MINUTE 1252
A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday the 12th day of NOVEMBER 2012 at
the Methodist Chapel, Bell Street - commencing 7.30pm.
COUNCILLORS PRESENT: - Mrs Batten
(Chairwoman), Mr Lambert (Vice Chair) Messrs. Cooper, Storey, Spanswick, Cock, Samuels, Mrs
Mills and Mrs Bane. Also present J Scarrott (Parish Liaison Officer NALC), PCSO C Law, Sq Leader
Neilds & 6 members of public.
APOLOGIES - received from Mrs McGeeney.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - Mrs Bane declared an
interest in planning 1-5 Short Beck.
MINUTES of the last meeting were taken as read, agreed and
duly signed by the Chairman.
PUBLIC SPEAKING - the meeting was suspended to allow members of the
public to address the Council. Meeting re-opened 7.35pm.
MATTERS ARISING
1 NALC Officer - J Scarrott introduced herself to the Council and outlined the
work NALC undertakes on behalf of council’s & councillors.
The Chair enquired about the dispensation requirements as advised by NALC re
determining budgets/precepts. Ms Scarrott advised
that NALC felt that to cover councillors these are
worth doing at present, these may change in the
future. Dispensations should be granted en bloc to last until the next due
elections. Ms Scarrott advised of forthcoming seminar’s.
2 Resignation/Vacancy -
An election has been requested, if more than one candidate then an election
will be held 13th December to fill the vacancy. Returns officer
enquired if poll cards were to be issued? Chair proposed poll cards not issued
if an election is required, all agreed.
3 SNT - PCSO Laws advised
that over past month there has been 4 incidents of thefts from motor vehicles
in the village, she advised that thefts from farm buildings had occurred in neighbouring village. The SNT are actively visiting local
auctions re stolen items. No further questions PCSO Laws left.
4 USAF Feltwell - Sq
Leader Neilds advised gate 8 still not opened should
be by Christmas. Mrs Mills enquired if any progress
re Trenchard Square? Sq Leader Neilds
advised nothing to report. Clerk enquired re progress of REGBIO plant at Eriswell, no work in progress yet. Sq Leader thanked
Council & left.
5 Risk Assessment - Annual inspection
report from Digley’s not yet received. Clerk advised
problems with fence, this was discussed and it was agreed to obtain costs to
erect a barrier or replace the fencing. Mrs Bane gave
report, one of the baby swings has a link that needs attention, Mr Scarff to be
asked to look at this, tree at entrance to car park needs work done on it &
a fire has been held in the bin near shelter although bin ok. Mr Cock would do
next inspection.
6 REGBIO - NFN
7 Changing Rooms -
Application form re Norfolk Construction grant completed & submitted, Clerk
has spoken to C Rayner who advised grant board will meet early December then we
will be advised of their decision soon after. Clerk has not yet submitted
application to FA - some of the FA requirements
MINUTE 1253
MATTERS ARISING CONT
7 cont… are as follows - they
cannot consider a grant if work has started or contractor appointed before
grant is approved. A decision will be reached 3 months from receipt of application.
The football club would require a minimum ten year users agreement, lease or licence, on applying for a grant a letter of intent would
suffice but a legal document would need to be in place before the grant is
paid. Mr Lemmon from the FA will attend any meetings if required. The grant
being applied for would be the Stadia Improvement Grant which offers up to £50,000
in grant aid. The Parish Council, Senior Football team or a joint application
can be made. Mr Lambert felt that the Parish Council should apply solely for a
grant of £50,000. Mr Storey felt that the Council should ascertain how much the
grant organisations would give, Clerk again advised
that no organisation will award a grant without
accounts of those applying and as the Council has a large capital holding they
would not be willing to consider a grant of any size unless the Council are
willing to spend a substantial amount of the money they hold on the project.
The decision was made at the last meeting that a total of £75,000 would be
noted on grant applications as the amount the Council was putting towards the
cost of the building. Ms Scarrott was asked about
this and she advised that the Norfolk Construction grant was probably the best
one to apply for and that a seminar was being held 19/11 at Lynn Sport re
grants and there may be people attending who could help, Mrs
Batten & Mr Samuels would attend this seminar if possible. Mr Samuels
proposed that a grant application is submitted to the Norfolk FA by the Parish
Council for £50,000, seconded Mr Lambert, all agreed. Clerk advised she would
require help in completing this application, Mr
Lambert, Mr Samuels & Mrs Mills would look at the
forms. It was agreed that a user agreement of at least 10 years would be given
to the football club. A project leader and contractor would be determined when
it is known how much grant aid has been awarded. Mr Storey felt that the
quality of the workmanship must be of a high standard and the project must be
overseen by reputable person answerable to the Council.
