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

PRESENT:

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

Clerk: L.Defew

Five Members of the public were present

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

W.Smith (District Councillor)

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

No interests were declared

3. MINUTES OFCOUNCILMEETING ON 28TH SEPTEMBER 2009

Resolved to approve the minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting. The minutes were duly signed.

4.. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

Internal auditor - the Clerk was requested to find a suitable internal auditor following the retirement of Mrs Parker, the previous internal auditor.
Speedwatch - discussion regarding the Community Speedwatch Team's activities along the road near Ridgeons. The best times to check the speed of vehicles were considered.

5. FINANCE

The Clerk conveyed notification from Barclays regarding the conversion of the Business Deposit account to the new Business Saver account.
Paperwork from Barclays for the Clerk's change of address was duly signed.
The Clerk was requested to calculate and receive October's salary by cheque payment until the standing order is set up.

Invoices authorised and passed for payment:
Councillor Cotes' re-imbursement for previous Clerk's leaving gift………………£15.00
Proposed by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Southgate and carried.

6.BUDGET AND PRECEPT

The budget forecast, which had been previously circulated, was analysed and an explanation regarding the change in payment regularity of the Clerk's salary was given.
Discussion ensued regarding the request from lawyers for the Council to pay the legal fees relating to the transfer of the Playing Field land from Frank Reynolds. Councillor Cotes explained the VAT situation in relation to the situation. It was agreed that Councillor Cotes would speak to the Secretary of the Playing Field Committee, Alan Fisher, to discuss the possibility of the Council paying the fees in order to claim the VAT. There would be no provision of next year's grant to the Committee as reimbursement of the cost.
The donations to the various village organisations and activities were discussed.
Suspension of meeting for public participation
Comments were given relating to the village facilities and the payment situation for the village street lights.
The meeting re-opened
A precept of £3800.00 for the year 2010/11 was agreed. The Clerk was requested to complete and return the precept form to Breckland Council.

7. PLANNING

Planning applications had been received for

Mr C Garrod, Willow Cottage, Sandy Lane - 3PL/2009/0912/F
Insertion of dormer in existing roof and linking of existing and new dormers
The Council had no objection.

Mr I Wilton, 63 The Street - 3PL/2009/0939/F
Single storey extension to side of property to include large garage, bed/study
The Council had no objection.

Planning permission granted for:

Ridgeons Properties Ltd, Attleborough Road - 3PL/2009/0739/F
Removal of redundant store & installation of portacabin unit, new site entrance & fencing.

Mr C Garrod, Halfway Farm, Sandy Lane - 3PL/2009/0757/F
Re-roofing of existing barn including raising of roof.

Notice relating to Halfway Farm, Sandy Lane - 3AG/2009/0023/AG - Proposed agricultural buildings - explaining that it has been resolved that no prior approval is required.

Breckland Council new planning website - discussion in relation to the planning application process. It was resolved that the process should continue as usual regardless of the website as the Councillors prefer to see the larger plans and the hard copies of the applications.

8. TREE WARDENs

Councillor Steel reported that he had not yet heard from either of the newly appointed Wardens and stated that he was due to make a presentation to the Parish Council at the meeting in January 2010 and would ask for written proposals for the Annual Parish Meeting.

9. HIGHWAYS

Acknowledgement letter received from Breckland Council in relation to the new access on B1077. The Clerk was requested to locate the original correspondence sent by Dave Davis in July and then contact Sue Arnold (Planning Enforcement Assistant) to establish if Breckland need any further information from the Council.
The Clerk reported that EDF energy had requested an inventory relating to the electricity supply agreement for the street lights. The Clerk was requested to inform them that the inventory remains the same as previously supplied in July 2005.

10. FLOODING

Councillor Smith reported that a Flood Committee meeting had taken place and it was felt that another survey on the water pipes would be useful in order to establish if the main pipe through the village was clear. It was established that there had been surface water along the top end of Mill Lane but nothing in the village. A meeting is planned between Councillor Smith, Breckland Council and Norfolk Highways and the situation is progressing.

11. CORRESPONDENCE

Letter of thanks - received from the retiring Clerk, Dave Davis in acknowledgement for his leaving gift.
BT red phone box - invitation from BT for village to adopt the red phone boxes for £1.00. An assessment by BT has revealed that two calls have been made from the two phone boxes in the last 12 months. Discussion ensued in relation to the advantages and disadvantages of the existence of the phone boxes. Possibilities were voiced for other uses of the boxes if they were retained by the village. The problems associated with moving and maintaining them were mentioned. It was concluded that a note should be put into the next issue of The Rocklander to ask the village residents if anyone would like to adopt the phone boxes.
Further discussion occurred relating to the repeated fly-tipping near the bottle bank. It was agreed that this was a village hall issue.

12. DATE OF THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS 2010

The Clerk was requested to confirm the dates with Cyril Ruffles and notify the Council.

The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.