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ALBURGH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the parish council meeting held on Thursday, 3rd November 2016 at 7.30pm in Alburgh Village Hall.
Parish Councillors present:
Mr. Denny – Chairman
Mrs Walton – Vice Chairman
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn
Mrs. Beckett
Mr Renaut
Mrs Davis
Mrs Goose
Also attending: Dr. M. Gray, District councillor
4 members of the public
Apologies: None
To approve the Minutes of the last council meeting
The minutes of the October 2016 meeting were signed by Mr. Denny, Chairman, as a correct record.
Public Participation
The weight restriction on Station Road is 7.5 Tonne. It has been noted that large overweight vehicles are using Station Road. There is a sign at the bottom of Dove Hill which is confusing drivers who think this applies to Low Road. Clerk to notify Highways.
A parishioner also asked if the 40mph speed could be changed and extended to 30mph all through the village and to include Mill Road. A person has moved in to a property in Mill Road who uses a mobility scooter, however he is using the middle of road. There are many more families in the village now with young children and concerns over horses. Clerk to write to Highways about this and to ask Margaret Stone to support this.
A parishioner spoke about the speed limit signs which have been damaged – he suggested that a sleeve around the metal signs could be used to protect the sign; thereby protecting the signs. He said that he will write to Highways.
Millennium Garden – Jill Gedge looks after 2 beds here; there is another little bed in the middle and Jill said she would be happy to take this on. Mr. Denny will ask Claudette (the lady who looks after this at present) if she would be happy with this.
Update on Matters arising from previous minutes
Defibrillator
Mr. Denny and the clerk have completed the grant application and this should go through in due course. We have had a quotation from The Community Heartbeat Trust which totals £1,995.00 and £504.00 for Annual Membership.
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Correspondence
Reminder from Jane Pearce that Wortwell parish council are hosting the joint meeting on Monday, the 14th November at 7.30pm. The speaker will be Steve Hammond from the East Anglian Ambulance Trust.
Grass Cutting and Strimming
John Whitton has notified us that he will not be able to do our grass cutting and strimming any more. It was agreed to put an advert in the parish magazine. Mr. Denny will speak to Mr. Whitton first.
To Elect Feoffees Trustee
Mr. Denny has received a letter from Mrs. Dernie, Clerk to the Alburgh Town Lands Estate. She says that at their last meeting, the feoffees agreed that Steven Davidson (an existing trustee) should be put forward as prospective new feoffee. She asks us to consider this proposed appointment and if approved, appoint a new trustee of the Town Lands Estate to oversee the feoffees work in the future. It was agreed that we propose this new appointment. We will advertise for a new Feoffees Trustee in the parish magazine.
Film Night
The last film showing was ‘Our Kind of Traitor’ and was again a success.
Allotments
We have received a couple of replies in response to our letter to ask allotment holders to tidy their allotments. Both were apologetic and gave good reason. One lady stated that the access to the allotment is very poor and it is difficult with no water supply. Mr. Denny will reply to this lady.
Playing Field
Mrs. Gladden-Fenn did inspection. All was in good order. The benches have all been stained and ready for winter.
Broadband
Richard Gedge has very kindly completed the survey and provided us with a summary of this.
We have also received an email from Rachel Line – Co-ordinator for Better Broadband for Norfolk. This email informs us that a new communications cabinet (reference Homersfield 7) is to be installed at the rear of the verge at the junction of School Road and Low Road (opposite Cherry House), to serve residents and businesses in the immediate surrounding area. The new cabinet is expected to be offering services within a year.
We have received an email from Jane Setford who is experiencing very bad service again. It was agreed that we would write to BT and Ofcom. Clerk to contact Richard Gedge about this.
Lap-Top
The clerk has been to 121 Computers in Diss and got a quote for a new lap top which was £389.00 inc VAT. 121 will transfer all the information over as part of the service. Microsoft Office is £59.99 per year at present. A printer with a scanner (which the clerk has not got at the moment) is £69.99. It was agreed that the above should be purchased.
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Planning
Decisions received: None
Appeal Ref: APP/L2630/W/16/3152650 – Mr Mark Thompson.
We have received a letter from The Planning Inspectorate informing us that the above appeal is dismissed. The main issue in the appeal is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area. The letter then goes on to list the reasons of which there are ‘18’.
We have also received replies from The Planning Inspectorate and SNC in response to our letters sent following on from last month’s meeting.
The Planning Inspector apologises that we did not receive notification of the site visit but this was emailed to David Denny on 8 September 2016. They state that sometimes correspondence can automatically be filed in ‘junk’ folders. They sent us a copy of the letter which was emailed.
SNC state in their letter that they do not notify parish councils about appeal site visits. The conduct of appeals is principally a matter for the Planning Inspectorate and no debate about the merits of a case is allowed during a site visit. Inspectors are increasingly undertaking site visits without any notification and entirely unaccompanied.
Reports by District Councillor and County Councillor
Dr. M. Gray reported:
- Greater Norwich Local Plan – sites put forward by land owners will be released tomorrow. No sites put forward in Alburgh.
- At present we receive a grant towards the precept – this will be phased out.
- SNC concerns about contamination going in to recycling bins.
Budget and Precept Figure
All councillors have previously been emailed a budget document to look at. This was discussed at the meeting tonight. It was agreed to keep the precept the same as last year.
Accounts
Payments: J Ellis, Clerk salary £143.60 plus expenses £15.60
Moviola Ltd £125.20
Chris Thomas – hedging and mowing corner £132.00
Donations to be made: £40.00 each to the following;
EACH, Leonard Cheshire Home, Norfolk Accident Rescue, CAB, Break, East Anglian Air Ambulance. All were in agreement with this.
Donation to APCC for £800.00 as in previous years to be paid from the Parish Land Account.
Receipts: Film Night £274.25
SNC – Recycling Adopter Payment £200.00
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Public Participation
Mrs. Wright said that the PCC had promised to have the grass cut on the churchyard by the 31st October and this has not been done. A part that has been cut was not cut properly and she cannot get to her parent’s grave. It was suggested that she write to the PCC.
Buses on Tunbeck Road – Mrs. Goose informed us that drivers have said that they are allowed to go here with no passengers on board. It was agreed to monitor this.
To receive items for next agenda
Mr Dean Gibson has nearly finished notice board. To go on next agenda.
Mr. Denny thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 08.54pm.
Mr. Denny, Chairman Alburgh Parish Council, 5th January, 2017.