BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Transcription

1 BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 6 APRIL 2017 AT BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD VILLAGE HALL Present: - Cllr S van Daesdonk (Chairman) Cllr G Hughes Cllr E Sharkey Cllr D Sherratt (Vice Chair) Cllr M Naylor Cllr J Taylor Cllr A Jones Cllr S Theaker Cllr L Bennett Cllr L Brant Parish Clerk Mrs S Rumsby 6 Members of the public Press: Lichfield Mercury Action Points 1 Chairman s welcome and opening remarks. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 2 Apologies for Absence Apologies received from Cllrs A Kennedy, Cllr L Brant (late arrival) 3 Parishioners Forum No comments 4 Police Report 1. PCSO Pete Bradbury reported that there had been 12 prosecutions for parking on the zig zags since December. Some drivers had taken points rather than attend an awareness course. 14 days had lapsed on one case due to absence. 2 vehicles had been towed away. Cllr Sharkey will put this news on social media. Pete thanked Barton Brownies for their awards. There had been an incident at quarry involving used lorry batteries. Pete said he was trying to get the Aggregate Industries loan vehicle upgraded. Cllr Sharkey will mention it at next month s Quarry liaison group. Fly tipping was on the increase, there had been one case at Barton Turns roundabout and another on the highways storage area. A white transit van had been painted up to look like a Highways Maintenance vehicle. Pete said he had been spending more time in Uttoxeter lately as there were issues with some youths causing damage to the police station and threatening officers. Pete had missed a few scheduled Police surgeries but hopes to get back on track. The Vauxhall Tigra which has been parked for over a month is road legal, Pete will knock on the owner s door and ask why it is parked there. There were difficulties with enforcement of the car park restrictions. Thanks were to recorded to Pete for his help with the speedwatch team and in getting the camera van out. Palmer Close - The Fire Brigade have carried out door to door research and the parking issues are of great concern. They had approached Pete about access problems, they have issued cards on cars blocking access. Pete has been told that any application for double yellow lines would push the problem elsewhere. The Chairman had met with John Taylor and they would support yellow lines. Residents are experiencing arguments and threats. The Chief Inspector advocates towing these vehicles away if they are blocking access. Before this measure is taken, Pete will try an education rally. The Bowls club discourage parking on their ground and options for alternative parking areas are being considered. Holland Sports Club is the designated area but the kids 1 Responsibility ES Deadline

2 think this too far away. Richard Rayson has been approached and residents advised not to object to any application. All agreed if the TRO would cost in the region of 12-15k, a small amount could be funded from the Better Safer Barton fund. Pete will ask the fire brigade to push highways and the Chairman will chase Richard Rayson. Our Borough Cllrs are also keen to see a resolution. Pete will enforce pavement parking as a last resort. Cllr Sherratt believes the situation was exacerbated by County withdrawing bus passes for over 16s to get to school. Fire brigade done door to door to find out concerns, parking is main topic. One elderly lady gets up at 6am to manoeuvre her car into the right position so she can get out. Cllr Brant suggested another obvious place for a restriction is Barton Lodge. The Chairman felt that both Barton Lodge and Radhurst Rise should be considered as well with all the vulnerable residents affected. Pete will get details of the drivers involved and speak personally to educate them. Cllr Naylor felt that parking permits for areas in the village could help. The situation should ease off now with exams coming up and upper school students leaving. ESBC Nothing to report. 5 Minutes of the last Parish Council Meeting It was proposed by Cllr A Jones and seconded by Cllr Taylor that the minutes from the previous meeting be accepted. All agreed. 6 Committee Reports : 1. Finance a. There had been no meeting. b. Receipts & Payments Councillors referred to the monthly summary at Addendum 1 and its contents were accepted. 2. Village Enhancement Scheme a. Cllr Naylor had circulated the Committee Report and a draft Better Safer Barton Project organisational structure. Interviews had taken place and a temporary administrator accepted the position. Cllrs had attended a fantastic visit to Cirencester and recommend a visit which was very helpful. b. Regeneration Committee the Heritage Lottery Fund bid will not include VAT. Cllrs had attended a National Forest tourism day and will be meeting to discuss how they can help. c. The organisational structure was approved d. Historic Towns and Villages Forum. Cllr Naylor had been invited to Oxford to present on the Better Safer Barton scheme on 25 April. Dave Naylor and Roger Bell would also attend along with the Chairman. It was hoped to raise the profile of the project and find sources of funding. Cllr Sharkey commended Cllr Naylor for her pro-action on this. e. A like for like replacement central Noticeboard was required. Cllrs Theaker and A Jones agreed to source this and bring back proposals. Tolputt Keeton may be able to assist. The new roads on the Bellways site and the development at Lakeside would need to be included. 3. Transport & Environment a. Roy Smith had forwarded details of the impact of changes to the latest Midland Classic bus timetable. They are cancelling the service through Arden Road due to difficulty of access. There appears to have been no consultation on this. It was agreed to write to them with our concerns and the walking distance to the bus stop. b. Cllr Naylor had looked at the railway station following publicity on funding 2 SvD SR

