MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2005

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mrs R. Roth (Chairman)
Mr D. Folland Mr G. Forster Mrs P. Goodman
Mr E. Nichols Mrs Y. Powell Mr N. Rudrum
Mrs M. Wickham
District Councillor I. Evans
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
One member of the public
Two District Youth Workers and four young members of the parish

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr G. Halliwell (Vice-Chairman) Mrs B. Rix,
Mr C. Tomlinson and County Councillor D. Turnbull.

The Chairman introduced Mrs Stone and Brian from Broadland District Resource Base, and gave them the floor.

Mrs Stone thanked the Parish Council for the opportunity to speak, and explained that she and Brian had been working with the young people since summer 2004, and had built up a good relationship with them. One obvious lack was a place for the young people of the village to meet when the Youth Service mobile caravan was not available. The village was dark, and a shelter would be welcome.

Mr Nichols had suggested in the past a shelter similar to the portakabin used for the football club equipment, to be fitted out with seats, as a place for the youth to treat as their own and to look after. He was confident that the Village Hall Management Committee would grant permission for it to be sited on Village Hall grounds. The young people agreed that this would be most welcome. Mrs Stone explained that they would do some fund-raising themselves to mitigate the cost, and the Parish Council agreed to assist with the balance and to facilitate purchase, etc.

Mr Nichols would try to locate a suitable structure and would liaise with Mrs Stone via the Clerk. It was hoped that some idea on costs would be available at the next Parish Council meeting, and the project could be taken forward.

Ms Stone and the young people thanked the Council for its assistance, and they left the meeting.

2. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 10 January 2005 had been previously circulated; proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mr Folland, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Letter from NEWS Ltd
A letter had been received from the Operations Manager regarding the policy for offering assistance to members of the public at household waste recycling centres.

3.2 Agreements with Balmforth Homes
The Clerk had met with the Council's solicitor, who would progress clarification of the plan accompanying the Land Registry entry for the land off Aylsham Road. As he felt that it was in the interests of Balmforth Homes to have the matter clarified, he would suggest that the company bear the solicitors' costs.
4. POLICE MATTERS

4.1 Crime Statistics
The meeting noted the crime figures for the period 1 December 2004 - 24 January 2005.
P.C. Cook had sent a letter apologising for missing two months' reports, but explained his other duties as a Police diver.

The meeting AGREED to suspend Standing Orders to allow members of the public to speak. No matters were raised, and Standing Orders were reinstated.

5. PLANNING MATTERS

5.1 Applications
20041688: Bure Valley Garage site: Amended plans (Outline)
The previous plans for this site had been withdrawn, and the Council was asked to consider the principle of housing on the site, with the detailed plan and access road to be submitted at the Reserved Matters stage.
DECISION: Supported housing in principle
The Council's preference was for as many properties as possible to be affordable, social-rented, shared ownership or for key workers, with possibly 8/10 units on the site without 'cramming'. The access onto Aylsham Road should address the fact that pupils attending the primary school crossed the road near that point.

20050143: Hautbois Hall (Listed Building application): Repairs, improvements and alterations
DECISION: Supported

Stratton Strawless: Holiday lodge park (consultation as neighbouring parish)
DECISION: Supported in principle. However, the meeting had concerns about highway safety, as traffic using the site would, of necessity, have to use either the A140 (Aylsham Road) or B1149 (Holt Road). The meeting considered that both these junctions would need further speed reduction measures, probably in the form of roundabouts.

20050161: 15 Aylsham Road: Single storey rear extension
DECISION: Supported

5.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
No enforcement reports had been received from Broadland District Council.

