MINUTE 1355
A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday the 12th day of
JANUARY 2015 at the Methodist Chapel, Bell Street - commencing 7.30pm.
COUNCILLORS PRESENT: - Mrs Batten (Chairwoman), Mr Lambert (Vice
Chair) Messrs. Cooper, Storey, Spanswick, Cock, Leamon, Mrs McGeeney and Mrs
Bane. Also present Sq Leader Neilds and one member of public.
APOLOGIES - received from Mrs Mills.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none
MINUTES of the last meeting were taken as read, agreed and
duly signed by the Chairwoman.
PUBLIC SPEAKING - meeting suspended 7.32pm - member of public
reported Highway issues. Meeting re-opened 7.34pm.
MATTERS ARISING
1 RAF Feltwell - Sq
Leader Neilds advised of recent news that USAF Mildenhall will be closing
within the next 5-7 years, not a lot of information available at present. The
possible impact on Feltwell is unknown at present. Sq Leader Neilds left the
meeting at 7.36pm.
2 SNT - crime reports
received - a lot of thefts from vehicles recently in Feltwell & Hockwold.
Norfolk PCC - S Betts - soon to determine police budget - have your say meeting
being held at Lynn 21st January.
3 Risk Assessment - Mr
Storey advised report not completed, he will do for next meeting.
4 Changing Rooms - no
response re Mr Samuels.
5 Balance Sheet - no
queries.
6 Allotment Pest Control
- monthly report.
7 NALC - weekly updates.
December Norfolk link issue. VAT notice. Members survey Clerk to complete.
8 Rangers Visit - email
advising work carried out by rangers 22 &23rd October. Next
visit due w/c 19th January. No reply from Borough re operative.
9 E Truss MP - email re
letter re vulnerable church’s - passed to PCC.
10 Play Equipment - Chair & Clerk had looked at equipment at
Trenchard Sq - a lot of equipment sited, this could be moved and re-sited on
our playing field, this would be a big decision and commitment. After some
discussion it was agreed to try and arrange for more councillors to view
equipment before next meeting, Clerk to try and arrange a meeting on a Saturday
morning, agreed.
11 Skate Park – NFN
MINUTE 1356
MATTERS ARISING CONT
12 Walkway - Falcon Road - in hand.
13 Trees Playingfield - contractor waiting for UK Power re dates
for turning off power supply.
14 Street Light - Clerk has requested on three occasions for a
costing nothing yet received. Clerk to obtain details of company used by NCC.
15 Grounds Maintenance Contract - advert inviting tenders in EDP
19th December - only one enquiry/quote received from CGM Ltd. Clerk
advised costs quoted to remain the same as last season at £2555.40 net total as
per specifications. This was fully discussed, the lack of response was
disappointing, Mr Lambert proposed quote from CGM Ltd is accepted for a one
year contract, seconded Mr Storey, all agreed. Clerk to, again, advise the
Council reserves the right to with hold payment if the work is not carried out
satisfactorily or as per the specifications. Payment terms offered to remain as
mid-term and end of contract, agreed.
16 Small Works/Odd Job Person - job advertised around village and
in magazine - no interest - to hold over till next month.
17 NALC - National Salary Award - NALC has advised that the one
off payment is instead of back pay and because the pay award will run until
2016. Clerk advised she was not seeking the pay award.
18 KL&WNBC - Site Allocations & Development Management
Policies - consultation period 12th January to 23rd
February. Areas recommended being put forward for Feltwell remain as previous -
15 dwellings land rear 24 Oak Street, 40 dwellings land north of Munson’s Lane
& 10 dwellings land rear of Skye Gardens. Mr Storey advised any comments
will now be put to the planning inspectorate and it is envisaged to adopt the
plan October-November time.
19 Precept - each Councillor had received summary of expenditure
and approximate monies to carry forward. Tax base and costs advised, grant
reduced from £2005 to £1470 for the 2015/16 financial year. Clerk had advised
re possible cost increases and possible
election costs must be considered. After some discussion Mr Leamon proposed
precept requirement to be set at £25,000 plus grant again this year, seconded
Mr Storey, all agreed.
20 Clerk’s Position - the Chairwoman read out letter of
resignation received from the Clerk, as per her contract 3 months’ notice was
required, resignation effective from 1st April 2015. The Clerk has
been employed by the village for nearly 26 years and felt the time was right to
leave. After a lot of discussion it was agreed to advertise the position around
the village, in parish magazine and in the Thetford & Brandon Times - 15
hours per week, working from home, salary negotiable - applications in writing
with CV’s to the Vice Chairs home address by 6th February. The Clerk
is presently waiting for a job evaluation from NALC to determine the scale of
pay for a new Clerk, the salary offered would be agreed by the Council.
Applications to be discussed by full Council at the next meeting in a closed
session, proposed Chair all agreed. Interviews will then be arranged. The next
meeting of the Parish Council will be closed to the press & public at the
end of open business. Clerk advised a lot of paper’s to burn and enquired re
purchasing storage boxes for items that required to be kept, it was agreed boxes
could be purchased. A lot of items are now on the internet so paper copies were
not required to be kept.
MINUTE 1357
MATTERS ARISING CONT
21 Norfolk Police - 50/50 Scheme - Letter advising on a scheme
that allows for a dedicated resource over and above the PCSO ratio within a
community. Partner’s contribute 50% and Norfolk constabulary contribute 50% of
a match funded PCSO. If we would like to discuss the details further and
arrange for a meeting contact details given. Mr Lambert felt that the tax payer
already funds the police, local government whose funds come from the taxpayer
should not. It was agreed not to pursue this matter at present.
CORRESPONDENCE
22 Came & Co Insurers - To grit or not to grit - cover & requirements.
23 NHS - West Norfolk - Clinical commissioning group meetings.
24 UK Power - Stakeholder engagements update.
25 RCC - e-newsletter.
26 Barclays Bank - reminders about business banking accounts.
27 CPRE - Light pollution survey.
28 NCC - War & well. Dry January & NHS Health check
posters.
29 Brochures - Clerks & Councils direct. New Anglia growth
hub. Realise futures. Parish magazine.
30 CHEQUES - were signed for the following - L Peckham £985.31,
Cash £10, Methodist Church £10.63, S Sargent £120.93, Post Office Ltd £337.64,
G Smith £36, Anglian Water £93.73, Berryman £76.01, DG Waters £184.80, Viridor £108.24.
31 PLANNING - Mr/Mrs Holness - 25 Old Methwold Road -
extension & alterations to dwelling - APPROVED.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
32 Fly tipping - Lodge Rd,
Munsons “Piggy” Lane a lot of tyres have been dumped, Southery Rd corner in
dyke.
33 Incinerator - Mr Storey advised planning application has been
withdrawn.
34 Report to highways - email from resident 34 Paynes Lane re
flooding in garden due to road surface - photo’s included. Clerk has advised
resident to contact highways direct, Clerk to also report.
35 Rural Housing Alliance - next meeting.
36 Allotment Terms of Reference - next meeting.
37 Mayor’s Civic Awards - Mr Storey reminded nomination date ends
16th January.
Next meeting to be held 9th February 2015.
Meeting declared closed 8.50pm.
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