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Parish Council Minutes
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 15 At 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, Warmington
1. ATTENDANCE Mr D Rowell (Chairman) 15 Parishioners were also in attendance together with Jacki Shorley, Rural Transport Partnership Officer, Jenny Davey, the Youth Representative, PC Chris Waring and Richard Simpson, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. 2. APOLOGIES : Apologies were received and accepted from Mrs M Hodges. 3. ABSENTEES : None 4. APPROVAL AND SIGNING OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 21st JULY 2003 AND OF THE INTERIM MEETING HELD ON 21st AUGUST 2003. The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record of events. AIF 5. POLICE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT : PC Waring reported a lot of activity since last Wednesday. There were 5 thefts in Warmington on Wednesday night and a further 6 in Fotheringhay on Friday and Saturday. There were also thefts in Tansor on Sunday night. Most of the thefts have been from sheds and mowers have been taken. PC Waring suggested that the criminals were professionals; no one heard anything despite some people having gravel drives. However, there was a sighting of a blue high top transit van in Fotheringhay at 2.10am on Saturday and a tall thin man in his 40’s with very short hair. A similar transit van was also seen in Tansor and other sightings have been made. The Police do have a possible registration number, but need to firm up on this. PC Waring suggested that shed alarms would have been beneficial in these circumstances if only to frighten the criminals away. He suggested that if you witness a crime take note of details eg registration numbers, call 999, put on lights, but do not confront the criminals. PC Waring also reported a day time theft from a PGR van in the village. The Police have some good leads on this case. Problems were caused with the criminals leaving the scene at speed via School Lane/Hautboy Lane where it is very narrow and where young children were present. On the success side PC Waring reported that the white transit van thought to be involved in crimes had been traced to a gypsy site and some property had been recovered including a quad bike from Southwick. PC Waring apologised for not having been around much lately and welcomed Richard Simpson as the new Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. PC Waring also reported that a caravan stolen from Pierce Crescent had been recovered by traffic police as it was towed away down the A1. This caravan had been targeted by a gang from Nottingham including a drug user. It was well secured but the thieves knew what tools to bring to release it. PC Waring suggested securing caravans with a ground anchor with a heavy duty chain. Mr Simpson reported that his first few weeks in the job had been very hectic. He thanked Mr Bosworth for his help with a leaflet drop and asked for more volunteers to help liaise throughout the village. Mr Rowell suggested that an article be written for "Five All". 6. EN TRACK / PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Mr Rowell introduced Jacki Shorley, Rural Transport Partnership Officer who gave a brief presentation about her work. The Rural Transport Partnership is one of three Partnerships (East Northants, Kettering and Corby) covering the County of Northamptonshire . The lead Partner is Northamptonshire ACRE which manages all three partnerships. It is funded by the Countryside Agency and Ms Shorley is based at ENC. Her role is to work with other agencies to improve rural transport. Ms Shorley stressed that although she is not directly involved with public transport she has the necessary links with other agencies. One role is to promote the Parish Transport Grant where up to £10,000 is available until 2005 to fund transport projects within parishes. Barton Seagrave have successfully acquired a grant for a footpath to give access to a Health Centre. EN Track also have a small grants scheme of up to £1,000 for small scale local transport related projects Ms Shorley is aware that the Parish Council are looking to reroute the X4 bus service through the village and has checked with NCC about this. They in turn have approached Stagecoach and they are not keen to do this due to timetabling difficulties. Mr Dixon pointed out that although the 7,8 and 9.30pm bus services go via Lynchwood and Elton they do not go through Warmington. For children using the bus the walk back to the village is potentially dangerous as the dark nights approach. Ms Shorley suggested in order to apply for funding for this it would be necessary to carry out a transport needs survey which she offered to help with. It would also be necessary to ascertain costs for this. Mrs Huett suggested applying for a grant to upgrade the footpath in Church Street if the bus could not be rerouted. Mr Rowell also suggested applying for funding for the footpath between Nene Pastures and Chapel Street. It was agreed to look