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 22 January 2008 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Golding, Leedell, Mack, Miller, Paget, Pike, Rockcliffe (from 8.00pm) and Stevenson.

7 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Murphy; Cllr Rockcliffe for late arrival.

JAN 08/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JAN 08/2 Open Forum

The chairman advised the meeting of a consultation document from the Norfolk Primary Care Trust, The Proposed Vision and Priorities from 2008-2011. Cllr Mack advised that further hard copies of the document were available at the Medical Centre.

A parishioner reported a high level of rubbish in the Fairfield Lane ditch. Cllr Paget and the parishioner kindly agreed to carry out a voluntary clearance of the ditch.

3 parishioners spoke against the installation of a youth shelter in the village, consultation on which are currently under way by the Council. It was suggested that the Council might like to invite Glen Watkins, the Borough Council Anti-social Behaviour Officer, to a meeting to consider the possibility of the formation of a Youth Club as an alternative to a youth shelter and that this should be an agenda item.

JAN 08/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 4 December 2007

The minutes of the Council meeting on 4 December 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record

JAN 08/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 4 December 2007

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £17,473.13, with over £2400 payments due in the next two months. The clerk advised that the overgrown hedge in Paige Close had now been cut back.

JAN 08/5 Payments

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

* Includes recoverable VAT

JAN 08/6 Precept 2008/9

Following discussion on the proposed budget, the possible need to provide additional services on the new housing estates and increased service costs, Council agreed a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, that the Precept for 2008/9 be fixed at £26,450 a 2.1% rate increase.

JAN 08/7 Damaged Street Light in Church Road

The clerk reported that the insurers for May Gurney have finally responded and a full report has been forwarded to them asking for a prompt settlement of the claim.

JAN 08/8 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

The Planning Committee recommendations were available at the meeting for inspection.

[Cllr Rockcliffe arrived at this point.]

Council noted a copy letter received in relation to the application for 105 Downham Road

Council noted a copy letter received in relation to the application for 32 Station Road. It was agreed that the clerk write to the parishioners advising of BCKLWN contacts / procedures for this application.

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

JAN 08/9 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Pike advised that of the 127 properties due on Martingales, 39 are occupied and 4 reserved and that on The Coppice, 37 properties are occupied and 3 reserved. Cllr Mack advised that Persimmon had still to submit a new planning application for site drainage and that he was now corresponding on behalf of the Drainage Board regarding site problems. The clerk reported that the knee high fencing had now been installed around the large open area.

JAN 08/10 West Norfolk Local Plan

Council noted the policies still in use on the existing Local Plan and Norfolk Structure Plan.

JAN 09/11 Planning Application Procedures

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that it should consider planning applications through the current procedures, that is on the receipt of an application submitted to the Local Planning Authority or through a pre-application Community Consultation brought to the attention of the Council.

Council noted that a letter regarding a possible planning application relating to the Post Office Stores had been withdrawn.

JAN 08/12 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that the programme of requested road markings had now been completed.

Cllr Miller reported that she had received complaints from parishioners regarding the state of Church Road and adjacent footway from the shop to the village pump. Large puddles form after any rain and pedestrians are often sprayed with the surface water by passing vehicles. It was agreed that the Cllr Rockcliffe and the clerk would contact NCC Highways about the surface state of this road.

Cllr Pike advised that it appeared that a van had been abandoned part way along John Davis Way; the clerk to advise BCKLWN. Cllr Pike also advised that the hedging at 52 Downham Road into Rectory Lane was again overgrown; the clerk to contact NCC Highways.

Council agreed a proposal from the Chairman that Mott MacDonald be advised that the Council was in favour of Option 1, South Side, for the proposed footway link along Lynn Road from the village hall to Plough Lane.

JAN 08/13 Railway Station

Council agreed a proposal from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Golding, that the concrete planter on the Lynn platform at the station be relocated to in front of the village sign at the Village Pound. The clerk to liase with the Handyperson. Cllr Rockcliffe also offered to assist in the move.

Council agreed that the clerk should write again to First Capital Connect to see if they would be willing to install a platform seat on the Lynn platform.

JAN 08/14 Community Projects Committee

Council agreed a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Paget, that  £21 be spend on hall hire to enable a final consultation meeting on the possible installation of a youth shelter and to update the community on the youth forum.

Cllr Pike reported that the Council had been awarded £18,500 from the Big Lottery Fund for the Play Equipment Phase 2 project. Further details were now awaited from the Borough Council.

Cllr Pike reported that  2/3rds of the hedging work had now been completed at the Warren Close Play Area.

Cllr Pike advised on behalf of the Youth Football Club that they now had quotes for both the electricity supply work for the training area and for the multi-games wall and that applications had now been submitted to funding bodies.

JAN 08/15 Watlington Village Festival 2008

The Chairman read a letter from the festival working party, which outlined the events for the festival period of 8  - 20 July.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed 1) To give permission for the football tournaments and stalls for the weekend of 12/13 July, 2) Permission to use the Recreation Ground for the Grand Fete on 19 July and for the Glebe Field for live music on the evening of 19 July, and 3) To set aside £200 in the current year grants and donations budget (S137 Payment) to cover events insurance. It was also agreed that the Litter Picker be asked to concentrate on clearing the Recreation Ground and Glebe Field on days before festival events.

JAN 08/16 Environment Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman agreed that letters of thanks be sent to Mr Prior for providing the 2007 Christmas Tree, to Mr & Mrs Howlett for allowing their electrical supply to be used and to Squadron Leader Merrick for allowing the use of a loader vehicle to transport the tree. On a further proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to reimburse Mr & Mrs Howlett for electricity costs (S137 payment). The Chairman  thanked all councillors involved in the erection of the tree, particularly Cllr Paget for organising the transport. The Chairman agreed to speak to Mr & Mrs Howlett regarding the £20 payment. Council noted that the tree had been disposed of by recycling.

Cllr Miller reported for the football club that they would like Council permission to clear the moles on the Glebe Field pitch and that the Council contribute towards that clearance of moles on the Recreation Ground. Council agreed permission subject to a professional contractor being used. The clerk to enquire of the contractor engaged to clear the Recreation Ground as to why the work had not been completed.

Cllr Leedell advised the Council that she had recorded a total of 6 very large trees on the Glebe Land in a survey request from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

The clerk reported on jobs completed by the Handyperson, including the installation of new entrance marker bollards on the west side footpath across the Glebe Field.

Following the reading of a letter from a parishioner regarding the vacant land opposite 16 Station Road, Council agreed a proposal from the Chairman that the clerk write to the Borough Council Head of Planning requesting that they seek to enforce tidying up work under Section 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990.

An email from a parishioner regarding dog fouling was read to the meeting. Cllr Mack advised that the Borough Council is to bring in stronger dog fouling regulations in February and would report back on the issue. It was agreed the subject would once again be raised in The Gossip.

JAN 08/17 Correspondence for Action

JAN 08/18 Correspondence for information

JAN 08/19 Members Information Exchange

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.02pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 18 March 2008 in the Village Hall after the Annual Parish Meeting (7.00pm.)

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         18 March 2008