Rocklands Parish Council
(RPC)
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held in
Rocklands Village Hall
7.00pm on Monday 7th April
2014
Present : David Howie Chair
Nicola Southgate Vice Chair
Cath
Jones
Shirley Colenutt
Kim Austin Clerk
Bill Smith District Councillor
Also
present: 4 members of the public.
1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
RESOLVED To accept apologies from
Cllrs. Roger Steel and David Witt who were both away.
2. To record declarations of interest from members in any items
on the agenda
There
were no declarations of interest. It was
noted however that previous correspondence from Vicky Thomson of Breckland
council had confirmed that the ‘shop/post office’ scenario would be appropriate
for a dispensation on the grounds that ‘the number of persons prohibited would
be so great a proportion as to impede the transaction of the business’.
ACTION: Clerk to ensure dispensation is in place.
3.
To approve the minutes of the
last council meeting on Monday 24th February 2014
RESOLVED to approve the minutes
that had been circulated prior to the meeting, as a true and accurate record of
the meeting. The minutes were duly
signed by the Chair, Cllr. David Howie.
4.
To discuss any matters
arising from the minutes, not on the agenda
Brecklands Policy to build
on council owned plots of land in villages: Cllr Bill Smith was thanked for obtaining
confirmation of the parcels of land owned by Breckland Council in
Rocklands. There was a small parcel of
land at the Mere. Cllr. Smith commented that as Breckland Council would have no
commercial interest in this small piece of land that Rocklands could apply for
it if they wanted it. The Parish Council
were not sure what they could use it for other than a seated area. The land at
Wayland Road would be the most likely to be built on if at all.
5.
To
adjourn the meeting for public participation
Meeting adjourned at 7.22pm.
There were no comments from the public.
The meeting re-opened at 7.23pm.
6. To
report on Finance
6.1
Financial position
The bank account balances as at Monday 7th April
2014
Barclays Community Account £ 3843.96
Barclays Saver (Reserve) Account £ 701.92
TOTAL as per bank £ 4,545.88
6.2
Money in since last meeting
7/4/14 Consolidated Stock £ 0.28
7/4/14 Brekland Council – Precept £ 2567.95
TOTAL IN £ 2568.23
6.3
Cheques out (to sign)
Norfolk Association of Local
Councils – Ann Membership £ 138.22
TOTAL OUT £ 138.22
6.5 Standing Orders
Kim Austin Clerk’s
wages
Pearce and Kemp Street
lighting
e.On Electricity
NALC Annual Membership.
RESOLVED To renew NALC annual membership at £138.22 (£141.01 last year.)
Barclays Bank – Mandate change – name and signatories
Still trying
to facilitate Clerk’s change of name and removal of Peter Smith as signatory,
leaving current
signatories as Roger Steel and Nickie Southgate. Now need more forms completed by Cllr
Howie as he is chair.
ACTION David Howie to complete
personal details forms and proof of ID.
Sport England – Deed of Dedication.
Deed of
dedication now completed, signed by councillors and returned our solicitors.
However update from solicitors this week confirms that Fields in Trust is holding up proceedings but not
sure why? To
do with them already having a deed of dedication on the same piece of land.
Mazars - External auditors
Paperwork has arrived for Annual
Return and Mazars end of year External Audit. Due July 2014.
Pearce & Kemp.
Still need to change SO to DD.
Difficult to get through to their accounts office.
7 To consider planning applications.
7.1 Planning outcomes since last meeting
3PL/2014/0078 ROCKLANDS PO/SHOP Refurb/shop
front/new door (44) PERMISSION
7.2 Planning applications pending outcome
3PL/2012/0654/CU
Breckland Storage/Swangey/Retail caravans
- (15)
It
was noted that this has been pending since 2012. It was commented that although
some of the business had apparently moved to Snetterton, there were still
storage facilities at Swangey and caravans travelling up and down Swangey Lane.
