Index of Minutes

Parish Council Minutes


EVERTON PARISH COUNCIL


Minutes of a meeting of the Council held in the
Metcalfe Tea Rooms on Monday 10th April, 2006

Present: Councillor J. Dunn, Chairman. Councillors Bacon, Bardsley, Jefferies, Maclagan, Marsh and Martin


05/06/333 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors de Bel (holiday) and Woods (work) and District Councillor Martin.

05/06/334 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Bardsley and Jefferies each declared a personal interest at agenda item 12 (NEBF Reports), being members of the NEBF.

Councillor Jefferies declared a prejudicial interest at agenda item 13 (Housing Needs Survey), being Chairman of Nottinghamshire Rural Community Council, and left the meeting during consideration of that item.

Councillor Marsh declared a personal interest at agenda item 29 (Planning Applications – Wagtail Way, Harwell Sluice Lane, Harwell), being a friend and neighbour of the applicant.

Councillors Dunn and Jefferies each declared a prejudicial interest at agenda item 29 (Planning Applications – Northfield Farmstead, Everton Sluice Lane, Everton), being neighbouring property owners and, in the case of Councillor Jefferies, neighbouring resident, and left the meeting during consideration of that item. Councillor Maclagan declared a personal interest at that item, being a nearby resident.

Councillors Dunn and Maclagan each declared a personal interest at agenda item 29 (Planning Applications - Metcalfe House, High Street, Everton) being members of the Metcalfe Charitable Trust which owned adjoining land and had the benefit of a covenant relating to Metcalfe House. Councillor Bardsley also declared a personal interest at that item, being a nearby resident.

05/06/335 MINUTES OF THE LAST ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

The Minutes of the last ordinary meeting of the Council, held on 6th March, 2006, were approved as a correct record.

05/06/336 MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk referred to Minute No. 05/06/330 (The Bassetlaw Planning Process), and reported receipt of a letter from the Head of Planning Services in which he said that he agreed that it was time to dispose of the matter. However, he did not agree that he and others had wrongly insisted for several months that the requested information had already been provided, leading to a serious waste of time and money. Members expressed bewilderment at this latter remark.

05/06/337 PUBLIC DISCUSSION

There were no members of the public present.

05/06/338 ACCOUNTS

Resolved: That the April Accounts be approved for payment.

05/06/339 BANK RECONCILIATION

Members received the bank reconciliation statement to 28th February, 2006.

05/06/340 BUDGET MONITORING

The Clerk submitted the April budget monitoring statement. He also reported that Cemetery Grant for 2006/07 was £292 and Street Cleaning Grant £539.

05/06/341 RISK REVIEW AND ASSET INSPECTION

There were no matters to report.

05/06/342 MEMBERS’ SURGERIES

Councillors Bardsley and Maclagan held a surgery on 20th March, 2006, together with P.c. Gregson. No members of the public attended.


05/06/343 NORTH EAST BASSETLAW FORUM

The Clerk submitted a brief report on the meeting held on 21st March, 2006, which had been poorly attended owing to the fact that agendas had not been sent out. The main item under consideration had been accessibility planning, in particular, links to Robin Hood Airport.

An item of good news was that the Forum had approved a grant of £1,000 towards a housing needs survey to be carried out in the village by Nottinghamshire Rural Community Council in June, 2006.

Full minutes would be submitted in due course.

05/06/344 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS -PLANNING SEMINAR

Councillors Dunn and Martin submitted a brief report on the Planning Seminar held at Retford on 23rd March, 2006. There had been an excellent presentation by a representative of Planning Aid.

05/06/345 QUALITY COUNCILS

The Clerk reported that eight candidates (current Members of the Parish Council) had been nominated for election on 4th May, 2006, and were re-elected unopposed. One seat remained to be filled by co-option. The 80% electoral mandate requirement of the Parish Council’s bid for Quality accreditation was, therefore, met. The application would be submitted on 21st April, 2006, with the Accreditation Panel meeting on 12th May, 2006. Members expressed appreciation to the Clerk for all his endeavours regarding Quality accreditation.

Councillor Marsh had not stood for re-election, and the Chairman expressed his appreciation to her in respect of her excellent service to the Parish Council and the community over the past four years.

05/06/346 PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP

(a) Pursuant to Minute No. 05/06/315(a) of March, 2006, the Clerk reported that a lengthy Email had been received earlier in the day from the Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils’ Legal Department. He needed to study it and discuss it with relevant parties.



(b) The Chairman and Clerk reported that, although Mr. Richard Troop had recently installed the new dog waste bin at Pinfold Lane, the owner of Barrow Cottage had complained that it was on her land. The Chairman had carried out an inspection, and proposed to have the bin relocated.

(c) Pursuant to Minute No. 05/06/326 of March, 2006, a letter was submitted from Mr. M. Boulby, reporting on rubbish clearance which he had recently carried out, but also drawing attention to the amount of dog dirt. He suggested that a community-spirited dog walker might like to assume responsibility for emptying any new dog waste bin.

