Parish Council minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday
1 June were approved (5 in favour, 3 abstain). Pete Twissell and Steve Gower
have completed DPI forms. New councillors are to complete their DPI forms by
the next meeting.
Financial matters. Donna Oakley
presented the Parish Council with copies of the accounts for the financial year
2022/23. A proposal to approve was agreed (8 in favour). Accounts will now be
sent to internal and then external auditors.
Financial report. The community account balance is presently £27,762.57. Payments for approval totalled £1,680.73. A proposal to approve this payment was agreed (8 in favour).
Due to an error by the bank, one of
last year’s precept grants for £600 has not been processed properly. While the
money has left the Parish Council account, it has not been deposited in the
groups account. Donna Oakley and Rachel Noyes have been trying to resolve the
situation but with no success yet. Propose to make an additional payment of
£600 to the group so that they are not missing their money. When returned by
the bank, the Parish Council can then keep the original £600. This action was agreed
(8 in favour).
Councillors’ reports. Doug Irons has
had a meeting with the website company. Costs are same as previously quoted
with 50% up front, 50% on completion. He will initially draw up a paper plan of
the website for the Parish Council to review. Servers will be based in UK.
Naomi Bailey, Doug Irons and Ali McWilliam
had a walk around the Green to review any issues and found 26 areas that need
attention. This includes matters such as parking, damage, pot holes, etc.
Initially they will need clarification of the Green boundary and a
sub-committee will be required to address the issues.
Naomi Bailey has contacted a company
to get quotes for repairing potholes outside Gamekeeper. Now just awaiting
calculated quote. The Village Hall have their quiz on Saturday 21 October and
she is hoping that the Parish Council can enter a team.
Rachel Noyes has reported potholes on
Puddledock corner and around blind corner of the Green (opposite Almshouses). After
submitting planning application form for the flagpole, Breckland Council
required additional documents for elevations of the flagpole. Due to the format
required, these needed a professional company to draw them up. Everything has
now been submitted.
Received two complaints about the
Green being cut too early this year. This was an attempt at preventing the
ragwort from seeding which was causing issues and complaints last year. The
Green Working Party (GWP) makes every attempt to listen to the feedback of
villagers but it is difficult to please everyone fully. The GWP aim to strike a
balance between helping wildlife and practical use by residents. The Annual
Parish Meeting was held in May. Was a good meeting where several matters were
discussed and the new Lord of the Manor was introduced.
Was concerned to see invitation for barbecues
on the Green so would like to remind people that these disposable barbecues
should not be used due to the significant fire and Health and Safety risk they
pose. Additionally, they would cause large damage to the Green. These are not
permitted in most public spaces due to these risks. Has been contacted about an
Anaerobic Digestion plant planning application (3PL/2023/0081/VAR) which
bridges the parishes of Bridgham and Roudham & Larling. Further information
can be sought on the Breckland Planning Portal.
Has been in contact with solar farm
company. The paperwork and administration is still being worked through.
Clarification was sought regarding a grant that had been previously mentioned.
The councillor who dealt with the matter previously had now left the Parish Council
and so further information was required. They confirmed that support for
specific projects is available or an Annual Community Benefit Payment, which
would equate to a total of £36,000 (£3,600 a year for 10 years). Councillors
are to consider applications and discuss at future meeting.
Planning. 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 application. 32 Hargham
Road. Proposed Ground & First Floor Rear Extensions & Associated
Alterations (3PL/2023/0462/HOU). No issues or objections. At the time of the
meeting, no comments from neighbours. Propose to support (5 in favour, 3
abstain).
Planning decisions by Breckland
Council. The following application has been considered and has been approved: Rosedale,
Fen Street. Demolition of existing light industrial building and erection of 1
no. C3 dwellinghouse (3PL/2023/0167/F).
Planning appeal. The following
application has appealed against the decision of Breckland Council. Hammonds
Farm, Stacksford. Conversion & extension of existing barns to form Annexe. Application
reference 3PL/2022/0641/F, Appeal reference, APP/F2605/W/23/3315976 and Appeal
start date Monday 22 May 2023.
