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

PRESENT:

P. Cotes (chairman)
P. Smith (Vice Chairman)
R.Steel
Mrs N.Southgate
Mrs C.Jones
Ms S.Colenutt

W. Smith (District Councillor)

43 Parishioners

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor Gibbon

2. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the 10 November 2008 were signed as a correct record

3. MATTERS ARISING

As instructed the Clerk had written to Mr Robinson regarding the sign he had erected on Chapel Green and had received a reply which was read to the Council. After discussion it was decided that as the removal of the sign was not possible without destroying it, that the Council could cover its placement and subsequent removal on the eventual sale of the property by the current owners, without giving up ownership of the Green, by a "licence" at nominal cost. Clerk to research.

Councillor Smith reported that he and the Clerk had worked together to get the S20 of the Freedom of Information Act requirements onto the website. A breakdown of the information available had been put on the notice board and a copy placed in the Post Office

The Chairman reported that he and Councillor Smith had attended a meeting of the Playing Field committee who had asked the Council for financial help. The committee had proposed a doubling of the levy charged to users, which was received with little complaint; this will help the committee's financial situation All other imattersdealt with under agenda headings

4. FINANCE

Receipts	£7640.45
Payments	£3307.60
	£4332.85

Reconciliation

Community Account	£ 1189.82
Business Premium Account	£3143.03
	£4332.85

Invoices for payment

Clerks pay £323.47
Clerks expenses £ 7.00
Total £330.47

This was approved

The Clerk reported that he had received the Audit from the examiners and they had found only one error, a zero had not been placed in a box. The result had been displayed as required and he asked for retrospective approval for the payment of £58.75 the cost of the audit. This was agreed.

The Clerk also reported that there was a problem with the Lighting Maintenance contract payments due to the change in VAT rate and delay in amending the standing order, as well as a rounding up and down of the VAT charge at the beginning of the year. This would be rectified with the last payment for 2008/09.

A letter had been received from E-on regarding an increase in the cost of electricity for street lighting. As a decision was required by 30 December the Chairman decided on a 12 month contract, which would be £647 + VAT for the year. This was retrospectively agreed.

5. PLANNING

Planning applications had been received from

Mrs Firmin - Rocklands, 68 The Street - 3PL/208/1467/O - demolition of bungalow and erection of four dwellings
The Council had objected
A Development Control meeting was held on 15 December 2008. Result awaits

Mr Mrs Rickard-Rocklands, Shrubland House, The Street - 3PL/2008/1508/FNew single storey rear extension and small projection off existing gable
The Council had no objections
This application has been approved

Mr Garrod - Rocklands - Halfway Farm Sandy Lane - 3PL/2008/1623/F - Extension of existing livestock building inc forming of manure storage pad
The Council had no objection but had concerns

Kirk Hall Farms - Rocklands - Toad Hall - 3PL/52008/1527/F - replacement of existing dwelling
The Council had no objections

Mr Horswell - Rocklands - Beacon Farm Fen Street - 3PL/2008/1631/F Resubmission - Alteration to existing dwelling extensions, cartlodge and change of use of land to residential
The Council had no objections

A letter had been received from Breckland Council re Town & Country Planning (general Permitted Development) (Amendment)(No.2) (England) Order 2008. This was circulated

A planning application had been received from

David Fuller Associates - Rocklands, 50 The Street - 3PL/2008/1640/F - erection of 2 semi detached houses etc

As this was a contentious issue the Chairman opened the floor to the meeting. Mr David Witt a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineer who had prepared a report on the problems of surface drainage, foul water drainage and other related items covered by the application circulated this to the meeting and explained the content (copy held with plans). Lengthy discussion followed with the possibility of allowing the build with the developer being required to make a substantial payment toward improving the village drainage system, this also to be considered with the proposed development at No. 68. The meeting felt that this would not help the current flooding problems;the build would have to go ahead without any guarantee that that any monies contributed would cover any remidicial flood prevention work. It was agree that Mr Witt and Councillor Smith should seek an urgent meeting with Breckland planners to bring Mr Witt's report to their attention and raise the perceived problems covered by the build and ask that the two applications i.e. No. 50 and No. 68 be considered together with regard to the flooding issue. The Chairman then closed the meeting to the floor. It was agreed that the Council would object to the proposal.

6. HIGHWAYS

Two letters had been received from the House of Commons regarding the possibility of twenty-mile an hour speed restriction at schools in Norfolk and the County reply. This was circulated

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7. FLOODING

Councillor Smith stated that flooding had been discussed in the planning section of the meeting but he brought to the Council's notice that the outfall in Nr Reynolds land in Low lane had been dug out and that the grips in The Street and Mill Lane had been dug out and a channel into the ditch in front of the Village Hall had been constructed.

8. CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence of immediate interest was brought to the attention of the Councillors and the rest circulated

There being no further business the meeting closed at9.20 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Monday 23 February 2009 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall