MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in LAMAS VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 27 JULY 2009 at 7.30pm

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS:
Mr C. Tomlinson (Chairman)
Mrs B. Rix (Vice-Chairman)
Mr G. Breeze
Mr G. Forster
Mr E. Nichols
Mrs C. Pearce
Mrs Y. Powell
Mr C. Shaw
Mrs M. Wickham
District Councillor B. Rix (also Parish Councillor)
County Councillor D. Harrison
PCSO Frost & PC Roberts
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
Six members of the public

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, especially Councillor Breeze who was attending his first meeting. Councillor Breeze signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office as a Co-opted Councillor.

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Councillor Goodman and Councillor Partridge.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Breeze declared a personal interest in any matter pertaining to 1st Buxton with Lamas Sea Scouts.

3. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 22 June 2009 had been previously circulated; proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Forster, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

4. MATTERS ARISING

4.1 Grit Bin, Cawston Road
Norfolk County Council Highways personnel had not agreed to topping up a grit bin if provided by a private company, as it did not wish to see irregular treatment on this road.
The Clerk would write to Care Principles and explain the situation.

5. POLICE MATTERS

5.1 Crime Statistics
PCSO Frost had provided her report for July prior to the meeting; 5 crimes had been recorded for the parish, and for two of these CCTV evidence had been obtained.

She noted the comments in the Assistant Highways Engineer‘s letter (reported in Item 9) regarding speeding in Lamas. Speed monitoring was no longer the responsibility of Police staff based in Aylsham but officers were trained to use the laser speed gun.

The Clerk reported that, as several volunteers for Speedwatch training had now emerged from Lamas, it was deemed viable for a Buxton with Lamas group to be formed and to have its own equipment and monitoring schedules separate from the Horstead/Coltishall group. She was waiting to hear from the new traffic liaison officer as to how to proceed. PCSO confirmed that a selection process was under way, and as soon as the new sergeant was in post she would progress this proposal.

Councillor Shaw had queried the crime figures associated with Rowan House being included in the parish monthly statistics. PCSO Frost confirmed that she had only included these in her annual report and they would not appear in the monthly reports.

On a question from the public, PCSO Frost would check on how long ago a driver had received a speeding ticket in the parish.

PCSO Frost was thanked for her report and she and PC Roberts left the meeting.

6. PLANNING MATTERS

6.1 Applications
None received.

6.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
No further cases or progress to report.

6.3 Application 20090368: Agricultural workers dwelling, Lion Farm
Broadland District Council’s Planning Committee at its meeting on 13 May 2009 had delegated authority to the Head of Development Management & Conservation to approve this application subject to proof of essential functional need being provided within three months. The meeting considered the Assessment of Agricultural Need that had been submitted, together with a draft response prepared by the Chairman in his professional capacity as a veterinary surgeon with a specialism in bovine medicine.

The meeting supported the draft response reiterating its objection to the application, and included further comments regarding the permanence of a dwelling on the land in the event of the business failing; there being no precedent of cattle rustling in the area; and whether the supposed incidences of vandalism or the use of an airgun in the vicinity had been reported to the Police.

7. FINANCE

7.1 Payments
Proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Powell, payment for the following was APPROVED:
Collier Turf Care: Spares, line marker 33.03
Barnwell Print Ltd: July ‘Round’ 235.00
W.R. Clarke: Installing bin at BALAY Park 120.00
Norse Commercial Services Ltd: Grounds maintenance (Village & BALAY Park) 2,328.04
Smith of Derby Ltd: Maintenance, Church clock 188.60
Anglian Water: Water rates, BALAY Park 33.01
Playsafety Limited: Annual playground inspection 72.45
Clerk’s July salary: 448.68
Clerk’s August salary: 448.68
Norfolk Pension Fund: July return 113.73
R.A. Rose: Refund:
Spare keys, BALAY Park 6.40}
Half cost delegate’s fee NALC/SLCC conference 20.00} 26.40

7.2 Any Other Finance Matters
The meeting agreed in principle to support funding for storage in Buxton Village Hall to enable a trial scheme of indoor bowls to be established.

8. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS OF MEETINGS 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.

8.1.1 The meeting supported the proposal by Norwich International Airport to establish controlled airspace in the vicinity of the airport.

8.2 1 Report of Safeguarding Children Workshop
The Clerk gave a verbal report of the workshop she had attended and the agencies involved in safeguarding children.

8.2 2 Report of Aylsham Area Forum held 15 July 2009
A written report had been circulated of the meeting attended by the Vice-Chairman and Clerk.

8.2.3 Report of Norfolk ALC event held 20 July 2009
The Vice-Chairman reported on her attendance at this event held in Swaffham, the theme of which was how to live in a community with strangers, immigrants and people with a different style of life to the indigenous people of Norfolk.

9. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAY MATTERS

9.1 Request for 20mph limit in Lamas and weight restriction on Buxton Mill Bridge
The request had arisen from a public meeting in Lamas, followed by a site visit by the Assistant Highway Engineer. At the latter’s request this had been submitted to the County Council via the Parish Council. The response from the Assistant Highway Engineer refusing both requests had been circulated to Councillors and to Mr Tinsley of Lamas. The Assistant Highway Engineer had stated that “Minorities of drivers will exceed the posted limit and reducing this limit as a measure to reduce the speeds of this minority will normally be unsuccessful.”

A weight restriction on the Mill would not be enforceable as HGVs would still be able to access the route for loading and unloading. Often the primary driver for the introduction of such a restriction was the location of a specific structure or feature in the highway that prohibited its use by HGVs. This would not be applicable to Buxton Mill Bridge as it was not classified as weak bridge.

With the Council’s agreement, the Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public to speak.

Mr Tinsley expressed his concern at the perceived delay in Parish Council action and the fact that an email rather than a letter had been sent to the Highways department. The Council defended the use of email as an acceptable modern communication method.

Those attending the public meeting in Lamas had set out a wish list of 10 items that it suggested might improve pedestrian safety and quality of life along The Street. It had focussed on the speed restriction and weight limit as being the two that, if implemented, would have the most significant effect. Now that these had been refused, Mr Tinsley asked what further measures or representations the group could make to try to achieve its aims.

There was discussion on the history of speeding in Lamas and to what extent speed limits were observed.

County Councillor Harrison cited incidences of a 20mph limit in Aylsham, Horsford and Worstead, and recommended that the group set out its list of objectives and prioritise it, but accept it would not achieve them all. He suggested writing to the Head of Planning & Transportation asking for a more detailed response on the reasons for refusal.

The meeting agreed that the Clerk should write this letter, which would include a specific request that a 20mph speed limit be imposed between Scottow Road in Lamas as far as The Old Crown PH. This would take in the entire length of Lamas Street where there was no footway as far the junction past the primary school, in an attempt to make it safer for children to walk to school.

Imposition of a 7.5 tonne weight limit would still allow passage for business activities legitimately visiting the area and public transport. Consideration should be given to the strength of the weir bridge as well as the Mill bridge.

The adjournment ended. Four members of the public left the meeting at this point.

9.2 Review and renewal of Tree Preservation Order, Bulwer Close
The meeting noted the renewal of the TPO No 31 for a group of trees in the vicinity of Bulwer Close.

The meeting asked the Clerk to write to Broadland District Council and Wherry Housing Association deploring the cutting down of two cupressus trees in the curtilage of 18 Aylsham Road.

9.3 Any Other Village Maintenance & Highway Matters (for information only)
The Clerk would report a pothole in the carriageway at The Heath.

Concern was expressed at the increasing amount of parking near Mill House by people enjoying the access to the river. The Clerk would seek ‘No Parking’ lining from the bottom of the drive to Lodge Farm along the road to the Mill.
10. BALAY PARK

10.1 BALAY Park Committee
The meeting ratified the minutes of the committee meeting held 13 July 2009

10.2 Update on ongoing matters
The Clerk reported on the landscaping conditions to the permission for the BMX equipment and the ongoing discussions with the Environmental Health Officer regarding the height of a bund for noise attenuation. The EHO had originally stipulated a height of 1.8 metres, but it was felt that 1.2 metres was more than adequate for these purposes and would maintain a degree of clear vision in case of anti-social behaviour. It would be necessary to import more earth for the higher bund, which would be beyond budget. It was hoped that work could start in the current week if the Planning Officer accepted the landscaping plan.

10.3 Further committee member
Mr Breeze agreed to join the Committee.

11. NORFOLK ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

11.1 Nomination of Officers 2009/10
The meeting agreed to nominate the existing officers.

11.2 AGM 2009 – Resolutions for debate
The meeting agreed to put forward the following motion, to be seconded by Spixworth Parish Council:
This Parish Council asks Norfolk ALC to pursue a change of emphasis in Local Planning Authority decisions away from strict observance of planning law to allow more weight to be given to Parish Councils’ opinions.

12. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS

District Councillor Rix reported that she was a member of the Awards Committee and had already been involved in deciding the winner of the Design Award. The Enhancement Award would be decided in August.
A recent meeting of the District Council discussed the current situation with regard to the Local Government Review and expressed its support for a proposed eco-town at Rackheath, which should generate good housing, development and roads.

County Councillor Harrison expressed his concern over the County Council’s refusal of a waste disposal anaerobic digester at Costessey in favour of separate smaller operations, including the site at Marsham where the County Council was both the owner and Planning Authority.

He reported on the Public Inquiry at Aylsham regarding registering land near Aylsham Mill as common land.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm.