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 16 December 2003 at 7.00pm in Watlington Village Hall.

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

Borough Councillor Ansell also attended the meeting.

3 members of the public were present.

Apologies for absence: Cllrs Featherby, Golding and Widdowson.

DEC 03/1 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

DEC 03/2 Minutes of the last meeting held on 23 October 2003

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

DEC 03/3 Matters Arising (Not on the agenda)

Council noted that the Christmas Tree was still to be erected. Cllr Miller reported that the lights would be put up until 22 December. Cllr Pike reported recent vandalism, which had prompted the Angel Public House to consider installing CCTV, part of which might look across to the Millennium Green. Council noted this development.

DEC 03/4 Financial Summary

The clerk reported that as at 16 December funds stood at £16074.21, with £3328.39 in the Community Account and £12745.82 in the Business Reserve Account. Council noted that the final Concurrent Functions payment had been made, leading to an extra £1000 than had been budgeted for being received into funds. BC Ansell reported that other grants may be available at borough level and that further developments should be awaited.

DEC 03/5 Finance Committee

The Minutes of the Finance Committee held on 23 October 2003 were received. The Chairman read a letter from Watlington Medical Centre stating that the requested medical equipment had been bought for the patient, thus releasing the £150 grant made from the Edward Shouldham Trust.

DEC 03/6 Footway Light Church Road to Village Hall Car Park

Council agreed a correction to the Minutes of 18 March 2002, where under ‘Item 9 on the Agenda’ “Correspondence Eastern Contracting – Additional lighting £234+VAT – It was agreed to accept this and pay it in May” The Minute was amended to include that the full quotation of £1221+VAT from Eastern Contracting be accepted for carrying out this work.

DEC 03/7 Payments

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

DEC 03/8 Review of Subscriptions for 2004/2005

It was proposed by Cllr Leedell, seconded by Cllr Toates and agreed by Council that the current four subscriptions should be renewed for 2004, namely Norfolk County Association of Parish & Town Councils, Norfolk Playing Fields Association, Norfolk Rural Community Council and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

DEC 03/9 Grounds Maintenance Contract 2004

Council agreed unamended the grounds maintenance contract for 2004 and instructed the clerk to seek quotations for decision at the next Council meeting.

DEC 03/10 Planning Applications

The following decisions were agreed:

*Council noted copy letter from NCC Planning & Transportation to BCKLWN regarding this application, the contents of which backed up many of the points made in the Council’s own submission. Of particular interest was the point that application made no mention of construction access from Station Road.

* It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr R Miller for all his hard work in composing the Council’s submission on this application.

The following decisions from BCKLWN were noted:

DEC 03/11 Traffic Management Measures

The response from NCC regarding costings on speed reactive signs was discussed and it was agreed that the clerk would seek further information on any price differences between solar and mains powered signs so that the Council could discuss the matter further at the next meeting.

The response from NCC regarding the cost of five village gateway signs was discussed and it was agreed to wait until the current NCC Traffic Management Programme was announced before deciding whether to proceed. The Council was keen to have roundels at these sites and on a proposal from Cllr Harris, seconded by Cllr Miller and agreed by Council the clerk would write further to urge that these be included.

[Cllr Rockcliffe arrived at 7.55pm. A brief discussion was held about the Christmas Tree and it was agreed that Cllrs Rockcliffe and Pike would liase further on this matter.]

DEC 03/12 Proposal to Close Road C54 Watlington Road

Cllr Rockcliffe outlined the background to this proposal, which related to road safety issues and not to any matters concerning the new gravel works. After much discussion it was agreed on a proposal from Cllr Toates and seconded by Cllr Leedell that a response be sent to NCC stating that the Council was disappointed at the lack of information given in the consultation letter, that a traffic use survey should be done, that accident figures should be available and that the consultation period should be extended to beyond the next meeting of the Parish Council. Council also agreed that a copy of the letter should be sent to Tottenhill Parish Council.

DEC 03/13 Lease of the Glebe Lands

The chairman advised the meeting that a revised lease for the Glebe Lands had been received from the Diocese’s solicitors and that he and Cllr Leedell had sought advice on this which revealed that there are still matters that needed to be resolved. It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that a working group of the chairman, Cllr Leedell, Cllr Toates and the clerk be set up to pursue outstanding concerns.

DEC 03/14 Community Projects Committee

The Minutes of the Community Projects Committee held on 27 October and 1 December 2003 were received. Cllr Harris read out a letter from BCKLWN that gave an ‘in principal award’ of £2200 towards the Play Equipment Project, to be confirmed in March 2004. The importance of this was that it would allow an application to be made for WREN for a grant of £20,000 as BCKLWN would be the third party support needed to make this application.

DEC 03/15 Accessibility Audit of Play Areas

It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that expenditure of £50 per site plus travelling expenses from King’s Lynn be made from the Open Spaces budget to allow for the West Norfolk Disability Advisory Service (WINDIS) to carry out an accessibility audit of the Recreation Ground and the Warren Close Play Area to meet the Council’s responsibilities under disability legislation.