into all of the above options. Ms Shorley to send the Clerk a copy of the grant form. Mr Du Croz pointed out that one X4 bus does come through the village in the morning, but that this service and services generally are very badly publicised. The use of buses needs to be promoted. Ms Shorley had hoped that NCC would do more to promote this. Miss Davey reiterated that the footpath is not pleasant to use in the dark. It is full of nettles. It is also dangerous trying to cross the A605 by the roundabout to the bus stop. 7. YOUTH MATTERS : Miss Davey apologised for not attending the last meeting. She reported that the AGM was very successful. A copy of the minutes will be circulated amongst Parish Councillors. The Youth Club have a Drugs talk on Thursday and are providing the catering for the Apple Day. The times of the Club have been changed to 7-8.30pm. Miss Davey attends every other week and the Secretary and treasurer cover the weeks that she is not there. More volunteer parents are required. The Youth Club need some screens to partition the Hall. Can anyone help with ideas, donations or sources? The Youth Orchestra – Miss Davey reported that specific rehearsals at fortnightly intervals were no longer feasible. One off concerts eg at Christmas would be a better way forward. Mr Dixon asked if there was a need to apply for a grant at the present time and Miss Davey suggested there was not. Mrs Huett asked for confirmation that there is no bus service to Thrapston to enable people to use the new Leisure Centre. This is the case. Miss Davey offered to raise transport issues with the Youth club in order to ascertain their point of view. 8. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a) Highway Matters / STOP Campaign/ Highways Appraisal Questionnaire/Posts in Verges. Mr Rowell reported that the service road in Church Street opposite the School has now been upgraded. The Highways Appraisal Questionnaire will be completed and sent off. Re the STOP Campaign Mr Constant suggested that views should go through the system and not through independent organisations. However, their literature could be displayed. There was general agreement with this view. Prices had been obtained from NCC for posts in verges. The cost of between £40-£50 per post was considered high and other prices will be sourced for comparison. b) Street Lights ABB will complete the work in Broadgate Way when they have clarified the exact locations of the lamps. The Clerk has received agreement that the Electricity Board will arrange for the lamp outside the Manor House in Chapel Street to be reinstated. The lamp outside 53 Pierce Crescent is permanently on and has been reported. c) Allotments. Mr Rowell reported that there is now a rabbit proof fence at the back of the allotments and other gates and fences. However, the work is not yet complete. Mr Ellard reported that the allotments are going very well. The matter of the shed is an outstanding item. Mr Solt has locking devices for the taps, Mr Rowell to approach him about this. Mr Rowell pointed out that the Parish Council had agreed to fund the shed and then recoup the money through rents. It was agreed that the Allotment Holders discuss the various quotations and then make recommendations to the Parish Council. AIF Mr Constant thanked the Allotment Holders for their contributions to Harvest Festival. d) Open Spaces and Greens Mr Dixon and Mr Constant have surveyed open spaces and greens and have had discussions with Mr Du Croz. Within the Village Design Statement is a map detailing these areas. Mr Constant suggested that when adopting the Village Design statement the Parish Council could adopt this map. At a later date areas for bulb and tree planting could also be marked on. e) Nene Pastures Play area. Despite the meeting with 4 councillors where Taylor Woodrow Developments (TWD) agreed to complete all outstanding items by September, the Company have now decided to put everything on hold whilst the question of adoption is resolved. TWD were hoping that the Parish Council would adopt all areas and are now taking advice from their solicitors. The Parish Council have an agreement with Elton Estates to adopt the play area when complete and in return will receive a one off sum of £7,500. With TWD refusing to complete the play area it was agreed that this matter should be taken up with Elton Estates to resolve. Mr Rowell has had discussions with the legal team at ENC who suggest that it is up to TWD to take the matter up with the case officer. There is no legal agreement between TWD and the Parish Council re adoption. Should the Parish Council take it over a large endowment would be required Mr Cutler pointed out that the points raised at a meeting between Elton Estates, Mr Rowell and Mr Cutler re Nene Pastures have been documented in letter form and have been sent to Mr Hoyes for comment. f) Village Design Statement. The document is still circulating amongst Parish Councillors. Comments are due before 23rd October and another Parish Council meeting will be held before that date to discuss the