Latest from Old Buckenham

 Parish Council minutes for July

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 3 July and those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Doug Irons (Vice Chair), Stan Burton, Lesley Evison, Steve Gowers, David Taylor and Pete Twissell. Also attending were Megan Elvin (Clerk) and five members of the public, The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5 June were approved (5 in favour).

Complaints. Naomi Bailey commented on the social media posts that have been circulating. None of the Councillors are paid – it is work done on a volunteer basis. A post that has been circulated makes out that the Councillors are being paid by using the statement “Out of Office Hours”. It is part of the Councillors role to deal with complaints and if you have a complaint please come to the Council about it. They are happy to help.

Financial matters. Please can all payments be in to the RFO by the Wednesday before the meeting at the latest. Any payments handed in after this date will need to wait for thenext month’s meeting.

The Community account balance now stands at £27,430.99. Payments of £957.85 were agreed (5 in favour) and these included those to the Clerk and RFO, the community car drivers and Stuart Barker.

Councillors’ reports. County and Breckland concillor Steve Askew apologised for not being able to attend. He told the council of the Norfolk Community Fund which backs community led projects that bring quality of life to the county. A potential area for this is the village Play Area that could do with updating and the Clerk will investigate.

He chair had spoken to Stuart Barker. The footpath beside the High School has had a bit of clearing, however not a lot can be done until October. If it is left, all the hedging and brambles will grow back. The Council will pay for Stuart Barker to do the work. This was approved (5 in favour).

(Steve Gowers arrived)

Pete Twissell reported on his meeting with the: Village Hall committee. It is now up to 12 members on the committee after the appeal for more volunteers. A request had been made for a basket ball hoop to be set up for the village. The car park was suggested but this is not practical. The Recreation area is a suggestion but there are stipulations to that area so he is to liaise with the windmill committee.

Steve Gowers said a new speed sign had been installed at the war memorial. Also that there were playground inspections in the next week.

The Clerk had been informed of a broken drain and silt on road in Cake Street. This has been reported to Highways and she has been advised that someone will be out to inspect this.

New planning applications.1 and 2 Abbey Road. Convert two adjoining semi detached dwellings into a single residential unit (Class C£) – certificate of lawfulness – proposed use (PL/2025/0853/CL0PUD). The Council had no issues with this.

The Stables, Hargham Road, NR17 1SS. Proposed erection of 8No self build dwellings. Planning Reconsultation -  PL/2025/0529/FMIN. The Parish Council’sopinion still stands from original application. Not the best location for any form of houses. That area of the village cannot cope with any additional houses when it comes to water works. Agreed to decline (6 in favour).

Amended applications. Proposal: Discharge of condition 3 on pp PL/2024/1120/RMIN. Site: The Homestead, Old Buckenham.

Proposal: Discharge of conditions 4, 7B, 8, 9 10 on pp 3PL/2021/1564/O. Site: The Homestead, Old Buckenham.

Proposal: Non material amendments to PL/2025/0167/FMIN – revising the proposed windows and doors from PPC Aluminium (Grey) to PVCu (Anthracite), revising the proposed rainwater goods from metal to PVCu (Black). Site: 3 Mill Cottages, Mill Road, Old Buckenham.

Green Working Committee. The committee met on Thursday 10 July. They have started building the bug hotels with the schools. The first one is by the bus shelter and another will be on built later in July. The old rusty bench by the village sign will be taken down the next time it rains.

The committee have been asked by the property owner of the Ox & Plough to remove the defibrillator from the side of her property. This has been done and now need a new home for the defibrillator. The Church rooms are unavailable – the church do not wish to have the defibrillator on their building. There is not an appropriate amount of wall at the post office. The front is all glass and there is no room for the instillation of the defibrillator. The Gamekeeper was another suggestion – this is a listed building and we would require planning permission to be able to install the defibrillator. The phone box is yet another option but would no longer be able to use it as a notice board. The Community Heartbeat Trust can help with the adoption of the Kiosk. It will be a cost of £1 to BT and then BT will pay for the electricity for the first seven years.

The defibrillator at Fen Street is solar powered. ME to check if this one is also solar powered. Suggestion of putting it on a pole near the play area if it is solar powered – planning required? Suggestion of putting a plea in the village magazine and on social media for volunteered location. The clerk to organise this.

Parking update. Been in touch with both schools and advised that The Gamekeeper is available for school pickup between 2.30pm and 330pm, not all day. High school has confirmed this has been shared to the parents. Primary school yet to confirm that it is has been shared. Standards of parent’s driving has gone down. This is causing a hazard. Schools should talk to the parents regarding driving safety. The verge of the Green has been cut in the hope that it will encourage safer driving but it hasn’t. The driveway at the back of Chapel Green is not an option for parking.

Paul from High school has asked for parking at the Village Hall to be allowed when they have an open evening on Wednesday 17 September. Naomi Bailey suggested, weather permitting, letting them use the Green where TWT is held. This would be an overspill car park only and a ‘Use of Green’ application form required for this to cover health and safety. A proposal in principle if application is used was approved (6 in favour).

