Present:-
Cllrs. S. Dawson (chairman) N. Cary, D. Harrod. S. Johns, C. Large, M. Turville-Petre.
In attendance District Cllr. D. Young. and six members of the public.
The meeting was opened at 7.30pm
1. Apologies - PCSO G. Bridges.
2.There were no declarations of interest.
3.The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10th September 2013, having been previously circulated, were approved by the members and signed by the chairman.
4.There were no matters arising.
5.Reports.
Dist Cllr. D. Young.
My request for NNDC Customer Service staff to promote Norfolk Credit Union has been given a longwinded response which translates as “no”.
It was announced a few weeks ago that the new waste recycling contract had yet to be agreed so will not start until October 2014, a 6 months delay. This should not further delay the introduction of the new arrangements for glass. It would seem therefore that an extra 6 months payment of recycling credits will be payable to the parish council.
NNDC with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and others is forming a cost-sharing group that could benefit not-for-profit organisations. This has been formally established as “Coastshare” and also involves Voluntary Norfolk. Organisations can join Coastshare at a cost of £1 and can then access various services at cost and with no VAT. Currently, the services available incude legal. payroll, accountancy, recruitment, and reprographics. Members can receive such services or offer those or other services to other members. This is the first organisation of its kind, following legislation that came into force in February.
The next auction under the Big Switch and Save collective energy scheme takes place on November 19th.
The grant offered to parish councils to offset the adverse effect of the new Council Tax Support arrangements is being repeated this year but in line with the reduction by central government the grant will be 16% less this time. There has been some talk of the government capping the increase in parish council precepts for 2014-5 and if that were to happen, it has been suggested that parishes may choose not to accept the grant. The cap applied to district and county councils’ council tax levy has been 2% and at least £5.
If such a limit were applied to parishes, and they were to refuse the grant, then I believe many parishes would escape the cap - but this is just in order to maintain the monetary amount of their income from last year. It ignores making up the loss of recycling credits or any project that might require additional funds. News on whether precepts will be capped is unlikely for another month or so.
6.Planning:-
PF/13/1127 Erection of cart shed/garage with storage. 4 Bard Hill Barns.
The Parish Council had no objection to this application.
PF/13/1245 Demolition of dwelling and erection of replacenemt. Lor Cot, Cross Street
The Parish Council had no objection to this application but suggested that more flint and
reclaimed brick should be used.
PF/13/1299 Variation of condition 2 ref 12/1135 Marsh Rise, Coast Road.
The Parish Council objected to this application.
7.Precept.
After discussion on the budget forecast and the costs incurred to date and taking into account the grant offered to offset the new Council tax support arrangements it was proposed by Cllr Cary that the precept should be increased to £4100. This means applying for £3829 precept and accepting the £271 grant This was seconded by Cllr. Turville-Petre and carried. The precept application was then signed by the chariman and two council members.
8.Village Green
There may be a legal challenge to parking on the village green.
The chairman made the following statement:-
Village greens are heavily protected by law.
At Salthouse the grassed area and hard standing are all part of the village green. Protecting the village green is one of the core functions of the Parish Council.
Whilst parking on the hard standing has a very long history, official permission has never been given. Let alone for anyone to trade or park on the village green. The grassed area of the village green has always been used as a village amenity and never for parking .
Over the past two years access for buses trying to stop at the village green bus stop has been severely restricted by the indiscriminate parking of visitors cars on the verge and corners. As a direct result of this, a decision was taken in Autumn 2012 by the bus company Norfolk Green not to allow their buses to use the village green bus stop during the summer months. This decision was made before any measures were taken by the Parish Council.
A site meeting was held on Febrary 5th 2013 between the bus company , the parish council, a representative of Norfolk County Council Highways and a representative of the police to try and find an alternative for the buses to stop closer to the green. Unfortunately no site suggested was deemed a suitable or safe alternative.
