Parish Council in Old Buckenham

Minutes of August meeting

These notes have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is changed at a later date.

Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 7 August. Those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey Chair), Doug Irons (Vice Chair), Stan Burton, Lesly Evison, David Taylor and Pete Twissell. Apologies for non-attendance had been received from Steve Gowers.

Also attending were Megan Elvin (Clerk) and Steve Askew (District and County councillor) together with 14 members of the public

The minutes of the July meeting were approved (4 in favour).

Declarations of interest. Stan Burton said that his band had been booked in to perform at the Ox & Plough.

Financial matters. The Community account balance presently stands at £26,373.14. Payments of £25,335.68 were approved (5 in favour). These included salaries for the clerk and RFO, money for the community car drivers and £24,000 paid in to the new parish council bank account.            

District Councillor. Steve Askew gave an update on the Fen Street assessment. He  stated “Some initial positive feedback. Officer advised who reviewed the data feels there is a case to reduce the current speed limit to 30mph. This is being put to the safety manager for further assessment” He encouraged villagers to engage where we can on both Norfolk County Council and Breckland websites concerning devolution. The new structure being proposed would mean the merging of Norfolk and Suffolk with a mayor at the helm. The electric vehicle infrastructure team is trying to expand their network further to install electric car charging points and would like to engage more with local communities. Highways want a full assessment done on the drainage assessment on B1077 (Puddledock). It will probably be next year for this to happen.

Lesley Evison is still gathering information to update the Welcome Pack. David Taylor said that the Jira account has been suspended due to lack of use. Should we wish to continue we would need to add new tasks on there.

Pete Twissell said that the Village Hall Facebook page has been shut down due to an accusation of fraud. He asked if the Village Hall could use the Facebook page of the Parish Council but was advised that the Parish Council would need to discuss this further to make a decision. He also asked when are the Precept applications due in. They go out in September and October and applications will be needed back before the end of October.

Doug Irons has started looking at policies. The Financial Risk assessment needs to be completed as well as the Quarterly audit. Formal apologies were given to David Tranmer as the Council delayed completing his application form for his Car Show in August.

Naomi Bailey asked that any correspondence with the Councillors and other members of public or businesses to copy her in as well as the Clerk. She had been in contact with Rupert Rawcliffe, Lord of the Manor, as his son has created a website for the Lord of the Manor which has been added to the Council website. A small amount of topsoil has beenplaced near the bus shelter on Abbey Road to try and build the bank up to prevent parking on the Green. At the Saturday Surgery at the beginning of August three residents came along. Questions were asked on what has been done in the village and she replied that lots of little projects have happened such as the Green Working Committee, Speed Watch and drainage work. Another point raised was what is being done to recruit new council members. Have suggested that the next Saturday Surgery in September will be a recruitment morning as well. Would be good to have some new recruits. Also asked if there is a local historian in the village. There is not currently anyone who could be a village archivist and suggested forming an Old Buckenham Heritage Group. Asked for this to be put in the village newsletter.

The Clerk had received a report from a member of the public that there was potentially Japanese Knotweed growing at the allotment. This is an invasive species and is illegal if it spreads onto someone else’s property. She had been and inspected the plant. It is not Japanese Knotweed, but European Spindletree which is not an invasive species and will not cause any lawsuits should it spread.

Correspondence had also been received from a member of public, re the planning application for the “Stables” on Hargham Road. Highways have come back with their report and have advised that a footpath and visibility splays will be required. The only way for this to be achieved is if the oak trees which have a protection order on them are removed. The correspondent felt this will change the look of Hargham Road and that the trees should not be removed as they are protected. Wanted his views to be given to the Council and other members of the public. The Council  have yet to receive an updated planning application for this; once we have received it, they will be able to discuss in detail and make a decision.

The Local Government Services Pay Agreement of 2025 has been finalised. They have been backdated to April this year and employers are encouraged to implement the pay award as swiftly as possible. The pay award for Band 18 which is the grade of our clerk has increased to £16.35 per hour (currently on £15.21 per hour). Proposal to support this pay increase was approved (6 in favour).