document. g) Bulb and tree planting. As discussed under d). Some trees have died in the dry weather. These trees will be identified for replacement and then there will be discussions as to how to maintain them. h) Standing Orders. These need to be upgraded. Mr Rowell asked that the Chair be granted permission to spend up to £100 between meetings without recourse to the Parish Council. AIF. Mr Rowell also suggested adopting a grievance procedure. A model has been received from NALC. To be discussed at the next meeting. It has come to the attention of the Parish Council that since an agreement with the School Governors and NCC in 1987, the Parish Council are responsible for activities in the school playground outside School hours. This agreement needs to be formalized and a meeting between the School Governors and the Parish Council held to address various matters. The 1987 agreement suggests that there should be no "organised ball games". This in particular needs to be clarified. Once an agreement has been drawn up the Parish Council’s insurers have offered to read through the document re liability. Mr Constant suggested that this document should be a stand alone agreement referred to in Standing Orders. i) Parish Council Sub Committees. After discussion Mr Short proposed and Mr Reid seconded that Sub Committees should not be utilized. 4 voted for this proposal with 1 against and 2 abstentions. j) Parish Council Wards/Areas. Mr Rowell suggested that the general feeling was that the Parish Council did not embrace this idea and as such he suggested that it should be dispensed with. AIF l) Countryside Agency Rights of Way Draft Map. There was no land in Warmington affected by this and therefore no comment. m) Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy Draft. No comments were made n) Victim Support donation. In 2000 the Parish Council gave this charity £25. Mr Constant proposed and Mr Reid seconded that £50 be given. The majority were in favour. 10. PLANNING a) Springville House, Little Green – EN/03/00542 – Erection of dwelling. Planning permission received. b) Long Lane Farm, Taylors Green - EN/03/00243 – Re-instate original window and build floor. Listed Building consent received. c) Springville House, Little Green – EN/03/00871 – Erection of a detached dwellinghouse and replacement of existing garage with new double garage with storage space above. No objections. d) Springville House, Little Green EN/03/00803 - Erection of double garage. Objections made to this application. e) 36 Acremead – EN/03/00836 - Two storey side extension. No objections. f) 17 Dexter Way – EN/03/00996 - Conservatory to rear. No objections g) America Farm Cottage, Morborne Road – EN/03/00993 - Erection of Conservatory to rear – No objections h) 44 Big Green – EN/03/00467 – Dwelling with garage and associated access drive. Planning Permission received. 11. ACCOUNTS a) Community A/C (Current) : £3869.19
Accounts submitted for payment - Anna Webb Salary and Expenses £474.60 - Village Hall Hire £10.00 - BCN Multiclean £125.00 b) Main BPA (Deposit) : £14,236.00 c) Cont. BPA (Contingency) : £3,439.89 d) Pocket Park A/c : £424.77 Adoption of accounts. Mr Bosworth proposed and Mr Dixon seconded that the accounts be adopted. AIF. It was agreed that consideration be given to the precept for the November meeting. The Clerk to prepare budgets. 12. CORRESPONDENCE Since the last meeting in July 68 items of correspondence have been circulated amongst Parish Councillors and 35 items of post have been sent by the Parish Council. Amongst post circulating of particular note are the following:- a) Letter from Eaglethorpe resident re fly tipping in Eaglethorpe. This resident admits to tipping grass cuttings and hedge cuttings in the area felling that he was justified in doing so. The Parish Council to reply to his letter. b) Letter from the Police stating that 5 Officers from the area are to be moved to Northampton. c) Letter from Mr & Mrs Kirk expressing their continuing concerns with the way in which the School problem was "sensationalised" in the minutes. The view of the Parish Council is that no one was accused of anything and that the minutes accurately reported what was said. They cannot and should not be changed. Mr & Mrs Kirk to be informed of this view. 13. OUTSTANDING CORRESPONDENCE a) Letter to Elton Estates re services for the Leisure Field and an agreement for the allotments. These to be included in a letter to Elton Estates with other outstanding matters. b) Letter to EMEB re power cuts. Mr Short reported that it would appear that a fault has been pinpointed somewhere along the Bunny run. c) Letter to Reverend Rogers re unconsecrated land in the Cemetery. Mr Constant to take this matter up with him. 14. PARISH COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS a) Alms Houses. Mr Short reported a leak for which a quotation is being considered b) Village Hall. Mr Cutler reported that a meeting was held last week. A new noticeboard has been installed at a cost of between £250-£350. The curtains are to be replaced and a budget