Stanhoe Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 12th September 2013 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)

1. To consider apologies for absence
PA had offered an apology for not being able to attend and this was accepted.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the last meeting
RB pointed out an error in Item 10. Mill House is situated on Burnham Road not Bircham Road as stated. This was corrected and the Minutes were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
One member of the public was present and welcomed to the meeting.

5. SNAP
TA had attended a recent meeting. There had been fewer instances of anti-social behaviour in Hunstanton, however, there had been 17 cases of criminal damage partly due to some poor behaviour of those attending the annual tennis week. The vast majority was well behaved. There had been rumours of break-ins in Stanhoe but these were false. There were no reported crimes in Stanhoe.

The previous 2-month period had shown a 4% reduction in crime on the same period last year. 18 violent crimes had been reported, of which 12 were domestic and the remainder of various types. Most recorded burglaries had been to outbuildings. TA agreed to place an article in Saints Alive informing residents of the lack of any crime in Stanhoe and the general reduction elsewhere in the North West Norfolk area.

6. Jack’s Lane Wind Farm
RES, the company constructing the wind farm, is currently appointing the necessary contractors to be involved. Work is due to commence within the next few months from September 2013. A press release has been placed on the Stanhoe website by a public relations company on behalf of RES, setting out a proposed timetable of the work and giving some details of the community fund which will be paid by RES to the communities affected by the wind farm. As part of a government initiative, there would also be some electricity discounts given by RES to a certain number of households based on post codes in relation to the wind farm site. Exact details of all these payments will emerge in due course.

7. Village Playground
Following an agreement with parish council insurers, inspections can be done fortnightly instead of the original requirement for weekly inspections. TA and the clerk had each carried out recent inspections. Some minor repairs were required and supplies were on order.

a) New signs were required at the entrance to the playground area showing the name of the owners with a contact telephone number, the address and postcode of the playground. There should also be a statement to the effect that no kites should be flown in the playground area (due to overhead power cables). TA and clerk to organise necessary signs.

b) Participation by councillors in the inspection rota would be appreciated. Some training could be given by TA and the clerk or more formal training could be arranged with a RoSPA representative. The clerk would circulate the inspection form for information.

c) Once supplies have been delivered, repairs will be carried out by TA, DB & JS. This will include removal of existing fence.

8. Results of individual inspection village
MR & PR reported damage to overhanging trees on Church Lane caused by heavy lorries. This lane is totally unsuitable for heavy traffic and it was hoped Highways department could enforce some form of restriction. JS reported the following:

untidy area around the war memorial
public rubbish bin at eastern end of the pond has the housing door open
hedge adjacent to village hall requires trimming
car park to village hall needs weeding
broken glass and rubbish on the ground beside the bottle bank needs to be removed
mounds of grass clipping on play area (it was explained by MR that this was a result of preparing a cricket pitch prior to matches)
untidy area around the Diamond Jubilee tree
bins of soil next to the play are being used as rubbish bins. This soil is kept there to fill potentially hazardous rabbit holes on play area.
grass area around village cross needs to be trimmed
newest area of churchyard needs to be weeded and tidied.
It was agreed that all the above items would be dealt with and were the responsibility of the Parish Council, the MEHM Trust and the PCC.

9. Electronic speed sign on Bircham Road and possible pedestrian signs
A suggestion had been made that signs could be placed on Bircham Road stating “No footpath” OR “Pedestrians on road” which might encourage motorists to take more care when driving along this stretch of road into the village. It had been noted by the speed watch team that drivers took very little notice of the 30mph signs on Bircham Road. One reason for this could be the normal 40mph sign and the flashing electronic 40mph sign at the village boundary on Bircham Road which drivers possibly mistook for the speed limit governing the whole village. Two alternative suggestions were made; firstly, that the speed limit on Bircham Road should be reduced to 30mph and the signs altered accordingly or secondly, that the electronic flashing sign should be moved to the starting point of the 30mph limit and be changed to show that speed limit. It was noted that the other two main access roads into the village, Docking Road and Burnham Road, had no 40mph sections but that only 30mph applied. The clerk would contact Highways department to discuss all of the above possibilities.

10. Scrap site planning
The situation at the scrap site on the corner of Fakenham Road and Bircham Road was unchanged but no action could be taken regarding its unsightly appearance as the site was perfectly legal. The owners had recently submitted a planning application for change of use from scrap site to residential site with two bungalows. A decision was awaited.

11. Water leakages on Bircham Road
A resident had complained about the number of leaks which occurred on this road it; was agreed that the clerk would write to Anglian Water to establish if something could be done to reduce the number of leaks and possibly renew the ageing mains pipes.

12. Updates on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic control – no developments
b) Geese on the pond – no reported problems
c) Storage shed at village hall – some rotten timbers need to be replaced. Work will be carried out by MEHM Trust.

13. Standing Orders & Financial Regulations
As a result of the recent external audit, it was established that the Parish Council needed to have a customized version of these in place. TA had amended the model documents accordingly and these would be circulated to all councillors for comments. The clerk had drawn up a “Freedom of Information” policy which would also be circulated. It was hope that all these documents could be formally adopted at the next parish council meeting in November. Councillors thanked TA for all the work done on these matters.

14. Financial Update and approval of payments
The clerk presented an up to date income and expenditure report together with copy bank statements and a budget to date report. No questions were raised. Approval was given for payment of the clerk’s salary and payment of the supplies for playground repairs.

15. Future meeting dates & times
After some discussion, it was agreed to maintain the meeting time of 7.00pm for all parish council meetings. Dates for 2014 were set as:

8th January
13th March
22nd May
10th July
11th September
13th November
The Annual Parish Meeting may also be held on 22nd May 2014, in which case the council meeting would commence at 6. 00pm to be followed by the open parish meeting at 7. 30pm. The clerk would contact the MEHM Trust regarding the availability and hire of the village hall for these dates.

No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 9.20pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 11th July 2013 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)

1. To consider apologies for absence
Both absentees had offered apologies for not being able to attend and these were accepted.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the last meeting
JS queried why there was no “Matters Arising from previous Minutes” as an Agenda item. TA explained that under parish council rules, a general heading such as this was not good practice. Any specific item which a member wanted to raise following on from a previous meeting should be notified to the Clerk for inclusion in the Agenda. The previous Minutes were then passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No members of public present.

