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 8 December 2009 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Drake, Golding, Leedell, Mack, Miller, Pike, Stevenson and Rockcliffe (from 7.25pm).

2 members of the public and PCSO Watson attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: Cllr Rockcliffe for late arrival.

DEC 09/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

The Chairman on behalf of the Council thanked Simon Paget, who has resigned from the Council for work reasons, for all the hard work and effort he had put into working with the Council over the last 3 years. On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Paget, who will continue to serve on the Community Projects Committee as a co-opted member.

The clerk advised that notices had been displayed regarding the councillor vacancy and that the closing date for calling a by-election is 11 December. 

DEC 09/2 Open Forum Notes

PCSO Watson reported that there had been 23 incident calls in the village since 05/11/09, 8 of these ending in a reported crime, 4 vehicular crimes, 1 assault, 2 burglaries and 1 domestic dispute. Both Halloween and Bonfire Night had been quiet.

PCSO Watson reported that on instruction she would be removing the No Parking traffic cones from Station Road. There was a consensus at the meeting that this should be opposed by the Council as the cones had proved effective in stopping traffic hazards along this stretch of road.

PCSO Watson reported that the January CAG meeting in Watlington would be the last, to be replaced by regular PCSO surgeries, with priorities set from reported data, surgery feedback and multi-agency meeting input. Concern was expressed at a lack of public consultation on this strategic change and a loss of direct public involvement in the setting of policing priorities.

DEC 09/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 20 October 2009

The minutes of the Council Meeting on  20 October 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

DEC 09/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 20 October 2009

The clerk reported that the current balance of funds is £21,397.22 but after adjustments for payments due this meeting the effective balance is near £15,700.

DEC 09/5 Payments

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

 *Includes recoverable VAT

DEC 09/6 Grants and Donations

* Proposed by Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Miller.

The Chairman read a letter of thanks from the local Scout Group, thanking for the recent £50 grant.

DEC 09/7 Annual Subscriptions Review

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the renewal of its annual subscriptions to Norfolk Association of Parish & Town Councils, Norfolk Playing Fields Association, Norfolk Rural Community Council, the Campaign for Rural England ) and the National Society of Allotments for 2010 at a cost of approximately £450.

DEC 09/8 Budget 2010/2011

Council noted the draft budget for 2010/11 and that the Tax Base has risen from 768 to 788, meaning that an additional £700 could be raised in the next financial year without increasing individual household payments.

DEC 09/9 Procedures for Dealing with Notifications of Complaints against Councillors 

The Council had no comments to make on the proposed procedure.

DEC 09/10 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions have been received from the Borough Council:

There were no new planning applications received since the last Council meeting.

DEC 09/11 Martingales and The Coppice Developments

Cllr Mack reported that the Planning Department and Persimmon had reached an agreement for all the play equipment for the site to now be on a single mixed ages site at the existing Stone Close Play Area and that work on installation is due to start this month. The other site on the estate would now be an open green space.

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Dagnall, Council agreed that a letter of protest be sent to the Borough Council against both the grouping of different age play equipment onto a single site and the complete lack of local consultation on this and on the play equipment to be installed.

Cllr Mack reported that the Planning Department are still dealing with the enforcement of the site drainage issues and that he was still pursuing the matter with the department, especially given the length of time since the enforcement procedure was started.

Cllr Pike reported that the site roads had now been bought up to standard. The clerk reported that estate street lights are now working and that hedge on the cycle/footpath link has now been cut back.

DEC 09/12 Rowan Close Development

The clerk advised that there was no further information relating to the legal matter concerning this site, so no update could be given at this meeting.

DEC 09/13 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Development Plan: Preferred Site Options

As no sites to be recommended for approval either in Watlington or the neighbouring parish of Tottenhill, Council had no comment on the site options proposals.

DEC 09/14 Proposed Changes to the Planning Scheme of Delegation

On a proposal from the Chairman, it was agreed that the clerk should write to the Borough Council opposing the proposed changes to the Planning Scheme of Delegation, as undermining the whole notion of local democratic involvement in the planning process.

DEC 09/15 Red Telephone Kiosk Mill Road

On a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Miller it was agreed that the Council would purchase the red telephone kiosk in Mill Road from BT at the cost of £1, its subsequent use to be considered at a future meeting.

DEC 09/16 Highways and Transport Matters

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that the scheme for the extension of the double yellow lines in both Station Road and John Davis Way is under way, but the process takes between 9 and 12 months, as a strict legal process has to be followed. He also advised that the existing double yellow lines in the area are legal and enforceable.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that a letter of protest be sent the Police, against advice given at the Open Forum that the temporary No Waiting bollards are now to be removed, as these had proved very effective in keeping Station Road clear of traffic hazards.

