The Meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday the 10th day of OCTOBER 2016 at the Methodist Chapel, Bell Street – commencing 7.30 pm

 

COUNCILLORS PRESENT:  Mrs Batten (Chairwoman), Mr Lambert (Vice Chair), Mrs McGeeney, Mrs Mills, Mrs Williams, Messrs Cooper, Leamon and Rayner.  Also present 7 members of the public and Mr Linkin of the Royal British Legion.

 

APOLOGIES:  received from Mrs Bane and Mr Cock.

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:  None.

 

MINUTES:  Due to the August meeting being cancelled, the August cheques were signed during the day of 8th August by Mrs Batten, Mr Cooper and Mr Lambert.  The Clerk read out the August payments at the September meeting and the details have now been added to the ‘Cheques’ section of the September minutes.  The minutes of the September meeting were then taken as read, agreed and duly signed by the Chairwoman. 

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING:  The meeting was suspended for 5 minutes to allow members of the public to speak.  

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

1.      RAF Feltwell –Sq Leader Neilds was not in attendance therefore no report was received.

 

2.      SNT –Various Police Connect emails have been received but none concerning Feltwell.

 

3.      Risk Assessment – Mrs McGeeney carried out the inspection earlier in the day and commented on how lovely the playing field looked.  A bag of rubbish had been left by the recycling bins and there is graffiti on the sides of the teen shelter.  The inner frame of the climbing frame looks green and needs a clean.  Tennis court still needs weeding and there are weeds coming through the path up to the Changing Rooms.  Next inspection to be carried out by Mrs Batten.

 

4.      Balance Sheet – No queries.

 

5.      Allotment Pest Control – Report has been received for September.  Bait boxes have been cleaned and re-baited.  Slug pellets have been laid around boxes where required.

 

6.      NALC – Weekly newsletters and updates have been circulated. 

 

7.      Skate Park –No further news.

 

8.      Briefing sessions (i) Local Plan – Site Allocations & Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (ii) 5 year land supply – Mr Storey said the plan was formally adopted at a meeting of the Council on 29th September 2016.  No planning application has been received as yet.

 

9.      Highways – Large pothole along Wilton Road has been repaired.  Highways Officer is checking to see how many bollards are required outside the entrance to Hall Farm Close.  Response has been received from the Highways Officer and a scheme has been identified to repair footpaths along Bell Street and High Street. The hedge obscuring the 30mph sign along Lodge Road is programmed to be cut.  Anglian Water will close part of Paynes Lane from 17th to 19th October to carry out repair work to the leaking drain.

 

MATTERS ARISING CONT.

 

10.  Street Light Replacement – Mrs Bane was not present so will advise at the next meeting which lamps need moving up a bit to increase the spread of light underneath.

 

11.  Ranger Visit – Next visit is w/c 17th October.  Clerk has asked for weeding to take place throughout the village.

 

12.  Flag Pole – During the Public Speaking session, Mr Linkin thanked the Parish Council for the new flagpole.

 

13.  War Memorial – Clerk waiting to receive the Contractor’s Declaration back from H Brett & Son which must be returned to the War Memorial Trust before work can commence.  She has been assured the work will be carried out in time for Remembrance Sunday.  

 

14.  ‘STOP’ Signs – Mr Storey has spoken with Martin Edmunds regarding the requirement for

STOP signs at the junctions of Hill Street with Short Beck and The Beck with St Mary’s Street and was told a Traffic Order would be need to be obtained to get these installed.  Mr Storey has asked Mr Edmunds to look into this.

 

15.  Tree – Clerk has still had no response so will endeavour to chase the Borough Council re the topping of the Silver Birch tree on the grass area along Bell Street.

 

16.  Allotments –Hedge Cutting: Mr Enefer was hedge cutting today.  Hythe Road Gateway: Mr Cock has filled in the hole around the gateway.

 

17.  Grass Cutting of the Churchyard – Mrs Christine Parker and Mrs Sue Garland were in attendance and the Chair explained the agreement that has been in place since 2009.  They were invited to respond and Mrs Parker said she had obviously misunderstood.  However, she went on to say that the PCC would be unable to carry on contributing towards the cost of cutting St Nicholas Churchyard as its finances are in a dire state, and then presented a set of accounts showing a loss of £3864.00 from 1st January – 31st December 2015.  Mr Lambert felt that the Parish Council should pay for the grass cutting if the PCC were unable to otherwise the churchyard would become overgrown.  Chair proposed, all in favour.  Mrs Parker and Mrs Garland both thanked the Parish Council for this.  Mr Lambert said that a set of accounts should now be submitted to the Parish Council every year.  Mr Storey asked if Mrs Parker could invite someone from the Diocese of Ely to attend a Parish Council meeting to explain where money given to the Diocese is spent as he felt the people of Feltwell are entitled to know.  Mrs Parker said she would try to arrange this.  Mr Storey thanked Mrs Parker and Mrs Garland for the work they do for the church and asked for this gratitude to be passed on to everyone else who worked for the church.

