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 13 March 2007 at 7.20pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Dagnall, Garton, Golding, Leedell, Mack, Miller, Paget, Pike, Rockcliffe and Toates.

BCllr Ansell, PC Bodley and 2 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  None.

MAR 07/1 Declarations of Interest

MAR 07/2 Police Liaison Officer Information Exchange and Open Forum

BCllr Ansell advised that he would be having a site meeting on 14/03/07 with the Borough Council Property Services Manager concerning the derelict land between 13/19 Station Road, the green strip from the Martingales site fronting onto Station Road and the drain in Fairfield Lane.

A representative from the youth football club spoke in support of the club’s request to have a training area on the Glebe Field and answered questions from councillors regarding the practicality of the scheme.

MAR 07/3 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 23 January 2007

The Minutes of the Council Meeting on 23 January 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

MAR 07/4 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 23 January 2007

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £9765.45 and that the year end estimate was approximately £7135, excluding any additional expenditure at this meeting, with £5000 being ring-fenced for the play equipment project.

The chairman advised the meeting that Norfolk Constabulary have increased their portion of the Council Tax by 6.94% to cover a shortfall in government grants for the Safer Neighbourhoods Scheme and as a result the scheme would go ahead as proposed. Council noted that the Scheme office was to be at Marham.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that he had spoken to Mr Cayley regarding the ditch running parallel to the footpath in Fairfield Lane, and he had agreed that ditch cleaning work would be done in the next month. Cllr Rockcliffe also advised that pressure is being put on the Martingales site developers to pipe the east-west drain in Fairfield Lane and that BCllr Ansell was pursuing this matter with the Borough Council Enforcement Officer.

MAR 07/5 Insurance Renewal

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed the renewal of the insurance arrangements with Allianz Cornhill plc. It was noted that the premium has risen by 5.3%, this increase including index linking.

MAR 07/6 Annual Review of Clerk’s Salary

On a proposal from Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed that the clerk’s hourly pay rate be increased to Scale Point 21, £9.348 per hour from 1 April 2007, this scale rate being in accordance with the recommendations from NALC for parish clerk’s hourly rates.

MAR 07/7 Requests for Grants and Donations

Council agreed the following payments:

*Proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell.

** Proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Garton.

≠ Cllr Dagnall declared a prejudicial interest in this item and took no part in the discussion or vote.

[PC Bodley arrived at this point and Council agreed to return to the Open Forum.]

MAR 07/2 Police Liaison Officer Information Exchange and Open Forum (Cont’d)

PC Bodley advised that there had been 16 crimes reported in the period from 1 January to date, including 6 of criminal damage, 3 thefts, 3 assaults (1 unrelated) and 1 drugs offence. Of these there had been 3 detections. He advised that two of the incidents involved the use of an air rifle and that police are keen to have any knowledge regarding these incidents. PC Bodley advised that there had been 7 reports of anti-social behaviour during the period, mostly around the Stone Close area and the rail station. British Transport Police, who now have Community Support Officers (PCSOs) working in this area, have installed a mosquito deterrent device at the rail station.

PC Bodley advised the meeting that he had spoken to the Crime Reduction Partnership regarding anti-social behaviour in the Lacey Close and Village Hall areas and that they have agreed to carry out a review.

PC Bodley also advised that the Safer Neighbourhood Scheme was now up and running in this area and that PC964 Lamb had been appointed along with one of the six PCSOs. It was agreed that a letter be sent to PC Lamb inviting him to attend Parish Council meetings in future. On a proposal from Cllr Miller, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed a vote of thanks to PC Bodley for his support of the Council and his policing work in the village.

MAR 07/8 Payments

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

MAR 07/9 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

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

≠ Cllr Rockcliffe declared a personal interest in this item.

The following planning decision from BCKLWN was noted:

MAR 07/10 Martingales Development

The clerk reported that 3 new street names had been allocated – Langridge Circle, Challis Close and Kent Drive. Cllr Pike advised that 16 house on the site had been completed and that a further 23 had been released for sale. On advice from Cllr Pike, Council agreed to write to Persimmon advising that none of their signs in the village were being removed by the Parish Council and that they should contact NCC.

[Cllr Leedell left the meeting at this point.]

BCllr Ansell advised that a site meeting had taken place between the Parish Council (Planning Committee), Persimmon, the Police and BCKLWN Planning and himself to discuss the open space that would remain between Martingales and the Meadows Estate. The Internal Drainage Board is willing to mow the area but will require the area to remain as a grass surface only. A number of issues were raised including land ownership, fencing, access from Station Road, pedestrian and disability access to the area and the future of the Stone Close Play Area. The meeting had concluded that some form of low level fencing around the area was desirable and that the Stone Close Play Area needed to be retained and improved, but decisions remain to be taken / agreed regarding this area.

A letter from a parishioner was read regarding loss of privacy in their house with the new housing. It was agreed that a letter be sent to Persimmon asking them to respond to the parishioners concerns.

MAR 07/11 Highways Matters

The clerk reported that a number of highways jobs had been carried out in the village as a result of the ‘minor works’ initiative. These included offset barriers on Cecil Close, Lacey Close, Fairfield Lane and Hawthorn Close footpaths, hedging work in Petersfield Road and by the Glebe entrance in Downham Road and a directional sign to the station opposite the Angel pub. Concerns were expressed over the problems of disability access with the installation of the barriers, this being a matter for NCC Highways. A number of items had not been completed and it was agreed that the clerk contact NCC Highways to clarify if further works are to be carried out and to request that the station directional sign be relocated at the fingerpost opposite St Peters Road.

