May Parish Council Meeting

J Rix (Chair) S Churchyard D Doherty J Goodwin Mick and Marion Paines P Ross, District Councillor Weeks, County Councillor Spratt, Five members of the Public and the Clerk

Apols text to follow after meeting

Mrs Anne Lord came to speak about the Jack Mann Memorial bench. She said the bench had nothing to do with the Parish Council as it was the Recycling Group who had purchase it in the first place and it had been dedicated by the Vicar at its original spot. She felt that it should just be reinstated to where it had come from. She said that permission had been sought from the Highways Department for it to go at the top of the Hill on Heywood Road. The clerk said it may have been her fault that it had somehow come under discussion by the Parish Council because the council insure the bench, she had forgotten that it had actually been the Recycling Group who had bought the bench. P Ross proposed that the Parish Council vote to give back the bench to the Recycling Group in order that they can arrange for the seat to be put where they wish. S Churchyard seconded the proposal and everyone else was in total agreement. J Goodwin wished for it to be recorded that ‘she felt the top of the Hill on Heywood Road was a dangerous spot for the bench to be located’.

As the minutes had been circulated and read by everyone P Ross proposed that they be signed as a true record. J Goodwin seconded the proposal and the minutes were signed.

Footpaths
Mrs Ross said that the restoration of the paths was still ongoing. She had been in touch with Zoe Woodhouse, the rural officer in charge of the paths. She was actually doing the job of two people at present as a colleague is still absent from the office, this has meant that the progress has been slower than had been hoped. She will be in touch as soon as possible as she is still working on the paths. Mrs Ross said that the path at the top of the hill on Heywood Road(near Peter Harries) towards The Heywood needs reinstating as the field has been cropped and the path ploughed up.
Mrs Ross said she had considered contacting a group of walkers from Burston to suggest they come and walk some of the Shelfanger paths with her and anyone else who might be interested.
Utility Warehouse
Mike Paines said that with reference to the suggestion of a Utility Warehouse group being started in the village. He had spoken to someone who had been involved in such a group and although it had started out as a cheap option it had become increasingly more expensive. The idea seems to have been dropped here as nothing further has been heard about it by anyone. The Parish Council could not become involved in any case.
Lay-by resurfaced area.
The area around the post box and infront of the notice board now is an area of hard standing, which should mean that anyone going to the post box will not get wet feet, as they had previously, when it has been raining. This work had been carried out by the Community Rangers.

Councillor Spratt began his report by reminding the meeting that Norfolk County Council is a 4 star council.
He said that the schools in SNDC area are above average.The School at Winfarthing is having a large extension built which should be started in the summer.
He said that the proposed footway from the crossroads to the church was still ongoing with the funds secured in the ‘Highways pot’. It had become stuck at present because some land has to be purchased from residents but the construction is proposed for commencement in 2010.
He said that with the recent Bank crashes this has meant the council have not received so much income from their investments, this in turn means that belts have had to be tightened, but the council is confident that it can still deliver the same services has it had before the crash. The decision has still to be made if it is to become a Unitary Council across the whole of Norfolk. He said the Gt Yarmouth port work is still going and Lotus at Hethel are still working on their electric car. He concluded by saying that he gives his support to all the work the Parish Council is doing.

Before District Councillor Weeks began his report Marion Paines thanked Mr Weeks for all the help he had given, in particular with the getting a grant from WREN for the Village Hall windows and doors.
Councillor Weeks reported that the SNDC resources are spent wisely and they were very fortunate in not loosing money when the banks went bust. But the low interest rates will mean that there is less money coming in from the Bonds that are invested.
Councillor Weeks said that he is Chair of the Environment Committee and of the Loans and Grants Committee. He is also involved in a task group looking at the Pub situation at the moment, with many having to close because of the current financial crisis with people having less money to spend and the European directives controlling the beer market. A promotion is underway at the present time for the public to vote for their favourite pub. Unfortunately Social Clubs are not included in this.
Norfolk County council have a policy of not putting up many of the tourist attraction Brown Signs saying that they clutter the countryside. They charge £750 just to look and see if the proposed site is viable. A Task Group has been set up to look at the whole Brown Sign idea.

