Minutes of the Meeting of Litcham Parish Council held on Monday 6th October 2014 , in The Jubilee Hall at 7.30 p.m. Present Councillor M Oldfield (Chair) Councillor C Mitchell Councillor M Anderson Councillor L Christie Councillor J Jones Councillor C Lawrence Councillor R Fagence County and District Councillor M Kiddle Morris. 3 parishioners 1. Apologies for Absence. There were no apologies for absence. 2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest. Councillor Lawrence declared a DPI under Appendix A in Agenda Item 6.1 being the mother of the applicant and a DPI under Appendix B in Agenda item 8.6. 3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting. Councillor Jones proposed and Councillor Mitchell seconded the resolution that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September having been circulated be approved. All were in favour and the minutes were duly signed. 4. County and District Councillor Reports. The District Councillor informed the meeting that superfast Broadband should be in the village by the end of December.. The Big Switch and Save to reduce energy bills is running again this year and residents need to register an interest by 13 October. The change to the items that can be recycled has started Clean waste attracts more money than dirty waste so residents have been requested to wash all items such as food trays, yoghurt pots margarine tubs and glass. The Rate Support Grant is to be paid to the Parish Council again for the next financial year. The Boundary Commission has conformed that there will be a reduction in Councillors for Breckland from 54 to 49. Launditch has had Newton by Castle Acre and Fransham parishes added to the ward. 5. Matters to Report. 5.1 Community Car Scheme. Councillor Christie reported that this is going well and has used it herself. She was very impressed with the service. 5.2 River Nar Community Event 20 September at Castle Acre Village Hall. Councillors Jones and Lawrence had attended. The aim is to put the meanders back into the river but there is little that is being done in Litcham. The dyke near to the bridge on Dereham Road is being looked into but the area near to the Priory is likely to be left but the area to the east of the bridge is being considered and it is hoped that sea trout will return to the river. 5.3 Mid Norfolk CAB AGM 17 September at Iceni Partnership Swaffham. Councillor Oldfield was unable to attend but the Clerk reported that they are very busy and grateful for any donation from Parish Councils.. 5.4 Access through the Churchyard from Druids Lane. The Chairman had met the incumbent who is happy to try and arrange a meeting with the Parish Council and PCC. He was not totally up to date with the letters and thes will Page 1 of 4 Litcham Parish Council Minutes 6 October 2014 be taken to the meeting in early November. 5.5 Jubilee Hall. A meeting had been held with the builders and conversations had been had with Breckland Council planners who have stated that the white paint should be stripped of the outside and a lime wash applied and the brickwork repaired. The windows need to be replaced with wooden windows not UPVC. A further meeting is to be held on 7 October and Norfolk RCC is being consulted over grants for the plans to be drawn up. 5.6 Youth Club. The Clerk reported that he had received from Momentum (Norfolk) who had offered to assist with setting up a youth club. The Youth Club would have to become members at a cost of £25 per year. It was agreed to place a request in the Church and Village for volunteers. 5.7 Litcham Common. A letter had been received from the management Committee stating that the tenant of Long Meadow still persists in driving across the Common and over the Early Bronze Age disc barrow and not along the long standing track. He is to be written to by the Parish Council requesting that he complies with the request of the Litcham Common Management Committee. 6. Planning. 6.1 Applications. 6.1.1 3PL/2014/0731/F- Back Lane-construct 2 storey detached zero carbon dwelling and integral garage, outdoor pool and associated landscaping. The Clerk stated that this is outside the settlement boundary and that the Parish Council had objected to an earlier application which was also outside the settlement boundary. It was agreed that no objection would be raised to the application. 6.2 Decisions. There were no decisions to report. 6.3 Appeals. 