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 31 July 2007 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

Mr G Simpson (NCC Highways) and 2 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Dagnall, Mack and Rockcliffe.

JUL 07/1Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JUL 07/2 Open Forum: Highways Matters

On a proposal from the Chairman, council agreed that Highways Matters should be taken at this stage of the meeting as Graham Simpson (GS) from NCC Highways was present.

Council noted that a feasibility study into a possible footpath link along Lynn Road from the village hall to Mill Road was likely next year, but that a footway extension along Fen Road was unlikey for a number of years. The Council wish for a maintenance scheme for Church Road would be taken into account in deciding the 2009 works programme. Council also noted that the school was updating their Travel Plan to enable the bid for a zebra crossing on Station Road to be considered.

Council noted a request from Magdalen PC for a meeting regarding a bid for a footpath link between the two villages. It was agreed that the clerk write advising of the response from GS, that any such bid would not represent value for more or score any significant assessment points.

Council noted the publication of the 7.5T Weight Restriction Order, which will reduce large load traffic in the village and also noted the licence application to cultivate the highway verge at 29 Mill Road.

An email from a parishioner regarding footway safety on Downham Road was read. It was noted that one of the hedges referred to had been cut back and that the other hedge had not been identified. The footway obstruction mentioned was a police matter. GS agreed to look at possible road warning signs for this area, where people cross the road on an obscured corner.

A discussion on speeding enforcement and traffic calming was held. GS advised that 20mph zones were being widely requested and that at the current time only area with a major school or an accident record or where the road layout could self enforce were speed restriction zones being introduced. One option of flashing signs was expensive and their effectiveness was considered to lessen over time.

GS agreed to a request to improve ‘drive carefully’ signage at the 5 gateways into the village, to consider white lines on the main roads in the village to give the appearance of less wide carriageways and to consider ‘Slow’ signs along John Davis Way and Church Road as measures that might help reduce overall speeds.

GS noted that road markings were needed along Church Road and that the zebra crossing had still not been remarked. He noted some concerns that had been expressed about the safety of the zebra crossing. He also advised that Downham Road would be resurfaced at some point, this road suffering a number of bad drainage points.

GS advised that he had given NG Transco details of all parish clerks to allow then to communicate regarding the proposed gas pipeline, which would impact on a number of parishes.

The chairman on behalf of the Council thanked Mr Simpson for his attendance at the meeting.

JUL 07/3 Open Forum: Local Police Issues and Other Matters

Council noted a reply from Inspector Bates, who advised that a second PCSO had now been recruited, that the accommodation issue for the Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) Office had not finally been settled and welcomed the offer to supply bicycles, which would be progressed by the Police. It was agreed that the Police be contacted to invite a member of the SNT to attend Council meetings on a regular basis and to request information as to whether the Mobile Police Station is to be withdrawn at the end of the year.

Following the meeting at Lacey Close, it was noted that the barriers had been erected at Lacey Close and Nene Road and that NCC Highways are again looking at the lighting at the Cecil Close end of that footpath. Also a cost to move a light on the Lacey Close footpath is being obtained as a parishioner might consider funding the moving of the lighting column.

JUL 07/4 Co-option of a New Councillor

Following a secret ballot amongst councillors Mr Derrick Murphy was duly co-opted to the Council.

JUL 07/5 Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 15 May 2007

The Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting on 15 May 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUL 07/6 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 26 June 2007

The Minutes of the Council Meeting on 26 June 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JUL 07/7 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 26 June 2007

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £26536.06. Updated budgetary control figures were presented to the meeting. The clerk also advised that the temporary litter picker had been appointed, Miss Abbigail Charlton, and that she had started work in mid-July for a period of up to 3 months.

JUL 07/8 Edward Shouldham Charity

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the 2006/2007 Edward Shouldham Charity Accounts.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the advertising of the letting of the charity land for the period 11 October 2007 to 10 October 2008, bids to be considered at the September meeting of the Council.

JUL 07/9 Payments

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

* Includes VAT

JUL 07/10 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

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

± Discussion was held on this extent of the increase in density and revised layout of this application and a letter of objection from a parishioner was read. It was agreed that the Planning Committee would consider the views expressed at the meeting when considering the application.

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

JUL 07/11 Martingales Development

A response had been received from Persimmon regarding the green open space between Martingales and The Meadows Estate and the footpath exits to Fairfield Lane. It was agreed that BCllr Mack be asked to continue the liaison work on these issues with the Borough Council along with the Planning Committee. It was noted that Persimmon have no intensions to remove the Stone Close Play Area and that discussions are ongoing regarding the drainage ditches.

The clerk reported for Cllr Mack that the complaint of visual intrusion on their property from residents in Bennett Close would not be taken further by either Persimmon or the Planning Department as they were satisfied that all statutory requirements had been met.

Cllr Pike reported that 25 homes had been sold, 4 reserved and a further 22 were for sale on Martingales.

JUL 07/12 Railway Station and Transport Matters

The clerk reported for Cllr Rockcliffe that negotiations were ongoing between First Capital Connect and Mr Venni regarding the extension of the car park.

