MINUTE 1230
A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday the 11th day of JUNE 2012 at the
Methodist Chapel, Bell Street - commencing 7.30pm.
COUNCILLORS PRESENT: - Mrs Batten
(Chairwoman), Mr Lambert (Vice Chair) Messrs. Storey, Spanswick, Mrs McGeeney and Mrs Mills. Also present Sq Leader Neilds,
Mr Garland & 14 members of public.
APOLOGIES - received from Mr Cooper, Mr Lawrence & PCSO Milburn.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none declared.
MINUTES of the last meeting were taken as read, agreed and
duly signed by the Chairwoman.
PRESENTATION - the Chair suspended the meeting to present Mr
Garland with a glass tankard on behalf of the parish for 23 years of service,
Mr Garland thanked everyone present.
PUBLIC SPEAKING - the meeting remained suspended for 10 minutes to
allow members of public to speak.
MATTERS ARISING
1 Vacancy - Mrs E Mills was duly elected onto the Parish Council at the
election held 24th May, the Chair welcomed Mrs
Mills to the Council. Mrs Mills signed her
declaration to office prior to the meeting. Clerk advised costs of election not
yet been advised.
2 SNT - email re SNAP
meetings received, Clerk has forwarded copy for insertion in magazine. One
reported theft of trailer in Lodge Rd.
3 Risk Assessment - Quote
from CGM re ivy on trees received, £180 net. Mr Storey felt more than one quote
should be obtained, under financial regulations this is not required for work
costing under £200. Mrs McGeeney
proposed quote is accepted, seconded Mr Storey, all agreed. Clerk
still waiting for costs from Mr Scarff. Mr Cooper did inspection nothing
new to report. Mrs McGeeney
would do next month.
4 REGBIO - Clerk read out email from REGBIO advising
that as the land will stand idle for at least the next 6 months to a year then
they would have no objections, as long as there are no legal issues, for
somebody to us the land free of charge. REGBIO have paid a holding fee until
October on the land and it was felt that for the present time the area should
be left vacant but it needs to be sprayed, proposed Mr Storey, seconded Mr Spanswick, all agreed. As Mr Waters farms
the land adjacent it was felt he should be asked to submit the cost to do this,
agreed.
5 Changing Rooms - Plans
not yet received, the FA have approved the amended plans as advised at the last
meeting. Clerk advised that the Borough no longer hold an approved list, they
do hold a list of companies that have carried out work on their behalf. It was
agreed that as no approved list is held that local builders are invited to
tender for the work. As time is moving fast the Chairwoman proposed that the
plans are submitted to Borough re planning permission, all agreed. Mr Samuels
to be asked to submit the plans, agreed. A reduced planning fee should be
payable by the Council. Insurance costs at present are £210.48pa, altogether
the running costs of the building at present is approximately £1000.
MINUTE 1231
MATTERS ARISING CONT
5 cont - Mr Storey had enquired to Borough re the
CIL, Clerk read out email from Borough advising the requirements of this which
is the old section 106 agreements placed on large developments, these do not
offer schemes to help with amenities within a village not connected to a site.
Sources of possible grant funding were advised.
6 USAF Feltwell - Sq
Leader Neilds advised he was still waiting for
response on complaints re firing range, he was advised of complaint about it being
used during the jubilee celebrations, this was noted. A complaint about rubbish
being thrown onto private land from properties in Blackdyke
Close was also advised. Clerk enquired re progress of bio fuel plant at Eriswell, presently a dig is in progress when complete work
will commence to construct the plant, it is hoped an access off Lord’s Walk
will be made to site.
7 Land Registry - no
response re progress from solicitors yet received.
8 Proposed Willows
Incinerator - notice of more information from NCC received 15th
May, comments by 5 June, previous comments still being taken into account.
9 Plaque, High St - Clerk
to remind Mr Garland re photo of this.
10 Report to Highways - Rangers visited w/e 14th May,
list of areas advised. Walkway from Paynes
Lane into High Street reported but not done, Clerk to report again.
11 EDF - Light - light in Long Lane re-sited following completion
of work.
12 Oak Garden - still waiting for cost to clean up area,
enquiries were going to be made re sponsoring the area. Mrs
Mills advised she could arrange for the garden to be cleared if the Council
would supply the matting & shingle. It was agreed to wait to receive costs
from CGM before making a decision.
13 Cheques - mandate now changed, Mr Storey, Mrs Batten, Mr
Spanswick, Mr Cooper, Mrs McGeeney & Mr Lambert approved signatories for banking
requirements - any 3 to sign cheques.
14 Audit - books still at internal auditors. Notice of electors
rights on notice board.
15 Donation Request - Mrs McGeeney advised T shorts been ordered, copy of order given
to Clerk. Mrs McGeeney
advised cost is higher than agreed by Council so other fund raising been done, £123
raised so far, to cover excess, Clerk to enquire re claiming back the VAT,
before invoice is received.