It was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to NCC Highways for the well received new footway link along Lynn Road and Mill Road and for the efficient way the work was carried out and that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Pope for allowing the easement on his land.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that a sponsor had been found for a planting scheme on the Oakwood Corner roundabout.

On a proposal from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Miller, Council agreed that a request be sent to NCC Highways to move the 30mph sign on Lynn Road back to before the junction with Plough Lane, given the difficulty in exiting Plough Lane when vehicles are travelling at speed on Lynn Road.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that land acquisition negotiations were still under way for the extended rail station car park but there was now a possibility that the scheme would fall if agreement was not soon reached.

DEC 09/17 Community Projects Committee

Cllr Pike reported that the youth shelter project is now complete, apart from some minor tidying up by the new fence, and that the solar light is now working. Council noted the Leylandii hedge trimming and the new ‘front garden’ at the village hall had greatly improved the visual attractiveness of this area.

Cllr Pike reported that early stage enquiries for the Multi-use Games Area project had revealed a projected cost in the region of £40,000. Project work on installing a new short stretch of fencing and new noticeboard on the Angel pub / PO Stores has indicated cost of £2000, so the committee is now considering the option of having just a new community / Council noticeboard with no fencing. The committee in the New Year will be looking at costing a new entry gate for the north entrance to the Recreation Ground and for a new mound slide at the Warren Close Play Area.

Council noted that a further useful meeting had taken place between the Watstock Committee, the Police and the Licensing Authority and that alcoholic drink will not be all allowed to be bought onto the Glebe Field during the event. It was agreed that the clerk would write to the Watstock Committee seeking that the their next meeting with the Police and Licensing Authority should be held well before the Council’s 16 March meeting so that a report could be given to the Council.

DEC 09/18 Allotments

On a proposal from Cllr Mack, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council approved the taking of a 5 year lease on the site for allotments at Britton Close at an annual rental of £150 and a one off legal fee of £250.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Miller, Council approved the letting of one of the available allotment plots on the Britton Close site to the parishioners who live adjacent to the site as this will help improve site security.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the drawing of lots for the allocation of the remaining 4 allotment plots on the Britton Close site. The draw was then held, 4 names for the plots, plus an additional 5 names if any of the plot holders wished to share their plot.

Cllr Rockcliffe kindly agreed to provide machinery for a site clear up and Cllr Mack agreed to raise the issue of a supply of free compost from the borough Council. The clerk advised that Anglian Water would be providing a quote for a water supply installation.

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell, Council agreed, with 2 abstentions, that the landowner of the site in Mill Road be written to stating that the Council intends to seek a compulsory hiring of this land for allotments.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved that parishioners currently waiting for an allotment should have first option on any new site and that from now on new entrants should be added to the bottom of the list.

DEC 09/19 Environment Committee

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed a professional inspection of the large oak tree on the Glebe Field, following the recent fall of a large branch.

Council agreed to accept the kind offer from Mr Prior for the supply of the 2009 Christmas Tree, this to be put up on the Millennium Green on the weekend of 19/20 December under the guidance of Cllr Pike. The Chairman agreed to speak to Mr/s Howlett for permission to use their electricity supply.

[Cllr Mack had to leave the meeting at this point]

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed an extension of the grass cutting contract into 2010 with Country Grounds Maintenance, given that there has been no cost increase on the current price.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that the gap in the Glebe Mound by the field gate remain given that this is a natural access route and would be difficult to repair.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed that NCC Highways be requested to install a ‘No Vehicular Access to the Martingales Estate’ sign at the entrance to Fairfield Line. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to seek more planings for the trackway portion of the lane. Council noted an increase in fly-tipping into the open drain on Fairfield Lane.

It was agreed that the Handyperson be asked to remove a length of barbed wire on the edge of the Glebe Field.

The clerk advised that the new rubbish bin housing on Britton Close would be installed this week and a wheelie bin supplied free of charge by the Borough Council would be installed the following Tuesday.

DEC 09/20 Correspondence for Action

* Proposed by Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Dagnall.

DEC 09/21 Correspondence for information

DEC 09/22 Members Information Exchange / Agenda Items

Cllr Stevenson reported an overhanging hedge outside No. 29 Downham Road. The Chairman agreed to speak to the householder.

The clerk advised the meeting that it was likely that from May 2011 Council meetings would need move to a Thursday night because of a clash in hall bookings.

There being no other business, Council rose at 9.00pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 19 January in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                 19 January 2010