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Bressingham Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting held on 2nd November 2009

The meeting opened at 7.30 p.m.

Present

Councillors - Chairman , Mr R Aves, Mr N Morley, Mr R W Bartrum, Mr D Hodges, Mr D Craggs, Mrs S Craggs,

Mr I Cattermole and County Councillor Mr B Spratt.

Also present were Jean Harvey, several members of the public and the clerk, Mike Mortimer.

1 Apologies for Absence

Parish Councillors, Dr A Kinnear-King, and District Councillor, Mr K Weeks

2 Declaration of Interests

There were none

3 To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on the 7th September 2009

The minutes were agreed

4 Matters arising from the Minutes

  Mr Craggs reported that District Councillor Weeks had established that the grass and footpath on the corner of School Road and Fersfield Road was the responsibility of Norfolk County Council and that Mr Craggs and Mr Weeks would pursue the matter of its maintenance.

5 County Councillor Spratt's Report

Mr Spratt commented on the continuing financial constraints pointing out that the County Council would have to find cuts of £140,000,000 as a result of the government grants being cut. The Long Stratton bypass, he said, was looking unlikely and the upgrade of the A11 far from certain.

A discussion on the possible areas for cuts followed including the gritting of roads. In response to a question from Mr Cattermole Mr Spratt agreed the fear of litigation was a factor which the County Council took into account in the matter of gritting. The costs of submissions for grants for large capital projects was raised and Mr Hodges asked how the County Council compared with other counties in the diligence and therefore the cost of such submissions - bat and owl surveys for example. Mr Spratt replied that they were statutory duties and Norfolk spent no more than other counties. Mr Cattermole asked about the burden of social sector pensions and Mr Spratt agreed that it was something that would have to be addressed at some time.

Mr Spratt agreed to pursue a Highways issue - in conjunction with Mr Morley - brought up by a member of the public and a separate concern over the footpath in Fersfield Road.

6 District Councillor Weeks' Report

Mr Weeks was unable to attend.

7 Parish Plan

Mrs Craggs reported ongoing progress with the questionnaire though there was some uncertainty as to whether it should sent out before or after Christmas.

8 Highways

Mr Morley explained the ongoing flooding problem in Algar Road. He pointed out the quick response of the Highways department though it was not a problem they could deal with alone. He also reported that many of the items in his report of work needed which he had submitted last spring had been dealt with. Mr Spratt thanked Mr Morley for that excellent report.

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9 Correspondence

Four requests for charitable donations had been received. It was decided that £100 should be donated to the CAB and the other requests held to be considered at the end of the year. A large document for consideration and comment - The Joint Core Strategy for Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk - had been received. Concern was voiced over the ability of small parish councils to discuss and agree responses (often within short timescales) to the increasing number of such documents. A view was expressed that, in reality, the so called consultative process was a sham.

However Mr Cattermole agreed to take the document and report back.

A letter of resignation from Mr England had been received.

An offer by BT of the phone box on Low Road for £1 was declined.

An initiative from the Police to train volunteers in the use of speed cameras in the Parish was discussed. Several Parish Councillors expressed concern at the prospect of volunteers taking over the police's job and felt it undesirable for neighbours to inform on each other. It was agreed that no action be taken at the present time.

10 Planning

A schedule of planning applications was provided

The Clerk was asked to write to Hastoe Housing regarding the possible danger of a pond at the back of the new houses, the construction of a dirt area between the road and the path in School Road and the state of the land opposite the new housing.

11 Finance

A financial report for the July/August period was made available.

Budget proposals for 2010/2011 had been provided and a discussion of the budget took place. The possibility of some general maintenance of some common parts of the Parish was considered and some small provision made in the proposed precept request. It was agreed that the precept for 2010/2011should be £7300.

12 Allotments

Mr Aves reported that due to the dry weather it had not been possible to plough the land but that with the recent rain ploughing should take place shortly.

13 To consider setting up sub-committees

It was agreed that the Chairman could establish a sub-committee when needed to deal with a specific issue which required attention before the next scheduled meeting.

14 Any Other Business

Mr Aves reported a request from a young parishioner for a skateboarding area, Views for and against were expressed and it was agreed that the individual concerned should be encouraged to establish the extent of interest and report to the Chairman.

A proposal to co-opt Mrs E Handy onto the Parish Council was carried unanimously.

16 Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting should be on the 4th of January 2010.

The meeting closed at 9.50