RUNTON PARISH COUNCIL Draft. MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD BY THE ABOVE ON 23RD JANUARY 2024 AT WEST RUNTON CHURCH HALL COMMENCING AT 7.15 PM.
PRESENT:
Councillors: Ms. C. Davidson – Chair. Mr. S. Gurney – Vice Chair.
Mr. G. Baker, Ms. T. Edwards, Mr. C. Hawkins, Mr. K. Jonas, Mr. M. Lerego, Mrs. B. Memish, Mr. P. Nichols. Three members of the public, Cllr. Kim Toye (NNDC), the Clerk Ms. B. Emery.
24/001. TO AGREE OPEN SESSION FOR PARISHIONERS/GUEST SPEAKERS
Agreed. Two members of the public introduced themselves as new to the parish and spoke about their plans for their dwelling which had planning permission.
Cllr. Kim Toye gave a brief report from NNDC and spoke about the year ahead being a severe one regarding finances and would update the Parish Council of any changes which arise. Coastwise Cafes are being held, next at Sheringham 7th February. The subject of the ditch filled in by the Links Hotel came up and Cllr. Davidson would try to get a location to be able to report it. Cllr. Toye will address planning applications and was asked by Cllr. Jonas what the state of the Local Plan was. It was confirmed that the Local Plan has gone to central govt and that the current plan is the one in use at the moment.
24/002. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Received and accepted from Cllr. Annis and Cllr. Debacker. Also Cllr. E. Vardy (NCC) Cllr. Davidson reported that Cllr. Ralph Smith had resigned owing to ill health.
24/003. TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN FORTHCOMING
ITEMS
None.
24/004. TO AGREE THE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 19TH DECEMBER 2023
The above having been circulated beforehand were accepted agreed and signed by Cllr. Davidson as Chair. Proposed SG, Seconded CH.
24/005. MATTERS ARISING for information or follow up queries only.
Regarding fly tipping on the common. Cllr. Davidson and Cllr. Lerego had inspected the area and found that it isn’t to do with Treehaven as was first thought. They have been apologised to.
24/006. CLERK’S REPORT
Received a report about overgrown vegetation near West Runton bridge on A149 which has been resolved by Highways.
24/007. PLANNING
Applications:
PF/24/0012 Single storey extension Pinebank Shawcross Rd WR No objections PC.
PF/23/2709 15 Renwick Pk. Replacement dwelling. Objected to by PC.
Decisions issued by NNDC
PO/23/0852 four houses on land West of Methodist Church ER approved.
PF/23/2305 replacement dwelling at Homewood ER approved.
An appeal had been received regarding the above. It would be circulated.
24/008. COMMONS/PONDS To hear a report of the latest meeting on site.
CD Cllr. Davidson reported on a meeting with Helen Baczkowska and the person writing the plans. It was a constructive meeting and Cllr. Davidson will bring a synopsis for the next PC meeting.
SG No real changes to the cutting regime, but mainly concerning the ponds. Retting Pit has been improved but the weir is still leaking. Cllr. Gurney was asked to get prices for sandbags to decide on at the next meeting.
BE
CD SG Anglian Water have not yet done the work to run the pipe from their borehole to the spring pond. The Clerk was asked to contact them. There was a concern about some unidentified “sludge” seeping into one of the ditches. Anglian Water would be contacted about this once the Clerk had been furnished with location details. Cllr. Gurney had accessed details on how to ascertain if the film on water is contamination or not and would circulate it to members.
Another councillor was needed to join the commons inspection group and members were asked to think about volunteering for the West Runton side.
ML A letter had been received from a resident on The Hurn concerned that people were parking through the gap at the far end of the common. The gap has been left to allow mowers for grass cutting, but now the contractor only uses strimmers. Cllr. Lerego would have a look and perhaps this could be rectified.
24/009. ALLOTMENTS reports if any. Numbering system etc Wyndham Park plan.
SG Cllr. Gurney reiterated the necessity for numbering the West Runton plots to make it easier. It was thought that the cost would be about £50.00. Agreed.
Two plots have been re-let and there is one free now at Moyes Close. It was reiterated that the small plot’s tenant would be given time to cultivate and checked in spring.
Chair congratulated Cllr. Memish on the production of the plan for Wyndham Park. Cllr. Memish explained the paper which had gone around by email. Residents of Wyndham Park would be invited on 30th January at 7pm for an informal chat to get their ideas for the future of the area of the allotments regarding tidying up and reform. Cllr. Jonas voiced some reservations but agreed that some work was needed. The letter would be sent out as soon as possible.
24/010. TO HEAR REPORT ON INDIGINOUS TREES TO BE PLANTED AT MOYES CLOSE
Cllr. Nichols reported that he had paced out the area and recommended thirty trees of ten varieties. The brambles and weeds would need clearance and then the first indigenous trees can be planted in order of hardiness with the most hardy at the north end. Cost estimated at around £100.00 for the trees. This was accepted and agreed. The matter of fruit trees was mentioned and Cllr. Nichols advised that this could be considered when the indigenous trees were established.
