Minutes of a meeting of STANTON ON THE WOLDS Parish Council

held on Wednesday November 8, 2006, at the Parish Church at 7.30pm

Couns.   Dennis Hackett (Chairman)   Roy H Butler   Bryan Baines   Alan Jackson

Mrs Margaret Healy (Vice-chairman)    Jim E Goodman   Alex McKee

 The clerk Mike Elliott and one member of the public were also in attendance.

149/06]                  Apologies None were received.

150/06]                  Declarations of Interest There were none. 

151/06]                  Minutes from previous meeting held on September 13, 2006, were presented, approved and signed by the chairman.

152/06]                  Clerk’s report It was reported the TV programme ‘Heart of the Country’ involving a meeting of the council was due to be shown the following evening on ITV. 

153/06]                  Correspondence

A letter was received from Hacker Young which advised that the Audited Accounts and Annual Return for the Year Ending March 31, 2006 have been completed and no matters had been raised. Rushcliffe Borough Council advised of a seminar entitled ‘Playing for Life in Rushcliffe’ which encompassed a play strategy for the Borough of Rushcliffe. 

Nottinghamshire County Council wrote in response of the matter raised by members of the damaged and missing signage on Browns Lane and Thurlby Lane. The County Council said the matter of the Thurlby Lane street name plate had been passed on to Rushcliffe Borough Council. Rushcliffe Borough Council wrote in respect of the arrangements for the Precept 2007/2008 payment and the council’s budget.            

Nottinghamshire County Council responded to a request from the parish council for consideration to be given to the possibility of a speed restriction on Browns Lane as part of the survey involving Melton Road. A letter was received from Rushcliffe Borough Council confirming the retirement of Chief Executive Keith Beaumont and the appointment of his successor, Mr Allen Graham.

A letter had been received from the Countryside Alliance concerning rural services and in particular the need to retain Post Offices. 

At 7.55 the council agreed to suspend Standing Orders to allow local resident Mr Martin Danielson to take part in discussions on the matter of an unauthorised railing fence that had been erected at the Wolds Service Station. The meeting was told that the business owner should have applied for permission for the fencing as part of his planning permission, but it had been erected without consultation to the Borough Council. Mr Danielson said he would be happier if some quick growing shrubbery was planted to hide some of the railings and reduce the starkness of them.

Standing Orders were re-instated at 8.01pm. 

154/06]                  Planning matters

Planning Applications

                                There were none.

                                Rushcliffe Borough Council Decisions

                                06/01174/FUL   Mr Foot; Increase height of roof to form first floor accommodation including provision of dormer windows; 118 Melton Road.                             Grant Permission

                                06/01249/FUL   L A and A D McLean; Erection of agricultural building – general purpose and livestock; Land off Browns Lane.       Grant Permission

                                06/01353/FUL   Mr and Mrs Parsons; Conservatory; The Gables, 63 Stanton Lane.           Grant Permission

                                Planning Appeal

                                06/00294/FUL   Mr and Mrs Kirk; Conversion and extension of part of dwelling to form additional dwelling; Stanton Lodge, Thurlby Lane.  The parish council objected on grounds that the proposals would take away light from the property which runs parallel to it and should therefore be refused.

155/06]                  Reports from outside organisations

Coun. McKee reported on his attendance at the Rushcliffe Country Park at Ruddington where the Borough Tree Warden had given a presentation. He said he did not find the event all that helpful.

A concern was raised on the condition of trees on Browns Lane in the parish. 

156/06]                  Village amenities / environment

                                i]              Road signs: The chairman gave thanks to Coun. Goodman for his work in refurbishing the signpost directing to the Church. 

                                ii]             Village Notice Boards: Coun. Goodman was carrying out maintenance work on the notice boards and the council gave thanks to him for this.

                                Concern was expressed at the dangers for motorists at the junction of Willowbrook and Stanton Lane due to the thick hedge at the corner property. A suggestion was made that a slow sign should be erected on all approaches to the junction and the clerk was asked to write to Notts County Council seeking comment. The clerk confirmed that the County Council had a strict policy of not permitting the erection of mirrors at junctions.

157/06]                  Financial matters

The account schedule was  approved for payment:                

Members received a report on the up-to-date position on the standing of the balances and accepted them. 

158/06]                  Village History Book

The chairman presented a report on the book and said he had received a letter from Kenneth Clarke MP congratulating the council on the standard of the publication. A photograph had been taken involving  Couns. Hackett and Butler and Notts County Councillor John Cottee for a County publication.  

Members agreed that as and when new residents arrived in the village they should be given a free copy of the book with a  letter of welcome to the parish..

The chairman said that the number of books sold had now risen to 153. It was unfortunate that the Browns Lane Garage felt they were no longer able to stock any further copies for the present, but they continued to be available at Keyworth Post Office and Library and the office of the clerk. 

159/06]                  The Reverend Thomas Ousley’s Charity

Coun. Mrs Healy said it was worth noting the correct title that should be used was The Reverend Thomas Ousley’s Charity. She said it was now possible to update contact details and trustee names, as well as to submit the end of year return, on-line. The 2005 end-of-year return and current updates had been accepted without comment.

Coun. Mrs Healy said it was not possible currently to change the purpose of the Charity but the Trustees were suggesting that the matter be looked at again in due course. It was the intention to complete the 2006 end of year return before the Annual Parish Meeting in 2007.

In respect of the Stock Certificate, consent had been obtained from Mrs Joan Antcliffe and Mr Elwyn Bradshaw for removal of their names from the Certificate. A request was being made for it to be held in the name of the Charity itself.

A Bank account was being opened at the Nottingham Building Society and to be administered by two trustees, John Stockbridge and James Goodman. 

160/06]                  Next Meeting: The date of the next meeting was agreed for January 10. 

161/06]                  Public Session

Items raised included complaints of a farm smell troubling part of the parish, information on the Test Track and the fact it may be sold to a new firm for testing engines, housing in the Borough, and the question of the possibility of formation of a unitary authority in Nottinghamshire.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm