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Parish Council Meeting PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 17th September 2001 At 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, Warmington
1. ATTENDANCE Mr D Rowell (Chairman) Mr A Hinton Mr R Bosworth (Vice Chairman) Mr P Banbridge Mr M Dixon Mr R Enfield Mrs M Hodges Mr V Cooper Mr D Short
8 Parishioners were also in attendance
2. APOLOGIES: None
3. ABSENTEES: None
4. APPROVAL AND SIGNING OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 16th JULY 2001 AND OF INTERIM MEETING HELD ON 24th AUGUST 2001. These were signed as a true and accurate record of events. AIF.
5. POLICE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT Mr Enfield has temporarily taken over from Mr Darters as Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator. Mr Darters is now recovering well from various operations. There were no local crimes for August and only one so far this month which has already been resolved. Mr Short asked about the car abandoned on the A605, but no one had any further knowledge of this.
6. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a) Street Lights - Progress on present scheme – Mr Cooper reported that due to delays, work on the lights and substation will now start in mid October. The Electricity Board have agreed to connect up lamps 21,20,16,15, the new one at the substation and the new one outside the old police station. After this ABB will continue with their work. Faulty lights – there is currently a faulty light at the Hautboy, Hautboy Lane. Mr Jibb has requested a streetlight outside his shop. He has offered to pay for the installation of this. Mr Millard ABB, to assess when he next visits the village. b) Highway Matters. A letter and accompanying photographs have been received from Mr Bradshaw concerning flooding at Thistleholme House. Mr Rowell to have a word with Richard Simpson to find out more. A letter has been received from East Northants Housing re the post and chain fence. It is in hand, but as it is low priority if it has not been rectified in three months further contact should be made. A letter has been received from NCC highways requesting that the trees be cut back overhanging Buntings Lane. Apparently they are dangerous and causing accidents. The Clerk to write to ascertain exactly which trees. c) Best Kept Village Competition. Presentations are to be made on September 28th. No Councillors are available to attend. d) Leisure Field. A meeting regarding this is to be held on Thursday 20th September. e) New Play Area. The litter bin has not yet been installed – the Clerk to chase this up. Mr Dixon reported that the dustbin men are happy to empty the bin when it is installed. Mr Enfield has received a phone call reporting rubbish under the slide and he has cleared up what rubbish was there. Neither Bryants or Elton estates have been in contact regarding the fence, seat or the seeding of the grass. Mr Rowell to follow this up. f) Allotments. A reply has not been received from Elton Estates. The Clerk to contact all those expressing an interest to obtain their continuing interest in writing. The Clerk to produce a poster to ascertain whether others are interested in allotments. It may then be necessary to look at compulsory land purchase, but advice will be sought. g) Cemetery & Churchyard. There are no problems. Mr Griffin has cleared the Cemetery. NCC have dug part of the ditch, but it is likely that it will block up again. The builders rubbish outside the Cemetery has been cleared. Mr Short reported that there are two more grass cuts scheduled for the Cemetery. h) Pocket Parks. The Annual Apple Day is to be held on October 7th. The sign at Big Green Pocket Park has been moved to the outside. Negotiations are under way to transfer ownership of the Pocket Park at Big Green from ENC to the Parish Council It was resolved that Mr D Rowell, Chairman, and Mr R Bosworth, Vice Chairman, be allowed to execute the deed transferring land on the south side of Big Green Warmington, from East Northamptonshire District Council to Warmington Parish Council. Proposed Mr Banbridge, seconded Mr Dixon. AIF. i) Autumn Planting. At the entrance to the village from the roundabout there are to be more bulbs on the right hand side and the left-hand side will be cleared of nettles, weeds etc. Mr Knott has kindly offered to plant a tree in memory of his wife on the triangle at Spinney Close. Concerns were expressed with large machinery moving about in this area. Mr Rowell to discuss the location of the tree with Mr Knott. Mr Knott also suggested the idea of a seat at Taylors