Gotham Village

Present:  J.P.Anderson (Chairman)   E. Rodgers, (Vice-Chairman) B.J.Walker, E.Padden, G.Clark, K.Steed, M.J.Sheppard.

1/    Apologies:T.Vennett-Smith,   R.Muir,

2/    Acceptance of Apologies:

PROPOSED: G. Clark SECONDED: K.Steed.    All in favour.

3/    Declaration of Interest: Nil.

4/    Minutes of the Previous Meeting:  

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Planning & Development Committee, held on the 18^th December, 2012, as previously circulated, be confirmed and signed as a true record of the business transacted, with the following amendments: 9/  Green Belt Issues: 8^th sentence replace ‘challenge’ with ‘appraisal’. 12^th sentence replace ‘travellers initiatives’ with ‘car drivers’.

PROPOSED: E.Padden SECONDED: M.J.Sheppard. Vote: All in favour.

5/    Progress from the last Minutes, not on the Agenda: Nil.

6/    Planning Decisions Received: Nil.

7/    Planning Applications Received: Nil.

8/  RBC Core Strategy: Exploratory Meeting at 2pm Thursday 31^st January in the W. Bridgford Community Hall. 

The Inspector, Ms.Kingaby, had written to RBC setting out some concerns about the Core Strategy. She had called an Exploratory Meeting which would be held on the 31^st January, 2013 in West Bridgford Community Hall at 2.p.m. Planning consultant, K.Mafham and representatives from GPC planning committee would attend. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify how best to proceed with the examination of the Core Strategy in the light of the Inspector’s concerns. The concerns were mainly based on whether it met all the legal requirements and soundness criteria, especially in respect of housing policy. The Inspector would discuss the relevant aspects of the Core Strategy, primarily with the RBC representatives.

The argument for Gotham was the weak sustainability of the Core Strategy, weak consultation and traffic modelling a ‘one–sided’ process with no debate and no methodology. A meeting would be arranged in a month’s time with Barton/Thrumpton to review the Exploratory meeting. K.Mafham to attend.

The Chairman had received a letter from the Rt.Hon. K. Clarke which had failed to address the two key questions.

9/ A453 Widening:

The Chairman had received an e-mail from K.Nurse of NCC re formal procedure on meetings concerned with traffic issues such as up to date progress and traffic management during the widening work.

P.Goode, traffic manager for South Nottingham, had confirmed that Gotham could not have a pedestrian crossing due to the low numbers of through traffic. The Chairman had countered this remark with his conversation with the Headmistress of Gotham School who agreed it was important to carry out an up to date traffic count during rush hour periods, both before and after the closure of Barton Lane.

10/   NET 2:

The Chairman reported that C.Raynor had written an excellent letter re the cost of the tram extension but it had not been printed in the Nottingham Evening Post.

11/  Affordable Housing:

No more information had been forthcoming from A.Gorringe, St.Gobain representative, re the site behind The Royal British Legion.

12/  Matters to Report:

The Clerk had received notice of NCC’s intention to measure the Spar shop door re the Small Improvement Scheme to improve access.

The Clerk had received a letter of acknowledgement from The Post Office re the re-establishment of the post box outside the old Post Office.

A discussion took place re the siting of a de-fibrillator box in Gotham. (refer to main meeting).

13/ Date & Time of Next Meeting: The next meeting would be held in the Weldon Room of the Memorial Hall on Tuesday, 19^th February, 2013 at 7.30 p.m.

Meeting closed at 8.25 p.m.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF GOTHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Held on 2^nd APRIL 2013 in the Weldon Room, Gotham Memorial Hall at 7.30pm

Present:    R.Muir (Chairman), M.J.Sheppard, (Vice-Chairman), J.M.F.Royce,  E.Padden, R.Davis, K. Steed, G.Clark. C.Dabell,  T.Vennett-Smith, B.J.Walker

13/54: Apologies. J.P.Anderson, E.Rodgers, D.Bexon.

