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ALBURGH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the parish council meeting held on Thursday, 7th April 2016 at 7.30pm in Alburgh Village Hall.
Parish Councillors present:
Mrs. Walton – Chairman
Mr. Denny – Vice Chairman
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn
Mrs. Beckett
Mrs. Davis
Mr Renaut
Mrs Goose
Also attending: 18 members of the public
Dr. M. Gray, District councillor
Margaret Stone, County Councillor
Apologies: Martin Beckett
Minutes of the last council meeting
The minutes of the March 2016 meeting were signed by Mrs. Walton, Chairman, as a correct record.
Public Participation
None
Margaret Stone, County Councillor
Mrs. Stone asked to give her report early in the meeting and reported as follows:
Devolution – In March, local leaders in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough agreed a deal with the government – to devolve significant powers to local level.
There is more money going towards pot hole repairs. There is a new web site at County Hall where you can highlight a particular pot hole which you wish to be repaired. This can be done individually.
Bus routes are being looked at.
From 1st April until 30th September, with the exception of Mile Cross in Norwich, all recycling centres across Norfolk will be operating under the new summer opening hours timetable – open from 9am until 5pm.
Planning inc. Mr. Thompson’s planning application
Discussions on the planning application of Mr. & Mrs. Thompson for a detached 4 bedroom house – Location: Land East of Hope Cottage, Station Road, Alburgh. This application was discussed. Many residents whose properties are near the proposal attended the meeting and voiced their concerns in that they feel that the application has not changed much from the original which was refused by SNC in 2014 and at appeal in 2015. The parish council unanimously decided to refuse the proposal and we will write to SNC.
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Planning Application: 2016/0760 – Mr & Mrs Wilford, Denbridge, The Street, Alburgh. Proposal for the erection of a pair of 2 semi-detached houses with attached garages. The parish council felt that the design blends in with neighbouring properties which we approve. There were concerns about possible contaminated land which we feel sure SNC will address.
Update on Matters arising from previous minutes
Water running down Dove Hill – To date we have had no response from Highways. Clerk to chase.
Correspondence
None
Film Night
The last showing was ‘Spectre’. Again this was well attended and an enjoyable evening.
EDP Tokens for the community
Our last application was unfortunately not successful. We have collected another 500 tokens and submitted another application.
Footpaths
Following on from correspondence about Rice’s Lane; the outcome is that because it is not on the definitive Map we have to apply for it to become a designated right of way. This may take a year or two. It was agreed to form a sub-committee to manage this lane. This is to consist of Peter Wrench, David Denny, Gill and Richard Gedge, Ruth Walton. Mrs. Walton will organise this. It was agreed to put the footpaths on the web-site.
Playing Field
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn did inspection. All was in good order.
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn replaced some of the ties on the goal posts. The zip wire has a piece of plastic covering over the chain which had split and she removed the small split piece.
Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Celebrations
There was a meeting held on Tuesday to arrange the celebrations. This will take place on the 11th June, 2016. Arrangements are being made for tea and cake, children’s fancy dress competition, face painting, music, barbecue, etc. Any help would be appreciated. For further details or information, please contact Keith Donno.
BT – Broadband connection in the village
We have had a reply from BT which basically said that each individual was to report their own problems. They could do nothing for the village as a whole.
Internal Audit
We have asked Lynda Ling, clerk to Earsham Parish council to carry out our internal audit again this year. She is happy to do this.
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Speed Watch
This was discussed with Mrs. Goose. It was clarified that she occasionally still does speed watch. Mrs. Walton and the rest of the parish council made it clear that they are no longer associated with the speed watch programme.
War Memorial
Ruth Walton attended a meeting on caring for War Memorials. She asked about cleaning the War Memorial and was told to use a soft brush and clean water. Mrs. Walton will take a look and report back at next meeting.
Picnic Benches in memory of Matthew Denny
Mr. Denny has obtained a quotation for a Picnic Bench to put on the playing field. He gave all parish councillors a copy of this with a photograph to look at. All parish councillors were in favour of this. Discussions on where to put this. It was agreed to have a look at the playing field in day light to decide.
Village Hall Notice Board
Mrs. Walton has rang Mr. Gibson who said he has made a start on making a new notice board for us.
To set date for Annual Parish Meeting
It was agreed to hold the APM on the same evening as the AGM. It was agreed to hold this on the 5th May, 2016 and to start at 7pm.
Accounts
Payments: J Ellis, Clerk salary £141.85 plus expenses £15.60
HMRC – PAYE £106.40
Moviola Film Night £108.40
Norfolk ALC Annual Subscription £115.44
Creative Arts East Membership £30.00
Mr. J. Whitton £253.03 – for renovating and painting play equipment.
Receipts: £206.00 Film Night plus £24.00 Ice Cream Sales
£110.78 from Jubilee Account
County and District Council News
Dr. Gray reported:
Devolution – This will mean a Mayor will have to be employed and supported by staff. Further government arrangements are yet to be sorted out
Waste Collection rounds may change. They will not be collecting on a Monday.
Review of Ward boundaries – number of councillors same as it is now. Further advice to follow.
Ward Budget available from 1st April – Dr. Gray suggested putting this money towards clearing the footpath which he is more than happy to do.
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Public Participation
Mrs. Wright asked about the profits from the Film Night. She was told that the parish council runs the film nights and the parish council pays the village hall for the hire of the hall. On the film nights the village hall opens the bar. Profits from the film night are used by the parish council for the benefit of the village and have helped to keep the precept down.
It has been noted that HGV vehicles are travelling through the village. We have been told previously to get the registration number, the company name and the time and report this to the police.
To receive items for next agenda
None
Mrs. Walton thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.20pm.
Mrs. Walton, Chairman Alburgh Parish Council, 5th May, 2016.