5. SNAP
TA had attended a meeting on 4th July. As usual and unsurprisingly, all matters discussed related to the Hunstanton and Heacham areas where there were ongoing problems of anti-social behaviour and parking restrictions. The police reported that there had been no burglaries of domestic properties within the SNAP area during the preceding 2 months. There had been a number of thefts from beach huts and various types of outbuilding, 9 shoplifting incidents, 2 handbag thefts and the theft of a memorial bench in Thornham. During a speed monitoring session by police in Stanhoe in the month of June, 8 drivers had been caught speeding on Docking Road. All would be liable for prosecution.

6. Playground Inspection course
TA and the clerk had attended a playground inspection course run by RoSPA. This had proved very informative and included a visit to an outdoor playground to carry out a practical inspection. It was recommended that an inspection should be carried out every 1–2 weeks using a common sense approach to obvious hazards and signs of wear and tear.

An annual inspection by a fully qualified inspector with accreditation from RPII (Register of Play Inspectors International) should be done.

It was recommended that signs should be erected showing clearly the ownership of the playground, its exact location with postcode and contact details for the owners. This signage would be an Agenda item for the next meting.

It had also been clarified that perimeter fencing was not required unless the playground adjoined a potentially dangerous area such as a main road. There was some discussion in relation to Stanhoe’s playground where the perimeter fencing of the infant section had deteriorated badly. The play items for older children were not fenced and both areas were well away from roads and formed part of the main playing field. It was proposed by PR that the infant section fencing be removed completely. This was seconded by JS and unanimously agreed.

7. Possible change to meeting times and setting of future dates
Various suggestions were put forward for an earlier start to the evening meeting or a change to morning meetings. No agreement was reached and it was decided to postpone any decision until the next meeting when, hopefully, all members would be present.

8. Annual village inspection
There was discussion on whether an inspection should take place annually or not at all. It was agreed on this occasion that individuals should should take a walk round the village and note any items of concern which should then be brought to the next meeting as an Agenda item.

9. Updates on ongoing matters:
a) Cross Lane traffic control: County Council still unwilling to take any action.

b) Refurbishment of village sign and notice boards: The internal board had been replaced on the notice board beside the village hall. The woodwork on both notice boards would be re-stained in the coming days.

c) The Village Cross: The clerk had asked Mr. Shackcloth, a local builder, to inspect the flint base of the Cross and give his opinion on any repairs to be carried out. Mr. Shackcloth replied that he thought the base was sound and no repairs were needed.

d) Geese on the pond: No reported problems.

e) Visit to CITB: The clerk had received a response from the College just prior to the meeting offering two alternative dates for a visit – 1st OR 2nd August. It was agreed that 1st August suited most people with the visit starting at 12.30pm.

10. Planning decisions
The clerk reported that permission had been granted for a replacement dwelling at Mill House on Burnham Road and for the construction of an indoor swimming pool and enclosure at No. 3 Ivy Farm Barns.

11. To receive items for the next Agenda – meeting of 12th September
The following items were put forward:

Meeting times and dates
Comments on village following individual inspections
Signs for playground
Inspection schedule and rota for playground inspections
Parish Council standing orders
12. Financial update and approval of payments
The clerk presented an up to date income and expenditure report together with copy bank statements. No questions were raised. Approval was given for payment of PAYE tax due to HMRC, the clerk’s normal salary payment and reimbursement to the clerk of the cost of new notice board material.

No further items were discussed and the meeting closed at 8. 45pm.

Following the meeting, TA congratulated MR (Chairman of the MEHM Trust) on his organization of the inter-village cricket match held on the playing field on 7th July between Docking and Stanhoe. It had been well supported and a very enjoyable day for all concerned. It was hoped that there would be more such occasions in future.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 9th May 2013 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)

1. Election of Chairman and Vice-chairman
TA, Chairman, and DB, Vice-chairman, indicated that they would be willing to serve another term. TA was proposed as chairman by PA and seconded by RB. DB was then proposed as Vice-chair by PA and seconded by RB. Both accepted their positions for a further year and were thanked by remaining councillors for agreeing to continue their work.

2. To consider apologies for absence
Apologies had been offered by MR and PR and were accepted.

3. To consider approval of the Minutes of the last meeting
These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

4. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

5. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No public present.

6. SNAP Report
Due to a clash of dates with the County Council elections, the recently scheduled meeting had been postponed with a date yet to be announced. **

7. Annual Parish Meeting
Despite being widely advertised within the village and residents being encouraged to attend, only one resident attended together with 5 parish councillors. An interesting presentation had been given by the guest speakers from the National Construction College setting out their plans for the future and a report was given by the parish council chairman on the previous year’s workings of the council. It was suggested that, in future, the Annual Parish Meeting should be held on the same evening as a normal parish council meeting and follow on from the close of parish business. It was also suggested that an item should be placed in –Saints Alive’ asking residents to propose topics for discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting and to suggest possible speakers. It was agreed that this item should be on the Agenda again for the meeting in January 2014.

8. Possible change to Parish Council meeting times
Currently, all councillors are retired from full time employment so morning meetings could be possible. This item would be on the Agenda again in July 2013 for further discussion.

9. Possible rabbit-proof fencing to children’s play area
To be discussed as part of Item 16 on the Agenda.

10. Village Cross
In spite of work being done last year, the lime mortar on the base of the Cross seemed to be cracking and flints would eventually come loose. It was agreed that the clerk would contact the builder, Mr. Shackcloth, for advice on conservation.

11. Cars parked on Docking Road
There had been concerns about some cars parked close to junctions on Docking Road. The police have confirmed that a minimum of 15 yards of clear space should be left between a junction and a parked car. There are no other parking restrictions on Docking Road. The local PCSO said he would check out the parking situation when in Stanhoe.

12. Litter Bins
The housing for one of the public litter bins by the pond has come loose from its fixings but can probably be repaired. TA and DB to investigate. Also, the clerk would contact the Borough Council as bins had not been emptied for over a week.

13. Updates on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments

b) Refurbishment of village sign and notice boards – still ongoing but hopefully will be accomplished soon.

c) Food waste bins – replacement bags were available from the Borough Council at their offices but it was agreed that the clerk would obtain a stock of these to be sold on to residents. A notice would be placed in –Saints Alive’.

d) Geese on the pond – no problems reported. Many eggs had been removed from nests and sent to a farm for incubation.

14. Planning Decisions
Permissions had been granted for alterations to –The Old Stores’ and for a variation to the conditions of a previous permission for –The Chantry’.

