ALBURGH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting held on Thursday, 6th October 2011 at 7.30pm in Alburgh Village Hall.
Parish Councillors present:
Mr. Denny (Chairman)
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn
Mrs. K. Love
Mr. E. Renaut
Mrs. Goose
Mr. R. Morris
Also attending:
Dr. M. Gray, District Councillor
Mr. T. Tomkinson, County Councillor
Mr. & Mrs. Gedge
Mrs. J. Pearce
Mrs. P.Wright
5 Members of the Public
Apologies:
Mrs. R. Walton
Public participation
The article in the magazine states that the telephone box has been purchased by Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Wright pointed out that no money has been exchanged yet and stated that she had had a lot of grief and questioning over this from people in the village and she would rather her name not have been mentioned. Mr. Denny apologised for this.
Signing of the Minutes
The minutes of the September 2011 meeting were amended and signed by Mr. D Denny, the Chairman as a correct record.
Matters arising
Road Tech. According to a person in the village Road Tech are contravening their planning consent by travelling through the village. Clerk to inform South Norfolk.
Safer Neighbourhood Team Report
Mrs. Gedge informed us that no crimes have been reported this month.
Correspondence
NALC – How to respond to planning applications
Above all in circulation
NCC – Delivering local highway improvements – The County Council is looking for ways in which it can work closely with parish councils so that the limited funds available can be used to meet local needs. They provide information on the proposals and invites us to submit bids for any small improvements in the village. It was decided that we would not be making any bids.
Pylons in the Waveney Valley
Invitation to attend a meeting at Wortwell Community Centre on 21st October to discuss the possible proposal to create a corridor of Pylons from Lowestoft along the Waveney Valley.
Speed Watch
Mrs. Goose went to the meeting with NCC for further discussions and information on the use of SAM. Mrs. Goose said that she will give it a go and see how it goes. There are five people interested in using it. The equipment is being delivered to Mrs. Goose and when this arrives, the speed watch team are welcome to go and have a look.
Allotments
Mrs. Bingham has agreed to give up half her plot. We have let the other half to Mrs. Tabner. Agreement to be sent to her. Annual allotment rents are now becoming due. It was agreed to keep these the same as last year. Whilst sending out the invoices we will ask if the alburgh allotment holders would be prepared to pay for water.
Planning
Decisions received: None
Playing Field
Mrs. Walton did inspection.
In her absence she informed Mr. Denny that all was in good order.
The See- saw seat was broken. Mr. Denny will get this mended.
The Parish council notice board plastic needs replacing. Mr. Denny will organise this.
Report from Fund Raising Committee
Mrs. Love reported that they now have 3 new members. A Christmas Gift and pamper evening is being organised for November. She will speak to Mr. Renaut about when the Hall is free. A fun day is hopefully going to be organised for the children between Christmas and New Year.
Playing Field Equipment Donation Cheque received for £30.00; £23.00 from The Tuesday Group plus £7.00 from the sale of Mrs. Gladden-Fenn’s tomatoes. Mr. Denny gave thanks to Mrs. Gladden-Fenn.
Clerk to write to The Feoffees to ask if they would be able to give any donation.
New Playing Field Equipment
Mr. Denny has arranged a public meeting for the 25th October, 2011 at 6.00pm in the Village Hall. Mr. Denny has arranged a meeting with Mike Bentley prior to this to prepare for this meeting.
Tea and Biscuits will be available at the meeting. This was organised between councillors.
War Memorial
Work is being carried out on this. As Mrs. Walton is not here tonight there was nothing further to report.
Training Day
This has been arranged for the 22nd November 2011 in Alburgh village hall at 6.30pm. The cost is £150.00. As we are sharing this with Wortwell parish council we have a cheque from them for half this of £75.00. Mrs. Pearce said that Wortwell councillors will do refreshments for the evening.
Affordable Housing
E-mail received from Peter Ramsdale. We now have a site for consideration for affordable housing. Mr. Ramsdale has spoken to the land owner who has nodded in agreement to Saffron investigating further. Mr. Ramsdale has also been in correspondence with the Planning and Housing Policy Team at South Norfolk to check the number and mix of properties it would be appropriate to provide. Mr. Ramsdale will contact us again further as soon as he has any new information.
Saffron Housing Trust – Local Homes for Local People – Invitation to join Officers from Saffron Housing Trust on a short tour on Monday 10th October 2011. This would include visits to new affordable housing schemes completed this year, those under construction and other sites in advance of starting. The purpose of the tour being to allow us the opportunity to view the variety of architectural designs achieving high levels of sustainability and good living accommodation that is now expected for new affordable homes. 3 councillors said that they may be able to attend.
Village Hall Car Park
Mr. Renaut spoke about the village hall car park which is breaking up and needs resurfacing. The cost of this is £9225.00 plus VAT, The funders expect help from the parish council. NRCC have said it is difficult to get funding for car parks. There is a Big Lottery meeting on the 18th October 2011 which Mrs. Goose and Mr. Renaut will attend.
Gritting
E-mail received from Highways re: gritting of School Road/Church Road. Councillors were disappointed to find out that School Road is not going to be gritted as a priority 1 or 2 route and only as it has been in previous years as a priority 3 route. The Gritting lorry goes to the end of The Street where Broad Road/Mill Road and The Street join. It stops gritting there and starts again at Road Tech. It does not do School Road. Mr. Tomkinson will continue to have a go at getting this changed. The School will also contact the Highwways Department. Clerk to contact Graham Plant at Highways.
South Norfolk Local Development Framework – Notification of an additional site at Diss that was omitted from the Diss Map 19. All councillors are happy with what we said before and had nothing further to add.
Donations
It was agreed to donate £35.00 each to:
Macmillan Cancer
Each
Leonard Cheshire
Citizens Advice Bureau
Norfolk Accident Rescue
Accounts
Payments: J Ellis, clerk salary £186.80
Mazars – Audit Fee for 2011 £168.00
Norse Grounds Maintenance 6 monthly charge £180.23
NPTP – Training £75.00
Donations – As above
Receipts: SNC £200.00 – Recycling Adopter Group 2011
SNC Precept £3,000.00
Playing Field Equipment Donation £30.00
County and District Council News
Dr. Gray reported:
- SNC struggling with the financial situation. There will be no increase in their side of the council tax next year.
- The Wind turbines at Redenhall have been approved.
Mr. Tomkinson reported:
- No increase in council tax for next year.
- Government at conference stated will get some help from the government. 25% of the revenue support grant will come back.
- Government cut grant for bus travel. Norfolk and Suffolk have been cut. There is a petition on the website – ‘fair fares’ which we can enter.
- Police non emergency number has changed to 101. Cost is 15 pence per call, mobile or land line.
- Giving District council £45,000 for putting in to the youth service.
- Business start up system – helping them.
Any Other Business
Parish Web Site – Mr. Morris has looked in to this. Denton has a very good web site and Mr. Morris would like to use the same code for the Alburgh one. All councillors were happy for him to go ahead and do this. He has typed up information on this and also on Denton talk. Information was given to all councillors.
Public participation
None
Mr. Denny thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.00pm.