MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2009 at 7.30pm
PRESENT
COUNCILLORS:
Mr C. Tomlinson (Chairman) (later)
Mrs B. Rix (Vice-Chairman)
Mr G. Breeze
Mrs P. Goodman
Mr E. Nichols
Mrs C. Pearce
Mrs Y. Powell
Mr C. Shaw
Mrs M. Wickham
District Councillor Rix (also Parish Councillor)
PC Colin Bailey
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
One member of the public
The Vice-Chairman took the chair and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr G. Forster, Miss S. Partridge, County Councillor D. Harrison and PCSO T. Frost.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
3. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 19 October 2009 had been previously circulated; proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Powell, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING
4.1 None not on the agenda
5. POLICE MATTERS
(The Chairman and PC Bailey entered the meeting during this item)
5.1 Crime Statistics
PCSO Frost had sent a report to the Clerk. One crime had been recorded from the previous meeting to date. Calls made to the control room would no longer be provided as it was considered a disproportionate representation of crime and disorder in the parish.
The PCSO’s report focussed on speeding issues in Aylsham and surrounding parishes. PC Bailey reported that the local officers were now trained to use the laser speed gun, which was more sophisticated than the radar gun used by Speed Watch groups. He volunteered officers to join the Buxton Lamas Speedwatch group; the Clerk would ask the Speedwatch Co-ordinator to forward the dates of monitoring sessions.
5.2 Matters to report to the Safer Neighbourhood Team
There were no matters to report, but PC Bailey was asked to pass on the Council’s congratulations on the difference the Police presence had made in the village. Liaison with parents outside the school had been particularly noted.
5.3 New Home Watch model
The Home Watch Association had accepted a new model, and Home Watch would move from Partnerships to Communications and Public Affairs. The meeting noted that the Home Watch groups in the village had lapsed; publicity to resurrect them would be included in the March edition of The Round.
PC Bailey was thanked for attending and he left the meeting.
(Chairman in the chair).
6. PLANNING MATTERS
6.1 Applications
Norfolk County Council: Closed landfill site, Mayton Wood: Extension of period for composting operation to 30.9.2010
DECISION: Supported
20091282: Hautbois Road, Lamas: Erection of free-range chicken shed with feeder bins & vehicular access
DECISION: Supported
20091369: Arden House, Crown Road: Single storey rear extension
DECISION: Supported
6.2 Permissions and Enforcement matters
No matters to report
6.3 Greater Norwich Development Partnership Joint Core Strategy
The meeting accepted the classification of the parish as a ‘Service Village’, indicating that between 10-20 new dwellings only were being sought. In these communities.
The meeting considered the arguments put forward in a letter from the Stop Norwich Urbanisation group (SNUB), which sought to encourage communities to object to the intensive development planned for the north-east of Norwich, essentially the eco-town planned for Rackheath, which had received early government approval.
District Councillor Rix spoke on her attendance at an extraordinary meeting of Broadland District Council, at which a majority vote agreed to pursue funding to progress the eco-town.
SNUB had appended a letter with suggested wording for parishes to express their objection to the eco-town proposal to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Communities and Local Government. The meeting felt that it wished to support the view that spreading the proposed number of houses required in Broadland among existing parishes might, to some degree, support existing communities and allow them to retain local services such as a primary school, shop, Post Office and village hall.
It was agreed that the Clerk should send a letter along these lines to the DCLG, and inform the SNUB group accordingly.
7. FINANCE
7.1 Payments
Proposed by Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Wickham, payment for the following was APPROVED:
Barnwell Print Ltd: November Round 235.00
Steve White Home Improvements Ltd:
Installation seat at Lamas Hill 75.00}
Repair glass BALAY Park pavilion 123.40} 198.40
Norfolk County Council: Annual membership Safeguarding Children 30.00
The Society of Local Council Clerks (half annual subscription) 84.00
Buxton Village Hall: Hire of hall 2009 90.00
Norse Commercial Services Ltd;
Village grounds maintenance (7 of 7) 363.17}
BALAY Park grounds maintenance (7 of 7) 800.88} 1,164.05
BT: Annual sponsorship BT kiosk, Brook Street 345.00
Auditing Solutions Ltd: Internal audit, interim visit 186.30
Scribe 2000 Ltd: Annual software licence 224.25
Clerk’s November salary by STO: 484.66
less 6.5% pension contribution (31.50) 453.16
Clerk’s December salary by STO: 484.66
less 6.5% pension contribution (31.50) 453.16
Norfolk Pension Fund: November return 114.86
R.A. Rose: Refund, office computer 311.09
7.2 Applications for Your Parish, Your Decision funding
The meeting considered two applications for this funding stream. Any money awarded would be paid through the Parish Council, and the latter needed to ensure that it had the relevant powers to spend.
After discussion, it was AGREED to support the application from 1st Buxton Lammas Guides for £2,815 for a new storage facility. The Clerk would research other funding streams to support the application from Buxton Playgroup for an outside play area.
