Geldeston Parish Council
Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting,
held on Wednesday 13 June 2007 at the Village Hall

COUNCILLORS PRESENT:
J. Crowfoot; M. Fenwick; A. Norman; E. Peters; T. Morton
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT:
Colin Barrett; Canon William Bestelink; Pete Cracknell;
Ruth Edmunds; Tony Game (SNC); Paul Hammond; Dr Jolyon Oxley;
Tony Tomkinson (NCC); Robert Whitwell
Minutes taken by Dana Adams, Parish Clerk
Welcome
John Crowfoot, the Council Chairman, welcomed all in attendance and suggested that meetings from now on should end by 9.30-9.45pm. If any topics need extensive discussion they should be tabled for a separate meeting or placed on the agenda of the next Parish Council meeting.

1.   Apologies for Absence    None

2.   Declarations of Interest
JC informed council that he is presently chairman of the Village Produce Association (VPA) as well as parish council chairman.  JC would like the VPA to be issued a small grant by council to help pay for hire of the village hall.  This topic is to be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting and JC to write to Ian Ansell, chairman of the village hall committee.

3.   Crime Report
JC noted that since PC Shulver was replaced there is no official person available to give regular crime reports at parish council meetings.  The council agreed that it would be useful to find someone to provide this service in person every 2-3 months. The clerk will look into obtaining a written monthly report to give to the council.

4.   Minutes of GPC AGM, 9 May 2007 & May Meeting
There were no matters arising from the minutes of the Annual General Meeting and the May council meeting. Acceptance proposed by: Alison Norman,
Seconded by: Ellie Peters. All agreed.
JC suggested looking into the format of how the minutes are posted on the village website.  Clerk to contact Brian Norman to talk about this.

5. Action Plan Progress

Target 1: The Environment – wildlife & footpaths
5.1 Land Management      AN and Paul Hammond have agreed a date to meet before the end of June to inspect various plots of land owned or leased by the council within the parish for possible development of wildlife. Both are to meet Canon Bestelink at the churchyard for same.
5.2 War Memorial             Canon Bestelink is keeping the memorial and surrounding area clean and is cutting the verge nearby to ensure it is more accessible.
5.3 Composting       MF reported that this is going well and that the composting committee will be running a stall at the Village Fete on 14 July.
TM recommended that the recently stolen gates be replaced as soon as possible to prevent fly-tipping.  The council discussed whether an alternative type of gate should be used to avoid future thefts.  The clerk is to contact insurers and begin the claims process. (Action TM & DA)
5.4 Snakes Lane  AN and Colin Barrett are working on this together and liaising with South Norfolk Council (SNC) to move the process forward.  AN hopes all residents have now responded in writing.
5.5 Footpath Group    MF reported that the group has met and all agreed to continue with their work on the footpaths.  MF has contacted someone at Norfolk County Council (NCC) and the first cut was of the paths was carried out this month. MF doesn’t think it was very satisfactory.  The second cut will take place in July but MF feels it should be cut more often. She is waiting to receive feedback from members of the group who have walked other paths.
The group suggests that the parish council might consider opting out of the NCC scheme.  This would mean that council will receive a sum of money from NCC and can choose its own contractor to carry out the work.

Target 2: The Memorial Hall
5.6    Pete Cracknell announced that all the chairs have now been covered and new curtains are being made.  He informed council that the next hall management committee meeting will be on 4 July and that a fund-raising Garden Lunch will be held at the Old Rectory, on 1 July at 12.30 pm.
He mentioned that Broadland Environmental Services Ltd (BESL) will be running a stall at the Village Fete on 14 July so that parishioners can obtain up-to-date information on the Dockeney Wall flood defence scheme.
JC read out an email from Ian Ansell, chairman of the hall committee, requesting that the council purchase a new cleaning cupboard for the hall, as agreed, in order to make room for the clerk’s filing cabinet.  The clerk is to organise this. (Action DA)
The council thanked MF for providing a filing cabinet in which the clerk can store files.  This will be located by the ladies toilet in the memorial hall.

