Latest council deliberations
These notes have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is amended at a later date.
Old Buckenham Parish Council met on
Thursday 6 October in Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were councillors
Naomi Bailey (Chair), Andy Nicholls, Jonn Hicks, Doug Irons and Terry Cook. Also
attending were Rachel Noyes (Clerk) and nine members of the public. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday
15 September were approved (4 in favour, 1 abstain).
Financial matters. The Community account
balance now stands at £38,465.61 (this includes £10,790.50 precept payment). Payments of £1141.98 were approved (5 in
favour) and included £240 for audit, £286 for trees for the Queen Elizabeth
planting and just over £130 to the community car drivers. S Barker has re-issued
invoice for missed payment and so a cheque for £100, which was pre-approved at
the last meeting, has also been issued.
A letter has been received from the bank
requiring mandate to be signed again with additional information. The Register
Finance Officer (RFO) has also drafted a letter to the bank raising a formal
complaint about how long and difficult this process has been.
Councillor
reports and matters arising from those minutes. Terry Cook and Andy Nichols had received
phone calls from a parishioner with concern about the procedures that have
occurred by Breckland Council around a planning application. The parishioner is
very concerned and has George Freeman, our MP, and also the husband of the
Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk involved too. The Parish Council have now received
evidence from two applications in which neighbours and the Parish Council have
not been informed or kept updated by Breckland. It is a complicated
application, and while the Parish Council cannot advise on the application
itself, the Clerk can contact Breckland Council on the parishioner’s behalf to
enquire about the process so far and request a breakdown of the procedures that
should have been followed. County Councillor Steve Askew to also be kept
informed.
The Parish Clerk reported back on various
subjects. Finger post on Mill Road replaced (FP12), finger post outside Church
rooms and Give Way sign repaired/replaced. Additional finger post at the Grove
Road end of FP12. Has been notified that County Broadband will be starting
installation works in the village before Christmas. Have received digital
copies of the plans. Casual Vacancy notice for new Councillors is on the
noticeboard. Notice received of a wooden pole being placed opposite Old Buckenham Priory
by BT Openreach.
Letter received from Breckland explaining
that the Gamekeeper has been removed from Asset of Community Value register
after its maximum of five years. Handyman jobs list sent out to councillors.
Handyman is on a fixed price for his work and so did not drop during winter
months when little was growing. Jonn Hicks to liaise with John Fernihough of
Green Working Party who manages handyman’s work.
Met with Steve Milner and received SAM sign
equipment which will be passed to Jonn Hicks to organise. Steve Milner also
explained that he was happy to continue helping with running and training of
Speed Watch once it is set up. Cuffer Lane junction with Moat Lane Road will be
closed from Monday 24 October to Friday 4 November.
Email received from the owner of the Ox and
Plough explaining that the agreement for renting areas of the Green needs to be
with the landlord David Tranmer, rather than the Ox and Plough. After
consulting the agreement, Terry Cook explained that the named person on the agreement
is with David Tranmer, not the Ox and Plough. The agreements are also based on
the number of events/number of benches, rather than a time period, and can
therefore be flexible. Clerk explained that the phrasing of the minutes may
have caused confusion and apologised. Clerk to respond in writing to the owner
clarifying these points and also send a copy of the agreements for their
records. Jonn Hicks had spoken to Stud Farm who are
not prepared to give up any land for a new burial site. He will now need to
contact local farmers to see if they would donate any land.
Planning applications. (All planning
applications are available for viewing on the Breckland District Council
planning portal – www.breckland.gov.uk/article/2933/Search-Planning-Applications.
Parish Councillors have been asked by the chairman to view the new applications
in advance of the meeting)
New planning applications. West View Farm,
The Green. Convert the existing barn into one dwelling to include the
demolition of adjoining existing hen house and erection of side extension and
the creation of a new access (3PL/2020/1500/F). Application was originally made
in 2020 but was quashed by the High Court following mistakes made by Breckland
Council. The Parish Council have been notified that the application is being
considered for re-determination and has been asked for comment. Originally, the
Parish Council supported the application but had concerns about the access. Andy
Nicholls and Terry Cook highlighted that there are no new documents available
and the map on the application is very poor and unclear. The issue regarding
the access road has not been clarified and it simply states that access would
be made “through the wall”. Councillors explained that the proposed building
work to the barns and buildings were not a problem in their view but that
access remains the issue. Councillors felt a time extension should be requested so
that they could see Highways comments before making any further comment.
