DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 15THMARCH 2016 AT 7.30PM IN ASHWELLTHORPE VILLAGE HALL
Chairman:Mrs J Ives
Councillors: Mr N De Spon, Mr B Duffin,Mr I Bishop, Mr R Goshawk
Mr R Burridge
Parish Clerk: Mrs T Higlett
3.16/34 Welcome by Chair including any Announcements
The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed members of the public
3.16/35 Receive any Apologies and Reasons for Absence
Apologies Mr J Franey
3.16/36 To approve the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 15th February 2016
Minutes were approved unanimously and signed by the Chair
3.16/37 Disclosures of Interest by members on items on the Agenda
B Duffin for 3.16/42. Planning
3.16/38 Matters arising from Previous meeting
The clerk reported that she had spoken to suppliers of Dog Waste Bins and the cost of these depended on whether we as a council will install or whether we require installation too. SNDC can supply bin only or installation as well. Their costs are quite favourable, with a red bin on its own at £131.99, supply and fit £171.99. With both villagers requesting dog waste bins it was felt that this should be included at next meeting. The cost of emptying bins is £63.14 per bin per year and these are emptied twice a week
With the Parish Council looking for funding for a speed awareness camera the clerk reported that she had made contact with Came and Co who are the council’s current insurers, to see what insurance cover we will require. We are covered for liability should anything untoward happen but the equipment will need to be covered separately.
The clerk had also contacted Wel Medical Ltd via email to enquire about additional costs for the defibrillators installed in both villages. Electro pads will need to be replaced once used and battery has a life of 4 years. Both of these items are compulsory which will need to be replaced in order for the AED to work. The clerk went onto explain that with regards to servicing, the unit will carry out a daily self-check, in addition to a weekly and monthly self-test. Should the system encounter a fault during a test it alerts the user in a number of ways. It was decided it would be good practice if the parish council was to set up a rota for routine maintenance of both defibrillators. Councillors quite happy to put this in place.
Dog waste bins to be included on next month’s agenda
3.16/39 Public Participation – Standing Orders will be suspended for the duration of this section
Commenced at 19.45
Members of public in attendance interested in Planning
Closed at 19.47
3.16/40 Reports from County and District Councillors and any Committee/Working Party
County Council
Councillor Beverly Spratt has been working with Norfolk Adult Social Services Safe Guarding Adults. NCC is the lead organisation in preventing and identifying abuse. Recent event covered elderly people with dementia and assessment of individuals and the areas of assistance required. Home visits can be put in place with a small charge. Cllr Spratt advised councillors that if there is people that we feel need assistance then we can contact him.
New Norfolk County Council website should be up and running by April 1st but he advised that the clerk can access this from the 30th March. It has cost around £543,000 to set up and we should be able to track any requests we have made to NCC for example highways issues. The Chairman brought to Cllr Spratt’s attention the issue we have had recently with potholes and fingerpost signs for footpaths. In future should we require a new fingerpost sign, then these can be obtained from NCC Highways.
District Council
Councillor Barry Duffin reported that in this the Queens 90th year SNDC have grants of up to £400 for events celebrating this occasion. It is on a first come first served basis and you will need to state what you are intending to do with the grant. This could be anything from a street party to a quiz. Devolution may come in the March budget. The village hall has applied for funding from the SNDC grant
Cllr Duffin also brought to the attention of the parish council that NALC currently has a debt of £250,000. He advised the council to look to see if we have a current subscription with them.
Clerk to look into
Footpaths
J Franey not in attendance to update on footpaths
Village Hall
Nothing too report butwaiting to hear whether successful in the EDP Community Chest draw for this month.
8pm Cllr Spratt left the meeting but before he left Ian Bishop asked Cllr Spratt to pass on the parish councils thanks to Mr Donnachie for his assistance in applying for funding for the SAM2. Cllr Spratt said he was more than happy to do this.
3.16/41 Financial Matters
Clerk circulated to the council the current twelve-month cash flow which
showed current income and outgoings from 1st September 2015 to 29 February 2016.
Cheques/Invoices for Approval
DATE / PAYEE / PAYMENT METHOD / DESCRIPTION / AMOUNT01.03.2016 / EON / D/Debit / Electricity / £15.53
14.03.2016 / Wel Medical / Cheque / Defibrillator / £1658.10
14.03.2016 / DMG Construction / Cheque / Stain of benches and removal of old / £75.00
19.01.2016 / T Higlett / Cheque / Clerks salary for January 2016 / £118.40
14/03/2016 / T D Electrical / Cheque / Connection of Defibrillator at Kings Head Ashwellthorpe / £50.00
19/03/2016 / T Higlett / Cheque / Clerks Salary March 2016 / £118.40
15/03/2016 / Norse Eastern / Cheque / Printing of Mardle / £365.00
14/03/2016 / Inland revenue / Cheque / Clerks Income Tax Form P32 / £79.80
15/03/2016 / T Higlett / Cheque / Purchase of Ink Cartridges from Online Site Cartridge Discount / £19.52
15/03/2016 / Village Hall / S/O / Hire Fees / £13.00
Cheques were approved and signed by the Chairman and N de Spon
3.16/42 Planning
Nick De Spon reported to parish council on the following planning consents
- 2016/0356 Mr Pitt Detached double garage 48 The Street, Ashwellthorpe
Behind a high hedge nothing against this
- 2016/0409 Mr & Mrs Crane Extension to 97 The Street, Ashwellthorpe
Neighbours have similar makes sense to extend. Nothing against this
- 2016/0270 Mr Muskett Conversion of three barns to dwellings to west of The Street, Ashwellthorpe - Application type full
There will be no noise nuisance and is set back from the road. Nothing against this
- 2016/0572 Listed Building consent re above
- 2016/0481 Mr & Mrs Bailey Extension to dwelling Wellington House, The Street Fundenhall set back from the road, looking to extend advise. Nothing against this
- 2016/0119 Mr Moore Low Farm Barn Two storey extension and single storey to Farmhouse set back down a lane. Imaginative development recommends to go ahead.
