Present:
Mr D Wallace Chairman
Mr A Brinsdon Councillor
Mr S Davey Councillor
Mr D Williams Vice Chairman & Breckland Councillor
Mr P Wilkinson Councillor
Also In Attendance:
Mr D Burchell Clerk to the Council
1) Apologies. Apologies were accepted from Councillor Rayner – holiday.
2) Minutes of Meeting Held on 6 February 2012. The minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 6 February 2012 were unanimously approved and signed as a true and accurate record of the Meeting.
3) Declarations of Members’ Interests. The following Declarations of Members’ Interests were made under the Code of Conduct:
a) Councillor Williams:
i) Item 7 – Chairman Diamond Jubilee Committee – personal.
ii) Item 8 – Friend of Mr J Freestone – personal
iii) Item 9 – Member Breckland Standards Committee - personal.
iv) Item 11 – Breckland Councillor – personal.
b) Councillor Davey:
i) Item 8 – Friend of Mr J Freestone – personal.
4) Public Participation. It was unanimously resolved to suspend Standing Orders to allow the Breckland Councillor to address the Meeting.
Standing Orders suspended at 7.33pm
Standing Orders reinstated at 7.37pm.
5) Chairman’s Announcements. The Chairman advised the meeting that it was with great regret he had received a letter of resignation from Councillor M Burchell. It was proposed by Councillor Williams; seconded by Councillor Davey and unanimously resolved that the Council record its gratitude to Mrs Burchell for her support of the Council over several years and for her excellent work associated with the Nar Valley News and the Council web site.
6) Resignation of Councillor Burchell. It was noted that following the resignation of Councillor Burchell the Clerk had already started the necessary procedures to fill the casual vacancy:
a) A notice of Casual Vacancy would be posted on receipt from Breckland Council.
b) If a poll was not requested by 10 electors or more within 14 days of the notice of vacancy being posted the Council would then have 60 days to fill the post by co-option:
c) A notice asking any residents interested in co-option to submit a written application would be posted.
d) Councillors were asked to identify any residents they considered suitable for co-option and to encourage them to submit a written application.
e) Applicants would be encouraged to contact the Clerk to ensure they were qualified to serve as a Councillor.
f) The Clerk would make arrangements for the Council to elect a new member by co-option at the May Meeting.
7) Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. It was noted that:
a) Arrangements for the Sunday Sports Taster day were all in hand and the names of the two 1948 Olympic Torch bearers – Ryan Williams and Jack Crisp – had been submitted to the Torch Relay organising Committee.
b) The Monday celebrations would run from 2pm to 10pm following a Car Boot Sale in the morning and would include:
i) Children’s Tea Party.
ii) Pensioners Tea and music.
iii) A display a memorabilia over the decades since the 1950s.
iv) Children’s balloon race.
v) Children’s painting competition.
8) Quotations for Works. It was proposed by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Wilkinson and unanimously resolved that the Council accept the following quotations from Mr J Freestone:
i) Repairs to the roof of the east bound bus shelter - £70.22
ii) Refitting of the bench at the east bound bus shelter - £32.10
9) Future of Code of Conduct. It was noted that:
a) The present Code of Conduct would remain in operation until June 2012.
b) Breckland Council were awaiting government guidance as to the way ahead.
10)
a) It was noted that:
i) There will be an expected financial deficit of about £4,500 by the end of this academic year.
ii) There is a very low intake forecast for the following year.
iii) There is a lack of parental support on the Management Committee.
iv) An Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 6 March with a view to closing the setting on 30 March 2012.
v) The Committee had expressed the wish that the Parish Council send a representative to the meeting.
b) Councillors Williams and Brinsdon and the Clerk would be attending the Meeting.
11) Planning Applications:
a) 3PL/2012/0030/F – variation to condition 3 of approval for 3PL/2011/0725/CU to increase to 100 from 50 the number of caravans permitted on site for 2 three day periods a year. It was noted that:
i) Despite the many objections submitted this would not be called in by the Planning Committee because the request was for only 2 three day periods.
ii) The applicant would have to submit a request for a licence to hold the associated music festivals and that the Council would be given the opportunity to voice any objections to the issuing of a licence.
b)
3PL/2011/0725/CU – Pentney Bowls – Change of use to
c) Chalk Lane Development:
i) It was noted that Blue Bird Land & Planning had written requesting that prior submission of the Outline Plan the Council confirm their support for:
(1) The principle of a commuted sum being paid to the Council to provide Play Equipment for older children on Community Centre land in lieu of a LAP on the site.
(2) The enlarged area which is provided to ‘pull’ development away from Westfields and mitigate the impact of overlooking.
ii) It was unanimously resolved to confirm the Council’s support of:
(1) The principle of a commuted sum being paid to the Parish Council to use to provide Play Equipment for older children on Community Centre land in lieu of a LAP on the site.
(2) The enlarged site area to ‘pull’ development away from Westfields and mitigate the impact of overlooking.
iii) It was unanimously resolved to request Blue Bird Land & Development to include in the Outline Plan the need for traffic calming measures along Chalk Lane either side of the development to protect pedestrians crossing to and from the playing fields and the Community Centre and to protect vehicles entering/leaving the new estate.
12) Correspondence:
a)
b) Police Authority – Further information on 2012/13 Police Budget.
c) British Red Cross – information on First Aid Classes.
13) Reports:
a) Costessey Councillor Wilkinson briefed the meeting on his visit to the recycling centre at Costessey.
b) Neighbourhood Planning. The Clerk advised the meeting that he and Councillor Wilkinson had attended the Neighbourhood Planning Seminar at Swaffham. Although the principles of Neighbourhood Planning were very laudable both the Clerk and Councillor Wilkinson considered that they were inappropriate for Narborough as the village was already going through a similar process with regard to public and Council input to the Chalk Lane Development.
14) Finance. The following invoices were unanimously approved for payment:
a) MHB Services Ltd – Lighting maintenance for February - £97.76
b) D J Burchell – Salary for February - £460.23
c) HMRC – PAYE Clerk’s salary - £115.00
d) Viking Direct – New laminator - £151-19
e) Narborough w Narford PCC – Centre Hire - £30.00
f) P Wilkinson – Mileage Recycling Centre visit - £30.00
15) Village Matters:
a) Extended Churchyard. It was noted that the arboreal works in the extended churchyard had been completed.
b) Social Club. It was noted that the Social Club would be hosting a two day music festival, the ‘Nar Fest’ over the weekend of 15/16 September.
16) Next Meeting. It was noted that the next meeting on 2 April would be preceded by the Annual Village Meeting beginning at 7pm. Items for the next meeting would include:
a) Diamond Jubilee
b) Willows Incinerator
c) Future of the Code of Conduct
The Meeting Close at 9.15pm