WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk: Colin Vince, 17 Bure Close, Watlington, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk PE33 0TN
MINUTES
Minutes of the Annual meeting of WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL held on 4 May 2010
at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.
Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Drake, Golding, Leedell, Mack, Miller, Pike and Scully.
1 member of the public also attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence: Cllr Stevenson
MAY 10/1 Election of Chairman of The Council and Declaration of Office
It was proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Miller, and agreed by Council that Cllr Lacey be elected as Chairman of the Council. The Chairman signed his Declaration of Office.
MAY 10/2 Election of Vice-Chairman of The Council and Declaration of Office
It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Pike, and agreed by Council that Cllr Golding be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council. The Vice-Chairman signed her Declaration of Office.
MAY 10/3 Co-option of a New Councillor
Cllr Scully was welcomed to the Council by the Chairman and duly signed his Declaration of Office.
MAY 10/4 Committee Appointments 2010/2011
The following committee appointments were agreed for 2010/2011:
Planning (5) – Cllrs Drake, Golding, Lacey, Miller and Scully.
Community Projects – Cllrs Drake, Mack, Pike and Scully.
Environment – Cllrs Dagnall, Golding, Lacey, Leedell and Miller.
Finance – Cllrs Lacey, Leedell, Golding and Rockcliffe.
MAY 10/5 Appointment to Village Hall Management Committee (2)
The following appointment was agreed for 2010/2011: Cllr Dagnall. (1 Vacancy)
MAY 10/6 Committee Reports 2009/2010
The following committee reports were received:
Planning Committee
21 applications were considered during the year. Decisions from the Planning Authority during the year resulted in planning permission being given for 3 new dwellings and 13 extensions / modifications to dwellings. 3 applications were refused and 2 were withdrawn.
On the Martingales / Coppice site, work is well under way on the last 2 phases of the development. After much pressure from the Parish Council, culverting work on the site drains is under way. However there are now flooding problems in some Station Road properties, which appear to be related to the final phases of the development, which need to be resolved. New play equipment at the Stone Close play area has now been installed, although the Parish Council objected to the lack of consultation on the equipment to be installed and the lack of complete fencing around the play area.
At the Rowan Close site, the developer has achieved the necessary environmental standards to proceed, but construction work on the 15 houses has not begun as 2 conditions relating to site height and a footpath link to the Warren Close Play Area have yet to be resolved.
The Borough Council has now restarted the process for the new Local Development Framework (LDF). Under the revised Core Policy, Watlington is now one of 37 Key Service Centres, which means that these 37 centres will have to expect some additional housing under the government’s housing targets for West Norfolk. It remains to see how this will be reflected in the draft local spatial distribution plan which is due to go out to public consultation in September / October. The Parish Council has in its submission to the LDF reminded of the extensive development and site approvals that have already taken place in the last two years.
Unfortunately, because of land acquisition problems, the expected start on the new rail station car park has been delayed into 2010/11. However, the new footpath link from the village hall round into Mill Road was completed on time and has been a great success increasing footfall in this part of the village. A cycle / footway plan for Fairfield Lane is now being considered by the County Council which is hoped will reduce car journeys to the school.
Community Projects Committee
Report from Cllr Pike, Committee Chairman:
This last year has seen the completion of two major projects. Firstly after two years of consultation and seeking of external funds, new fitness style play equipment, including a fitness trail, has been installed on the Recreation Ground. Funding was split between the Council’s own budget and a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The second completion was the installation of a social shelter – again on the Recreation ground. This project also involved widespread consultation and the seeking of external funds, which came from WREN, to put with the Council’s own allocation. The project also included the removal of part of the Leylandii boundary hedge and its replacement with bowtop fencing and an access gate, this providing increased security and giving a more open aspect to the site.
My thanks are extended to committee members for all their hard work in bringing these two projects to fruition.
The committee is currently investigating 3 projects – conversion of the basketball pitch to a Multi-Use Games Area, replacement of a further length of Leylandii hedging and replacement with fencing and a new noticeboard outside the PO Stores.
Environment Committee
The Council has been searching this last year for a suitable site for allotments for the 27 registrations. A lease is now available on Britton Close for 5 plots and the Council has agreed to take a compulsory hiring on land in the village if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached.
