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The following notes of the meeting have been written by the
blog editor from the draft minutes and so contain information that may be amended
at a later date.
Old
Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 7 November at Old Buckenham Village
Hall. Those present were councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Doug Irons (Vice
Chair), Stan Burton, Lesley Evison, Steve Gowers and Pete Twissell. David
Taylor arrived later in the meeting. Also attending were Rachel Noyes (Clerk),
Donna Oakley (RFO)and five members of the public.
Election of Vice Chair. Ali McWilliam has stepped down from
the Parish Council. On behalf of all the councillors, we would like to send
many thanks for all of her help over the last few years. It was agreed to
appoint Doug Irons as Vice Chair (5 in favour, 1 abstain). The minutes of the
meeting held on Thursday 3 October were approved (5 in favour, 1 abstain).
Declaration of interests. Stan Burton will be receiving
payment for his band playing at the Ox and Plough pub.
Financial matters. Payments totalling £1,974.64 were
approved (6 in favour). These included room hire, web design, paper for the
village newsletter, poppy wreath, defibrillator pads and the community car
drivers. As the new Vice Chair, Doug Irons to become internal auditor of
finances in place of Ali McWilliam. He requested that any payments/claims are
given to Donna Oakley in advance of a meeting otherwise they will not be
processed until the following month.
Councillors’ reports.
At the Saturday Surgery, four members of public attended with the primary topic
of roads and road safety. Naomi Bailey has communicated with Highways Engineer
and is now awaiting responses. She has also spoken to Highways about
potentially placing posts or a bank along Abbey Road and Sunnyside Track. This
will require further research. The ditch alongside footpath to the Village Hall
has been cleared by Sapientia Trust. Will liaise with residents about clearing
ditch around the back of houses on Sunnyside Track.
There needs to be a big push on getting a replacement for the
editor of the village newsletter editor. The current editor will put an advertisement
together and the Parish Council will also help to publicise. A Youth Club will
potentially be starting in Easter. It will be located in the Methodist Church
but run by independent volunteers. Research has also been done about other
local Youth Clubs. Have received more feedback from villagers and there seems
to be more initial interest from primary school than secondary school children.
There was a recent news article about the village Christmas
Tree. Acting on the information given to the Parish Council by the previous
clerk, the Parish Council had committed to plans to ensure there would be a
Christmas Tree in the village, albeit in a new location. It has come to light
that the information given to us from the previous clerk was incorrect.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the Christmas Tree has been outside Ox
and Plough for seven years and so it is nice to allow other local businesses to
benefit from it. As this story was picked up from social media, it highlights
the need to raise any concerns or issues with the Parish Council directly
rather than on social media.
Doug Irons asked to receive financial information a little
earlier as councillors only received data just before the meeting. Rachel Noyes
to update Donna Oakley with all contact details so that they can be sent
directly, rather than via the clerk, to save time.
The Green needs repairing from Two Wheel Tuesday erosion, as
per agreement with David Tranmer, as it is now the end of the season. Peter Twissell
volunteered to assist and asked if the Green Working Committee can ensure that the
correct type of grass seed and type of soil is identified for David Tranmer. During
a recent meeting with David Tranmer, his Christmas Fayre will take place within
the Ox and Plough property and not on the Green. As part of this, there will be
a Christmas Tree being lit but again located on the property of the pub. The Financial
Risk Assessment needs completing. The Clerk has been unable to complete this during
the previous month but will be a priority for next meeting. Also the Freedom of
Information (FoI) request is still in progress. The Parish Council is collating
all relevant information, ready to feed back.
Peter Twissell reported he has had two new keys cut for
Village Hall post box, one for the RFO and one for the Clerk. The saplings have
arrived for the planting the back hedge of Recreation Ground. He has been in
contact with Chapel Green School and first planting session to take place on
Tuesday 12 November.
Stan Burton has been dealing with Ottomer Pond. He had hired
a digger to get to pipe at a cost of £100 (agreed at previous meeting). Also
dug two ditches to look for outlet but couldn’t locate it. Contacted Company A
to investigate cost for blasting it clear. They cannot do it all in one go and
would charge nearly £1000 for a day. Company B could blast the whole thing at a
cost of £110/hour (including VAT) and is predicted to take five to six hours.
They will also be able to locate exact locations of blockages within pipe using
sensors. Steve Gowers thanked Stan Burton for all his work on the issue and
suggested that it might be worth adding inspection chambers for the future. Lesley
Evison felt that this will give a clearer picture of the problem
(blocked/broken, etc) and location. Stan Burton suspects it is not damaged but
simply blocked and suggested building a weir box in the future. Steve Gowers
proposed that Company B is asked to blast the pipe and locate any blockages in
the overflow pipe from Ottomer Pond. This was approved (6 In favour). Stan Burton
has also mowed and tidied the area around the War Memorial in advance of
Remembrance Sunday service.
Steve Gowers said the new magnets are now on playground gate.
