Parish Council Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SPIXWORTH PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT
7.30pm on TUESDAY 7 JULY 2009 at SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS:
Mrs Doy (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Barrell
Ms Cullum
Mrs Holdroyd
Mr Manning
Mr Mills
Mr Potter
Mr Sadler
Mr Thompson
Mr Ward
Mr Watson
District Councillor C. Thompson (also Parish Councillor)
County Councillor A. Williams (later)
PCSO Bunting
Three members of the public
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN welcomed everyone to the meeting.

A note of the items raised in the Public Speaking session is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr Fitt (Chairman) and District Councillor Kular

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Sadler: as a member of Broadland Standards Committee and Broadland Community Partnership (public bodies); a Vice–President of Norfolk ALC; 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.
Prejudicial interest in Item 6.1 (payment of travel expenses)

3. POLICE MATTERS

3.1 Crime Statistics
The figures for June had been received and circulated; 25 calls had been taken by the Control Room from/regarding the parish, and 2 crimes had been logged.

4. THE MINUTES of the previous meeting held on 2 June 2009, which had been circulated, were agreed, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

5. MATTERS ARISING

5.1 Unitary Status in Norfolk
The deadline for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to receive advice from the Boundary Committee was 15 July, and from that date until 18 September representations could be made direct to him.
Councillor Sadler reported on his attendance at a recent County Council meeting at which a group had sought reversal of the County Council’s preferred option; this had been defeated.
County Councillor Williams entered the meeting at this point.

5.2 Defibrillator for Woodland View Junior School
The Headteacher had expressed his thanks for the Council’s help in achieving the remaining funding required, and the equipment had been delivered. It was hoped that paramedics could give a talk to the pupils about its use and Councillors were invited. A Teaching Assistant who was also a St John’s trainer would have care of the defibrillator out of school hours and make it available to local First Responders.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Balances were noted.
Cheques and Payments detailed on the attached schedule and totalling £8,870.90 were authorised for payment.

6.2 Applications for Financial Assistance
None received.

6.3 Financial Report
The meeting noted a summary of the first quarter’s spending.

6.4 Street Lighting – Report of Defects
The contractor had reported a number of defects arising from inspection during the annual bulk clean and change. In the light of the earlier discussion on street lighting in the public session, it was decided to defer this item to the imminent Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting.

The report also included several trees needing trimming on Buxton Road. The Clerk would write to the landowner and ask whether he would be prepared to carry out the work.

6.5 Finance & General Purposes Committee
A meeting was arranged for 21 July 2009.

With the meeting’s agreement, Item 13 was brought forward on the agenda.
County Councillor Williams was congratulated on his re-election to the County Council.

13. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR

County Councillor Williams reported on the scope of his Cabinet post, which included corporate operations.
Due to the current financial situation, it would be a difficult task to keep the Council Tax for next year below the rate of inflation.
A new initiative when reporting a defect to Highways would be to send in a photograph.

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

7.1 Planning Committee
7.1.1 The minutes of the committee meeting held 2 June 2009 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 recommendations on applications made.

7.2 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
There were no matters outstanding.

7.3 Any Other Planning Matters
Councillor Sadler expressed an interest in attending the Broads Authority Planning Parish Forum in September. He reported that the Broads Authority was willing to have two further representatives from the Norfolk ALC, bringing the number to four.

8. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED

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.

8.2 Responses and Invitations Received
The meeting agreed costs of £60 for Councillor Sadler and the Clerk (shared cost) to attend the Norfolk ALC / SLCC Summer Conference.

8.3 Highways Rangers Scheme
The Clerk had circulated notes on a meeting she had attended about this scheme, whereby Highways employees would visit parishes to complete a series of minor repair/maintenance items. A pilot scheme in the South Norfolk area had proved successful, and an evaluation report would be used to make a decision on whether the Rangers service would be introduced county-wide.

9. HIGHWAYS MATTERS

9.1 Monitoring HGV Movements
The Head of Trading Standards had communicated with County Councillor Williams and indicated that he had discussed a proposal with the relevant Cabinet member. It was hoped to develop an approach that could have an impact on HGV movements illegally using the 7.5 tonne weight limit zone as a through route.

9.2 Maintenance Matters
The Clerk noted a number of maintenance matters to report to the relevant authority.
9.3 Any Other Highways Matters
It was agreed to hold a Highways Committee meeting on 14 July 2009 to discuss street lighting and maintenance matters.

10. AMENITIES MATTERS

10.1 Village Hall Playground Scheme
Councillor Cullum gave a verbal report on the current situation.

Savings had been made on the original scheme as surfacing was not needed for the goal wall. This would be spent on further panels on the side of the goal wall, refurbishing floodlighting for the wall on the hard court area (including timer and override switches), painting the columns to extend their life, and two litterbins for the main play area. The type and design of the litterbins was agreed.

Councillor Cullum had formulated an inspection checklist for all items.

There had been general positive feedback about the play area, but litter was still an issue. It was acknowledged that a disclaimer sign should be erected near the equipment, also warning that any misuse could lead to removal of that item; the Clerk would research wording with RoSPA. A ‘No Ball Games’ sign should also be installed in this area.

11. SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

11.1 The meeting noted Councillor Potter’s report of the Management Committee meeting held on 30 June 2009.

He proposed that a Parish Council Committee should be set up to implement the Trustees role and to progress items raised in the inspection report dated November 2008. This was seconded by Councillor Mills and AGREED. The matter would be placed on the agenda for the next Council meeting.

12. NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

12.1 Proposal to Establish Controlled Airspace in the Vicinity of the Airport.
Councillor Sadler reported that Councillor Thompson was now a member of the Airport Joint Consultative Committee.
He outlined the background of the proposal, intended to give control of the airspace for 6 nautical miles around the airport and for 6,000 feet up. After discussion, the Council supported the proposal but would wish to see more rigorous take-off, landing and directional procedures for all aircraft movements, but especially for helicopters and small aircraft.

Councillor Mills asked why the CAA had not been called in before now to investigate the non-use of the flight paths. Councillor Barrell reported that he had complained about a low-flying aircraft to the airport, adding that failure to control flight paths would result in him taking up the matter with the CAA.
Councillor Sadler responded that he had raised this issue several times but had been told that the airport “could not instruct a pilot where to go”.

He reported that consultation on the engine–testing site would open soon, together with noise monitoring. He had asked that Spixworth Parish Council be kept informed.

13. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

District Councillor Thompson had nothing further to report.

14. AOB

14.1 Councillor Ward requested a welcome leaflet for a new resident.

14.2 Councillor Sadler was awaiting copies of presentations given at the Norfolk Planning Conference that he had attended and he would then give a report to the Council.

14.3 The Clerk reported that Mr Burrows wished to correct an impression that he felt he had given during the Public Session at a previous meeting. He wished to make it clear that initiatives carried out by the Parish Council generally worked, which was not always the case for the District and County Councils.

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