November Parish Council
These notes have been written by the blog editor
from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is amended later.
Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 4
November in Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were Councillors Steve
Milner (Chair), Adrian Joel, Naomi Bailey, Doug Irons, Mike Farrington, Terry
Cook and Andy Nicholls. There were no apologies. Also attending were Rachel
Noyes (Clerk) and eleven members of the public.
The minutes of the October meeting were approved (5
in favour, 1 abstain).
Reports of matters arising from these minutes. Steve
Milner reported that he had attempted to clear the two overgrown allotments but
struggled. He will use the Parish Council’s strimmer to have another attempt. There
is a need to advertise the two remaining vacant allotments. He had not yet had the
chance to sort out recreation ground fencing.
The Clerk reminded all that the Precept Grant
Application deadline is Saturday 20 November. The flashing 20mph signs
(wig-wags) have been installed on Abbey Road as part of the PPS project. A charity
tin has been organised by volunteers in the village shop towards the upkeep of
the play area. Many thanks from the Parish Council for this gesture and
support. A memorial plaque will be presented to the
community to commemorate all the efforts during the pandemic. It was suggested
to present plaque before the start of the next Parish Council meeting at 7pm on
Thursday 2 December. Once the time and date are confirmed with the Deputy
Lieutenant, Terri Hammond and the team of volunteers will be invited and the
event advertised to the public.
Mike Farrington reported another accident at
Puddledock the previous week. Time to re-start a campaign about the danger of
the corner, especially during winter weather. There also seem to be diesel
spilt on roads occasionally too. Need to coordinate a meeting with NCC Highways
about what changes can be made to lower the risk.
Doug Irons had researched structure of
Neighbourhood Plans and has made contact with New Buckenham and Breckland
Council. Funding may be reduced in future and only appears to be made for a
year at a time. Going to need a lot of volunteers within the village to push it
forward as it is a community project. Need to publicise to entire village.
Naomi Bailey had spoken to the High School
Headteacher, who has been very helpful, about graffiti in the bus shelter. An in-person
meeting is scheduled. Also she had contacted local police regarding reports of
drugs being used there. The Playground had been inspected and monthly report
written. Maintenance work is currently being planned and costed up.
Trevor Cook admitted that Parish Councillors had forgotten
to attend a planned joint meeting with the Village Hall management. The
rearranged meeting needs to discuss the Parish Council’s role as Custodial
Trustee and matters of common interest.
Adrian Joel pointed out that the County Council are
taking back the cutting of borders/edging so need to confirm with Breckland if
cutting will continue in the village. Also need to elect a Chairman of each
working Party so that meetings can be called and organised. Remembrance Sunday
Service will take place on Sunday 14 November at 10.45am at the War Memorial. Steve
Milner and Naomi Bailey volunteered to lay Parish Council wreath. The Christmas
tree is ordered and the lights have all been replaced/repaired. Ox and Plough
has organised some music/food/drinks and school choir will also perform. Switch
on is at 4pm on Sunday 12 December.
Financial matters. Community account balance is
currently £34,883.16. Payments totalling £911.45 were approved (7 in
favour) which included nearly £200 to the community car drivers and £250 for
the Christmas tree lights. Payment was approved at the last meeting of £500 to
ATTCARE.
Public participation relating to agenda items. A resident
has met with District Councillor Steve Askew and a Breckland representative to
inspect Prince Harry’s Wood. There was still rubbish to be cleared. Breckland Council
own this piece of land and the resident requested that Councillors and
villagers walk through to have a look themselves to see the state of it and
consider what action, if any, might be necessary in future. Further residents raised the issue of speeding on
Fen Street, which is mostly National Speed Limit (60mph). The Parish Council
explained that there have been many attempts to get it changed to 30mph but
with no success. The Clerk is to write to Highways again. The Parish Council
also advised that the more comments from residents the better. Steve Milner
highlighted that we are unable to use the mobile SAM sign on de-restricted
roads, only in 30mph zones.
Planning applications. Old Buckenham Country Park,
Doe Lane. Four New Holiday Lodges (3PL/2021/1406/F). Highways are happy and
doesn’t appear to cause any issues for neighbours. Proposal to support approved
(6 in favour, 1 abstain).
Planning decisions by Breckland Council. The
following applications have now been considered and the applications have been approved. Land off Attleborough Road. Ground mounted solar
photovoltaic (PV) farm along with continued agricultural use, ancillary
infrastructure and security fencing, landscaping provision, ecological
enhancements and associated works (3PL/2021/0236/F).
Twitchers Cottage, Stacksford. Retention of a
mobile home which is used as an annex for a member of the family (3PL/2021/1333/F).
Old Buckenham Water Treatment Works, Abbey Road. Construction
of a pump store at Old Buckenham Water Treatment Works (3PL/2021/1354/F).
