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 27 January 2004 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman), Cllrs Amor, Golding, Harris, Leedell, Miller, Pike, Rockcliffe, Toates and Widdowson.

Borough Councillor Ansell and Glenn Watkins, BCKLWN Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: Cllrs Featherby. The chairman reported that he had passed on the Council’s best wishes to Cllr Featherby, who is unwell.

JAN 04/1 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Miller advised the meeting that she has had to resign as Village Hall Representative as she was unable to give the necessary time.

Cllr Pike advised that he has had to resign as the representative school governor due to other commitments. The clerk advised that the Council was no longer entitled to nominate a new governor under the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003 which came into force on 1 September 2003. 

The chairman thanked both Cllrs Miller and Pike for their work on these committees and asked other members to consider if any would wish to take on the role of Village Hall Representative.

JAN 04/2 Minutes of the last meeting held on 16 December 2003

The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed as a correct record.

JAN 04/3 Clerk’s Report and Matters Arising (Not on the agenda)

The clerk reported that the War Memorial correction has been completed and that Sidney Challis has now been duly recognised. A letter of thanks has been received from Father James Nolan.

Tom Bodley has started doing the extra hour as litter picker and favourable comments have been received on the good work being done by the two litter pickers.

The Council’s offer of a site meeting regarding the Skateboard Park has not been taken up as yet by the Sports & Social Club.

The Council’s funds stand at £13783.07 with known commitments to the year end of approximately £3700, with an additional £1500 if the Glebe lease is signed, giving an estimate of a carry forward of approx £8500 of which £2400 is ring fenced for the play equipment project and £2400 for traffic calming.

 Cllr Rockcliffe reported that some survey work had been done on the railway station car park, but the emphasis seemed now to be shifting towards extra parking provision at King’s Lynn, which would not help the parking situation in Station Road and John Davis Way. He would pursue the matter, including the current poor current state of the car park surface.

JAN 04/4 External Audit

The Council noted that the external audit for the year 2002/2003 has been completed and that there were no matters arising.

JAN 04/5 Payments

It was proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Toates and agreed by Council that the following payments be made:

JAN 04/6 Grounds Maintenance Contract 2004

The clerk reported that 3 quotations hade been received for the grounds maintenance contract. It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that the contract be awarded again to Country Grounds Maintenance Ltd as their quotation was the lowest, unchanged from 2003.

Cllr Rockcliffe raised the issue of the Street lighting Maintenance Contract. The clerk agreed to check on the status of this and advise Council accordingly.

JAN 04/7 Precept 2004/2005

Following discussion on the slight change to the Tax Base, the number and extent of projects for the coming financial year, the loss of the Concurrent Functions Grant and the need to keep a reasonable reserve, it was proposed by Cllr Golding, seconded by Cllr Leedell and agreed by Council that the Precept for 2004/2004 be £21,500.

JAN 04/8 Planning Applications

The following decisions were agreed:

The following decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

BC Ansell advised the meeting on the current state of the planning application for 182 houses adjacent to the school. Following discussion about continuing concerns on this application it was agreed that a further meeting should be sought between BCKLWN planning officers and the Council’s Planning Committee before the report to the Planning Control Board is finalised to discuss the issues raised by the Council in its submissions to this application.

Cllr Golding advised the meeting that work would be commencing on a partial development of the site at Rowan Close. Councillors expressed concern that the conditions on the Planning Approval be met, particularly as this is a brownfield site and that the ground level was now raised since the original application. The Council’s concerns over the boundary line were discussed and as it was agreed that, as there had been a change of site owners, Cllr Golding would write to the developers to seek an honouring of a commitment to accept the Council’s proposed boundary line, as this could be done when the Title is re-registered at the Land Registry.

JAN 04/9 Village Lighting

At the request of the Chairman it was agreed to take this item next on the agenda as Glenn Watkins, BCKLWN Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, would be speaking to this item.

The clerk reported to the meeting guideline costings for different options for lighting the whole Dolcie’s Path and/or shading the current light. It was agreed that this matter be referred to the Environment Committee for a recommendation to be brought back to the next meeting.

Glenn Watkins advised the meeting that incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour were at a low level at the present, probably due to the poor winter weather, with only two active cases. He advised that the Borough Council were hoping to appoint a Development Worker, who would work in the anti-social behaviour field and that he would seek that this worker liases closely with the Council on plans to develop plans to combat anti-social behaviour.

