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Bressingham Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting held on 4th January 2010

The meeting opened at 7.30 p.m.

Present

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

Mr I Cattermole, Mrs E Handy, Dr A Kinnear-King and County Councillor Mr B Spratt.

Also present were two members of the public and the clerk, Mike Mortimer.

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Elizabeth Handy as a new Parish Councillor.

1 Apologies for Absence

Parish Councillors, Mr D Hodges, Mr N Morley and District Councillor, Mr K Weeks

2 Declaration of Interests

There were none

3 To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on the 2nd November 2009

The minutes were agreed

4 Matters arising from the Minutes

There were none.

5 County Councillor Spratt's Report

Mr Spratt announced that £40,000 was to be spent on a footpath in Bressingham. There was some confusion as to the precise location and Mr Spratt agreed to check. Regarding the supply of salt to bins he suggested that regular checks be made so that Highways could replenish them when needed. Mr Bartrum agreed to check. The possibility of shovels being provided was raised however it was pointed out that they might go missing. Mr Spratt suggested an old bucket as a good alternative.

6 District Councillor Weeks' Report

Mr Weeks was unable to attend.

7 Parish Plan

Mrs Craggs reported ongoing progress with the questionnaire and that after testing which was imminent it would be sent out.

8 Highways

Dr Kinnear-King raised the issue of the junction between School Road and the A1066. He agreed to contact Mr Overland of the Highways Department to arrange a meeting

at the site and also to draw his attention to a hole opening up in School Road.

9 Correspondence

The Clerk was asked to inform Mr Hodges, who was unable to attend the meeting, of the contents of an email from the local police providing the time and location of the next SNAP meeting. There was an invitation from the Norfolk Constabulary to a meeting regarding its forthcoming budget and Mr Cattermole agreed to reply.

Mr Cattermole reported on the Greater Norwich Development Partnership document as he had agreed at the last meeting. He expressed the view that responses at Parish level to such a document would have little effect though such planning was essential and that the document was well constructed and of great interest. Mr Craggs asked if it contained anything of specific concern to Bressingham or Fersfield. Mr Cattermole said it did not. He did point out that the document made it clear that the construction of the Northern Distributor Route was essential to the plan. It was noted that County Councillor Spratt had expressed a view that it may well not be built. Mr Cattermole recommended the document as valuable material and Dr Kinnear-King took it away.

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10 Planning

A schedule of planning applications was provided

11 Finance

A financial report was made available.

The Chairman asked Mrs Craggs if the Parish Plan had sufficient funding at present and she replied that it had.

12 Allotments

Mr Aves reported that the allotments were now ploughed and that as soon as the weather was satisfactory the plots would be marked out. It was agreed that a sub committee be established to consider matters such as rent, location of sheds, provision of water and so on. Mr Aves, Mr Bartrum and Mr Cattermole agreed to serve on the sub committee.

13 To consider marking the opening of the New Housing

Mr Aves asked if there should be some official opening of the site in School Road. A tenant who attended the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with her property explaining that the heating hadn't worked for some time. Several Councillors expressed grave concern at the situation and the clerk was asked to contact Hastoe Housing as soon as possible. The idea of an official opening was abandoned. The Clerk was also asked to establish the situation with the, supposedly, temporary water retention area on the site as Dr Kinnear-King reported that it seemed to be full all the time.

14 Any Other Business

Mr Edward Curson who attended the meeting made a generous offer to repaint the Fersfield village sign. The Chairman thanked Mr Curson on behalf of the Council and said it would be very happy to accept his offer.

15 Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting should be on the 1st of March 2010.

The meeting closed at 8.50