Steve Gowers has had a letter from Norfolk Police telling us that the Community Speed Watch set up is to be brought in line with that of Suffolk. This means that the signs warning people that "Speed Watch" is about will be changed. Instead of being 100 metres from the Speed Watch site it will now be 25 to 50 metres. It will be standardised and new positions will be sent to Norfolk Police. It is important that this change is in the minutes as it could generate a few complaints.

New planning applications. Wash Farm, New Buckenham Road, NR17 1PW. Demolition of redundant adjoined outbuildings to enable proposed 2 storey extension to existing dwelling farmhouse. Highways safety improvements with new road access (existing access blocked) and necessary visibility splays (remove existing hedgerow) and set in new mixed native hedge. Rebuild to new alignment, relocate and re-roof existing associated barns/outbuildings to improve appearance of the site as a whole (PL/2025/1022/HOU). No issues. A proposal to support was approved (6 in favour).

Semere,Church Lane, NR17 1RP. Various tree work including felling holly and plum trees, trimming other trees and planting new plum trees (PL/2025/1043/TCA). No issues. A proposal to support was approved. (6 in favour).

Land off Abbey Road, NR17 1PZ. Upgrade existing access (historic/informal farm access), suitable for future use by 44-tonne timber lorries. Access shape will be altered to ensure vehicle swept paths are correct, radius of bellmouth to be kerbed and access surface to be asphalt (PL/2025/1053/FMIN). A member of public voiced their concern regarding this saying that the lorries should not be using Abbey Road due to the schools as it would be unsafe for the children and residents. Road is narrow in places along Abbey Road and need to think of the Health and Safety of the public. The road floods often. It was recommended that the parish council does not support it. Should it go ahead the village do not want the lorries to go through the village. Proposal not to support was agreed (5 in favour 1 abstained).

Green Working Committee update. Sally Honour, the GWC chair, reported on their last meeting on Thursday 10 July. They reviewed the position on the Green, talked about a tree survey and going out to tender on tree surgeons. A volunteer day had been organised on Wednesday 16 July to clear saplings in the small woods.

Plan was discussed about the cutting of the Green. The wildlife habitat means there needs to be a balance to let the wildflowers to grow. This influences when the Green is going to be cut. Wish to maintain the two parts of the Green in the same way in 2026 as this year. Will be going out to tender for a three-year agreement and predict the costs will be£6,000-£7,000 per annum. Request to the council is whether they allowed to go out to tender for the 3-year plan to contractors. The Parish Council agreed to this.

The 2025 budget was set at £2000 and were aware of an overdue wayleave payment of £2479 so total budget £4,479. £1235 went out for emergency tree work and thought that these payments were out of the parish budget not that of the GWC. Could the Parish Council please investigate this. For the July cut the contractor hired additional equipment which improved efficiency and provided a better cut. However this came at a significant cost to the contractor and he has approached the GWC for an increase on this year’s estimate of £750. Propose that this is accepted to allow the October cut to go ahead. This will be an extra £300 from the Parish to pay towards this. A proposal to approve this payment was approved (4 in favour and 2 abstained as they are part of the GWC)

Stan Burton said the bench by the Village sign was welded to H girders which have been concreted into the ground. There were three options – cut the H girder which would leave metal posts in the ground, go in and break up the concrete or sand back the rust as it is not too bad. Pete Twissell to go out and clear the concrete pad and bench will be sanded back.

Solar Farm update and benefit deed signing. Waiting for advice to come in regarding the signing of the deed. Need to make sure everything is as clear as possible.

Parking update (ongoing). Correspondence from Paul Beale from the High School. The Staff car park is well on the way. Very grateful for being offered the use of the Green for the open evening – does not think he will need to use it.

Ottomer Pond (ongoing). Stan Burton has made a start. He has dug out some of the area where the sump is due to go. Will be built on a 2ft square paving slab and this will be secure and do the job.

Christmas Tree location. Dave Tranmer at Ox & Plough has agreed to have the Christmas tree on the Green and supply the electricity. Proposed Sunday 7 December for the light switch on. Dave Tranmer to be asked what his plan is for the farmers’ market if he is hoping to use the Green for it.

