Old Buckenham blog: November 2024

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The following notes of the meeting have been written by the blog editor from the draft minutes and so contain information that may be amended at a later date.

Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 7 November at 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 arrived later in the meeting. Also attending were Rachel Noyes (Clerk), Donna Oakley (RFO)and five members of the public.

Election of Vice Chair. Ali McWilliam has stepped down from the Parish Council. On behalf of all the councillors, we would like to send many thanks for all of her help over the last few years. It was agreed to appoint Doug Irons as Vice Chair (5 in favour, 1 abstain). The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 3 October were approved (5 in favour, 1 abstain).

Declaration of interests. Stan Burton will be receiving payment for his band playing at the Ox and Plough pub.

Financial matters. Payments totalling £1,974.64 were approved (6 in favour). These included room hire, web design, paper for the village newsletter, poppy wreath, defibrillator pads and the community car drivers. As the new Vice Chair, Doug Irons to become internal auditor of finances in place of Ali McWilliam. He requested that any payments/claims are given to Donna Oakley in advance of a meeting otherwise they will not be processed until the following month.

Councillors’ reports. At the Saturday Surgery, four members of public attended with the primary topic of roads and road safety. Naomi Bailey has communicated with Highways Engineer and is now awaiting responses. She has also spoken to Highways about potentially placing posts or a bank along Abbey Road and Sunnyside Track. This will require further research. The ditch alongside footpath to the Village Hall has been cleared by Sapientia Trust. Will liaise with residents about clearing ditch around the back of houses on Sunnyside Track.

There needs to be a big push on getting a replacement for the editor of the village newsletter editor. The current editor will put an advertisement together and the Parish Council will also help to publicise. A Youth Club will potentially be starting in Easter. It will be located in the Methodist Church but run by independent volunteers. Research has also been done about other local Youth Clubs. Have received more feedback from villagers and there seems to be more initial interest from primary school than secondary school children.

There was a recent news article about the village Christmas Tree. Acting on the information given to the Parish Council by the previous clerk, the Parish Council had committed to plans to ensure there would be a Christmas Tree in the village, albeit in a new location. It has come to light that the information given to us from the previous clerk was incorrect. Additionally, it is worth noting that the Christmas Tree has been outside Ox and Plough for seven years and so it is nice to allow other local businesses to benefit from it. As this story was picked up from social media, it highlights the need to raise any concerns or issues with the Parish Council directly rather than on social media.

Doug Irons asked to receive financial information a little earlier as councillors only received data just before the meeting. Rachel Noyes to update Donna Oakley with all contact details so that they can be sent directly, rather than via the clerk, to save time.

The Green needs repairing from Two Wheel Tuesday erosion, as per agreement with David Tranmer, as it is now the end of the season. Peter Twissell volunteered to assist and asked if the Green Working Committee can ensure that the correct type of grass seed and type of soil is identified for David Tranmer. During a recent meeting with David Tranmer, his Christmas Fayre will take place within the Ox and Plough property and not on the Green. As part of this, there will be a Christmas Tree being lit but again located on the property of the pub. The Financial Risk Assessment needs completing. The Clerk has been unable to complete this during the previous month but will be a priority for next meeting. Also the Freedom of Information (FoI) request is still in progress. The Parish Council is collating all relevant information, ready to feed back.

Peter Twissell reported he has had two new keys cut for Village Hall post box, one for the RFO and one for the Clerk. The saplings have arrived for the planting the back hedge of Recreation Ground. He has been in contact with Chapel Green School and first planting session to take place on Tuesday 12 November.

Stan Burton has been dealing with Ottomer Pond. He had hired a digger to get to pipe at a cost of £100 (agreed at previous meeting). Also dug two ditches to look for outlet but couldn’t locate it. Contacted Company A to investigate cost for blasting it clear. They cannot do it all in one go and would charge nearly £1000 for a day. Company B could blast the whole thing at a cost of £110/hour (including VAT) and is predicted to take five to six hours. They will also be able to locate exact locations of blockages within pipe using sensors. Steve Gowers thanked Stan Burton for all his work on the issue and suggested that it might be worth adding inspection chambers for the future. Lesley Evison felt that this will give a clearer picture of the problem (blocked/broken, etc) and location. Stan Burton suspects it is not damaged but simply blocked and suggested building a weir box in the future. Steve Gowers proposed that Company B is asked to blast the pipe and locate any blockages in the overflow pipe from Ottomer Pond. This was approved (6 In favour). Stan Burton has also mowed and tidied the area around the War Memorial in advance of Remembrance Sunday service.