16 E.On - costs increased as company
has changed systems and when transferring Council’s account it showed a
discount of 2% was being given for paying by DD, this discount is not offered
to businesses and has been removed. Changed charging system now pay a daily
rate so monthly payment differs re number of days in month, daily charge for
supply is £12.95, this has not increased.
17 Review of Committees -
still one more needed for allotment committee, to be filled when fuller
Council.
MINUTE 1232
MATTERS ARISING CONT
18 Review of Rates Paid - Clerk read out litter
collection costs over past few years. Due to the standard of work
carried out by Ms Sargent Mr Lambert proposed she is
awarded a 5% increase on her current hourly rate of £6.08 with immediate
effect, seconded Mr Spanswick, all agreed. Hourly
rate will now be £6.38. Nothing further heard re Clerk’s wages yet.
19 Resignations - Clerk advised that an election has been called
to fill all three vacancies, Borough have been able to deal with all the
vacancies together. If election is contested then it will be held on Thursday
12th July. Borough have enquired if polling
cards should be issued, the Chair proposed to keep costs down no cards should
be issued, all agreed.
20 Report to Highways - Potholes reported have either been
repaired or marked for repair.
21 Activity Sessions - email from Methwold area Children’s Centre
re a summer activity programme, to use the playingfield during the school holidays. Clerk had
requested more information not yet received. It was agreed until more
information is received no decision on use can be made. Organisation
to be advised there are no facilities on the playingfield.
22 Feltwell School PTA - letter requesting donations towards
recently held village fete, this letter has only recently been received by the
Clerk as it had been mislaid. At present the Council does not give out
donations to different organisations, request
declined, all agreed.
23 Appointment of External Auditor - letter from audit commission
re consultation of appointment of external auditors, they are proposing to
re-appoint Mazars LLP, any objections must be made by
29th June, no objections raised.
24 S/Light Maintenance - our current contractors, MHB Services, went into
liquidation as of 21st May. Clerk read out two letters from
different companies - K&M Services who worked along side
the original contractors have offered the Council a new contract with the same
terms & conditions. Westcotec Ltd have advised they have bought MHB Services assets and will
continue honouring the contracts. After some
discussion it was greed no decision can be made until the legal position is
determined, to be discussed at next meeting. In the meantime as it is summer
any outages will have to wait until new contractors determined.
CORRESPONDENCE
25 KL&WNBC - recycling credit clothes bank, £62.39 received.
26 Brochures - Nott’s Sport. Arbor.
Parish magazine.
27 CHEQUES - were signed for the following - L Peckham £682.18, Cash £10, Methodist Church £18, S Sargent £94.76, B Reeves £30, Viridor
£66.72
MINUTE 1233
28 PLANNING - Mrs S Burton
- site land west of 48 & 50 Wilton Road - construction of one dwelling (reserved
matters) - APPROVED. Mr & Mrs Hurrell
- 2 Leonard’s Lane - demolition of existing bungalow and construction of 3
dwellings - REFUSED due to concerns re new access to 2 dwellings off Long Lane
- position & visibility of proposed access - all dwellings could be
accessed off Leonard’s Lane. Country Living Homes - site Hall Farm, 21 Bell
Street - conversion of existing buildings into 5 dwellings, conversion of
farmhouse into 2 dwellings and erection of 12 new dwellings - APPROVED note to
be made that no access (pedestrian) onto Bell Street should be allowed to try
and prevent parking on Bell Street. Due to his position on the DCB Mr Storey
abstained from voting or discussing any planning.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
29 Report to Highways - weed growth kerb
side on most estates, village looks very untidy. Grass verges being cut this
week. Recent work on footpaths, holes left unlit with barriers, dangerous.
30 Churchyard, St Nicholas - complaints have been made re the
condition of the Churchyard, areas have not been strimmed
or cut, it looks very untidy. Clerk has reported to CGM. Mr Storey felt that
the whole area was a disgrace and that a meeting should be held with the
contractors. After further discussion Clerk to ask CGM to contact Mr Storey for
a meeting, Mr Lambert would also attend.
31 Encroaching Hedges - property in Hall Drive hedge encroaching
on footpath. Properties in Hill Street growth overhanging
highway.
32 Vermin on Allotments - rat population increasing partly due to
tenants keeping chickens on allotments, it was agreed to obtain quotes to deal
with these. Allotment inspection will take place shortly.
33 Code of Conduct - each Councillor
present received a copy of NALC’s proposed new code for Parish Council’s, one
should be forthcoming from the Borough not yet received. The new code should be
adopted by 1st July or as soon as is possible after that date. As
not all information received and time limit very short it was agreed this would
be discussed at next meeting.
Next meeting - the Clerk is away the next due date of 9th
July, after some discussion it was agreed that on this occasion the next
meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th July, proposed Chair.
Meeting declared closed at 9.10pm.
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