Parish Council Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SPIXWORTH PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT
7.30pm on TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2008 at SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT
COUNCILLORS:
Mr Fitt (Chairman)
Mr Ward (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Barrell
Ms Cullum
Mrs Doy (later)
Mrs Holdroyd
Mr Manning
Mr Mills
Mr Potter
Mr Sadler
Mr Watson
District Councillor Kular
PCSO Greenwood
CLERK: Mrs R. Rose
Six members of the public

THE CHAIRMAN welcomed everyone to the meeting.

With the meeting’s agreement, the Chairman altered the order of the agenda to allow PCSO Greenwood to give his report. The Public Speaking session would be in Item 10 as members of the public wished to speak on the subject.

1. APOLOGIES were accepted from Mr Thompson, County Councillor A. Williams, PC Lambert and PCSO Watts.

5. POLICE MATTERS

5.1 Crime Statistics
The figures for May had been received and circulated; 24 calls had been taken by the Control Room from/regarding the parish, and 6 crimes had been logged. PCSO Greenwood enlarged upon these, emphasising that Spixworth was a very low crime area.

5.2 Liaison Officer’s report
PCSO Greenwood referred to Item 6.3 of the SNAP meeting (HGVs using Crostwick Lane). A colleague from Traffic Police had stopped a vehicle on the Lane and issued a Fixed Penalty Notice. However, he noted that the weight restriction zone did not appear to be signed on the Buxton Road as well as on the B1150. The Clerk would review this, and refer the matter to Highways if necessary, quoting the Traffic Police’s observation.

5.3 Any Other Police Matters
Councillor Sadler had liaised with the PA to the Chief Constable to find a convenient date for a visit, but this had proved impossible. It was suggested that the newly-appointed District Superintendent be invited to attend, but in view of the very low crime figures for the parish it was decided to put this on hold until a later date.

PCSO Greenwood was thanked for attending and he left the meeting.

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.

3. THE MINUTES of the previous meeting held on 6 May 2008, which had been circulated, were agreed, and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

4. MATTERS ARISING

4.1 Track from Rackheath Lane to Crostwick Common
The Clerk had spoken to the Chairman of Crostwick Parish Meeting regarding the closure of the track by the landowners. He had thought that the path was on the Definitive Map, but in any case would testify that it had not been gated off in 20 years. The Vice Chairman presented an OS map which showed that it was not a footpath. Accordingly, the Clerk would seek advice from the County Council into having it registered as such.

4.2 Traffic Matters
Sergeant Atherton of the Traffic Police (or his deputy) would attend the July meeting.

6. FINANCE

6.1 Balances were noted.
Cheques and Payments detailed on the attached schedule and totalling £10,731.75 were authorised for payment.
The Clerk would seek a quotation from AON for subsequent years’ insurance.

6.2 Application for financial assistance
A donation of £25 was AGREED for a raffle prize for Spixworth Village Hall Fete.

6.3 Any Other Finance Matters
The Chairman allowed these late items which were considered urgent.
Street Lighting:
Quotation for tree trim / correction of leaning columns (total 8 columns) - £436.25
Quotation for major repair to vandalised light in Greg's Meadow - £349.50
The meeting APPROVED this expenditure.

7. PLANNING MATTERS
7.1 Permissions and Enforcement Matters
The matter of untidy land at 2 Church Lane had been resolved and the file closed.

(Councillor Watson left the meeting at this point)

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.

8.2 Consultations/Invitations
Councillor Sadler and the Clerk would attend the Broadland District Council AGM with parishes on 16 July.

8.3 Meetings Attended
The Chairman and Clerk reported on their attendance at a seminar arranged by Councillor Sadler under the auspices of NCAPTC, at which representatives of the Norfolk District and County Councils presented the proposals for unitary status that they had made to the Boundary Committee. It had been a very stimulating day, and discussion ensued on the potential advantages and disadvantages of Spixworth being included within a Greater Norwich area.

Councillor Sadler was thanked for arranging the day.

9. HIGHWAYS MATTERS

9.1 Highways Committee
Councillor Sadler (Chairman of the Committee) gave a verbal report of the Committee meeting held immediately prior to the Council meeting.

This had arisen through the discussion at Item 7.4.2 of the previous meeting, regarding the obsolescence of certain street lanterns. The contractor explained that these lights were 70 watt and burned very hot, hence the integral parts would slowly degrade. Current practice was to install 26 watt lamps, which gave off as much light but operated more efficiently. It was suggested that a programme of replacement of the 64 lamps with obsolete parts was commenced once all the concrete columns had been replaced.

