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 24 January 2006 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

6 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllrs Finnis (e-mail), Garton and Miller; BCllr Ansell; PC Bodley.

The Chairman advised the meeting that Cllr Amor has resigned from the Council owing to ill-health. On a proposal from the Chairman, it was agreed that the clerk would write a letter of thanks to Mr Amor for his service on, and support of, the Parish Council.

The clerk reported that Notices for a Poll for the Council vacancy had been posted on local noticeboards and that if there was no call for an election, co-option notices would be placed after 7 February in time for a co-option ballot at the meeting on 14 March, under the Council’s agreed rules.

JAN 06/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JAN 06/2 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 6 December 2005

The Minutes of the Council meeting on 6 December 2005 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JAN 06/3 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising (Not on the agenda)

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £11,309.61. The clerk also reported that the Borough Council Community Information Point in the Information Centre is well on its way to being set up, with the new computer and printer installed and publicity due to appear in the next issue of the ‘Your Council’ newsletter. Also the Emergency Planning Group had met further and after discussion with the Borough Council, it had been agreed that local information should be confined to a log of useful contacts, including keyholders, which would be made available to the Borough and County Councils.

[At this point on a proposal from the Chairman, discussion and setting of the Precept for 2006/7 was deferred to later in the meeting as Cllr Rockcliffe, who had a budget proposal, had not yet arrived at the meeting.]

JAN 06/4 County Council Budget 2006/7

It was agreed that the Council had no specific comments on the County Council budget proposals.

JAN 06/5 Payments

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

*Includes VAT

Council noted that payments to MHB Services of £141.92 a month for the street lighting maintenance contract are now made by Standing Order (Min SEP 05/9) as of January 2006.

JAN 06/6 New Housing Development (Martingales)

Council were pleased to note that the new street names (Featherby, Challis, Fendley, Franklin, Gathergood, Jackson, Kent, Kidman, Langridge, Lake, Martin, Wildman, Woodward) have been approved by the Borough Council. It was noted that the development name is Martingales and agreed that the clerk would seek to find out from Persimmon whether this name had any significance.

The Chairman reported that the developers have now installed a one way system for construction site traffic and that the clerk had not received any further complaints from nearby residents.

JAN 06/7 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

JAN 06/8 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Development Framework

Council agreed that it had no matters to raise in relation to the Core Strategy Issues and Options paper of the Norfolk Minerals and Waste Development Framework.

JAN 06/9 Police Liaison Officer Information Exchange

The clerk reported on behalf of PC Bodley that 5 crimes had been recorded in the parish since the last meeting of the Council.

JAN 06/10 Environment Committee

After consideration of a letter from Mr M Featherby seeking closure of the footpath between Station Road and Cecil Close, a letter from another parishioner regarding this and the footpath between Lacey Close and Station Road, parishioner comments at the meeting, a note from Cllr Miller and a letter from NCC regarding procedures in such cases, Council agreed that it would not make any representations in this matter until a formal consultation was required if a private application was made to the County Council to close this footpath and agreed that no expenditure would be incurred in this matter.

A letter was read from a parishioner in Lacey Close regarding sewage flooding problems that had occurred in 2002 and 2004.Council agreed, given this problem and the increased capacity that would be required for the Martingales development, that the clerk should write to Anglian Water seeking reassurances about the sewerage network capacity in the village and also copy the correspondence received to Cllr Rockcliffe and BCllr Ansell as members of the local drainage board.

The clerk reported that the officer dealing with the Britton Close area lighting proposal had now left the Borough Council and that in view of this BCllr Ansell would now be approaching the appropriate Borough Council Cabinet Member to seek a fresh look at this matter.

Cllr Golding reported that branches are overhanging along the footpath from Chestnut Close to Downham Road. It was agreed that the clerk would contact NCC Highways regarding this. If this is not their responsibility then letters would be sent to the owners of the adjacent properties.

The Chairman read a report from Cllr Miller on the increasing dog fouling problem on the Glebe Land. The clerk reported that he had spoken to the Environmental Protection Team at the Borough Council, who had advised that new regulations would be coming out in April as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods Act and that it would be advisable to wait until then before considering what further action could be taken. BCKLWN had advised that they would support the banning of dogs from the Recreation Ground, although this would require the fixing of gates to each entrance point, but would not support such a ban on the Glebe Land as this is a well known dog walking area. Fouling and Leash Orders could also be considered. Signs had been made up by Richard Miller and some supplied by the Borough Council. It was agreed that the Council should consider the matter further when the new regulations are available.