15. Councillors visit to the CITB
The clerk had requested available dates from the college and was awaiting a reply.

16. Insurance renewal and playground inspections
Annual parish council insurance would be renewed with Came & Co. as part of a 3 year agreement. The premium had been reduced due to a –no claims discount’ being applied. One stipulation of the insurance cover was for a weekly inspection of playground equipment. The clerk would clarify with the insurers as to the level of expertise required for this inspection. The MEHM Trust would also be asked to clarify their position on playground insurance as the playing field was leased to the Trust. There was some concern about the extent of councillors’ liability in the event of an accident and the clerk agreed to check with NALC on this matter. Some areas of the infants’ play area fencing needed to be replaced. TA and DB agreed to undertake this and to install some rabbit proof netting at the same time.

17. Year end accounts, financial update and approval of payments
The clerk circulated copies of the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2013. It was noted that some savings had been made and that the reserve fund had increased by approximately £500 and was approaching the target of a sum equivalent to one year’s precept. No queries were raised and DB proposed acceptance of the accounts which was seconded by JS and unanimously approved. The clerk also circulated a financial update for the period from 1st April 2013 to the date of the meeting. Payments were approved for expenses incurred for refreshments for the Annual Parish Meeting and for the clerk’s salary. There was some discussion on charitable donations for the financial year 2013/14 and it was agreed that this should be limited to organizations which could be of direct benefit to local residents.

18. Future meeting dates and times
It was agreed to postpone this item until the meeting in July (see also Item 8). DB and PA offered apologies for not being able to attend the July meeting because of other commitments.

19. To receive items for the next Agenda – meeting of 11th July 2013
The following items to be included:-

Meeting dates and times
Possible litter pick and clarification on Borough Council litter collection
Usual updates on ongoing matters
No other items were discussed and the meeting closed at 9.30pm.

** A meeting date of 23rd May 2013 was subsequently set for SNAP but TA was unable to attend due to a prior arrangement.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 14th March 2013 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Two members of the public were also present.
1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
All present.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 8th November 2012
Re: Item 9, JS asked for reassurance that the traffic problems associated with Cross Lane were still being discussed with the County Council. The clerk said this was the case but there was still very little hope of any action. JS also pointed out a typographical error in Item 12 (iii) which showed the precept figure of £5,000 in stead of £5,500. This error was amended and Minutes were then passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
One member of the public was present and raised the matter of accountability of the MEHM Trust to the parish council and if the Trust’s AGM should be open to members of the public. The chairman stated that the parish council had no special right to information of any kind from the Trust as the two organizations were entirely separate. He invited MR (chairman of the MEHM Trust) to comment. MR stated that the Trust was a registered charity and complied with the rules laid down by the Charity Commission. The Trust’s AGM was not an open public meeting and, from experience, he had found that village residents showed a minimal interest in the Trust but in future he would endeavour to keep local people better informed. A regular update in each publication of “Saints Alive” could be possible. The member of public thanked MR for his input.

5. SNAP
TA had attended the last meeting on 7th March but no Minutes were yet available. As usual, most of the discussion centred on Hunstanton and Heacham area with ongoing problems of some anti-social behaviour. Some youths had been arrested and had been given curfew restrictions. Crime statistics for the whole area covered by SNAP were:3 house burglaries, 9 shed and outhouse burglaries, 3 thefts from locked cars, 14 assaults (mostly domestic) and 5 arrests in connection with illegal drugs. Clarification has been given on the parking rules associated with double yellow lines. In general, these mean –no parking at any time’, however this is overridden by any notice displayed in the area of double yellow lines which may limit the restriction to certain times or dates. It was also clarified that any cars with a –For Sale’ notice which had been left parked on verges should be reported to the Highways Dept. on 0300 1235000 and not the police. Highways would contact the registered owner and ask for the car to be removed. If the owner did not comply, Highways would remove the car.

6. Speed Watch statistics
TA reported the Stanhoe statistics for previous six months. 8 speed watch sessions had taken place, 34 vehicles were reported for speeding, of which, 29 had received letters from the police. Three vehicles could not be traced and one was a leasehold vehicle for which the driver could not be identified. SAM speed monitors are in place for two weeks every six weeks approximately.

7. Wind Farms update
No further developments since the end of the appeal hearing when the objections were not upheld. TA stressed that the parish council should be vigilant once construction starts to ensure that everything is done according to the conditions of the planning permission. No information is yet available regarding the community fund due to the villages affected by the turbines.

8. Reading Room refurbishment
Following on from comments in Item 4 of the Minutes, MR was asked to report on any progress made towards the refurbishment of the Reading Room by the MEHM Trust. Despite great efforts by the Trustees, an application for Lottery funding had been rejected. Bank loans had been considered but these were not really a viable option. Trustees were still working towards a complete refurbishment, including an efficient heating system. JS queried the use of funds donated by the now defunct Social Club. MR assured him that these funds were in the Trust’s bank account but were insufficient in themselves to finance all that needed to be done.

9. Condition of the shed adjacent to the Reading Room
The shed was originally purchased by a grant given to the then existing village youth club but now belongs to the village in general. It is in need of repairs which MR said the MEHM Trust could probably undertake but perhaps with help from the parish council. MR would put this matter on the Agenda for the next MEHM Trust meeting.

10. Refurbishment of village sign and notice boards
This work was all in hand and would proceed as soon as weather improved.

11. Dogs on the playing field
There continued to be dog fouling on the playing field with some dog owners not picking up dog mess. Another notice would be put in “Saints Alive” and TA would make a comment in his annual report to the village at the annual parish meeting in April. It should be noted by local residents that attempts are being made to create a cricket pitch on the playing field in order to hold matches with local clubs, therefore, dog fouling would be a health risk to players.

12. Annual Parish Meeting
This is arranged for the evening of 11th April 2013. PR will organise wine and glasses although neither she nor MR will be able to attend. JS suggested that a selection of bread and cheese would the easiest type of catering to offer. PA would organize the food and JS offered to help. The clerk apologised since she too would be unable to attend due to conflicting holiday dates.

13. Update on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments (see also Item 4)

b) Geese on the village pond – no reported problems

c) Weed problems – DB is greatly concerned about the problem of ragwort in particular. According to DEFRA, ragwort is not a notifiable weed but DB would like to know the opinion of the CPRE. Clerk agreed to write to CPRE for their viewpoint. The patch of ground, between the rear of the village hall and the playing field, where snowdrops are growing needs to be cleared of weeds. Clerk would organize this.