Target 3: Road Maintenance & Cleanliness
5.7 Playground repairs         JC had received a note from Jimmy Tuttle who is regularly monitoring the playground and is happy to report that there appear to be no fresh problems.
5.8 Road Improvements    AN stated that the refuges on the Locks Lane bend of Station Road are still unsatisfactory.  The council is to write to the Highways Department (NCC) thanking them for their work to date and requesting that they return to finish the job. (Action DA)

Target 4: Road Safety
5.9 Speed limits    JC informed the council that he has placed a note in the Locks pub drawing its patrons’ attention to the new speed limits along Station Road.
5.10 Road signs A discussion took place about the possibility of introducing speed limits and new road signs elsewhere in the village.  It was agreed that this topic should be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting for more in-depth discussion.

Target 5: Plan Documents
5.11 Flood management        EP informed the council that there have been no meetings of this committee to date.
5.12 Emergency plan  As above.  It was agreed that EP will lead this committee and work with AN and also D Witham and S Rolt.  EP and AN to arrange a meeting before September. (Action EP / AN)

6. Correspondence
Correspondence received and sent was read out.
Correspondence sent (none this month)

Correspondence requiring decision/action

Correspondence for noting

7.  New Issues      
7.1 EP informed the council about the meeting she had attended on the SNC Gypsy and Traveller sites local development options. Although the parish of Geldeston is not currently being investigated for a possible site, EP will be following SNC’s progress in this matter.
7.2 JC reported that two people have put themselves forward to be co-opted onto the council.  There is currently no deadline but the council agreed to put a notice on the parish notice board, advertising the available positions until the end of June. (Action JC / DA)

8. Parish ‘10’
8.1 Dr Oxley mentioned that he has objected in writing to part of BESL’s flood alleviation project as it affects his garden.  His letter was passed to the chairman for his attention.
8.2 Mr Cracknell informed the council that BESL has begun work on the Barsham Bank wall ahead of planning consent.  AN is to email the Broads Authority, copy in Mr Cracknell, and find out why this is happening. (Action AN)
8.3 Mr Cracknell reminded council to pass planning applications to each other for comments as soon as possible. Delays could lead to them being returned late, with the result that council’s opinion was not taken into consideration.
8.4 Mr Tomkinson announced that he was elected to NCC in the May by-election.  He would be happy to represent Geldeston Parish Council if required and suggested that any letters written by council, e.g. to the Highways Department, be copied to him.  His new email address will be tony.tomkinson@norfolk.gov.uk
8.5 District Councillor Game (SNC) reminded council that the Parish Councils Conference will be held on 22 June and suggested it would be beneficial if one of the council members attend.  NB: The clerk has since been informed that this meeting has now been cancelled due to lack of attendance.  It will be re-scheduled for later this year.
8.6 Mr Hammond had noticed evidence of breaching of the river bank footpath.  He was concerned that this should be looked at.  AN suggested contacting BESL.  JC to follow up.
8.7 Mr Hammond asked if speed limits might be placed on Locks Lane.  Mr Cracknell told council that the lane was on private land. The various landowners can put up warning signs but speed limits cannot be enforced.
8.8 Mr Hammond informed council that the Environment Agency is carrying out work behind the Newlands Caravan Park which involves cutting back on trees and scrub.  He is concerned that wildlife breeding in this area will be threatened and requested that council looks into this.  JC to investigate further.
8.9 Mr Hammond reported that stage 1 of the Wilderness Pool project on Locks Lane has begun and explained stages 1 & 2 in more detail.  The cost to Mr Hammond of completing stage 1 will be £12-£15,000.
He would be happy to discuss any aspect of his plans with council.  AN suggested he has a stall at the Village Fete on 14 July.  EP requested that Mr Hammond walk her around the two marshes intended for the Wilderness Pool project. (Action EP / PH)

9. Committee Reports
None of the committees have met yet but JC suggested dates be arranged now for future meetings.

10. Finance
The monthly account statement for May/June was tabled and discussed and payments for approval were read out (see separate Statement).
All above proposed for acceptance by JC; seconded by AN and all agreed.

11. Planning
The clerk confirmed that the three recent planning applications had been responded to and sent back to the relevant authorities.  Council agreed that in future these forms will be passed around more expediently, each member ensuring that the next recipient was not away on business or holiday.        

12. Date of next meeting

Wednesday 11th July.

The meeting ended at 9.45pm.

Geldeston Parish Council
Statement of Income & Expenditure, June 2007

Statement to follow before the next meeting.

Section 137 Expenditure (donations, grants etc) is limited to £5.44 per elector in 2006-2007. Geldeston Parish currently has 317 registered electors. The maximum permissible annual expenditure in this category therefore equals £1,585. Spend to date, is £0.00.