5.3 East Of England Plan
The Clerk reported on the Vice-Chairman's and her attendance at the seminar held the previous week under the auspices of Norfolk County Council planning department, and outlined the main points of the Plan.
It was agreed that she would circulate her report and the slides from the presentation to councillors, and an extra meeting would be held on 14 March 2005 to discuss the Council's response to the consultation.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Payments
Proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mr Rudrum, payment for the following was agreed:
Ordnance Survey: Annual licence fee 55.81
Buxton Primary School: Photocopying, February Round 118.78
T.T. Jones Electrical: Removal of street lighting column, Mill Street 206.21

Information Commissioner: Annual registration under Data Protection Act 35.00
1st Buxton Lamas Sea Scouts: Waste paper collection Nov - Feb 60.00
Clerk's salary - February 267.51
Less 6% pension contribution (16.05) 251.46}
Renewal of computer anti-virus protection 40.81} 292.27
Norfolk Pension Fund - February return 51.63

6.2 Application for Financial Assistance: East Anglian Air Ambulance
Proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mr Forster, a donation of £100 was AGREED to
The meeting noted a virement for this amount between the budget heading for (non S.137) Grants and S.137 Expenditure.

6.3 Clerks' Employment: 2005/06 National Award Revised Salary Scales
6.3.1 The meeting considered the duties of the post against the model profile, and AGREED a salary scale of SCP21 - 25 pro rata for the hours worked, currently 7 per week.
6.3.2 The meeting AGREED that the Clerk commence at SCP21 for the year 2005/06.
6.3.3 The meeting AGREED payment of £2 per week (maximum non-taxable sum) for the use of the Clerk's home as the Council office.
6.3.4 The meeting AGREED to phase in the recommended increase in employer's contributions to the Norfolk Pension Fund at a rate of 1.5% over the next three years.
6.3.5 The meeting AGREED revisions to the 2005/06 budget as follows:
Salaries: Increase of £104 (6.3.3 above)
Employer's Overheads: Increase of £50 (6.3.4 above).

7. CORRESPONDENCE

7.1 A list of the correspondence received had been circulated, and is attached to the signed copy of these minutes. All items were available from the Clerk.

7.2 The Chairman and Clerk had completed a questionnaire regarding community involvement in the development of the Local Development Framework.

7.3 The Clerk reported that night flying would take place from RAF Coltishall between 21-24 February, and 28 February - 3 March until 11.30 pm.

7.4 Sanders Buses would be withdrawing its school time journeys as from 28 March 2005, but it was the County Council's intention to tender all school services to keep them constant.

8. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAYS MATTERS

8.1 Ongoing Highways Issues
The Clerk had pursued information on the proposed junction realignment at Buxton church and traffic calming measures in Lamas, but had been unsuccessful to date.

8.1.1 Footpath Diversion, Buxton Mill
The Rights of Way Officer at Norfolk County Council had confirmed that the diversion was being considered under the Town and Country Planning Act, and as it had not yet been determined the developer was putting his case in jeopardy by obstructing the existing path. He further confirmed that any obstruction could be removed by users of the route to allow them to continue to use the path.

8.2 Norfolk e-Tool Project
A CD had been issued to all Parish Councils to enable them to prepare an Emergency Plan.
The Clerk would appeal in The Round for an Emergency Liaison person.

8.3 Any Other Highways Matters
8.3.1 The Clerk would ask the owners of bright floodlight at Hill Farm if it could be re-angled so as not to blind drivers approaching along the Horstead Road.
8.3.2 The Clerk would report potholes in Lamas opposite The Lodge and at Scottow Road.

9. CLERK'S CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

The meeting considered and AGREED a renewed contract of employment for the Clerk in accordance with the model contract recently agreed at national level. The Clerk would produce a fair copy for the Chairman and herself to sign.

10. COUNCIL POLICIES

Related to 9 above, the Council considered and adopted the following policies:
Disciplinary Policy
Grievance Policy
Complaints Policy
Procedures for hearings by the Disciplinary and Grievance Committee
Procedures for hearings by the Staff Appeals Committee

11. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

District Councillor Evans reported n the full District Council meeting held on 25 January 2005, at which the council debated its preferred options for the Northern Distributor Route. It resolved to support the eastern blue route, and the western orange route, the red route being the second option if there were too many difficulties with the orange route. In particular, there were concerns about the junction of the Northern Distributor Route with the southern by-pass at the western end. The latest estimate for commencement of construction was 2009.

The next full Council meeting would be held on 22 February, at which the portfolio holder for Finance would present a financial statement, and resolutions would be made on the budget and Council Tax levels for 2005/06.

Councillor Evans would also attend a one-day conference on Standards in Public Life.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.54 pm.