Parish Council Minutes 21 Sep 2009

J Rix S Churchyard D Doherty J Goodwin Mick and Marion Paines P Ross
Councillor B Spratt Mrs P Webster and the Clerk

District Councillor K Weeks

There was no one present wishing to use the 10 minutes public speaking time

On a proposal by Marion Paines and seconded by D Doherty the minutes were signed as a true record of the last meeting. Everyone else agreed.

Footpaths
Mrs Ross said that she had been in touch with Zoe Woodhouse the footpath officer, who had in fact been walking some of the paths but had not made any contact with Mrs Ross. The path on land belonging to Mr Lond of Church Farm, which was diverted has been causing problems because the route is confusing.
The path at the top of Heywood Road towards The Heywood has been ploughed so that the route there has been lost, no indication which way to go.
High London Lane the signs are missing.
Mrs Ross will email Zoe with her observations of some of the paths. Councillor Spratt advised that maps showing all the footpaths were available from Mr Barber at Norfolk County Council. The clerk to ask for a map. Councillor Spratt also reminded the Parish Council that they actually have powers to contact Landowners if the paths are not kept up.
Grass cutting
The Clerk reported that she had not had a reply to the letter sent to County Hall so she had contacted Gary Overland to ask who was responsible for the verge grass cutting. He advised that his department was infact responsible and that the grass would not be cut again until the spring next year. If the problem of mess continues Mr Overland will be contacted.
Village Sign
The new sign has been erected and looks very good. After a suggestion from Mr Paice letters have been sent asking for a donation towards the costs and to date only £100 has been received as a result, from Mr Butler at Shelfanger Hall. It was suggested that something be put on the website and any members seeing anyone who has been written to should just give them a gentle nudge. Members also asked to promote the charity swim that Anne Lord is doing towards the sign. Ms Goodwin still felt that the money should be raised through the precept so that everyone in the village pays rather than asking the businesses to contribute. Everyone who contributes will be named on a plaque if they do not say they don’t wish to be on it.
Scope Clothes bin
The Clerk had been in touch with Scope and had been advised that the old contractor will continue to collect from the village until a new contractor can be found. We will be receiving a new bin when the new contractor is ready to start collecting.
Composting Scheme
There has not been any response to the various mentions of the Scheme in the Newsletter, Cock Crow and at the fete, so it was agreed that the scheme will not go ahead.

Councillor Spratt said that the Footway from the crossroads to the church is still on schedule to start next year. Land has to be purchased from some properties and negotiations are being carried out at the present time. He asked that the Parish Council write to the Transport Department to say that we are happy with the scheme.
He advised that there is some restructuring taking place at County Hall and changes to the Building School Fund could cause some school problems. If the plans are secured the scheme should be safe.
Adult Social Services are trying to keep their budget on course but the Children’s services budget could be cut.
Boyland Common. Councillor Sprat said that he had the letters written to him about the concerns of Travellers on the Common: The Lack of Toilet facilities, Petty Crimes etc. It was pointed out that these were letters written last year when the travellers were causing problems not this year. Councillor Spratt seemed unaware that a protocol meeting had been held in June. The Chair said she would forward to him the notes from that meeting and fill him in on what has been happening recently with the Common.
Mr Spratt said the council should contact Tony Cooke and report the problems. The Clerk advised that she has not been able to communicate with Mr Cooke he is very rarely, it seems, at his desk and able to take calls. He hasn’t responded to emails so it is very difficult to tell Tony Cooke anything!
Councillor Spratt said that there should be an enforcement order to get the Travellers removed. The meeting advised him that it was thought that there was an order but SNDC are reluctant to use this as there has been a court case where an order was challenged. Councillor Spratt said that an enforcement order has to go to a Planning meeting so he wanted to know why there was no order. He wanted to know who had Grazing Rights, as he said all residents near the common should have Grazing Rights. Mrs Webster, who lives on the common, didn’t know of any rights.
The meeting told Councillor Spratt that local residents are afraid to go up near the common because of the animals roaming around and the intimidation of the travellers is off putting. Mr Spratt said he could not understand why we had been having such a difficult time getting any action from SNDC as the Parish Council is entitled to support from the Council. When District Councillor Weeks returns from his holiday Mr Spratt will be in touch with him and they will be taking action.

As District Councillor Weeks was away on holiday there was no report.

Most of the correspondence had been circulated but the Clerk reminded the meeting that the latest Gypsy and Traveller Consultation document is circulating. Mr Doherty said that there was nothing more to add that was not said at the last consultation. Everyone else agreed with this.

Oakhurst – single storey garage – approved
Brookside – Formation of gables, raising height of ridge and replace single garage
with double garage – approved with conditions
Shelfanger Hall - Screening of Duck rearing building – EIA nor required
Shelfanger Hall – Duck rearing building with feeding bins and hard standing –
application in process

The Responsible Financial Officer reported that a cheque for £243.74 was needed for the grass cutting.
With regard to the Village Sign £1,500 had been paid to Mr Eggleton leaving a balance of £1,402 to be paid at the next meeting after Mrs Lord has done her sponsored swim. At present there is £282.33 in the current account when the grass cutting funds are taken out there will only be £38.59. The Clerk agreed to wait until the next precept payment of £1802.50 is received before taking her £669.00 half yearly salary rather than drawing funds from the deposit account..
The matter of the Memorial clock fund was discussed. The clerk reported that she had spoken to Frank Paice and he was of the opinion that the fund should remain as it was not only for the Parish Council to make donations to, but for the church as well.
After a discussion it was agreed that the money that is in the fund at present should go to the fabric of the church and the Parish Council will take over the complete responsibility for maintaining the clock. Letters to be sent to Mrs Lord and Mr Paice to thank them for all the work they have done towards raising money for and maintaining the fund. Also explaining to them that the original purpose of the fund was for the major overhaul which has now taken place. The work was very necessary and the clock now looks very good and benefits everyone in the village.
The RFO advised the meeting that she had contacted Smith of Derby after a promotion leaflet had been set advising of setting the contract price for 3 years. Unfortunately the company wanted the money upfront not just fixing the price as had been thought. The contract was cancelled.
A letter was read out asking for a donation to the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind. It was agreed we could not send anything at this time.

There was only one matter to be reported to the Community Rangers for their attention. This was the overgrown hedges at the end of Heywood Road, going onto The Heywood. It is difficult to see to the left and at the top of the hill on Heywood Road the 30mpm road sign is hidden by the growth.
The Chair said that she had been advised that there was to be raised kerb at the bus shelter and a bus stop sign on the other side of the road with a raised kerb. The clerk said that she had phoned up and tried to find out more but had only been told the kerb was to be raised!

Mrs Ross reported that Stage one of the application to the Community Spaces Lottery fund had been completed and was now at Stage Two. At this stage we are appointed a facilitator with whom a meeting has been held. There were 14 points from the last meeting which have to be addressed. A meeting was held with Mike Bentley to clear some points and collate the necessary information needed before the application can be written. The Committee is to be made up of members of the public rather than Parish Councillors. There will be four from Bressingham, four from Shelfanger and the secretary.
One point that needed to be addressed was there has to be an “Accountable Body” for the application rather than set up a separate bank account. Ms Goodwin proposed that the Parish Council become the “Accountable Body” which Mr Paines seconded and everyone else was in agreement with. There will be an annual report to the Boyland Committee outlining the funds that they hope to secure and how they have been spent.
Mrs Ross thanked the Parish Council for agreeing to be the “Accountable Body” and said that things were on track for the next meeting with the facilitator.

Following an email asking Parishes to look at the Manifesto it was agreed that the Council would discuss it. The conclusions were as follows:
1) Rural Proofing - The current policy makers have made a policy they think fits all (Urban and Rural) then changed it to fit rural circumstances. This can not work as rural policies must start with the needs of the rural population. It must look to the future otherwise it will lag behind.
2) Rural Economy after the Recession – The Government is wrong in denying the existence of the gap between urban and rural economies. One solution does not fit all.
3) Supporting Rural Communities – The question is – do we want to safeguard the existence of rural communities? If so, are we prepared to invest in that objective? The transfer to Community ownership will not ensure success. Seems like a Government Cop out.
4) Central Government funding formulae - A greater cost will always be incurred in the provision of rural community services. Without funding rural services will fail and dwindle.
5) Safeguarding Rural Schools – Rural Schools are fundamental to the continued existence of rural communities. Without them the ageing process of such communities is accelerated. Young families will look to towns for good quality schooling so funding needs to be put in place to keep them going.
6) Affordable rural housing – Another essential service to keep young families in the rural communities. It must be used as such, not bought up and used as overspill from urban communities.
7) Healthcare in the Countryside – Again an essential service to keep the rural communities going. Problems of inaccessibility can often be blamed on poor public transport so this needs to be addressed as well.
8) Rural Transport and safer road – An integrated network is essential. Train and bus timetables must interact.
9) Digital Britain in the countryside – Communication is a must in rural areas so phone companies and internet providers will have to upgrade their services in order to keep their customers.
Our conclusion of the manifesto is that Community Hospitals, Emergency Services, Schools and rural transport are a must to keep rural communities alive.

Original Village Sign
As the old sign is now being stored at the Village hall the question of what to do with it was raised. It was suggested that a ceremonial burning should take place on Boyland Common when the regeneration/improvement work has been completed.
Recycling Group
To be discussed at the next meeting.