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

PRESENT:

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

W.Smith (District Councillor)
C.Jordan (County Councillor)

9 Parishioners

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence

2. MINUTES

The minutes of the Council meeting of 11May 2009 were signed as a correct record.

3. MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk reported that he had as directed written to Mr Oliver and the letter was on file.

It was decided that applying for brown signs was not financially viable.

The Chairman reported that he had received a letter of resignation from the Clerk after 12 years service. On behalf of the Council he expressed his thanks for the work the Clerk had put into the office and help given.

Mr Pierce's article in The Rocklander regarding funding for the Playing Field and The Chairman's reply was discussed at length and it was decided that comments from the parishiners regarding how much of the precept we raise, should be spent on the Playing Fields would be welcome. This matter could then be considered at the budget meeting in November.

4.DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillors must declare any personal interest in any item on the agenda and state whether they are also prejudiced. In the case of a personal interest the member may speak and vote on the matter. In prejudicial interest the councillor must withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed

5. FINANCE

Receipts	£5558.07
Payments	£1367.48
	£4190.59

Reconciliation

Community Account	£ 1046.39
Business Premium Account	£3144.20
	£4190.59

Invoices for Payment

Bingham Hall Associates Drainage Report............ £575.00

D.L.Davis Clerk
Wages......... £344.50
Expenses..... £ 20.80.........................................£365.30

Both invoices passed for payment

The Clerk reported that he had received the VAT rebate(£168.81) and interest on the Business Premium A/c (£0.44)

DONATIONS

The matter was discussed and it was proposed that the following donations be made for the upkeep of churchyards and maintenance of the Playing Field and Village Hall grounds of the following sums:

£ 85.00 to St Peters and all Saints PCC's
£ 70.00 to the Methodist Churchyard
£160.00 to the Playing Field
£ 80.00 to the Village Hall

This was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Steel and carried.
Clerk to raise cheques.

6. PLANNING

Planning applications had been received from

Mr Batch - Rocklands- Land at the rear of Holly Cottage, Chapel Street - 3PL/2009/0341/F -
Erection of two dwellings 7 garages conversion of extg office to residential, demolition of existing garage & erect new
The Council Objected. Objections attached to application.

Mrs Allen - Rocklands - 17 The Street 3PL/2009/0467/F - Side 2 storey extension rear single story extension and detached garage
The Council Objected. Objections on file
This application has now been approved

Mr Beckett - Rocklands - Woodland Horses, Sandy Lane - 3PL/2009/0509/F - Proposed dwelling and office.
The Council had no objections

Mr Davis - Rocklands - Rocklands Village Hall, The Street - 3PL/2009/0543/F- Installation of multi use games area behind the village hall -
The Council had no objections

S. Metcalf - Little Ellingham/Rocklands - Tenby Cottage, Anchor Corner - Single storey front & side extension, conservatory glazed roof part replaced with lean to tiled roof
The Council had no objections

R. Southgate and Son- Rocklands - Park Farm - 3AG/2009/0012/AG - Extension to existing grainstore
The Council had no objections
This has been approved

Planning permission had been granted for

Mr Garrod - Rocklands - Halfway Far, Sandy Lane - 3PL/2009/0313/F - Erection of agricultural storage building

Mrs Leeder - Rocklands - Bowling Green at the rear of the White Hart - 3PL/2009/0343/CU - Change of use for 5 touring caravan pitches

Mr Dyer - Rocklands - 41, The Street - 3PL/2009/0378/F - New conservatory to the rear & ground floor extension at the front

A letter had been received from Breckland Council explaining they were introducing an improved system of responses to planning applications giving greater reasons for their decisions

7. TREE WARDEN

An application had been received for the post. It was noted that the wrong telephone number for Councillor Steel, as applicant liaison officer,had been put in the Rocklander and it was believed that there was another interested applicant. It was decided that a sub committee under the Chairmanship of Councillor Steel should interview the applicants and report back to the meeting

8. HIGHWAYS

It was noted that Brays Lane had again flooded during the last storm but this came under the Flooding item.

Concerns were expressed regarding sign boards placed on the Attleborough Road advertising village events, which on occasions obscured the vision of drivers turning out of the Street. It was suggested that an article be put in the Rocklander at the start of next years round of events calling attention to this problem

9. FLOODING

Councillors Smith and Cotes brought to the attention of the meeting the contents of the flooding report commissioned by the Council and its recommendations.
The first part dealt with flooding in relationship with planning.
The second with methods of reducing flooding and costs.

1. To reinstate the ditch down the side of The Street with large culverts under the driveways. This would incur no cost, as the landowners are responsible for the free flow of water across their land.
2. To install a large culvert down the centre of The Street
3. To install a large pipe behind the houses in The Street.
These two options would cost between half and three-quarter of a million pounds.
4. Create one or more lagoons in the fields along the line of the drainage ditches. This would need to be 13000 cubic metres in size and would necessitate the removal of 26000 tons of soil. Cost 100 to 150 thousand ponds.

This subject was then discussed at length. It was agreed that the flood committee needed to meet and further discuss the matter with reference to smaller projects in the clearance of ditches or reinstatements of closed ditches.

10. CORRESPONDENCE

Items of immediate interest were brought to the attention of Councillors and the rest of the correspondence circulated.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.50 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Monday 25 September 2009 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall a