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 26 June 2007 at 7.05pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

4 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence:  Cllr Golding and Rockcliffe.

JUN 07/1 Declaration of Office by Cllr Stevenson

Cllr Stevenson signed his Declaration of Office and was welcomed onto the Council by the Chairman.

JUN 07/2Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

JUN 07/3 Open Forum

Councillors reported back on the Safer Neighbourhoods Community Action Group meeting held on 6 June. It was noted that the priorities for police action in Watlington are anti-social behaviour and vehicle misuse. The Police reported that a number of persons were now subject to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and ASBOs would be used where appropriate. It was noted that the CAG meetings would not always be in Watlington and it was important that the Council sends representatives to every meeting. (Next meeting is in Watlington, 15 August at 7pm.)  Again it was stressed that all incidents need to be reported to the police. It was also noted that PCSO Bunting is now fully trained and that all 6 PCSOs should be in place by next spring. It was agreed that the Council should again seek to have the Safer Neighbourhoods Office in the village.

Cllr Miller and Mr & Mrs Newman have kindly offered to donate bicycles to the police for use by the PCSOs in the village, the clerk to write to the Police accordingly.

Encouraging responses from the Police, Network Rail and First Capital Connect were noted in relation to dealing with anti-social behaviour at the railway station and it was likely that the mosquito device would be installed.

The volume of graffiti around the village, including the Skateboard Park, was noted. Cllr Mack agreed to approach the Borough Council about removal of the Skateboard Park graffiti and the clerk would write to other agencies about graffiti removal from their property.

Council noted that a meeting had been arranged for 4 July with NCC Highways to discuss anti-social behaviour problems in Lacey Close and that the County Council were also looking at the lighting in the area.

JUN 07/4 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 May 2007

The Minutes of the Council Meeting on 15 March 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record. It was noted that the Minutes of the Annual Council meeting on 15 May would be brought to the next meeting.

JUN 07/5 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising from the Council Meeting on 15 May 2007

The clerk reported that there had been no applications to fill the councillor vacancy and as such the post would be re-advertised. The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £28,484.38. Updated budgetary control figures were presented to the meeting.

JUN 07/6 Accounts and Audit 2006/2007

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council approved the Statement on Internal Control and the Audit Plan for the 2006/7 Accounts and that:

i) In the current financial year and all subsequent years that all the internal control documents will be scrutinised by the Council’s Finance Committee during that financial year and any recommendations for changes to the system of internal control be brought to Council for confirmation.

ii) The Council’s Financial Regulations and Standing Orders should be reviewed in this financial year.

iii) The Council believes that there is an opportunity for improvement to the scope of the internal audit and as such has determined that the guide tables ‘Meeting the Standards’ and ‘Characteristics of Effectiveness’ should be adopted when reviewing the internal audit carried out for 2006/7.

iv) The Council will also provide an Audit Plan for the Internal Auditor to carry out the 2006/7 audit.

On a proposal from the chairman, Council completed the Annual Governance Statement on the Audit Commission Annual Return for the 2006/7 Accounts.

JUN 07/7 Payments

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

* Includes VAT

JUN 07/8 Planning Applications

The following planning decisions were agreed:

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

The following planning decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

JUN 07/9 Martingales Development

Council noted the unsatisfactory response from Persimmon regarding issues relating to Bennett Close and lack of desire for a meeting with the Council to discuss this and other matters. Cllr Mack advised that he was pursuing further the Bennett Close issues with Borough Council Planning Department. It was agreed that the clerk would write further to Persimmon offering a site meeting to discuss issues including the open space green strip and the footpath exits onto Fairfield Lane

JUN 07/10 Local Development Framework

Council noted that the Borough Council has now adopted the Statement of Community Involvement for the Local Development Framework. Consultation on the local spatial plan is now expected in September 2008, the delay being largely as a result of new government rules relating to the Framework Developments. The importance of a local consultation meeting on the spatial plan was stressed.

JUN 07/11 Highways Matters

Council updated its priority list for works it would like to be undertaken by NCC Highways to:

a)       Church Road highway and footway improvements from the shop to the Recreation Ground.

b)   Lynn Road footway provision from the village hall car park to Mill Road.

c)   Footway along Fen Road between the existing footway and Chestnut Close

d)   Zebra crossing over station Road as proposed by the School Travel Plan.

e)   Footway improvements to the west side of Downham Road to the junction with Rectory Lane.

It was agreed that Council would wait to hear from Cllr Rockcliffe before responding to NCC Highways invite to comment on the finger post adjacent to the Millennium Green. Council also noted that 1) NCC Highways would be attending the next Council meeting, 2) Weed killing on highways kerbing was due in the next few weeks, and 3) The pedestrian crossing marking were due for refreshing shortly.

