Weybourne Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2014 at the Village Hall, Weybourne, commencing at 7.30pm.
Present: Keth Morley (Chair), Walter Wood, Mike Rayner, Robin Woodhouse,
Pat Floyd, Penny Taylor, Tony Baylis and the Clerk. Also present were D.Young (NNDC), and M.Baker (NCC).
1a. To receive and consider apologies
Apologies were received from PCSO.Slade.
1b. To receive update and consider vacancy on parish council
An advert, displaying the vacancy, had been placed on the notice board but as yet the Chair and Clerk had not received any enquiries or applications. It was agreed to carry this forward to the next agenda noting that a possible candidate may attend the forthcoming annual parish meeting.
1c. To receive Declarations of Interest on Agenda items
No interests declared.
2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held 5/3/14.
The minutes, which had already been circulated, were accepted as a true record.
3a. Public Participation (requests to speak on agenda items)
No members of the public in attendance.
3b. To receive reports from County & District Councillors.
*** M.Baker (NCC) reported on the following :- (a) an extraordinary meeting of NCC
had decided to scrap the K/Lynn incinerator project; whilst losses would be incurred it was considered that the first loss was the cheapest (b) a new committee system would be introduced soon doing away with the cabinet system; committees would be politically balanced and made up of approx. 15 councillors. (c) RAF Coltishall had been purchased but MB was disappointed that there was no business plan (d) MB was against the Nth Norwich distributor route (e) minor repairs, that MB had pressed for, had been carried out by NCC Highways on the Bodham to Weybourne Road.
*** D.Young (NNDC) reported on the following :- (a) the Cabinet had refused to pay, as a minimum, the “living wage” (b) Cabinet had agreed to take ownership of some affordable housing which had not been feasible for a housing association (c) the Environment Agency continues to monitor the shingle ridge (Cley & Salthouse) but have no plans to increase its height. (d) a meeting with Brandon Lewis MP, from the Dept. of Communities & Local Govmt., had discussed problems associated with the recent tidal surge and flooding. The Envir.Agency had subsequently announced that £765k would be coming from them towards the total bill of £1,041k (e) owners of properties, affected by the storm surge, can now apply for grants to assist them carry out repairs etc..up to £5k. (f) NNDC continue to press for action on three empty properties in the village.
3c. To receive Police Report
A brief report, received via e-mail, stated that there had been no recorded crimes since the last meeting and the SNT priorities still included monitoring speeding on the A149 in Weybourne.
4. Finance:
(a) To approve invoices for payment:-
E-on £113.56 (electricity), P.Bullimore £262.40 (clerks salary), HMRC £65.80 (tax)
Weybourne V.Hall £14.00 (hire of hall), P.Bullimore £9.90 (clerks expenses)
M.Sadler £550.00 (tree work), Ravencroft Arboricultural Servs. £150.00 (tree survey)
*** The above payments, as scheduled on the agenda, were approved.
(b) To consider request for financial assistance from E.Anglian Childrens Hospice.
It was agreed not to donate to EACH and the Clerk was instructed to write to them accordingly. Members were again concerned about “donating” public money (council tax monies) and asked the Clerk to place this subject on the next agenda so that a policy could be agreed and future requests dealt with appropriately.
5. Planning:
(a) To note information/decisions received from NNDC since last meeting
No information received.
(b) To consider planning applications received since agenda was printed.
None received.
(c) PF/14/0177; Installation of Transition pit & electrical cable, W’Bourne Hope
It was agreed, “no objections”, to this application.
(d) PF/14/0179; Relocation of construction compound, Weybourne Hope
It was agreed, “no objections”, to this application.
(e) PF/14/0228; Erectn of garage & annexe above at Sandy Hill House.
After discussion members agreed that they “objected” to this application on the grounds that it was overdevelopment of the countryside.
6. Highways & Footpath matters:
(a) To receive update re the pond in Beach Lane.
There was no further news from the Environment Agency
(b) To reconsider road safety nr.steam railway station and bridge.