The clerk reported that traffic calming measures had been turned down for Stone Close despite it having been a recommendation by NCC Highways to the Planning Authority at the time of the planning application for Martingales.

Cllr Pike read the report into the setting up of 20mph zones in the village. After discussion, on a proposal from Cllr Paget, seconded by Cllr Pike, Council agreed that the report be forwarded as a recommendation to NCC Highways, with the Parish Council possibly offering a part funding for an agreed scheme.

Cllr Mack opened a discussion on the Community Speed Watch Scheme, which has been introduced in parts of the country. The scheme is a joint partnership between local authorities, the Police and members of the public to monitor road speeds by use of a radar gun. Apart from acting as a speed deterrent in its own right, reports are feed back to the Police, which can lead to extra resources being made available to tackle speeding.  It was noted that at present that there is only the possibility of a trial scheme in East Norfolk and no Police budget. It was agreed to raise this issue further with the Police and then take to the community to gauge the level of support for active participation in the scheme.

The chairman read a report from NCC / Mott MacDonald advising that a feasibility study may be undertaken to provide an upgraded footway / cycleway link along Fairfield Lane to the school. It was agreed that a letter of support be send to NCC regarding this idea, including the need to take into account the two paths to come from the Martingales site onto Fairfield Lane.

MAR 07/12 Railway Station Update

Council noted a letter from NCC / Mott MacDonald advising that First Capital Connect (FCC) are undertaking a feasibility study to look at possible joint funding for an upgrade of the station car park. The clerk advised that the request for an extra seat on the platform had not received an encouraging reply from FCC.

MAR 07/13 Community Projects Committee

The clerk advised that all the necessary consultations were now out on the proposed bye-laws, including an item in the Gossip and that this matter would be brought back to the next meeting.

Council agreed to a proposal from Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Golding, that a youth parishioners' consultation meeting be held in July and that funds be made available for the hire of the Main Hall in the Village Hall. Cllr Pike advised that work on the meeting format would take place over the next few months.

[Cllr Leedell returned to the meeting at this point.]

Cllr Pike reported that the annual inspection of the play equipment had taken place and that there was only one item requiring immediate attention relating to welding work on the goal posts at the Warren Close Play Area. This had now been dealt with by Cllr Pike and the Handyperson, with thanks to Cllr Golding and Mr R Scully for use of their power supply. Other items noted by the inspector would be included in the play equipment action plan for the coming financial year.

Council agreed to a request from the Youth Football Club to remove the goalposts on the Recreation Ground to allow for re-seeding and to allow the repainting of the goalposts.

MAR 07/14 Glebe Committee

After discussion of the joint bid from the Adult and Youth Football teams to establish a training area on the Glebe Field, Council agreed in principle to this scheme, subject to detailed plans being put forward, including funding arrangements, and that no works are to commence until the detailed scheme has been agreed by Council. It was agreed that the Community Projects Committee would meet with the football teams to progress this matter and that the clerk would check the Glebe lease in relation to the proposed lighting scheme.

Council agreed to a recommendation from the mole control company that further expenditure on controlling moles on the Glebe Field would be unrealistic expenditure, given the mole activity in surround fields. It was agreed the clerk would write to the football clubs to advise of this and urge for the need for the pitches to be thoroughly inspected before matches or training.

MAR 07/15 Environment Committee

Cllr Garton advised the meeting that the Mill Road – Glebe Fields footpath was badly overgrown at the Mill Road end. It was agreed that the clerk would contact NCC Footpaths Officer regarding this.

The clerk updated the Council on works completed by the Handyperson, including repairs to play equipment, re-installation of two litter bins and area strimming.

Cllr Mack raised the issue of an overgrown hedge in Britton Close which is not owned by any of the residents. It was agreed to approach the Handyperson to undertake the necessary work.

After discussion on an e-mail from the Borough Council regarding possible sites for a Glass Bank in the village, Cllr Mack agreed to speak to the Medical Centre as to whether one could be located there.

Cllr Pike read the annual report of the Millennium Green Trust, setting out the trust’s work over the last year.

The full report to be published in the Annual Council Meeting Minutes in May.

MAR 07/16 Correspondence for Action

MAR 07/17 Correspondence for information

MAR 07/18 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Toates advised council that he would be standing down at the coming elections after 9 years service. The chairman on behalf of the Council thanked Cllr Toates for his service to the community and for the active role he has taken in the work of the Council during his 9 years service and wished him well for the future.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised the meeting that a new gas pipeline would be coming through the area, which may have a traffic impact in the village. At present further details are awaited and Cllr Rockcliffe would keep Council advised accordingly.

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that at present the Deputy Head Teacher was in charge at the school and that an OFSTED inspection was expected.

Cllr Golding asked that work on the second sign at the Warren Close Play Area be expedited. Cllr Pike advised that the matter was in hand.

There being no other business the Council rose at 10.15pm.

The next meeting of the Council is the Annual Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 15 May 2007 in the Village Hall at 7.00pm, this to be followed by an ordinary meeting of the Council.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         15 May 2007