He has been collecting quotes for repair of the surface near roundabout and
will complete soon. During a recent Speedwatch event on Cake Street, 14 people
were recorded in one hour travelling at speeds ranging from 35-45mph. These
speeds are done when they know the Speedwatch are there so there is concern
about speeds travelled when no one is there recording. One car was recorded
travelling on Hargham Road at 53mph. Sent correspondence to County Councillor Steve
Askew about the issue. Steve Gowers is
concerned that there will be a fatality in the village one day and wants to do
everything possible to prevent this from happening. He wanted it noted that the
Police do not tell them when they’re doing a speed check, they choose the
location based on data sent to them by Speedwatch and they’ve been on Cake Street
twice in the last month. Lesley Evison asked about a resident’s query at
getting the 30mph limit extended (to replace the 40mph) due to popularity of
Country Park but after Naomi Bailey raised the issue with Highways, they
explained that this would not be possible. Naomi Bailey has also had concern
from resident about speed on Hargham Road outside of the main village.
(David Taylor arrived)
Rachel Noyes gave news of arrangements on Remembrance Day.
Poppy wreath has been delivered ready for Sunday. Road closure of B1077 was
rejected by Highways due to difficulty in closing a B Road and creating a
diversion. However, an alternative solution of a TO15 was offered as this would
allow us to simply block the road for 15 minutes and not require a set
diversion in place. Crown Road would be closed also to prevent drivers
travelling straight back down next to the Memorial. The Village Hall has
offered to lend us some traffic cones to assist with blocking the road.
Councillors volunteered to be in place to put road closure in place and direct
drivers. Stan Burton has offered to read the list of names on the Memorial and
will be providing a PA system. He is a member of Attleborough British Legion.
He discovered that last year, our wreaths were collected without our knowledge
after the event and sold this year at a discount price (still for the British
Legion). Will be speaking to the group to ensure this is not done again.
Two new sets of defibrillator pads purchased and installed
in the defibrillators located at the Ox and Plough and on Fen Street. A Green
Working Committee meeting booked for Wednesday 13 November. New Parish Council
bank account has been started. Now awaiting mandate and information to be sent
in the post. Had expected it to arrive by now so will chase up.
David Taylor had contacted the Tree and Countryside Officer
about whether sandbags can be left in place at Ottomer pond and covered with
soil. They explained that this would leave the plastic from the bags in place
and so is not advised. Would need to remove the bags, but could leave the sand
before building up bank. Last meeting, it was agreed that trees on the Green
that are over hanging a residents property could be cut back. Wanted to highlight
that if any TPOs are in place on those trees, then permission would need to be sought
and approved by Breckland Council. Tree surgeons would be able to assist with
this.
Planning applications. There had been no new planning
applications, no amended applications and no planning decisions by Breckland
Council since the last Parish Council meeting.
To consider the document “Terms of Reference OBPC Template
rev A”. A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour).
To consider the document “Terms of Reference Green Lease
Committee Rev A v1.0”. This was previously approved and mistakenly added to
agenda. Will require another Terms of Reference for Green Working Committee.
To consider the document “OBPC Grant application 2025-2026
Rev A_Optimized”. A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour). Rachel Noyes
is to publicise and send out as soon as possible as deadline is Friday 29
November.
To consider the document “OBPC Quotation approval Rev A.pdf”.
A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour).
Parish Council’s Saturday Surgery. Initially set up for a
year’s trial. While there were lots of attendees initially, numbers have
dwindled in recent months, with the same people in attendance every month. The
approximate cost of renting the room for two hours a month is £240 a year.
Councillors highlighted that there are many ways to contact the Parish Council
and the councillors: email, phone, the website, the monthly meeting and in
person. A proposal by Naomi Bailey to reduce to meeting to every other month
and then review after six months was approved (7 in favour).
Defibrillator Training. After recent loss in the village Steve
Gowers researched defibrillator training and discovered a charity that offers
an hour’s CPR and defibrillator training for free (with donations greatly
appreciated). Cost to Parish Council would be rental of the Village Hall for an
hour or two. Councillors felt it would be very popular with villagers. Proposal
to offer CPR and defibrillator training for the village was approved (7 in
favour).
Signage on the Green. As the Parish Council is responsible
for leasing out the Green to interested parties, there is a duty to display
signs explaining that “Commercial use of the Village Green is not allowed
without prior permission”. These have been purchased and will be displayed at
prominent locations around the Green.
Prince Harry’s Wood. The Registry Office is processing the Parish
Council purchase of Prince Harry’s Wood. They have spotted a small error as
there is a sliver of land that was originally included in the agreement that
actually belongs to someone else. Will require Parish Council to agree and
re-sign relevant documents. Proposal to approve these amendments was approved (7
in favour).
Public participation. Flashing 30mph signs aren’t working. Naomi
Bailey confirmed she had already informed Highways about it and will chase up.
Items for next agenda. These will include Green Working
Party, Cemetery and DBS checks for Councillors.
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 5
December at the Methodist Church starting at 7.30pm.