14. Financial update and approval of payments
The clerk circulated an up to date income and expenditure statement with copy bank statements. No questions were raised. Approval was given for payment of clerk’s salary.

15. To receive items for the next Agenda – meeting of 9th May 2013
Consideration of change to meeting times
Possible rabbit proof fencing of children’s play area
Village Cross
Cars parked outside Baker’s Cottage on Docking Road
Councillors’ visit to the CITB
No other matters were raised and the meeting closed at 8.40pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 10th January 2013 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr M Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Two members of the public were also present.
1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
MR and PR apologised for their late arrival.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 8th November 2012
Minutes passed and signed by the chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No public present.

5. SNAP & Speedwatch
TA had attended a SNAP meeting on 3rd January. Crime figures were similar to the previous report but with a continuing downward trend. Some anti-social behaviour problems persisted in Hunstanton. TA mentioned to officers at the meeting that someone had attempted to force entry to his property through the side gate. The person had not succeeded and no theft or other damage had occurred. The police confirmed that they are always keen to know about such incidents.

TA also attended a Speedwatch seminar in Dereham at which the Assistant Chief Constable and a senior officer from Norfolk Police were present. There are 55 speedwatch teams in Norfolk involving approximately 600 volunteers from a total of 900 volunteers working for Norfolk Police in various capacities. In future there will be a new smaller and less obtrusive speed radar vehicle operating in the County. Across England, there are 16 Counties taking part in the Speedwatch scheme. Death and serious injury statistics came down in 2012 although in Norfolk there were a number of deaths over the Christmas period. 500 speeding infringements had been recorded by Norfolk speedwatch teams with 400 letters being sent out by police to the car owners involved. During 2012, 17,000 drivers had attended speed awareness courses as a result of speeding offences.

The clerk reported that 40 “Go Slow in our Village” bin stickers were due to arrive and would be available on request.

6. Wind Farms Update
A result is imminent of the court hearing which took place before Christmas. This would decide if the permission for development granted after the public hearing had been lawfully given.

7. Local Crime Concerns
This had been covered in Item 5 in regard to the attempt to enter TA’s property.

8. Refurbishment of village sign & notice boards
This matter is in hand and work will be accomplished when weather is more suitable for outdoor work.

9. Update on ongoing matters:
a) Cross Lane traffic control – no developments.

b) Blacksmith’s workshop – it has been established that the building is not in danger of collapse. Attempts to encourage the owner to carry out repairs had not been successful. It was agreed that nothing further could be done by councillors.

c) Ragwort – according to DEFRA, this is not a notifiable weed. The onus is on landowners to control it on their own land. Highways would cut any ragwort on verges during normal verge maintenance.

d) Geese on the pond – numbers have reduced from 5 to 4 but no problems reported.

10. Proposed visit to the National Construction College
It was agreed this would be left until the Spring. The Principal had confirmed that he would attend the Annual Parish Meeting and give a presentation on current and future developments at the college.

11. Annual Parish Meeting
Confirmed for 11th April 2013 at 7.30pm. PR kindly agreed again to supply refreshments. Speaker – see above, Item 10.

12. Financial Matters
The clerk circulated an up to date income and expenditure statement with copy bank statements. No questions were raised.
The clerk circulated a budget variance report for 2012/13 with the projected outcome at 31st March 2013. This was in line with planned expenditure. She also circulated a draft Budget for 2013/14 based on a precept of £5,500 which reflected no increase on the previous year.
After discussion of all the above and bearing in mind that the parish reserve fund was on target, the chairman gave the opinion that there should be no increase in precept level. DB therefore proposed a precept figure of £5,500 for 2013/14. This was seconded by PR and unanimously agreed.
Payments were approved for Hall rental charges, PAYE tax to Inland Revenue, the clerk’s salary and cost of bin stickers.
13. Planning permissions granted
Permission had been granted for year round operation of caravan facilities at The Rickles and for the extension to a property in Parsons Lane.

14. To receive items for the next Agenda of meeting to be held on 14th March 2013
The following items were suggested:

Usual update of ongoing matters
Refurbishment of village sign and notice boards
Wind Farms
SNAP
Annual Parish Meeting
No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 8.40pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 8th November 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr T Austin (TA)
Mrs P Austin (PA)
Mr D Bridge (DB)
Miss R Brown (RB)
Mr M Roche (MR)
Mrs P Roche (PR)
Mr J Seedhouse (JS)

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
No absentees.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting of 13th September 2012
These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
One member of the public was present who was interested in Item 7 of the Agenda. It was agreed to discuss this item straight away. There was great concern that the scrap site, at the corner of Fakenham Road and Bircham Road, was expanding and becoming even more unsightly. The Borough planning department had confirmed that a planning enforcement file had been raised and they were currently reviewing this matter.

There was also concern about a rumour that a planning application had been submitted for a travellers’ site in a field at the crossroads. This proved to be incorrect. A planning application had been submitted by a leisure company for a 12 pitch camp site at Monks Wood, approximately half a mile south of the crossroads. The site would be screened from the road by the wood and would consist of a warden’s lodge, shower and toilet facilities and the erection of yurt style tent accommodation. No decision has yet been made by the planners. The member of the public thanked councillors for their time and the information supplied and left the meeting.

5. SNAP
T.A. had attended a meeting on 1st November. The items of concern centred mainly around Hunstanton with the usual problems of anti-social behaviour and drunkenness in the High Street area. There had been criminal damage to some public toilets in the town and these would now close at 5.00pm. There was also a problem with some irresponsible dog owners who did not clean up dog mess and allowed their dogs to cause nuisance through noise. There had been road accidents at certain road junctions within the town, caused by driving too fast when approaching these junctions. Calls by members of the public to the police had dropped by 50% and recorded crime had dropped by 21%. The next meeting would be on 3rd January 2013.

6. Speedwatch/SAM signs & anti-speed bin stickers
Electronic speed signs were currently installed in two positions within the village. These flashed the actual speed recorded as drivers passed. The signs were due to be in position for one month but it was hoped this could be extended. Some “Slow down in our village” signs were on order which could be attached to refuse bins and therefore be on show on certain days throughout the village. It was agreed to increase the number on order if possible.