(d) The Chairman reported receipt of the survey forms and grant claims, which needed to be completed by the end of April. He asked for volunteers to assist in the survey work, and added that Mr. Richard Scott had already volunteered. Any work not reported on the survey forms and claimed for could not subsequently be claimed for later in the year owing to financial constraints.

05/06/347 CPRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2006

(a) Members commented favourably on the co-operation being received from Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council regarding signage. The Clerk agreed to take action regarding the road hump sign at the entrance to the Metcalfe Recreation Ground.

(b) Councillor Marsh referred to the changing face of Harwell, which was certainly not for the better. There was a whole list of concerns upsetting residents. The recent planning permission for a development of four huge houses had not helped, but it was more than that.

Because of the attractions of Harwell and its surrounding countryside, the number of visitors was increasing. Many of them treated the hamlet with contempt. Vehicles were parked on verges, thus eroding them; quad bikes raced up and down the lanes; there was motorcycling and criminal vandalism in Harwell woods; there was dog dirt and litter everywhere; and there was noise. The stench from Tunnel Tech North and the increasing nuisance from Robin Hood Airport training flights further exacerbated the problem.

Councillor Marsh queried whether there was any point in entering Harwell in this year’s Best Kept Village Competition, especially as was likely that the Pinfold Lane building work would still be disrupting the hamlet.

After some considerable discussion, Members reluctantly accepted that most of the problems mentioned were beyond the control of the Parish Council.

Resolved: That the Clerk write an article for HEDS Together, with the intention of eliciting the views of Harwell residents as to whether an entry should be made in the Best Kept Village Competition.

(c) Councillor Maclagan reported that he was in discussions with the Chairman of the Metcalfe Recreation Committee regarding the need to replace the notice board at the Village Hall.

05/06/348 STREET CLEANING

(a) Letter was submitted from Miss Jenny Lane, Headteacher of Everton Primary School, stating that schoolchildren did not clean Bawtry Road and Gainsborough Road for safety reasons, and, therefore, did not empty the litter bins.

Resolved: That the Clerk make enquiries as to other ways of having the bins emptied.

(b) The Clerk was asked to make enquiries as to the possibility of having the litter bin on Mattersey Road replaced with a lidded bin.

05/06/349 BARROW HILLS SSSI

The Chairman and Clerk referred to the fact that motorcyclists were now causing serious damage in the SSSI. English Nature had been in contact about the problem. The Police had, therefore, been requested to keep a close eye on things, and certain information had been passed to them. The Clerk had also requested Thornely Taylor Estates Company to do whatever it could to prevent unauthorised access into the woods.

Resolved: That a site visit be arranged between representatives of the Parish Council, the Police, English Nature and Thornely Taylor Estates Company.


05/06/350 HIGHWAYS

(a) An Email from Nottinghamshire County Council Highways Department to District Councillor Martin was submitted, indicating that funding was being sought to clear the footway from Everton to Bawtry. In the meantime the situation would be monitored to ensure that the footway was safe for use.

(b) Resolved: That, further to the discussion earlier in the meeting about vehicular damage to the verges at Harwell, the Clerk approach Nottinghamshire County Council Highways Department to see what could be done.

05/06/351 GAINSBOROUGH ROAD AND OLD GAINSBOROUGH ROAD

Letter was submitted from Bassetlaw District Council, giving details of a proposal to rename part of Gainsborough Road (B6045 and C10 south of the A631) Old Gainsborough Road. This was in response to a Parish Council surgery report some considerable time ago prompted by uncertainty over postal addresses.

The proposal was welcomed.

05/06/352 TUNNELTECH NORTH LTD.

Discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting held earlier in the evening revolved around the fact that the stench from Tunnel Tech was as bad as ever. A resident also reported sightings of a yellow smog coming from the Newington direction over the Idle. Furthermore, concerns were now expressed about the fact that, as chicken manure was one of the ingredients used in the manufacturing process at Tunnel Tech, assurances were needed about precautions necessary as regards any possible association with the Avian Flu issue.

Resolved: That the Clerk report the abovementioned smog report to Bassetlaw District Council, and seek assurances that all necessary precautions would be taken in the event of an Avian Flu outbreak.

05/06/353 DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Pursuant to Minute No. 05/06/275 of January, 2006, the Clerk submitted revised draft procedures as requested.

Resolved: That the procedures be approved and adopted.



05/06/354 METCALFE RECREATION COMMITTEE

Pursuant to Minute No. 05/06/318 of March, 2006, a letter was submitted from Mrs. Ann Hickman, Chairman of the Metcalfe Recreation Committee, explaining that the Recreation Committee was approached by the Metcalfe Charitable Trust some two years ago, requesting that the Committee become generally self-sufficient owing to the Trust’s reducing income. However, the Trust could be approached for assistance when capital expenditure was required or whenever there was a shortfall for any reason. Charges were, therefore, adjusted accordingly. At no time was any offer made by the Committee to the Trust that the Committee would endeavour to become self-sufficient

05/06/355 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

In addition to the issue about Tunneltech referred to at Minute No. 05/06/352 above, concerns were also expressed at the Annual Parish Meeting about (a) traffic congestion problems caused by buses using Ferry Lane and (b) regular training flights from Robin Hood Airport over the village.