24/011. TO HEAR A REPORT ON DRAINAGE PROBLEMS AT VILLAGE HALL LAND
CH SG
Cllr. Hawkins as a member of the Village Hall Committee reported the problems regarding the damp causing major work to be needed on the floor of the hall. A surveyor had indicated that clearing and opening the blocked ditches and replacing pipework where necessary on the land would help long term. The Parish Council accept that they own the land with a peppercorn rent paid to them. There were questions asked about the responsibility for the ditches inside the area and on the common. The Clerk informed members of her understanding of the owners of the strips of land outside the area. The Chairman asked members to consider: Does the Parish Council agree to pay for all the work to solve the problem and what precedent does that set? Ultimately though, it appeared that there was a responsibility. There was discussion about the work needed and the likely costs although there was as yet to be a quote. The Clerk would furnish Cllr. Hawkins with details of the drainage company who did work on the common/pond pipe. Details of what was needed and cost would then be drawn up and a simple agreement be drawn up between the Village Hall and the Parish Council. Cllr. Gurney would work with Toby Lipton (Village Hall Chair)
24/012. TO HEAR A REPORT REGARDING FLOODING DOWN GREENS LANE.
Cllr. Gurney recapped the problem and reported that some work had been done which had alleviated part of the roadway flooding, but that the work had not been finished further up past Manor Farm. There has been no further date given as to when Highways will finish the work.
24/013. TO HEAR ANY FURTHER RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM HIGHWAYS REGARDING WEST RUNTON SAFETY MEASURES AND SPEED REDUCTION.
£8000 has been received and a credit note issued for the remaining £16000.00. The Clerk had received information that the project brief had been written, to forward to a designer.
24/014. TO CONSIDER COSTS OF TWO NOTICE BOARDS (ER AND WR) (Clerk has costs)
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
24/015. TO CONSIDER INITALLY A REQUEST FROM AMP CLEAN ENERGY BE To install a “battery box” on land at Wyndham Park. Details have been circulated.
The wayleave payments would be Option 1 – £1000.00 per annum for thirty years or Option 2 a single payment of £10,000.00.
It was agreed initially to instigate a meeting with the developers to discuss this with a view to accept Option 1. Proposed CD seconded PN.
24/016. TO CONSIDER FUTURE I.T. DEVELOPMENTS GB
Cllr. Baker gave a verbal report and would furnish members with a more extensive paper to consider by the next meeting. Items of importance to consider would be:
* Moving to a proper email address format
* Setting up a shared platform for documents etc.
* Checking GDPR compliance
Members were asked to consider any other IT reforms for the council that they would like to see. Funding may be possible. Hardware could also be brought up to date.
24/017. FINANCE
i. Income
Allotments £1760.00 received in total. One outstanding amount. Letter of request sent.
Interest from Barclays £529.06
ii. Direct debits paid – report
Unicom – water on alloments £138.95
Anglian Water – Reading Room £33.15
npower – street lighting £112.36
TV Licence quarterly payment £41.00
iii. Invoices to agree for signing
Hayes and Storr vat on lease costs £120.00 :
lease for Playing Field costs paid for by company net, we pay the vat and claim it back.
Teresa Edwards reimbursement for gifts £20.00
Barbara Emery – salary £1219.01
HMRC – tax and ni £327.77
John Service – Retting Pit £380.00
JL Woods “ £270.00
Ben Darling – footpaths etc £190.00
Cllr. Davidson reported that the total cost of work on the Retting Pit was £887.00 considerably less than the first quote received.
No correspondence yet from Barclays bank regarding new signatory confirmation except a text sent to Cllr. Gurney (signatory) confirming that the mandate was received.
Balance reported £180,751.00 net.
24/018. MEMBERS REPORTS – for information or inclusion in next agenda only.
Cllr. Davidson reminded members that reports under this item should be restricted to a brief report on an item to be included in the next meeting’s agenda.
Cllr. Lerego reported on trees having been taken down near “Treehaven” Top Common West Runton and this had exposed the security lighting which was intrusive to people living nearby. The managers had been spoken to and were amenable to altering the lighting, but the lights were still very bright and as motion operated were on and off most of the evening and therefore still posed a problem with annoyance and light pollution. This is an issue which needs addressing. Further investigation will take place.
Cllr. Memish reminded members of the Councillor Surgery is held Friday 26th Church Hall WR 10am.
Cllr. Nichols: reported concern about vans/cars parked on the common ER near the Lugger Stile wall. The common is being churned up. The Clerk thought it was workers on a cottage nearby and there was real breach of any rules.
SG Agenda Cllr. Gurney: Abbs common. A small bridge over a footpath had collapsed and needed repair. It was a NCC trails issue but Cllr. Gurney offered to take this on and would report costs to the Clerk. Also reported having found a source of investment at Barclays and mentioned the ditches/pipes in Banville Lane. The Chairman suggested that a map of all the ditches could be found and annotated which could lead to a plan of maintenance as there is a need to be structured in the work which the Parish Council does.
Cllr. Gurney also mentioned the cutting of Top Common and replacement of the swings.
Agenda Chair: Regular discussion takes place about our finances and parishioners ask about money we have as capital. The suggestion is that a small short term group is formed to discuss the future of investments etc, putting together all the issues and come up with a plan including how much we have to invest after reserves for various expenditure have been considered. Members were asked to consider this for the next meeting.
24/019. TO CONFIRM DATE TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
February 27th 2024 East Runton Reading Room 7:15pm. Confirmed.
TO AGREE CLOSURE OF THE MEETING FOR A SENSITIVE SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
– Agreed. Members of the public departed.
ITEM: Verbal abuse of Clerk and Councillors by members of the public and how to deal with it. After discussion, it was decided that the Clerk and Chair would informally speak to the police on the best way to deal with such occurrences and formally recognise the need to protect the Clerk.
Signed Chairman Date