January
Parish Council
These notes have been written by the newsletter editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is changed at a later date.
Old
Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 5 January 2023 in Old Buckenham
Village Hall. Those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Terry Cook,
Ali McWilliam and Doug Irons. An apology for non-attendance had been received
from Andy Nicholls. Also attending were Rachel Noyes (Clerk) and five members
of the public.
Election
of new Vice-Chair. Jonn Hicks
has resigned from the Parish Council. Many thanks for his significant contribution to the
Parish Council over the years. A new Vice-Chair required and a proposal for Ali McWilliam to take on
the role was agreed (2 in favour, 2 abstain).
The
minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 December 2022 were approved (4 in
favour).
Financial
matters. Community account balance now stands at £36,075.35. Payments
for approval totalled £1841.72 and was approved (4 in favour). They included
the cost of the Christmas Tree on the Green, the room hire for the Parish
Council meetings and payments to the community car drivers.
Precept.
Donna Oakley (Registered Finance Officer (RFO)) has prepared a draft Precept
budget and breakdown of expenditure of this financial year to date. The King’s
Coronation in May has not yet been discussed. The balance from the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee budget is to be used for any possible celebration. As the Parish
Council has not yet got an estimated cost for the annual maintenance work for
Prince Harry’s Wood and St Andrew’s Close, it would be unfair to residents to
estimate a cost. Therefore, the Parish Council felt that the transfer of Prince
Harry’s Wood should not be completed until the Parish Council is able to budget
for it in the next Precept application. There is
some confusion about the playground budget and the Clerk is to clarify with the
RFO.
Draft
Precept is £790 lower than the previous year and a proposal to accept the Precept
was approved (4 in favour).
Reports from
councillors. The Chair said that the formal appraisal process has taken place
for the Clerk. Due to confidential nature of items discussed, it took place in
a closed meeting. All recommendations were approved by the Parish Council.
Doug
Irons has enquired about joining .org website scheme through NALC. Will be
contacting website designer shortly to begin designing new website. Also
arranging another meeting to discuss the proposal that the Gamekeeper was given
before Christmas. Due to the changing of the licensee, discussions had to begin
again which caused some delays, as well as a busy Christmas/New Year period for
the pub.
Terry
Cook said that the Village Hall Committee send their thanks for their Precept
Grant approval. The updates to the sound systems have been completed. After an
incident in the Village Hall car park last term, the Committee are looking at
getting an extension to the CCTV coverage to cover any blind spots. The Village
Hall Committee will also be coordinating a meeting with all interested parties
about the future management of the car park. The final £500 repayment of the
loan from the Parish Council has been paid.
The Parish
Clerk reported back on several subjects. As Jonn Hicks has resigned, some roles
need re-assigning. Naomi Baily volunteered to manage the SAM sign and be the Parish
Council representative on Green Working Party. Potential new burial sites will
become a whole Parish Council matter. The Clerk to contact local landowners and
an article to be written for the newsletter, in coordination with All Saints
Church. Pot holes reported corner of Mill Road/The Green and opposite Oaklands.
Repairs can take six weeks. Broken grit bin
on St Andrews Close reported and the Christmas Tree will be removed.
A Tree
Survey of the Green will take place within the next couple of weeks. Clearance
work on the allotments will be taking place soon. Was unable to arrange a date
to meet up with contractor about Recreation Ground fence but will complete this
month. Has contacted residents that live adjacent to the track between the
phone box and shop regarding its maintenance. One resident has replied to
acknowledge the letter and decline the invitation for a meeting and to express
their view that residents have not caused the majority of the damage and so
should not be contributing to the cost of repairs. Has not had a reply from
other residents yet. Was contacted about the lights at Chapel Green School
being too bright at night for wildlife. Contacted the Headteacher about the
issue and she has agreed to look in to it.
New
planning applications Old
Buckenham Country Park, Doe Lane. Installation of a 22.5m lattice tower, 3 no.
antenna apertures, 4 no. 600mm microwave transmission dishes and 8 no.
equipment cabinets inside an 8m x 8m compound enclosed by a 1.8m high close
boarded timber fence with gate and development ancillary thereto (3PL/2022/1309/F).
Councillors felt that there was a lack of detailed information within the
application. There is a phone mast currently being installed on nearby land and
so Councillors were confused why another would be required so close by. Due to
the lack of information, Councillors felt that they were unable to vote on the
application but would pass on their comments to Breckland Council.
Roughlands
Farm, Grove Road. Prior approval for the Change of Use of Agricultural
Buildings to 1 no dwelling house (Use Class C3), and for building operations
reasonably necessary for the conversion The Town and Country Planning (General
Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) - Schedule 2, Part 3,
Class Q (3PN/2022/0047/UC). Previous
applications for this development have been refused by the Parish Council as
Councillors feel that Grove Road is dangerous and traffic levels should not be
increased. There is a need to be consistent in the Parish Council decisions and
views. Proposal to object was approved (4 in favour).
