95	Admin	Inkjet Cartridge
Clerk	£0.50	Admin	Tel Calls 23/07/08 -  27/07/08
Mrs S Bearpark	£99.36	JUN 08/14	Temporary Litter Picker payment
BCKLWN	£163.44*	DEC 02/14	Dog waste Q2 08/09
CPRE	£28.00	DEC 07/8	Annual Subscription
Mr J Harrington	£118.50	SEP 08/6	Handyperson duties Sept / Oct
Mrs A Bullock	£223.58	SEP 08/6	Litter Picking 22/08/08 - 16/10/08

* Includes recoverable VAT

 

OCT 08/7 Budget 2009/2010

Cllr Pike requested that £5000 be included, as previous years, for facilities provision in the village. The clerk advised that the Council would need to consider extra budget funding for litter clearance, given the probable change of arrangements for public litter collection to be introduced by the Borough Council from April 2009.

 

OCT 08/8 Freedom of Information Act Model Publication Scheme

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to adopt and maintain the Model Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act. It was agreed the clerk would draw up the scheme particulars for the Council from the template guides provided by the Information Commissioner.

 

Cllr Pike advised Council that the Information Commissioner’s Office website is a useful source of information on the use of CCTV.

 

OCT 08/9 Planning Applications

The following planning recommendations were agreed:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	Planning Committee
08/0187/F	Mr N Watkins	Land west of 23 Thieves Bridge Rd	Erection of 2 storey dwelling	Object

Cllr Murphy agreed to speak to the Planning Officer regarding progress on the above application and on what is happening at the Rowan Close site, where clearance work is currently under way. Cllr Golding advised that the Planning Enforcement Team is aware of the activity on the Rowan Close site.

 

Planning Committee recommendations are available at meetings for inspection.

 

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

Reference No.	Applicants	Address	Application	BCKLWN Decision
08/01952/F	Mr A Missin	25 Station Road	Conservatory extension	Approved - 1 condition
08/02012/F	M & A Developments	46 Fen Road	Construction of 4 terraced cottages	Refused
08/01996/F	T Stevenson	1 Glebe Avenue	Construction of single storey extension	Approved - 1 condition

 

Council noted that an application for a certificate of lawful development for the erection of an orangery at Watlington Hall, Church Road has been withdrawn by the applicant.

 

OCT 08/10 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Pike reported that 7 houses have been sold on the Martingales Estate, a further 4 are at exchange of contract stage, 6 houses are to be completed and that the developers are hoping to shortly restart building on the remainder of the development.

 

Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to speak to NCC Highways regarding traffic right of way problems at Langridge Circle on the estate, although it is likely that the road is unadopted. Failing this residents would need to contact the developers.

 

The clerk reported for Cllr Mack that there is no further news as yet regarding site drainage issues.

 

OCT 08/11 Planning E-Consultation Scheme

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to take part in the E-Consultation Scheme for planning applications. It was also agreed that the Council should investigate the use of technology at Parish Council meetings. Cllr Pike agreed to take the matter to the next Village Hall Committee meeting as a first step.

 

OCT 08/12 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that the markings set out on Fen Road for patching were superceded by the surface seal work. It is hoped that a surface water drainage scheme will be put forward in the next year. The clerk also advised that footpath repair work had been carried out on the Hawthorn Close - Warren Close Play Area link.

 

Cllr Miller reported that the footway beyond the village pump on Church Road is very uneven as a result of root run and that a parishioner had suffered a fall as a result. The clerk to report to Highways.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the design detail for the NCC scheme for a footway link on Lynn Road and Mill Road. Work on the scheme is due to start in the 2009/10 financial year.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the modifications to the proposed NCC scheme for  prohibition of waiting at any time in the John Davis Way / Britton Close / Station Road area, this now to include an area either side of the level crossing point.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved in principle the scheme to convert Fairfield Lane to a shared pedestrian / cycleway route, subject to further consultation on scheme details including issues of drainage, vehicle prohibition and landscaping.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved a Borough Council  scheme to cut the hedging on the Stiffkey Close - Britton Close footway link to a maximum of 8 feet. It was also agreed that the the Borough Council be asked to investigate rotating the lantern on the column light by the entrance to the path in Stiffkey Close to increase lighting levels along the path.

 

Cllr Rockcliffe apologised for the delay in cutting hedges along Thieves Bridge Road and Mill Road and advised that this work would be carried out shortly.