JAN 06/11 Millennium Green

Cllrs Golding and Pike reported that the Millennium Green Trust had held its AGM and were currently seeking additional trustees. The main work this year would be to work on the maze, though there were costing issues to be sorted out with regard to this. Also there would be a request soon for volunteer help as the new season

approaches.

The Chairman read a report from Cllr Miller on the problems with trying to arrange a Christmas Tree for 2005. After being advised that the Millennium Green Trust did not wish to see a non-native permanent tree on the Green and a discussion of possible alternative sites, it was agreed that the Trust would be approached about the possibility of having a ‘securing tube’ installed to allow for an annual tree, bearing in mind the need for this to have an accessible electricity supply.

Cllr Pike reported that the Trust would be approaching the Council’s Handyperson to see if he could carry out repairs to the fencing along the Station Road boundary, the cost to be borne by the Trust.

JAN 06/12 Highways Matters

The clerk reported on behalf of Cllr Miller the poor state of the Church Road footway. It was agreed that the clerk would write again to NCC Highways regarding this problem

JAN 06/13 Rail Station Car Park

The Chairman read letters from the MP, Norfolk County Council, the Borough Council and a press release from First Capital Connect, new rail franchisee. The County Council will be carrying out a feasibility study in 2006/7on developing the station car park, taking into account the Parish Council’s request for parking restrictions on the roads nearby the station. The Borough Council have arranged for a Cabinet Portfolio member to meet with First Capital Connect and the MP has written to all interest parties to urge a response. First Capital Connect has a commitment to provide up to 600 additional parking spaces on the network route. Council noted these responses and looked forward to a positive outcome.

JAN 06/14 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that there had been no additional feedback via the Gossip item on the future layout of the Village Pound. It was therefore agreed that this matter should be referred back to the committee for proposals for carrying out the work in line with the Council’s preferred option set out in Minute OCT 05/12.

Cllr Pike reported that the consultation document on preferences for play / fitness equipment for the 5-12 age group had now been completed and was being sent to the School and the Youth Football Club.

JAN 06/15 Glebe Committee

It was noted that litter is still a problem on the Glebe and that this seems to be associated with football matches played there. It was agreed that the clerk would again contact Cllr Finnis for the adult team and also the Youth Football Teams regarding this issue.

JAN 06/16 Parish Plans

It was agreed that, given the low level of attendance at the public meeting in December to discuss Parish Plans, no further action would be taken on this matter at the current time.

JAN 06/17 Correspondence for Action

JAN 06/18 Correspondence for information

JAN 06/19 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Toates reported that the Village Screen first film ‘Ladies in Lavender’ had been shown at the Village Hall and had proved popular with the audience. The hall is booked for a screening on the 3^rd Saturday of each month, the next film being ‘The Constant Gardener’. Cllr Toates also reported that a hearing loop was now available in both halls and was working well.

The Chairman then opened the meeting to the public.

A parishioner raised the issue of the hedging which is encroaching onto the footway on the St Peters Road side of 2 Station Road and the cutting up of the verge opposite InterLink on School Road. It was agreed that the clerk should write in both cases to seek to remedy these problems.

A parishioner raised the issue of heavy farm traffic using Bells Drove, which had become very intrusive. It was agreed that the parishioner would contact the clerk after the meeting to supply further details.

JAN 06/20 Precept 2006/2007

Given the possible confidential nature of a budget proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, on a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the following resolution (Standing Orders 66 and 67) – “That in view of the special confidential nature of the business to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw”, the reason being the possible compromising of a possible financial transaction relating to the Station Car Park.

After discussion of the budget proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe relating to the possible purchase of land adjacent to the Rail Station Car Park to provide additional car parking spaces, Council agreed that it would not include any budget provision in 2006/7 for this proposal.

After discussion on the need to ensure adequate funding for such items as increased insurance and electricity costs and the £1000 one-off grant to the Pre-School due in 2006 and the need to keep any increase in the precept to within government suggested limits, on a proposal from the Chairman it was agreed that the precept for 2006/7 should be £23,500, an increase of £1250 or approximately 5%.

There being no other business the Council rose at 8.36pm.

The next meeting of the Council is after the Annual Parish Meeting (7.00pm) on Tuesday 14 March 2006 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         14 March 2006