September 2020 Minutes
REEPHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting
Reepham and Cherry Willingham Village Hall on Tuesday 6th October 2020 at 7.25pm.
Present: Cllr D Perkins, who presided. Cllrs A Brammer, C Wilson, J Oxby, and N Ward with the Clerk Mr B Wharton.
C/Cllr I Fleetwood and D/Cllr A Welburn.
This meeting was held under strict Social Distancing rules. Members of the Public were invited but none attended.
A pre-meeting under Planning was held beforehand to resolve any observations regarding Application No 141572 10 Chapel Close and Application No 141597 17 Hawthorn Road. See Item 6 below.
The meeting commenced at 7.33pm.
MATTERS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Nil.
1. Apologies.
Cllr M Doughty (work), B Tebbs (holidays) and P Stuffins.
2. Minutes of the Meeting held on 28th July 2020.
At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr N Ward, it was resolved that the minutes be accepted.
3. Clerk’s Report
The Clerk noted that the 3-year incorporated insurance had been presented too late for the lower rate to be accepted. This would need to be renegotiated at next year’s renewal. Meanwhile, the claim for the replacement bus shelter glass had been accepted and the sum of £231 had been deposited in our account.
Cllr David World had handed in his resignation from the Parish Council. The Chair read out his letter. WLDC have been informed, notices placed on the notice boards and, if no elections are required by 22nd October, we can expect proceedings for co-option to be set in place.
The Clerk announced that he had handed in his resignation/retirement letter and the Chair read this out. It was decided that advertisements should be placed in the Reepham News and the Cherry News with LALC asked to place a vacancy notice on their website. Cllr Perkins would place an advert through Facebook on the Neighbourhood page.
Meanwhile, various alternatives to the migration to the new website have been presented. One commercial firm required an initial layout to migrate and further subscription for the maintenance of the site and domain. An alternative that is being used by several neighbouring small councils has come through LALC. A retired specialist has offered his services (freely) to perform the migration and to train personnel in its use. At the proposal of Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr C Wilson, it was resolved that the Clerk should approach this specialist for inclusion in his offer.
4. Correspondence
Clerks and Councils Direct – September edition.
Cllr Fleetwood’s September brief.
LALC – News magazine.
There was 1 email from a resident: This referred to parking at the entrance to Beck Hill by parents at school or pre-school and is carried to the Community Parking Forum under
Item 7.
5. Financial Matters
Presentation of Accounts:
Glendale – 2XGrass and 1XHedge cut £1,408.79
Glendale – 1XGrass Cut £ 290.63
Glendale – 2XGrass Cut £ 581.26
LALC LCR Magazine £ 17.50
EKM Ltd play inspection £ 24.00
True Window and Glass – bus shelter £ 291.60
Village Hall - hire £ 37.00
£2,650.78
At the proposal by Cllr J Oxby, seconded by Cllr N Ward, it was resolved that these be signed.
Dispensations for Precept discussion.
The 4-year cycle for the dispensations that allow the Parish Council to discuss and resolve the parish precept, in which they have a declared interest through residency, will come to an end at end October. The Clerk will be required to sign a further dispensation for the precept discussion in the next 2 months and further.
At the proposal by Cllr C Wilson, seconded by Cllr J Oxby, it was resolved that the Clerk should prepare the forms for signature before the discussions begin at the next meeting.
Bank Mandate:
An extra item required following the resignation of Cllr World who was a co-signer to the cheques.
At the proposal by Cllr C Wilson, seconded by Cllr N Ward, it was resolved that Cllr A Brammer would become the second signatory and that the clerk should contact Barclays for the mandate change.
6. Planning Matters
In the absence of the Committee Chair there was no ongoing report.
Application 141651 33 Fiskerton Road. Cllr D Perkins declared an interest and the observations had been agreed earlier and forwarded to WLDC.
The contents of the applications 141572 (10 Chapel Close) and 141597 (17 Hawthorn Rd) were examined before the meeting and at the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr C Wilson, it was resolved that the observations relating to these should be conveyed to WLDC.
C/Cllr Fleetwood brought the following application to the attention of the parish council:
Application 141550 Wragby Road. This came from an earlier set of observations in a neighbouring parish that the parish council had objected to. This was soon to be heard at WLDC but the follow up application had not been forwarded to the Clerk. The Cllrs present were asked to look up this on WLDC website and forward any comments to the Clerk with some urgency.
Neighbourhood Planning: It was noted that David World would continue to act as liaison between the neighbourhood planning group and the parish council.
No meetings of the group had taken place recently.
7. Roads and Footways
Community Parking Forum:
The email from the resident had been forwarded to the councillors and was discussed. A proposal for white line marking of the junction and double yellow lines is not in the power of the parish council to grant. The Clerk was asked to copy the letter to the school and write to the resident pointing out the liaison with the school and to work through C/Cllr Fleetwood to request any variation to the road markings and signage.
Cyclists Dismount: Clerk to recirculate the quotes for signs to the parish council and to forward them to the residents for their approval, asking whether their offer of a donation was still in hand.
Manor Rise footpath: some difficulty reaching contacts at LCC and emails had remained unanswered.
Village Gates: Cllr A Brammer had suggested that a roadside SID might be a better alternative to village gates. Clerk to obtain a quote.
8. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
No further progress on footpaths between neighbouring communities.
9. Conservation Areas
The Village Green committee is renewed. Cllr Wilson presented a further update on the erratics present on the green – this was to be forwarded to the clerk for filing. There was information on the electric post and whether it could be relocated.
The problems of parking alongside the green was discussed again noting some success following the Reepham News entry. After a proposal by Cllr J Oxby, seconded by Cllr C Wilson it was resolved that Cllr Brammer should approach residents to request that a sign might be attached to their fencing, which ran alongside the green at this point.
Christmas Tree: Noting that there would be no ‘Carols around the Christmas Tree’ this year, at the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr J Oxby, it was resolved that the parish Council would purchase a Christmas tree this year and that the procedure for its selection be set in place.
10. Amenity Areas
Playpark inspections have noted that weeds are growing in the soft surface and should be removed. Two methods of clearance appear to be available, hand clearance or, using a licenced contractor, weed spraying. Neither is particularly a problem through the winter and this should be approached in the Spring as the weeds start growing again.
Play Park fencing: The quotes have been updated, however, it was noted that one quote was for galvanised, not galvanised, powder coated, as requested. Clerk to update and re-present at the next meeting.
Wildflower meadows. This had been introduced by Cllr C Wilson at the last meeting as an addition to the area of ground between the kissing gate and Mellows Close. Further investigation is required, especially as to pre-preparation of the ground and the aftercare – carried to next meeting.
11. Business for the Next Agenda
Chair brought the passing of our ex-handyman and Santa to the attention of the meeting giving a short eulogy. Clerk will write conveying the condolences of the parish council.
Chair also asked the Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Cllr World.
It will not be possible to hold the meeting in the village hall on Tuesdays as it is pre-booked to the year end. Two dates are available for the next meeting – Thurs 29th Oct or Thurs 5th Nov. Meetings after that date may have to be on Thursdays and not start until later because of pre-booking.
Meeting closed at 21.15pm. Next meeting Thursday Sept 29th 2020 at 7.30pm