Prince Harry’s Wood. At previous meeting,
the Clerk was asked to enquire with NALC to see if the Parish Council can decide
not to carry through on a previous decision. They confirmed that if the Parish Council
made the decision and it was minuted, then it needs to be completed.
Additionally, Clerk was asked to contact Serco to enquire about current costs
and schedule. They would not provide the Clerk with the relevant information,
but County Councillor Steve Askew was able to acquire the figures. Serco
currently charge £1,181.73 + VAT a year, to cut the grass areas of St Andrews
Close. The Parish Council have previously received a quote which was similar.
At the Annual Parish Meeting, general
feedback from the residents was that they would like to have control of the
wood and grass areas as Breckland had not been good at keeping it up regularly.
However, they were aware it was a lot of money. Due to the initial decision by
the Parish Council to take ownership of Prince Harry’s Wood and the grass areas
of St Andrew’s Close, the Parish Council need to complete the process. Naomi Bailey
expressed her disappointment that the relevant research and due diligence was
not carried out before agreeing to the transfer. Naomi Bailey and Ali McWilliam
signed the solicitors’ documents. Ron Brewer signed as witness to their
signatures.
Dog Bin by Village Hall.This would cost
£128.18 for purchase and delivery of bin. Due to it being on private land, it
would cost £268.55/year for Serco to collect and dispose of waste. The majority
of walkers, who drive to the village, walk around the Green, where there are
lots of bins for the disposing of dog waste bags. A minority walk through the
fields towards Attleborough. There are no dog waste bins in that direction.
There is currently a bin on the Recreation Ground (behind Village Hall) which
is for litter only. This is owned by the Parish Council and emptied by the
Village Hall caretaker. Councillors were concerned that people were putting dog
waste bags in the litter bin which would cause a risk to the Village Hall
caretaker. There was also a discussion about whether there was enough demand
for a dog bin at this location as there were not many people who walked away
from the existing bins around the Green. There is due to be significant
development towards Attleborough, with the SUE and Solar Farm. This will
possibly change how the current footpath is used in the future. Rachel Noyes to
speak to the Village Hall caretaker to enquire about whether is a problem with
dog waste in the litter bin. Proposal to follow caretaker’s comments and
respond as necessary was approved (6 in favour, 1 abstain, 1 object).
Skip for allotments. Group has been
formed to work on the allotments. There is a lot of rubbish that has been
collected in to piles and requires disposing of. Still have several plots to
continue clearing. Previous allotment holders were contacted to remove any
rubbish but none was taken. Anything useable has been set aside. The rubbish
left is a mixed of different materials. Pete Twissel to cut up and remove metal
climbing frame. Rachel Noyes to get quotes for skip and to speak to Breckland
for advice. The grass is beginning to get quite long since its last cut and
requires re-doing. Rachel Noyes to arrange.
Guidelines for signs on the Green. Following
from comments at last meeting, the Clerk investigated if there were any
existing guidelines for the placement of temporary signs for local business.
None were found. The Parish Council has also received a request for putting out
signs on the Green by a new local business. Would the Parish Council like to
compile a small list of guidelines for businesses that wish to place temporary
signs on the Green? Councillors felt that if rules/guidelines were put in place
then it could create a big problem. It could also make the Parish Council
liable if they caused an accident (eg a trip or fall in to road). It would also
be difficult to monitor and police. Proposal to not draw up a set up guidelines
was approved (8 in favour). Rachel Noyes to advise new business that contacted
the Parish Council that they need to conform with Highways’ rules as they are
responsible for monitoring signs that are adjacent to roads.
Public participation. A request was
made for an article promoting the Community Car Scheme and a request for new
drivers. The meeting was reminded that a celebration event for the completion
of the Raise the Roof project was taking place on Saturday 10 June at All
Saints Church.
Items for next agenda. These would
include new website and allotment skip decision.
The next Parish Council meeting will
be on Thursday 7 July 2023 at 7.30pm in Old Buckenham Village Hall.
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