Steve Gowers said the new magnets are now on playground gate. He has been collecting quotes for repair of the surface near roundabout and will complete soon. During a recent Speedwatch event on Cake Street, 14 people were recorded in one hour travelling at speeds ranging from 35-45mph. These speeds are done when they know the Speedwatch are there so there is concern about speeds travelled when no one is there recording. One car was recorded travelling on Hargham Road at 53mph. Sent correspondence to County Councillor Steve Askew about the issue. Steve Gowers is concerned that there will be a fatality in the village one day and wants to do everything possible to prevent this from happening. He wanted it noted that the Police do not tell them when they’re doing a speed check, they choose the location based on data sent to them by Speedwatch and they’ve been on Cake Street twice in the last month. Lesley Evison asked about a resident’s query at getting the 30mph limit extended (to replace the 40mph) due to popularity of Country Park but after Naomi Bailey raised the issue with Highways, they explained that this would not be possible. Naomi Bailey has also had concern from resident about speed on Hargham Road outside of the main village.

(David Taylor arrived)

Rachel Noyes gave news of arrangements on Remembrance Day. Poppy wreath has been delivered ready for Sunday. Road closure of B1077 was rejected by Highways due to difficulty in closing a B Road and creating a diversion. However, an alternative solution of a TO15 was offered as this would allow us to simply block the road for 15 minutes and not require a set diversion in place. Crown Road would be closed also to prevent drivers travelling straight back down next to the Memorial. The Village Hall has offered to lend us some traffic cones to assist with blocking the road. Councillors volunteered to be in place to put road closure in place and direct drivers. Stan Burton has offered to read the list of names on the Memorial and will be providing a PA system. He is a member of Attleborough British Legion. He discovered that last year, our wreaths were collected without our knowledge after the event and sold this year at a discount price (still for the British Legion). Will be speaking to the group to ensure this is not done again.

Two new sets of defibrillator pads purchased and installed in the defibrillators located at the Ox and Plough and on Fen Street. A Green Working Committee meeting booked for Wednesday 13 November. New Parish Council bank account has been started. Now awaiting mandate and information to be sent in the post. Had expected it to arrive by now so will chase up.

David Taylor had contacted the Tree and Countryside Officer about whether sandbags can be left in place at Ottomer pond and covered with soil. They explained that this would leave the plastic from the bags in place and so is not advised. Would need to remove the bags, but could leave the sand before building up bank. Last meeting, it was agreed that trees on the Green that are over hanging a residents property could be cut back. Wanted to highlight that if any TPOs are in place on those trees, then permission would need to be sought and approved by Breckland Council. Tree surgeons would be able to assist with this.

Planning applications. There had been no new planning applications, no amended applications and no planning decisions by Breckland Council since the last Parish Council meeting.

To consider the document “Terms of Reference OBPC Template rev A”. A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour).

To consider the document “Terms of Reference Green Lease Committee Rev A v1.0”. This was previously approved and mistakenly added to agenda. Will require another Terms of Reference for Green Working Committee.

To consider the document “OBPC Grant application 2025-2026 Rev A_Optimized”. A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour). Rachel Noyes is to publicise and send out as soon as possible as deadline is Friday 29 November.

To consider the document “OBPC Quotation approval Rev A.pdf”. A proposal to approve was agreed (7 in favour).

Parish Council’s Saturday Surgery. Initially set up for a year’s trial. While there were lots of attendees initially, numbers have dwindled in recent months, with the same people in attendance every month. The approximate cost of renting the room for two hours a month is £240 a year. Councillors highlighted that there are many ways to contact the Parish Council and the councillors: email, phone, the website, the monthly meeting and in person. A proposal by Naomi Bailey to reduce to meeting to every other month and then review after six months was approved (7 in favour).

Defibrillator Training. After recent loss in the village Steve Gowers researched defibrillator training and discovered a charity that offers an hour’s CPR and defibrillator training for free (with donations greatly appreciated). Cost to Parish Council would be rental of the Village Hall for an hour or two. Councillors felt it would be very popular with villagers. Proposal to offer CPR and defibrillator training for the village was approved (7 in favour).

Signage on the Green. As the Parish Council is responsible for leasing out the Green to interested parties, there is a duty to display signs explaining that “Commercial use of the Village Green is not allowed without prior permission”. These have been purchased and will be displayed at prominent locations around the Green.

Prince Harry’s Wood. The Registry Office is processing the Parish Council purchase of Prince Harry’s Wood. They have spotted a small error as there is a sliver of land that was originally included in the agreement that actually belongs to someone else. Will require Parish Council to agree and re-sign relevant documents. Proposal to approve these amendments was approved (7 in favour).

Public participation. Flashing 30mph signs aren’t working. Naomi Bailey confirmed she had already informed Highways about it and will chase up.

Items for next agenda. These will include Green Working Party, Cemetery and DBS checks for Councillors.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 5 December at the Methodist Church starting at 7.30pm.