Amended applications
(for information only). Poplar
Farm, Fen Road. Variation of Conditions No. 2 and No. 3 on 3PL/2020/1009/F:
Introduction of external staircase to access balcony, as well as changes to the
external materials. Change to the description of development, to include the
variation of condition 3 (external materials), in addition to the variation of
condition 2 (approved plans), (3PL/2022/1036/VAR).
Wayside,
Buckenham Road. Discharge Of Conditions 6 & 8 on 3PL/2020/0202/F (Discharge
Conditions) (3DC/2022/0335/DOC).
Planning
decisions by Breckland Council. The following applications have been considered
and the applications have been approved: St Marys Chapel, Castle Hill Road. Conversion
of the existing detached out-buildings to provide additional bedroom
accommodation and new flat roof kitchen link between the out-building and Victorian
chapel extension, with minor internal alterations to the Victorian chapel
extension (3PL/2022/0997/LB).
St
Marys Chapel, Castle Hill Road. Conversion of the existing detached
out-buildings to provide additional bedroom accommodation and new flat roof
kitchen link between the out-building and Victorian chapel extension, with
minor internal alterations to the Victorian chapel extension. 3PL/2022/0996/HOU
PROPOSAL
Castle
House, Castle Hill Road. The conversion of the existing single-storey detached
out-buildings to provide a two-bedroom dwelling (3PL/2022/0998/F)
Applications
3PL/2021/1690/F and 3PL/2021/1528/F on Cuffer Lane were discussed at a recent
Breckland Planning Committee meeting. The decision was made to make a site
visit in order to the Committee Members to gain a better understanding of the
area. This will then be discussed again at a future Planning Committee.
Parish
Partnership Scheme bid. At the previous Parish Council meeting, the issue of
crossing the B1077 from Bridleway BR11 (the Stud) to the other side of the road
on a blind bend was raised to Councillor Steve Askew. Crossings are generally
made at the furthest point away from the blind bend, but there is a high bank
on the other side which is difficult to step up to for many walkers. Following
the meeting, Councillor Askew suggested making a Parish Partnership Scheme
(PPS) bid for work to make it easier to cross at the furthest point from the
bend, which would result in the PC paying 50% of the cost, and Norfolk County
Council the other 50%. After consultation with a Highways Engineer, an estimate
of £10,000 was made for the work. As the deadline for a PPS bid was on Friday 9
December, there was no opportunity to discuss the matter at a Parish Council
meeting. Therefore, a bid was written and submitted in order to meet the
deadline. This does not commit the Parish Council to the project and the Parish
Council can withdraw from the process at any time. The Parish Council will be
informed of the decision in March and will discuss the matter once a decision
has been made and possible are plans drawn up with a clearer estimate of cost.
Community
Car Scheme payments. Due to the rapidly rising cost of fuel last year, the Parish
Council voted to give Community Car drivers the option of getting an extra
10p/mile until the end of December 2022. A proposal to not extend the optional
extra 10p/mile was approved (4 in favour).
Donation
to Ox and Plough A proposal to make a
contribution of £120 to the Ox and Plough towards the electricity for this
year’s Christmas Tree was approved (4 in favour).
Prince
Harry’s Wood updates. Queries
were made by the Parish Council about whether all overhanging trees had been
cut back by Breckland Council in December. Naomi Bailey to check current status
of the trees and identify any trees that still require work. Two members of the
public expressed the view that the transfer should not be completed until an
independent forester assesses the woodland in order to gain a full
understanding of the work and costs involved. Additionally, the mowing of the
grass areas in St Andrews Close are very large and will cause a significant
amount of additional costs to the Parish Council in regular cutting. Survey to
be completed of work required within Prince Harry’s Wood and the Clerk to ask
Breckland about possibility of not taking on the grass areas in St Andrews
Close.
Handyman.
List sent itemising the jobs to be completed by Village Handyman. A slightly
longer list of areas to be cut/strimmed and increasing costs has resulted in an
increased cost of £150/month for the 7 months of April to October. Work to be
completed in last two weeks of each month. Insurance certificates of contractor
to be sent to the Clerk. Proposal to approve work for the Handyman was approved
(4 in favour).
Date for
Annual Parish Meeting. This to take place at the Village Hall on Saturday 13
May at 11am.
Public participation.
A resident highlighted that they felt the agreement with the Gamekeeper for the
maintenance of the car park in front, should be split 50/50 with the Parish Council. Another
resident enquired about recruiting new Councillors on to the Parish Council.
Councillors expressed that they were always talking to people to try and
encourage people on to the Parish Council but welcomed any new ideas.
Councillors to write articles for the village newsletter with information about
themselves and why they chose to be a Parish Councillor.
Next
agenda. This will include possible burial sites and celebrating the King’s
Coronation.
The next
Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 2 February at 7.30pm in Old
Buckenham Village Hall.
