Stanhoe Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

Held on Thursday, 12th July 2012 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room

Clerk to the Council – , tel 01485 518409

Present:

Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. P. Austin (PA)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
Mrs. P. Roche (PR)
Mr. J. Seedhouse (JS)

Absent:

Mr. D. Bridge (DB)

Two members of the public were also present.

1. To consider apologies for absence

An apology was received and accepted from DB.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting of 10th May 2012

These were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed

No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation

One member of the public present.

5. SNAP

TA had not attended the last SNAP meeting and was still awaiting the Minutes.

6. Scrap site at corner of Fakenham & Bircham Roads

It had been brought to the clerk’s attention that some form of construction was taking place. Having checked with BCKLWN Planning Dept., the clerk reported that permission had been granted in 2009 (valid for 5 years) for the erection of an open fronted barn to store hay and implements.

The construction was fully within the terms of the planning permission.

7. Village Inspection Report

A walking inspection of the village had been carried out by councillors on 14th June 2012. TA’s report with relevant photographs was circulated. A copy of the report with actions to be taken is attached.

8. Area, adjacent to playing field, fenced off by owners

This area, although fenced off, had been used with the owners’ knowledge by dog walkers and a path through it maintained voluntarily by a local resident. Notices prohibiting access had been erected recently. The playing field area was leased to the MEHM Trust and MR undertook to make enquiries about the change in status of the fenced off area.

9. Recruitment of new councillors

TA stressed the importance of trying to attract interest from local residents as prospective councillors. Some existing members would like to retire at the end of their term of office and replacements would be necessary if the parish council was to continue functioning within the village. Efforts at recruitment had been made in the past without success but more notices would be placed in “Saints Alive” in an effort to encourage interest.

10. New Code of Conduct & Register of Members’ Interests

Following the Localism Act of 2011, a new Code of Conduct had to be adopted by all councils. Two alternatives had been put forward by NALC and the LGA, copies of which had been circulated by the Clerk together with a revised “Register of Members’ Interests– form. The forms were completed by councillors and returned and copies would be sent to the Borough’s Monitoring Officer. Councillors had the option of writing their own Code of Conduct, however, it was agreed that adopting one of the alternatives already presented would be simpler. After some discussion, PA proposed acceptance of the LGA model (customized for Stanhoe parish). This was seconded by PR and agreed by all as this would result in the parish Code being the same one used by the Borough.

11. Update on ongoing matters

a) Cross Lane traffic – no developments

b) Bottle bank – the clerk is still trying to persuade BCKLWN to install a soundproof liner.

c) Blacksmith’s workshop – no developments but the clerk had contacted a building control officer at the Borough who would come to inspect the workshop to establish if it was considered to be in danger of collapse.

d) Review of polling districts and stations – a decision is still awaited.

e) Overgrown hedges – Council Highways has again sent letters to those concerned and outcome awaited. Legal action may be taken.

f) Geese on the pond – not currently presenting any problems.

12. Financial update & approval of payments

An up to date report together with copy bank statements was presented by the clerk. No questions were raised. The separate bank account, which had been opened for the Jubilee celebration, would be closed as soon as the final cheque cleared the account. All costs in connection with the Jubilee event had been covered by income generated and those organizations and individuals, who had contributed initially to offset costs prior to the event, had been refunded.

Payments were approved for play area maintenance, clerk’s salary and PAYE tax and a donation to Tapping House Hospice.

13. To receive items for the next Agenda

The following items were suggested for inclusion in the Agenda for the meeting due to be held on 13th September 2012:

Usual ongoing updates
Proposed changes to refuse collections
War Memorial
Play area fencing
Update on actions following village inspection
Report from MR re: fenced off area of playing field

No other matters were raised and the meeting closed at 9.05pm.