Council agreed to support a proposal from Magdalen PC that a footway be built between the two villages and that this be extended to include cycleway provision.

The clerk advised, that in a response from the Police, Watlington would be considered for the Community Speed Watch Scheme if funding is fund for the Western Division. Cllr Mack advised that he had also raised the matter with Inspector Bates.

JUN 07/12 Railway Station Update

The chairman reported for Cllr Rockcliffe that First Capital Connect (FCC) are giving serious consideration to providing the liability insurance to allow the re-opening of the temporary extension car park. Council noted with disappointment that both FCC and Network Rail had failed to send representatives to the meeting on 24 May organised by Cllr Rockcliffe. Discussion followed on the possible effects of charging, both on local users and on the increased likelihood that this would bring an upgraded facilities car park. It was agreed that this would be a matter for future discussion.

Council noted that NCC Highways have submitted an item for inclusion in the Traffic Management Programme to look at parking restrictions to act as junction protection in the station area.

Council agreed that a letter be sent to FCC asking that the station lighting be turned off during daylight hours.

JUN 07/13 Community Projects Committee

The clerk advised that the final submission for the approval of the byelaws has now been made to the Department of Communities and Local Government on 19 June and a response was awaited. Cllr Pike advised that some of the play area signage would need to be altered if the byelaws were approved.

Cllr Pike advised that news of grants for the proposed play equipment is still awaited. It was agreed that the clerk would write to the Borough Council regarding the grant application.

Cllr Pike advised that plans for the Teen Years Consultation Meeting on 5 July were in hand and that the following was in place: Flyers to go to the noticeboards, website and Downham Market High School, a discussion agenda, a soft drinks bar to be provided by the Sports & Social Club and support from Mrs B Church to help run the meeting. Cllr Pike agreed to chair the meeting and invited all councillors to attend. On a proposal from Cllr Paget, seconded by the Chair, Council agreed to provide a donation of up to £30 to help towards refreshments on the night, this to be a S137 Payment.

JUN 07/14 Glebe Committee

Cllr Pike reported that the cutting of the training area had been undertaken by Cllr Rockcliffe, the area being slightly larger than anticipated owing to practical reasons of cutting. Council agreed to the Youth Football Club (WYFC) bringing in additional soil, through their contractor, to level the training area, this work to be undertaken in September / October. Cllr Pike reported that WYFC were self financing for the project. Once this work had been carried out the club would bring forward detailed proposals for lighting and would also give consideration to give funding support for the football wall at the west end of the village hall.

Council considered a proposal from WYFC to provide an additional dog bin for the site, but felt it was more appropriate to move the existing bin by the green container to the footpath edge by the sculptured mound and to consider additional no fouling signage.

Council agreed that the clerk would inquire of the grounds maintenance contractor the costs of cutting for the adult football pitch in the event the team folded, so that the pitch could be kept viable for future use.

JUN 07/15 Environment Committee

The list of jobs for the Handyperson was updated, to include strimming the Chestnut Close- Downham Road footpath.

It was agreed that the clerk would advise NCC Highways. of overhanging hedging onto the junction of Downham Road and Rectory Lane and Thieves Bridge Road and Downham Road.

It was agreed that the clerk would write again to the school to seek their views on the location of the proposed dog bin on the new John Davis Way – Rectory Lane footpath.

On a proposal from the chairman, Council agreed the advertising of the temporary Litter Picker post as set out in Minute OCT 06/14, the appointment to be delegated to the chairman and clerk.

Cllr Mack advised that he was still seeking to locate the glass bank at the Medical Centre and was awaiting a response from consultations.

JUN 07/16 Correspondence for Action

JUN 07/17 Correspondence for information

JUN 07/18 Members Information Exchange

Cllr Paget raised the possibility of a trip to Westminster, by individual councillor subscription, proposed by Christopher Fraser MP. It was agreed that the clerk would investigate this as a possibility for autumn.

Cllr Miller raised the issue of the need for the bin on the village hall car park to be emptied more frequently. Cllr Pike agreed to speak to the Sports & Social Club on this issue.

Cllr Miller raised the issue of the grounds maintenance management of the Glebe Field, particularly the sculptured mound. It was agreed that this would be an agenda item for the next meeting and that the Glebe Committee would have a site meeting before the next Council meeting, this meeting to also look at the disposal of grass waste. Cllr Pike agreed in the meantime to speak to the WYFC about disposal arrangements for grass.

There being no other business the Council rose at 8.55pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 31 July 2007 in the Village Hall at 7.00pm.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         31 July 2007