MINUTES OF BUXTON WITH LAMAS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held in BUXTON VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2004

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

Mr Stuart Reynolds (Operations Manager) and Mr Richard Varvel (Landfill Manager) with NEWS Ltd, attend to address the meeting on the proposed planning application for enlargement of composting facilities at Mayton Wood site. A record of their presentation and discussions held is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mrs B. Rix, Mr C. Tomlinson, Mrs M. Wickham and County Councillor D. Turnbull.

2. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 18 October 2004 had been previously circulated; proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mr Rudrum, these were AGREED, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 NCAPTC AGM - Council's Motion
Mr Nichols reported that the Council's motion on District Councils being asked to present a breakdown of the costs of recycling had been carried, with the addition of the word 'operational' before costs. Mr Nichols made available the event's information pack.
The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from the Chief Executive of Broadland District Council, who had attended the AGM, raising concerns that the wording of the motion might give the impression that the District Council was not being transparent about its accounts. He emphasised that this was public information and open to scrutiny. The Clerk had spoken to him informally and assured him that this was not the intention of the motion, merely an attempt to gauge the costs involved in the recent dual-bin recycling initiative. He was happy with this response and did not require a formal reply.

3.2 Invitation to Materials Recycling Facility Centre, Costessey
Broadland District Council was organising a visit to the MRF on 16 December. If this was oversubscribed, a further visit would be organised. Councillors Roth, Halliwell, Folland, Goodman, Nichols, Powell, Rix (previously) and the Clerk expressed an interest, as did District Councillor Evans.

3.3 Broadland Green Award
The short-listing panel had felt that the BALAY site would be best put forward for the Award in two years' time when the project had progressed further. The other projects were well established and it would not be fair to put the Buxton entry against them at present.

3.4 Any Other Matters Arising
3.4.1 The Clerk reported that the Rural Housing Trust had withdrawn funding in Norfolk to Mrs Manser, who had addressed the Council in June 2004 about a rural housing needs survey. However, Broadland District Council had recently appointed a Housing Enabling Officer, who was prepared to continue with the survey. The Clerk had liaised with her and arranged that the survey would be printed and distributed with the February 'Round'.
3.4.2 The Chairman reported that a gate was blocking the existing published route of Footpath No 4, before the determination of the diversion order, which had been referred to DEFRA. The Clerk confirmed that this was an enforcement matter, of which the District Council was aware.

4. POLICE MATTERS

4.1 Monthly Crime Returns
These had not been made available at the time of the meeting. The Chairman and Mr Folland reported on their session of traffic speed monitoring with P.C. Cook, which had been illuminating. P.C. Cook considered Lion Road to be one of the most dangerous in the village, where speeding was rife.
The Clerk would check when the Vice-Chairman and Mr Nichols could have a similar session.

4.2 NCAPTC Area Meeting
The Clerk had attended this meeting on the subject of 'Your Broadland, Your Police, Your Say'. Statistics had been presented showing that Broadland was among the safest in the country in which to live, but it was acknowledged that the fear of crime was an undesirable element of rural life.
Presentations had been made by the Home Watch Coordinator, and the newly-appointed officer at Broadland District Council was introduced, who would be responsible for crime reduction initiatives, including Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

The meeting AGREED to suspend Standing Orders to allow members of the public to speak.
Representations were made on the planning application for the Bure Valley Garage site.
Standing Orders were reinstated.

5. PLANNING MATTERS

5.1 Declarations of Interest
Mrs Rix had raised concerns and sought guidance about this matter as it related to planning applications. The Clerk confirmed that if the public might perceive that a councillor had a prejudicial interest in an application (usually, but not always, a pecuniary interest) the councillor should leave the meeting while the matter was being discussed. Councillors declaring a personal interest could remain in the meeting but should not take part or vote on an issue.

5.2 Applications
20041688: Bure Valley Garage site: Redevelopment of site for residential purposes -
6 detached houses with associated garages (Outline)
DECISION: Supported in principle residential development on the site, but objected to the layout as proposed. In particular the proposed access to one plot via the school road posed serious safety concerns, as there could be a conflict of priority between the residents and pupils and their parents.
The Council felt that better use could be made of the site in terms of layout and numbers of dwellings proposed.
The plans were also misleading, in that the houses in Stracey Road appeared to be much further away from the proposed development boundary than they actually were.

20041754: 38 Levishaw Close: Continuation of quay heading
DECISION: Supported

20041785: Birds Place Farm: Alterations to stable to form holiday accommodation and installation of 3 roof lights
DECISION: Supported

5.3 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
5.3.1 61 Brook Street: Listed Building permission had been granted for the rear porch and satellite dish; however, any outbuilding within the curtilage of a listed building over 10 cubic metres would require ordinary (i.e. not Listed Building) planning permission. A further application for the garage alone was anticipated.

5.3.2 Permission had been granted for the felling of two ash trees in the garden of Brookfield House, Brook Street.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Payments
Proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mr Rudrum, payment for the following was agreed:
Buxton Primary School: Photocopying, November Round, December Round 255.50
Norfolk County Services - grounds maintenance (October) 297.28
T.T. Jones Electrical - fee for survey of street lighting column 29.37
St Andrews Lammas PCC - churchyard maintenance, 2004 881.35
Scribe 2000 Ltd - annual licence fee, accounts software 195.00
Buxton Village Hall - Hire of Hall, 2004 (10 meetings) 100.00
Viking Direct - printer cartridges 47.83
Clerk's salary, November 267.51
Less 6% pension contribution (16.05) 251.46}
Expenses 14.55} 269.17
Stationery 3.16}
Norfolk County Council - pension fund return, November 51.63

6.2 Street Lighting Column, Mill Street
The contractor had reported that the column was completely rusted through and he therefore recommended removal; this was AGREED.

