Parish Council news
The Old Buckenham Parish Council issued this statement late yesterday and it will be included in the September village newsletter for all those without computers or those who 'do not do Facebook'.
You can now also read it here.
Reason for the formalisation of Business use on the green.
Old Buckenham Parish Council (OBPC) Insurance company has stipulated that OBPC must ensure that any business using the Green would need Event insurance that covers Personal and public liability and to provide a risk assessments based on the activities taking place.
Previously OBPC councillors would have been liable for any problems/accidents with any incident on the Green caused by a business operating from it. The OBPC insurance policy would not cover any business operating on it, any additional cost would need to be covered from the Precept or the Business operating from the Green.
The OBPC and the Green rights holders are responsible for following the terms within the 20 year lease (up until 29 March 2042). These are rules/regulations and statutes within the Enclosure Act 1857, Commons Act 2006 and guidance of ‘Common land and town or village Greens’ from the department for the environment, food & rural affairs.
Village businesses do not own any of the Green and will need permission and prior agreement from the OBPC and Green rights holders to use the Green.
There is now the correct insurance for the OBPC councillors and Businesses that use the Green, there are Risk assessments carried out for any use of the Green as part of the signed agreement.
This change now gives
1) Insurance / Protection for the Businesses and Staff operating on the Green.
2) The OBPC councillors are not personally liable for any incident/accident on the Green.
3) The Public is kept safe, as reasonably practicable by ensuring that any event is controlled, risk assessed and reviewed annually, to make sure it aligns with current legislation.
Two wheel Tuesday
There has been an agreement between Two Wheel Tuesday (TWT) and the Old Buckenham Parish Council (OBPC) for 8 years plus regarding monies due. This is not a new thing. Except now the use of the Green conforms to current legislation.
No OBPC member is against using the Green for legitimate local business, but OBPC/Green right holders are here to protect the Green for today and the future, but the main responsibility is the safety of the public today.
There is a signed agreement between both parties. With terms and conditions.
Each TWT event is charged £25, for up to 30 events between April and October, this money is ring fenced in the OBPC accounts, it is spent only on the upkeep of the Green.
If the event does not take place No Charge will be made. So far this year OBPC are going to charge TWT for 5 events due to poor weather restricting access to the Green for that event.
The amount charged has not increased for the last 3 years, despite the cost-of-living crisis, even though OBPC have to accept increased maintenance costs themselves during these hard times.
The insurance provided by TWT was for 1000 people to attend but when this attendance limit was exceeded, TWT immediately changed their insurance to 1500 people. This process is working, it ensured everyone including you, and your families are protected and covered.
OBPC have remained flexible and accommodating. Even when the terms we not fully adhered to:
1) Applications not submitted on time.
2) Late on agreed payment terms.
3) Not repairing the damage to the Green.
4) Using areas of the Green for Catering that are outside of the agreed boundaries of use.
The Benches on the Green provided by Mr Tranmer
There is a signed agreement between both parties. With terms and conditions.
The benches are located on the Green, in an agreed defined area, which a risk assessment has been carried out and adequate insurance is provided by Mr Tranmer.
Mr Tranmer is charged £1.17 per day between April and October, this money is ring fenced in the OBPC accounts, it is spent only on the upkeep of the Green.
The amount charged has not increased for the last 3 years, despite the cost-of-living crisis, even though OBPC have to accept increased maintenance costs themselves during these hard times.
The Green needs time to recover over winter and spring to maintain the Green to the required Standards.
There are benches that remain outside the Public house during the winter period, so seating is available, In a period where the actual demand for benches is reduced during the winter months.
OBPC have remained flexible and accommodating. Even when the terms were not fully adhered to:
1) Applications not submitted on time.
2) Applications not submitted for 2024
3) Late on agreed payment terms.
Old Buckenham Parish Council (OBPC)
We are a strong team from a great range of backgrounds and ages, all with a keen interest in helping maintain Old Buckenham Village.
A Parish Council is the ‘grass roots’ level of local government, and as such, plays a vital role as a connection between the local community and government authorities. It is non-political and non-sectarian.
The Councillors’ are a team of individual volunteers, from wide and varied backgrounds/age groups who live or work, in and around the Old Buckenham area. We give our time freely to maintain and improve the environment, services, and facilities for the residents of the local community.
All members of the Council are personally involved in these activities, giving their time and effort far beyond the monthly meetings.
OBPC holds monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month at the Village hall Abbey Road, Old Buckenham, NR17 1RH. Residents are welcome to attend any meetings.
OBPC are only responsible for
• Street furniture.
• Allotments.
• Public buildings.
• Open spaces.
• Community transport.
• Statutory Consultee (planning).
• Cemetries.
There are also various sub committees, which perform specific functions throughout the Parish and meet every few months. Currently we have:
• Speed Watch.
• Allotments.
• The Green working Party for Maintenance and Preservation of the green.
• Application for to use the Green.
• Playground.
• Recreation Ground.
• Prince Harrys wood.
If you are interested in learning more about the parish council or would like to get involved with some of its activities, please contact the clerk via email on oldbuckenhampc@live.co.uk
Everyone is welcome. The more councillors we have the more we can achieve.
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