WPC Minutes August 2013

Weybourne Parish Council

 Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 7th August, 2013 at the Village Hall, Weybourne, commencing at 7.30pm

 

 

Present: Keith Morley (Chair), Walter Wood, Duncan Smith, Mike Rayner,

Pat Floyd, Janice Taylor, Penny Taylor, and the Clerk. Also present were D.Young (NNDC) and  M.Baker (NCC).

 

 

1a. To receive and consider apologies

Apologies were received from T.Baylis and R.Woodhouse. Apologies were also received from the police.

1b. To receive Declarations of Interest on Agenda items

KM and PF declared an interest in 5(c) – applicant is a friend.

2.   To approve the minutes of the meeting held 3/7/13 (circulated)

The minutes, which had already been circulated, were accepted and agreed as a true record.

3a.  Resolution re Public Participation (requests to speak on agenda items)

No members of the public were present.

3b. To receive reports from County & District Councillors.

** M.Baker (NCC) expressed his concerns regarding the loss of chief officers at County Hall which often included generous pay-off packages and pensions. The Chief Executive, Head of Childrens Services, and the leader of Environment, Transport and Development had all left the employment of Norfolk County Council in recent times. He was disappointed that a highly paid officer thought himself incapable of taking the authority forward, as in the case of the Chief Executive, and the Head of Childrens Services appeared to have been hounded out only to be replaced by a part-time interim manager.

** D.Young (NNDC) reported on the following :- (a) minor planning amendments to the Dudgeon cable route (b) a new county wide re-cycling facility allowing more items to go into household waste (incl. glass) (c) a relaxation of planning rules to encourage house building and (d) following no further contact from Weybourne Hall Holiday Park the Planning Legal Manager had written to their agent stating that he proposes to close the file with no current permission for any further dwellings in the beech woodland area.

3c. To receive Police Report

No police report received.

4.   Finance:

(a)   To approve invoices for payment:-

Secret Gardens £78.00 (grass cutting), T.T.Jones Electrical £338.57 (light maintce)

E-on £121.68 (electricity), P.Bullimore £238.60 (clerks salary), HMRC £59.60 (tax)

Weybourne V.Hall £13.00 (hire of hall), P.Bullimore £14.10 (clerks expenses)

NNDC £748.80 (Dog bin emptying), Nfk Parish Training P’Ship £150.00 (Training)

Graphic Edge £23.50 (printing newsletter)

*** The above payments, scheduled on the agenda, were approved.

*** The balances totalling £9751.08 and verified by PF, were noted.

(b)    To consider Environment Agency invoice; Drainage Chg (Community Field)

The Clerk, having made further enquiries, was asked to determine whether exemptions existed for amenity land.

 

5.  Planning:

(a)    To note information/decisions received from NNDC since last meeting

Nothing received

(b)    To consider planning applications received since agenda was printed.

NP/13/0924: Intention to erect agricultural storage building at Breck Farm:

The Clerk was instructed to inform NNDC that members had no comment.

(c)     PF/13/0803; Erectn of Holiday Lodges at Sandy Hill Lane.

It was agreed “no objections” to this application – Clerk to inform NNDC.

6.  Highways & Footpath matters:

(a)    To receive update & progress, further car parking for the village.

All members had received a copy of the Chairmans letter and the subsequent reply from Mr.Hay-Smith. In summary the reply stated (a) there was no land available opposite the village hall; Mr.Hay-Smith already provided many car parking facilities in the village (b) suggestion of building a new village hall on the Community Field and (c) better pathway provision was needed from the Mill to the village centre. After discussion it was agreed that the Chair, accompanied by PF, would arrange a meeting with Mr.Hay-Smith so that he could elaborate and speak further re (b) and the Clerk would make initial enquiries with Steve White (Highways Engineer) regarding (c).

(b)    To receive update re Highways Partnership Scheme (LED lights)

Confirmation in writing had been received regarding the NCC grant (75% for up to 30 lights) and the Clerk had written to the contractors asking them to order 30 LEDs. Following discussion it was agreed that (a) the Clerk liaises with Tony Baylis to decide which of the recently installed SCIRA lights be retained (7) and then inform the contractors to go ahead with installing LEDs on the other 30 columns. (b) the Chair would sign the NCC grant forms (c) the Clerk would enquire with the contractors how long the price of £320 per unit could be held (d) the Clerk would apply for further grant aid from the Sheringham Shoal Fund for the remaining 7 lights

and (e) the Clerk would carry out a financial appraisal regarding the PC funding the whole cost of the remaining 7 lights

(c)     To consider further grit bins in the village.