Green. The salt bins will be moved from Spinney Close to Church Street and from Buntings Lane to half way up the hill on Broadgate Way. The Brudenell family are due to install a seat in Church Lane. Offers of plants and trees have been received from Elizabeth Davies, Georgia Brown, Peggy Tuft and Chloe Furze. Mrs Tuft has offered wildflower seed which will need to go on bare ground. The Parish Council has £70, kindly donated from Mr Dixon re his Village Appraisal expenses, for the purchase of plants. Mr Enfield thanked Mr Dixon for this. j) Village Design Statement. The meeting held on Wednesday 12th September was very successful and 22 names of interested people were collected. The speakers from RFT and ACRE were extremely good and attracted a lot of attention. Mr Bosworth was slightly sceptical about the true benefits of such a statement, but agreed that in theory it was a good idea. It was decided to proceed with the idea and set up a meeting for mid October. It was hoped that officers would be elected at this meeting to carry the project further. It is anticipated that a couple of Parish Councillors may attend the meetings as a watching brief, and that all proposals would come back through the Parish Council for ratification. Mr Dixon expressed an interest in being a part of the project. Mr Bosworth asked Mr Banbridge if November is the last opportunity to comment on the local plan. Although the answer was yes, Mr Rowell pointed out that ENC would be advised that the village is hoping to produce a Village Design Statement. Obviously ENC would play a major part in the production of a Village Design Statement. k) Clerk’s Salary 2001/2002. After investigation into current levels and the requirement of the audit to state clearly the Clerk’s salary, it was agreed that this should be set at £6.85 per hour for 5 hours per week i.e. £1,644 per annum as from July 2001. Proposed Mr Dixon, seconded Mr Short. AIF. l) 2002 Grass Cutting. It was decided that prices should be obtained for grass cutting and clearing in various parts of the village in order to improve upon the current situation. The areas identified are:- the Church and Cemetery, to include the ditch on the outside of the Cemetery, Taylors Green in the autumn, the rose beds in the Churchyard, possibly three times a year, and the hedge and grass in the Leisure Field. It was also decided to get a price for the rest of the village including the weeding of footpaths etc, to see how it compares with NCC. Mr Cooper asked who is responsible for the grass at Nene Pastures when it is taken over. Mr Rowell to ask Bryants. Mr Cooper also asked about the Ancient Monument and was informed that this is the responsibility of NCC. m) Taylors Green. Mr Short reported that this is due to be cut and dragged. n) 2002 The Queen’s Jubilee. After discussion it was suggested that a Street Party and BBQ would be a good idea. The Leisure Field, Church Lane or the Village Hall if it is wet, would be ideal venues. It was decided to put up posters asking for volunteers to help with ideas, organisation and offers of food. o) Standing Orders. These have now been added to to cover “Parishioners Comments”. It was agreed that these be signed. Proposed Mr Banbridge, seconded Mr Hinton. AIF.
7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
a) 25, Stamford Lane – Single storey rear extension. Planning Permission received b) 26 School Lane – Single storey side extension. Planning Permission received c) Boat Club Building with ancillary parking area at land adjacent Warmington Mill Eaglethorpe. Planning Permission received d) Variation of condition No 5 to allow the vehicular parking area to be gravelled at Warmington Mill Eaglethorpe. Planning Permission received e) 13, Big Green – Dwellinghouse with garages and vehicular access. No objection subject to comments f) 11, School Lane- two dwellinghouses with garages. Approval of Reserved Matters received g) Thistleholme House – deletion of condition 2. Application withdrawn. Mr Banbridge explained that this has been withdrawn as it was discovered that the property has only been advertised for sale for 6 months when it should have been advertised for 12 months. h) Plot 65, 4, Short Close – Conservatory. Planning Permission received i) 59 Church Street – Two storey rear extension, conversion and extension to outbuilding to provide garage and workshop. No objection j) 16 Chapel Street – dwellinghouse. Outline Planning Permission received k) 23 Church Street – 2 dwellinghouses. No objection subject to comments. l) Top Lodge Farm – 4 additional Stables and use as “Do-it-yourself” livery yard. No objection.