6.3.1 APP/F2605/A/14/2222906-Land to rear of 8 Church Street-proposed residential development. The Chairman had attended the site visit by the Planning Inspector but he was not allowed to go onto site with the Inspector but was able to speak to him about the narrowness of the access. The Planning Inspector was on site between 14300 and 1500. 7. Highways 7.1 Report from last month. Councillor Mitchell has still some hedge to cut back on Back Lane. The STOP signs have now been refreshed on Mileham Road. Back Lane is to be strimmed and sided out by the Rangers, the footway between Front and Back Street to be sided out and cleared of weeds by the Rangers and it has been added to the weed treatment programme for next year. The rotten school sign on Druids Lane has been programmed to be replaced in due course. The Highways Technician does not feel that the hedge on Druids Lane near to the telephone exchange is a safety issue. The footway along Lexham Road and the adjoining hedge is to be inspected again and hopefully the hedge will be lowered. Breckland Council had been contacted regarding the spraying of the road name signs but these had not been cleaned yet. 7.2 New problems. More complaints had been received about the flower beds on Tittleshall Road outside Norfolk Cottage and when these were inspected previously these were not found to be an obstruction to the highway user. It was agreed to request clarification from Norfolk County Council that the flower bed could be walked on as it may be on highway land. The hedges near to the Old Police House need cutting back and Norfolk County Page 2 of 4 Litcham Parish Council Minutes 6 October 2014 Council will be contacted about this, the state of the lay by on Tittleshall Road and the depression at The Watch House. Councillor Mitchell is cutting back the trees on Tittleshall Road which should allow cars to park against the wall and off the road. 7.3 Speedwatch. Two sessions had been held on 11 September and 2 October both between 1700 and 1800. The first session caught 43 vehicles doing over 35 mph of which 23 were doing between 37 and 48 mph. The second session caught 24 vehicles doing over 35 of which 12 were doing between 37 and 46 mph. 7.4 Local Highway Improvement Partnership. The scheme is to run again next financial year and it was agreed to investigate a footway improvement to Lexham Road near to Pound Lane and a footway on Dereham Road from the pumping station to opposite the lay by. 8. Finance. 8.1 Budget. The Clerk reported that no objection to the accounts had been received by the External Auditor. Councillor Anderson proposed and Councillor Lawrence seconded the resolution that the budget which had been circulated be approved. All were in favour. 8.2 Balances and Cheques for Authorisation. Councillor Anderson proposed and Councillor Lawrence seconded the resolution that the following balances and cheques for authorisation be approved. All were in favour. Balances :- Bank of Ireland. Balance at 31 07 14 6053.51 Less Direct Debit- E-on- 12 08 14 42.89 6010.62 Plus interest 05 08 14 .49 Balance at 31 08 14 6011.11 Less unpresented cheques authorised 01 09 14 966.75 Balance at 01 09 14 5044.36 Plus float for Community car 100.00 Balance at 01 09 14 5144.36 Amount available for Section 137 :502x £7.20=£3614.40 Spend to Date :£ 50.00 Cheques for authorisation: 282 B J Leigh Salary-Sep-233.63 less PAYE 187.03 46.60 283 HMRC PAYE-Sep 46.60 284 B J Leigh Postage-9.56 39.26 Mileage February 2014-August 2014 66 miles @.45 per mile- 29.70 285 Harry Lawrence Replacement of Fence Posts at 85.00 Long Meadow 286 Chris Millward Grass Cutting of The Green 105.00 287 T T Jones Electrical Ltd Maintenance Oct-Dec 63.53 288 Mrs. E Christie Community Car April-August 77.09 Page 3 of 4 Litcham Parish Council Minutes 6 October 2014 8.3 Norfolk Accident Rescue Service. Councillor Mitchell proposed and Councillor Anderson seconded the resolution that £50 be donated. All were in favour. 8.4 The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House. It was agreed unanimously not to donate. 8.5 Mid Norfolk Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Councillor Anderson proposed and Councillor Oldfield seconded the resolution that £100 be donated. All were in favour. 8.6 Cutting of the Churchyard. Councillor Lawrence had asked a contractor for a quotation to cut the churchyard prior to the winter. Councillor Oldfield had spoken to the Friends of All Saints Church who would donate some funds. The Clerk re-iterated that last year it was agreed not to enter into any contract to cut the churchyard but that the Parish Council would donate to the PCC if it had the churchyard cut.