Present: Marshall Ferguson - chair, Ailsa Dempster, Terri Meechan, Tim Fox, Barrie Woolley, Sue Forsey, Andrew Royle, Phil Bromhall - Borough Councillor, Phil Oram - clerk, one member of the public.

1      Apologies - Jim Wade, Paul Seaton, Vic Clark.

2      Meeting open to the public

Terry Forsey, chair of G R E A T, came to the meeting to keep the P.C. informed of what G R E A T had done so far and what they proposed to do in the future.

They had employed a planning consultant who had given them a list of things to do. They had set up funding arrangements.

Everything that can possibly be done has been done so far. A village meeting has been called for 16 December in the Village Hall to keep residents up to date with where they are; the P.C. will be represented at this meeting. Development Control meeting, at which this planning application will be discussed, will be held 21 December. Agreed Tim Fox would speak on behalf of the P.C. and the person to speak on behalf of the residents would be sorted at the meeting on the 16 December. Tim Fox and G R E A T would sort out what would be said at the Development Control meeting. Phil Bromhall, as Borough Councillor, would also speak at that meeting.

There was some disagreement over what had been put into the newsletter from G R E A T and to ensure the record could be put straight details of special meeting held on 1 December to discuss what the P.C. wants of G R E A T would be sent to Terry Forsey before the meeting on 16 December.

The other question that should be asked is, are they Travellers?

Chairman thanked Terry Forsey for attending the meeting and keeping the P.C. informed as to the progress of G R E A T.

3      Declaration of Councillors' Interests

Chairman reminded councillors that they should declare an interest where this was involved.

4      Minutes of meetings 11 October, 28 October, 1 November and 8 November 2004 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

5      Report from Borough Councillor

Phil Bromhall reported that burial charges in Corby had been increased. Also reported that Corus had withdrawn their planning application. A copy of an e-mail sent to him and a letter to Chief Exec of NCC offering to take over the Gretton Brook Road travellers site was to be discussed at the Development Control meeting on 21 December.

6      Report from County Councillor

A brief report was read out by the clerk. Jim Wade referred to the County council response to proposed changes in the Milton Keynes/South Midlands development document. County made strong objections to rail/road issues when the rail authority had Corby Rail as 'work in progress' and is now 'not a priority'.

7      Matters arising from minutes

a      Lease with sports & Social Club - Andrew Royle had a new lease, which needed to be signed. It had been agreed that the Sports & Social Club would pay half the solicitor's costs for the P.C. of £500.

8      Correspondence

a      Gretton football club had sent two letters regarding damage to the field due to a car being driven on it and asked if the barrier could be extended, as promised. Marshall Ferguson will talk to Vic Clark about this. The football club had also asked if the P.C. would provide paint for internal decoration of the changing rooms; they would do the actual painting but were looking for payment for this. Agreed the P.C. would provide the paint but would look to the football club to do the painting without charge, perhaps in conjunction with the cricket club.

b      Corby Council housing consultation - clerk had completed the questionnaire, as it needed to be returned by 18 December - document to be put in circulation file.

c      Standard Board for England - circulation file.

d      CPRE planning road show 15 Feb 2005 - circulation file.

e      Fieldwork - CPRE questionnaire to be completed - clerk

f      Rights of Way Improvement Plan Survey - clerk to contact Mel Jarvis

 

Circulation file:

Rockingham Forest Trust

Weldon Park

EMDA News

Corby Area Committee 24 Nov

Dev. Control Committee 23 Nov.

Full Council Meeting 25 Nov & 15 Dec.

Wicksteed Leisure

P.C. minutes - Weldon, Cottingham, Stanion, Middleton, East Carlton.

9      Highway Matters

a      Atkins Rep's Review - circulation file.

b      Atkins AGM 9 Dec - clerk gave apologies.

c      winter service leaflets - circulated to Councillors.

d      Damaged Gully 38 High St - letter stating it would be completed as soon as is reasonable practicable.

e      Vegetation overgrowth in Maltings Rd, Hardwick Rd and Kirby Rd - this will be inspected and necessary work carried out in due course.

