Stanhoe Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday, 14th July 2016 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room
Clerk to the Council – , tel 01485 518570
Present:
Mr. D. Lord (DL) Chairman
Miss R. Brown (RB)
Mrs. J. Lord (JL)
Mr. D. Vincent (DV)
Apologies:
Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)
In Attendance:
Mr C. Butcher (CB)
Mr J. Laflin (JL, Mr)
1. To consider apologies for absence
The clerk had received verbal apologies from both DB and MR.
2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the last meeting held
on 12th May 2016
No queries were raised and the Minutes were passed and signed by the Chairman.
3. To record declarations of interest in any item to be discussed
No declarations made.
4. To adjourn the meeting to allow for public participation
CB is the current webmaster for the stanhoe.org website. CB explained that he is due to move out of the village in the near future and, whilst content to continue in his role as webmaster, would appreciate having as assistant to undertake some of the workload. The Chairman thanked CB for the excellent work he had done in establishing and maintaining a very useful website and endeavoured to find a suitable individual as soon as possible to provide the required assistance.
5. Village walkabout
The village walkabout was undertaken over 2 dates – 15th June 2016 and 14th July 2016. The Chairman took notes and photographs during the walkabout and would prepare a report of the findings, the majority of which were of a general tidying nature – i.e. hedges and overgrown undergrowth. The Chairman would consider whether some of the items raised could be addressed by the Highway and Community Ranger visit to Stanhoe week commencing 22nd August 2016.
6. Dog fouling around Cross Lane pond
A ‘No Fouling’ notice had now been purchased and would be placed beside Cross Lane pond.
7. Charitable donations
Various requests had been received. It was agreed donations made would be limited to those charities which had a direct impact on the residents of Stanhoe. It was further agreed therefore that a donation of £100.00 would be made to the Burnham Market Area Community Car Scheme. Future requests for donations would be considered as and when received.
8. Vacancy for a Councillor
There had been no response to the notice regarding holding an election for the Parish Council vacancy. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk had granted authority for the Parish Council to co-opt to fill the vacancy. JL, Mr, was in attendance at today’s meeting and expressed an interest in filling the vacancy. JL, Mr, met with Councillors present and had previously met with MR. The Chairman would arrange for JL, Mr, to meet with DB and, subject to there being no objections, it was likely that JL, Mr, would be co-opted onto the Parish Council to fill the current vacancy.
9. Waste bins belonging to holiday homes
Councillors had previously expressed concern regarding waste bins being left out for prolonged periods. In advance of the winter months, the clerk would arrange for a notice to be placed in Saints Alive reminding all Stanhoe residents to take in their waste bins once they had been emptied. This would help to prevent bins being blown into the road and becoming a traffic hazard.
10. Village pond and footpath
Trees and vegetation/weeds around the village pond were beginning to look untidy and made walking the footpath around the rear of the pond difficult to manoeuvre. In addition, the seating areas were not welcoming. In the first instance, the Highway and Community Rangers would be requested to undertake this work; failing that the Clerk would approach local ‘handymen’ to have the work undertaken.
11. Roadside hedge cutting
This had now been undertaken in the areas where concerns had been raised.
12. Record filing and archiving
The clerk had now made provision for the storage of archive files belonging to the Parish Council.
13. Jack’s Lane Wind Farm Community Fund
On behalf of MR, the clerk informed councillors that MR had attended the last meeting of the Jack’s Lane Wind Farm Community Fund and had been successful in obtaining a grant of £5000 for the refurbishment of the Village Hall. In the coming weeks details of the refurbishment plans would be displayed in the Village Hall and comments on the plans would be welcome.
14. Compostable food waste bags
Compostable food waste bags had previously been made available to purchase by Stanhoe residents and it had been requested whether the facility could be reinstated. The clerk would check with his predecessor what provision had been in place and the Chairman would ask the Chairman of the MEHM Trust whether he would object to the bags being sold in the Village Hall at the Tuesday coffee morning.
15. Essential items – postage, stationery etc.
The clerk requested the authority of Councillors to enable the purchase of stamps and stationery (printer cartridges, paper, envelopes, folders etc) as and when necessary. This was agreed subject to the clerk making a contribution to Parish Council funds should any items purchased with Parish Council funds be used personally.
16. Planning applications and information:
Previous applications:
- Scrap yard, Fakenham Road, Stanhoe – Construction of two dwellings (revised design) – application withdrawn on 13th May 2016.
- Petersfield, Cross Lane, Stanhoe – Brick and flint cladding to front elevation and regularisation of use of part existing garage to bedroom and bathroom accommodation – application permitted on 18th May 2016.
New/revised applications:
- Reserved Matters Application: Construction of a house and garage at Land Adjoining Old Rectory, Church Lane, Stanhoe – comments by no later than 20th July 2016.
- Orangery style single storey extension on rear elevations at Meadow View, Docking Road, Stanhoe – comments by no later than 27th July 2016.
- Demolition of existing dwelling and replacement with a new dwelling at Station Farm Cottage, Station Road, Stanhoe – comments by no later than 29th July 2016.
Supporting papers for the 3 new/revised applications were passed to Councillors for consideration. Any comments should be forwarded to the clerk, through the Chairman, to meet the deadlines indicated above.
17. Financial Report and approval of payments
Up to date income & expenditure accounts, budget report and bank statements were circulated by the Clerk. No queries were raised. Approval was sought and agreed for the payment of MEHM Village Hall hire, refreshments for the Annual Meeting, salary due to the Clerk from 13th May 2016 to 30th June 2016, the no fouling sign for Cross Lane pond, tax on the clerk’s salary due to HMRC and village maintenance undertaken by Bill Punter.
Any Other Business:
18. Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board
The Chairman briefly outlined the new campaign of the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board. It was agreed that posters would be put up on notice boards and in appropriate local businesses and a note would be posted in Saints Alive. It was not felt that the Council had the resources to take further specific action, but the Council is very keen to be notified of any potential concerns within the community regarding this issue
19. Items for the next Agenda – meeting of 8th September 2016:
- Councillor responsibilities (DL)
- Speeding in the village (DV)
- Playground sign (DL/WL)
No other items were discussed and the meeting closed at 8.55pm.