Old Buckenham Parish Council minutes

October's deliberations
These notes have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is altered at a later date.
Only John Frost and Akis Chrisoviledes were not at the Old Buckenham Parish Council meeting on Thursday 2 October. Both had sent their apologies. There were also eight members of the public present. The meeting closed to allow the members of the public to ask questions, a summary of the items that they wished to talk about will be posted on the blog tomorrow.
Minutes of the September Parish Council meeting. These were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Matters arising from the minutes. Tom Johnson said that congratulations were in order as appeared that all the potholes in the village had now been repaired.
Adoption of Grievance and Disciplinary Policy. This was adopted after deleting the words “or Investigatory” on page 1 clause 3; agreed with 7 for and 2 abstentions.
Neighbourhood Plan/Breckland Plan. Adrian Joel said we should look at it in the future as the Parish Council needed to talk to villagers and see where they want the village to be in 10 to 20 years time in terms of development. It could then be submitted to Breckland Council for approval and then funding could be sought for a Neighbourhood Plan if that was what was required. Breckland Council is working on the Breckland Plan which will involve consultation with residents on where development should be allowed over the next 10 to 20 years, this consultation will take place next summer. Steve Milner said that following consultation with residents two years ago, the overwhelming view was that a Neighbourhood Plan was not wanted. The Parish Council looked at the matter a year ago and the same views were expressed. Adrian Joel said perhaps more social housing was needed at the rear of St Andrews Close. Steve Milner said there was not enough infrastructure available to support further development. Tom Johnson said that people needed somewhere to live to be near their families.
Adoption of new Standing Orders. It was agreed unanimously that these be adopted.
Rent increase for Recreation Area. Carol Marshall said she could not find another parish council who have to pay rent for a recreation area to any village hall. Also a boot camp had been held recently on the Recreation Area and the fees paid to the Village Hall. Jonathan Kemp said he thought there was no justification for any rent increase. Adrian Joel said the lease allows for a rent increase. The Clerk informed the meeting that although there was a provision for an increase, the village hall was not compelled to invoke the increase. Steve Milner suggested a meeting with the Village Hall to try to resolve the matter. Tom Johnson is to raise the matter with the Village Hall.
Special written motion. Adrian Joel had, in accordance with Standing Orders, written a special motion which was supported in writing by seven councillors. The motion read “The decision of the Parish Council on 14th August 2014 re planning application Y/3/2014/3006 Chapel Road School be revoked to enable a majority of councillors to be in attendance and consider their views together with any new information from the original application that may have been received since then”. Adrian Joel said that only five councillors had attended the August meeting which voted to support the application subject to certain conditions and the matter now needs more discussion. Steve Milner said that the meeting was quorate and there had been developments since then including the moving back of the barriers by 60 metres from the road. NCC have refused to increase road safety measures in Old Buckenham as, in their opinion, there will be no great increase in traffic levels. Steve Milner then read some figures out which strongly indicated there would be an 18% increase in traffic levels at peak school times. Jonathan Kemp said the original decision should be reversed so that the Parish Council would object if all conditions were not met. Steve Milner said some improvements had been agreed with Norfolk County Council that were not part of the original application. Jonathan Kemp proposed that the original decision be revoked and that Parish Council object unless the nine conditions asked for by the Parish Council are met. This was seconded by Tom Johnson and agreed with 8 for and 1 abstention. Steve Milner suggested that a parish councillor should attend the Planning Committee meeting on Friday 24 October. He also suggested a working party to arrange lobbying of Planning Committee members on issues important to the Parish Council. Steve Milner has been invited to the Chapel Road Steering Group meeting on Monday 13 October and he had requested two items to be put on the agenda including road safety.
Planning applications. Downmoor Farm. Single storey residential extension. It was agreed that the Parish Council had no objections.
15 Fen Street. Front exterior, replacement garage and reformation of existing rear extension. It was agreed that the Parish Council had no objections.
Shrublands. Change of use of disused agricultural barns to provide nine residential dwellings with associate parking. After full discussions it was agreed (4 for, 2 against and 2 abstentions) that this should be objected to as not sustainable due to no footpath at development and no bus route so totally reliant on private cars.
Planning decisions received from Breckland. Barkers Cottage, Ragmere Road. Alterations, replace windows and doors. Replace conservatory with garden room extension. Permission granted.
Chairman’s report. Steve Milner said ‘Two-wheeled Tuesday’ continues and a number of improvements have been made and a further meeting with the police has been arranged. Noise from certain bikes continues to be a problem and they are thought to be above the legal noise limit. The Play Area looks untidy and needs looking at. Sarah Dye and Carol Marshall are to meet with John Hicks on the matter and also they would arrange yearly inspections of both the play area and recreation area.
District Councillor’s report. Adrian Joel said the address for the new housing in St Andrews Close was Marchfield Way. The completion of the houses has been delayed for three weeks and they will now become available for occupation in November. The next Town and Parish Council Forum meeting due in October had been postponed until Thursday 15 January 2015 and he hopes a representative from the Parish Council will be able to attend. With the launch of the Recycling Revolution there could be reductions in the weight of glass in the village hall’s glass bank. Breckland are to make up any income loss for glass in the 2014/15 period.
Parish Councillors’ reports. Tom Johnson said the £100 contribution by the Parish Council for the Village Hall broadband has been used and the service should start running later in October. The cost of installing the service was approximately £180. The solar panels on the Village Hall roof have raised £1450 in income. The Village Hall had also sent a grant application letter to the Parish Clerk for approximately £3500. A Film Festival will be held over the weekend of Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November in the Village Hall. He then raised the matter of poppy crosses carried at the Remembrance memorial service by children and suggested a small bed at the memorial where the crosses could be planted. Derek Smalley recently attended a SNAP meeting and also a meeting of the Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. Adrian Joel raised the matter of allotments and the new tenancy agreements would be sent out later this month. Tim Ing confirmed that the owner of the allotment land would not be increasing the rent paid by the Parish Council for the next three years. Carol Marshall said the recent garage sale was a great success.
Parish Clerk’s report. The clerk said he would be sending out a Financial Management Risk Assessment to all councillors and it would need to be adopted. He also suggested that a parish councillor acts as an internal auditor to check the accounts every quarter and ensure full compliance with governance standards. Akis Chrisoviledes was appointed.
Highways. There was a depression in Harlingwood Lane opposite High Ash and another water leak in Grove Road. Tom Johnson raised the matter of overweight lorries going down weight-restricted roads. A near miss had been reported at the junction of Grove Road and Mill Road. Public footpaths in Raggs Lane and the path going up to the Junior School need weeding as overgrown. The Parish Clerk is to report these items to the authorities.
The Green. The Green Right Proprietors will be holding a meeting later this month.

The next meeting of Old Buckenham Parish Council will be held on Thursday 6 November at the Village Hall commencing at 7.30pm.