Clerk : Colin Vince, 17 Bure Close, Watlington, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk PE33 0TN

Minutes of the meeting of WATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL held on 27 July 2004 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

Present: Cllr Lacey (Chairman); Cllrs Amor, Golding, Harris, Leedell, Miller, Toates, Rockcliffe and Widdowson (from 7.20pm).

Borough Councillor Ansell and 5 members of the public also attended the meeting.

Apologies for absence: Cllr Pike.

Councillors and members of the public stood to observe a one minute silence in memory of the late Cllr Ted Featherby, who served with distinction on the Council for a number of years, including a spell as chairman.

There were no declarations of interests for this meeting.

The Minutes of the Council meeting on 15 June 2004 were agreed and signed as a correct record, subject to the replacing of the word “proving” with the word “providing” in the last paragraph of Minute JUN 04/14.

The clerk reported that the Council’s funds currently stand at £26,581.

The electricity supply was discussed and it was noted that EDF Energy had removed their generating equipment and that the supply has been maintained since 22 July. It was agreed that the clerk would write again to EDF Energy to seek confirmation that the long term fault had now been rectified.

The clerk reported that the Borough Planning Department had advised that the housing development at Rowan Close was not imminent as a landscaping scheme had yet to be submitted by the developers. Cllr Rockcliffe reported that a new plan was likely to be submitted, increasing the number of houses on the site. It was agreed that the clerk would write to the developers setting out the Council’s position regarding the boundary line between the site and the Warren Close Play Area and the need to preserve the ancient hedge.

The clerk reported that the Pre-School fete had raised approximately £2500 and that the site had been cleared by the following day as promised by the organisers.

Council agreed on a proposal from Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Toates, that the co-option of new councillors should be by secret ballot, following noticeboard and website advertising of any vacancy(ies), with candidates for co-option being invited to submit a CV for consideration by Council.

It was also agreed that the current vacancy should have a closing date of 27 August and would be considered at the Parish Council meeting on 7 September.

Council approved the Edward Shouldham Charity Accounts for the 2003/2004 financial year.

Council approved the advertising on the Council’s noticeboard for the letting of the Edward Shouldham Charity Land for the period 11 October 2004 to 10 October 2005, with bids being considered at the next meeting of the Council.

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

* Council noted a slight increase (£15 a year) in the cost of this service.

The following decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

It was agreed that this matter would be delegated to the Planning Committee to reply to the draft borough council policy, with the committee taking note that any new housing planning applications should be required to provide adequate off street parking and that developers should be required to provide a proper footway at the highway on any development.

On a proposal from the chairman that because other items might be affected by the financial implications of this item and the need to take a decision on this matter in the light of recent accident reports, Council agreed to take this agenda item next.

After much discussion on the usage, retention or otherwise of the equipment and the various surfacing options and their potential lifespan, it was proposed by Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Widdowson and approved by Council on a vote of 4 for the proposal, 2 against and 2 abstentions, with the chairman not voting, that a total of £3500 be spent from the Projects Fund and Contingency Fund to replace the surfacing on the Large Quarter Pipe, the Small Quarter Pipe and the Jump Box with Skatelite on the Ramps and Transition Ply on the platforms and to re-weld and provide extra supports on the Small Quarter pipe and that due to insufficient funds the Driveway Unit be removed at present.

Council also agreed that to fund this expenditure the cutting of the Recreation Ground hedging would need to be the 2005/2006 financial year.

Council also agreed that the Council’s decisions in this matter be set out in the clerk’s report to the Gossip, and that this should include that it was unlikely any funding would be made available in the 2005/2006 financial year for the Skateboard Park if damage was caused by vandalism or if the new surfacing became unusable without a reasonable lifespan.

Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to investigate the removal of the Driveway Unit.

Council approved the proposal from NCC regarding the imposition of waiting restrictions in the School Road / Downham Road / Church Road area, subject to NCC being aware of the need to ensure liaison between this project and the zebra crossing project.

Council approved the NCC proposal for a 40mph zone between Watlington and Magdalen.

Council agreed that given the cost of speed reactive signs this matter be deferred at present.