The end result of this is, because of the thoughtlessness of visitors, our elderly residents and mothers with small children have to walk some distance along the busy coast road to catch the bus, which in many cases is their only means of transport.
The council have decided to adopt a light touch by not interfering with the hard standing. However, the grassed area had become increasingly prone to damage, frequently flooded and eroded by vehicles. This is the reason for the measures taken by the Parish Council in Spring 2013 to prevent cars parking on the grass . No parking occurred on the grass area until 2011 . This decision was taken after public consultation at a village meeting on January 22nd 2013 where everyone was able to voice their opinion .
Representatives of two of the three local businesses were present at this meeting.
It is proposed to restore the village green in the spring of 2014 so it can continue to be used as it always has been ie as a village amenity for sitting on , walking on , picnicking on , holding village fetes etc . Surely no business should rely on inappropriate parking to the detriment of the local residents of a village.
It was proposed by Cllr. Cary that no imediate action should be taken in replying to the letter from Steeles Law (solicitors). This was approved.
Another estimate for improving the green will be obtained.
It was also suggested that the Green could have Bunding round the edge with the ditch on the inside to take the surface water. This would stop flooding of the centre of the green.
9. Playing Field.
An entrance has been created with steps. The field has been cut and is now in a much better state. Some goal posts could be available.
10. Web Site.
The site should be operational by the new year. Some photographs and short personal write-ups are still needed.
11. Norfolk Green.
The subsidy to the Coast Hopper is to be phased out. A public meeting will be held at Sheringham on Friday 15th November to oppose this cut.
12. Correspondence.
Barclays Bank. Cllr. M. Turville-Petre is now authorised to be a signatory on cheques.
13. Public Questions.
Parking at the Village Hall will be discussed at the next village hall meeting.
There being no furthe business the chairman closed the meeting at 8 .44pm
Cheques signed:-
No. 100645 NCC half year rent allotments £735
No. 100646 British Columbia Hall Grant £300
No. 100647 J. Wright Grass cutting £200
Cllrs. S. Dawson (chairman) N. Cary, D. Harrod. S. Johns, C. Large, M. Turville-Petre.
In attendance District Cllr. D. Young. and six members of the public.
The meeting was opened at 7.30pm
1. Apologies - PCSO G. Bridges.
2.There were no declarations of interest.
3.The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10th September 2013, having been previously circulated, were approved by the members and signed by the chairman.
4.There were no matters arising.
5.Reports.
Dist Cllr. D. Young.
My request for NNDC Customer Service staff to promote Norfolk Credit Union has been given a longwinded response which translates as “no”.
It was announced a few weeks ago that the new waste recycling contract had yet to be agreed so will not start until October 2014, a 6 months delay. This should not further delay the introduction of the new arrangements for glass. It would seem therefore that an extra 6 months payment of recycling credits will be payable to the parish council.
NNDC with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and others is forming a cost-sharing group that could benefit not-for-profit organisations. This has been formally established as “Coastshare” and also involves Voluntary Norfolk. Organisations can join Coastshare at a cost of £1 and can then access various services at cost and with no VAT. Currently, the services available incude legal. payroll, accountancy, recruitment, and reprographics. Members can receive such services or offer those or other services to other members. This is the first organisation of its kind, following legislation that came into force in February.
The next auction under the Big Switch and Save collective energy scheme takes place on November 19th.
The grant offered to parish councils to offset the adverse effect of the new Council Tax Support arrangements is being repeated this year but in line with the reduction by central government the grant will be 16% less this time. There has been some talk of the government capping the increase in parish council precepts for 2014-5 and if that were to happen, it has been suggested that parishes may choose not to accept the grant. The cap applied to district and county councils’ council tax levy has been 2% and at least £5.
If such a limit were applied to parishes, and they were to refuse the grant, then I believe many parishes would escape the cap - but this is just in order to maintain the monetary amount of their income from last year. It ignores making up the loss of recycling credits or any project that might require additional funds. News on whether precepts will be capped is unlikely for another month or so.