7. Scrap site at Fakenham/Bircham Road crossroads
See Item 4 above.

8. Fenced off area adjacent to the playing field & ragwort problem
The clerk reported that, according to DEFRA, ragwort was not a notifiable weed but should be kept under control by landowners. The clerk had also been in correspondence with the land agent handling this piece of land who had undertaken to notify the owners of both the ragwort problem and the fact that the fence was badly damaged. The situation is ongoing and will be monitored.

9. Repairs to playground equipment
TA confirmed that the necessary repair had been done to the trim trail on the playground. Rotten posts had been removed and two supporting posts at each end had been installed to increase strength and stability. The cost to the council was £700. DB had placed weedkiller around all the wooden posts in the playground and had varnished the base of all the posts to protect from rotting. He was thanked for this work and it was agreed to re-imburse the cost of approximately £50. DB has also recently cleaned the war memorial in preparation for “Remembrance Sunday” and MR had repainted the barrier rail. Sincere thanks were given to both for their efforts.

10. Village litter
This was on the increase partly due to the fact that JS, who used to carry out a regular litter pick, was no longer resident in the village. It was agreed that a notice should be placed in “Saints Alive” asking people to do what they could to collect any litter near their homes and to formally thank JS for his work during his years in the village. At this point, PA also reminded the Clerk that the village notice boards required refurbishment. The clerk would arrange for this to be done.

11. Changes to refuse collections
The clerk had recently attended a meeting held by the Borough to report on the planned changes to refuse collection. From April 2013, the current black refuse bins would be exchanged for a larger size and would then be collected only once a fortnight. This would alternate with the green recycling bin collection thereby maintaining a weekly collection which would also enable the collection of food waste. New 40 litre size food waste bins with a lockable lid would be delivered to every household to be kept outside and a kitchen caddy bin would also be delivered together with an initial supply of compostable waste bags. Explanatory leaflets would be delivered to all households in the next 2–3 weeks.

12. New developments at the National Construction College
TA and the clerk had attended the official opening ceremony of the new accommodation block at the Construction College. Managers at the College explained that they were keen for local people to use the shop and Costa Coffee facilities and that they would be happy to conduct a tour of the new facilities for parish councillors. They would also supply a speaker to visit parish councils to explain their future development plans. The clerk would try to arrange a visit to the college for councillors and a speaker to attend the Annual Parish meeting in April 2013.

13. Update on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic restrictions – no developments

b) Blacksmith’s workshop – the clerk had written to Mrs. Amanda Ralli to ask if anything could be done to try to preserve the building. Mrs. Ralli had replied to say that she had passed the letter to her son, Andrew Ralli, to deal with.

c) Geese on the pond – no reported problems

14. Financial update and approval of payments
The clerk circulated an up to date statement of income and expenditure together with copy bank statements. No questions were raised and statements were signed off by TA. Payment was approved for the clerk’s salary.

15. Declarations of pecuniary interest re: Precept & Budget setting
Recent changes had been made to the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and Declarations of Pecuniary Interests. TA explained that an unforeseen consequence of this meant that any councillor residing within the parish had, in fact, a pecuniary interest in the setting of the precept in that they paid council tax which included an element for the parish precept. This could affect their decision making. The Borough had decided that the solution was for councillors to sign a dispensation form to allow them to take part in precept and budget setting decisions. Forms were duly signed by all except JS who no longer resided in the village.

16. Date for Annual Parish Meeting 2013
This had been provisionally set for Thursday, 11th April 2013 commencing at 7.30pm. and was confirmed as such. PR offered to organize refreshments again and was thanked for her offer. The clerk would contact the Construction College (see Item 12).

17. To receive items for the next Agenda
Meeting to be held on 10th January 2013: The following items were raised:

Usual update of ongoing items
Ragwort problem
Village sign refurbishment
Village Notice Boards refurbishments
Wind Farm
SNAP
Budget & Precept for 2013/14
Annual Parish Meeting
An additional piece of business was discussed in relation to an application, to vary a previous planning permission, which had been received earlier in the day. The owners of The Rickels caravan site had requested a lifting of the restriction for the site to be used only from March to October each year so that it could be used all year round. No changes would be made to the site itself or its facilities. Councillors agreed to support the application.

The meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 13th September 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr T Austin (TA)
Mrs P Austin (PA)
Mr D Bridge (DB)
Mrs R Brown (RB)
Mrs P Roche (PR)
Mr J Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mr M Roche (MR)

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
An apology was received and accepted from MR.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting of 12th July 2012
These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No member of the public was present, however, PR had been asked by a resident to raise the overgrown state of the hedge edging the fenced off piece of land adjacent to the playing field. As this related to Item 7 (2) of the Agenda, councillors decided to discuss the whole issue at this point. The piece of fenced off land and the surrounding hedge is owned by Knights as is the playing field which they kindly lease free of charge to the MEHM Trust. As such, the parish council has no powers to insist that the land is maintained in any way or that hedges should be cut. PR said she would report this back to the resident who was concerned about the hedge.

DB was particularly concerned by the presence of ragwort in this area. He believed this to be a notifiable plant, the seeds of which were highly poisonous to cattle and horses should it find its way into hay feed. It was understood to be the landowner’s responsibility to clear this weed and councillors requested that the clerk write to the landowner’s agent pointing out the existence of the weed and the concern of local people. The clerk would also write to the County Council to ask about their policy on dealing with ragwort. A notice would also be put in Saints Alive asking residents to report instances of ragwort to the parish council.

5. SNAP
TA had not attended the last meeting held on 5th July 2012 but had received a copy of the Minutes. Anti-social behaviour in Heacham and Hunstanton was still a problem but reports of incidents in Heacham had dropped by 30%. The number of burglary and theft reports had also dropped. A meeting was being held this same evening of 13th September and TA would report back when he received the Minutes.

6. Update on village inspection
A quotation of £150 had been received to refurbish the village sign and repair damage to the image of Sir Hervey de Stanhoe. It as agreed to proceed with the work. The brass plaque attached to the village hall, in memory of Tom Holmes, was in need of refurbishment. The clerk would contact the suppliers to find out the best way of cleaning the plaque. Some areas of the village had painted road markings, placed some months ago, where repair work should have taken place. The markings are now wearing away and no repair work has yet been done. The clerk will contact Highways Dept. A notice will be placed in Saints Alive asking residents to remove the anti-wind farm campaign signs from outside properties as the planning and appeal processes are now complete and a decision reached.

7. Fenced off area adjacent to playing field
1) PR apologised that MR had not contacted the landowner’s agent to find out what plans, if any, there were for this piece of land. Clerk would be writing to the agent. (See Item 4 above).