 

18.               Complaint – The Clerk read out the complaint received from a resident living along High Street opposite the One Stop regarding parking issues and litter.  Mr Cooper, who also lives along this stretch of road, said parking is particularly bad when deliveries are being made as they can take at least 10 minutes each time, and at 6.00 pm when the majority of people park here to use the Wellington Public House, the rest of the day the road is relatively clear.  The Clerk has looked into parking restrictions that may have been put in place by planning but there are none.  Mr Lambert suggested installing double yellow lines along the opposite side of the road but Mrs McGeeney queried how well this would be policed due to the lack of police presence in the village.  Mr Lambert agreed but said they are a good deterrent and drivers would reconsider parking here if the lines are in place.  Clerk to make enquiries.  Mr Cooper said a litter bin has now been installed outside the shop and the litter issue appears to have been resolved.

 

MATTERS ARISING CONT.

 

19.  Explosions from Base – Mr Storey asked for a letter to be written to the Base advising them of the nuisance value and unforeseen structural damage to houses whilst the explosions are taking place and urging them to consider carrying out these explosions elsewhere.  Chair proposed, all in favour.  Clerk to write to Base.

 

20.  Overhanging Tree – Tree belonging to Hill House has been cut back.

CORRESPONDENCE

21.  Norfolk Police Connect – Various emails received, none relating to Feltwell.

22.  Op Randall Rural Crime – Newsletters received and circulated as appropriate.

23.  Norfolk County Council – Email – “Norfolk project scoops national award” (Health Libraries); “Sniffer dogs on standby as campaign calls on public to help stub out illegal ‘pocket money’ tobacco in Norfolk; “Everyone welcome to attend The Norfolk Bus Forum Public Meeting, Saturday 8th October” 

24.  BCKLWN – Emails received – Promoting the LILY (Living Independently in Later Years) initiative (forwarded to Parish Magazine); Talk on the essential benefits of trees within the build environment and the need for a revaluation for future planning – 22 September 2016; Play & Recreational Areas – Exclusion of Dogs *Official – views welcomed on proposed amendment to the Public Spaces Protection Order to include all fenced in children’s play areas (as circulated to all councillors 3rd October).

25.  Barclays – Letter – Savings interest rates are reducing from 5 December 2016 from 0.05% to 0.00%.  Mr Lambert asked if the Clerk would make enquiries about interest rates with other financial institutions.

26.  TWR Accountants – Email – October tax tips

27.  Flyers – Google

28.  Brochures – Parish Magazine; Glasdon

 

29.  CHEQUES – Were signed for the following – J Martin £812.23, S Sargent £95.00, Post Office Ltd (PAYE) £251.48, Cash £10.00, Methodist Church £17.00, Viridor £155.28, John Rolph (J&M Pest Control) £50.00, Zurich Municipal £1319.13, Fenland Fire Appliance £37.69, Post Office Ltd (SSE) £593.23.

 

30.  PLANNING – Mr P Hills: Construction of new dwelling at land to north of 46 Lodge

Road – deadline was the 4th October so Clerk circulated this application to the Councillors  – NO OBJECTIONS; Clerk advised the meeting that the outline planning application (some matters reserved) for the demolition of No 28 - 30 and coal yard bungalow, Long Lane and development of approx 27 dwellings along with access road at 28-30 and coal yard bungalow, Long Lane has been withdrawn.  Planning Workshops are being offered by the Borough Council and Mr Storey encouraged Councillors to attend.

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

31.  Adopt a Kiosk- Letter received regarding redundant telephone boxes.

 

32.  Feltwell Senior Football Club – Clerk passed on message from Mrs Bane that the Senior FC has disbanded and Mr Rayner said this was confirmed on the Football Club’s Facebook page earlier in the evening.  However, no official communication has been received.  To be discussed at the next meeting.

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS CONT.

 

33.  Horse Faeces – A pile of horse faeces was left in the middle of a footpath in Newcombe Drive.  Clerk to ask riders to clear up their horse mess through the Parish Magazine.

 

34.  Churchyard Flowers – A letter was read out from a resident querying why artificial flowers are not permitted to be put on the graves at St Nicholas Churchyard.  This letter was passed on to the Churchwarden.

 

35.  Dog Bin – Mrs Williams asked if a dog bin could be installed somewhere along Paynes Lane.  Clerk to obtain prices.

 

36.  Clerk’s New Details - The Clerk announced she is moving back to the village at the end of October to 58 Wilton Road, Feltwell.  The new Council landline number which will come into force 28th October is 01842 828383.  Clerk to advise new details in the Parish Magazine.

 

Next meeting to be held on Monday 14th November 2016 at 7.30 pm. Meeting declared closed 8.30 pm.