April Parish Council meeting

These notes have been written by the newsletter and blog editor and so may include information that is changed at a later date.

Old Buckenham Parish council met on Thursday 3 March in Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Stan Burton, Steve Gowers and Pete Twissell. Apologies for non-attendance had been received from Doug Irons (Vice Chair), Lesley Evison, David Taylor, Megan Elvin (Clerk) and Donna Oakley (RFO). Also attending were Terry Cook (Acting Clerk) and nine members of the public. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 6 March were agreed (4 in favour) with one amendment to say that there was a need to appoint another Trustee for the Eleemosynary Trust. The Chair requested the editor of the Village Newsletter to run a paragraph in the next newsletter to explain what the ‘Eleemosynary Trust’ is.

Financial matters. The Community Account balance stands at £22,492.84. Payments totalling £1678.59 were agreed (4 in favour). These included £675.79 to the Clerk, £270 to the RFO, £61.50 to P Little, £456 to Broadland Tree Services, £88.80 to NALC Training and £126.50 to the community car drivers.

Councillors’ reports. Steve Gowers confirmed that the CPR and defibrillator training was completed. He reported back about potholes by the Post Office and expressed frustration with Highways as little being done by them in the Village about traffic apart from repainting “Slow signs”. Speed watch data showed that on average the sessions are showing 15 motorists exceeding the 34 mph speed limit for the recording period. SAM data for Fen Street indicates that there is no future need for Speed Watch there. SAM sign data shows that its use appears to slow the traffic; it informs the Speed Watch team of areas to focus upon and it receives positive reaction in the village.

Stan Burton reported on the work that councillors had undertaken to clear the drainage pipe leading from Ottomer Pond. However, the pipe will need jetting to make sure it remains clear. He detailed verbal quotations obtained from a range of contractors. Work would not be able to be undertaken until July by contractors and said he would now obtain three written quotations. At this point there were verbal questions raised by members of the public in attendance. The first related to their view that it needs to be proven that the pipe is in good repair. This would future-proof the site and if building does take place and then damages the pipe this could be proven. It was stressed there was to need to be sure the pipe is secure. Stan Burton replied that it would up the costs considerably as the water is dirty and so difficult to get a clear picture. To get clear water running through the pipe would need extra work. He was of the opinion if the water jet goes through the pipe, it demonstrated it was secure. A further point was put by a member of the public - it would be beneficial to utilise the use of a camera as per the “Ottomer Pond Project Plan”. Further discussion took place. The Chair proposed jetting the pipe to ensure a clear flow and if needed to utilise a camera one should be hired. This was agreed by councillors.

Pete Twissell had asked the question posed by Breckland on whether the Hall would be available for opening "in the event of emergencies"?’ Under the proposed new constitution of the Hall as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) they are required to work with outside agencies and so the answer is yes. The Village Hall Committee also agreed to the Council request for a new post box at the Village Hall. At the Village Hall meeting there was a request to reseed an area of the grounds with wildflower seeds. Discussion took place re the proposal and a councillor offered to purchase a kilo of seed for £26 to be paid for by the Council. All Councillors were in favour. He asked for advice from the Parish Council in relation to the dwindling number of people willing to serve on the Village Hall Committee. If it came to the point where numbers on the committee were not sufficient to efficiently run the Hall what would be the position of the Hall? The answer was that the Hall would be run by the Parish Council. It was recommended that the recruitment of Village Hall Committee members would be included on the agenda for the Village AGM.

Naomi Bailey has arranged a meeting for various parish council members and Sarah Dye in relation to charity accounts and assets. She has also had a meeting with Stuart Barker re village job list. In relation to car parking outside the Village Shop, who has responsibility for fixing the potholes? There is a need to investigate. Doug Irons has asked what is happening regarding the Bank Account. Should the Parish Council employ the RFO to sort out the problem?

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. Old School Bookshop, Church Rooms, The Green. Continued use of Church Rooms to include Class E (Bookshop/Café and sale of related merchandise) and change to opening hours (PL/2025/0261/FMIN). There were no issues and it was agreed to support the application (4 in favour).

64 Fen Street. Renewal of planning permission 3PL/2021/0102/HOU - Construction of Swimming Pool and Erection of Pool Building including gym, changing room and lounge area ( PL/2025/0314/HOU). There were no issues and it was agreed to support the application (4 in favour).

Land Off Attleborough Road. Certificate of Lawful Existing Development - carrying out works comprising of site access (labelled ‘Access track (West)’ and ‘Access track (East)) as the lawful implementation of planning permission 3PL/2021/0236/F (PL/2024/0886/CLEUD).