2) See also Item 4 above.

8. Necessary playground repairs
One of the upright posts on the trim trail has rotted at the base. It is unsteady and unsafe for use. Notices have been posted and barricade tape wound across the equipment to prevent use. The original suppliers of the equipment are no longer in business, however, the designer of the playground who now works for a company called “Joy Playgrounds” came to inspect all the equipment and give an estimate for the repair of the trim trail and supply of new wooden post. The figure quoted, including his time and inspection visit, is £700. He has provided a full report on all the equipment and recommends wood preserver on the bases of all wooden posts to prolong life and help prevent damage by grass trimmers. After some discussion, it was agreed to proceed with the work. DB offered to apply wood preserver as necessary and was thanked for his offer.

9. Updates on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments.

b) Bottle bank – no action on noise reduction yet.

c) Blacksmith’s workshop – awaiting response from buildings officer.

(A report has since been received to say that, although the building is neglected, it is not unsafe and does not pose any immediate danger).

d) Overgrown hedges in Station Road – County Council will take action.

e) Geese on the pond – apart from occasionally wandering into the road, they are not causing any particular problem at present.

10. Financial update and approval of payments
An up to date income and expenditure report and bank statements were circulated by the clerk. It was clarified that the majority of parish council funds were kept in the savings account (earning a small amount of interest) with sums being transferred to the current account as and when necessary to pay bills. The clerk confirmed that the separate account opened specifically for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee village event had been closed.

Payments were approved for the clerk’s salary, the external audit fee and an amount of VAT due on the purchase of a new dog waste bin.

11. To receive items for the next Agenda
The following items were suggested for inclusion in the Agenda for the meeting due to be held on 8th November 2012.

Refurbishment of village notice boards
Playground maintenance and repairs
Ragwort problem
Usual updates on ongoing matters
No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 8.35pm.

 

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 12th July 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)

Two members of the public were also present.
1. To consider apologies for absence
An apology was received and accepted from DB.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting of 10th May 2012
These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
One member of the public present.

5. SNAP
TA had not attended the last SNAP meeting and was still awaiting the Minutes.

6. Scrap site at corner of Fakenham & Bircham Roads
It had been brought to the clerk’s attention that some form of construction was taking place. Having checked with BCKLWN Planning Dept., the clerk reported that permission had been granted in 2009 (valid for 5 years) for the erection of an open fronted barn to store hay and implements.

The construction was fully within the terms of the planning permission.

7. Village Inspection Report
A walking inspection of the village had been carried out by councillors on 14th June 2012. TA’s report with relevant photographs was circulated. A copy of the report with actions to be taken is attached.

8. Area, adjacent to playing field, fenced off by owners
This area, although fenced off, had been used with the owners’ knowledge by dog walkers and a path through it maintained voluntarily by a local resident. Notices prohibiting access had been erected recently. The playing field area was leased to the MEHM Trust and MR undertook to make enquiries about the change in status of the fenced off area.

9. Recruitment of new councillors
TA stressed the importance of trying to attract interest from local residents as prospective councillors. Some existing members would like to retire at the end of their term of office and replacements would be necessary if the parish council was to continue functioning within the village. Efforts at recruitment had been made in the past without success but more notices would be placed in “Saints Alive” in an effort to encourage interest.

10. New Code of Conduct & Register of Members’ Interests
Following the Localism Act of 2011, a new Code of Conduct had to be adopted by all councils. Two alternatives had been put forward by NALC and the LGA, copies of which had been circulated by the Clerk together with a revised “Register of Members’ Interests– form. The forms were completed by councillors and returned and copies would be sent to the Borough’s Monitoring Officer. Councillors had the option of writing their own Code of Conduct, however, it was agreed that adopting one of the alternatives already presented would be simpler. After some discussion, PA proposed acceptance of the LGA model (customized for Stanhoe parish). This was seconded by PR and agreed by all as this would result in the parish Code being the same one used by the Borough.

11. Update on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments

b) Bottle bank – the clerk is still trying to persuade BCKLWN to install a soundproof liner.

c) Blacksmith’s workshop – no developments but the clerk had contacted a building control officer at the Borough who would come to inspect the workshop to establish if it was considered to be in danger of collapse.

d) Review of polling districts and stations – a decision is still awaited.

e) Overgrown hedges – Council Highways has again sent letters to those concerned and outcome awaited. Legal action may be taken.

f) Geese on the pond – not currently presenting any problems.

12. Financial update & approval of payments
An up to date report together with copy bank statements was presented by the clerk. No questions were raised. The separate bank account, which had been opened for the Jubilee celebration, would be closed as soon as the final cheque cleared the account. All costs in connection with the Jubilee event had been covered by income generated and those organizations and individuals, who had contributed initially to offset costs prior to the event, had been refunded.

Payments were approved for play area maintenance, clerk’s salary and PAYE tax and a donation to Tapping House Hospice.

13. To receive items for the next Agenda
The following items were suggested for inclusion in the Agenda for the meeting due to be held on 13th September 2012:

Usual ongoing updates
Proposed changes to refuse collections
War Memorial
Play area fencing
Update on actions following village inspection
Report from MR re: fenced off area of playing field
No other matters were raised and the meeting closed at 9.05pm.

Stanhoe Parish Council Walk – 14th June 2012
Inspection Report
Location

Issue

Action/Responsibility

Children’s Playground

Fence deteriorating

To be replaced in due course.

Costings and possibility of a grant to be investigated.

Glass recycling bin

Sound insulation needed

Clerk still trying to persuade Borough Council to install a soundproof lining.

Tom Holmes plaque at village hall

Tarnished and pitted

Possible replacement.

Hedge adjacent to village hall car park

Requires regular maintenance

MEHM Trust will arrange cutting.

Notice Board on playing field

In poor condition

Property of MEHM Trust

To be removed.

Waste bin in children’s playground

Responsibility for emptying

MEHM Trust. Clerk will try to obtain key to bin.

Verges in Bircham Road

Overgrown

Cut by Highways Dept.

Wind farm opposition signs

Should be removed

Notice to go in “Saints Alive”

Blacksmith’s workshop

Structure deteriorating and could become a road hazard to traffic and pedestrians. Owned possibly by Church Farm.

Clerk has contacted Borough Council and a building control office will inspect and report back.

Tractor tracks in Church Lane

Verges damaged by oversized vehicles.