10     Planning Matters

a      Erection of garage & dwelling - rear of 17 Arnhill Rd - permission refused.

b      Conservatory & porch to adjoin garage - 2 Spendlove Drive - permission granted subject to certain conditions.

c      Four bedroom dwelling - 2 Winchilsea Drive - subject to Dev. Control meeting - verbally permission granted subject to certain conditions.

d      Conversion of barn - 28 High Street - permission granted subject to certain conditions.

11     Finance Matters

	a	Current balance		13128.52
	b	Payments received	F Newby - rent	260.00
			Gretton School - rent	75.00
			Football Club - rent	80.00
			Sharman - rent	50.00
	c	Payments due	The Concrete Co - barrier	193.88
			Sure Security - barrier	40.20
			John O'Conner	3954.33
			J N Clark - barrier	318.82
			P A Oram - Petty Cash	19.92
			P A Oram - salary (end Dec)	698.40

           It was agreed to pay the Village Hall invoice before end Dec approx £250

d      Budgets for 2005/6 were approved subject to what grant is received from CBC.

e      Guidance notes for local monitoring officers available from website - circulation file.

f      Standards committee news - circulation file.

12     Police Matters

a      Unsung heroes award - no application made.

b      Rutland News had reported on vandalism in Gretton.

13     Village Plan

The Plan is now being finalised and will be printed in the next few weeks.

A meeting of the committee on 14 Dec will decide how many copies will be printed and if it should be put on the website. It was thought approx 50 copies would be printed in colour. The launch would be in the Village Hall on 23 or 30 January 2005 and the anticipated cost would be £300; printing would be £700 - £800. Estimated £1200 had been spent so far.

14     G R E A T

Although this item was dealt with under item 2 concerns from a resident had been expressed to Andrew Royle. The concern was that the Gretton Charity Fund was being used to support G R E A T. They were not happy with the newsletter, which stated that if the slip were not returned, with or without a donation, there would be a follow up call and/or a visit.

Andrew Royle asked if Terri Meechan's position as secretary of G R E A T causing a prejudicial interest; this was uncertain but was thought it should be raised for discussion.

15     Any Other Business

Marshall Ferguson informed council the light in Craxford Rd is not working and that the light in Station Rd next to the Church has been repaired but is now on night and day.

Also reported that all the Ivy has been cleared off the railway arch but is left on the floor under the bridge - Andrew Royle agreed to arrange a meeting on site with his contacts with British Rail.

He reported that the barrier in Fullen Lane had now been erected and two days spent doing this by Vic & Austin Clark - asked for a letter of thanks to be sent.

Asked for a letter to be sent to the E.T. saying that the 1st edition is good for the Wellingborough area but not Corby.

The War Memorial has been cleaned up and some of the paving slabs need re- laying - put on Agenda for January 2005.

Arnold Boon recently died, requests were for donations to Diabetes UK - agreed to send a cheque for £50; also to ask John Weston to write an article for the next newsletter.

Barrie Wolley asked about the Wheelie Bin for the cemetery - clerk had asked council for one and had been promised delivery some weeks ago - clerk to chase.

Tim Fox asked if anyone knew about the street light survey that was to be carried out - Paul Seaton had agreed to do this and clerk would chase.

He also asked about any movement with the Quarry - clerk had received a letter and they will be at the January 2005 meeting.

Andrew Royle asked about the Junior Parish Councillors as they had not been to a meeting for a long time - agreed to discuss the situation at January meeting.

Terri Meechan had asked why the youths all congregated around the War Memorial and was told they had 'nowhere to go'.

Ailsa Dempster reported that the Village Hall had applied to Entrust, which meant they could now apply for Landfill Tax Grants.