MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 11 JANUARY 2010 at 7.30pm
PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mr C. Tomlinson (Chairman)
Mrs B. Rix (Vice-Chairman)
Mr G. Breeze Mr G. Forster Mrs P. Goodman (later)
Mr E. Nichols Mrs C. Pearce Mrs Y. Powell
Mr C. Shaw Mrs M. Wickham
District Councillor Rix (also Parish Councillor)
County Councillor D. Harrison (later)
PCSO T. Frost
PC J. Lowe
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
One member of the public
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Miss S. Partridge.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Breeze: Items 9.1(application for footpath); 10.1 (Scout related issues).
Councillor Goodman: item 7.2 (grant to Buxton PCC).
3. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 30 November 2009 had been previously circulated; proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Wickham, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING
None, not on the agenda.
5. POLICE MATTERS
5.1 Crime Report
PCSO Frost had made her report available which was tabled. There had been 2 recorded crimes in the parish in the previous month. There had been a 16.3% drop in crimes in the SNAP area compared to the same period in 2008, achieved through targeted work, police operations and working closely with partners and the community.
A current initiative was tackling inappropriate parking outside schools in the area; Buxton Primary School would be monitored in the week commencing 8 February 2010.
Packs of SelectaDNA (property marking fluid) had been distributed to both Buxton and Lamas Village Halls. This would help to identify property stolen from those two locations.
Dates for forthcoming SNAP meetings were given in the report. Councillor Rix agreed to be the Police Liaison Officer for the parish. She would attend meetings and be the named point of contact and link between the parish and the Police.
The Clerk would circulate the Neighbourhood News Releases to all Councillors.
PCSO Frost and PC Lowe were thanked for attending and they left the meeting.
County Councillor Harrison entered the meeting at this point.
The Clerk would write to Highways and Broadland District Council to thank the personnel concerned for keeping some of the paths clear during the recent snow and for ensuring that the refuse was collected.
6. PLANNING MATTERS
Councillor Goodman entered the meeting during this item
6.1 Applications
20091588:Rose Cottage, Coltishall Road: Side extension to garage
DECISION: Supported
20091611:Buxton Lodge, Mill Street: Conversion of agricultural buildings to 4 dwellings (Listed Building)
DECISION: Supported
20091625: The Gables, The Street, Lamas: Change of Use of Annex to Holiday Accommodation
DECISION: Supported
20091430: Lammas Manor: Replacement windows (Listed Building)
DECISION: Supported
6.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
No further cases to report.
6.3 Renewable Energy Potential, former RAF site
Information had been circulated with the Correspondence list, and a date for a meeting in February was awaited.
7. FINANCE
7.1 Payments
Proposed by Councillor Goodman, seconded by Councillor Powell, payment for the following was APPROVED:
BALAY Park Keeper’s wages 64.00
Barnwell Print Ltd: December Round 235.00
Information Commissioner: Annual registration renewal 35.00
Broadland District Council: Half-year’s rates, BALAY Park 325.00
British Gas: Power, BALAY Park 24.00
B & Q: Replacement padlocks, BALAY Park } 24.98
Clarke’s Ironmongers: Park Keeper’s equipment } refund to R.A. Rose 19.95
The Range: BALAY Park cleaning materials } 15.24
Ordnance Survey: Annual licence renewal 62.96
Clerk’s January salary 453.16
Norfolk Pension Fund: December and January returns 229.72
R.A. Rose: Expenses & postage 19.74}
Stationery 5.38}
Telephone charges 7.37} 109.27
Park Keeper’s wages 16.00}
New printer & ink cartridge 60.78}
7.2 Budget and Precept 2010/11
The meeting considered the draft budget prepared by the Clerk.
Allowance was made for an increase in Buxton churchyard maintenance to £2,600;
sums were included for a bus shelter in Crown Road and to upgrade the surfacing in the playground. Improvements to the BALAY Park would come from earmarked reserves.
The meeting AGREED the draft budget and set the Precept level for the financial year 2010/11 at £30,000.
8. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS OF MEETING(S) ATTENDED
8.1 Correspondence List
A list of the correspondence received had been circulated, and was updated at the meeting; all items were available from the Clerk. A list is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.
Councillor Rix agreed to attend the Norfolk Police Authority Open Meeting on 21 January 2010.
With the meeting’s agreement, the Chairman brought forward part of item 12 on the agenda.
12. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
County Councillor Harrison speculated on the decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government regarding possible unitary status in Norfolk.
He reported that a recent 20% increase in intake at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital meant that it was now full and on permanent black alert. The closure of Aylsham Hospital has been postponed for 3-5 years, and would only occur when all the specialist facilities were in place. The stroke unit at Norwich Community Hospital had recently opened on time.
The County Council was engaged in looking at economies that could be made in its budget. Regarding road gritting in the recent bad weather, he confirmed that the County Council had followed government guidelines in the amount of grit to be stockpiled.
County Councillor Harrison was thanked for his report and he left the meeting.
9. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAY MATTERS
9.1 Application for public footpath, Manor Close to Brook Street
Councillor Breeze reported that his application to modify the Definitive Map by the addition of the footpath from Manor Close to Brook Street had been successful. The County Council had decided to make an Order; if no objections were received the Order would be confirmed. The route would be recorded so as to retain the safety barrier.
9.2 Service Delegation Agreement – Grass Cutting
The meeting AGREED to continue the agreement with Norfolk County Council to
31 December 2011. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman would sign the Agreement on behalf of the Council.
9.3 Possible white lining in Sewell Road
As Councillor Partridge was not present, the matter would be placed on the agenda for the next Council meeting.
9.4 Maintenance Matters
The Clerk would report serious potholes and surface break up in Mill Street and on Aylsham Road.
10. BALAY PARK
10.1 Update
The Clerk reported on the following matters:
The outside security lights on the pavilion had been fitted that day.
A break-in had occurred on the first weekend in December. The padlocks on the storage containers had been bolt-cropped and the glass in the kitchen window smashed, but no property had been taken.
The Park Keeper had commenced the cleaning and litter picking duties.
The project to decorate the BMX equipment was being supported by Broadland District Council, who had pledged £500 for the project. It was hoped that this would take place at Easter.
The solicitor had most of the details required to draft the lease to the Scout Association Trust Corporation.
Councillor Breeze reported that funding was in place for the Scouts Hall.
A meeting date for the BALAY Committee was agreed for Monday 25 January 2010.
The Council delegated authority to the committee to appoint a contractor to construct the path from the car park to the Scouts area.
10.2 Other BALAY Park Matters
Councillor Goodman asked whether the field could be used for a Churches Mission week event in June. The theme of the week was “Building Community” and the field would be used for an inter-village organisations sports event.
The meeting agreed in principle to this use.
11. UNITARY GOVERNMENT IN NORFOLK
The Boundary Committee had presented its advice to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which was for a single unitary council for the whole of Norfolk. A period of consultation was in progress until 19 January 2010 for any representation direct to the Secretary of State.
Councillor Rix expressed her viewpoint, based on meetings held in other areas of Norfolk. She reported that some initiatives (for example waste disposal) were beginning to work across district boundaries towards a unitary approach.
Following discussion, the meeting AGREED to express its preference for the status quo.
12. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Councillor Rix reported on her attendance at:
A Broadland District Council meeting on unitary status.
A SNAP meeting at Hevingham, at which a main topic had been driver speed.
A committee meeting on Environmental Excellence, at which she had pressed for more investigation into water supplies in view of the proposed intensive building programme in the district.
A full District Council meeting; discussions were ongoing into consistency in determining applications.
13. AOB
The Clerk would place on the agenda for the next meeting an item regarding a seat for the Bure Valley Railway Buxton halt.
The Clerk would write to McColls Head Office (copied to the local manager) expressing the Council’s appreciation of the raised standards in the local shop - in particular, the improvement in stock levels of items relevant to the needs of the village.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.05pm
© Buxton with Lamas Parish Council