The chairman read a letter from First Capital Connect regarding the platform lighting remaining on 24 hours a day. As the letter seemed unclear it was agreed that the clerk would write again on this matter.

Council agreed to respond to Mott MacDonald concerning the King’s Lynn Area Transport Strategy Review, seeking that additional or upgraded cycle route facilities into and around the village be included in the new strategy.

JUL 07/13 Community Projects Committee

The clerk advised that a new draft of the byelaws had been submitted to the Department of Communities and Local Government as a result of changes needed because of the need to rescind the existing byelaws relating to the Recreation Ground. As a result approval was now awaited and the Council would then be required to seal the new byelaws once again. To meet the deadline for parliamentary approval it may be necessary for an extraordinary meeting of the Council before the next meeting to seal the bylaws.

The clerk reported for Cllr Mack, who had raised that conduct of the Borough Council in relation to the handling of applications for Big Lottery Funding for the play equipment project. The cabinet member for Sports, Arts and Leisure had given a limited apology, but blamed the Big Lottery Fund. Cllr Mack has requested a written response on the matter. The clerk advised that a decision on the play equipment bid was now expected in December.

Cllr Pike handed round a summary of the Youth Consultation meeting held on 5 July, which had been attended by over twenty persons despite the appalling weather on the night. It was agreed that councillors would study the document and ideas put forward from the consultation, these to be considered at the next Council meeting. Cllr Pike agreed to discuss at a separate meeting with Cllr Leedell a publication for village youth, either through the Gossip or on-line through the Information Centre.

It was agreed on a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Paget, that the Youth Consultation Meeting be an annual event and that the School be asked to carry out a similar consultation for the younger age group, Cllr Pike to liase with the school.

The chairman on behalf of the Council thanked Cllr Pike for all his hard work in organising the Youth Consultation Meeting. It was also agreed that the clerk write to Dawn Drake for her help and support in running the soft drinks bar on the night.

Council agreed on a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding that a grant of £250 be given towards the project to provide a multi-games wall at the west end of the village hall, this project to be a joint venture involving the Village Hall, who have offered up to 25% of the costs, the Sports & Social Club, who have offered £200 and the Youth Football Team, this to be a Section 137 Grant. It was also agreed that a letter of support for the project be written to the Youth Football Team to help in their bid for other grant support.

JUL 07/14 Glebe Committee

Following discussion on the future management of the mound area of the site, Council approved a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding that the mound be managed as a grassed area with regular strimming throughout the season. Cllr Pike agreed to undertake some voluntary strimming of the area.

Concerns were expressed over the boundaries of the new sports training area on the site, that this had encroached onto the wild meadow area. It was agreed that a joint meeting would be held between the Glebe Committee, the Community Projects Committee and the Youth Football Club to agree the boundaries of the training area. It was also agreed that the Village Hall Committee be contacted as the area of grass being cut by them was encroaching into the wild meadow area and should not exceed their boundary line.

JUL 07/15 Environment Committee

The clerk updated the Council on the works undertaken by the Handyperson, including footpath strimming, access denial posts on the Glebe Land and mending the litter bin at the corner of Britton Close. It was agreed that the retained hours worked by the Handyperson during the summer months should be reviewed at the next meeting. Additional tasks agreed for the Handyperson were further cutting work on the village hall footpath and clearance of the area around the dog bin at the end of Fairfield Lane.

[The chairman had to leave the meeting at this point. The rest of the meeting was chaired by Cllr Golding.]

The clerk reported that the new dog waste bin for the new school link footway had now been received and was with the Handyperson for installation. It was agreed that the clerk would seek to source additional dog fouling signs.

It was noted that the footway signage on the new school link route was inconsistent, the clerk to advise NCC Highways accordingly as well as advising that the school end of the link, which is an emergency access point, is on occasions blocked by parked cars.

The clerk reported for Cllr Mack that the landowner of the site adjacent to the surgery is planning shortly to submit a planning application for the site and feels unable to agree at present to a glass bottle bank being located in the area.

On an enquiry from Cllr Golding, the clerk reported that new signage for the play areas was delayed as a result of waiting for a decision on the byelaws.

It was agreed that members of the Environment Committee should meet regarding unauthorised vehicular access to John Davis Way Open Space.

The Vice-chairman read correspondence from a parishioner regarding Fairfield Lane, that there are overhanging branches along the lane and that the newly cleared out ditch has steep slopes which could be a danger to young children and should be fenced. It was agreed that this information should be forwarded to the NCC Footpath Access Officer, as the County Council are the responsible body for footpaths.

JUL 07/16 Correspondence for Action

JUL 07/17 Correspondence for information

JUL 07/18 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Stevenson asked that the village shop be contacted to ask them to install an external litter bin, to help keep the village tidy. Cllr Golding agreed to approach the shop owner on this matter.

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.25pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 11 September 2007 in the Village Hall at 7.00pm.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         11 September 2007