DEC 03/16 Dog Notices Warren Close Play Area

It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that “No Dogs” notices should be installed at the Warren Close Play area as part of the Council’s risk management of this site. The matter was referred to the Community Projects Committee for signage proposals and costing.

DEC 03/17 Litter Pickers

The clerk reported that the two applicants for the post of Litter Picker had accepted that split of hours arrangement and both were now working, having been both kitted out with litter picking tools, gloves and hi-visibility overjackets. Arrangements were also in place for disposal of the litter.

Cllr Pike proposed that the available litter picker hours be increased by one hour from four hours to five hours, with the additional hour being given to T Bodley. After confirmation on sufficient funds being available, this was seconded by Cllr Miller and approved by Council.

DEC 03/18 Litter Bins

After discussion on the location of the free litter bin being offered by BCKLWN it was agreed that the bin would be delivered to Cllr Rockcliffe and sited at an appropriate location thereafter.

The clerk reported that he had no response from BCKLWN about queries raised about the contract with ServiceTeam for the emptying of litter bins. On a suggestion from BC Ansell it was agreed that a letter would be sent to Cllr Hipperson at BCKLWN, who is the Cabinet member for Environmental Services.

After discussion of Cllr Pike’s proposal for funds to be included in next year’s budget for extra litter bins, it was proposed by Cllr Rockcliffe, seconded by Cllr Pike and agreed by council that £300 be included in next year’s budget for 2 extra litter bins. Members of the Environment Committee would consider the location of the bins.

DEC 03/19 Footpath Lighting

The Council received the report of the Environment Committee on footpath lighting. The following points were agreed from the report:

1)       That quotes would be sought for suitable low level lighting on Dolcie’s Path in place of the existing single standard light, with this light possibly being moved to an alternative location.

2)       A response would be awaited from NCC on the status of the path between Britton Close and the Petersfield Estate before any decisions on lighting provision were taken.

3)       Council would wait the outcome of the planning application on the land adjacent to the school before any decisions were taken about Fairfield Lane lighting.

4)       Council noted that the Warren Close Play Area path is used as a footpath during the hours of darkness and may be more so if the proposed footpath to the Medical Centre is constructed. Any decision on lighting would be deferred until any footpath developments are known.

DEC 03/20 Village Pound

Cllr Totes raised the issue of the boundary of the Village Pound now that the old posts had been removed. Cllr Rockcliffe advised the Council that he had bollards and kerbing that matched existing ones. It was proposed by the chairman and agreed by Council that the bollards and kerbs would be installed. Cllr Rockcliffe agreed to organise this work.

DEC 03/21 Watlington Youth Football Club

The chairman, Cllrs Miller and Toates and the clerk had met with representatives of the football club and the Sports& Social Club to discuss the location of the storage container and the state of the floodlighting. Council agreed to the site suggested for the container, which was adjacent to the footpath and the recently dug ditch, by the new fence at the west end of the Glebe Land. The Football Club had been advised that they would need to seek approval from the Diocese for placing the container. The Council noted that the floodlighting arrangements were now agreed, but were disappointed to hear that vandalism had marred the hard work put into this project.

DEC 03/22 War Memorial

Cllr Leedell reported on her research that has found an error on the War Memorial, Sidney Challis having been recorded as Sidney Hollis. The clerk advised the Council that the original mason was willing to make the necessary changes for a cost of £25. The chairman proposed and council agreed to fund the work being carried out, funding to come form the Open Spaces budget. The chairman on behalf of the Council thanked Cllr Leedell for all her hard work in tracking down the correct information.

DEC 03/23 Footway Village Hall to Mill Road

Cllrs Harris and Miller proposed that Council give consideration to supporting a footway between the Village Hall car park and Mill Road, along the busy Lynn Road, especially now there was extra housing in Mill Road and Plough Lane. Cllr Rockcliffe advised that the issue had been on NCC’s list of projects for possible funding some time ago but had fallen in budget cutbacks. On a proposal from the chairman it was agreed that a letter be sent to NCC asking for consideration be given to re-instating this project. Cllr Rockcliffe offered to support the request at county level.

DEC 03/24 Draft Budget 2004/2005

The clerk reported on the draft budget for 2004/2005 and would presented a revised draft budget at the next Council meeting when the precept had to be agreed, taking account of items put forward at this meeting.

DEC 03/25 Millennium Green Update

Cllr Rockcliffe advised that the AGM of the Millennium Green trustees would be held on 30 December 2003 in the Committee Room. All were welcomed to attend. He also thanked the volunteers who had taken time to plant the bulbs for the coming season.

DEC 03/26 Correspondence for Action

DEC 03/27 Correspondence for Information

DEC 03/28 Members Information

Cllr Amor reported a dip in the footway outside 42 Paige Close. The clerk to report.

Cllr Amor complained about the state of the Village Hall car park. He was advised to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee.

Cllr Pike reported that all were welcomed to attend the School Carol Concert on 17 December.

There being no other business the Council rose at 10.10pm

The next meeting of the Council is on Tuesday 27 January 2004 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.

SIGNED

Chairman                                                          Clerk                                         27 January 2004