Latest Old Buckenham Parish minutes

September Parish Council

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

The Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 4 September in 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 was unable to attend this meeting. Those attending were Megan Elvin (Clerk) and District and County Councillor Steve Askew. Also present were seven members of the public. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7 August were approved (5 in favour 1 abstained).

Public participation. An observation from a parishioner said that the majority of the parishioners have lost confidence in the Parish Council. Suggested they took three items on the agenda, completed those items and publicise them to the public to show that work is being done. Due to the issues with Jonn Hicks the council are still waiting for their books for 2023/24 to be audited. There is a big fine that is coming the council’s way that will have to be taken into consideration before making large expenses.

Financial matters. Financial matters and any financial payments are being suspended for the time being. The councillors received the bank reconciliation on the day of the meeting, not giving them time to review the information received. The financial risk assessment was not approved by the RFO which needed to be completed and the Financial Regulations policy was not amended by the councillor dealing with the new bank account. The Council therefore cannot in good practice sign off on any payments without having time to confirm the information is correct. Then an extraordinary meeting will be called to approve the financial matters/payments.

Councillors’ and District Councillor reports. Steve Askew said he had positive news regarding the 30mph limit on Fen Street. It is now looking like this can be done but funding needs to be identified and secured before this change can take place. Once this has been found it can take nine months to a year before this will take place. Reminder that any nonprofit organisation can apply for the environmental initiative grant. Friday 12 September was the closing date. Norfolk Warm Homes Grants is open for anyone who meets criteria to have help towards housing insulation.

Doug Irons was waiting for the Green Working Committee’s 3-year plan. Their next GWC meeting is on Monday 29 September and more clarification on finances is needed. Steve Gowers has been putting the statistics together for Community Speed Watch. Has asked Norfolk Community Speed Watch for another two sites on Attleborough Road and Hargham Road. More volunteers are required so will advertise via social media and the village newsletter.

Naomi Bailey said that a bush that needed to be trimmed at Almshouses was reported at the last meeting and was cut back the next day. There was no update from the airfield for a meeting regarding the air show traffic management. On Tuesday 2 September she had attended Norwich Crown Court for the sentencing of Jonn Hicks. He was sentenced for 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. No costs were awarded to the Parish Council as they have had the money back. He has been subjected to an RAR order of 10 days over the next 12 months. He had pleaded guilty. She had sent a copy of the letter received to the auditors so that fine is no longer increasing but do not know how much the fine is going to be. They have proceeded with a Proceed of Crime Act; there are several dates down of several smaller hearings in regard to the money being stolen.

Megan Elvin said a mobile phone number (07468 647062) has been set up for the Clerk. The number will be turned on between 7.30am and 9.00am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. If she is unable to answer the phone, you can leave a voicemail and she will get back to you. Most likely it will be the next day, not the same day. You can also send a text or a WhatsApp message. The 40mph speed limit sign on New Buckenham Road before Doe Lane as you are coming into Old Buckenham is being blocked by hedgerow. Highways advised that this is the landowner’s responsibility to cut back. Now that nesting season is over, she will find out who the landowner is and get in contact with them. She had also spoken to Highways regarding the salt boxes at the village hall. These are privately owned so not on Highways list to refill them. They can be moved as long as they are not an obstruction but the council would be required to keep them filled. She will look into the cost of getting these filled by NCC. The council have received a report from NCC regarding the beech tree at the top of St Andrews Close which requires felling. Tree quotes have been received to get this done, the cheapest being from Emerald Trees who have quoted £460 for the felling of the tree and clearing the wood. A vote to use Emerald Trees was approved (6 in favour).

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 application. Caldcleugh, Cake Street. Planning reconsultation. Variation of condition 4 on PL/2024/0781/HOU - to change the start date from 6 months to 18 months to vehicular/pedestrian access/crossing (PL/2025/1145/VAR). No issues.

Planning decisions by Breckland Council. Appeal made under section 78. Erection of 1 no. self build dwelling (planning in principle) (PL/2025/0574/PIP). Appeal Reference: APP/F2605/W/25/3370598. Original decision to decline the application made on 27May 2025.

Review and agree policies. The following policies were approved: Standing Orders, Social Media Policy, Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, Internal Control Policy and Procedure and Internal Control Form. The meeting was unable yet to approve the Financial Regulation Policy and Financial Risk Assessment. Decisions to agree were approved (6 in favour).

Old Buckenham Heritage Group. Other villages have a heritage group and this will be something that would be good for Old Buckenham to take up. The Parish Council would not be able to run it but will look to help for volunteers. Posts to be put on social media to request volunteers and someone to head the group.