13/55: Acceptance of Apologies:

PROPOSED: R.Davis  SECONDED: G.Clark Vote: All in favour.

13/56: Declaration of Interest:

Trustees, M.J.Sheppard,  D.Bexon and G.Clark in matters relevant to the Memorial Hall/Recreation Ground.

13/57: Minutes of the previous meeting:

Resolved: That the previously circulated Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on the 5^TH March, 2013, be accepted as a true record, with the following amendment: Pg. 2. 13/49: Chairman’s Report PROPOSAL: 9^TH Sentence – add ‘and her complaint was based on ‘hear say’ PROPOSED: T.Vennett-Smith SECONDED: E.Padden.  Vote: four in favour, two against and four abstentions. (one declaration of interest)

Pg. 3 13/46: Memorial Hall Focus Group – Report on Meeting held on the 26^th February, 2013. Second sentence – remove word ‘near’.

PROPOSAL: E.Padden  SECONDED: K.Steed  Vote: All in favour.

Progress from the Minutes: Nil to report.

13/58: Finance Monthly Payments and Receipts:

Receipts and Payments: RESOLVED: That the receipts, since the last meeting, are noted and the Accounts in Appendix F1 be confirmed and authorised for payment.

PROPOSED: J.M.F.Royce   SECONDED: R.Muir Vote: All in favour.

Appointment of internal auditor:

PROPOSAL: Appointment of G.Stafford to carry out an internal audit of the GPC accounts for 2012/13.

PROPOSED: T.Vennett-Smith  SECONDED: M.J.Sheppard  Vote: All in favour.

C.Dabell arrived at the meeting at 8.05 p.m.

13/59: Report by Chairman of Planning and Development Committee: (Chairman J.P.Anderson and Vice Chairman E.Rodgers absent)

13/60: Planning Applications Received: Nil.

13/61: Planning Decisions Received: 

13/1: (ref: 13/00107/FUL)    2 Pygall Avenue, Gotham – side extension – GRANTED

13/3: (ref:13/00034/FUL) The Grange, Kegworth Rd. – erectiion of single storey pole barn for storage of feed                                                                                      and tractor.- GRANTED         

Report on Meeting re A453 on 26^th March, 2013 (M.J.Sheppard)

M.J.Sheppard and J.P.Anderson had attended a meeting with members of Barton Parish Council and the contractors, Laing O’Rourke, currently undertaking work on the widening of the A453. The discussion was mainly centred on the closure of Barton Lane at the end of April, 2013 and the inconvenience this would cause Barton residents, especially the access to the Nottingham Road bus stop. Temporary traffic lights at the top of Manor Road, at its junction with the A453, would be installed for Barton residents to allow safe access. They would be activated by traffic from Barton but would be set on green for the A453 traffic for the majority of the time.  Access to Top Farm would be retained. J.P.Anderson had re-iterated Gotham’s concerns at an increase in traffic through Gotham when Barton Lane had closed and this matter was being considered by Notts County Council Highways Department. The Contractors had taken bridleways and footpaths in the area into account and these would be undisturbed. The recent GPC traffic study had been complimented by NCC as ‘a well run process’.

Mr. Noakes, of Laing O’Rourke, had inspected the Memorial Hall Car Park with a view to assistance with its re-surfacing. An e-mail had since been received confirming their refusal to carry out the work but advising that ‘another Contractor might be interested in the work in the future’.

An RBC Core Strategy technical meeting 9^th April, 2.p.m  in the RBC Council chamber would be attended by B.J.Walker.

13/62: Environmental Matters: (C.Dabell).

Village Post Box: The Chairman had received a reply to the Clerk’s enquiry re the continued absence of the A4 sized post box which was to have been replaced before Christmas 2012. A letter from Malcolm McBride, Royal Mail Customer Service Adviser, stated ‘that there had been an assumption that as there were already two lamp-post boxes, a third had to meet approval’. The Clerk would reply to Mr. McBride that this move was unacceptable and that the Village required access to an A4 sized letterbox, as soon as possible.

