MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SPIXWORTH PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT
7.30pm on TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2008 at SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS: Mr Fitt (Chairman)
Mr Ward (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Barrell
Ms Cullum
Mrs Doy
Mrs Holdroyd
Mr Manning
Mr Mills
Mr Potter
Mr Sadler
Mr Thompson
District Councillor B. Kular (later)
District Councillor C. Thompson (also Parish Councillor)
County Councillor A. Williams (later)
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
PC 1120 Lambert
PCSO Bunting

THE CHAIRMAN welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr Watson

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Sadler: as Chair of Broadland Standards Committee and a member Broadland Community Partnership (public bodies); a member of the Executive Committee of NCAPTC; Vice-Chairman of the Norwich Airport Joint Consultative Committee; a personal interest in any matter relating to the Code of Conduct or the bodies stated.
Councillor Mills: a prejudicial interest in Item 6.1 (payment of travel expenses)
Councillor Fitt: a personal interest in Item 6.3 (work relationship with contractor supplying quotation).

3. THE MINUTES of the previous meeting held on 8 January 2008, which had been circulated, were agreed, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

4. MATTERS ARISING

4.1 Parish Bus Shelters
The Clerk had researched the Council minutes from 1952/53 and had ascertained that the Coronation Celebrations Committee of the Council had raised the funds for the shelters and had overseen their construction. Therefore the responsibility for the remaining shelter on Buxton Road rested with the Council.

It was AGREED that the Clerk should obtain quotes for refurbishment of the shelter, including repair of roof tiles and guttering, and re-painting. Councillor Mills would help to prepare a specification.

5. POLICE MATTERS

5.1 Crime Statistics
The figures for January had been received and circulated; 11 calls had been taken by the Control Room from/regarding the parish, and 3 crimes had been logged. These figures represented a significant drop from previous months, and the Council acknowledged that this was due to the more obvious Police presence in the village. PCSO Bunting commented that a similar reduction in incidents was being experienced by Sprowston.

5.2 Report from SNT Liaison Officers
PC Lambert reported that he and PCSO Bunting had formed a close relationship with Spixworth Motel.

(County Councillor Williams entered the meeting at this point).

PCSO Bunting was trying to arrange a surgery, to be held in the Village Hall on a Saturday morning in March. The next SNAP meeting on 21 April would be held in Spixworth, probably at the Methodist Church.

Councillors reported some nuisance behaviour on the green in Arthurton Road, and inconsiderate parking by vans on Crostwick Lane and Elvina Road.

Councillor Thompson raised the question of a Speedwatch campaign. PC Lambert queried whether his time might be better spent on patrolling rather than monitoring traffic speed. He and PCSO Bunting were hoping to involve the schoolchildren with a ‘Drop Your Speed’ campaign.

Both officers were thanked for attending, and they left the meeting.

With the meeting’s agreement, part of Item 13 was brought forward on the agenda.

13. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR

County Councillor Williams reported that Council Tax was likely to go up by 3.75%, subject to the County Council’s agreement. The Government grant had been £25 million less than desired, but the Council hoped to make up the shortfall through efficiency savings.

It was hoped that Terms of Reference would be published during the week for the Boundary Committee’s review of local government in Norfolk. County Councillor Williams reiterated the County Council’s position in that it would pursue the ‘whole county’ unitary option, if the status quo would not be considered.

Councillor Sadler reported that, at a recent conference held under the auspices of the Department for Communities and Local Government, he had been able to get the point across to the Secretary of State that Norfolk was in a stagnant position.

County Councillor Williams agreed, but commented that this situation should be resolved once the Boundary Committee had received its Terms of Reference. He hoped to get the Parish Council’s view on the matter at the next meeting.

On a question from the Vice Chairman, County Councillor Williams confirmed that the construction of the Northern Distributor Route was still on schedule for 2009-2012. Government funding should represent 60% of the total cost, with the County Council and developers each providing 20%.

County Councillor Williams was thanked for attending and he left the meeting.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Balances were noted.
Cheques and Payments detailed on the attached schedule and totalling £3,105.84 were authorised for payment.

6.2 Applications for Financial Assistance
A donation of £75 was AGREED on a majority vote to Norwich Fringe Project.

6.3 Central Path, Greg's Meadow
The meeting approved the quotation of £1,960 from Claret Civil Engineering Ltd to complete the footway surfacing. As he had declared an interest Councillor Fitt did not vote.

