WOODTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 15 th December 2015 at 7.30pm in Woodton Village Hall

Transcription

1 WOODTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 15 th December 2015 at 7.30pm in Woodton Village Hall Present: Andrew Weatherley (AW), Ian Butler (IB), Daphne Littleboy (DL), Jane Wickstead (JW), Jane Ford (JF), Mark Leeson (ML), District Cllr Alison Thomas (AT), County Cllr Barry Stone (BS), Yvonne Wonnacott () Parish Clerk. Members of the Public: 3 x members of public Item 2015/98 Chairs Welcome. Apologies: David Patey, Jane Wickstead who would be arriving later. 2015/99 Declaration of any Interests in items on the Agenda. DL advised of interest in relation to request from Woodton Parochial Church Council for extra donation towards grass cutting. 2015/100 Approval and signing of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 rd November No factual inaccuracies were found and the minutes were approved and signed by the Chair. 2015/101 Report from the County Councillor. County Cllr Stone provided December report by which was circulated to all Councillors prior to meeting. In addition County Cllr Stone reported on following; Bus/Parking Problems Near Village Shop Problem has been reported and is being taken up with the school bus company. If no change in New Year to notify County Cllr Stone so further action can be taken. Dangerous Footpath (B1332) Footpath reported, but to date no response back. County Cllr Stone requested clarification as to location. AW advised footpath in question is on B1332 main road, narrow piece directly outside school. Can hedge be removed and footpath widened? County Cllr Stone to chase up response. Village Shop Sign Signage not standard as a matter of course. Ellingham sign was put up unofficially. County Cllr Stone to find out where sign was made, this would have to be at the shop keeper s expense. Other option is to put a sign on private land or an A board under direction sign would be tolerated. Shop at Ellingham has not seen an increase in custom since the introduction of sign and A board. Speed Norfolk Speed Management Strategy interesting reference document, indicating what speed limits are appropriate for what roads, not definitive but provides a good idea. DL thanked both County Cllr Stone and District Cllr Thomas for their support with the Parish Partnership Scheme bid. Action By

2 2015/102 Report from the District Councillor. District Cllr Thomas provided following report; Local Plan Is now adopted, which gives much more freedom as can apply to Councils policies. Woodton counted as rural area so have 5 year land supply. Devolution Government is considering devolving some powers they currently hold down to regional areas. Negotiations still on-going re Suffolk and Norfolk becoming a combined authority. There is talk that Cambridgeshire would need to become part of this combined authority. Still in early stages. Christmas Bin collection days will change, householders provided with leaflet and changes can be found on website. 2015/103 Matters arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held 3 rd November not to be covered by specific items on this agenda. Trees Behind Hilary Terrace ML advised not on Saffrons plans. There is a SNC tipping notice on the land. ML to District Cllr Thomas the details and she will try to get an answer as to whose owns the land. 2015/104 Suspension of meeting for Public Participation. At this point Cllr Wickstead joined meeting. Broadband JW advised that a member of public had raised question as to what is the state of play re the broadband speed. District Cllr Thomas advised that you have to upgrade to a fibre broadband deal to get increased speed, this won t happen automatically. Parish Clerk to put item on website advising to this effect. Railings Along the Street Parishioner raised question as to who is responsible for railings at the south end of The Street, adjacent to the beck in the general area opposite Woodyard Square. Reason being there is severe corrosion to railings resulting in being a safety hazard. Parish Clerk to Bob Edwards at Highways and cc County Cllr Stone. Highways Rangers Parish Clerk to County Cllr Stone to advise that Highways Rangers have failed to visit Woodton and therefore have not attended to the bridleway as requested. Defibrillator Training Mat Phillips advised 27 people have attended training. Next training session will be at the Village Hall, Thursday 18 th February at 7pm. Parish Clerk to be put notice of this on website with Mat s address to notify of attendance. Parish Clerk also to look into possibility of advertising in Outlook. 2015/105 Planning Items None 2015/106 Noticeboard Update ML

