Geldeston Parish Council

Geldeston Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

held on Wednesday 14^th June 2006

At 8.00pm in the Village Hall

COUNCILLORS PRESENT: P Cracknell (Chairman); S Rolt; A Norman; D Witham

K Loffstadt; M Fenwick

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT: Canon Bestelink; John Sayer

Minutes taken by Colin Barrett

1. Apologies for absence: None

2. Declarations of Interest: None

3. Crime Report: Not available

4. Minutes:

Annual parish meeting of 17^th May 2006

Acceptance proposed by; DW Seconded by: SR All agreed

Annual parish council meeting of 17^th May 2006

Acceptance proposed by; AN Seconded by: SR All agreed.

	ACTION
5. Matters Arising:
5.1. Playground: The clerk reported that Steve Allen has confirmed that the grass cutting is included in the SNC work schedule. Councillors confirmed that the grass had now been cut. The clerk was requested to seek an insurance quotation for equipment value estimates of £5K; £10K & £15K PC mentioned that his son is unable to continue with the playground maintenance and scheduled repairs and that he believed this may have to be contracted out. KL offered to seek someone willing to do this work. SR & DW also to try to find someone. PC to give a copy of the schedule to all three.	CB KL/SR/DW PC
5.2. Sports Field: Travellers had been seen in the village attempting to gain entrance to land areas. Straw bales have now been placed at the field entrance and the side track ploughed up. It had previously been agreed to modify the top gate barrier, so that it could be swung open to allow entry of grass cutting machinery; DW to do this. It was also agreed that grass cutting should be a coordinated effort since the cricket club are not the only users. No recent contact had been made with the cricket club but it was agreed any club using the field should have a formal arrangement. The new lease has now been obtained and has to be signed by each member of both the Trust and Parish Council. The rent was confirmed as £150 per annum. The clerk to notify the insurers that we have a new lease on the field. Informed that Robin Ashe has now retired from the Poors Trust. The side gate is ready to be installed and will be done at the same time as the installation of the gates for the new composting area.	DW
5.3. Sluice Gate Fencing: Nothing done as yet. The clerk had written to the Environment Agency but no reply yet received. He had spoken with BESL and it may be possible to have an improved barrier fence fitted as a part of the flood alleviation work under compartment 25a. Council will need to include a request within compartment 25a consultation comments.
5.4. Council Web Site Details have now been included on the web site.
5.5. Notice Board No reply received from Mr Bennett. DW to obtain a quote from a local carpenter.	DW
5.6. Composting NCC have informally said that they are “minded to go ahead”. Full permission awaited. MF now has the gate posts so this works can proceed.
5.8 Local Development Framework The clerk had received another request and suggested questionnaire for a housing needs survey. The clerk to circulate this. 5.9 Kells Acre grass damage PC & the clerk had visited and spoken with Mr Cant of Saffron, who had since made another visit with no success.. He had asked that Councillors keep a record of all reported incidences and to pass this to him after a few weeks. 5.10 Dog bin purchase The new FIDO bin has been purchased (See Finance). It was proposed by KL the location should be alongside the pathway between West End and Kells Way; seconded by MF and agreed. DW agreed to fit this. The clerk to let him have the bin and post fixings.	CB All CB/DW

6. Correspondence

Sent: Environment Agency re Station Rd barrier replacement SNC re Locks Inn support (This has been rejected by SNC) Glasdon UK – FIDO dog bin order Saffron re turn down of Delta Lodge offer Saffron re Kells Acre driving on grass
Received requiring decision/Action Env Agency – Composting site comments (passed to MF) SNC – Police force amalgamation consultation mtg of 13 June 2006 Post Office temporary closure notice/query – (circulated and replied to) Planning application- 69 The Street – sent on circulation (13 June deadline) HM Customs & Excise – VAT refund (£447.73) (Banked) SNC Recycling Credits – (£134.21) (Banked) SNC rejection of Locks Inn support letter Glasdon invoice for FIDO dog bin BESL – Disabled access moorings Geldeston (3 Year planning & provision timescale For Information: NCAPTC – Norfolk Link 2/06 Playing Fields Association – 2006 membership certificate NRCC – Signpost news sheet NCC – Wood fuel in Norfolk booklet ODPM – Local Authority Bylaws discussion paper SNC – Green Sheet June 2006 WDC – Local Development Framework First Review document Environment Agency – Coastlines newsletter – The future of the Anglian coast
7. New Issues: None this month
8. Parish 10 8.1. War Memorial: John Sayer had attended the meeting and was invited to express his views. He mentioned that grants up to 50% of costs are available, which are considered each March & October. Two stone masons had inspected the memorial and found no immediate danger of collapse but had reported the condition as not good. However, Mr Sayer had monitored movement in the angle of lean and not witnessed any appreciable movement since 1996. However, it was now registered as “At Risk”. The inspections had not found any footings. The likely cost for straightening, supporting and refurbishing the memorial to be around £8,000. AN suggested forming a small sub-group affiliated to the church/PCC & Parish Council. She will first research alternative means of conservation/preservation and other available grants.	AN
9. Committee Reports Development – Nothing other than the Parish Plan Parish Plan – JC informed council that the plan had now been printed and will be bound within a week. Copies for distribution, complete with inserts, should be available before the July meeting. PC questioned as to whether it was wise to include the action plan and AN assured him that is was appropriate since it is a live document which will be reviewed at the end of the year. PC to draft a letter for inclusion, which he will send to all councillors for comment before being included. AN reviewed the various targets. It was agreed that this activity now be a regular main agenda item. Target 1 Snakes Lane: Now with NCC for consideration Target 3 –Actions 1& 3 completed Target 4 Action 2 pedestrian signs along Yarmouth Road still not erected. The clerk to write to NCC John Housley. Target 4 Action 4 footpath survey – now no longer required as NCC had verbally agreed to the footpath along Station Rd to the planned sports field side gate. The clerk to send NCC a copy of the action plan target.	PC CB CB
Finance: - Audit documentation nearing completion. PC proposed he be the main regular finance committee person, calling on other councillors & lay people as the task necessitates. This was agreed.
Emergency Planning – DW still wants a flood meeting. The clerk to request Jim Bagley SNC to organise. The main topic to be the installation of Kirby Run permanent pumps.	CB
Village Hall – Nothing to add this month..
10. Finance Monthly account statement for May-June meeting tabled and discussed. Proposed for acceptance by: MF Seconded by : KL All agreed Payments for approval: (See Finance Sheet) All items proposed for acceptance by: MF Seconded by: KL All agreed [MF requested a copy of the dog bin invoice] Receipts: Recycling credit of £134.21 had been received. This had already been added to the parish magazine information.
11. Planning Letter received from SNC rejecting Council’s supporting comments re Locks Inn. 69 The Street was approved. The clerk to respond accordingly.	CB
12. Any other business - Dunburgh Road overgrown hedges. These were overgrown near the cinder path and are believed to be the property of Flint House. PC/SR to investigate.	PC/SR

Meetings:

Next meeting: 19th July @ 8 pm.

Future meeting dates:

No August meeting

13th September

18th October

15th November

No December meeting

The meeting ended at 10.30 pm