Weybourne Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 4th June, 2014 at the Village Hall, Weybourne, commencing at 7.30pm
Present: K.Morley (Chair), Walter Wood, Mike Rayner, Robin Woodhouse,
Pat Floyd, Penny Taylor, Tony Baylis and the Clerk. Also present was M.Baker,(NCC).

1a. To receive and consider apologies
Apologies were received from PCSO.Seabrook and D.Young (NNDC).

1b. To receive update and consider vacancy on parish council
A parishioner, interested in becoming a parish councillor, had submitted an application and brief CV. As per the co-option procedure the CV would be circulated and considered at the next meeting.

1c. To receive Declarations of Interest on Agenda items
No interests declared.

2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held 7/5/14. (circulated)
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) The NCC’s AGM (b) NCC now working under a committee system with G.Nobbs (Labour) as leader (c) B.Hannah of Sheringham was now Chairman (d) the gravel extraction planning application for East Beckham was being considered and problems associated with the highway had been encountered (e) there was to be a meeting/presentation on Broadband in July.
*** D.Young (NNDC) via e-mail, reported on the following :- (a) at the last meeting membership of the various committees was determined (b) Trevor Ivory was elected Chairman and Annie Claussen-Reynolds Vice Chairman (c) a local development order for land at Egmere (south of Wells) had been created to enable industrial development hopefully for the offshore wind business (d) evening car park charges are to be dropped and an additional free half hour introduced for early mornings.

3c. To receive Police Report
No crimes had been recorded since the last meeting (e-mailed report)

4. Finance:
(a) To approve invoices for payment:-
P.Bullimore £331.60 (clerks salary), Anglian Water £1.14 (allotment water),
Weybourne V.Hall £14.00 (hire of hall), P.Bullimore £29.64 (clerks expenses)
Secret Gardens £76.00 (grass cutting), Norse Eastern Ltd. £301.06 (HDPF mtce)
*** The above payments, scheduled on the agenda, were approved.
(b) To consider future policy regarding donation requests
It was agreed that the parish council would not make donations but would give a polite negative response to requests stating that council tax monies should not be used for this purpose.
(c) To consider/approve the Annual Accounts/Financial Return (31/3/14).
The Annual Accounts and Financial Returns to 31/3/14 were considered and approved. The Chairman duly signed parts 1 and 2 of the Annual Return for transmission to the external auditors. A notice, advertising electors rights to inspect the accounts etc, would be placed on the notice board.

5. Planning:
(a) To note information/decisions received from NNDC since last meeting
The following were noted :-
PF/14/0177; Transition pit & cable at Weybourne Hope – permission given.
PF/14/0179; Relocation of construction compound “ – “ “
Pf/14/0228; Detached garage & annexe, Sandy Hill Hse. – “ “
(b) To consider planning applications received since agenda was printed.
None received.

6. Highways & Footpath matters:
(a) To receive update re the pond in Beach Lane.
The Clerk informed members that there was very little chance that the Environment Agency could finance a project such as re-instating the pond as all their funds were now directed at protecting life and property. The Clerk had approached Nigel Tomkins of the Dudgeon Offshore Windfarm with a view to obtaining their assistance in progressing this project.
(b) To reconsider road safety nr.steam railway station and bridge.
M.Baker (NCC) had got approval from NCC Highways to erect signs (unsuitable for HGVs one & quarter miles ahead) to help alleviate the problems. Members were pleased with this but asked MB to enquire whether traffic lights could also be installed at the bridge.
(c) To consider concerns of a parishioner re the Marlpit & his boundary wall.
WW had visited the parishioners property and was of the opinion that roots from the Marlpit trees were not the cause of the damaged wall. The Clerk was instructed to arrange a further site visit and obtain expert advice on this matter.
(d) To consider using “slow down in our village” signs/stickers.
It was agreed not to proceed with this and the Clerk would remove the item from the agenda.
(e) To consider use of local volunteers for “speed-watch”.
It was agreed to proceed and the Clerk would advertise on the notice-board requesting volunteers. He would also obtain further information from Bodham PC and the Police.
(f) To consider future maintenance of the Marlpit.
The Clerk was instructed to (a) obtain more signs warning the public of the dangers when entering the Marlpit (b) arrange for a quotation from Tony Hadlow regarding the cutting of a small area fronting the A149 currently used for car parking (c) place the matter of future usage on the next agenda.
The Clerk was also requested to obtain a quote for maintaining the path on the western boundary of the allotments.