3 for re-opening stations. She had received a response to the strategic question of why a station could not be re-opened in Barton. However, the stakeholder consultation had not been forwarded. Cllr Sherratt recalled that this was when Bombardier came. Roy Smith is helping along with another resident who is interested in carrying out a survey. South Derbyshire have been allowed to put a station on National Forest Leicester line at Drakelow. 4. Planning (Cllrs referred to Addendum 2) a. Church Farm Cottage - Cllr Taylor reported on the Church Farm Cottage application. Objections listed on the schedule. b. Land adj 38 Efflinch has been permitted on appeal. c. 26 Barton Gate the appeal had been heard and planning permission granted. d. 24 Barton Gate had been refused. e. Vicarage Cllrs had objected to the English Oak being reduced but this has been granted. 5. Village Hall a. Cllr Sherratt advised that the Employee Payroll is to be separated from the Parish Council. At the committee meeting, Cllr Hughes had strongly objected, Cllr Sherratt had abstained and the rest of the Village Hall Management Committee were for the separation. Cllr Sherratt had registered concerns that employees should not be worse off because of it, with particular regard to the pension consideration. Their Treasurer is to put forward a proposal on the mechanics. b. Several regular hirers had obtained the Parish Council Wifi code. The Village Hall Management Committee had reservations about providing their own Wifi. Cllrs were concerned about Parish Council data being compromised and all agreed to get our code changed for PC use only. Any hirers wanting Wifi access should take this up with the Village Hall Management Committee. SR/SvD 6. Holland Sports Club a. Nothing to report. 7. Burial Ground a. An interment of ashes into an existing Cremated Remains plot had occurred without prior permission being sought, the Clerk had now sorted this out. A meeting is to be scheduled to discuss the gates. 8. Parks and Open Spaces a. The Committee had been on a walk around last Monday. Repairs were necessary to the tarmac footpath; there were sections in the Burial Ground to be tied in with areas of Collinson Park. A formal proposal would be brought to a later meeting. b. Collinson and Ash Tree pocket park Grass cutting has restarted. Cllr Sharkey advised that coppicing had been done. 3 resolutions were proposed in an attached circulated report. The shrub beds had been invaded by suckers. Woodland wildflower species would be planted at the end of May. Fishpond - the surface had eroded on the gravel path. Prices would be sought up to the value of the top figure outlined. Cllr Naylor said the Community paths initiative may be useful and this may also cover the paths in the burial ground and Collinson Park. The contents of the report were accepted. c. Cllr Sharkey is chasing the contractor for the tidy up of the tree felling by the 3 P&OS P&OS ES