8. ACCOUNTS a) Community A/C (Current) : £520.18
Accounts submitted for payment - Anna Webb Salary and Expenses £306.30 - Village Hall Hire £21.00
b) Main BPA (Deposit) : £12,821.31 c) Cont. BPA (Contingency) : £3399.32 d) Pocket Park A/c : £300.92
Adoption of accounts. Mr Bosworth proposed and Mr Enfield seconded that the accounts be adopted. AIF. Audit Report. The Clerk has produced a copy of the matters arising from the audit for all of the Councillors, together with a summary of the 4 points raised. An audit certificate has been received and Mr Rowell signed Form C for return to District Audit. Pathfinder Audit. The Clerk had attended the meeting at the Moat House, Northampton on Friday 7th September and produced notes for each Councillor. Although a lighter touch low cost audit would be appreciated, concerns were over the cost implications of the requirement for an independent auditor.
9. CORRESPONDENCE a) Letter and map from NCC Highways re PD20. The map implies that the suggested modification is the wrong way round. This has been confirmed by John Atkinson. The Clerk to write to NCC pointing this out. b) Letter from Judy Stroud, Tree Warden. To be circulated.
10. PARISH COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS
a) Warmington Charities. Mr Hinton had nothing to report. There is a meeting next month. b) Village Hall. Mr Enfield reported no problems. c) Oundle Surgery. Mr Cooper reported that Dr Hadfield is due to retire in December and is to be replaced by Dr Richardson. There are 3 groups in the country currently testing an electronic system for repeat prescriptions. The idea is that a credit card will store repeat prescriptions and can be used where necessary. Oundle Care Committee have donated a defibrillator to the Surgery and it has already been put to good use. The S. Peterborough NHS are to hold their AGM at the Moat House on 28th September. d) Road Safety. Mr Banbridge reported that the boards are due to be received in October. e) Conservation. Mr Bosworth reported on the findings of the East Midlands Common Bird Census which was last completed in 1974/75. The 1999/2000 findings show an increase in a number of common birds particularly the Tawny Owl which has increased by 33%. There are now more ponds and hedges than 10 years ago. The National Survey, however, shows that since 1980 the number of swallows have fallen by 20 – 25% and explanations are being sought. f) Tree Warden. Mr Dixon reported that ENC have approved another £250 tree grant. Mr Rowell and Mr Dixon to liaise to make decisions on the purchase and the planting of the trees. g) Alms Houses. Mr Short had nothing to report h) Warmington School. Mrs Hodges reported that there is to be a meeting next week. i) Rights of Way. Already covered.
11. PARISHIONERS COMMENTS a)Mrs Bosworth reported that the hedge near the Manor House is dangerous as it has brambles sticking out. Mr Rowell to investigate. She also commented on the appalling state of the path/roadway outside her house. The Clerk to contact NCC. b) Mr Brooks commented that the digging of his ditch was actually unsolicited. NCC knocked on his door and offered to do it. In conversation with Mr Rowell he had commented that he had been leaving his grass cuttings at the front as he had been told that it was illegal to move them around the back for compost! Mr Brooks reiterated his offer to fill the Cemetery butt with his hosepipe. He needs to be told, however, when this needs doing.
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS a)Mr Short asked how regularly the dog bins are emptied. Mr Banbridge to investigate. b) Mr Dixon commented on the state of some areas of the village with the Electricity Board work. It was felt that this was inevitable and that the Parish Council should wait until the work is complete before requests for reinstatement are made. c)Mr Cooper commented that there are still no timetables at the bus stops. There was mud on the A605, but this has now been cleared. He was also concerned about the landscaping of the new houses on the corner of Chapel Street. The trees and hedge are very close to the houses. The Clerk to write to ENC to ascertain whether the landscaping has changed from the original plans which stated that the hedge should not be touched. Mr Cooper also expressed concern about the dangerous nature of the trench left partially uncovered near the underpass. Mr Rowell to have a word with Elton Estates to check that this will be reinstated. Mr Cooper has been asked whether the Parish Council would support the development of a Leisure Centre at the old Pioneer site in Oundle. Mr Rowell pointed out that such a request would need to be in writing. d) Mr Bosworth reported problems with a hedge overgrowing in Stamford Lane. Mr Rowell to have a word with Elton estates. e)Mr Rowell suggested taking another look at Village Greens and Open Spaces. He will compile a list and circulate it. It may be taken further by the Village Design Statement team.
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – This will be held on Monday 19th November 2001.
The meeting closed at 9.20 pm. |
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