The contractor had brought three designs to the meeting so that Councillors could decide at this time on the design for the whole replacement programme; this would enable the repair of the light on Buxton Road to go ahead and to be in keeping with the remainder of the lights once they were replaced.

He had further explained that the County Council’s policy was to replace all lights with white lights, which allowed the eye to perceive more, while not disturbing wild life.

The Committee meeting had agreed that Councillors would look at the various types of lamp where they had been installed in nearby parishes, and would call another Committee meeting to decide.

9.2 Maintenance Matters Update
9.2.1 Councillor Potter had analysed the number of highway maintenance matters that had been reported, acknowledged, rejected, programmed or repaired since the current system had been working. It appeared that those jobs requiring tarmac were only repaired if considered urgent; i.e. left for monitoring they became urgent.
He suggested a further meeting with a Highways officer.

It was agreed that the Clerk should send the report to the Area Manager and invite him to attend another meeting

9.2.2 The Clerk had ascertained that there was no maintenance plan for the cycleway, but it was on the inspection schedule and Highways would respond to defects when they occurred. The rural verge cutting (which took in the edge of the verge bordering the carriageway) had started on 12 May and should have reached Spixworth Parish Council before the end of May. The Clerk would ask the Council’s contractor to try to cut a wider swathe at the carriageway edge.

9.2.3 There was discussion on the standard of grass cutting across all areas of the village, and the Highways Committee would review all the grounds maintenance specifications. The Clerk would ask the Council’s contractor how many cuts had taken place so far in this season.

9.2.4 Councillor Manning had taken photographs of the weeds growing in the carriageway and footways around the village. The Clerk would use these to demonstrate to Highways that the weedkilling programme was not effective.

10. AMENITIES MATTERS

10.1 Greg's Meadow Working Party
The meeting received the notes of the Working Party meeting held on 20 May 2008.

With the meeting’s agreement, the Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public to speak.

Matters raised by the public included:
Concern at Council members appearing on the Meadow at the rear of private property with no prior warning.
Chairman: It would be impractical to notify everyone and Greg's Meadow was a public open space in the ownership of the Council.

Query about location of brambles to be removed. Comment that the undergrowth was welcomed as it kept a distance between private property and the public area.

Dog issues: (1) Could separate areas be made for either dogs or young children so that the two could not come into close contact, bearing in mind the potentially harmful disease that could be spread by dog faeces?
Chairman: There would be a significant cost element, which the Council could not afford at the present, but would consider in future budgets.

(2) Could the byelaws be enhanced to stipulate that dogs should be kept on leads? This would avoid potential conflicts with young children and other dogs.
The Clerk would look into this.

Could the Police visit the Meadow late at night? Children as young as 8 years old had been seen playing there; their parents collected them as late as 11.00 pm.

11. SPIXWORTH VILLAGE HALL

11.1 Spixworth Village Hall Management Committee
The meeting noted Councillor Potter’s report on the Committee meeting held on
27 May 2008.
The accounts were not available as they were with the auditor.

11.2 Parish Poll
The meeting received the results of the Poll held that afternoon and evening by Broadland District Council. 5.8% of the electorate had voted, and the result was in favour (135/37) of the Village Hall Management Committee taking action to transfer trusteeship of Spixworth Village Hall to Spixworth Parish Council.
The Clerk would publish this result and seek a tri-partite meeting as soon as possible.

Councillor Doy left the meeting at this point.

12. NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

12.1 Joint Consultative Committee Meeting
Councillor Sadler reported that the next meeting was scheduled for 30 June 2008.

12.2 Councillor Sadler had ascertained that the low flying over the village on Sunday 25 May was due to pilot error.

13. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

District Councillor Kular congratulated the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on their re-election to office.

He had received notification of the proposed removal of a public phone box on Park Road as being uneconomic, and he sought the Parish Council’s views.
No information was available about the extent of its use, but Councillor Kular would call on a few local residents and ask their views. The meeting asked if he would seek its retention.

He suggested a note in the next Parish Council newsletter reminding dog owners that they could be watched and reported if they continued to allow their dogs to foul public areas. The Chairman commented that it was difficult problem and the Council would support all possible methods to try to alleviate it.

14. AOB

14.1 A representative of May Gurney introduced himself as the Major Projects Manager who was visiting parishes where the Northern Distributor Road would have an impact. If his company won the contract for construction, he wished to reassure the local community that May Gurney would listen to their problems, accommodate their local needs and try to make as little disruption as possible. He gave his contact details to the Clerk.

14.2 Following reports of delays on the First Bus service 10, the Clerk had written a letter of complaint. She read the reply from the Customer Services Representative.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.38pm.