Possible width restriction signs to be investigated with Highways.

Graveyard of All Saints Church

Parts of the old graveyard are not maintained and have become very overgrown.

PCC to investigate and arrange suitable maintenance.

Footpaths on both sides of Docking Road and on one side of Burnham Road

Overgrown hedges and some parked cars restricting or blocking footpath.

Residents to be contacted re: hedges. Problem of parked cars to be raised at SNAP meeting.

Station Road

Hedges

Residents have been contacted and Highways notified.

Station Road

Onion Store

Residents had had concerns but no nuisance has been caused by noise or smell.

Village Cross

Some loose mortar

Clerk has contacted company who did repointing and they will attend again f.o.c.

Dog waste bin

Not properly supported and in danger of collapse.

Possible replacement or new support to be installed.

Convex mirror on Burnham Rd

Should it be there?

Clerk has contacted Highways who will investigate. Mirrors not allowed on highways, only on private property.

Pond opposite Duck Inn

Broken bough of tree

Clerk has contacted highways who will investigate and remove if possible.

Village Pond (The Pit)

Irises and other vegetation needs thinning out.

A parish councillor has volunteered to do this work.

Village Sign

Carved wooden sign has nose missing from Sir Hervey de Stanhoe.

New piece to be carved and attached. Clerk to contact carpenter.

Pot holes in Bircham road

Repairs needed

Clerk has contacted Highways. The holes are on the verge not the highway but highways will arrange for additional stone to be added to even out surface.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 10th May 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Two members of the public were also present.

1. Election of Chairman and Vice-chairman
TA and DB vacated the Chair and Vice-chair but indicated that they would be willing to serve another term. TA was proposed as chairman by DB and seconded by PR. TA accepted and resumed the Chair. DB was then proposed as Vice-chair by RB and seconded by PA. DB accepted. All remaining councillors thanked both for agreeing to another term and for their work on behalf of the parish council.

2. To consider apologies for absence
All councillors present.

3. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting of 8th March 2012
These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

4. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

5. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No public present.

6. SNAP
TA had not attended the last SNAP meeting and was still awaiting a draft of the Minutes. The next meeting would be in July (date yet to be confirmed) and TA encouraged other councillors to attend.

7. Broadband provision in Stanhoe
A village resident had been in discussion with the local M.P. and with BT regarding the possible provision of high speed broadband to the village. The current provision comes via the Docking exchange and BT confirms that, at present, there are no plans to update Docking exchange to provide a high speed service. TA urged everyone to put pressure on BT in order to prove the demand existed for a high speed service.

8. Area of playing field fenced off by owners
Some of the fencing had been vandalised and some posts stolen which made the area unsightly. It was agreed that the owners must be aware of the situation. No further discussion or action at present.

9. Village Cross
RB reported that the new mortar, which had been applied to the base of the village cross last year, was already crumbling in places. This will be inspected by councillors during the village inspection.

10. Village Inspection
Councillors agreed to meet at 7.00pm. on 14th June 2012 to carry out a walking inspection of the village to identify any maintenance and/or repair issues.

11. Updates on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments

b) Bottle bank – the clerk is still trying to persuade BCKLWN to install a soundproof liner.

c) Blacksmith’s workshop – no developments. MR to contact Mrs. Ralli senior to establish ownership of the workshop and to enquire if there are any plans to prevent further deterioration of the building.

d) Review of polling districts and stations – a decision is still awaited.

e) Overgrown hedges – the Borough has again sent letters to those concerned and outcome awaited. Legal action may be taken.

f) Wind Farms Appeal – decision was delayed but is now scheduled for 28th May 2012.

g) Geese on the pond – a gosling has hatched. Adult geese are very protective of their young and hiss if people go near but no specific problems reported.

12. Diamond Jubilee
Planning is going well and everything is in hand for the village celebration. TA thanked JS for all his work in connection with this event.

13. Dog Waste Bin
The current bin is unstable and may need to be replaced. There is a rumour that the Borough Council are going to dispense with dog waste bins and will ask people to put the plastic bags of waste in the normal bin going to landfill. The clerk will try to find out the Borough’s intentions. This item to be added to the Updates item in the Agenda in future.

14. Planning Decisions
The clerk reported that the application to demolish “The Chantry” on Bircham Road and to erect two detached houses on the site had been withdrawn. Permission was granted for the erection of a cart style garage at Westfield House in Parsons Lane and both planning permission and listed building consent was granted for the alterations to the Coach House at Stanhoe Hall.

15. Year End Accounts/Financial Update/Insurance for 2012/3 & Approval of Payments
The clerk circulated copies of the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2012. DB queried the cost item for specialist shredding of documents. This was for the secure disposal of old parish council documents which were no longer required and were being stored by a previous clerk. No other queries were raised and acceptance of the accounts was proposed by PA, seconded by PR and unanimously agreed. A financial update was also circulated for the period up to the date of the meeting.

The clerk had received a quotation for annual insurance renewal from the current brokers Came & Co. with insurance cover by Aviva. The quote for a renewal of 1 Year was ££669.84 including IPT, a 4.7% increase on the previous year. The brokers were also offering a 3 year agreement for the reduced price of £636.01 including IPT for the current year with the next 2 years having only a small increase each year. After some discussion, it was decided to proceed with the 3 year agreement. Payments were approved for the annual subscriptions to NALC and Norfolk RCC and also for the clerk’s salary.

At a previous meeting, it had been decided that all annual subscriptions and donations to other bodies should be discussed at the meeting held in May each year when the annual accounts were presented. Accordingly, after discussion, it was agreed that annual subscriptions should be paid for 2012/3 to the CPRE and Norfolk RCC and donations given to the Burnham Market Car Scheme and the Tapping House Hospice.

16. Meeting Dates for 2013
Following the usual pattern of having meetings on a Thursday of alternate months, the dates were set for 2013 as:

Thursday, 10th January
Thursday, 14th March
Thursday, 9th May
Thursday, 11th July
Thursday, 12th September
Thursday, 7th November
All meetings to be held at 7.00pm. in the village hall.

A provisional date 11th April 2013 was set for the Annual Parish Meeting.

17. To receive items for the next Agenda
The following items were raised for the next meeting due to be held on Thursday, 12th July 2012:

Recruitment of new councillors
Village Inspection Report
SNAP report
The usual updates
Prior to the next meeting it was agreed that a letter should be sent to PCSO Owen James thanking him for his talk to residents at the annual Parish meeting in April.

