MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL at 7.30 pm on MONDAY 18 OCTOBER 2004

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mrs R. Roth (Chairman)
Mr G. Halliwell (Vice-Chairman)
Mr D. Folland Mr G. Forster Mr E. Nichols
Mrs Y. Powell Mrs B. Rix Mr N. Rudrum
Mr C. Tomlinson
District Councillor I. Evans
County Councillor D. Turnbull
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
Two members of the public

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mrs P. Goodman and Mrs M. Wickham.

2. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 13 September 2004 had been previously circulated; proposed by Mr Tomlinson, seconded by Mr Nichols, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Broadland Enhancement Award
The Clerk reported that the Village Hall annex had been awarded a Certificate of Merit.

3.2 Broadland Green Award
The Clerk had consulted with Broadland personnel, who had considered it worthwhile to nominate the BALAY field, and to outline the whole purpose of the initiative in the entry wording. There would be no cash prizes, but recognition by the Award might assist in attracting further funding. The Clerk had therefore proceeded with the nomination, and the meeting endorsed this action.

3.3 Public Footpath Diversion Order - Footpath No 4 (8.3)
The Head of Corporate Services had informed the Clerk that an objection to the Diversion Order had been received from another body, and therefore the matter would have to be referred to the Department for Rural Affairs for adjudication. She gave the Parish Council a further opportunity to make representations about the Order.

Notwithstanding that the Council had had no comment to offer at the last meeting, the Clerk had consulted with the Chairman about the Council's true feelings on the diversion, and had made representation, based on the Council's historic objection to the whole development. The Council endorsed this action.

Mr Forster reported that the route of the existing path area had been turfed and a gate installed.

3.4 Broadland District Council - AGM with Parishes
Mrs Rix gave report on the AGM, and on the fact that the Council had been the only one to put in a written question, to which the answer had been satisfactory. The presentation on Broadland's Business and Support Services had been excellent, and there had been a good opportunity to ask questions.

4. POLICE MATTERS

4.1 Crime Figures
The crime statistics for September had been circulated. The Liaison Officer had made a report on speed checks in Brook Street and Lion Road, and had offered Councillors the opportunity to spend time with him while monitoring traffic speeds. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr Folland and Mr Nichols accepted this offer, and the Clerk would liaise regarding convenient times.

The meeting AGREED to suspend Standing Orders to allow members of the public to speak.
Matters discussed included areas for speed monitoring, parking on footways, and representations regarding the planning application for Forge Cottage.
Standing Orders were reinstated.

5. PLANNING MATTERS

5.1 Applications
20041456: Forge Cottage, Brook Street: Rear porch, detached garage & satellite dish (Listed Building)
DECISION: Supported with regard to the rear porch and satellite dish; objected to the siting of the garage as being detrimental to the visual amenities of the neighbouring property.

20041556: Hartwell, The Heath: Conservatory & Garage
(Mr Tomlinson declared a personal interest in this application; Mrs Rix declared an interest as a near neighbour)
DECISION: Supported

20041560: Gullane House, Mill Street: Alterations to first floor partitions (Listed Building)
DECISION: Supported

20041566: Heath Cottage Barn, Coltishall Road: Conversion of barn to holiday
accommodation / annexe
(Mr Tomlinson declared a personal interest in this application)
DECISION: Supported, conditional on the development being classed as an annexe, and occupied by relatives of the main dwelling (Heath Cottage).

20031426: Rowan House, Marsham: Retention of external lighting
DECISION: Supported

5.2 BALAY Field - Application for standing for temporary changing rooms, kitchen and toilet facilities
(Mr Tomlinson declared a personal interest in this item)
The BALAY Committee sought approval for funding the planning application fee, as Parish Councils paid half the cost.
On a vote, this was APPROVED (6 for, 1 against; Mrs Rix abstained from voting)

5.3 Mayton Wood Composting Site
The Council had received pre-application consultation about the cessation of the landfill use of the site, and increase in composting facilities. The meeting expressed concern about increased traffic movements from the site, and accepted the invitation for the Operations Manager to come and talk to the Council about the proposal.

5.4 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
The only open case was being dealt with via a planning application.
6. FINANCE

6.1 Payments
Proposed by Mr Tomlinson, seconded by Mr Folland, payment for the following was agreed:
Buxton Primary School: Photocopying, October Round 136.37
Norfolk County Services: Grounds maintenance (September) 297.28
Maintenance recreation ground (half year) 241.86}
Public Works Loan Board - loan repayment by Direct Debit 1,260.33
1st Buxton Lamas Sea Scouts - grant for waste paper collection Jul-Oct 60.00
Clerk's salary - October 267.51
Less 6% pension contribution (16.05) 251.46}
Stationery 4.69} 264.56
Refund - telephone charges 8.41}
Norfolk County Council - pension fund return (October) 51.63

6.1.1 Balances
On a suggestion from Mrs Rix, the Clerk would prepare a comparison of interest rates for deposit accounts.

6.2 Third Party Finding, Buxton Village Hall Improvements
(Mr Nichols, Mrs Powell and Mr Tomlinson declared a personal interest in this item).
Because of an increase in costs for the heating, Buxton Village Hall had applied for extended funding from Biffaward. This had been provisionally agreed, subject to the original second and third party funders again providing the proportional amounts.
Proposed by Mr Forster, seconded by Mr Rudrum, the sum of £167.90 was AGREED.