6.3 Extension of Parish Council Agency Agreement with Norfolk County Council for Grass Cutting
The Council AGREED to continue with the existing arrangements until 31 December 2005, on the basis of an exchange of letters.

6.4 Audit Reports
6.4.1 The External Audit for the annual accounts 2003/04 had been completed satisfactorily. There were no matters raised requiring the Council's attention. The Council recorded its thanks to the Clerk for the preparation of the accounts.

6.4.2 The Internal Auditor has completed an audit of the first half-year's accounts for 2004/05, and reported that all systems had been properly maintained.

6.5 Church Clock Maintenance
The Clerk had received a copy of correspondence from the Church Fabric Officer to a reputable firm (Smith of Derby) seeking details of a maintenance contract for the Buxton church clock. Any final contract would be agreed with the Parish Council.

6.6 Draft Budget and Precept for 2005/06
The Clerk presented a draft budget, and explained various items. The matter would be on the agenda for the January 2005 meeting for ratification and to set the precept level.
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 A letter of thanks had been received from the chairman of the BALAY Committee for the Parish Council's contribution to the planning application fee for the temporary facilities.

7.3 A letter had been received from RAF Coltishall informing the Council of night flying for the following two weeks.

8. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE & HIGHWAYS MATTERS

8.1 Norwich Northern Distributor Route
The meeting considered the revised route options for the Northern Distributor Route, and indicated its preference for the western orange route, and the eastern blue route.
The most important issues were considered to be i)taking traffic from residential/city streets; ii) landscape and nature conservation; iii) areas used for leisure activities; iv) improving journey times; v) keeping communities together.

8.2 Maintenance Matters
8.2.1 The Chairman reported that the railing at the bridge over the weir in Lamas would be repaired within the next two weeks. She had shown the Highways inspector the gap on the Lamas side of the Mill bridge and he had promised to look at the ownership records and progress any repairs within his remit.
The kerbing over the weir in Lamas was likely to require major funding. A project was being prepared for inclusion in the Forward Programme, and the inspector had confirmed that it could have a high priority on safety grounds. The work would necessitate a road closure when it was carried out.

8.2.2 The Traffic Engineer had been measuring the road width at points in Lamas Street for preparation of a safety scheme. He had indicated informally that the Traffic Survey had indicated an average speed through Lamas of 35 mph, and about 1,000 traffic movements per day. A report would be prepared in due course for the Parish Council.

8.3 Replacement Tree Planting, Bulwer Close Green
Four replies had been received from residents surrounding the Green, of which three were in favour of replacing the trees. However, concern had been expressed about vandalism.
After discussion, it was proposed by Mr Nichols, seconded by Mrs Powell and AGREED that the two trees secured from Broadland District Council should be offered to the churches.
The Clerk would ask P.C. Cook to patrol around the Green in early evening.

8.4 Litter Issues, Crown Road/Church Close Area
A letter had been received from residents of Church Close expressing concerns about the increasing amounts of litter and petty vandalism in this area. After discussion the Council decided that there was an adequate number of litterbins in the vicinity, and that the Police should be asked to keep an eye on the area.
The Youth Worker, Mrs Stone, had been trying to get in touch with the Clerk to report on contact made with young people. Mrs Stone would be invited to a Parish Council meeting.

8.5 Any Other Highways Matters
8.5.1 The Clerk would seek a replacement for the litterbin for the Village Hall play area.
8.5.2 The Clerk would ask the Traffic Police to monitor parking close to the Bulwer Road/
Brook Street junction.

9. CHARTER FOR QUALITY PARISH COUNCILS

A draft Charter had been prepared by a group comprising Policy Officers from Broadland District Council and Norfolk County Council, the Chief Executive of NCAPTC, and Clerks of Broadland parishes serving on the SLCC Branch Executive Committee. The draft had been previously circulated to allow Councillors to scrutinise it.
The meeting AGREED to support the Charter.

10. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

District Councillor Evans reported that he had recently attended two full Council meetings. The meeting on 3 November had been specifically to consider changes to the electoral cycle. By a two-thirds majority, the District Council had voted to recommend to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the full Council be elected every four years.
He was a member of the new Licensing Committee, which would take over these duties from local magistrates' courts from May 2005.
The next meeting scheduled for 7 December would contain a report from the Standards Committee, of which he had been re-elected the Vice-Chairman. There would be a further meeting on 20 December to discuss the office accommodation at Thorpe Lodge.
District Councillor Evans had attended a meeting of Postwatch, regarding Post Office closures, and a Question & Answer session on the Northern Distributor Route.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee training had been held at UEA, chaired by Dr Ian Gibson MP, which he had found very useful.

District Councillor Evans was thanked for his report.

11. MEETINGS SCHEDULE 2005

The Clerk presented a schedule of meetings for 2005.

12. AOB

12.1 Mr Forster thanked the Council for its good wishes on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
12.2 The Clerk would write to the County Council raising the matter of assistance for those who needed it at the Mayton Wood Household Waste Recycling Centre.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.05 pm.