Crumb Cottage, Cake Street. First storey extension
over existing single storey element and internal reconfiguration (3PL/2021/1290/HOU).
Development Site 605747 291109 Hargham Road. Erection
of 4 dwellings and garages - technical details consent following application
3PL/2020/0117/PIP (3PL/2021/0210/TDC).
The following applications have now been considered
and the applications have been refused. Coal Storage Yard Road, from Stacksford Lane to
Hargham Road. Outline Planning Application for 5 Dwellings (3PL/2021/0500/O).
Old Buckenham Country Park, Doe Lane. New cabin to
replace existing poly tunnel for fitness and well-being centre (3PL/2021/0908/F).
Trustee of Old Buckenham Eleemosynary Charity. The Eleemosynary
Charity provides support to residents that are facing financial difficulties.
Majority of the trustees are Parish Council appointed. A Parish Council trustee
has recently stepped down and therefore necessary for the Parish Council to
nominate a new councillor to be a trustee. Proposal to nominate Naomi Bailey
for the position was approved (6 in favour, 1 abstain).
Temporary Gamekeeper rent. Area in front of the
Gamekeeper is part of the Green. As the Gamekeeper is beginning to trade again,
the Parish Council need to address the issue of renting this area of the Green,
just as other businesses currently do. Councillors have started working on a
new policy about renting the Green. This will then allow clear and consistent
rules for areas of the Green to be rented, both by businesses and individuals
for events. Until this policy is completed, a temporary agreement needs to be
written for the Gamekeeper to use this area in front of the premises. Proposal
to write a temporary agreement for the Gamekeeper and then create a contract
for the use of the Green was approved (7 in favour).
Wildflowers on the Green. The Green Working Party
have decided to have a designated area to encourage and diversify wildflowers.
The aim is to prepare the area in March 2022 and sow seeds in April. Area is 30
metres by 50 metres (0.2 of a hectare) and will be marked with 4 or 6 fence
posts, rather than a full fence. Will be easy to mow around when Green is cut.
Aim is that the wildflowers are in an area that will allow them to be seen and
enjoyed. Initial thoughts were to plant on the western side of the Green
(between Windmill corner and Almshouses) but a resident highlighted that it
does get fairly wet there during winter. Suggestion of nearer the traffic
lights so that people can easily see them as they walk/drive past. Surveys are
frequently completed of existing wildflowers by Green Rights Proprietors and
there are equations to calculate the biodiversity gain. Seeds are all native
species. Any donations received from public will be put towards costs and
remainder paid for from Green Working Party budget.
Village footpaths. Terry Cook has looked at maps
with Countryside Officer but there is no record of a permissive path from
Puddledock Corner. There may have been one previously but it just was not
transferred to the maps. If an individual or group of individuals wishes to
check if a Permissive Path was granted in the past they would need to check
with the NCC Legal Orders and Registers Team. If an individual wants to make a
claim for a footpath to become a Permissive Path then they would need to
contact the Legal Orders and Registers Team and would need at least 12 people
to sign a document claiming they have walked the footpath for over 20 years.
While the Parish Council will not be doing this, Terry Cook is happy to advise.
There is still confusion about why the permissive path was recently rescinded.
Could enquire with the landowner for their reasons why they have done this.
War Memorial maintenance. Steve Milner and Adrian
Joel have inspected War Memorial. Most slabs are solid and stable although a
little uneven. Need to ensure any cleaning would not cause any damage to the
stone. A parishioner explained that it could be sensitively cleaned without
chemicals and would cost an estimated £1500. This would last 4 to 5 years and
needed to be done in the Spring. May require scaffolding to reach the highest
parts. Parishioner kindly offered to donate half of the money towards its
cleaning and the Parish Council will match the donation to cover total cost.
Proposal to also put aside £300 a year towards regular maintenance in the
future was approved (7 in favour).
Queen’s Jubilee. A village meeting is to be
organised to get ideas and plan a village celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. A
second meeting will be required for discussing a Neighbourhood Plan. Need to
talk to the local community groups/businesses so they can get their ideas
together before the meeting. Also need to look at funding of the celebrations. Steve
Milner will bring a proposal to the next Parish Council meeting.
Neighbourhood Plan. Need to advertise for more
residents to join the Neighbourhood Plan team. It is a big commitment and
requires a large number of residents to support it. While the Parish Council
are supporting the Neighbourhood Plan and helping to organise a group, it is a
community project. Possibly could pay for a professional to put together a
framework which would give clearer information to residents and explain the
process. Doug Irons to research consultants/cost/grants/funding.
Items for next agenda. These will include Precept
Grants, Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the Neighbourhood Plan.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on
Thursday 2 December at Old Buckenham Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. There
will be a presentation beforehand of a commemorative plaque for the community
at 7pm.