Benches on the Green. The Parish Council have received a request for those benches that are currently on The Green to be discussed and if a policy is required. The only benches on The Green that require an application form are the benches currently outside the Ox & Plough. The benches outside the shop were agreed before The Green Rights Deeds took place. Cannot override this decision and ask for payment and own insurance from the shop to be secured. The benches outside the Gamekeeper pub are not on the Green. The benches inside the play area are on Parish Council owned property and do not require any form of policy. The memorial benches have a separate agreement which is signed by the family member that wishes to have the memorial bench. The family member pays for the bench; the Parish Council maintain them. The family is also entitled to maintain the bench themselves should they wish. It costs £65 a year for the benches outside the Ox & Plough. This is to ensure that insurance is covered for the benches and that is covered by the owner of the business, not the Parish Council. The benches also take up more surface area of the Green. The money goes into the Green Working Committee funds. The iron memorial bench on the Green is stable where it is.

Allotments. Lesley Iveson has not been able to get down to the allotments to provide an update. The Clerk said that the allotment holders have asked if a skip is going to be provided before they are required to vacate the allotments by the end of October. Lesley Iveson is to get three quotes for the cost of skips.

Parking (ongoing). The car park is complete at the High School and the staff are using it. There were still a lot of cars parked down on Abbey Road but everything seemed to be flowing rather well. There were not a lot of cars parked down by the play area in the afternoon. There were not any cars parked on the Green. Will keep this ongoing? The permit system is still ongoing for the Village Hall car park.

Ottomer Pond (ongoing). Stan Burton said the weather has held up getting the work for the pond started. Will now have to wait for the end of the month. Steve Gowers has received three quotes for work to sort out the drainage of the pond on Sunnyside. Proposed to go with quote from Paul Garwood Building and Paving for total cost of £1850. This was approved (6 in favour).

Solar Farm. The Parish Council had received a charter to sign in regards to receiving the money. They were not impressed with the wording of the deed. They need to send a proposal back to the Solar Farm company with amendments that we want included to the charter. It is not able to sign the charter at this time. The current agreement places personal liability on councillors and they believe the risks should be more equitably distributed between all parties. The Parish Council are willing to continue negotiations to achieve a more balanced and mutually acceptable agreement. 

Defibrillator update. The Church have now confirmed that they will not house the defibrillator on the Church Rooms. Their reasoning is the same as it was when originally approached a few years ago. To go ahead the defibrillator is to be installed with the insulation on the Green outside the Old Butchers House, Doug Irons and the Clerk to arrange a date for this to be installed. This was approved (6 in favour).

Drainage on Hargham Road. Two quotes for the drainage were obtained, unable to get a third quote. It was approved to go with the quote for £1536 (6 in favour).

Trees and greenery obstructing road signs. Steve Gower to provide a list and evidence of the signs that are obstructed and this will be available at the next meeting.

Community Car co-ordinator. The current co-ordinator is moving out of the village and will no longer be able to take on the role. There is a need to elect a new co-ordinator and the position will need to be taken over by October 2025. The Council would like to thank Adrian Joel for his long-standing years of being the co-ordinator for this role. The main role has been maintaining the list of drivers and that they have the necessary paperwork when they sign up. The individual drivers take the calls from those that require a community car. At present only four drivers go out further afield and one driver only does local journeys. Will need to ask for a volunteer for this to be taken on, a question to be asked to the current drivers. Should they not wish to take on the role, it will put it out on social media, newsletter, etc, and will have a full job description for the co-ordinator.

Remembrance parade. A poppy wreath price list has been received from the Royal British Legion. The Parish council have purchased them in the past but Stan Burton has the ones from last year and he will get these cleaned up. Should any wreaths need replacing, approval in principal was agreed to purchase these (6 in favour), The Clerk has the form to request the road closure between Crown Road and Green Lane for the memorial service. Legally we are allowed to block the road for 15 minutes ourselves and this is what was done last year. Councillors themselves stood at the road junctions to block people from driving through the parade. Will do this option again this year and Pete Twissell will ask the Village Hall to lend use the barriers again. It was pointed out to Stan Burton by a couple of the parishioners that last year’s event was run completely by the vicar. It should not be solely run by the vicar and Stan Burton volunteered to liaise with the vicar to take on part of the service. Lesley Evison volunteered to read the names of the memorial.

Newsletter paper. More paper is required for printing the village newsletter for the next twelve months. Twenty-five five ream boxes are required of A4 90gsm paper. Three quotes were obtained and the cheapest one was from Amazon. Proposal to buy from Amazon was agreed (6 in favour).

Public participation. One resident thanked the Chairman for attending the court case regarding Jonn Hicks. He had also been trying to contact the solar farm directly for an update on the solar farm for the newsletter but they have not been forthcoming. Regarding people not knowing the information regarding the council he felt that it is available to read in the newsletter and social media. The public just have to really read it.

Next agenda. These subjects are expected to be included on the agenda for the next meeting on Thursday 2 October: OB Heritage Group, allotments, drainage on Hargham Road, trees and greenery obstructing road signs, Remembrance Parade arrangements, Green Working Committee update, Prince Harry’s Wood, Solar Farm progress, OB Air Show traffic management and 7.5t lorries on Hargham Road.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 2 October starting at 7.30pm in Old Buckenham Village Hall.