MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 24 MAY 2010 at 7.30pm
PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mr C. Tomlinson (Chairman)
Mrs B. Rix (Vice-Chairman)
Mr G. Breeze Mr G. Forster Mr E. Nichols
Miss S. Partridge Mrs C. Pearce
District Councillor Rix (also Parish Councillor)
County Councillor D. Harrison
PCSO T. Frost
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
One member of the public
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Revd P. Goodman, Mrs Y. Powell, Mr C. Shaw and Mrs M. Wickham
Mr Tomlinson then announced his intention to resign from the Council, due to his family and business life now being out of the village. He thanked the Councillors and Clerk for their support during both his terms as Chairman.
The Council paid tribute to his Chairmanship and thanked him for his strong and focussed leadership. The Council wished him well with his future plans. He conducted the election of the Chairman and took a seat in the public gallery.
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2010/11
2.1 Proposed by Councillor Forster, seconded by Councillor Nichols, Councillor Rix was elected unopposed to serve as Chairman for the ensuing year. She signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
(Councillor Rix in the Chair)
2.2 Proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Breeze, Reverend Goodman was elected unopposed to serve as Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Breeze: Item 10.2, a personal interest in BALAY matters as they related to Scouts.
4. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS held on 19 and 26 April 2010 had been previously circulated; proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Forster, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
5. MATTERS ARISING
None, not on the agenda.
6. POLICE MATTERS
6.1 Crime Statistics
PCSO Frost had made her report available earlier and it had been circulated. There had been 18 recorded crimes (mostly for theft or burglary) over the past year. Crime figures across the county were down by 9% from the previous years. She congratulated Buxton on the measures it had taken for its own crime prevention, such as CCTV at the Village Hall and the active Speedwatch group.
PCSO Frost also informed the Council that she would support any new Home Watch groups in the village, and that there would be a Police presence at the village fete at the end of June.
6.2 & 6.3 Safer Neighbourhood Team
There were no matters to report to the Safer Neighbourhood Team or next SNAP meeting.
6.4 Inconsiderate parking in Crown Road
PCSO Frost agreed that cars being parked near the shops in Crown Road was inconsiderate but it was not illegal as there were no enforceable restrictions in place. Installing double yellow lines along Crown Road would severely affect local residences and businesses. The Clerk was asked to put a general article in The Round asking for consideration when parking.
7. PLANNING MATTERS
7.1 Applications
20100598: Lion Farm, Lion Road, Buxton: Garage extension to bungalow under construction
DECISION: The Council could find no material planning grounds in which to object
20100650: Hall Farm, Lammas: conversion & extension of barn to unit of holiday accommodation
DECISION: Objected. The site was outside a settlement limit; access would be onto a private road which emerges onto the highway where there were safe visibility concerns.
20100713: 14 Coltishall Road, Buxton: Conservatory
DECISION: Supported
7.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
The Clerk reported that Home Farm House had been granted permission for business activities with conditions.
Councillor Forster reported that the enforcement case concerning a static caravan at Heath Farm, Coltishall Road had been resolved.
7.3 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework: Notification of amended site
An amendment had been submitted to the site at Mayton Wood to limit extraction and buffer area.
7.4 Broadland District Council Local Development Framework: Briefing sessions for shortlisted sites consultation
The Chairman and Clerk would attend the sessions.
7.5 Bure Wind Energy Project
North Norfolk District Council had granted permission for the erection of a wind monitoring mast on the former RAF Coltishall land. However, the company would delay its installation pending clarity on the Master Plan for the remainder of the site.
8. FINANCE
8.1 Payments
Proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Forster, payment for the following was APPROVED:
Barnwell Print Ltd: May Round 235.00
Steve White Home Improvements Ltd:
Repairs to pavilion window, BALAY Park 123.40
AON Limited: Insurance premium 2010/11 813.07
DMH Solutions Ltd: Risk Assessment software 91.87
1st Buxton Lamas Guides: Payment for Play Survey forms 150.00
1st Buxton Lamas Sea Scouts: Payment for Play Survey forms 150.00
Cash – Park Keeper’s wages 32.00
Broadland District Council: Half-year non-domestic rates, BALAY Park 256.21
Clerk’s May salary by STO: 484.66
less 6.5% pension contribution (31.50) 453.16
Norfolk Pension Fund: May return 118.74
R.A. Rose: Expenses refund:
Website domain registration (2 years) 52.88}
Stationery/postage/petrol 35.62} 88.50
8.2 Participatory Budgeting
Following its successful PB event ‘Your Parish, Your Decision’, Norfolk ALC had offered some Quality Councils the opportunity to hold its own event with a total funding pot of £500. Staff from Norfolk ALC would assist the Parish Council with the organisation. The meeting agreed to accept the offer.
9. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
9.1 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.
9.2 HMP Bure Liaison Committee
The Chairman and Councillor Nichols reported on their attendance at the HMP Bure Liaison Committee meeting held on 29 April 2010. The minutes of the meeting and notes on the Offending Behaviour Programmes had been circulated. It was agreed to invite the Governor to speak at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2011 as the prison would then have been open for a full year.
9.3 Apportioning Growth in Broadland
The Chairman reported on her attendance at the event, centred on a ‘planning for the future’ exercise. There was discussion on the likelihood of the new government’s support for ‘Eco-Town’ concepts like that proposed for Rackheath, and how this would impinge on the construction of the Norwich Northern Distributor Route.
With the meeting’s agreement the Chairman brought forward Item 12 on the agenda.
12. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS
12.1 County Councillor Harrison had had the opportunity to speak to the Chief Constable regarding policing policy in the light of imminent cuts in public spending. The latter had been in favour of community policing through PCSOs, but cautioned that budgets would dictate where resources would be spent.
There was discussion on how the current economic and new political climate would impinge on local issues, such as the Eco-Town and NDR. The proposed unitary status for Norwich was now unlikely following the General Election and the government’s stated opposition to it.
12.2 District Councillor Rix had reported on her attendance at the HMP Bure Liaison Committee meeting. She had also attended the exhibition by the Ministry of Justice on the two options for a Master Plan for the remainder of the RAF Coltishall site.
Following the Annual Meeting of Broadland District Council, she was now a member of the Development Working Group dealing with the upgrade of the IT system, and was a representative on the Drainage Board. The lady members of Broadland District Council had formed a charity fund-raising group.
County Councillor Harrison was thanked for this report and he left the meeting at this point.
10. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAY MATTERS
10.1 TPO, land at Bulwer Close
The meeting noted an amendment to TPO No 31 (removal of rowan tree).
10.2 Modification to the Definitive Map
The meeting noted the confirmation of the Modification Order on 21 April 2010 allowing the footpath leading from Manor Close to Brook Street. The obstructions had been removed.
10.3 Possible white lines, Sewell Road
The Assistant Highway Engineer had written explaining his reasons for not taking forward the request. PCSO Frost would be asked to monitor the situation.
10.4 Inspection of Broadland District Council Amenity Areas
The Clerk and the Street Scene Officer had inspected both areas and the latter had been pleased with the standard of maintenance. He had agreed that a picnic table could be placed on the site adjacent to the Stracey Road car park. The Clerk had suggested that an area of hard standing be installed at the northern end in order that the table could be bolted down. The meeting agreed that she ask the landscaping contractor for the BALAY Park to carry this out.
10.5 Bus Shelter, Crown Road
Designs and prices for a traditional shelter were considered, and the meeting agreed that Lawrence Osborne be approached to submit a price.
10.6 Any Other Highways Matters
10.6.1 The Clerk explained the reasons for the positioning of the village name sign on Stratton Road, which was imminent.
10.6.2 The Clerk would enquire as to the liability for emptying the litter bin on Smarts Meadow, and would put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting.
10.6.3 Various highway repair problems would be reported to the County Council.
11. BALAY PARK
11.1 Update
The Clerk reported the following matters:
Lease: The Clerk had asked the solicitor for a timescale for producing the draft lease.
Planning permission for Scout Hall: In progress
Motorbike inhibitor: To be installed in the near future, with a concrete pad around the access for strength.
11.2 Committee Meeting
As decisions were needed urgently, the meeting dispensed with setting a date for a Committee meeting and considered the following matters:
11.2.1 Hire of Skate Park
Broadland District Council had sought permission to hire the skate park for its holiday play schemes. The meeting AGREED and set a fee of £50 for the session.
11.2.2 Hire of Pitches
Spixworth Youth FC sought permission to hire further pitches for the 2010/11 season; this was AGREED.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.26pm
© Buxton with Lamas Parish Council