7. PLANNING MATTERS

7.1 Planning Committee
7.1.1 The minutes of the committee meeting held 8 January 2008 were RATIFIED.

7.1.2 Councillor Mills gave a verbal report of the Committee meeting held immediately prior to the Council meeting; the Council AGREED the recommended responses to the planning applications.

(District Councillor Kular entered the meeting at this point)

7.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
A new case of untidy land at 2 Church Lane was being investigated; attempts were being made to identify the land ownership.

8. CORRESPONDENCE

8.1 Correspondence List
A list of the correspondence received had been circulated, and was updated at the meeting; all items were available from the Clerk. A list is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

The Clerk and Councillor Sadler would attend the workshops for the Greater Norwich Development Partnership.

8.2 Reports of Meetings Attended
Councillor Sadler reported on his attendance at the Police Authority budget meeting in January. An increase of £15 per Band D property (9%) for the Police part of the Council Tax was supported. He had been able to comment to the Chief Constable about the progress on policing in Spixworth.

9. HIGHWAYS MATTERS

9.1 Highways Committee
The minutes of the committee meeting held 28 January 2008 were RATIFIED.
The Chairman commented that it had been a good meeting and that it was hoped that Highways would act on those highway maintenance items which were thought necessary. A letter had been received from the Highway Manager following the meeting confirming the points raised at the meeting.

9.2 Highways Matters Update
The Clerk read an email from the Principal Engineer (Casualty Reduction) on the investigations into the cause of accidents on Church Lane. The Parish Council would be informed of the outcome of the investigation when known.

9.3 Any Other Highways Matters
9.3.1 The Clerk would pursue the cutting back of hedges on either side of Lilian Road close to the junction with Crostwick Lane.

9.3.2 Discussion ensued on the ineffectiveness of the 7.5 tonne weight restriction, due to the lack of enforcement.
The Vice Chairman suggested that this be raised strongly at the next Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) meeting to be held in Spixworth in April; the matter might then be established as one of the three action points arising from the meeting, which meant resources would be concentrated on it over the subsequent three months.

10. AMENITIES MATTERS

10.1 Dog Bin Placement
Obstacles had been raised to the placement of a dog bin at the Crostwick Lane end of The Cut. It was therefore AGREED to replace the bin in its original location near the bus shelter on Buxton Road.
In future, further bins would be installed with metal posts.

10.2 Any Other Amenities Matters
10.2 1 Councillor Potter raised the question of Post Office closures. He was concerned that Spixworth Post Office might be under threat. Notification to those branches earmarked for closure would be made in the next 3/5 weeks, and a 6-week period of consultation would follow. He felt that the Parish Council should be ready with evidence to justify its retention.

Following discussion, it was AGREED to form a Working Group to prepare the case, comprising the Chairman, Councillors Potter, Sadler and Thompson and the Clerk. The first meeting would be held on 26 February 2008.

10.2.2. Councillor Holdroyd reported that a litter bin on Greg's Meadow had not been emptied for 3 weeks.

10.2.3 Councillor Cullum reported problems with access to the car park area at Greg's Meadow during the day. The lockable bollard had been left in the upright position on several occasions, albeit it was not locked.

The Clerk had asked the key holder to make sure that the bollard was locked in the down position during the day. The situation would be monitored.

11. SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

11.1 Spixworth Village Hall Management Committee
The meeting noted Councillor Potter’s report on the Committee meeting held on 29 January 2008.

11.2 Wording of Leaflet to Parishioners
Following discussion, it was agreed that the next meeting of the tri-partite group would decide on the wording and format of the leaflet explaining the proposal that the Parish Council become the sole trustee of the Village Hall charity.

12. NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

12.1 Airport Matters Update
Councillor Sadler reported that the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee would be on 18 February 2008. He would raise the matter of profits from short term car parking.

A meeting would shortly be held at the Airport with the Strategic Director and Chief Planner at Broadland District Council regarding the Letter of Agreement.

13. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

Neither District Councillor Kular nor District Councillor Thompson had anything further to report. District Councillor Kular offered his support for the retention of Spixworth Post Office.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.45pm.