Old Buckenham discussions

 January Parish Council

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 5 January 2023 in Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Terry Cook, Ali McWilliam and Doug Irons. An apology for non-attendance had been received from Andy Nicholls. Also attending were Rachel Noyes (Clerk) and five members of the public.

Election of new Vice-Chair. Jonn Hicks has resigned from the Parish Council. Many thanks for his significant contribution to the Parish Council over the years. A new Vice-Chair required and a proposal for Ali McWilliam to take on the role was agreed (2 in favour, 2 abstain).

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 December 2022 were approved (4 in favour).

Financial matters. Community account balance now stands at £36,075.35. Payments for approval totalled £1841.72 and was approved (4 in favour). They included the cost of the Christmas Tree on the Green, the room hire for the Parish Council meetings and payments to the community car drivers.

Precept. Donna Oakley (Registered Finance Officer (RFO)) has prepared a draft Precept budget and breakdown of expenditure of this financial year to date. The King’s Coronation in May has not yet been discussed. The balance from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee budget is to be used for any possible celebration. As the Parish Council has not yet got an estimated cost for the annual maintenance work for Prince Harry’s Wood and St Andrew’s Close, it would be unfair to residents to estimate a cost. Therefore, the Parish Council felt that the transfer of Prince Harry’s Wood should not be completed until the Parish Council is able to budget for it in the next Precept application. There is some confusion about the playground budget and the Clerk is to clarify with the RFO.

Draft Precept is £790 lower than the previous year and a proposal to accept the Precept was approved (4 in favour).

Reports from councillors. The Chair said that the formal appraisal process has taken place for the Clerk. Due to confidential nature of items discussed, it took place in a closed meeting. All recommendations were approved by the Parish Council.

Doug Irons has enquired about joining .org website scheme through NALC. Will be contacting website designer shortly to begin designing new website. Also arranging another meeting to discuss the proposal that the Gamekeeper was given before Christmas. Due to the changing of the licensee, discussions had to begin again which caused some delays, as well as a busy Christmas/New Year period for the pub.

Terry Cook said that the Village Hall Committee send their thanks for their Precept Grant approval. The updates to the sound systems have been completed. After an incident in the Village Hall car park last term, the Committee are looking at getting an extension to the CCTV coverage to cover any blind spots. The Village Hall Committee will also be coordinating a meeting with all interested parties about the future management of the car park. The final £500 repayment of the loan from the Parish Council has been paid.

The Parish Clerk reported back on several subjects. As Jonn Hicks has resigned, some roles need re-assigning. Naomi Baily volunteered to manage the SAM sign and be the Parish Council representative on Green Working Party. Potential new burial sites will become a whole Parish Council matter. The Clerk to contact local landowners and an article to be written for the newsletter, in coordination with All Saints Church. Pot holes reported corner of Mill Road/The Green and opposite Oaklands. Repairs can take six weeks.  Broken grit bin on St Andrews Close reported and the Christmas Tree will be removed.

A Tree Survey of the Green will take place within the next couple of weeks. Clearance work on the allotments will be taking place soon. Was unable to arrange a date to meet up with contractor about Recreation Ground fence but will complete this month. Has contacted residents that live adjacent to the track between the phone box and shop regarding its maintenance. One resident has replied to acknowledge the letter and decline the invitation for a meeting and to express their view that residents have not caused the majority of the damage and so should not be contributing to the cost of repairs. Has not had a reply from other residents yet. Was contacted about the lights at Chapel Green School being too bright at night for wildlife. Contacted the Headteacher about the issue and she has agreed to look in to it.

New planning applications  Old Buckenham Country Park, Doe Lane. Installation of a 22.5m lattice tower, 3 no. antenna apertures, 4 no. 600mm microwave transmission dishes and 8 no. equipment cabinets inside an 8m x 8m compound enclosed by a 1.8m high close boarded timber fence with gate and development ancillary thereto (3PL/2022/1309/F). Councillors felt that there was a lack of detailed information within the application. There is a phone mast currently being installed on nearby land and so Councillors were confused why another would be required so close by. Due to the lack of information, Councillors felt that they were unable to vote on the application but would pass on their comments to Breckland Council.

Roughlands Farm, Grove Road. Prior approval for the Change of Use of Agricultural Buildings to 1 no dwelling house (Use Class C3), and for building operations reasonably necessary for the conversion The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) - Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q (3PN/2022/0047/UC). Previous applications for this development have been refused by the Parish Council as Councillors feel that Grove Road is dangerous and traffic levels should not be increased. There is a need to be consistent in the Parish Council decisions and views. Proposal to object was approved (4 in favour).

