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ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st May 2001 At 7pm in the Village Hall, Warmington
Mr Rowell welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS : Chairman: Mr Cooper proposed and Mr Hinton seconded that Mr Rowell continue in the post. AIF. Vice Chairman: Mr Hinton proposed and Mr Enfield seconded that Mr Bosworth Continue in the post. AIF. Mr Bosworth also agreed to continue as the Councillor with responsibility for checking the financial records. Representatives for other areas of responsibility are as follows; Warmington Charities: Mr Hinton. Village Hall : Mr Enfield. Pocket Parks : Mr Rowell. Rights of Way: Mr Atkinson Road Safety : Mr Banbridge Conservation : Mr Bosworth. Tree Warden : Mrs Stroud. Alms Houses : Mr Short. School : Mrs Hodges. Oundle Surgery : Mr Cooper. Street Lighting : Mr Cooper Highways : Mr Hinton & Mr Cooper.
2. 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
14 Parishioners were also in attendance.
3. APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Mr Banbridge, Mr Darters, PC Wareing, Mr Du Croz and Mrs Solt.
4. ABSENTEES: None
5. APPROVAL AND SIGNING OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19th MARCH 2001. These were signed as a true and accurate record of events. AIF
6. SIGNING OF THE ACCOUNTS AND SUPPORTING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2001.Mr Bosworthproposed and Mr Short seconded that these be signed as accurate records. AIF
7. POLICE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT. Mr Rowell had had a visit from PC Wareing. There are no increases in crime and a campaign to prevent people parking on paths is in place. The Parish Council had nominated Mr Darters for an “Unsung Heroes Award”. Unfortunately his nomination was not successful this time, but he did achieve the recognition.
8. PARISHIONERS’ COMMENTS a) Mr Constant questioned whether parishioners would be able to speak freely at the Annual Parish Meeting. He was informed that this would be welcomed. b) Mr Peck asked when the next Parish Council Elections would be and was informed that they would be in the year 2003.
9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a) Street Lights. Routine repairs have been carried out over the years, but now an overhaul is required. The Parish Council have prices from 3 contractors which are to be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday 23rd May. Mr Bosworth pointed out that there is a cracked concrete standard outside no 15 Stamford Lane. Mr Cooper stated that this was considered when obtaining prices. Mr Rowell stated that enquiries were made of ENC and NCC as to whether grants were available, but there are no grants for streetlights. Mr Cooper is to report a further 3 lights tomorrow which are permanently on. b) Highway Matters. The Parish Council have supported the Elton Society in their attempts to improve safety at the Elton Junction following the horrific accident. c) Village Spring Clean. 14 volunteers had assisted with this. Mr Enfield was thanked for his work on the Bunny Run. All villagers were encouraged to try and keep the village tidy. d) Leisure Field. This has now been measured and the documents are with the solicitors. It is hoped that they will be signed in the next couple of days. e) New Play Area. There have been one or two problems with the equipment. One swing needs to be made longer and safer for very young children and the slide at present is difficult to get on. The area needs to be fenced and gated and a seat provided for adults. Elton Estates and Bryants have been made aware of this. Elton Estates have assured the Parish Council that the money to come to them when all agreements have been signed is already in a separate account ready for transfer. Mr Cooper mentioned the possibility of equipment for older children, but this is not in the plans at present. He was also concerned about the use of bark chippings around the slide. This to be looked into. Mrs Hodges expressed concern about the muddy area before the play area. It is hoped that Bryants will seed this but it will be looked into. Elton Estates would like the Parish Council to assemble some information to describe the Ancient Monument so that a plaque/panel can be erected. f) Allotments. Elton Estates have been supplied with a list of all those requiring allotments. Mr Hoyes has agreed to deal with them direct. Mr Rowell hopes that the situation will be resolved by the end of the summer. If it is not it will be discussed at the September meeting and it may be necessary to make a compulsory land purchase. g) Interpretation Panel. Mr Rowell had the Panel for Councillors and Parishioners to see. Mr Ellard was thanked for the artwork and Mr Bosworth for the script. The Panel is to be installed on Saturday 26th May in Church Lane at around 8.15am. All are welcome to attend. h) Cemetery. We now have an accurate and up to date plan of the Cemetery. Mr Cooper reported there to be a lot of rubbish at the entrance to the Cemetery. This will be looked into. The Notice is now at Barker Signs, Stamford for renovation. i) Rights of Way. Some paths are now open as was announced in the village newsletter. PD20 is being looked at and investigated as to its location. ENC are contacting Elton Estates about the Nene Pastures footpath. If agreement is reached between all parties the ROW have agreed to draw up a legal agreement. Mr Cooper commented that Long Lane is very overgrown and difficult to pass along. j) Pocket Parks. These are now both open and there are no problems. The fence in Big Green has been removed and now ENC need to be chased for new plants. k) Planning Concerns. Mr Enfield voiced his concerns over planning policy. He deeply regretted that Mr Banbridge was not in attendance and asked that he be given the earliest opportunity to respond to his comments. Mr Enfield expressed concern over the deletion of Mr Banbridge's name on planning document circulars due to directives from ENC. He stated that at no stage was he casting any aspersions on the integrity of any member of the Parish Council. Mr Enfield considers that the Parish Council has been put in a position whereby a member of the Parish Council is not allowed to give his view on any planning decision. Mr Enfield’s view was that it is undemocratic for an outside body, namely ENC, to take away this right given that Mr Banbridge is an elected member of the Parish Council. He considers that Mr Banbridge has been put in a position where his loyalties are divided and wondered whether he would consider resigning from the ENC Development and Planning Committee. This would allow Warmington Parish Council to access his wide experience on planning. Mr Enfield stated that with some of the disastrous decisions that have been handed down by the ENC Planning Committee, against the recommendations of the Parish Council, Warmington was in danger of being labelled “Warmington Newtown”. Mr Enfield's concerns were discussed and it was agreed that a letter be sent to ENC to ask why this policy had been adopted and where it stands in law. Attempts are still being made to obtain a copy, or extracts from the book “Probity in Planning”
10. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
a) 21 Chapel Street – single storey rear extension. No objection. b) 24 Stamford Lane – Replacement detached bungalow and garage. No objection c) 20 Big Green – Replacement dwellinghouse. The Parish Council had made the point that this would be better 15-20 feet back. Mr Dixon has spoken to the new owners and they seem amenable to this suggestion. This to be followed up. d) 10 Hautboy Lane - Conversion of slaughter house to dwelling – Planning permission received e) Land adjacent 53 Chapel Street – Detached dwellinghouse. No objection. f) Springville House, Little Green – Single storey dwelling. No objection although the plans at the moment seem very vague. g) 7 Pierce Crescent – Single storey side extension. No objection h) Plot adjacent no 11 Short Close - Detached dwellinghouse. Planning permission received i) Warmington Mill, Eaglethorpe – Illuminated and non-illuminated signage. Consent for these signs was for a 5 year period. Mr Bosworth considered that some signage was necessary, but not illuminated signage on the Mill. Concerns were that the building is a listed building. After discussion Mr Cooper proposed that there be no illuminated signs and only three signs in total, one on the road and two at the gates. Mr Hinton seconded this. At this point Mrs Scotting who lives at the Mill House asked to speak. The meeting was opened for this purpose as her information was considered to be very relevant. Mrs Scotting stated that the signs are adverts and not purely directional. She pointed out that the gates are the entrance to both their house and the Boat Club, in addition to Warmington Mill. Mrs Scotting also expressed concern over the opening hours of what is supposed to be a showroom, namely from 9am – 7pm daily and from 11am – 5pm on a Sunday. Mrs Scotting had originally believed that the Mill was to be used as offices. In the light of Mrs Scotting's comments, Mr Cooper asked to modify his proposal. He was not aware of the extent of the opening hours. The proposal was therefore modified to state that there be no illuminated signage and all other signage be directional and not contain any advertising content. AIF j) 29, Broadgate Way – Two storey side extension. Mr Dixon proposed and Mr Enfield seconded that there be no objections to this. AIF
11. ACCOUNTS
a) Community A/C (Current) : £1055.32
Accounts submitted for payment - Anna Webb Salary and Expenses £248.64 - Village Hall Hire £9.00 - J Bradshaw £56.40 Cheques written back since the last meeting - Audit Commission(invoice not presented) £274.46 - ENC Speed Detection Device £50.00
b) Main BPA (Deposit) : £8,990.27 c) Cont. BPA (Contingency) : £3384.96 d) Pocket Park A/c : £335.73
Adoption of accounts. Mr Dixon proposed and Mr Short seconded that the accounts be adopted. AIF.
12. CORRESPONDENCE a) Letter from Mr Du Croz re the Village Design Statement which is to be discussed at the Annual Parish Meeting and the bus service. It would appear that the times of the buses were changed without notification. The clerk to write and also ask for a bus timetable to be placed in each of the bus shelters. b) Letter from Mrs Stroud regarding work at Warmington Mill. The Planning Permission received suggested that the development of the Mill should not begin until the landscaping plans have been submitted. Work has begun on the Mill despite the lack of any such plans, but Mrs Stroud has since been told that this work does not constitute “development” work as it is internal renovation work. The Parish Council will keep an eye on the situation. The Parish Council have written to Elton Estates about the possibility of the undergrounding of overhead wires at the Mill and this is to be discussed at a meeting tomorrow.
13. PARISH COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS
a) Warmington Charities. Mr Hinton reported the opening balance on the current account to be £485.57 and the closing balance to be £318.39. One resident has been helped over the year. The opening balance on the National Savings Account was £4036.19 and with interest of £185.59 the closing balance was £4221.78. Mr Hinton reported that there were very few requests and urged people to be aware of the existence of the charity. b) Village Hall. Mr Enfield reported that there is a meeting on Monday 4th June, but there are no problems. c) Oundle Surgery. Mr Cooper had nothing to report d) Road Safety. The boards have been applied for by Mr Rowell for the Autumn. e) Conservation. Mr Bosworth reported that there had been 8 successful nests with the barn owl boxes. There are still 2 to go up in the Parish but the area has been too flooded. f) Tree Warden. Mrs Stroud suggested that tree planting needs planning in order to preserve the grass verges. Grants have been received for trees which will be planted in the Autumn and Elton Estates have suggested that they go in their hedge line. Mrs Stroud suggested using an allotment as a tree nursery. g) Alms Houses. Mr Short had nothing to report h) Warmington School. Mrs Hodges had nothing to report i) Pocket Parks. Mr Rowell reported no problems. j) Rights of Way. Mr Atkinson reported that with the Foot and Mouth outbreak work on ROW was virtually at a standstill. The bridleway near the transmitter is to be looked at and PD 20 is being investigated. Some paths are now being opened e.g. Spring Meadows to Tansor Grange and Long Lane, but others are likely to remain closed
14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Mr Cooper reported that there is to be a meeting of the North East Northants Community Safety Group on 6th June in Warmington Village Hall at 7.30pm. Mrs Hodges had attended the presentation of the Speedgun. This has now been given and the donation from the Parish Council of £50 has been returned. Warmington will have the use of the Speedgun when there are 2 people to man it.
15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – This will be held on Monday 16th July 2001. |
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