As most of this is circulated there were only a few items for attention.
A Card had been received acknowledging the comments on the Gypsy and Traveller document. Confirmation of the Norfolk County Services being called NORSE. Invitation to every Parish and Town Council to cast a vote in the election of a representative to the Board of the South Norfolk Alliance. Notification to the Norfolk Planning Conference and EACH the local hospice appealing for funds.

High London Farm - New garage and erection of replacement building – SNDC approved with conditions
Church Farm – Conversion of redundant barn into dwelling – Parish Council approved, with concerns
Shelfanger Hall – change of use of building from exercise area to hairdressing salon (retrospective planning) - SNDC approved.
Street Farm - Change of use of agricultural building to dwelling - currently seeking approval.

The RFO reported that cheques were needed for the grasscutting (£243.74) The insurance Came and Co. (£476.11). The Subscription to the Norfolk Rural Community Council had been overlooked so the members were asked if they wished to renew at a cost of £15.00. It was decided that it was a good idea so a cheque was drawn up along with the others.
There was a reminder that no funds had been put into the Clock fund last year. The meeting was reminded that £300 had been added to the precept for that purpose. Approximately £180 for the annual maintenance and £100 in case there were any major repairs needed. As the last major overhaul was done in 2006 it is hope that there will be no large bills for at least 50 plus years.
The clerk also told the meeting that Mr Cotton had re-treated the bus shelter at a cost of £79.46 so a cheque had been drawn up for this. Mick Paines asked that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Cotton for his work.

The clerk reported that she had been sent a further questionnaire regarding the work that the Community Rangers had carried out in the village. This was filled in, with the clerk to complete it later. There was a general feeling that it would be good to know when the Rangers were coming to the village so that should there be any further minor work that is needed they could be asked immediately to do this.
Mr Paines reported that the road, as you approach Boyland Common from Common Road, needs attention as the edge has completely gone. The clerk to report this.
The Chair asked if anyone had noticed the mess that the grasscutters made when the verges were cut, she suggested a letter to NCC be sent to make them aware of this problem. It was also noted that some of the Public Footpaths had been cut but not all of them. In the same letter NCC to be asked why not all the paths were cut.

The £500 deposit had been sent and the sign collected. A question was raised as to whether there would be enough funds for this. The RFO said there will be plenty for the second instalment but some funds may have to be sought for the final payment. It was therefore suggested that as Colin Mobbs has been fund raising for the clock fund, which does not now need any further fundraising, perhaps he would be happy to raise funds for the new sign. The clerk to ask and see.

Item 10 text to follow after meeting.

The steering committee has been meeting regularly. Mike Bentley the Rural Services Officer has been doing most of the organising of the work. He will be putting in a grant application to the Changing Spaces Lottery Fund as about £10,000 is needed in total for the fence posts, reinstatement of the ditches and the hard standing for the Car Park area. A Spring Survey to the done of the flora and fauna on the common and a further survey in the Autumn. When the posts have been erected Mr Aves is willing to put up electric fencing and install some cattle on the common.
The Chair asked Mrs Ross if she was willing to continue to chair the steering committee as she is unable to get to the early evening meetings. Mrs Ross agreed.
The Committee are anxious that the work is well under way before the restriction period of one year is up.

The Clerk reported that she and Lynda Allen-Griffin had completed the application form to make the village a No cold calling zone. A letter had been received that stated that the area had been too large and there had been no record of any doorstep rogue trading. It stated that large areas may prove less effective. The letter concluded by mentioning a Website www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/doorstoppers. The clerk to look at website.

Mrs Ross reported that a separate meeting was arranged for anyone who had any interest in setting up a Composting Scheme in the village. Councillor Tony Game kindly attended and came and explained to anyone who had not been at the last Parish Council meeting what would be involved in arranging a scheme for the village. As a result of that meeting anyone who had shown any interest in such a scheme has been written to and asked to respond to the clerk by the end of June. Six volunteers are needed to build bins, collect and record the waste, and generally work on the compost turning etc. If no interest is shown then the scheme cannot go ahead. The Council would receive credits for each tonne of waste collected.

The Clerk said a letter had been received when the residents of Saffron had been in breach of building regulations. Ms Goodwin advised that the people concerned were aware and had actually asked before carrying out the work and had been advised that permission was not necessary. An application is not being made.

The council agreed that they would have an information stand at the Village Fete to encourage villagers to take a better interest in their village.