On a proposal from Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Golding, Council agreed to the installation of 2 gateway signs as designed by NCC to be installed on Station Road and Church Road. The other two gateway signs, on Thieves Bridge Road and St Peter’s Road would be deferred to the 2005/2006 budget.

The clerk reported on a site meeting with NCC Highways following on from the list of outstanding items submitted after the Council meeting on 15 June:

A written confirmation of the above items is awaited from NCC and no timescale is available for items 2) to 7), which are dependent on available resources at NCC.

Cllr Rockcliffe reported that the Weight Restriction signs were now installed which would reduce the heavy lorry traffic through the village as it would no longer be possible for them to travel between the A47 and A10 on minor roads.

The chairman reported that WAGN had carried out works at the station car park, which had increased the available spaces and provided a much better parking surface. A suggestion that lighting be considered was not pursued as it was felt that WAGN would seek to charge at the site, which could encourage street parking.

The proposal to install 2 new bins on the Recreation Ground was not considered after the clerk reported that neither little picker wished to undertake the associated duties.

The Council agreed on a proposal from the Glebe Committee that indicative quotes be sought for replacing the existing Downham Road boundary fence of the Glebe Land by a chain-link fence with concrete posts and for moving the kissing gate back a short distance to allow for easier access from the footway.

Council also agreed on a proposal from the Glebe Committee to seek quotes foot cutting a 4 foot strip either side of the existing footpath on the narrow section of the Glebe Land.

Cllr Toates reported on progress of the Welcome Pack by the Information Centre. The Information Centre Committee has decided that an A5 size booklet would be more appropriate, this to be updated annually. Information is now being sought from village organisations. Costs are yet to be ascertained, including an estimate of the volume required. The booklet would also be made available to buy. The Chairman on behalf of the Council thanked the Information Centre Committee for all their hard work on this project.

The clerk reported that the part funding bid for an additional footway light in Britton Close was still out for consultation at the Borough Council.

On a proposal from the Chairman, Council agreed to the quotations from McAlpine for a replacement parts for 3 Lighting Units at a cost of £105 each, funding to come from the lighting repair budget. Cllr Rockcliffe reported that he had a pole bracket available which may help to reduce the cost of one of the repairs. The clerk reported that the two repairs in Mill Road were due to vandalism (air rifle pellets) and that these had been reported to the Police.

Council agreed on a proposal from the chairman to take no further action on the footpath light in Dolcie’s Path until the bulb on the existing light needed replacing, as apart from the initial complainant other residents were happy with the existing light.

Cllr Toates reported a fault on the first pole in Mill Road from Lynn Road. The clerk to report.

Council noted that Fairfield Lane had been tidied by a willing volunteer. An anonymous letter had been received by the clerk regarding the state of Fairfield Lane and it was proposed by Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by the chairman and agreed by Council that anonymous letters would not be brought before Council in future but would be shredded, this policy to be set out in the clerk’s report to the Gossip.

Cllr Golding advised that the sand pile blocking the footway in Mill Road still had not been removed. The clerk to pursue NCC Highways about this matter.

Council agreed on a proposal from the Chairman that Kew Grasscare, as the lowest bidder by a considerable amount for the work of cutting the hedging around the Recreation Ground, be approached to carry out the work in the next financial year, with cost inflation being allowed in their price to allow for the time delay.

Cllr Toates reported back on the production of the current map and pointed out a number of deficiencies that should be rectified in any updated map. After discussion it was agreed that the matter be deferred until the road schema for the new development is available. The chairman thanked Cllr Toates for his investigation.

Cllr Rockcliffe thanked William Samways for his help in mowing short grass areas of the green. He also reported that the cut of the wild flower area was due shortly.

Cllr Amor reported on the poor state of the road surfacing either side of the level crossing in St Peters Road. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to deal with this matter.

Cllr Miller asked for and received Council authority to carry out repairs to the swings on the Recreation Ground, where one of the seats had come adrift after a chain link failure.

The chairman then opened the meeting to the public but there were no floor speakers.

There being no other business the Council rose at 9.20pm.

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 7 September 2004 in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman Clerk 7 September 2004