Annual Parish Meeting

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Minutes of the meeting held on

Monday 21^st May 2001

In the Village hall, Warmington

To follow on from the Parish Council Meeting

 

 

 

1.      ATTENDANCE

Mr D Rowell (Chairman)                            Mr A Hinton

Mr R Bosworth (Vice Chairman)                Mr V Cooper

Mr M Dixon                                               Mr R Enfield

Mr D Short                                                Mrs M Hodges

 

13 parishioners were also in attendance.

 

2.      APPROVAL AND SIGNING OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS 

      MEETING HELD ON 8^th MAY 2000. Mr Cooper proposed and Mr Bosworth

      seconded that these be signed as a true and accurate record of events. AIF

 

3.      CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Mr Rowell reported the achievements of the past year to be as follows:-

A street lighting scheme is in place and is being costed and taken forward. Utility Companies have been encouraged to place overhead cables underground where possible. We have had a successful Village Appraisal and Annual Litter Pick. Planting in the village continues with grants having been obtained. The Pocket Parks continue to do well and in the near future the Big Green site will be owned by the Parish Council. The village have gained a play area and the Leisure Field will be owned by the Parish Council in the not too distant future. The Parish Council have supported the Millennium Committee under the marvellous leadership of William Du Croz. It has been a good year for law and order. The Cemetery has undergone a major refurbishment and the plan updated. Mr Atkinson took on the job of Parish Path Warden. It has been a very busy year for planning with some very contentious issues raised. It should be stressed that in this the Parish Councils’ role is really only one of observation. Requests from villagers for allotments are being dealt with by Elton Estates. The Interpretation Panel has been completed and is due to be erected on 26^th May.

 

4.      ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

a)      Street Lights. Mr Cooper is due to report 3 streetlights which are permanently on. Mrs Forrest was told that the light at Eaglethorpe is due to be embellished and a Heritage Lamp installed.

Mrs Bosworth commented on the state of the path outside her house. There is a large quantity of very big potholes. This is to be looked into.

b)      Village appraisal. This has now been completed and published. Mr Constant asked how the results were to be incorporated into future actions. Mr Rowell stated that it was hoped that the Appraisal would lead on to a Village Design Statement where villagers’ views could go forward in to a design document. He used the example of villagers not wanting anymore large housing developments.

c)      Leisure Field. This has been discussed earlier. When the agreements are signed it is hoped that a committee will be formed to decide the way forward for this. Mr Short pointed out that there is still a portacabin on the site. Mr Bosworth asked if it was still the intention for Elton Estates to bring electricity on site and Mr Rowell stated that it was part of the agreement.

d)      Village design statement. This is considered to be a means whereby the village can decide how they would like their village to develop. It would be necessary to apply for grants, contact architects and relevant bodies etc and therefore a special group would need to be formed. Both Mr Dixon and Mr Constant pointed out that such a document could bear considerable weight if it were to be adopted by the local council. Mrs Stroud stated that Kings Cliffe are currently looking to undertake a similar project. They have had speakers from the Rockingham Forest Trust and ACRE. The parishioners agreed that such a project should be undertaken.

 

5.      ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a)      Mr Atkinson had been asked to raise various matters concerning the play area. He asked if there was anymore equipment to go in and was told that there is not at the moment. Rubbish bins have been asked for and this will be looked into. It was also asked that Bryants finish grassing the area.

b)      Mr Peck stated that he supported Mr Enfield's comments regarding planning in the first meeting. He considered the situation to be undemocratic and one that ignored the views of the Parish Council and the villagers. Mr Peck was very unhappy about a District Councillor overriding the views of the Parish Council. Mr Rowell agreed and reiterated that the situation was being investigated further.

c)      Mrs Forrest asked why Elton Estates had changed their plans for the Mill from offices to a showroom and was told that it was probably difficult to let the offices.

d)      Mrs Scotting suggested that the planning permission for the Mill had been granted as a “showroom” and was interested to ascertain what constituted a “showroom”

e)      Mrs Forrest pointed out that there were discrepancies in the amount of parking available at the Mill. Mr Rowell stated that the number of parking spaces had never been fixed as such.

f)        Mrs Scotting expressed her view that with the undergrounding of the cables at the Mill cost should not come into it and it should be done as a matter of course.

g)      Mrs Forrest pointed out that people coming to the Mill are ignoring the Foot and Mouth signs where there should be no entry. This to be looked into.

h)      Mrs Scotting asked about planning documents and structure plans and was told that the clerk would make available to her any that she required

 

 

The meetings closed at 9.45pm.