3PL/2014/0210/F HOLLAMBY 43 The Street/Side Extension
& Garage Roof (45)
7.3 New planning applications since last meeting
3PL/2014/0281 CHAPMAN/The Old Rectory/2 storey
ext, pool and staff accom (46)
Lots
of development but well away from anything else. Nearest house is Rose Cottage.
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION Pending Cllr
Southgate visiting Rose Cottage to check.
ACTION Cllr. Southgate to visit
people living at Rose Cottage (Deadline 23/4/14)
3PL/2014/0281 SOUTHGATE/Rocklands Pk Fm/Agri
Manager House (47)
RESOLVED NO
OBJECTION to this planning application .
7.4 New planning applications since agenda
issued
None since agenda was issued.
A member of the public was allowed to speak
regards a previous application for the building of cowsheds by Bidmead at
Tuppins Farm. This application was previously objected to by the Parish
Council, their comments were overridden and the application was passed.
Recently a tall hedge has been cut down by Bidmead to expose the extent of the
steel building erected on the other side, previously hidden from view. This is now causing some distress to the
neighbours.
ACTION Cllr. Howie to make some
enquiries.
8 WW1 commemorative
events
Cllr. Jones confirmed that churches were having
services around the benefice but she hadn’t found out if the schools were doing
anything. Breckland Council are giving
grants, as confirmed at the last meeting and will close when funds are
exhausted.
Cllr. Bill Smith gave the photographs of ‘days
gone by’ in Rocklands that he had promised to give and was thanked by the
parish council. Roger and Sue Steel should look at the photographs.
ACTION: Ian Scholes to ask for
ideas for events on Rocklands website.
ACTION: Ian Scholes to put
photographs on website.
9 To update on
White Hart and Rocklands Village Shop
White Hart. The White Hart was open
but very part time.
Village Shop
and Post Office (CJ).
The shop was open, was hard work but was going well. The number of volunteers
was increasing every week. The financial
end of year had been successfully changed. Vat registration was being sorted.
The cafe was very popular. Doing well with Hingham Bakery as a supplier.
Problems with BT and the lottery.
10 To receive update
from Tree warden. (Richard Smedley)
Richard Smedley was very poorly.
11 To update on Playing Fields. (DH)
Cllr. Howie reported that there were still little
things to do as well as some fencing. Cllr. Howie said he would like to see the
playing fields used more.
12
To receive update on Highways
Salt Bin. Had eventually been filled !! After the
initial request was made in September 2013 !
Streetlights. All lights seemed to be working at the moment.
Grants are available but not sure if Parish Council want to go down the route
of a full replacement at great expense.
Trod. The layout is OK and does make it safer for
crossing but the ‘lumps’ are too big. It is not good and does not seem to be
good value for money. Breckland Council are coming back to have a look at it.
Footpath across field. A footpath has been
ploughed up by mistake. Cllr. Southgate has phoned the Howletts to let them
know. Cllr. Jones has replied to a lady
called Glynis that brought it to the attention of the Parish Council. Parish
Councillors will find out what has happened and what can be done.
13 To update on
flooding
Cllr Bill Smith had been helping to sort the
ongoing problem of a blocked/silted drain in Bell Road, and had sent a further
email today about the same problem to Norfolk County Council again.
14 To discuss and
correspondence
Cllr. Howie had been contacted by a resident who
wanted to know if 45 The Street (1st of the new houses) had been
affected by flooding in the past. Cllr. Howie has replied direct to say there
have been problems in the past but things have improved.
The Clerk had been contacted by a person hoping to
move into Rocklands who was concerned about the quality of Broadband in the
area. The Clerk put him in touch with
Richard in the village who knows about these things. Richard has since confirmed that he will be
moving to Rocklands and that they will meet-up then and campaign
for fast rural broadband for Rocklands!
15 AOB (Agenda items
for next meeting)
16 Date of next Meeting - Monday 12th May 2014, 7pm,
Rocklands Village Hall.
(AGM - Annual Parish
Council Meeting)
The meeting
closed at 8.07 pm.