Mr Watkins then outlined a proposal for anti-vandalism measures for the garages area in Britton Close, which youths use as a meeting point. The proposals include a revamping of the garages, some minor landscape work and a new street light. It was hoped that this package would stop youths congregating, lead to greater use of the path, present a tidier area and provide greater security. After discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Rockcliffe and agreed by Council that the Council would support these measures by providing half of the cost of a new street light, up to a limit of £1000. Councillors noted that this might give rise to further requests for street lights in the village and that these would have to be considered on the merit of each case.

JAN 04/10 Traffic Management Measures

The clerk reported on the cost of solar speed reactive signs, that the village gateway signs were on the pending list of the NCC Traffic Management Programme (TMP) for 2004, although speed sign roundels would not be permitted, and that the proposed waiting restrictions by the Angel Public House were on the TMP for 2004. On advice from Cllr Rockcliffe, Council agreed to wait until the final outcome of the TMP, which was due in April, before making any decisions on which measures to support and fund.

The clerk reported that NCC Highways have agreed to do an assessment for a footway linking the Village Hall car park and Mill Road, though no date for the assessment is yet available.

The clerk reported that the Notice for the Traffic Order for the proposed speed restrictions between Watlington and Runcton Holme has been published, any objections to be received by 2 March.

Cllr Rockcliffe reported to the meeting that the NCC proposal to close road C54, Watlington Road, has been dropped as a result of the considerable local opposition.

JAN 04/11 Lease of the Glebe Lands

The Chairman reported that there were still problems with the proposed lease, these revolving around the need for the Council to avoid onerous liabilities as a result of the state of the premises, particularly in relation to the dykes. It was agreed that the current working group would continue to seek a resolution of the outstanding problems and that Grounds & Co would be contacted directly to help resolve these problems.

JAN 04/12 Community Projects Committee

The Minutes of the Community Projects Committee held on 12 January 2004 were received. Cllr Harris reported that the Accessibility Audit had been carried out by WINDiS and would be discussed at the committee’s next meeting on 2 February. He also advised that the No Dogs Except Guide Dog Notices have been put up at the Warren Close Play Area.

JAN 04/13 Litter

The clerk reported that a reply had been received from the BCKLWN Environment Portfolio Cabinet Member, BC Hipperson, which stated that ServiceTeam will only collect from litter bins on their route and only from bins without keys and that this would not be renegotiated.

Cllr Golding reported that there was a high level of litter on the main routes into the village. The clerk advised that it would not be appropriate on safety grounds for the parish litter pickers to deal with this and it was agreed to forward details to BCKLWN Environmental Services.

JAN 04/14 Environment Committee

A letter had been received from a parishioner about the state of Fairfield Lane. The clerk advised that the owner of the lane was unwilling to take any remedial action, despite repeated letters. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to see a contractor on site on 29 January to see whether some works could be undertaken then. The other options open to the Council after this would be either seek assistance from NCC or carry out works as a public expense. The clerk to advise the parishioner accordingly.

A letter had been received from a parishioner regarding encroaching hedging onto the main routes into the village. Cllr Rockcliffe advised that there were severe restrictions on farmers carrying out hedge trimming. The clerk advised that this was a matter for NCC as the highways agency and it was agreed that that the complaint should be forwarded to NCC.

Cllr Pike presented a letter from a parishioner regarding the footway at the north end of Downham Road. It was agreed that Cllr Pike and the clerk would investigate the matter further and report their findings to NCC Highways. Cllr Rockcliffe would also report the matter.

JAN 04/15 Notice Boards

Following pricing information from Mr G Beaumont, it was proposed by Cllr Pike, seconded by Cllr Harris and agreed by Council that the proposed notice board at the Medical Centre be installed at a cost of £75 and that the noticeboard outside the Shop/Post Office be upgraded at a cost of £40. Both sites would have toughened glass fitted.

JAN 04/16 Millennium Green Update

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that the Millennium Green Trust AGM had been held. Cllr Pike reported that a weeding session would be held on the first Saturday in February, all volunteers welcome.

JAN 04/17 Correspondence for Action

Jan 04/18 Correspondence for information