The Meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday the 12th
day of OCTOBER 2015 at the Methodist Chapel,
COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Mrs Batten (Chairwoman), Mr Lambert, (Vice Chair), Messrs Cock, Cooper, Leamon, Rayner and Storey, Mrs Bane and Mrs McGeeney. Also present 5 members of the 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: The meeting was suspended for 2 minutes to allow members of the public to speak.
MATTERS ARISING
1. RAF Feltwell Sq Leader Neilds was not present, therefore there was no report.
2. SNT Email
received. 1 crime reported; Burglary of
a dwelling on
3. Risk Assessment
Mr Leamon carried out the playing field inspection on Sunday 11th October. Many items are already in hand such as the
deteriorating condition of the walls.
Mrs McGeeney questioned whether the owners were actually aware of the
problems and suggested writing to them.
Mrs Bane stated that owners had been written to in the past. Potholes in the car park were reported, weeds
on the tennis court and bolts protruding through the fence of
4. Balance Sheet No queries.
5. Allotment Pest Control Monthly report received.
6. NALC Weekly updates. AGM taking place Saturday 17th October at Norwich City FC. NALC also circulated an email on behalf of the Norfolk Older Peoples Strategic Partnership announcing that its new three-year strategy has been published.
7.
8. Elections Application has been received from Mrs Hazel Williams of 1 Camp Close, Feltwell for the casual vacancy in the Anchor Ward. Mr Storey proposed, Mrs Bane seconded, all in favour. Clerk to write to Mrs Williams.
9. Pensions Regulator Clerk has perused various pension schemes and stressed the importance of joining one that is compatible with the current payroll system as if not, new payroll software would have to be purchased. The Peoples Pension is a government scheme, it is free to the employer, the only charge being a 0.5% annual management fee to the employees pension pot, and it is compatible with the current software used. Clerk asked if she could proceed with the enrolment process with The Peoples Pension. Mrs Bane proposed, Mrs McGeeney seconded, all in favour.
MATTERS ARISING
CONT
10. Report to
Highways Clerk has received email from Karl Rands, the Area Manager for
Highways, apologising that some issues had not been resolved and stating he
would look into these further. Clerk
said she had met with Martin Edmunds, the Highway Officer, who said the missing
white lines on Oakfields would be refreshed but wont be ordered until April
2016, the sinking road on
11. Play Equipment Inspection Due to
work commitments, Mr Lambert has been unable as yet to push the gate posts back
so that the chain link fencing can be fitted. Mr Leamon presented a price for a
replacement polycarbonate panel for the teen shelter. It was debated whether this should be
replaced. Mr Leamon suggested putting a
piece in the parish magazine asking for the youth of the village to fundraise
for this panel as maybe this would then prevent it from being vandalised again. Mrs Bane suggested putting a piece in the
school newsletter as well. Clerk to
contact parish magazine and
12. Bench Clerk stated that the bench was not eligible for funding from the Playing Fields Association. Mrs Bane and the Clerk have been down to the playing field as Mrs Bane felt that the hardstanding area was not suitable for the positioning of the picnic bench due to it being too far away from the play equipment. She also felt the bench should be situated on a concrete base so that it can be anchored down. It was agreed the bench should be situated between the zip wire and the bin. Mrs Bane strongly felt that the playing field warranted two picnic benches due to the size of the population in the village and the fact that the playing field is very well utilised by families. Clerk presented two prices for one concrete base and the cheapest price was £180 + VAT from Mr Graham Waters. The cheapest price for two concrete bases was again from Mr Waters at a price of £300 + VAT. However, some councillors opposed purchasing another bench but were prepared to review this situation early next year when finances could be assessed. Mr Storey proposed, Mr Leamon seconded, 6 in favour, 1 abstained. Clerk to contact Mr Waters to order one concrete base and a concrete anchor kit at £9.98 + VAT.
13. Mr & Mrs Massingham No response as yet as to when the tree will be removed.
14. Briefing sessions (i) Local Plan Site Allocations & Development
Management Policies Development Plan Document (ii) 5 year land supply Mr Storey said progress is being
made. The first meeting was held 30th
September and further meetings will run until mid December. The Inspector has grouped villages into three
(albeit West Winch which will be dealt with as one entity due to the large
developments taking place) and the dates for each meeting will be on the
website.