 

Following a discussion in Open Forum it was agreed that NCC Highways be asked to carry out a general review of impact of road side car parking in the village.

 

OCT 08/13 Railway Station Car Park

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that negotiations are still on-going for the upgraded car park. The clerk advised that First Capital Connect will be making modifications to the newly installed ticket machine to improve screen readability and use.

 

OCT 08/14 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that 3 new quotes are being sought for the Play Equipment Project Phase 2 and once these are submitted to the Borough Council, it is expected the £18,500 grant will be released.

 

Cllr Pike reported that the Borough Council has approved a grant support of £935 for the Youth Shelter project, this will allow a bid to be made to WREN for the bulk of the funding.

 

 

Cllr Pike reported that the committee is currently investigating the need for repairs or replacement of the main swings on the Recreation Ground, following the breaking of one of the chains.

 

On a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Pike Council agreed to a donation of up to £250 (Section 137 funding) for insurance cover for the 2009 Watlington Festival.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, it was agreed that the request to cut the Glebe Field for festival events be referred back to the festival organisers for a more detailed scheme and that the Council consider this further at the next meeting.

                                                                                                                

Cllr Pike advised that the youth football club had been delayed in their projects for a football wall and the Glebe training area. Council agreed that the Community Projects Committee be asked to speak to the youth football club to see if it could assist.

 

 

OCT 08/15 Environment Committee

On a request from Cllr Miller it was agreed that the fence panel from the Skateboard Park entrance to the Recreation Ground be disposed of by the Handyperson. The clerk advised that consideration was being given to a scheme for closing the gap created by the loss of fencing.

 

On a request from Cllr Pike, it was agreed to request that NCC Highways be asked to cut back the hedging on the John Davis Way - School footpath.

 

The Allotments Working Party reported that possible sites have been identified and that owners are being contacted. The clerk advised that Cllr Mack had forwarded that details of the parishioner willing to act as Allotment Coordinator and that an item would appear in the next issue of the Gossip to judge demand.

 

Cllr Murphy advised that the date for the Watlington In Bloom competition would be on Saturday 20 June, that  judges are in place and that advertising material would appear in the Gossip and on posters. Costs for the competition administration will be met by the Borough Council.

 

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to refer back to the parishioner the offer to cut down and remove 2 dead trees on the Glebe Field for a clarification of their risk assessment for carrying out the work and for a written confirmation from the support company of their qualifications to carry out the work and the extent and cover of their public liability. It was also agreed that the clerk contact the Diocese to seek approval for the work to be carried out.

 

Plans for the Christmas Tree 2008 were considered. Mr Prior has once again kindly agreed to provide a tree, the lights have been saved from last year, the Millennium Green will be asked for permission to site the tree and Mr/s Howlett will be asked for approval to use their the electricity power point. Transport and manpower to be agreed at the next meeting.

 

 

OCT 08/16 Cllr Paget Absence from Council Meetings

On a proposal from Cllr Murphy, seconded by Cllr Dagnall, Council approved a resolution under Section 85 of the 1972 Local Government Act that Cllr Paget be exempt from loss of office as a councillor if absent from Council meetings for a period greater than six months due to his upcoming overseas military duties.

 

 

OCT 08/17 Correspondence for Action

From	Subject	Action
BCKLWN	Mayor’s Civic Awards Nominations	Council* to nominate Mr Cyril Pike for this award.

* Proposed by Cllr Murphy, seconded by Cllr Golding and approved by Council.

 

 

 

OCT 08/18 Correspondence for information

From	Subject	Information Note
Vitalise	Thank you letter for £25 donation
BCKLWN	Village Facilities Update Survey	Completed by clerk
CCLA Investments	Reports & Accounts to June 08
Downham LAG	Minutes of 12 September meeting
NCC	Boundary Committee Review	Summary of business case
Citizens Advice	Thank you letter for £75 donation
Standards Board	Newsletter September 08
BCKLWN	Funding Opportunities Factsheet
Norfolk Constabulary	LAG Meeting 10 October agenda
Communities & Local Government	Byelaws consultation
BCKLWN	Standards Committee Appointments
BCKLWN	Sports Development Update Newsletter
CCLA Investments	Edward Shouldham Charity	£18.88 interest retained
Local Action Group	Minutes of 10 October meeting
CPRE	Annual lunch invitation
Wash Estuary Group	Annual Conference 18 November
NCAPTC	Emergency Management Seminar 05/11/08