Littering in the village remains a problem and the Litter Picker, Amanda Bullock, has been kept fully occupied in her duties. It The main problem of littering are once again around the village pound area and the area around the Skateboard Park, both sites having litter bin close to hand. As in previous years, the Council increased the hours of the Litter Picker for 3 months during the summer, this proving a great success in reducing the litter problem in and around the Recreation Ground, which is heavily used during the long summer break.
Dog fouling is still a major problem, despite additional notices around the village and regular mentions in The Gossip. This last year the Council spent over £3000 on litter and dog waste removal, this sum including £550 annual charges on a trade waste bin and a new litter bin in Britton Close as well as paying for Litter Picker hours and dog waste disposal charges from the Borough Council.
On the Glebe Field more of the area has been close mowed, leaving the margins beyond the footpaths as a wild area. One of the trees on the margin fell and a large branch came of the oak tree, which has now been subject to a survey. The Christmas Tree was a great success again this last year.
Finance Committee
The Precept for 2010/11 was fixed at £28,400 a 0% rate increase, but an increase in revenue as additional housing in the village is completed. The accounts for 2008/2009 were approved by the district auditor without comment. Grants of £18,500 from the Big Lottery Play Fund towards new play equipment and £8730 from WREN Recycling towards the social shelter were received during the year.
The Council made grants and donations totalling over £2100 during the year: Millennium Green Trust (£1000), PCC for churchyard upkeep (£450), Watstock (£277), Adult Football Club (£110), Sue Ryder Care (£100), Under-5s (£75), East Anglian Children’s’ Hospice (£50), Vitalise (£25), MacMillan Cancer (£25), Norfolk Lowland Search & Rescue (£25).
There were no hardship payments from the Edward Shouldham Charity Fund during the year.
MAY 10/7 Reports from Village Organisations
The following reports from village organisations were received:
Village Hall Management Committee
The following report was given by Cyril Pike, Chairman of the Village Hall:
At the last Annual General Meeting of the Committee held on 16th November 2009 a full report was given in respect of the year ending 30th September 2009 and the following is a summary together with an update to the present time.
The two halls continue to be fully used with a regular occupancy rate during term time of over 90%. At least 17 regular groups use the facilities, including a baby clinic and a dancing school as well as a number of various organisations for meetings. Private hirings for weddings, parties and various charitable events also continue on a regular basis. The Committee continues to support the Information Centre with the provision of office premises.
The premises are managed on a daily basis by the Committee members, as trustees, with the help of two paid part-time cleaners and other volunteers. The Committee has continued to find it difficult to recruit new volunteers to fill the necessary management roles.
The Village Hall is in a healthy position financially, with sufficient funds to cover regular overheads as well as to fund various improvement projects, whilst keeping hiring charges at a reasonable and competitive level. There is in place a Capital Projects Fund and projects agreed this year include Green Energy Sourcing, Upgraded Security Locks, Screen/Projector Systems, “Front Garden” and Car Park Improvements. As well as the major projects, expenditure is continually required on repairs, maintenance and refurbishment.
Whilst regular use of the halls provides the main source of income, various “Box Office” events provide a cultural and social programme as well as additional income. During the year a number of performances for all ages were staged supported by Creative Arts East and we also held a very successful quiz. Although “Village Screen” had been suspended, we can report that we have restarted screenings from the beginning of 2010 thanks to Creative Arts East equipment now being available in West Norfolk and our success in obtaining a grant from Norfolk Community Foundation towards our own electric screens and projection equipment. This equipment is also available for general use by hirers requiring these facilities for meetings, seminars, workshops etc.
Parochial Church Council
The following report was read on behalf of Father James Nolan:
God has truly blessed us again this year. We have had a full programme and our weekly worship has been to the highest standard. We continue to develop a family atmosphere and everyone is important in the village.
The good folk have worked so hard so that the village has a beautiful place in which to worship God and that the village has a full time priest. The cost to house and support a priest and have him full time is £47,000 a year. Watlington Church has to raise £17,000 of the £28,000 from the group towards this cost, and before any other bills.
We had an annual round of fund raising events to raise the £17,000 – a dog racing night, quiz night, flower festival, Christmas Tree festival, Hilgay Silver Band, summer fete, Norfolk Gallery Choir, Country Company concert, coffee morning and cheese and wine.
We also raised money to send to charity – The Children’s Society, UNICEF, Norfolk vocational School Uganda, Christian Aid, Fairtrade, One World Week, Norfolk Churches Trust, Mozambique, Haiti and USPG.
