More Old Buckenham minutes

March minutes

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

Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 5 March at Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Doug Irons (Vice Chair), Stan Burton, Lesley Evison, Pete Twissell (PT) and Darren Butler. Apologies had been received from Steve Gowers and David Taylor. In attendance was Megan Elvin (Clerk)  and eight  members of the public. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5 February were approved (5 in favour 1 abstained).

Public participation, open forum. Member of public said that the path that runs from Norfolk House along to the shop gets very dangerous and muddy when it is wet. The Parish Council will investigate. Another member of public asked if a bigger bin can be provided outside the shop. The present  one gets overfull very quickly and then causes rubbish to be blown across the Green. Will look into providing a second/find out who is responsible for the one currently there.

Signage in the village. Give way sign from Harlingwood Lane onto Cake Street is covered by hedgerow. Letter to be sent to resident to cut the hedge back and to consult Highways. Also just past the rookery down Cake Street the signage of junction ahead is covered in hedgerow, same action required.

Financial matters. The Barclays Community Account currently holds £10,507.82 with a further £3,637.29 in the Lloyds Community Account. Payments for approval totalled £861.15. These included £156.15 to the community car drivers , room hire fees of £42.50 and a late submission fine to HMRC of £200. Payment also issued to TBF Traffic Ltd of £438, initially approved in December for work to be carried out at Puddledock Corner. The late filing fines have occurred due to waiting for salaries to be approved in the meeting before filing with HMRC. This then means that some dates the filing does not fall within the given dates. To avoid this in future, contracted hours will be filed and paid last working day of each month. Any additional hours/expenses will then be added to the following month’s payment. The present RFO Julia Aitken is to stand down one month early due to other work commitments which prevents her from carrying out the role sufficiently. She will be stepping down from the end of March this year. Megan Elvin is to take on the position of RFO on top of that of Clerk, additional hours to be discussed in April’s meeting. All approved (6 in favour)

Councillors’ and District Councillor’s reports. Steve Askew was  unable to attend but provided a short report. Naomi Bailey wondered if the old phone box could have a further use? Previously had been suggested to be used as a book swap but too close to the pond. Megan Elvin reported on correspondence she had received. One from UK Power Network about wanting to install broadband for a client but the telegraph pole is within the land registry NK455181 which the current property owner has claimed is not their address and is part of the Green. The Clerk to contact Sarah Dye and ask for advice. Also from a member of public wishing to use the Green for a family picnic in July. No application required for this but responded to ask that no cars to be parked on the Green. Three letters have been sent to transport companies whose drivers have been using Hargham Road in vehicles over the 7.5t weight limit.

New planning applications. The Cottage, Loss Wroo, Hargham Road. Single-storey rear extension to replace conservatory (PL/2026/0206/HOU). No issues. Proposal to support was approved (6 in favour).

Green Working Committee. Meeting held in February. Steve Barker is to cut back pathway from school towards the Ox and Plough. Looking into quotes and estimates to clear Rod Alley Pond. Only one bat box left on the Green and looking to get some new ones put up. Structure of Committee is two green rights holders, two Parish Councillors, two members of the public and the Lord of the Manor and cannot be changed. There was a litter pick and fallen branch pick up in March and Wednesday 22 April is another volunteer day. The first cut of the Green has been postponed until July due to the grass being too wet to cut. An area will be left wild. Will be querying increase on wayleaves. Risk assessments have been agreed and they need to be followed. Terms of Reference for Green Working Committee will need updating.

Ottomer Pond. The Flood authority has issued correspondence to the landowner to carry out the clearing. The questions needing to be answered are who within the Parish Council has been assigned the task of being pro active at arranging for this watercourse to be cleared out so that the flow of water from the pond is not restricted, what plan of action has been put in place, who you intend to contact and how do you intend to ensure an enforcement notice is issued to both land owners to clear any part of the watercourse next to their land and what plan do you have in place for the stretch of watercourse that runs between the high school and the stud which will also have Riparian rights. At the moment we cannot move further than what we already have. The Clerk to chase NCC again. At the pond area there is a lot of bull rushes which are catching on the drain. Councillors to be pro active and clear this when it occurs.