Staff from Chapel Green School have been identified as using the Village Hall car park as an all day car park. This has been brought up with Chapel Green. Only one has stopped. If this carries on, then the access to the Village Hall school parking would become difficult to the rest of the parents.

Ottomer Pond (ongoing). Napmi Bailey has received correspondence from Mr Jenny and is trying to get an on-site meeting with him. There is a no dig policy on the driveway. Steve Gowers had received quotes and will pass these onto Mr Jenny. Stan Burton said the priority was where the chamber has been dug out needs to be made secure as it is the Green side of the wall. The problem is the ditch that the pipe goes onto and we should not be responsible for this as it is the land owners responsibility. Qualified builder needs to come in and brick it up as it needs to be road loadbearing. The outlet will be done for about £30 as most of the materials are already acquired. Steve Gowers had managed to get £150 back from Diamond Rod for not doing the work they said they would. Waiting for the third quote to get the entire job done which may take 6 to 8 weeks. Last meeting the council agreed that Stan Burton would do the pond side so only the chamber will need to done by a qualified builder. Steve Gowers to go back to the quotes and ask for only the chamber side to be quoted.

Christmas tree location. Stan Burton suggested that the council put out to the village where they would like the Christmas tree. Steve Gowers questioned why tree can’t put it back in front of the Ox and Plough like it had been done seven years before. The reason it was not in front of the Ox and Plough last year was due to misinformation from Jonn Hicks. Others have had complaints about it being here before as lights were not kept on 24/7 when this was originally stipulated. Suggestion of alternating the location each year between the Ox and Plough and Harrow & Ferne.

The Clerk to contact Dave at Ox and Plough with agreement that the lights were left on 24/7. Council will donate the cost of the electricity and Doug Irons has a meter that will measure the exact amount of electricity cost. The Council would like a full event for the tree switch-on to be planned. It is a good community event that we can celebrate. Next year the tree will go back to Harrow & Ferne.

Solar Farm update. Still waiting for a response from the Solar Company. Does not look like any work has officially started (note from editor that it has now). The Clerk to chase and check that the solar farm traffic will not be coming through Old Buckenham.

Lloyds Banking update. David Taylor said council now all have access to the online banking and Lesley Evison will have available time to sort out her access The RFO and the Chair to write a cheque of £100 to the new bank account.

Footpaths and mobility scooters. At the AGM a member of public commentedon the footpath that runs along Attleborough Road from St Andrews Close. The pathway is unsafe for mobility scooters and prams. Steve Gowers to contact Highways and liaise with the Clerk regarding this and to find the areas that need resurfacing or if it is the full pathway. One option is to use the Parish Partnership Scheme to refurbish and put in a dropped curb.

Drainage outside Hargham Road cottages. Large pothole outside Rose Cottage and water does not drain here so when it floods the water goes into the houses. This is part of the Green so Council should deal with it. Steve Gowers to get quotes on this to try and fix it.

Use of Green Application forms. TWT: Amendment to the TWT agreement to include the Ice Queen. This has now all been signed.  Also an updated Gas Certificate received for Flying Chef.

Goal Post on the Green. Application form will need to be renewed for next year. Anyone can use it. The liability is down to the goal owner for maintenance and loss/damage. Although the area is mostly dirt under the trees, wildflowers were ripped up when the goal was first placed down. Some Councillors had reservations regarding keeping the goal on the Green permanently as it can affect the work of the Green Working Committee. A proposal was approved (5 in favour 1 abstained).

Classic Car Show application form. A proposal was approved (4 in favour 2 abstained due to interest in attending).

(David Taylor arrived 9.05pm)

VJ Day celebration event. VJ day anniversary is on Friday 15 August. The Old Buckenham Great VJ Bake off and Old School Sports Day is a family event to be held at the Old Buckenham Village Hall on Saturday 16 August. Judges could include someone from WI, Windmill Trust and Village Hall. Megan Elvin and Doug Irons to organise and advertise. Minimum of 10 contestants required for the event to go ahead for the Bake-Off. £5 entry for the Bake-Off competition and £1 entry for each sports day race. Any proceeds more than the cost of hiring Village Hall will go to Attleborough Royal British Legion. 

Public participation. One parishioner said the weight limit is only from the bridge from level crossing to A11 so a lorry can come through Old Buckenham. The Parish Council will look at the reporting of vehicles coming along Hargham Road.

The next Saturday Surgery clashes with the Old Buckenham Airshow so meeting will be moved to Saturday 2 August at 10am to noon in Memorial Room at the Village Hall.

Items for next agenda. These should include Green Working Committee, Charity update, Banking update, Parking update (ongoing), Ottomer Pond (ongoing), Playground, Footpaths, Defibrillator location, Christmas Tree location, Solar Farm update and co-option of new Councillor.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 7 August at Old Buckenham Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.