Stanhoe Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 8th September 2011 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – , tel 01485 518409
Present:
Mr T Austin (TA)
Mrs P Austin (PA)
Mr D Bridge (DB)
Mrs R Brown (RB)
Mr J Seedhouse (JS)
Absent:
Mr M Roche (MR)
Mrs P Roche (PR)
One member of the public was present.
Prior to the start of the meeting Ms. Sandi Butcher, one of the new tenants of The Duck Inn, joined councillors to give some information on how they intend to run the business. She explained that they would not be making use of the late license facility nor would they be holding any large events with music, either indoors or outside. They had already made some changes to interior layout and the pub menu and intended to run the business very much as a village pub for local people and hoped this would be supported by local residents. Ms. Butcher was thanked by councillors and she left the meeting.
1. To consider accepting apologies for absence
Neither absentee had offered apologies.
2. To consider approval of Minutes from the previous meeting
These were approved and signed by the chairman.
3. To record any declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.
4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation
The member of the public present requested that the council give consideration to the following items:
a) that Barwick be amalgamated with Stanhoe to form one Parish Council.
b) that the 40mph section on Bircham Road is reduced to 30mph and that a footpath should be installed by the County Council running the full length of Bircham Road.
c) that the unsightly rubbish and old caravans be removed from the property near the crossroads formed at Bircham Road and Fakenham Road (which is actually in Docking Parish) and that letters should be sent to the Borough Council and Docking Parish Council accordingly.
The chairman and clerk explained that, in relation to Item a), enquiries had been made in 2010 and the Borough Electoral Officer had confirmed that the matter would be looked into during a review of small parishes scheduled for 2011.
The chairman confirmed that item b) had been thoroughly investigated in recent years and the County Council Highways Dept. had carried out an extensive survey of the area. The answer was emphatically ‘no’ from the Highways Dept. as a reduced speed limit was considered unenforceable and that no suitable verge existed where a footpath could be created.
With regard to item c), it was agreed that a letter would be sent to Docking Parish Council.
The member of the public thanked councillors for their time and left the meeting.
5. SNAP
T.A. had attended the last meeting of SNAP but, as yet, had received no Minutes of the meeting. He stated that the meeting had been taken up largely with concerns of public disorder in Hunstanton and the presence of drunken individuals and drug takers on the High Street. The police explained that there were usually only two policemen on duty in Hunstanton at any one time and any person arrested for whatever reason had to be taken to King’s Lynn leaving Hunstanton without a police presence. The situation would continue to be monitored.
6. Update on Wind Farms
T.A. said there was little to report at present. RES had appealed against the refusal of planning permission for Jack’s Lane Wind Farm and a joint hearing would take place in mid January 2012 for both this and the Chiplow Wind Farm appeal. A date is yet to be fixed.
7. Review of Polling Districts and Polling Stations
A review is currently being carried out by the Borough and a suggestion made that Stanhoe is combined with Bircham and a polling station for both is sited at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton. T.A. had already written to the local M.P. expressing concern at such a move which could be considered undemocratic as it would make it more difficult for electors to register their votes. All present agreed. The M.P. had replied expressing his concern and had also confirmed that he had written to the Borough. The consultation period for this review ended on 16th September and the clerk would write to the Borough to formally register the parish council’s objections to any change.
8. C.I.P. Closure
The weekly Community Information Point sessions were no longer in operation due to lack of support. The I.T. equipment supplied by the Borough was still available and may be utilised by the MEHM Trust for community purposes.
9. Updates on ongoing matters
a) The Play Area: Broken fencing had been repaired by DB and a vote of thanks was given for all his work. It was agreed a letter of thanks should be sent to Mr. Terry Patterson who had carried out this work in the past but had to stop due to ill health.
b) A further letter had been sent to the County Highways Dept. requesting that a possible solution to speeding traffic in Cross Lane should continue to be considered. It was pointed out by some councillors that some residents would not support any measure other than a possible reduction in the speed limit.
c) The clerk had written to the Borough regarding the noise nuisance caused to nearby residents by use of the bottle bank. The Borough confirmed that they were looking into some form of sound proofing for their bottle banks. A decision should be made in the near future.
d) Ownership of the blacksmith’s workshop had not been established but further investigations would be made as there was still concern that this piece of village history could fall into complete disrepair.
e) A letter had been sent to Eric Pickles M.P., Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government highlighting the concerns of residents over the proposed Incinerator at Saddlebow. This follows previous letters to the Secretary of State for the Environment and the local M.P.
10. Councillors’ Tour of the Village
It was agreed that this should be postponed until Spring 2012.
11. Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012
T.A. had received a letter from the village W.I. proposing an event for the Jubilee week-end in 2012 for the whole village which would be a joint venture run by all the village organizations. All agreed this would be a good idea and a positive response would be sent to the W.I. with a view to all concerned meeting in the Autumn to start the planning process.
12. Planning Applications and Approvals
Approval had been granted for an extension and alterations to The Old Post Office on Burnham Road.
An application had been received for an extension and internal alterations to Grange Bungalow, Docking Road. Councillors raised no objections to the proposals but were concerned at the possible increase in the number of cars parked on the roadside due to the enlargement of the property which had no on-site parking facilities. An appropriate comment would be sent to the planning department.
13. Financial Update and Approval of Payments
The clerk circulated a statement showing recent income and expenditure together with copy bank statements. No queries were raised. Approval was given for payment of clerk’s salary and a donation of £100 to the Burnham Market Area Community Car Scheme. The possibility of using Barclays on-line banking services to transfer money between the parish’s accounts would be investigated both with Barclays and the National Association of Local Councils.
14. To receive items for the next Agenda
- usual updates on ongoing village matters
- Diamond Jubilee event progress
- set date for Annual Parish Meeting of 2012
The meeting closed at 9.30pm.