RUNTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD BY THE ABOVE ON 25th APRIL 2023 WEST RUNTON CHURCH HALL COMMENCING AT 7.15 PM.
PRESENT:
Councillors: Mr. J. Simpson in the Chair. Ms. T. Edwards, Mrs. B. Memish, Mr. P. Nichols, Mr. J. Jonas, Mr. R. Annis, Mr. S. Gurney, Mr. G. Baker,
Mr. D. Bakewell.
The Clerk, Ms. B. Emery. Three members of the public.
23/051. TO AGREE OPEN SESSION FOR PARISHIONERS/GUEST SPEAKERS BY
INVITATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN
The Council was asked if a sign pointing to the toilets at Beach Road ER could be
installed. NNDC would be contacted.
23/052. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apology from Cllr. C. Davidson. Accepted.
23/053. TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN FORTHCOMING ITEMS
None.
23/054. TO AGREE THE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 28TH MARCH 2023
The above minutes having been circulated beforehand were agreed as a true record and
signed by the Chairman.
23/055. MATTERS ARISING
Cllr. Annis asked if the work agreed at a previous meeting on trees at Moyes Close was in hand. The Clerk would contact the contractor.
23/056. CLERK’S REPORT
New windows have been ordered for the Reading Room and a date will be forthcoming as soon as the contractor can do them.
The next SNAP meeting is on 10th July at 6.30pm venue to be confirmed.
23/057. PLANNING
No planning application received. The Clerk had received a number of emails from a parishioner objecting to the new build at The Stance, to which the Parish Council have not objected.
23/058. TO CONSIDER REQUEST FOR INSTALLATION OF COMMUNICATIONS CABINET ON THE PLAYING FIELD information sent by email
The plan is for rolling out a network for fibre broadband and the company have identified the Playing Field as a possible place to lease a piece of land. The Clerk read out the information and after discussion it was thought that the cabinet would be screened. It was then agreed by all to reply and inform the company that the Parish Council accept the idea in principle and are prepared to discuss.
23/059. TO CONSDER SECURITY CAMERA INSTALLATION IN READING ROOM
There was some discussion on various types of security and it was decided that it would be necessary in future to protect staff and members of the public visiting and also councillors at meetings or surgeries.
A type of simple camera would be sourced for all areas and a privacy impact statement would be prepared in due course.
23/060. TO RECONSIDER WEST RUNTON SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
New information had been sent around by email. Highways had recommended an option which did not include the total mitigation measures, and an indication that costs could spiral. After discussion it was agreed to reiterate our condition of spending only up to and no more than £24,000 (twenty four thousand pounds) and to request that the mitigation measures for option 4 up to that figure, were installed as per the Safety Audit provided.
It was clarified that the Speed Awareness Signs were owned by the Parish Council.
23/061. COMMONS REPORT
To ratify the scarifying of Sparrows Park to plant seeds.
The above was agreed and Cllr. Gurney had scattered the seeds.
Cllr. Gurney informed the Council that a meeting had been held by the Commons group with Helen Baczkowska of NWT. A grant would be pursued to set up an improved management plan for the commons. Contractors to set up such a plan had been identified and the cost ranged between £830 and £1300. A grant would fund 80% and the Council would be asked to contribute 20%. It would make what was happening, clearer to parishioners and means that obtaining other grants for pond work would be more likely.
It is intended to get the grant in during May. The idea was favourable to the Parish Council and The Chairman proposed that it be pursued with funding. Agreed. The Chairman urged the need to remember that the Parish Council don’t own the commons and to be mindful of that for the future.
The Clerk had received a letter about the bad state of the West Runton lower common near the houses with building materials and cars parked which don’t belong to residents.
It was suggested that Mr. Batt be asked to get a solicitors letter to the residents having the building work done to tidy the area and remove the offensive materials.
23/062. CORONATION EVENTS – any further reports or requests for purchases.
This had been summed up in the previous Annual Parish Meeting by Cllr. Edwards as all being in hand for the King Charles Mardles being held simultaneously in West Runton Church Hall and The Reading Room East Runton. The Sunflower Competition had been launched and many packets of seeds given out. Refreshments were in hand for the lunches.
23/063. ALLOTMENTS REPORTS – parking in WR gateway.
The Clerk had sent a letter to the Dormy Hotel, and there had not been any obstruction to the gate since.
Cllr. Gurney reported that most plots were being tended and tidy.
Lugger Stile still has a leak so water is turned off. One tap has been repaired and more investigation was needed. Work would carry on with this. It was agreed that if the leak could not be pinpointed then a more in depth survey would be undertaken by a company with scanning equipment if necessary and the Council would bear the cost.
Cllr. Annis asked if there would be a new lease for Wyndham Park. After discussion, the Chairman proposed that a proper lease be drawn up by our solicitor, this was seconded by Cllr. Annis and agreed.
23/064. FINANCE
i. Income: The precept for the first half of the year had been received £7500.00
ii. Direct Debits paid
npower for street lighting £113.47
iii. Invoices for payment
J. Lynes, repairs to heaters £253.36
Viking Direct – stamps etc £73.94
K. Richardson – commons/PF cut £606.00
TT Jones Street light maintenance £46.30 three months
NALC subs £369.32
B. Emery – salary £1142.50 includes a spinal point increase for this year but no pay award as yet to date.
HMRC tax and ni £298.41
23/065. MEMBERS REPORTS
Cllr. Gurney had met with Steve White about various items of concern especially Greens Lane gullies and road surfaces. It was confirmed that drains near Manor Farm would be rodded out and debris on the road cleared. Surfaces would be seen to in due course particularly the junction in West Runton at Water Lane and outside the Reading Room East Runton. NNDC would be contacted by Steve White for road cleaning. Also the play equipment could need upgrading and will need to be looked at in the coming year.
Cllr. Annis reported overgrown hedges at the junction of A149 and Station Road and also in a property in Water Lane. These were the responsibility of the owners of the properties and NNDC had handled the problem before and so the Clerk would contact District in due course. Cllr. Annis was to find out the name of the property for the Clerk to report.
Cllr. Memish had been approached by the West Runton Station Adopters for support from the Parish Council to request Greater Anglia for trains to stop every hour at West Runton on Sundays, which they currently do not. It was agreed that this would be supported and Cllr. Memish would report that to them. Also Cllr. Memish asked if the newsletters for the top four houses in Sandy Lane could be posted as she was concerned about walking in the road.
Cllr. Edwards asked if some councillors could attend and help with the Coronation events on Sundays.
23/065. CORRESPONDENCE
None not dealt with above. Information from the NALC reports an update to the Good
Councillor Guide which would be purchased for councillors when that happened.
23/066. TO CONFIRM DATE TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Annual Parish Council meeting 23rd May 2023 East Runton Reading Room 7.15pm.
The Chairman announced that he would not be standing for council in this election and gave a short interesting precis of his time with the Council. Cllr. Bakewell did likewise.
Cllr. Jonas then said a few words looking back at some memorable moments and thanking both Cllr. Simpson and Cllr. Bakewell for their loyal service. A small gift was then given to each by members and the Clerk.
The meeting closed 7.55pm
Signed C. Davidson Chair Date 23rd May 2023