Green Working Committee update. Cut brambles have been chipped and removed, posts on Sunnyside side of The Green are having topsoil put around their bases and wildflower seeds spread to stop weed incursion, the sandbags at Ottomer Pond will be having topsoil put over them – it will then require spreading. Damaged tree branches in Jubilee Wood (opposite the Gamekeeper) need to be addressed – a tree surgeon has been contacted but needs chasing up.

Several quotes have been obtained to undertake two cuts of the Green. It is proposed to cut certain areas and not the whole of the Green. The main Green will be cut all round edges. It is proposed to use grass cutters instead of tractors so the surface of the Green can be protected, and cuts can be made under the trees. Issue to be resolved is how to pay as the Green Committee have approximately £2000 but the cheapest quote is £4000. Wayleaves were mentioned and will be offered as they appear during the year as appropriate. The new proposals will improve the Green and allow for wildflower growth. The volunteer/working party proposal has already had several people come forward. Key immediate tasks include brambles need clearing the Mill Road end of the Green and around the bus shelter, a tidy up pond near to the post office, clear up fallen wood, Crown Road and Church Lane areas require suckers from trees to be addressed.

Hedge rows at Puddledock. This matter was raised last August by Mr and Mrs Avis. Hedgerow requires thinning around Puddledock Corner area. This would improve visibility at the corner and the turn into Fen Street. Quote of £600 to do this and Highways will not pay. Proposed that the Parish Council pay and this was agreed (4 in favour).

Church Yard update. A meeting was held with two members of the Church (minutes available) to devise a way forward. Next meeting will be on Wednesday 7 May and will look at costs, funding sources, options available, procedures to get firm arrangements and costs and bring back to the Parish Council for further discussion.

Solar Farm update. The Clerk is waiting for a reply from PACE which is the company who are dealing with the Solar Farm. They have allocated the Clerk to go to a named person, Mark Kelly. The Clerk has tried to get in contact with him over the phone but now she is waiting for an email update. A key question will concern possible funding implications for the village and what funding can be used for.

Weather Radar update. The main works contract (for the construction of the radar tower and communications cabin) has been awarded to Brody Forbes Ltd with the main phase of construction expected to start on site in May this year. Some site clearance has already been carried out at the Anglian Water Drilling Yard on Abbey Road. In advance of the main works the project team are progressing with some infrastructure work (power and communications) on site. The tower top install of the radar parts is planned for the autumn of this year with a period of testing and commissioning before the radar becomes fully operational in the early summer of 2026. The project team have made Brody Forbes Ltd aware of the sensitivities around the site and of the restrictions around using some of the local roads. Brody Forbes Ltd will liaise with local stakeholders, including Old Buckenham Parish Council, in advance of and during the works to minimise any disruption.

VE and VJ Day celebrations. We have unfortunately missed the deadline for applying for a grant from Breckland Council to help pay towards the celebration. The cut off date was Sunday March so if we do want to do something for VE/VJ day it would be out of the parish’s pocket. An idea that the Clerk has had was that we could consider is an “Old Buckenham VE/VJ Day Bake Off”. Contestants can pay a small entry fee to participate. We could have two competitions, one for savoury foods that were popular in World War II and one for sweet foods that were popular in World War II. We can come up with a list of foods for each side; give this to the contestants and then they can choose what food to make at home to then bring to the judging in the village hall on the day that we celebrate. Some of the income from the entry fee will be kept back for the council and can be used to pay for the Village Hall, the other part can be put into a cash prize for the winner. We can have two of the councillors as judges for the food. The Parish Council approved the idea (4 in favour).

The Green Lease. Concerning the benches on the Green outside the Ox and Plough, initially the insurance certificate required by the applicant was not forthcoming. It has now been received. Everything is now in place; agreement reached in principle and just requires the agreement to be signed and fee paid. Now that the policy is in place there is a need to ensure regulations are followed.

Public participation. There was a request for email addresses for all Councillors so that they could be forwarded a copy of the Ottomer Pond Project Plan. There was a feeling for the need to move forward from the cleaning of the pipe to following the key points in the Project Plan. This would then allow the Chair to release funds if in agreement with the Project Plan. Further discussion took place on the needs of the Project Plan and possible contractors who could undertake the work.

The squeaky swing on the Children’s Playground is annoying to residents living nearby. An assurance was given that this was in hand. Also a member of the Public came forward and volunteered to become a Trustee for the Eleemosynary Trust.

Items for next agenda. These will include Ottomer Pond (ongoing), areas of long grass and benches to be dealt with the handyman, updates on the Solar Farm and Weather Radar, date for Village AGM and Speed Watch update on speed signs.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 1 May in Old Buckenham Village Hall and starting at 7.30pm.