T.Vennett-Smith reported a letter had been received from the Post Office re the opening of a Post Office Counter in the Spar shop. Progress was slow on arrangements between both parties. The Clerk reported, disability access had been requested in the Local Improvement 2013 initiative and measurements had been carried out to the Spar entrance.

Village Sculpture: R.Muir reported a successful meeting with D.Charlesworth and F.Lunn on the 6^th March, also attended by G.Clark and M.Raven (engineering consultant). A final schedule of work was being drawn up to include paint finish, opening ceremony etc. R.Davis reminded Council that a manual of paint finish should be drawn up for future maintenance of the Sculpture. A low key re-enactment of the tales would be arranged by a committee to include D.Whattley, R.Muir, S.Lymn-Brewin and M.J.Sheppard. M.J.Sheppard would liaise the publicity and marketing of the Ceremony.

A background hedgerow had been discussed at the Environment Committee Meeting when Portuguese Laurel had been chosen for Autumn planting. A.Vickers was undertaking work on a Trail Board and Sponsor Board to be placed back to back and sharing a single post. R.Muir reported that NCC had refused to remove the village seat from its present site. The Clerk would seek a reason for this refusal from K.Hourd of NCC.

13/63: Memorial Hall Report: Nil to report.

13/64: De-Fibrillator for Gotham:

K.Steed suggested GPC ask the Bus Company whether or not they would share their de-fibrillator equipment and make it more accessible to the public. T.Vennett-Smith thought the equipment would be best stored in the vicinity of the Memorial Hall/Recreation Ground. M.J.Sheppard would refer the matter to the Trustees for a possible contribution towards the cost of the equipment.Village groups could be contacted re a contribution towards the cost. A group of people would need to be trained in the use of the de-fibrillator. Agenda item at the Village Meeting.

13/65: Policing Matters/Vandalism: (D.Bexon)

D.Bexon had sent a report re the reason for the camera moounted on a lamp post outside 32 Leake Road. The Police had installed the camera in order to monitor traffic through the village following incidents of criminals travelling from Leicester in order to commit crime in the Gotham and surrounding areas.

13/66: Gotham News & Media:      

R.Muir thanked the editorial team for their work and contribution to the current issue of Gotham News. She especially thanked K.Steed for her help.

13/67: Annual Village Meeting – 30^th April, 2013.

Agenda item – De-Fibrillator.

The Clerk reported County Councillor L.Sykes was unable to attend the Annual Village Meeting. The Clerk had invited Borough Councillor T.Vennett-Smith to report on recent Borough Council events. The Chairman and Clerk would meet to draw up the agenda. It was agreed, there was no requirement for Club and Associations to draw up lengthy written reports due to the availability of the Village website and Gotham News. Should an organisation wish to read out a report or raise a point of interest regarding their society, they would be welcome.

13/68: Chairman’s Report   

The Chairman had received the following correspondence:

Canal and River Trent Spring Event – Trent Lock on the 19^th May, 2013.

13/69: Clerk’s report:

The Clerk had reported several incidents of fly tipping to Streetwise.

The Clerk had reported the faulty street light in The Square.

13/70: Matters to Report:

J.M.F.Royce had not yet spoken to the Parishioner concerned about the ongoing problem of untidy verges outside Gotham Garage.

E.Padden reported a large amount of mis-directed post. The Clerk would contact Royal Mail.

K.Steed reported a new wave of  loud bird scarers on The Ridgeway. T.Vennett-Smith suggested she speak to the farmer concerned.

13/71: Items for Next Agenda: Village Sculpture. De-Fibrillator. Annual Village Meeting.

13/72: Date of Next Meeting: The Annual General Meeting would be held on the 7^th May, 2013.    Meeting concluded at  9.00 pm.

T.Vennett-Smith tendered his apologies for the A.G.M.