8 Land Registry - email
from solicitor Mr Cooper has completed the Statement of truth re the War
Memorial, applications for voluntary registration of the playingfield,
allotments & War Memorial have been completed. Solicitor enquired if old
Minutes had been researched re when the War Memorial was dedicated to the
Parish, Clerk has advised old Minutes do not go back this far (1918- 20).
Solicitors invoice received £1651.20 net.
9 Report to Highways -
Rangers were in village 6/11 - they strimmed the walkway
off High Street into Paynes Lane, cleaned out
gullies, rodded pipes & filled potholes in St Johns Way & filled a pothole in St Nicholas Drive.
Nothing has been done re drain cover The Beck, footpath Munson’s which was
reported May or hedges. Clerk has spoken to Mr Wallace he would look into this
but Mr Edmunds is back covering this area he should be contacted in the future.
With regard the footpaths on Oakfields they can only
spray these when programmed as different contractors were involved when the
paths were done and it could not be proved that the paths were not sprayed
prior to re-surfacing. Clerk to contact Mr Edmunds.
10 Oak Garden - NFN
11 Balance Sheet - No queries.
12 Churchyard, St Nicholas - last cut of
season took place last week. Another meeting will be arranged shortly.
13 Code of Conduct - all signed forms
received.
.
MINUTE 1254
MATTERS ARISING CONT
14 Bin, Long Lane - still in place,
not emptied, Clerk to write again.
15 WNBC - Changes to
Refuse Collection - Clerk
received information of meetings being held 5/11 - meeting at Downham Market was held 7/11 - some Councillors
advised, no one able to attend. Leaflets will be delivered to households. Mr
Storey advised the changes will help to meet recycling targets and save money.
16 Encroaching Hedges - Clerk has spoken
to owner of land next to Alms houses, he will get somebody to cut back growth.
No action taken to cut back hedge at 2 Oak Street, highways to be chased re
this.
17 Letter, Newcome Family - no response yet
received.
18 Encroaching Hedges/Trees - some work has been done along alley way onto playingfield, nothing done to boundary of 8 Newcombe - Mr Lambert suggested & volunteered to speak
with owners of property re this.
19 Overspill Car Park, Doctor’s
Surgery - maintenance work not yet done. Current lease for car park expires
5/10/13, letter from doctor’s advising they would like
to renew the lease when it expires and also enquiring if the Council would be
willing to sell the area of land? Mr Lambert felt that consideration should be
given to selling the land. Mr Samuels felt that the land should not be sold but
that the terms of the lease changed with an increase in rent and new
conditions. Mr Storey was against selling the land, he felt it should continue
to be used as a overspill car park but it should
remain as a parish asset. Mr Storey proposed not to sell this area of land to
the doctor’s, seconded Mr Spanswick, Mr Lambert
abstained, rest in favour. Doctor’s to be advised and
contacted next year re renewing lease.
20 Proposed Street Name - Clerk had
advised Borough of the Parish Council’s objections to the new street name “Skye
Gardens”. For the process to continue we either had to withdraw our objections
or take the matter to a magistrate court. The Clerk contacted the Chairwoman,
our objections were withdrawn. The development will be called “Skye Gardens”,
developer & other services advised.
21 Dog Bin - Cost of new bin £92.95.
Clerk has monitored and it is probably not a problem at moment, area to be
monitored. It was agreed to consider siting a new bin
in Paynes Lane at a future date.
22 Allotments Pest Control - October report
received.
23 WNBC - Proposed
Incinerator - Clerk advised public enquiry will be held 26/2/13 at King’s Lynn.
24 Tree P/Field - this
tree near entrance gate is a self sown small tree, Mr Cock & Mrs Bane felt the tree should be removed as it is reducing
visibility. Mr Samuels did not feel visibility was a problem. After further
discussion Mr Cock proposed tree is removed, costs obtained, seconded Mrs Bane, Mr Samuels abstained, rest in favour.
25 War Memorial - Brick
Pillar - pillar is deteriorating, iron fence fixing loose. It was agreed
pillar needs re-pointing with lime mortar, costs to be obtained, all agreed.