of £1,000 has been agreed upon. It is hoped that these will include black out facilities. There is to be an Autumn Fair on October 4th c) Rights of Way. Mr Rowell had attended a meeting with ROW and the Ramblers Association re PD20. The Claphams have suggested that the path go the other side of their property and this seemed to meet with the approval of all d) Pocket Parks. Mr Rowell reported no problems. There is to be an event held next month where the highlight is to be a one man show "Flower of Gloucester". The Youth Club are to help with the catering. e) Warmington Charities. Mr Bosworth reported the next meeting to be held in October. f) Warmington School. Mrs Hodges reported through Mr Rowell that numbers of pupils and staff were up and that the School is very successful. The work on the extension is progressing and there are no problems. g) Leisure Field. Mr Short reported that the portacabin has been moved into place and waiting for Elton Estates to lay on the services. It needs painting and volunteers were requested h) Tree Warden/Conservation. NCC are currently looking at the cherry tree in Spinney Close and the suckers from the old lime tree in Church Street. Mr Reid is obtaining information about trees generally and to date his investigations have suggested the planting of smaller fruit trees. Taylors Green has now been cut very well but the bank now needs to be strimmed and the area dragged i) Road Safety. The Road safety boards should be received in October. 15. PARISIONERS’ QUESTION TIME a) Mr Karolski outlined his problems with children playing at the School. Whilst he endorses the use of the playground out of School hours, his concerns are with ball games. He has had balls going into his garden causing damage to both people and property despite having an 8ft fence. Mr Rowell reiterated that a meeting would be held between the Parish Council and the School Governors to formalize the agreement with the playground and that Mr Karolski would be kept informed of developments. Mr Davey pointed out that the goal posts cannot be positioned any other way. He also pointed out how attractive kicking a football is to children. Mr Davey suggested that there were concerns when the planning applications for the houses went in. He suggested that organised ball games were prohibited in the 1987 agreement due to the varying ages of the children. Mr Bosworth suggested that the term "organised ball games" needs to be clarified. Mr Reid suggested a higher fence and it was agreed that a lot of solutions could be found and should be discussed at the meeting with the governors. b) Mr Du Croz asked about the current situation with the application for the reservoir. Mr Hoyes had suggested at the meeting with Mr Rowell and Mr Cutler that the plans were due to go through on 6 The last written communication received regarding the Reservoir was from DK Symes the agent acting on behalf of Elton Estates. The Parish Council had urged that the exit road be via Elton, there be public access to the site and that management be vested in a body such as the Wildlife Trust. DK Symes suggested that it was unlikely that any of these criteria be met. Mr Bosworth pointed out that the Parish Council have put their observations in to NCC and it is ultimately they who will decide. It was agreed to ask for an update on the situation. Mr Du Croz felt that whatever the outcome Elton Estates have failed in their promise to keep the village informed c) Mr Thomas reported that leaflets are being delivered in an attempt to gain support for Broadband. 106 have registered, 150 are required. d) Mrs Bosworth reported that the dog bin outside the School is broken. This to be looked into. e) Mr Fox reported that there are still problems with traffic in Church Street. Highways to be made aware and encouraged to come to the village. f) Mr Du Croz publicized the launch of the Village Design Statement for Public Consultation on September 26 th. Invitations have been sent. Anyone else interested can sign the register in the Post Office.16. ANY OTHER BUSINESS a) Mrs Huett reported that the triangular sign at the entrance to Nene Pastures is still there and needs to be removed. She also reported that hedge clippings have been left on Taylors Green. There is still a hole on entry to the village on the Peterborough side of the A605. Mr Rowell to query this with Pettifers. b) Mr Short reported that the litter bins at the Little Chef are in need of repair. c) Mr Reid offered to help Mr Simpson with Neighbourhood Watch. d) Mr Bosworth had received a complaint from a resident about the number of items on the grave of Bridie Smith in the Cemetery. He had also been asked for 30mph repeater signs at either end of Stamford Lane. This to be raised with Highways. e) Mr Constant asked that Elton Estates be reminded of their promise to put hedgerow in front of the barns development on Peterborough Road. 17. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Monday 17 th November 2003.The meeting closed at 10.10pm |
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