4 fishpond. d. The soakaway at the bottom end of Gilmour Lane County now had someone investigating the cause of the flooding. Paul Dawson had original drawings, gullies need cleaning regularly. Cllr Sharkey had offered to meet him if he wishes to do so. e. Fishpond bulbs have been planted around Mr Popples plaque. 9. Human Resources An had been circulated amongst Cllrs last week regarding the salary review. This was approved. Interviews for the Temporary Administrative Assistant role had taken place and a candidate appointed (details circulated). The majority had agreed to the appointment and the post accepted. Cllr Sharkey felt that any papers with an historic interest could also be digitised. The assistant had been offered 3 months initially but this may roll on. 10. Allotments The clear up has started. Tidying up work is ongoing with 3 skips already filled. Cllr Hughes reported there were 8 vacancies. They have let 3 plots but a few more had vacated. Everyone is delighted with clear up so far. 7 Community Speedwatch Cllr A Jones reported on recent Speedwatch sessions, data had been circulated checked, 53 speeding down 3%, the fastest speed recorded was 26mph over the speed limit. A survey had also been carried out without the speed gun and signage. 30% were obeying the limit, 30% not notifiable at 5 or 6 mph over, 40% over speed limit by more than 6mph, one motor bike was recorded at 82mph outside Little India, also overtaking on the bend. Viking school buses were using Dogshead Lane as a short cut. This is designated as a public bus service route. Cllr A Jones is to find out how many buses are using this route and if it is designated county route. Buses are parking on Dunstall Road early with engines running. One school bus had been doing 47mph in a 40 zone. Following the survey at Little India, PCSO Pete had arranged for a camera van to be out next day. 8 Policies Media a policy was to be drafted and should be linked to the comms group. Flying the Flag - whilst significant dates were listed, there had been a couple of events with some debate on whether we should fly at half-mast. For example, recent events at Westminster Bridge and the Jo Cox murder. The Chairman felt that this should not happen unless someone in the village had been affected by such tragedies. Cllrs remarked we had never had any half-mast dates but concurred that it should be at half-mast for a Royal death. Cllr Hughes felt that we are doing sufficient and all agreed to keep the current arrangements as they are. 9 Administration Councillors referred to the items on Addendum 2 for consideration. 1. Revised Playdale Quote to repair Team Swing Cllr Sharkey advised that Cllr Taylor had negotiated this quote down from 1,100. Sean Gaynor had difficulty in sourcing chains. This work is to be done at inspection time. 2. Quote received from P M Harris for 3 visits to the car park, 9 hours total = 270 plus AJ SR 4

5 VAT. Sweep and gully sucker. 3. Donation to Barton Open Gardens and Scarecrow Festival 17,18 June Request for Parish Council to support Barton Lions by paying for the Village Hall hire for their Christmas Tea Party, 10 December last year. 5. Eon Deemed Contract Rates increase to 15.75p per kwh from 14.40p per kwh 6. SPCA Membership Community Council of Staffordshire subs 25. All items were agreed. 10 Correspondence The Schedule was referred to. 1. Cllrs Sharkey and Naylor are to look at community paths initiative bid. ES, MN 11 Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies Cllr Naylor asked if there were any conditions imposed on the new school port-acabins. There is a travel plan, details of materials to be used at the infants school and replacement of trees felled, details of all can be found on on-line. 12 Councillors Reports Nothing to report. 13 Clerks Report 1. Sean Gaynor would be off the first week of the Easter Break, 10 th to 13 th April inclusive. As he has been requested to tidy up the Car Park borders, the Clerk was granted approval to order three bulk bags of bark for his return after Easter. 2. Car Park advice is awaited on the legal position with the Vauxhall Tigra which had been permanently parked in the same spot for at least 5 weeks. 3. Great British Spring Clean along with our Borough Councillors, the Clerk and her children, the WI had now come forward to volunteer to help. Friday 21 st April meet 10am at the war memorial. 14 Dates of Future Meetings: Thursday - Future meetings would be 4 May (Annual Meeting), 1 June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September, 5 October, 2 November, 7 December The Chairman thanked those present and closed the meeting at 8.50 pm 5