7.3 Internal Audit – interim visit
The meeting noted the Internal Auditor’s report and recommendations for action. The Council would adopt all recommendations, and consider increasing the Public Liability cover to £10 million in the light of ever increasing financial settlements.
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 Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill
The National Association of Local Councils and Society of Local Council Clerks were supporting this Bill, intended to ensure that Parish & Town Councils were included in the process of government action to promote and protect local sustainability. All local Councils were being asked to lobby the MPs given the opportunity to introduce a Bill which had a chance of becoming law in the hopes that they would be persuaded to adopt the SCA Amendment Bill.
The Council AGREED to support this proposal.
8.2 Report of Larger & Quality Councils meeting
The Clerk reported on her attendance at this meeting, at which presentations were given on the East of England Plan and the Land Registry.
8.3 Report of Coltishall Task Group meeting & prison visit
Councillor Nichols reported on his attendance at the group meeting, the notes of which had been tabled. A master plan for the use of the remainder of the former RAF station site should be available by 26 March 2010, the date of the next Task Group meeting.
There followed a visit to the new HMP Bure, just prior to the first inmates occupancy. Councillor Nichols was very impressed with the security measures and facilities at the prison.
8.3.1 Prison Liaison Committee
North Norfolk District Council sought any amendments to the circulated draft Terms of Reference, and a nominated representative for the Committee. It was AGREED that the representative be Councillor Nichols.
8.5 Sustainable Communities Workshop
Councillor Rix reported on her attendance at the workshop on Transport and on some of the recently introduced benefits for local transport.
8.6 Aylsham Area Forum
Councillor Rix reported on her attendance at the Forum, at which a presentation was given on the proposed eco-town at Rackheath.
9. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAY MATTERS
9.1 Request for 20mph speed limit in Brook Street /Norwich Road
This had been refused. It was pointed out that some drivers would exceed the posted limit, and requesting a lower limit would not necessarily guarantee a reduction in speed from this minority. Evidence from trial sites had proved that compliance with 20mph limits was poor without physical measures. The County Council would only consider a reduction to 20mph with associated measures to address an unacceptable accident record, and as there was no personal injury accident record in the area to support the change, the current speed limit would remain unchanged.
The Clerk was asked to enquire into the cost of flashing speed indicators for both this site and Scottow Road.
9.2 Rural Demonstration Project – Community Speed Watch Signing
Parish Councils where a Community Speed Watch initiative was in force were being offered new parish name signs with the legend ‘A Community Speedwatch Village’.
The Council accepted this offer.
9.3 CARS (Caring About Rural Speeds) Scheme
This was another element in the County Council’s Road Safety Campaign. Leaflets had been distributed, together with car stickers and stickers for the sides of wheelie bins bearing the legend ‘Slow Down in Our Village’.
The Clerk had distributed these to Lamas and Brook Street in the first instance; spares would be collected and be available to other areas.
9.4 Maintenance Matters
The Clerk would report the following to the relevant authority:
Potholes in Mill Street, Aylsham Road and at the Heath;
Drain clearance in Mill Street.
The request to add the footpath between Manor Close and Brook Street to the Definitive Map was progressing. However, County Council resources were being diverted to address a legal action against the County Council for the time taken to determine the application.
9.5 Any Other Highways Matters
Permission had been granted by the County Council to site a bus shelter opposite The Old Crown PH. The next step was to decide on a design, and the Parish Council considered a selection of designs available. The Clerk would pursue quotations for shelters of a traditional design.
10. BALAY PARK
10.1 Update
The Clerk reported that income from hire of the training area would drop slightly as one Aylsham team did not have enough personnel to run it.
The glass had been repaired in the pavilion kitchen door.
Mr Breeze would approach an alternative contractor to prepare the path from the car park to the Scouts area. It was hoped that this could be carried out in the near future before the hard pad for the building was laid.
The Clerk would pursue the official opening of the recreational facilities.
10.2 Employment of maintenance person
Four applications had been received from young people. It was agreed to interview each on Wednesday 9 December, the panel to comprise Councillors Rix, Nichols and Pearce.
11. BT KIOSK, SANDY LANE
Councillor Rix had conducted a survey of the residents in the area to gauge opinion on the adoption/removal and /or possible future uses the kiosk. The majority had opted for purchase of the kiosk.
Broadland District Council had written to all parishes with kiosks that BT was proposing to remove or offer for adoption. This offered the option of objecting to the removal of the kiosk. The meeting AGREED to object to its removal.
12. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
District Councillor Rix reported on her attendance at a Civic Reception in Aylsham, and an Extraordinary District Council meeting to discuss the Eco-town proposal at Rackheath.
She had attended a meeting of the Licensing Committee at which it was decided to make representation about the Gambling Act to the local MPs, specifically the presence of gambling machines in close proximity to the sale of alcohol.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm
© Buxton with Lamas Parish Council