Latest Council thinking

Parish Council in November
These notes of the parish council meetings are prepared by the editor of the blog from the draft minutes and so may contain information that is amended later at the next month's meeting.

There were two members of the public present at the meeting on Thursday 4 November together with all the parish councillors except Stephen Thorley who had sent his apologies.
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting in October were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Matters arising from the minutes. Tim Ing will speak to the resident concerned about the dog bin at Raggs Lane to resolve the matter. Adrian Joel raised the matter of the allotments which had been officially opened in October. The entrance to allotments has been moved and hardcore may be needed where cars are parked to prevent them getting stuck in mud. Tim Ing gave details of an alternative material which could be more efficient. Parking at the allotments was an issue that would need to be resolved. There will be a meeting of the Liaison group later in November and Adrian Joel asked that allotments be a monthly agenda item.
Special Parish Council Meeting. The minutes of this meeting held on Saturday 9 October were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting. Matters arising from the minutes were discussed. Tim Ing said it was a good meeting but he was disappointed by the low attendance. The VAT issue had now been resolved and accepted by those attending. Adrian Joel raised the matter of the Green and the Parish Clerk said it was best to leave the matter until the outstanding legal appeal had been resolved in December. Adrian Joel also raised the matter of anti social behaviour and parking on the Green and he was informed that signs regarding parking were currently being made. Churchyard maintenance costs were raised by Adrian Joel and the Parish Clerk said they would have to make a grant application at the next precept meeting if they wanted assistance. The matter of the annual accounts was also raised and Parish Clerk said that the accounts were now posted on the village blog and a hard copy would be made available at the next Parish AGM. The question of a youth council was also raised by Adrian Joel and the Parish Clerk said he would seek clarification from NALC on the question of CRB checks. Tim Ing said that when Carol Marshall gave her report on the Recreation Area she said she felt that the project hadn’t progressed as well and quickly as hoped. Tim Ing said the Parish Council should now put more effort into the project and asked for other councillors’ views on the matter. Adrian Joel said the Parish Council should go for more grants and if necessary should charge organisations who want to use the area. On the matter of the cash reserves of the project, the Parish Clerk said that £5,000 would be transferred from Parish Council funds to the recreation reserve forthwith. Carol Marshall raised the question of the dangers of gym equipment in relation to insurance companies and also that she would arrange a meeting with the schools on the Recreation Area.
Minutes of the Precept Meeting. This meeting had been held on Wednesday13 October. The minutes of this were signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting. (see post on Saturday 6 November)
Community Car scheme. The Parish Clerk gave a broad outline of the new regulations regarding the operating of community car schemes. This followed from a meeting of Mike Craven-Romain and the Parish Clerk with Breckland Council. It was proposed that the new funding agreement with Breckland Council be signed and approved, this was agreed unanimously. Mike Craven-Romain said he had eleven drivers on the books and two had left as they had moved away from the village.
Planning decisions received from Breckland. Cherry Tree House, Stacksford. Residential extension, change of materials, permission granted
CCTV at Church Rooms. Adrian Joel said there was concern of vandalism around the vicinity of the church and play area. He suggested a CCTV camera could be put up at the church and the Church Rooms. Councillors were asked for their views on the matter. The majority felt that the cameras were not a good idea and Adrian Joel then withdrew his suggestion.
Approach road to Village Hall. The Parish Clerk said he had received an email concerning any possible costs of repairs to the approach road to the village hall. He had investigated the matter and found that an agreement was signed by the Parish Council as Custodian Trustees of the village hall but that any liability rested with the village hall for use of access and not the Parish Council. He understood from conversations with other people that the road had been repaired in the recent past and no bill had been presented to village hall for a contribution.
Recreation Area funds. It was agreed that the £5000 which had been granted to Recreation Area by the Parish Council would be transferred from Parish Council funds to the Recreation Area reserve fund. Breckland Councillor’s report. Adrian Joel said a ‘drop-in’ consultation on the Attleborough & Snetterton Heath Action Plan issues would be held in Old Buckenham on Saturday 20 November between 10am and 12.30pm Breckland Council would also be sending a questionnaire in the post to all NR17 residents during the consultation period.
Parish Councillors’ reports. Adrian Joel raised the matter of the water leak down Grove Road and junction of Crown Road, the Parish Clerk to contact Anglia Water again on the matter to chase them up. He then suggested that the idea of providing an amenity area opposite the shop and on the Green should be reconsidered. Tim Ing suggested that the original plans on the matter should be resurrected and the item put on the December agenda. Carol Marshall said that the recent garage sale had raised £281 and everyone concerned had a good time on the day. Gerald Norton raised the matter of the cleaning of the Old Buckenham war memorial. He said the memorial has just been cleaned but there are no funds available for future cleaning. He asked if the matter could be put on the December agenda when future funding of the memorial could be discussed. The Parish Clerk said an application for a grant could be made at next year’s precept meeting or an application made to the Former Surveyors Land Charity. Derek Smalley said the circulation folder was taking too long to get around as he had just received last month’s one that afternoon. He then raised the matter of a bin sited on the Green next to a bench that was being used as a dog bin and asked if a dog bin could be put there. It was pointed out there were two dog bins nearby and that perhaps the litter bin should just be moved away from the bench. The subject would be put on the December agenda. Tom Johnson said he had received winter tips from Norfolk Fire Service which would be passed on for inclusion in the next village newsletter.
Highways. The roadway at Puddledock Corner is bumpy where the anti skid surface meets the normal road surface. Adrian Joel raised the matter of cars speeding in Ragmere Road by the allotment entrances. He asked if Norfolk County Council could do anything about the matter and Mike Craven-Romain would speak to the County Council’s highway engineer on both matters.
The Green. Tim Ing said the appeal of the case between the Green Rights Proprietors and the Ox & Plough is due to be heard in December and a decision should be made on the day. Tom Johnson asked if the Parish Council could get details of all the Green Right Proprietors and Tim Ing agreed to speak to Mike Read on the matter.
The next meeting of Old Buckenham Parish Council will be on Thursday 2 December in the Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.