7. Meetings & Conferences (to receive reports and announcements)
The Clerk had no new announcements.

8. Allotments:
(a) To receive report re allotments (RW)
RW reported all was well on the allotments. TB enquired about cutting/maintaining a communal pathway. With other questions/matters being raised it was agreed to hold an allotment holders meeting on 2nd July (V.Hall – 6.30pm). The Clerk would arrange for posters, advertising the meeting, to be placed on the notice board and at the allotment gardens.

9. Village Hall:
(a) To receive report re Village Hall (PF)
PF reported the following :- (a) a new pump for the boiler had been installed (b) the table-top sale had gone well, raising funds for the VH (c) bookings were down.

10. Cemetery & Churchyard:
(a) To note/consider the state of the old gates at the west entrance.
The Clerk had been informed, via a member of the church, that an anonymous donor had been found who would fund the purchase of some new oak gates. Members were happy to agree to accept this generous offer and the Clerk was instructed to inform the PCC.
(b) To receive report re disease in large oak tree near the west gates.
Mark Sadler had been instructed to proceed with the felling of this tree as soon as the approval had been received from the Diocese Office.
(c) To consider a recent burial fee charged by the Clerk (enquiry from next of kin)
The Clerk had been informed that the deceased had lived in Weybourne, and as agreed, the original burial fee of £200 would stand.
(d) To consider interpretation of “parishioner” in regard to burial fees.
This was agreed to be somebody on the electoral roll living at the time of death in Weybourne or who had lived in Weybourne until being moved to a hospital, residential home, or relatives home prior to their death.

KM asked members to note that the new gate, funded by the WCF, had been installed on the new southern boundary of the cemetery

11. Harry Dawson Playing Field:
(a) To receive report re HDPF (PT).
PT informed members that the new equipment (pirate ship) would be arriving in the next two weeks and she would be liaising with the WCF to arrange for its installation.
(b) To receive update/consider damage to fence on playing field.
The Chair informed members that a letter would have to be written to the owner of the digger instructing him to move it in order that the fence can be re-erected.

12. Weybourne Community Fund:
(a) To receive report re WCF (KM)
KM reported on what was probably the most successful country fayre todate. The picnic/barbeque was also very successful. The next event would be the fun day on 24/8/14.
13. To note position re new contract for the Clerk
The Chair and Clerk would be producing a new contract based on the NALC model.

14. To further consider repairs/maintenance of the War Memorial
A faculty notice was not required for the cleaning of the war memorial and the Clerk was instructed to ask the stonemasons (H.L.Purfitt) to proceed with the work a.s.a.p.
The quotation was £750, and was included in the stonemasons report received last August.

15. To further consider car parking in the village
The Chair would be writing a further letter direct to Sir Michael Savory enquiring about suitable land.

16. To receive General Correspondence (not included in agenda items above)
The following had been received :- (a) e-mail from D.Young (NNDC) re flood repair grants (b) copy letters to N.Lamb MP from the Ministry of defence re military flying following the helicopter crash (c) Dudgeon Offshore Windfarm newsletter and (d) letter from NNDC re the Big Society Fund Awards.
These would be circulated.

17. Public Participation (comments/other matters)
No members of the public in attendance.

18. To confirm date of next meeting – future agenda items.
This was confirmed for Wed. 2nd July, 2014 (7.30pm)