The PCC considered deanery reorganisation, general synod matters, deanery synod matters, Ely 900 celebrations, the Bishop’s retirement, child protection, stewardship, mission work, Land registry, code of practice, the offer of the ordinariate from the Holy Father, insurance watermarking and domestic issues.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Parish Council for their grant support towards the upkeep of the church yard. We would be most grateful if it was possible to award grant aid once again this year.
Watlington Information Centre
The following report was given by Peter Dagnall, Chairman of the Information Centre:
The past year for the information centre has seen a
continuing reduction in the need for its core services. Despite this the
accounts remain to show a profit. The lack of a large volunteer base is also a
problem. Despite this, the office has missed very few scheduled openings. The
current volunteers are doing a marvellous job. I am sure the next year will
prove to be just as challenging.
The Watlington PCSOs have started a monthly surgery in the centre, to meet
village residents who would like to discuss any policing problems.
Millennium Green Trust
The following report was read on behalf of Mrs Kate Carpenter, Chairman of the Millennium Green Trust:
Manicured Area: This area has been cut under contract, by Cyril Pike, as and when needed. Our thanks go to him, Eileen Haynes for looking after the Petanque pitch and George for trimming the little hedge. This area is looking a bit scrubby due to the dandelion incursion which we will have to eradicate by hand this year.
Grass: During the past year Simon Paget has cut the grass edging the paths and the maze, and Simon and Cyril have strimmed the amphitheatre. The main meadow area was cut and bailed in late June. Tony Stratton cut, bailed and cleared in time for the Watstock festival. The jazz concert was held on the green and having started it then poured with rain; however this didn’t spoil the enjoyment of the crowd. Our stall sold drinks and strawberries and cream. Finally, all the helpers got soaked clearing up. There is a plan to hold our own jazz concert as and when the time suits us this year if we can get funding.
General maintenance: The boundary and Ha-Ha hedges have been trimmed back in spring and autumn by all the Trustees with the help of George and Simon. Owing to the availability of Cyril’s contract hedge trimmer, they were able to complete the job in a day, where it would have needed a small army of volunteers to cut it by hand. Many thanks to everybody concerned.
Maze: The cowslips in this area looked beautiful this year; Simon delayed cutting the area for a month until the flowering was over. With the help of the edging tool and Cyril’s light strimmer we were able to clear the grass from the pathways.
Bog area: As the bog area is established enough, we have been cutting the grass path and bank, because it looks so nice in its natural state. Hazard notices were posted, but were pulled up as fast as they were installed.
Waste bins: Some new bins have been designed using wood that we already have in stock. Geoff has made a prototype, and very nice it looks too; they should be installed by the summer.
Information boards: Thanks to a donation from Geoff we are able to have these boards made locally. They are to be illustrated by the village firm of Artworks Unlimited; again we are hoping to put these up this summer
Future expenditure includes the stainless steel bin liners, repairs to broken fencing due to a car crash (there is however an insurance claim pending), expenses that may be incurred financing the jazz concert (which a grant has been applied for), the annual insurance premium, grass cutting and hedge trimming. We are requesting, therefore, the usual Parish Council grant of £1000.
Sports & Social Club / Payment of Peppercorn Rent
The following report was given by Mrs Dawn Drake:
The club has had a very busy year, with a wide range of events being organised. This is the 10th anniversary of the new building and to mark the occasion an Open Day will be held in August. The club is open seven days a week and always welcoming to new members.
Mrs Drake paid the Peppercorn Rent of 50 pence for both 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Gossip
The following report was given by Brenda Leedell from the Gossip editorial team:
The Watlington Gossip continues be well received and is well supplied with items promoting the activities of the village. We are at present producing a magazine of 36 pages and deliver 1150 copies to every household in the village, advertisers and local amenities such as the local libraries. Surplus copies are then sold in the local shop.
There is constant demand for advertising space in the magazine and sometimes we have to restrict the number of advertisers so as not to overload the magazine with advertisements and maintain space for our regular contributors.
We are still covering our printing costs from advertising revenue but have had to increase advertising rates for the first time in many years. However, the cost of printing has increased drastically over the last year or so and we are therefore currently looking at other printing firms to see if we can reduce costs.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 7.25pm.
SIGNED
Chairman: Clerk:
15 June 2010