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 27 July 2010 at 7.00 pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

10 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: None

JUL 10/1 Declarations of Interest

JUL 10/2 Open Forum Notes

Four parishioners complained about the nose levels from the Watstock Event and about the late conclusion of the event on Sunday evening, well beyond the advertised finished time of 6.00pm. Suggestions were made regarding noise limiters, moving the performance trailer or moving the event away from the village. A letter of complaint about the late finish and noise levels was presented to the Council. Triston Finnis for Watstock stated that the sound levels had been agreed with the Environmental Health Officer. Praise was expressed for the litter picking after the event.

Three residents from Paige Close raised concerns about the proposal for allotments at the end of Paige Close in relation to the shingle access area in front of their properties and urged that the Council, if it was to go ahead with the allotments, take over maintenance costs for this area.

JUL 10/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 June 2010

The minutes of the Council meeting on 15 June 2010 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUL 10/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 4 May 2010

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £31,890.56 with £3,302 of this unallocated to specific budgets. First quarter expenditure figures were presented to the meeting.

JUL 10/5 Payments

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

 *Includes recoverable VAT

JUL 10/6 Edward Shouldham Charity

On a proposal from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed to register the Possessory Title of the Shouldham Charity Land at a cost of approximately £400, these costs to be borne by the Council.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the advertising of the letting of the charity land for the period 12 October 2010 to 10 October 2011, bids to be considered at the September meeting of the Council.

JUL 10/7 Requests for Grants and Donations

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the amount available for release as grants and donations to be 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the budget over the four meetings (June, September, December and March) when applications for funds are considered.

JUL 10/8 Planning

8(i) Planning Applications

8(ii) Planning Decisions

The following planning decision has been received from the Borough Council:

JUL 10/9 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Mack reported that the flooding problem in Station Road had not yet been resolved and that he was pursuing the matter further with the Planning Enforcement Team.

On a proposal from the Chairman, it was agreed that a letter be sent to residents of Kent Close advising that if they extend their garden into the newly culverted ditch they may be responsible for any remedial work required on the drainage system in their extended garden and to advise against planting trees over the culverted ditch. Cllr Mack agreed to speak to the Planning Officer about this matter.

JUL 10/10 Rowan Close Development

The clerk advised that Planning Officer has now signed off this development, the conditions of the planning approval having been deemed to be met. On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that a letter be sent to the planning officer expressing disapproval that the Parish Council had not been supplied with further information on site levels before the decision had been made.

JUL 10/11 Scheme for Support of Vulnerable Persons

The clerk reported that information is still awaited from Norfolk Association of Local Councils and the Rural Community Council regarding any such schemes in Norfolk.

JUL 10/12 Norfolk Fire Service Plan 2011/2014

On a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Scully, it was agreed that Norfolk Fire Service Plan 2011/2014 be supported, the proposals giving improved fire engine cover in this area of the county.

JUL 10/13 Highways and Transport Matters

The clerk reported that the zebra crossing markings are on the NCC Highways schedule for renewal and that NCC Highways have advised that the culverts on Fen Road do not require clearance of excess tarmac for access.

The clerk reported that there is a legal delay in carrying out work on the Fairfield Lane cycleway / footway scheme as the land has to be dedicated to the County Council. This will mean that the work will not take place in the school holiday period.

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that there is no further information to report on the rail station car park scheme. Cllr Mack reported that parishioners in Station Road were concerned about renewed parking along that road. It was agreed that the Police should be kept informed of this, along with concerns about obstructive parking across the level crossing, around the car park exit, and that parishioners should be urged to report any vehicle obstruction in this area directly to the Police. 

Cllr Pike requested that NCC Highways be asked to cut back the hedging on the John Davis Way / School link.

JUL 10/14 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike advised that the Village Hall Committee, in conjunction with the Sports & Social Club, are currently undertaking a project to seek to provide a tarmac surfaced car park at the village hall and as part of that project may ask the Council, as site leaseholders, to take out a loan for part of the cost of the works, with the loan costs recoverable by an agreement with the Village Hall and Sports & Social Club.

On a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed to accept a quote from Country Grounds Maintenance of £3942.19 ex-VAT for the removal of part of the Leylandii hedging on the Recreation Ground and replacement by bowtop fencing and the installation of a gate / fencing at the Church Road entrance to the site. [2 Quotes were received for this project.]

Council noted an email from the Youth Football Club regarding litter clearance on the Recreation Ground on Saturdays. Cllr Pike agreed to liaise with the club about this matter, given that litter picking in this area is carried out on a Sunday, which ensures that the Recreation Ground is clear for most of the week.

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed that the start time next meeting of the Council should be brought forward to 6.00pm to allow for an Open Forum of up to one hour for public views on the recent Watstock Event to be put forward, that this meeting be publicised through noticeboards and the Gossip Magazine, and that invitations be sent to the Police and to the Watstock Committee to attend.

Council recorded disapproval that the Watstock Event did not finish at the stated 6.00pm finish on the Sunday and that the Watstock Committee be asked to account for this.

JUL 10/15 Allotments

Cllr Golding and the clerk reported that the initial clearance of the Britton Close site had taken place, with the contractor looking to see what further clearance work could be safely undertaken, that tenancy agreements have been signed with the plotholders and that a meeting would be arranged with the plotholders to move this project forward. The clerk reported that there are no additional insurance liabilities for the Council on taking on this site.

Following a report from Cllr Golding regarding the negotiations, which are on-going, for a 5 year lease on the site at the end of Paige Close for use as allotments and discussion about access to the site and parking arrangements, on a proposal from Cllr Scully, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed to take over the maintenance of the shingle area at the end of Paige Close for the lease period, to the standard pertaining at the start of the lease and to include in the tenants’ lease a clause relating to parking restrictions around the access / entrance to the site.

JUL 10/16 Environment Committee

On a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed to accept a quote from Country Grounds Maintenance of £398.00 ex-VAT for remedial work on the oak tree at the top end of the Glebe Field. [2 Quotes were received for this project.]

Council noted that there would be further consultation on the Waste / Recycling centre at Saddlebow.

Following a request from a parishioner, on a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed that the dog waste bin on Fairfield Lane by moved to near the footpath exit point from Kent Drive and that repairs to the bin lid be carried out.

Cllr Pike agreed to carry out a survey of the Martingales Estate, in conjunction with a resident, to locate a suitable point for the installation of a dog waste bin on the estate.

Cllr Pike asked that the hedging in the tots play area be cut back – the clerk to contact the grounds maintenance contractors - and that the Handyperson purchase some Graffiti Buster for use on the Skateboard Park. Cllr Golding agreed to check an overhanging tree along Rectory Lane.

JUL 10/17 Correspondence for Action

JUL 10/18 Correspondence for information

JUL 10/19 Members Information Exchange / Agenda Items

Cllr Scully requested an insurance liability check if a person climbed and fell from the Social Shelter roof and subsequently sustained an injury.

There being no other business, Council rose at 9.08pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 7 September in the Village Hall at 6.00pm.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                

7 September 2010