R Goshawk asked the question as to whether we as a council are now going to go with what Nick De Spon suggests after looking a planning consents. It should not be down to one councillor to make the decision. It was suggested therefore that a subcommittee should be set up. The committee should consist of N De Spon and J Ives
Roy Burridge felt that if a subcommittee was to be set up then it should also have a representative from Fundenhall
Proposed by B Duffin seconded by R Goshawk - Agreed Unanimously Resolved that R Burridge to also sit on the Planning Sub Committee
Proposed by R Goshawk seconded by I Bishop - Agreed Unanimously.
Resolved that all planning applications will go through Subcommittee
3.16/43 Communication
There is a lot of editorial going into the next edition of the Mardle. Editorial to be included on the setting of this year’s precept. This has been kindly written by R Goshawk. R Goshawk has asked B Duffin to confirm that we have received the 5% increase on last year’s precept as requested before he forwards on the editorial to the Editor I Spratt
3.16/44New Planters
The Chairman reported that the new planters should be ready this week and then they just need to be planted up. Suggested locations would be two by the Ashwellthorpe signs and one box placed in Fundenhall. It was asked whether the planters are theft proof and The Chairman stated that they were. The cost of the planters was £60.00 each with a total spend of £180 with plants supplied by Notcutts. It was felt that a second vote should be cast again on the planters.
Proposed by Roger Goshawk seconded byNick De Spon – Agreed Unanimously
Resolved purchase of planters to be situated around both villages
Daffodils donated by Notcutts have been planted around village. Clerk has sent a letter of thanks to Notcutts for the donation of plants. B Duffin informed the parish council that funding could have been sought from SNDC for the planters even though the decision was made to pass on this at previous meeting.
3.16/45 Street Calming
Ian Bishop informed the Parish Council that the Environment, Development and Transport Committee had sat last week and we had been successful in obtaining 50% of the cost for SAM2. A formal letter of offer will be sent out from Norfolk County Council. The funding must be spent in the 2016/17 financial year. Once this has been purchased this will then need to be included in the parish council’s asset’s. Additional brackets will need to be purchased to enable the unit to be positioned around strategic routes through the village. Roger Goshawk reminded the council that when we look to setting precept for 2017 we need to look carefully at our commitments, i.e. street lighting contract, gritting, maintenance on defibrillators and SAM2
3.16/46 Street Lighting Contractors
Clerk had contacted two companies for quotations for street lighting maintenance. Copies of quotations were distributed to the councillors. Both companies,TT Jones Electrical and Westcot could offer both one year and three-year maintenance contracts, but it was felt that the three-year contract offered by TT Jones was favourable of the two and also the service we would be receiving was best all round.
Roger Goshawk proposed a vote in favour of T T Jones Electrical.
Proposed by Roger Goshawk, seconded by Nick De Spon- Agreed unanimously for T T Jones Electrical
Resolved – Clerk to Inform T T Jones as preferred supplier of maintenance of street lights and that the council would like to accept the three-year contract of £242.00 + VAT per year.
Nick De Spon suggested we reviewed where street lights are situated and what lights currently are in need of attention.
3.16/47 Correspondence
DESCRIPTION / COMMENTSSouth Norfolk District Council Planning / Weekly updates are now being sent out to clerks advising them of applications and decisions
Barclays Bank / Advising on account changes but these will not affect our accounts
3.16/48 Wood farm Development
Mr Muskett advised the council that any news he has in the future on the development he will attend parish council meeting to update. At present he is in discussion with SNDC as their view on cost of the properties does not give enough return for a willing developer and landowner. Local authorities have to make schemes viable, but at present this scheme is not. Mr Muskett has made anapplication in the way of a 106BA to SNDC planning whereby a request for a revised affordable housing based on prevailing viability. This has to be supported by relevant viability evidence to the authority. SNDC may come back and say they will remove some of the affordable housing. A response can take up to 28 days. Mr Muskett assured the parish council that the benefits for the community will remain and SNDC cannot touch these. Mr Muskett to attend next meeting.
Public Participation – Standing Orders will be suspended for the duration of this section
Commenced at 20.45
Nothing to comment on
Closed 20.46
3.16/49 Any other business
The Chairman reported that a village Litter Pick will be advertised in the next addition of the Mardle.
Items for next month’s agenda
Website
Broadband
Dog waste Bins
Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 19thApril 2016
Meeting closed at 2105.
1