Also, pot holes in Cross Lane, on Bircham Road near Church Farm and near Longwall Barn should be reported to the highways department.

No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 8th March 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – E Thuburn, tel 01485 518409

Present:
Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:
Mr M Roche (MR)
Mrs P Roche (PR)

Also present was the Borough Council Member for Docking Ward, Andrew Morrison.

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
Apologies had been received and were accepted from Mr. and Mrs. Roche who were attending a meeting in London.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the last meeting
The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th January 2012 were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
No members of the public present.

6. Scrap Site at crossroads of Fakenham & Bircham Roads
This item was discussed before Item 5 as Councillor Morrison had attended specifically to receive information on this matter. At the previous meeting, the clerk had reported that the Borough Planning Enforcement Officer had undertaken to look into the legality of this site and any planning conditions associated with it.

The clerk has recently received correspondence from the Enforcement Officer stating that, although no planning permission had been given originally, the site had been used as a scrap yard for at least 70 years and was now considered to be legal. Accordingly, no action could be taken against the owners as the site currently did not pose any threat or danger and was not unduly untidy in terms of scrap sites.

Parish councillors were disappointed at this outcome, however, Councillor Morrison undertook to investigate further possibilities with the Borough Planning Department and to discuss the matter with Docking Parish Council within whose boundaries the scrap site lay. He would also speak with the Stanhoe resident who had raised the matter with the parish council.

5. SNAP
T.A. had attended the meeting on 2nd February 2012 and confirmed that discussion mainly still concerned the Hunstanton area. There were currently 3 priority issues:

1) Anti-social behaviour which had reduced in Hunstanton town but had increased in Dersingham.

2) An unspecified environmental issue in Park Road.

3) Parking concerns over Tesco lorries in Hunstanton and both lorries and cars in Heacham. The police confirmed that they would issue parking tickets in all cases where parking restrictions had been broken.

7. Wind Farms Appeal Hearing
This had taken place in King’s Lynn over most of February. T. A. had attended to speak against the proposed development at Jack’s Lane. A decision by the Appeal committee would be announced by 20th April.

Councillor Morrison left the meeting at this point. The chairman thanked him for his attendance and for his offer of assistance in dealing with the scrap site problem.

8. Diamond Jubilee Event
J.S., chairman of the working party, gave an update on developments to date and items to be discussed at the next Jubilee meeting on 4th April.

The clerk had requested the opening of a new current account at Barclays to be called “Stanhoe Jubilee Account”. Confirmation of the account was still awaited.

Tickets and advertising flyers for the event had been designed and printed. Questions for the Treasure Hunt had been devised. A young oak tree had been purchased and planted in a suitable place near the village hall and a commemorative plaque fixed to an ancient stone said to have been part of the church of St. Peter which had once stood in the village. Snowdrops would also be planted within 1–2 weeks.

The design and cost of supplying mugs had been undertaken by the PCC members of the working party but there seemed to have been no developments to date. J.S. intended to purchase some commemorative mugs from the National Association of Local councils as a failsafe in case the others were not ready in time. The PCC would be asked to be responsible for the cost.

A union flag was offered by T.A. for use in unveiling the plaque at the tree ceremony. The W.I. had agreed to lend some bunting and had offered to serve refreshments during the afternoon for those taking part in the Treasure Hunt.

The W.I. had also given a donation of £100 (from the W.I. Fund and from individual members) towards the Jubilee fund. An anonymous donation which had been promised would be followed up by the clerk. T.A. thanked J.S. for all his work in planning this event.

9. Updates on ongoing matters
a) Cross Lane Traffic: No further developments on possible restrictions. It was very unlikely that any action would be taken by the County Council Highways Department. In a connected matter, T.A. reported that a speed awareness monitor was in operation in the village for a 2 week period. The monitor flashed to drivers the speed at which they were travelling which in the vast majority of cases was in excess of the limit in place.

b) Bottle Bank: The clerk reported that the environmental waste manager at the Borough Council confirmed that a noise reduction lining was on order for the bin. If this failed to materialize, he had promised that the bin would be lined with an expanding foam product.

c) Blacksmith’s Workshop: Through contact with various individuals, the clerk had discovered that this was almost certainly owned by the Ralli family. It was agreed that someone who knew Mrs. Ralli senior should make contact with her try to establish what could be done to prevent the workshop from falling into complete disrepair. As the workshop stood at a road junction, it was thought that the County’s Highways Department would be concerned at the prospect of a building collapse.

d) Review of polling districts and stations: Councillors had objected to any change in existing arrangements and were awaiting a decision by the Borough Council.

e) Overgrown hedges: This was now being dealt with by the council’s highways department.

f) Geese on the pond: To date, this was not causing any problems.

10. Annual Parish Meeting
This was scheduled for 26th April at 7.30pm. T.A. had asked the police if there could be a presentation on local policing. It was thought that a member of the force could attend. Invitations to all village residents would be circulated with “Saints Alive”

11. Maintenance of Village Churchyard
T.A. had received a request from the PCC for a donation towards the upkeep of the churchyard which was available to all residents of the village regardless of faith. A sum of £200 had been suggested by the PCC. It was agreed that this sum could not be guaranteed every year but payment of £200 for this year was proposed by D.B., seconded by P.A. and unanimously agreed.

12. Planning Decisions
Permission had been granted to the owners of Longwall Barn for the conversion of an open patio to an enclosed sun room. Decisions on a further two applications for village properties were still awaited.

D.B. commented that the development of an onion store and drying facility at the grain store on Station Road had not proved to be any form of nuisance as had been feared by residents. He suggested that a letter be sent to the farmer thanking him for his handling of this issue.

13. Financial Update and Approval of Payments
A statement of recent income and expenditure was circulated together with copies of bank statements. Cheques were signed for the payment of the clerk’s salary and the donation to the PCC (mentioned above). A possible subscription to the WNVCA was postponed pending further investigation as to benefits. It was agreed that all possible donations and subscriptions would be discussed in future at the meeting in May each year when the year end accounts were presented. Following decisions reached, payments could then be made as and when each item arose.

14. To receive items for the next Agenda
The following items were suggested for the next meeting due to be held on 10th May 2012.

Broadband provision in Stanhoe
Area of rough ground on the playing field which had been fenced off by the owners
Usual updates on ongoing matters
Village inspection by parish councillors
Dog waste bin
Wind Farms
No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 9.05pm.