6.Planning:-
PF/13/1127 Erection of cart shed/garage with storage. 4 Bard Hill Barns.
The Parish Council had no objection to this application.
PF/13/1245 Demolition of dwelling and erection of replacenemt. Lor Cot, Cross Street
The Parish Council had no objection to this application but suggested that more flint and
reclaimed brick should be used.
PF/13/1299 Variation of condition 2 ref 12/1135 Marsh Rise, Coast Road.
The Parish Council objected to this application.
7.Precept.
After discussion on the budget forecast and the costs incurred to date and taking into account the grant offered to offset the new Council tax support arrangements it was proposed by Cllr Cary that the precept should be increased to £4100. This means applying for £3829 precept and accepting the £271 grant This was seconded by Cllr. Turville-Petre and carried. The precept application was then signed by the chariman and two council members.
8.Village Green
There may be a legal challenge to parking on the village green.
The chairman made the following statement:-
Village greens are heavily protected by law.
At Salthouse the grassed area and hard standing are all part of the village green. Protecting the village green is one of the core functions of the Parish Council.
Whilst parking on the hard standing has a very long history, official permission has never been given. Let alone for anyone to trade or park on the village green. The grassed area of the village green has always been used as a village amenity and never for parking .
Over the past two years access for buses trying to stop at the village green bus stop has been severely restricted by the indiscriminate parking of visitors cars on the verge and corners. As a direct result of this, a decision was taken in Autumn 2012 by the bus company Norfolk Green not to allow their buses to use the village green bus stop during the summer months. This decision was made before any measures were taken by the Parish Council.
A site meeting was held on Febrary 5th 2013 between the bus company , the parish council, a representative of Norfolk County Council Highways and a representative of the police to try and find an alternative for the buses to stop closer to the green. Unfortunately no site suggested was deemed a suitable or safe alternative.
The end result of this is, because of the thoughtlessness of visitors, our elderly residents and mothers with small children have to walk some distance along the busy coast road to catch the bus, which in many cases is their only means of transport.
The council have decided to adopt a light touch by not interfering with the hard standing. However, the grassed area had become increasingly prone to damage, frequently flooded and eroded by vehicles. This is the reason for the measures taken by the Parish Council in Spring 2013 to prevent cars parking on the grass . No parking occurred on the grass area until 2011 . This decision was taken after public consultation at a village meeting on January 22nd 2013 where everyone was able to voice their opinion .
Representatives of two of the three local businesses were present at this meeting.
It is proposed to restore the village green in the spring of 2014 so it can continue to be used as it always has been ie as a village amenity for sitting on , walking on , picnicking on , holding village fetes etc . Surely no business should rely on inappropriate parking to the detriment of the local residents of a village.
It was proposed by Cllr. Cary that no imediate action should be taken in replying to the letter from Steeles Law (solicitors). This was approved.
Another estimate for improving the green will be obtained.
It was also suggested that the Green could have Bunding round the edge with the ditch on the inside to take the surface water. This would stop flooding of the centre of the green.
9. Playing Field.
An entrance has been created with steps. The field has been cut and is now in a much better state. Some goal posts could be available.
10. Web Site.
The site should be operational by the new year. Some photographs and short personal write-ups are still needed.
11. Norfolk Green.
The subsidy to the Coast Hopper is to be phased out. A public meeting will be held at Sheringham on Friday 15th November to oppose this cut.
12. Correspondence.
Barclays Bank. Cllr. M. Turville-Petre is now authorised to be a signatory on cheques.
13. Public Questions.
Parking at the Village Hall will be discussed at the next village hall meeting.
There being no furthe business the chairman closed the meeting at 8 .44pm
Cheques signed:-
No. 100645 NCC half year rent allotments £735
No. 100646 British Columbia Hall Grant £300
No. 100647 J. Wright Grass cutting £200
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