MINUTE 1255
MATTERS ARIISNG CONT
26 Dispensation - under advice
from NALC, the following Councillors completed an
application form for a dispensation re the setting of the Council’s annual
budget & precept - Mrs Batten, Mr Lambert, Mr
Storey, Mr Cooper, Mr Cock, Mr Spanswick, Mrs Bane, Mrs Mills. A
dispensation was granted to all Councillors who
applied to be effective until the end of their current term of office (May
2015), proposed Mr Storey, seconded Mr Cooper, all agreed. Mr Samuels did not
apply as he does not own/rent property/land within the Parish. Without a
dispensation the number of councillors prohibited
from participating would be more than one half of the councillors
who would be entitled to vote at a meeting of the Council transacting the
business of setting the annual budget/precept.
27 NS&I Account - Clerk had
enquired the signatories on this account, National Savings has advised that
records need to be bought up to date. It was agreed Mrs
Batten, Mr Storey & Mr Lambert to be signatories on this account, any two
to sign. Signature card completed.
CORRESPONDENCE
28 Hockwold & Methwold
Community School - invitation to meeting 14/11.
29 Magpas - donation request -
declined.
30 KL&WNBC - Parish Council
update - planning system training events - February 2013. Funding
for playingfield seminar 19/11. Revised register of electors. Mayor’s design awards -
nominations invited by 25/1/13.
31 HM Revenue &
Customs - PAYE real time from April 2013.
32 Whiteside Enterprises - change of
company details.
33 NALC - Annual report.
Smaller Councils committee - nominations invited - 3 posts.
34 Norfolk Police - consultation by
PCC re 2013/14 precept proposal - meeting 18/12/12.
35 KL Child contact
Centre - invite to meeting being held 28/11.
36 Brochures - Woodberry.
Clerks & council direct. Glasdon. Seton. Autumn parish matters. CTS
security. Parish magazine.
37 CHEQUES - were signed for
the following - L Peckham £838.29, Cash £15,
Methodist Church £25.50, RBL £17.50, Viridor £54.12,
G Smith £36, GHP £1920.84, S Sargent £126.31, C Cock £18.50,
Edmund Moundeford School £45, Berryman £104.86.
38 PLANNING - Mr/Mrs Hurrell - 2 Leonard’s Lane -
construction of 3 dwellings (reserved matters application) - this application
was discussed as the Parish Council had recommended refusal due to concerns re
access off Long Lane but the outline application was approved by Borough. This
application was for reserved matters re appearance, layout, scale &
landscaping. After further discussion it was agreed not to make any
observations to this application, Mr Storey abstained, rest agreed. Mr/Ms
Tinsley - 1-5 Short Beck - variation of condition 2 of planning consent
10/00553/F - APPROVED - Mrs Bane nor Mr Storey voted on this application.
Ms Mills left the meeting at 9.15pm.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
39 Dog Fouling - once again a lot
of fouling on footpaths - piece in magazine again. Mr Storey felt that perhaps
notices could be put up around village.
MINUTE 1256
ANY OTHER BUSINESS CONT
40 Property Bell Street -
large garden boxes have been placed on the white line o/s property in Bell
Street, these are dangerous and could prove fatal to both traffic &
pedestrians. Clerk has written to owner & they have advised these will be
moved shortly. Mr Storey advised that Mr Edmunds (Highways) has visited the
owner, matter in hand.
41 Bin, High Street - this has completely
rotted from its base. Cost of new one to be obtained.
42 Wilton Road Verge - Clerk advised at
the end of October for 2 days three workmen from Borough were pruning trees
along this verge, the volume of work undertaken was minimal. Clerk contacted
Borough re her concerns & they advised only a small amount of maintenance
was done as a bird is nesting, the work cannot be completed until this has
moved on. It was agreed that nesting birds should not be disturbed but the lack
of work that could have been done is of concern, Clerk to contact Borough again
re concerns, all agreed.
43 Edmund Moundeford Trust - Clerk has checked records
and clarification on which trustees represent the Parish Council is required.
After some discussion it was agreed that Mr Hawkins is contacted for
clarification so that Council’s records can be bought up to date.
Next meeting to be held 10th December 2012.
Meeting declared closed 9.25pm.
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On the 26th November the following PLANNING was APPROVED by 4
Councillors -
R Collins - 5 Hill Street - Proposed construction of a single storey
extension to the rear of an existing dwelling.
G Russell - 60 Long Lane - Demolition of existing single skin side
extension and construction of a two storey side extension and single storey
rear extension.
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