3 AW addressed meeting advising that he had investigated size of noticeboard and findings were as follows; - Two noticeboards at Ditchingham shop, both measuring 52x42 inches, collectively size of our noticeboard is smaller. - Researched on internet, average size for Parish Council noticeboard is 2.2 metres x 900 high (84 x 36 inches). - Woodton Parish Council (WPC) noticeboard was designed size wise with carpenter 6ft x 3ft to accommodate both PC and Village Hall notices. Concluded on a need basis the size WPC has ordered (72 x 36 inches) appears to be perfectly adequate for the requirements. After much discussion between WPC and members of the public attending the meeting, it was agreed that both AW and IB will attend the next Village Hall Committee meeting on 19/01/16. Mat Phillips raised the importance of contact information for the defibrillator being displayed on the noticeboard adjacent to the location of the defibrillator. 2015/107 Woodton Playing Field Association AGM Report For discussion JW advised AGM was held on 23/11/15. Football team is now underway and practicing once a week. Have fund raising plan in place for next year and are quite ambitious with this. Need to raise a minimum of 3,800 per year to maintain pitch, insurance, contingency etc. JW to provide Parish Clerk with copy of report. Parish Clerk to send letter to WPFA and Village Hall Committee advising of change to representatives. 2015/108 Dangerous Footpath (B1332) Update from County Cllr Stone Covered under item 2015/ /109 Parish Partnership Scheme Update DL advised that bid had been submitted. received from Graham Bygrave advising that the South Area Team strongly support the bid. Both District Cllr Thomas and County Cllr Stone submitted strong supporting s. AW thanked DL and IB for their work. 2015/110 Parish Clerk Appraisal Setting of date for review. Parish Clerk to AW and JW with some proposed dates in January. 2015/111 Lone Working Policy For approval and acceptance. Policy approved and accepted by all members. 2015/112 Correspondence Received to date. Footpath from member of public AW advised that member of public had reported matter with Highways/Rights of Way Enforcement Team at County Hall, no further action required by Council at present time. Official Letters IB requested that it be minuted that he cannot condone any official letter sent from the PC being made private. AW confirmed that Woodton PC has an open policy. Letter from Woodton Parochial Church Council Request for AW/IB JW

4 donation for extra grass cut, AW advised to be addressed under Finance Matters. 2015/113 Finance Matters. Items discussed in a different order to agenda to take into consideration setting of budget/precept 2016/17. a) Finance and Admin Report with Financial Summaries to end of November Parish Clerk provided this report prior to the meeting. Report approved. b) WPFA Request for donation For discussion AW advised that he believed as adding an asset to the village, worth increasing the precept to allow for a donation. AW proposed 300, all members in agreement. Parish Clerk to write to WPFA advising them of this decision. c) Woodton Village Hall Request for donation For discussion AW proposed leave at existing level of current year of 1000 for 2016/17, all members in agreement. Parish Clerk to write to Woodton Village Hall Committee advising them of this decision. Ravens Den IB raised point that the BMX site at Ravens Den is no longer used, could the equipment be moved to middle of Ravens Den so there would be space for a bowling green. Libby Searle to be invited to next meeting and Ravens Den to be added to agenda. d) Woodton Parochial Church Council Request for increase to donation for additional grass cut AW proposed that in the spirit of looking after village assets and fact that WPC has not had a rise in precept over recent years, that donation is increased by 150 to 450 for 2016/17. All members in agreement. e) Sector Led Body for Audit Procurement As per information provided in Parish Clerks Finance and Admin report, AW proposed Council opts in, all members in agreement. f) Purchase of Defibrillator Pads For approval All members agreed to Parish Clerk purchasing pads and adding to expenses. g) Budget 2016/17 For discussion and approval All members agreed for draft budget figure of 6,857 to be increased to allow for the following additional costs; donation to WPFA - Extra 150 donation to Woodton Parochial Church Council - 30 payment to Village Hall Committee for yearly electricity costs for defibrillator, as previously agreed. The Village Hall Treasurer was asked to bill WPC for this amount in June 2016 and annually thereafter. Revised precept 7,337. All members agreed revised figure. Parish Clerk to contact SNC to request extension to precept deadline due to timing of PC January meeting. 2015/114 Date of next Parish Council meeting and items to be considered

5 for the agenda. Date of next Parish Council meeting is Tuesday 26 th January. Items to be added to agenda as follows; - Noticeboard Update. - Completion of Precept Forms. - Ravens Den Update. - Grass Cutting Contract Discussion re issuing of tender. - Planning Items Applications received to date for consideration and decision notices received to date. - Correspondence Received to date. 2015/115 Chairman s urgent business if any. None The meeting closed at 9.45pm. Minutes prepared by Yvonne Wonnacott 16/12/15 Approved. Date..