Great Massingham Parish Council

GREAT MASSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

7.30pm – 8.50 pm, Monday 17th July, 2017 Village Hall Great Massingham

Minutes

Present: Victor Cross (Chairman) Sue Nash Liz Foster Gillian Goold Malcolm Hipkin Mick Wingell Kevin Webb (Clerk and minutes) Tim Tilbrook (Borough Councillor) Stuart Dark (County Councillor)

1 Declarations of Interest - None

2 Apologies for Absence – A. Bickerton and O. Brun

3 Confirmation of any part of the minutes that is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act

4 Minutes of the meeting held on 19th June, 2017: All agreed that the minutes be signed as a true copy.

5 Matters arising from minutes a) No members of the Parish Council were able to make the visit to the bio-diversity pond. b) The Chairman and Mrs. Goold attended the Go to Town bus meeting on 27th June. Stagecoach is being replaced by Lynx at the end of the current contact.

6 Report from Borough Councillor Mr. Tilbrook said that the Electoral review consultation process for the Borough runs from 27th June to 4th September.

7 Report from County Councillor Mr. Dark referred to the increasing concern regarding the state of the pavement from Mill Road northwards. A site visit was arranged at which Sally Bettinson (Norfolk County Council) was present. It was agreed that a long stretch of footway (about 180 metres) is in a very poor condition.

1/4 It had been assessed that effective and permanent repairs would cost £2,500. Mr. Dark said that he would be prepared to allocate £1,000 from his personal budget (this represents one sixth of the sum he has available). In addition, the County Council would contribute £500 (the sum it would have cost to patch the pavement as a temporary measure) and he asked if the Parish Council could provide the balance, i.e. £1,000. The repairs had been prioritised as a safety measure as there was a real worry regarding the possibility of serious injury to pedestrians. Members were concerned that a precedent may be set if Parish Council funds were utilised for something that is the responsibility of the County Council. It was stressed that this was to be regarded as a one-off in view of the serious nature of the matter and the need for a quick solution. On this basis, Mr. Hipkin proposed that we proceed with the Parish Council making a contribution of £1,000 to this vital project. Seconded by Mr. Wingell. All in favour. Mr. Dark mentioned that £600K has been made available this year under the Parish Partnership scheme. Closing date for applications is 11th December, 2017.

8 Police Report A crime update covering June 2017 had been received.

9 Land at Charles Dewar Close Mr. Wingell asked if this land could be offered to build on. There is room for between eight and ten houses. The latest updated version of the Call for Sites is due to be released in September but, in the meantime, Mr. Wingell will make further enquiries and report back to the next meeting.

10 Co-option of new member Two people had expressed an interest and had sent personal details to the Clerk. They were Caroline Boyden and Ed Robb. Mr. Robb was at the meeting. Mr. Bickerton had forwarded a note a few hours before the meeting saying that Dr. Mike Jackson may be interested. No communication had been received directly from him, however, and it was agreed that, on this occasion, he could not be considered. Proposed by Mr. Hipkin and seconded by Mrs. Nash. All in favour. Following a secret vote, Mrs. Boyden was elected. Co-option formalities will be completed at the next meeting.

11 Hillington meeting regarding a Neighbourhood Plan The Clerk had contacted the Parish Clerk at Hillington. They have not yet commenced discussions regarding a Neighbourhood Plan but a meeting is to be arranged with Snettisham Parish Council (contact is Mel Billington) in the not too distant future. It is proposed that some members of Great Massingham Parish Council attend this meeting (date to be obtained).

12 Planning Applications: (i) Anglian Water Services Ltd, Great Massingham Water Tower Site, Greengate Lane (17/01358/F) – construction of a replacement water tower (no objections)

Determinations: a) Parish land off Sandy Lane at end of Rectory Row within Conservation Area (16/02081/F) – removal of hedge (permission granted)

2/4 13 Correspondence 1) Clerks and Councils magazine for July 2017 2) Letter from Ms. S. Hollins re speed signs and pavements on Station Road (Chairman to respond and Mr. Bickerton to write regarding Speedwatch) 3) Electoral review of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk 4) West Norfolk Community Transport – new timetable 5) Request from Ducklings Preschool for Parish Council to contribute funding towards a new building (Chairman to respond explaining the need for a detailed Business Plan before consideration can be given)

14 Allotments Nothing to report

15 Greens, fishing and streetlights The Fishing warden has left the area and a replacement is urgently required. A note is to be placed in the Mallard. Mrs. Nash said that the edging on the Post Office pond is overgrown.

16 General Maintenance Mr. Wingell reported a pothole at the junction of Castle Acre Road and Weasenham Road. He will report this on the County Council pothole hotline. Mrs. Nash has complained about the state of the school hedge.

17 Village Incidents None

18 Items for the Mallard Fishing Warden - (VC) New Council member - (VC) Paving (footway) - VC

19 Highway Matters Nothing to report

20 Financial Matters Expenditure

17/7/17 K. & M. Lighting Services (maintenance – July) £69.36 17/7/17 SSE (street light electricity for June) £30.21 17/7/17 K. Creed (Youth Club – May) £200.00 17/7/17 K. Creed (Youth Club – June) £200.00 17/7/17 Thinking Rural (payroll services – April to June) £12.00 17/7/17 CGM (grounds maintenance village greens w/c 17/4/17) £144.44 17/7/17 CGM (grounds maintenance – work completed 31/5/17) £125.44 17/7/17 CGM Group (grounds maintenance for May – less C/Ns) £462.75 17/7/17 Playsafety Ltd (annual RoSPA inspections) £268.80 17/7/17 N. Yates (annual payment to Fishing Warden) £150.00

Acceptance of expenditure approved by all.

3/4 Income

21/6/17 Fishing permit £12.00 7/7/17 NALC (Transparency Code grant) £501.12

Balance (7/7/17):- £29,126.88 credit

21 Items for next Agenda a) Post Office Pond edging/overgrowth c) Co-option of new member (in person)

22 Date of next meeting Monday, 14th August 2017 at 7.30 pm

The meeting closed at 9.08 p.m.

Acceptance of minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2017: Signed as a definitive record of the meeting

……………………………… (Chair of the meeting) …………………… (Date