Amended applications (for information only). Poplar Farm, Fen Road. Variation of Conditions No. 2 and No. 3 on 3PL/2020/1009/F: Introduction of external staircase to access balcony, as well as changes to the external materials. Change to the description of development, to include the variation of condition 3 (external materials), in addition to the variation of condition 2 (approved plans), (3PL/2022/1036/VAR).

Wayside, Buckenham Road. Discharge Of Conditions 6 & 8 on 3PL/2020/0202/F (Discharge Conditions) (3DC/2022/0335/DOC).

Planning decisions by Breckland Council. The following applications have been considered and the applications have been approved: St Marys Chapel, Castle Hill Road. Conversion of the existing detached out-buildings to provide additional bedroom accommodation and new flat roof kitchen link between the out-building and Victorian chapel extension, with minor internal alterations to the Victorian chapel extension (3PL/2022/0997/LB).

St Marys Chapel, Castle Hill Road. Conversion of the existing detached out-buildings to provide additional bedroom accommodation and new flat roof kitchen link between the out-building and Victorian chapel extension, with minor internal alterations to the Victorian chapel extension. 3PL/2022/0996/HOU PROPOSAL

Castle House, Castle Hill Road. The conversion of the existing single-storey detached out-buildings to provide a two-bedroom dwelling (3PL/2022/0998/F)

Applications 3PL/2021/1690/F and 3PL/2021/1528/F on Cuffer Lane were discussed at a recent Breckland Planning Committee meeting. The decision was made to make a site visit in order to the Committee Members to gain a better understanding of the area. This will then be discussed again at a future Planning Committee.

Parish Partnership Scheme bid. At the previous Parish Council meeting, the issue of crossing the B1077 from Bridleway BR11 (the Stud) to the other side of the road on a blind bend was raised to Councillor Steve Askew. Crossings are generally made at the furthest point away from the blind bend, but there is a high bank on the other side which is difficult to step up to for many walkers. Following the meeting, Councillor Askew suggested making a Parish Partnership Scheme (PPS) bid for work to make it easier to cross at the furthest point from the bend, which would result in the PC paying 50% of the cost, and Norfolk County Council the other 50%. After consultation with a Highways Engineer, an estimate of £10,000 was made for the work. As the deadline for a PPS bid was on Friday 9 December, there was no opportunity to discuss the matter at a Parish Council meeting. Therefore, a bid was written and submitted in order to meet the deadline. This does not commit the Parish Council to the project and the Parish Council can withdraw from the process at any time. The Parish Council will be informed of the decision in March and will discuss the matter once a decision has been made and possible are plans drawn up with a clearer estimate of cost.

Community Car Scheme payments. Due to the rapidly rising cost of fuel last year, the Parish Council voted to give Community Car drivers the option of getting an extra 10p/mile until the end of December 2022. A proposal to not extend the optional extra 10p/mile was approved (4 in favour).

Donation to Ox and Plough  A proposal to make a contribution of £120 to the Ox and Plough towards the electricity for this year’s Christmas Tree was approved (4 in favour).

Prince Harry’s Wood updates. Queries were made by the Parish Council about whether all overhanging trees had been cut back by Breckland Council in December. Naomi Bailey to check current status of the trees and identify any trees that still require work. Two members of the public expressed the view that the transfer should not be completed until an independent forester assesses the woodland in order to gain a full understanding of the work and costs involved. Additionally, the mowing of the grass areas in St Andrews Close are very large and will cause a significant amount of additional costs to the Parish Council in regular cutting. Survey to be completed of work required within Prince Harry’s Wood and the Clerk to ask Breckland about possibility of not taking on the grass areas in St Andrews Close.

Handyman. List sent itemising the jobs to be completed by Village Handyman. A slightly longer list of areas to be cut/strimmed and increasing costs has resulted in an increased cost of £150/month for the 7 months of April to October. Work to be completed in last two weeks of each month. Insurance certificates of contractor to be sent to the Clerk. Proposal to approve work for the Handyman was approved (4 in favour).

Date for Annual Parish Meeting. This to take place at the Village Hall on Saturday 13 May at 11am.

Public participation. A resident highlighted that they felt the agreement with the Gamekeeper for the maintenance of the car park in front, should be split 50/50 with the Parish Council. Another resident enquired about recruiting new Councillors on to the Parish Council. Councillors expressed that they were always talking to people to try and encourage people on to the Parish Council but welcomed any new ideas. Councillors to write articles for the village newsletter with information about themselves and why they chose to be a Parish Councillor.

Next agenda. This will include possible burial sites and celebrating the King’s Coronation.

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