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

Present:

S.Colenutt
M.Gibbon
C.Jones
P. Smith
N.Southgate

Clerk: L.Defew

Five members of the public were present

The Clerk took the Chair

1. Election of Chairperson 2011-2012

Councillor Colenutt proposed a vote in favour of the appointment of Councillor Smith as Chairperson; the nomination was seconded by Councillor Jones. Councillor Smith explained that he didn't want to stand as Chairman as was unwilling to take on another role in conjunction with Planning, Flooding, the website and the Chapel Green maintenance. Discussion ensued relating to this issue and Councillor Southgate was also approached in relation to the role. Councillor Southgate explained that she also didn't want to take on any further commitments. Councillor Jones stated that she didn't want to take on the role and suggested that some of the tasks could be allocated to other Council members. Councillor Smith explained that if someone would take on the tasks relating to Planning and Flooding, he would consider the role of the Chairman. Further discussion took place relating to the tasks and Councillor Southgate agreed that she would take on the Planning work with the support of Councillor Smith and Councillors Jones and Colenutt agreed to take on the Flooding work, with the support of Councillor Smith.
Councillor Colenutt proposed a vote in favour of the appointment of Councillor Smith as Chairperson; the nomination was seconded by Councillor Jones and carried unanimously. Councillor Smith was duly elected as Chairperson.

2. Election of Vice Chairperson 2011-2012

Councillor Colenutt proposed a vote in favour of the appointment of Councillor Southgate as Vice Chairperson; the nomination was seconded by Councillor Jones and carried unanimously. Councillor Southgate was duly elected as Vice Chairperson.

Councillor Cotes took the Chair

3. Co-option of Councillors

Councillor Smith proposed a vote in favour of the appointment of Roger Steel as Councillor; the nomination was seconded by Councillor Colenutt and Roger Steel was unanimously elected to fill one of the vacancies.

Councillor Smith stated that there was still one vacancy available. Tracey Cook and David Witt both explained that they didn't have any spare time to take on the role. Councillor Southgate stated that Elaine Johnson had suggested putting a vacancy notice up in the Post Office and Councillor Steel stated that there needed to be increased awareness of the vacancy and a further understanding of the role needed to be conveyed. It was agreed that Councillor Southgate would put a notice in the Post Office and the Clerk explained that she could forward an example of a vacancy notice to Councillor Southgate.

Councillor Jones explained that Father Ken Reeve retirement is imminent and that his last service is to be held on 26th June 2011. Councillor Smith agreed to deliver a card in recognition of the Council's appreciation for Father Reeve's work in the community.

4. Apologies for Absence

None

5. Declaration of Interests

No interests were declared

.

6. Minutes of Council Meetings on 4th April 2011

Resolved to approve the minutes as a true and accurate records of both the meetings. The minutes were duly signed.

7. Matters arising from the Minutes

BT red phone box - Councillor Gibbon explained that the shelving in the box has now been completed and that the books will be going in soon, when a stamp process has been established.

Streetlight electricity - The Clerk conveyed information from Councillor Cotes explaining that, having contacted ESPO regarding a change of contract from E.ON, it had emerged that the potential for savings was limited, now that the old E.ON contract arrangement had ceased, with E.ON's price at 9.20p per unit and ESPO's price at 9.59p for most units but 16.96p for the first 280 per year. It was agreed that the EON price should be accepted.

8. Suspension of the meeting for public participation

None

The mmeting re-opened

9. Finance

9.1 Adoption of accounts 2010/11 - the Annual Accounts were reviewed, adopted and duly signed by the Chairman and the Responsible Finance Officer.
9.2 Annual Return - the governance statement was outlined and agreed. The return and bank reconciliation statement were reviewed and the return signed by the Chairman and the Responsible Finance Officer.
9.3 Clerk's scale - request for increase in salary scale (from SCP17 (£8.747p p/hr) to SCP18 (£8.919p p/hr) in recognition of the stated fixed annual increment, as described in job contract, was approved.
Insurance - The Clerk explained that AON had re-iterated that a discount could only be given if a group of Councils operated as one Council. The alternative insurance policies conveyed by the NALC were offering limited saving possibilities. It was agreed that the AON policy should be renewed.
The bank account balances as of 09/05/2011 were conveyed by the Clerk:
Community Account £1,000.00
Business Saver Account £2,748.50
Cheques and paperwork authorised and duly signed for the following:
AON Ltd (Insurance) £704.82, Lucy Defew (Clerk's April expenses) £24.68

10. Planning

Planning permission granted for:
Cottage Farm, Bell Road, 3PL/2011/0253/F - Installation of two 5kW 15m high wind generators. Councillor Smith explained that the plans had been modified due to the Council's comments.
Glebe Farm, The Street, 3PL/2011/0197/F - Conversion of redundant agricultural barn to residential dwelling
Church Farm, The Street, 3PL/2011/0198/F - Conversion of redundant agricultural barn to dwelling, demolish outbuilding & erect new garage/carport
Crossways, Chapel St, 3PL/2011/0144/F - Re-build existing garage (re-submission)

Currently in circulation:
Barn at Holly Farm, Fen Street, 3PL/2011/0411/F - Conversion of redundant agricultural barn to residential dwelling

11. Report from Tree Warden

No Tree Wardens present

12. Highways

Brief discussion regarding the resolution of various signage problems.

13. Flooding

Councillor Smith explained that Rod Kelly had not been in contact yet in relation to the building of mini-dams on the drainage ditch near the Village Hall. Councillor Smith explained that he would convey the relevant information to Councillors Jones and Colenutt. Councillor Steel re-iterated the need to contact Ridgeons' imminently, in relation to their agreement to provide materials, as they require further details in relation to the specific requirements.

14. Correspondence

No further correspondence

A brief discussion about the emergence of various pot holes in the village took place. The Clerk was requested to notify her contact in Scoulton in regards to one specific pot hole on the Scoulton Road.

14. Date of the next meeting

11th July 2011 at 7.00 p.m.

Meeting closed at 8.10 p.m.