Rocklands, Norfolk The Villages of Rockland All Saints and Rockland St Peter

PRESENT:

P. Cotes (Chairman)
P. Smith
R. Steel
Mrs N. Southgate

County Councillor C. Jordan
District Councillor W. Smith

5 Parishioner

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors P. Leigh, Mrs M. Gibbon, J. Abel

2. MINUTES

The minutes of the Annual Assembly held on Monday 5 April 2005 were signed as a correct record

3. MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising

4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

This was the year of the bus, or to be more accurate, the year when we discussed the absence of buses. We started with a presentation by the County Council Planning and Transportation Department. They explained that because we had not used the services, their subsidy and First Bus routes were withdrawn. During the year we discussed buses and at the end of the year we again returned to bus discussion - heated discussion. What did we conclude? Not a lot beyond establishing, as we had with the subject of drains and flooding in the previous year, that if we as inhabitants want something doing we have to do it ourselves.
Many people disagree, but I believe the way forward is to accept that if we live in a village, we also accept the limitations of facilities. It must be cheaper to arrange the occasional taxi for those journeys we want to make, rather than spend taxpayers' money on running empty buses around the countryside. If finance is a problem, we have the F T Mann Rocklands Village Trust, which can help - as it has already helped a number of villagers. That's what it's for.
. I would like to mention at this stage the work Mary Gibbon has done in liaison with the Attleborough Area Partnership in publishing the available bus and taxi share options.
We had a presentation by Inspector Peacock on policing policy for the area. This is the first time many of us have seen a policeman in the village and were grateful to the Inspector for taking the time to visit us.
Planning continues to occupy much of our time with the area around Mount Pleasant being the main focus of concern. We remain baffled by the approach adopted by Breckland, there seems to be no consistency in which developments are agreed and which are rejected. If we have to have a project for the New Year, I would suggest "Understanding the Planning Environment". We could and probably should attend meetings of the planning committee and try to get a planning officer to come to a meeting to explain how they decide on giving a thumbs up or thumbs down to individual applications. I would like to thank the Vice-Chairman for his work in sifting through the applications we are asked to comment on.
In terms of the future, I do wonder about our parish precept. We have one of the lowest charges in Breckland, well below that of neighbouring parishes. We have prided ourselves on being careful with public funds - our village money,but should we spend more, or do we accept that in the Mann Trust we have a vehicle to meet our social responsibilities? It is a thought I would like to leave, unanswered at present, for future consideration.
Our website continue to inform and I am grateful to Peter Smith for his work on this project and Chapel Green. Courtesy of Nicky Southgate we discussed our Community Emergency Plan and we are appreciative of her hospitality in hosting that evening.
As ever I would like to express my thanks to our Clerk (and his grammatical mentor Peter "red pen" Smith) for arranging our meetings, preparing our minutes and maintaining our accounts. My thanks also to Councillors Bill Smith and Cliff Jordan for their attendance and contributions to our discussions.

5. REPORT BY COUNTY& DISTRICT COUNCILLORS & POLICE

Councillor Jordan stated that the County Council now has a new leader. He added that the Council were now underfunded to the tune of £25 million and despite this, extra statutory demands were being made on the Council by Central Government without any addition funds,thus the underfunding was getting worse. In answering a question he stated that the highway budget for new projects was booked to the year 2015, though major works were now funded by the Regional Assembly.

Councillor Smith informed the meting that Breckland had for the 7th year running the lowest precept and lowest demand on band D housing. A new partnership was being set up to administer the District precept. He continued that the Council had agreed to the necessity to employ a full time Drainage Officer and one was to be appointed in the near future. A Strategic Alliance Project was being set up to administer all Council financial services

7. PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

The Clerk presented the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2006. He stated that the council had received £3000.00 from the precept and had made £73.76 in interest and had reclaimed £66.34 worth of V.A.T. The Council had spent £3035.262 in running costs and there was an outstanding electric bill for £72.61 which covered the period 1.1.06 to 31.3.06 and was due on 18 April though this was really part of the previous year's expenses, so the total expenses for the year were really £3107.87 which is in line with the Council's objective of reducing the capital balance.
There were no questions concerning the accounts. The Chairman and Clerk signed the accounts as a correct record.
A full breakdown is attached to these minutes at "A"

8. TO REVIEW REGISTER OF INTERESTS, FINANCIAL STANDING ORDERS, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF R.F.O.

The Clerk pointed out to the meeting, that the Council had previously agreed that if an invoice requiring payment before it could be brought before the Council, the Clerk was allowed to raise a cheque and have it signed off, on the understanding that the invoice was to be presented at the next Council meeting. This was not included in the Financial Standing Orders and he asked if an amendment could be made to correct this anomaly.
This was agreed.
There were no further alterations required

9. COMMENTS FROM FLOOR

There were no further comments from the floor

There being no further business the Annual Assembly was closed at 7.25 p.m.

 

 

“A”
ROCKLAND PARISH COUNCIL
ACCOUNTS
2005/2006

RECEIPTS
Cash in hand B/F		£4129.96
Precept		£3000.00
VAT Rebate		£66.34
Intertest		£73.76
Electricity Refund		£72.61
Wayleave Payment		£33.45
Total		£7376.12
PAYMENTS
Lighting Maintenance		£350.40
Prof Subscriptions		£145.42
Clerk's Pay	£1097.20
Clerk's Expenses	£75.27	£1172.47
Donations		£250.00
Trafalgar Day		£100.00
Electricity		£345.56
Insurance		£466.80
Audit		£61.25
Rent Hire of Village Hall		£56.00
VAT		£87.36
TOTAL		£3035.26
.	.	.
RECEIPTS		£7376.12
PAYMENTS		£3035.26
TOTAL		£4340.86
.	.	.
RECONCILIATION
Community Account		£606.42
Business Premium Account		£3734.44
TOTAL		£4340.86