Playground and parking signs update. An annual inspection of the playground needs to be organised. A risk assessment and safety check on the playground has been made by Steve Gowers. Mainly surface area of the playground that needs maintenance and he will get quotes for this to be carried out.

Salt box by the Village Hall. There are two salt boxes in the car parks and they have not been used as a salt box, only as an occasional bin. The Village hall is proposing that these are removed as they belong to the parish. Naomi Baily proposed that one is placed at St Andrew Close to replace the broken one and the other at Marchfield way as the road is brick weave and this gets very icy and dangerous. The Clerk to look into informing NCC of the changes. A proposal to agree the repositioning of the bins was approved (6 in favour).

Footpath along the Green. Steve Gowers has liaised with a resident who goes across the Green with a mobility scooter and almost falls off it due to the unevenness. An email has been sent to Highways to get this resurfaced.

Defibrillator location update. Not had any success in volunteers coming forward to have the defibrillator on their property. The defibrillator cabinet that we currently have requires electricity to maintain a consistent temperature for the defibrillator to prolong the battery life. You can buy pre insulated cabinets which do not require electricity. The defibrillator would need to be checked more regularly and the batteries may need to be replaced sooner. Cost of these range around £450. We can insulate our current cabinet ourselves and get the same result. £25 cost for insulation. This would negate the need for an electrician to install the Defibrillator, also reducing the costs to the council. A proposal to insulating the cabinet itself was approved (6 in favour). The Parish Council are currently waiting for another response back from the Church Rooms and Steve Gowers is dealing with this. In the meantime it is proposed to install the defibrillator outside the old butcher’s house should there be answer from the Church rooms. To be installed by the end of September.

Drainage outside Hargham Road Cottages. Still waiting for quotes.

Trees and greenery obstructing road signs. On Hargham Road and Fen Street there are bushes growing over from someone’s garden that obstructs the view and forces cars to pull out into the road to see. Naomi Bailey to try and get this cut back while liaising with the Clerk.

Old Buckenham Airshow traffic. Stan Burton watched both Airshow days at the Village Hall. It took 25 minutes to get to the village hall from the other side of the green. There was a no right turn sign at the end of the village hall road forcing residents to drive through the Airshow traffic. This is unfair. Also there was dangerous parking on the Green during the Airshow, up to the junctions and blocking views. The Chair and the Clerk to discuss with Matt Wilkins at Old Buckenham Airfield to discuss better management of their traffic and also provide more cones blocking the bends and junctions around the Green. Potentially ask if the schools could provide additional parking for the Airshow.

Pay as you go sim card for Clerk. Megan Elvin does not wish to give out personal number as does not work the same set number of hours every day. Naomi Bailey suggested a point of contact phone. Doug Irons suggested a point of contact Sim to use in the Clerk’s phone. This number can then be used to contact and leave a voicemail where the Clerk would be ableget back to you. A proposal to get a PAYG sim was approved (6 in favour). The Clerk to liaise with David Taylor regarding best one to get and potential of a landline number that will ring to a mobile number – this can be easily transferred when the Clerk is on holiday.

Clerk probationary period sign off. The probation period was 6 months and had a mini PDA to set targets going forward. Megan Elvin has passed her probation period.

Lloyds banking update. All able to get into the accounts. Query over the approvals for payments. Someone starts the online payment then two approvers will get correspondence to approve this. Donna Oakley and Megan Elvin have been set up as approvers. Bank details will be required from the Community Car drivers.

Public participation. There is an issue with the website and unable to print off the agenda. Doug Irons to look into this.

Few years ago before the present councillors were in place, the public was allowed to request items on the agenda. Megan Elvin advised that as long as the request is in two weeks before the meeting the item can be added if deemed a relevant discussion point.

Can the Public Participation be earlier in the meeting to allow members to leave sooner if they wish? This is being discussed.

Items for next agenda. These are expected to include: Formation of Old Buckenham Heritage Group, Old Buckenham Airshow traffic management, policy for benches on the Green, Allotments, Parking, Ottomer pond, Christmas tree event, Solar Farm, Defibrillator update, Drainage on Hargham Road and Footpath along Green update.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 4 September in Old Buckenham Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.