15. Insurance Renewal Insurance was renewed at £2047.90 for the remaining year and new documents have been received.
16. Barclays Clerk reported that Barclays Bank will not authorise her to transfer money from the Business Saver Account into the Community Account over the telephone as she is not a signatory on the account. Therefore, in future, every month the Clerk will bring a letter to the meeting, addressed to Barclays, requesting the transfer of the required amount which must be signed by three authorised signatories.
17. Ranger Visit Taking place w/c 19th October 2015. No issues have been reported to the Clerk.
MATTERS ARISING
CONT
18. Hedge Trim Overgrown hedges at
19. Parish Partnership Scheme Mr Storey brought this to the attention of the parish council as the deadline is 15th December 2015. However, it was felt that the village would probably decline this particular year.
20. Edmund de Moundeford Trust Expiry of Trustee Term Mr Storeys term is due to expire November 2015, however he stated that he would be happy to renew his term for another four years. Mrs Batten proposed, all in favour. Clerk to advise Barry Hawkins.
21. Proposed Post Office Relocation This is part of
a major programme of modernisation taking place across the Post Office
network. The Post Office is now starting
a 6 week local public consultation regarding the suitability of the proposed
new location at the One Stop shop where benefits will include longer opening
hours and improved accessibility. This
was discussed at length and it was felt that it would be disadvantageous to
relocate the post office for reasons such as possible loss of jobs, traffic and
parking which is already a huge problem due to the number of businesses
currently operating along High Street. It
is possible post vans will operate from the rear of the One Shop which will
increase traffic along
22. Community Speed Watch Group Mr Rayner proposed this idea and explained how the scheme works: A group of 6 individuals, made up of village residents or people from other parishes, are specially trained by Norfolk Police to use speed guns. They are given high visibility jackets and control the speeding by writing down makes and models of speeding vehicles, and dates and times of the offence. The offenders are then written to and if caught more than three times the Speed Watch Group are able to enforce an on-the-spot fine. The safety of individuals was questioned but Mr Rayner advised that risk assessments are carried out and although in some villages a small number of people have been abused, the Speed Watch Group has been successful. It was agreed by the majority that this would be a good idea and the parish magazine was suggested as being a good place to generate interest with all enquiries being directed to Mr Rayner. Mrs Batten proposed, 7 in favour, 1 abstained. Clerk to contact parish magazine.
CORRESPONDENCE
23. Complaint Email regarding rubbish scattered on the playing field
24. Email - Planning Committee Notification Meeting held 5th October re planning applications
25. NCC Invitation
to media: Safer walk to school marked at Forncett, Record
reading results for seven-year-olds put
26. East Anglian Air Ambulance Email request for donations
27. Flyers - Wicksteed
28. Brochures Parish Magazine, Clerks & Councils Direct, Glasdon
29. CHEQUES
- Were signed for the following J Martin £650.00, S Sargent £105.43, K
Vincent £84.00, Cash £10.00,
30. PLANNING
Mrs Tiffany Smith - Conversion
of Barn to Dwelling at Silver Cottage, 6 Hill Street NO OBJECTIONS - Advertisement
Application for 1 x Illuminated Fascia Sign, 3 x Window Graphics, 1 x Frosted
Manifestation and 4 x Poster Frames at Spar, 25 High Street NO OBJECTIONS -
Lawful Development Certificate: Refurbishment and upgrading to bridge known as
Little Oulsham Bridge, Little Oulsham Drove NO OBJECTIONS - Lawful
Development Certificate: Refurbishment and upgrading to bridge known as Potters
Bridge, Whiteplot Lane - NO OBJECTIONS
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
31. Highways Main footpaths such as those along
32. Hedge Cutting Hedge needs trimming along the
road from The West End to the Base, Clerk to contact Base. Bushes belonging to
33. Grass Cutting Contract Expires end of October 2015. Specification to be circulated with this months minutes.
34. Circus Tyanna Email received expressing their wish to return to Feltwell for 3-4 days as part of their 2016 tour. To be discussed at next meeting.
35. Lamp Post Damage has been caused to the lamp post on Long Lane due to a car veering into it. UK Network Power has replaced the post but the street light also needs replacing. Clerk to contact car driver in order to make an insurance claim for the damage and report to insurance company. Clerk to obtain quote from K&M Lighting for new light.
36. Playing Field Gate Email received from resident of Crabbes Close offering to open and shut the large gate on the playing field every morning and evening in a bid to stop vehicles using the car park as a race track. It was agreed by all to accept this kind offer. Mrs Batten proposed, all in favour. Clerk to write to said resident.
Next meeting to be held 9th November 2015 at 7.30 pm.
Meeting declared closed 8.55 pm.