6.3 Playground Fence
(Mr Nichols, Mrs Powell and Mr Tomlinson declared a personal interest in this item).
A gap had been left between the existing playground fence and the Village Hall wall, following removal of the oil tank. This needed to be closed to fulfil the requirement of the Hall's use by Playgroup. The Clerk had not yet received a reply to a quote enquiry for extending the existing fencing, but had estimated this at around £100, based on the previous costs.
The meeting AGREED to authorise the Clerk to proceed with the necessary works.

6.4 External Auditor Return
The External Auditor had received an independent notification from the Public Works Loan Board on the outstanding capital balance (Box 10), which differed from the Council's figure. The Clerk acknowledged the mistake, and sought approval for a correction on the form to £18,385.
Proposed by Mr Forster, seconded by Mr Tomlinson, the amendment was APPROVED.

6.5 Application for Financial Assistance
Proposed by Mr Forster, seconded by Mr Folland, a donation of £60 as budgeted was AGREED to North Walsham CAB.

6.6 Any Other Financial Matters
The Clerk had ascertained that the cost for an initial survey into the safety of the street lighting column in Mill Street would cost £25. The meeting AGREED to pursue an inspection.

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 Update on Maintenance Matters
The Clerk reported on various areas programmed for maintenance:
Drainage in The Street, Lamas
Repairs to the kerbs and bridge barrier at the weir
A scheme to install a footway around the corner at The Crown had been included in the following year's Area managers Schemes, provided there were no budgetary constraints
Work had been programmed to provide hardstanding areas and raise the kerbs where necessary at the Broadshopper bus stops on Aylsham Road to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

8.2 Tree Planting Event, 29 November
Broadland District Council had been awarded 78 trees through the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation's recycling campaign. It had suggested that parishes hold tree-planting events, and sought submissions from Parish Councils for planting sites.
The Clerk was instructed to canvass opinion from the residents of properties surrounding Bulwer Close Green as to whether the replacement trees should be located there.

8.3 Any Other Village Maintenance & Highways Matters
8.3.1 The Clerk would pursue a permissive path across the meadow from Bure House to Lamas Church.
8.3.2 The Clerk would enquire whether there was a maintenance contract for the church clock, following the previous contractors' retirement.
8.3.3 The Leaf Hit Squad would be in operation from mid-November to mid-December; councillors would inform the Clerk of any areas requiring attention.
8.3.4 It was reported that there had been a traffic accident on the slip-road to RAF Coltishall earlier in the day. The Parish Council's proposal for a one-way system in this location was with the Safety and Traffic Management section at Norfolk County Council, and the Clerk would inform him of the accident.
8.3.5 The Chairman reported on behalf of Lamas Village Hall Committee that the latter was addressing the precepts of the Disability Discrimination Act. with regard to access to the Hall and a disabled toilet. It had also put in hand a revaluation, as requested by the Internal Auditor.
8.3.6 The Clerk would report potholes in Lamas Street and edge erosion outside Lamas Church.

9. NCAPTC - BROADLAND AREA MEETING
The Clerk would attend the meeting in Felthorpe on 26 October on policing matters.

10. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS

10.1 County Councillor Turnbull reported that the County Council budget for 2005/06 was under some constraint. A questionnaire would be delivered to every household to gauge taxpayers' views on priorities for spending. His personal hope was that maintenance of the footpaths would not be cut back.

A second round of consultation would be held on the Northern Distributor Route. Alternative routes had been put forward at the first stage, and it was hoped that a decision would be taken on the optimum route early in 2005.

The Boundary Commission was on the verge of approving the new division boundaries, so that the May 2005 elections would take place based on those constituencies.
A new Head of Childrens' Services had been appointed, to oversee services previously provided by the Education and Social Services departments for children up to the age of 18.

Councillor Turnbull responded to Mr Nichols' comments on the accident rate at the junction of the A140 (Aylsham by-pass) and the Buxton road. A scheme was in the Forward Programme to address the safety issues at this location.

Mr Tomlinson queried the possible construction of part of the Northern Distributor Route before all routes had been agreed. Councillor Turnbull's personal opinion was that the eastern routes could be agreed more quickly than the more contentious western routes through sensitive areas, e.g. Ringland. His personal aspiration was that construction of the eastern route could be commenced while negotiation was ongoing for the most appropriate western route.

Mr Halliwell commented that questionnaires were often pitched towards giving the desired reply. Councillor Turnbull responded that the questionnaire was designed to gauge the true feeling of the people of Norfolk.

Councillor Turnbull further reported that the leader of the County Council Labour party, Celia Cameron, already a member of the National Standards Board, had been appointed as a member of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), and that a meeting would be held on 8 November to finalise the PFI agreements for refurbishment of several Norfolk Schools.

District Councillor Evans reported on his attendance at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Broadland District Council regarding accommodation at Thorpe Lodge. This had resulted in three firms being asked to produce feasibility plans for both relocation, and refurbishment of the existing building. It was hoped that these reports would be presented by the end of November.

Local authorities would be taking over licensing responsibilities from local Magistrates Courts on 7 February 2005; Broadland District Council would be establishing another committee to deal with applications.

District Councillor Evans had recently attended the Standards Committees assembly, which had been a very well organised event with several workshops designed to help committee members deal with breaches of the Code of Conduct. From April 2005 cases reported to the Standards Board could be delegated to local authorities to determine.

There would be a further Extraordinary General Meeting of the council on 3 November to decide on the future electoral cycle of the District Council.

Councillors Evans and Turnbull were thanked for their reports.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.