MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in LAMAS VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 25 JULY 2005

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mrs R. Roth (Chairman)
Mr D. Folland Mr G. Forster Mr E. Nichols
Mrs Y. Powell Mrs B. Rix Mr N. Rudrum Mrs M. Wickham
District Councillor I. Evans
County Councillor G. Rix
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr G. Halliwell, Mrs P. Goodman and Mr C. Tomlinson

2. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 27 June 2005 had been circulated; these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record with the following addition:
(CORRESPONDENCE)
“Mrs Rix suggested that Councillors who attended outside meetings as representatives of the Council should present a report to the next available meeting.”

THE MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING held on 11 July 2005 had been circulated; these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Diversion of Public Path, Footpath No 4
The Inspector would make a site visit during the week beginning 7 November 2005. The meeting was advised that the Inspector would not enter into any discussion about the path at the time of the site visit.

3.2 Housing Needs Survey
The Rural Housing Enabler had suggested a joint meeting between some members of the Parish Council, a representative of the Cotman Housing Association, a planner and the Housing Officer from Broadland District Council and himself, the purpose being to walk the village and review some of the suggested sites for Exceptions Policy housing. The Chairman, Mr Nichols, Mrs Rix and the Clerk would represent the Council, and various dates were suggested.

4. POLICE MATTERS

It was noted that two officers had been seen patrolling the village during the day.
There was discussion on a subject to invite the Liaison Officer to speak about at a Parish Council meeting. The Clerk always sent an agenda, but would specifically invite him to attend a meeting.
There had been further vandal nuisance in Levishaw Close, reports of disturbances in the Dell, and a car being driven unsafely in the Village Hall car park.
5. PLANNING MATTERS

5.1 Applications - none received.

5.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
The application for importation of inert materials for recycling (Frimstone) had been approved.

5.3 Any Other Planning Matters
It was AGREED to supplement the Parish Council’s comments on Application 2005/5008 (Norfolk County Council) by the addition of a request that the operation of the green waste composting facility on Sundays and Bank Holidays be kept to a minimum to lessen the detrimental effect to the amenities of the surrounding properties.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Payments
Proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mrs Wickham, payment for the following was agreed:
Buxton Primary School: Aug/Sep Round 105.75
Norfolk County Services: Grounds maintenance (3 & 4 of 7) 624.26
East Coast Insulations: Survey for asbestos, Lamas Village Hall 564.00
Playground Management Ltd: Annual playground inspection 69.33
R.E. Temple: Internal audit, 2004/05 accounts 100.00
Clerk’s salary: July 275.41
Less 6% pension contribution (16.52) 258.89
Norfolk Pension Fund: July return 57.28
Clerk’s salary: August (dated 22.8.05) 275.41
Less 6% pension contribution (16.52) 258.89

The payment to East Coast Insulations would be withheld until the complete report had been received; the Chairman and Clerk would liaise on this.

6.2 Annual Accounts 2004/05

6.2.1 The meeting received and noted the Internal Auditor’s report and recommendations, particularly the need for an updated valuation report for Lamas Village Hall. The Clerk would write to the Village Hall Management Committee Secretary.

6.2.2 The meeting APPROVED the annual accounts, and completed the Statement of Assurance on the Audit Commission return.

6.3 Buxton Church Clock
(Mr Folland declared an interest in this matter, but gave advice to the meeting based on his knowledge of the clock; he did not vote on the expenditure)
The meeting noted the survey report on the condition of the clock carried out by Smith of Derby; this recommended an initial one-off service, at a cost of £630. Following completion of the work, the firm would undertake an annual maintenance service, to be paid in arrears, at a cost of £165 p.a.
Proposed by Mrs Rix, seconded by Mr Nichols, the meeting AGREED the expenditure for the initial service, and AGREED to the terms and conditions of the annual maintenance contract.

6.4 Any Other Financial Matters
One quotation had been received for repairs to the playground equipment, and one was expected. To expedite matters once this had been received, the Clerk sought delegated authority for specified Councillors to authorise acceptance of quotations. It was AGREED that these be the Chairman, Mr Nichols and Mrs Powell.

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.

8. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAYS MATTERS

8.1 The Clerk would take action or report the following matters to the appropriate authority:
Road name sign removed: Sandy Lane;
Overgrowing hedge: The White House, Mill Street;

The Clerk explained that the Vice-Chairman’s further suggestions for placing of reflector posts in Lamas Street could be accommodated by the Traffic Engineer.
The Chairman thanked County Councillor Rix for his earlier advice on accepting the scheme as offered without further negotiation, and the meeting agreed that the Clerk should write to the former Area Manager to thank him for enabling the scheme to go ahead.

9. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT / COUNTY COUNCILLORS

9.1 District Councillor Evans reported on the full Council meeting of 12 July, at which Councillors were given a review on the current contract for refuse and recycling in Broadland, which was due to end in November 2007. 2.98 million collections annually were completed, making Broadland the top performing district in Norfolk.
A recent survey of 5,400 households revealed that 85% were satisfied with the service.

Councillors had also debated the route of the Northern Distributor Route, with particular regard to the concerns of conservationists opposing proposals for the western route. The possibility of lessening the environmental impact by making a 4-mile stretch of the route single-carriageway was debated. The District Council supported further work designed to find an acceptable alternative to address the conservation issues. Once the route was decided the planning process would commence, and it was unlikely that work would start until at least 2009.

9.2 County Councillor Rix reported that he had met with the Traffic Engineer regarding the safety issues and traffic calming in Brook Street; the latter was taking a detailed look at the possibilities.

Councillor Rix had attended his first meeting of the RAF Coltishall Closure Task Group, dealing with the issues arising from the closure of the station. These centred around the economic impact that the closure would have on the local economy, estimated by a consultant to be £21.2 Million. This took into account the loss of local firms’ contracts, civilian employment at the station, inflow of cash into local shops and businesses, and the knock-on effect these would have in recycling money. The study undertaken had looked at the impact specifically on businesses in the surrounding larger villages and towns such as Aylsham, North Walsham and Wroxham, which would suffer to a greater or lesser degree, but had not looked at the effect in rural areas.

It was confirmed that flying from the base would cease by 31 March 2006, and that RAF personnel and facilities would leave by December 2006, except for the Jaguar flight simulator which was run by civilian contractors. The future of the base as a Ministry of Defence establishment was still unclear, but Councillor Rix strongly emphasised that the base had not been ruled out for army operations because of the unsuitability of the roads. The condition of the surrounding road network had never been given as a factor for not basing large-scale operations on the site.

He had emphasised that local communities must be kept informed of the situation, in which he was supported by the MP for Mid-Norfolk. The County Council officer had agreed to prepare a document for the local Parish Councils, and the Clerk would inform Councillor Rix when this had been received.

There had been discussion on the use of the residential quarters as affordable housing, suggesting that key workers such as teachers and policemen should be given preference. The issue of the closure of the Douglas Bader Primary School on the site, and the resultant impact on Buxton Primary School, was also aired. It was envisaged that the latter would eventually lose the equivalent of a whole class and a teacher, and the school had prepared forward budgets accordingly.

The Ministry of Defence had until September/October 2005 to state whether it wished to retain the use of the site; failing this, it would be offered to other Government departments, which had a further 40 days to respond.

County Councillor Rix was thanked for his report, and his representation of the parish on this difficult issue.

10. AOB

The Chairman and Clerk reported that the rights of way over the adjacent property currently enjoyed by users of Lamas Village Hall would be secured after the sale of the property.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00pm.