Following on from discussions last autumn it was agreed that Mike Baker (NCC) takes this matter up with the County Council Highways Engineer
(c) To consider the reintroduction of a village bottle bank
Following a request from a parishioner members discussed this matter and decided to bring this back to the agenda in Oct/November after the new glass collection arrangements had been implemented by NNDC.
7. Meetings & Conferences (to receive reports and announcements)
No announcements or reports.
M.Baker (NCC), left the meeting at this point.
8. Allotments:
(a) To receive report re allotments (RW)
RW reported things were going well and he hoped to have a site meeting with the Clerk in order that the final rent invoices and outstanding agreements could be sent out following the reorganisation of the allotment gardens.
9. Village Hall:
(a) To receive report re Village Hall (PF)
PF stated that a new hob had been put in the kitchen. The Bring and Buy Sale would be on 10th May.
10. Cemetery & Churchyard:
(a) To receive verbal report re work on trees (as per spec)
The work had been carried out satisfactorily (Mark Sadlers invoice was approved at item 4a). This matter would now be removed from the agenda.
(b) To note/consider the state of the old gates at the west entrance.
The Clerk had been informed that cheaper softwood gates might be made for under £500 (these could be treated for long life). Further enquiries were being made and discussions with the church may be needed because, as previously stated, this expenditure had not been considered when preparing the budget.
(c) To consider request for gate/entrance in new south hedge at the cemetery
Following a request from the WCF it was agreed that a new gate could be installed in the south hedge of the cemetery. The costs would be met by the WCF.
(d) To receive report/consider disease in large oak tree near the west gates.
Following a lengthy and technical report from Ravencroft Arboricultural Services which recommended felling the turkey oak immediately south of the west entrance, it was agreed to remove this tree as soon as possible. The Clerk was instructed to (a) inform the church of this report and the parish councils decision (b) obtain a quotation from Mark Sadler and (c) report back to the May meeting. It was also noted that replanting needed to be considered as well as treatment of the old stump remaining from the old tree.
(e) To consider a recent burial fee charged by the Clerk (enquiry from next of kin)
Following concerns expressed by the next of kin the Clerk had charged the “parishioner rate” for the burial (£200) although the deceased did not live in Weybourne at the time of death. (Burials for non-parishioners cost £400). It was agreed that enquiries be made as to whether the deceased ever lived in the village, and, if not, the charge would be £300 (the PC would meet the family “half-way”).
The Clerk would report back to the next meeting and place the question of interpretating the term “parishioner”, in relation to burial fees, on the next agenda.
11. Harry Dawson Playing Field:
(a) To receive report re HDPF (PT).
PT updated members on the installation of the new equipment.
(b) To receive update/consider damage to fence on playing field.
The Chair stated that there was no further news from the Police in respect of the reimbursement of the HDPF Committees costs.
12. Weybourne Community Fund:
(a) To receive report re WCF (KM)
KM spoke briefly regarding the Easter Egg Hunt and the forthcoming Fayre. He asked members to note that following the reorganisation of the allotment gardens a small piece of land (on their eastern side) had now been returned to the Community Field.
13. To note & consider consultation on the draft Nfk Coast AONB Plan. (circ)
It was agreed not to respond to this consultation.
14. To receive update re creation of a PC website.
Now that the site was up and running it was agreed to remove this item from the agenda. A poster would be placed on the notice board advertising the site.
15. To further consider car parking in the village
There was still no response to the parish councils letter to the owners of the land used by the Muckleburgh Collection.
16. To receive General Correspondence (not included in agenda items above)
No general correspondence.
17. Public Participation (comments/other matters)
No members of the public present.
18. To confirm date of next meeting – future agenda items.
This was confirmed for Wed.7th May, 2014 when two meetings would take place.
The Annual Parish Meeting would start at 7pm and would be followed by the Council Meeting.
The Clerks temporary contract expires at the end of April and the future position of the clerk would be placed on the May agenda.