Parking Less cars are parking at The Gamekeeper and more cars parking down Abbey Road. Not a lot more the School can do as we cannot stop people parking. We do not have the authority. The High school newsletter which goes out weekly has the parking arrangements at the Gamekeeper.

Crown Road parking and repairs. The trees that run down Crown Road are self seeding. Used to be a small ditch there. There is ample parking in other areas by the book shop and pub that people can use to park. Idea to make the area very shallow and posts around it to stop the parking from getting bigger or repair the Green back to what it should be and install bollards to stop cars from parking there. Public in attendance at the meeting were also asked for their opinion and seven out of eight voted to completely fill in the parking areas. Proposal to repair back the Green was approved (5 in favour 1 abstained). Signs to be put up to advise other parking facilities around the village and Stan Burton to take measurements of the area and pass to the Clerk to get quotes for soil.

Repairs to the Green. Two quotes had been obtained to repair the Green. One was for £250 including VAT and other did not give a price. Proposal to go with first quote was approved (6 in favour). Parish Council will pay for the repairs and then invoice David Tranmer who has been made aware.

Volunteer Meet and Greet Day. This will be held on Saturday 25 April between 10am and 12.30pm.The Parish Council will provide the latest copy of minutes and agenda coming up. Also brief synopsis of each councillor and information on the Community Car Scheme.

Solar Farm update. Doug Irons is currently in talks with representative to arrange a face to face meeting regarding this. Ideas provided from member of public regarding what to do with the possible funds include electric car charging point in village hall car park, replacing main lighting in village hall to LED (saving energy) and grant towards renovation of windmill (changing old production of energy). The Clerk  to put out onto social media for more ideas. The funding is potentially coming this way. It is not a guarantee but ideas are welcome.

Community Car update. Application for funding has been submitted. David Taylor to take on Community Car Co-ordinator role and the Clerk to purchase six Highway codes for the drivers. Proposal to purchase these was approved (6 in favour).

Approval of policies. The following policies require approval: IT Policy (new policy), Safeguarding Policy (new policy), Publication Scheme (new policy), Reserves Policy (new policy), Health & Safety Policy (annual review), Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy (annual review), Anti-Bullying and Harassment Guide (annual review), Disciplinary Policy (annual review)and Complaints Procedure (annual review). Proposal to approve was agreed (6 in favour).

Internal Audit. Quote received from a recommended internal auditor. It was £200 to carry out a thorough review of governance and financials with recommendations if necessary. Extra charge of 45p per mile if required to travel. No other quotes received back but need to have this audit to cover the External Audit. Proposal to agree was approved (6 in favour).

Approval of Asset Register, Appendix B. Proposal to agree was approved (6 in favour).

Footpath along the Green/pothole refill outside shop. Three quotes had been provided, one for £3650 excluding VAT, another for £9840 including VAT and a third for approximately £8000. Proposal to go with first quote was approved (6 in favour). Will be in receipt of a refund from NCC from Parish Partnership scheme of £3127 and this will be used to go towards the repairs.

Embankment outside Hargham Road Cottages. Letter created to send to residents regarding the further requirements for drainage.

Parish Council meetings for next twelve months. These will be on Thursday 2 April, Wednesday 6 May, Thursday 4 June, Annual Parish Meeting Saturday 13 June, Thursday 2 July, Thursday 6 August, Thursday 3 September, Thursday 1 October, Thursday 5 November, Thursday 3 December, Thursday 7 January 2027, Thursday 4 February 2027 and Thursday 4 March 2027.

Items for next agenda. These are expected to include Use of Green Application, Ottomer Pond, Crown Road parking and repairs, repairs to the Green, Solar Farm update, Hargham Road Cottages and update on footpath along Green.

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