MIDDLETON PARISH COUNCIL                 

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The Meeting of the Parish Council was held on Wednesday 20th February 2008 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall Annexe, Cottingham.

 

Present:   Cllrs Phillipson (Chair), Dickens, Alvey, Ainge, Claypole, Cole, Robertson, County Cllr Heggs, Mr Billy Dalziel (CBC Heritage Development Worker) and Mrs Medwell (Parish Clerk).

 

1.  Apologies for Absence:     Borough Cllr Rutt

 

2.  Declaration of Interest:      Cllr Phillipson declared a non-prejudicial interest the Middleton Village Hall Project.                                                                                                         

3. Minutes of 16th January 2008:

Item 16 – Should read ‘by Heavy Goods Vehicles’ not refuse collection lorries.

The minutes were then approved and signed.

                   Proposed Cllr Robertson       

                   Seconded Cllr Dickens

4.  Matters Arising:

The Council reviewed the map of grass cutting areas making a correction along Camsdale Walk. Map can now be sent to Mr John Marlow (John O’Conner) (action JM).

The Council discussed the insurance quote for the asset register and agreed to find out excess before a decision can be made (action JM).

5. Meeting Open for Public Participation:

County Cllr Heggs reported that the bid for community speed camera had been successful and indeed purchased. It has been used with some effect in Weldon. Cllr Heggs also detailed further funding available to the villages, Cllr Phillipson to resend the bid for new gate on The Hill/ Jurassic Way footpath (action DP).

 (Meeting closed to the public).                                 

6. Parish Plan:

The Chairman welcomed Mr Billy Dalziel, Corby Borough Council Heritage Development Worker.

Mr Dalziel described his role as providing heritage expertise to the Borough, raising the profile and assisting in lottery bids. As highlighted in our Parish Plan, Mr Dalziel would assist the Council in listing and protecting historical assets in the village.

7. Cottingham and Middleton New Village Hall Project:

Cllrs Phillipson, Ainge and Dickens met with solicitor Mr Andy Boddy earlier this evening to discuss the next stage when CBC adopts the land. Mr Body will work with Corby BC to produce a lease. Cllr Phillipson reported that Mr Boddy was a resident of Middleton and had kindly offered his professional time on this project free of charge.

 

Cllr Phillipson told the Council that he had attended the February Cottingham Parish Council Meeting to answer any queries raised by councillors about the proposed new Village Hall. Cllr Phillipson stated his disappointment to hear at the meeting  two Cottingham Parish Councillors expressing their complete opposition to the construction of a new and improved community hall.

 

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8. Highways:

The Council agreed to ask Mr Ian Tattersall (CBC Principal Engineer) for a site visit to look at the now potentially dangerous kerb damage on School Hill, caused by heavy vehicles negotiating the sharp bend. It was agreed to write to NCC Highways on the matter after the site visit by Mr Tattersall (action DP/JM).

 

The council was made aware that the footpath in front of 1 School Hill was in a poor state. It was claimed the footpath was not re-instated properly by the developer after the houses were built. It was agreed to write to Highways to find out what could be done. Ian Tattersall would be requested to inspect. Cllr Phillipson said he believed the parish council had written to Corby Borough Planning at least two years ago warning them of the incomplete footpath work, but no action had been taken by Corby BC. Clerk to find correspondence (action DWP/JM).

                                                                                                                                                                                             

Cllr Phillipson informed the Council of another forthcoming Community Speed Watch programme commencing in May 2008 in conjunction with Cottingham. A police training day for camera users is available on 29th March and asked for more volunteers. It was agreed to publicise this on the village notice board and in Wellington’s Nursery.

9. Freedom of Information Act:

The Council agreed to formally adopt the Parish Council Model Publication Scheme for Local Councils.

10. Internal Audit: TERMS OF REFERENCE

 The chairman requested and Cllr Ainge agreed to review the council’s procedures as recommended in the NALC Publication and report back at the next meeting (action RA).

11. Village Matters:

Dog Fouling – The Clerk reported that Angela McNeil from CBC Environmental Quality had visited the village to inspect the requested sites for Dog Fouling Bins. The Council agreed to defer any purchase of bins until after her official report, and until her assurance that the borough would carry out the emptying of any new bins.

Cllr Phillipson suggested that if the problem of fouling still persisted after bins were installed and a publicity campaign was launched, the Council may consider using trained private Dog Fouling Enforcement Officers. Information received from “Parish Dog-Warden Services” was circulated.

 

Footpath – Cllr Phillipson had received a letter from a resident who believed as a result of the works done on the Jurassic Way footpath in 2007, her garden was flooding and walls eroding. Cllr Phillipson stated he had recently inspected the site with the Principal Borough Engineer and confirmed there was a serious problem. The Council agreed to write to Jim Cosford (NCC Rights of Way) as a matter of some urgency (action DP).

12. Planning:

08/00079/DPA     7 Ashley Road     Double Garage with Office above    Council had no comment to make on this application.

08/00036/DPA     Darnells Lodge     First Floor Extension                       Council had no comment to make on this application.

 

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13. VHMC (School Hall Annexe):

Cllr Alvey circulated minutes from the last VHMC meeting. Both she and Cllr Claypole expressed concern that as VHMC representatives for Middleton PC they were also being asked by the VHMC Chairman to become trustees. They stated their preference to remain non-trustee representatives. It was agreed to write to the Chairman of the trust to express this, and ask for clarification. (action DP).

14. Finance:

a)   The following cheques were presented for signature and agreed:

 

100994            John O’Conner                                     447.95

100995            Clerk Salary and Expenses                               584.00

100996            Viking Direct                                                      65.10

100997            VHMC                                                              10.00

100998            Best Host Website                                              17.25      

 

b)  SUMMARY OF BALANCES                                                                                                                                                                                                        

National Savings                                                                    13,136.69

Business Reserve                                                                        161.66

Community Account                                                                4,385.68

Less Allocation for Village Hall                                  13,000.00

Total:                                                                                       4,684.03

 

                                                                                                                                         

15.  Correspondence:

Amongst other correspondence were the following items:

Minutes – Cottingham, Weldon, Stanion and Gretton PC’s  

Northants Police – Monthly Crime Report

NCC – Fire and Rescue Service Standards

Atkins – Reps Review                         NALC - Update

ACRE – Playing Field / Village of the Year Competition

CPRE – Outlook / Planning Roadshow

Communities and Local Government – Orders and Regulations

CBC – Full Council Minutes / Rural Pride Report

Letters – Cllr Rutt re Rockingham Complex Wind Turbines

16.  Any Other Business:

A resident of Lightfoot Lane had complained about an Elder tree on Ashley road verge because he was concerned if left to grow, it would cause damage to his garden wall. Cllr Phillipson to investigate the urgency and report to Highways if required (action DP). For agenda next meeting.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50pm 

 

Minutes to be ratified at the next meeting on the 19th March 2008.

 

 

Signed…………………………….Chairman              Date……………………………

 

 

Clerk:     Mrs J Medwell    3 Main Street, Middleton, Market Harborough LE16 8YU                 Tel: 01536 771234