It was agreed the Clerk and PF meet the Highways Engineer with a view to installing further grit bins at the following locations :- Pine Walk, adjacent to the allotments or opposite All Saints Close junction with Station Road, and at the junction of Church Street with the A149.

(d)    To receive brief report & consider ownership/rights on footpath nr.allotments

The Clerk had been informed that the footpath had been included with the sale of the field. Norfolk CCs  Definitive Map did not show the path to be a Public Right of Way or an official Public Footpath. The Chair and Clerk would make further enquiries.

(e)     To consider Natural Englands final consultation on new coast path.

Responses were required by 16th September, 2013 and it was agreed to circulate the information pack and place this matter on the next agenda.

(f)     To note and consider overgrown footpaths in village (KM)

The Chair expressed concern at the number of footpaths in the village that were overgrown and thereby reduced the pavement widths. The Clerk was instructed to draft a general letter, quoting the appropriate highways legislation, so that they may be delivered to the offending properties.

(g)    To consider illegal parking in village (KM)

The Chair referred to what he regarded as illegal parking near road junctions etc. and asked members to consider a warning notice that would be placed on the offending vehicles. It was agreed to refer the notice to the police via PCSO Gary Baxter before proceeding further.

7.  Meetings & Conferences (to receive reports and announcements)

The following were noted :-

(a)    Nth Norfolk Community Transport AGM – 19/8/13 – St.Benets Hall, N.Walsham

(b)   N.Lamb MP – Annual Village Tour – Weybourne on 29/8/13 (2.45pm)

8.  Allotments:

(a)    To receive report re allotments (RW)

RW had offered his apologies. The Clerk asked members to note that three warning letters had been issued to tenants who were not maintaining their plots satisfactorily.

 

9.  Village Hall:

(a)    To receive report re Village Hall (PF)

PF had nothing to report.

(b)    To receive report & consider dangerous trees adjacent to V.Hall.

This long standing problem would be dealt with by the Clerk who would liaise with Simon Case (NNDC Tree Officer) and issue letters to all property owners in Home Farm Rise. This would inform people that the Parish Council would be arranging for the removal of these trees unless objections were received within 28 days

(c)     To consider Horticultural Committees letter re Insurance (KM)

This matter had been referred to the Chairman in a letter but had now been resolved by PF. The V.Hall had general public liability cover but recommended to hirers that they needed their own insurance for special events/occasions. The Chair recommended that this be noted on village hall booking forms.

10. Cemetery & Churchyard:

(a)   To receive update & consider repair of War Memorial

The Clerk was still waiting for the stonemasons report.

(b)   To receive verbal report re Churchyard Public Liability Insurance

The Clerk informed members that the Church now accepted that the Parish Council only needs insurance cover for its “maintenance responsibilities” and not for other types of insurance. The PC has this cover via Aon Insurance and via Tony Hadlow (GardenAid). Noted by members.

(c)    To receive verbal report  re proposed work on trees.

Permission for this work had now been received from the Diocesan Registrar in Norwich. The Clerk would now approach Norfolk Trees Ltd to see if their quotation in the sum of £650 plus VAT still stood and whether work could be carried out in the next 2 – 3 months.

11. Harry Dawson Playing Field:

(a)    To receive report re HDPF (PT)

PT had not got much to report but asked if direction signs to the playing field could be obtained. The Clerk would look into this.

12. Weybourne Community Fund:

(a)    To receive report re WCF (KM)

KM reminded members of the Fun day on 25th August and the bench seat, with plaque, now in place on the cliffs.

13. To consider Nfk Coast Partnership questionnaire (circulated)

The Clerk would circulate another copy and the matter placed on the next agenda.

14. To consider/establish a co-option procedure for councillors.

Two options had been produced and would be circulated and carried forward to the next meeting.

15. To consider creation of a PC website (KM)

It was agreed to create a PC website and the Clerk would liaise with a friend who had agreed to help with this matter.

16. To consider Registration under Data Protection Act 1998.

It was agreed to circulate information from NALC and discuss at the next meeting.

17. To consider acquisition of Beach Lane car park (KM)

The Clerk would make enquiries with NNDC.

18.  To receive General Correspondence (not included in agenda items above)

Information regarding the Dudgeon Windfarm had been received. (for red box)

19. Resolution re Public Participation (comments/other matters)

No members of the public present.

20.  To confirm date of next meeting – future agenda items.

Confirmed for Wed. 4th September – Newsletter to be put on agenda.

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