Wayside, Buckenham Road. Change to boundary
line and repositioning of garage to Plot 9 (retrospective)(3PL/2022/1096/F).This
is on Attleborough/Old Buckenham boundary. A tree survey is referenced but councillors
were unable to find the document. There is also a statement that says that the
land is “vulnerable to contamination” but this statement was not clarified or
explained. Councillors felt that they would like further information and
clarification before making a decision.
Precept grants. The dates on the
application form and policy have been updated. Applications for precept grants
are now open and available from the Clerk. The deadline for completion and
returning to the Clerk is Sunday 20 November. They will then be discussed at
December’s Parish Council meeting, ready for the Precept Application submission
by the end of January.
Newsletter paper. The Village Newsletter
which goes to every household in the village, requires more paper from next
month. Quotes have been slow coming in but are expected to be up to 50% more
than last year. Last year the PC paid £437.25 for 25 boxes. A proposal to
pre-approve payment up to £600 for paper was approved (5 in favour). Clerk to
collect quotes and purchase.
Christmas Tree. Clerk to enquire about
Christmas Tree for this year. Naomi Bailey to liaise with electrician regarding
checking the lights and acquiring a new timer. She will also enquire with the
Landlord at the Ox and Plough about providing electricity. While this has
kindly been free of charge in previous years, Councillors felt that a donation
should be made this year, due to the cost of electricity being so high.
Jubilee Trees. The Green Working Party have
suggested an area behind the War Memorial for the planting of seven trees to
honour the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Councillors felt this was not ideal as a
lot of money was previously spent cutting back and removing trees that were too
close to the War Memorial. Andy Nicholls also highlighted that the War Memorial
and the trees for the Queen are very separate things and so should be in
separate locations, rather than crowded together. Naomi Bailey and Jonn Hicks
to raise issues about location with Green Working Party at meeting on Monday
10 October and a proposal that they make the final decision on location,
after discussions with Green Working Party, was approved (5 in favour). Resident Brian Simms has ordered trees.
They are a tulip tree, whitebeam, bird cherry, crab apple, aspen, white birch
and white (royal) oak. Once delivered, the Parish Council will arrange an event
for their planting. As trees require planting in this autumn, suggestions of Saturday
29 or 30 October have been put forward. The Clerk to liaise with all those
involved and confirm date and organise. Thanks to Brian Simms for his help in
organising. Plaques and benches to be arranged at a later date.
Website. Quotes from two companies have
been received. Councillors had a few questions and requested some more
information including why is ‘.gov’ more expensive than ‘.com’?, * could the
companies send examples of other Council websites they have done and asking the
cost of a website similar to the Attleborough Town Council website. Also to ask
New Buckenham Parish Clerk and Attleborough Town Clerk for their website
designers. The Clerk to collect requested information ahead of decision at next
meeting.
Allotments. Clerk has contacted allotment
holders to request information on their future plans regarding their allotments
and is awaiting responses. Naomi Bailey enquired about getting a group of
volunteers together to clear overgrowth. Resident Alison Hannah (allotment
holder) felt that this may not be popular as there isn’t anything in it for
anyone, other than the allotment holders. Terry Cook disagreed as he had seen
other villages in which the allotments were viewed as a real asset, were cared
for and well maintained. Therefore, a change in perception of the allotments by
residents and the Parish Council was needed. He also felt that by getting
everyone involved, it would give residents more ownership over the land and may
also generate interest in the allotments and therefore it was worth a try. Andy
Nicholls highlighted that there have been volunteer groups provided by large
private businesses in the past and would be worth looking at. He also explained
that currently the allotments are not financially viable as the Parish Council spend
more money renting the land than it does from renting out the plots. After work
is completed, a big push on publicity is required to rent out as many plots as
possible and would also require a good maintenance plan so that this problem
isn’t created again. Alison Hannah added that trees were originally planted to
form an orchard next to the allotments but there is no real access to them any
more as the grass has grown too long and the path has disappeared. Clerk to
enquire about volunteer groups and also request quotes for the clearing of the
overgrowth and rubbish.
Public participation. The range of trees
selected for the Jubilee trees may look a little odd. They may look better near
other trees. The allotments started because the Parish Council had to provide
them as there was significant interest. If they were removed, then there may be
a request in the future which would require the process to start again. The
Christmas tree lights were replaced with waterproof ones last year. Will need a
new timer.
Items for next agenda. These would include the burial
Ground, the allotments and website decision.
The next Parish Council meeting will be on
Thursday 3 November at 7.30pm in Old Buckenham Village Hall.