Resolved:

(i) That the traffic congestion issue be considered at the Annual Parish Council meeting.

(ii) That the Clerk draw the attention of Councillor C. Stringer of Misson Parish Council (representative on the Airport Consultative Committee) to concerns over training flights over Everton, and also request that the matter be considered at the next meeting of the North East Bassetlaw Forum

05/06/356 CRIME STATISTICS

The crime statistics for March were noted.

05/06/357 BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES

Members noted an invitation from Nottinghamshire County Council to be represented at a Building Better Communities event to be held at Thoresby on 4th July, 2006 (Flying High – Making a Difference).


05/06/358 VOLUNTARY FIRST REGISTRATION OF TITLE
Members noted a letter from the Land Registry encouraging the Parish Council to voluntarily register its land. The Clerk would inform the Land Registry that the Parish Council was already in the process of doing this.

05/06/359 NOTICE OF AUDIT

Letters were submitted from UHY Hacker Young, giving notice that the audit of the Parish Council and Joint Burial Committee would commence on 30th June, 2006.

05/06/360 EVERTON NURSERIES

Councillor Bardsley referred to an item in April Heds Together about the possibility of Everton Nurseries opening a general store, farm shop, deli and coffee shop. The aim would be to satisfy a need in the village for general provisions and also to promote the sale of locally grown produce with a large emphasis on organic. Bassetlaw District Council had indicated that it wished to see a positive response from villagers. Everton Nurseries hoped, therefore, that support would be expressed through HEDS Together.

Members noted that the need for a village shop was something recognised in the Parish Plan.

Resolved: That support be expressed in HEDS Together.

05/06/361 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

At applications 19/06/8R and 19/06/9L, Members requested Councillor Bacon to chair the meeting, and he did so, as Councillor Dunn had left the meeting having declared a prejudicial interest and Councillor Maclagan had declared a personal interest.

19/06/6
Mr. D. Scott
Erect two-storey extension and detached double garage at Orchard View Cottage, Gainsborough Road, Everton

Resolved: That no adverse comment be made.





19/06/7
Mr. J. K. Scott
Erect conservatory at Wagtail Way, Harwell Sluice Lane, Harwell

Resolved: That no adverse comment be made.

19/06/8R
Wild Bennett Homes Ltd.
Convert buildings to form two dwellings, demolish existing buildings and rebuild to form four dwellings, construct new and alter existing access at Northfield Farmstead, Everton Sluice Lane, Everton (Resubmission of 19/05/40)

Resolved: That Bassetlaw District Council be informed as follows:

Whilst the Parish Council was happy with the proposed redevelopment of the old barns, it was considered that the additional dwellings proposed would make the development too intensive, with the consequence that an unacceptable number of vehicles would need to access Everton Sluice Lane, which was mainly used by farm vehicles. This in turn would adversely affect the already unacceptable road traffic situation on High Street. The Parish Council, therefore, objected to this application.

The following points were also made:

1. There was concern as to the future of the listed dovecote, having seen a recent example of a listed dovecote lost in Harwell. It was a worry that, once work began, it could be found that, because of problems with the foundations, or lack of them, the building might be too unstable to accommodate the proposed development. It was assumed that reports had been requested from the Conservation Officer and English Heritage.

2. There was concern over the ability of the already inadequate sewerage in Everton to cope with this development.

3. The proposed collecting point for all the wheeled bins was impractical, especially given the distance across the courtyard.

4. There was concern that the five bedroomed house at plot 7 would have only one garage.

Finally, if planning permission was granted, it was requested that a Section 106 agreement be required, requiring an obligation to bring the sewerage system up to standard.


19/06/9L
Wild Bennett Homes Ltd.,
Demolish dutch barn and single storey buildings, convert and alter two buildings to dwellings, carry out rebuild works to form four dwellings and erect four dwellings (Resubmission of 19/05/41L)

The same observations were made as at 19/06/8R above. The Clerk was also asked to query a public notice in the Retford Times which said that the application sought listed building consent for the total demolition of a listed building.

19/06/12
Mr. & Mrs. A. Lee
Convert and extend existing garage to dwelling and alter existing access at Grounds of Metcalfe House, High Street, Everton

Resolved: That Bassetlaw District Council be informed that the Parish Council objected to this application relating to a listed property on the grounds of increased traffic on to High Street. There were already serious traffic problems on High Street, and the situation would worsen if this application were approved.

It would also be pointed out that the adjoining property owner, the Metcalfe Charitable Trust, had the benefit of a covenant affecting this property.

05/06/362 PLANNING DETERMINATION

19/06/2
Mr. & Mrs. K. Allen
Erect replacement dwelling house and garage at Travegna, Mattersey Road, Everton

Permission Granted