RUNTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD BY THE ABOVE ON 13TH DECEMBER 2022 WEST RUNTON CHURCH HALL COMMENCING AT 7.15 PM.
PRESENT:
Councillors: Mr. J. Simpson – Chair. Ms. C. Davidson – Vice Chair.
Mrs. B. Memish, Ms. T. Edwards, Mr. G. Baker, Mr. B. Bedwell, Mr. K. Jonas, Mr. S. Gurney, Mr. R. Annis.
Also present: Ms. B. Emery – Clerk. Mrs. S. Butikofer NNDC.
Two members of the public.
22/158. TO AGREE OPEN SESSION FOR PARISHIONERS/GUEST SPEAKERS BY
INVITATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN
The lady who organised the Christmas tree event in East Runton gave a report and thanked the Parish Council for their support. The Chairman responded with equal thanks for all her hard work.
22/159. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr. Nichols – received and accepted.
22/160. TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN FORTHCOMING ITEMS
None declared.
22/161. TO AGREE THE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 22ND NOVEMBER 2022
The above minutes having been circulated beforehand were accepted and agreed as a true record of proceedings.
22/162. MATTERS ARISING
None
22/163. CLERK’S REPORT
There had been a collection at WR Christmas tree event and money raised in cash given to Clerk to deal with. This will be paid into Parish Council account £258.00 and given as a donation to E.A.C.H. The Chairman proposed that it be made up to £300.00, seconded by Cllr. Bedwell this was agreed by all.
The Clerk has informed Mr. Batt about the building materials being stored on the common at WR as it was thought that he should deal with it. The materials are from work done on a house in Holme Close.
22/164. PLANNING
PF/22/2872 Shamrock East Runton – replacement windows, door and remodelling of bay roof. This was approved of as an improvement to the area.
22/165. ALLOTMENTS
To note any further report ie; Wyndham Park. Also to decide if trees are to be planted at Moyes Close as suggested at November meeting.
It was agreed that trees would be planted in Moyes Close, organised by the Allotments group.
The Clerk reported that the ivy is being removed from Lugger Wall, by a tenant of Lugger Stile and has asked Richard Brownsell is going to give us a quote for the whole length from the gate to where it’s good. A thank-you letter will be written to the tenant.
The trees at WR being done tomorrow.
Some discussion took place about Wyndham Park. The Chairman suggested that the agreement may need changing as cars had parked there for many years and we have to be realistic. The item was deferred to the next meeting for more investigation.
22/166. COMMONS – to note any further report – grazing etc.
Spring pond had been cleaned out. The Chairman congratulated the group for the work done. Gratitude was also noted to Hillside for their helping to clear the debris away.
There are to be further talks with Ed Stocker NCC and NWT in February about the Retting Pit etc. The Chairman expressed concern about the ditch being quite blocked and something ought to be done soon to allow the flow of water. The Clerk was asked to find someone willing to dig out the blocked section with enough depth to facilitate this.
The ponies are doing a good job with grazing the commons.
22/167. TO HEAR A REPORT OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE VILLAGE EVENTS
The Chairman reported both village events had gone very well and were well attended with food outlets being open at the same time and a blessing at each by the Rector of the Parish.
It was noted that the carol service at Holy Trinity Church would be on 20th December at 7pm.
22/168. TO HEAR DETAILS OF THE BEGINNING OF COUNCILLOR SURGERIES
Cllr. Memish had offered to organise the surgeries and these would be held each month alternating between the villages for just two hours or so. Dates to be decided. It would be advertised in the newsletter.
22/169. TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS THE NEW NEWSLETTER
The Clerk had produced a new eight-page newsletter with a new look. Copies were passed around and some tweaks would be made. The Clerk also asked Councillors to decide if they still wanted their addresses to be published or just telephone numbers. It was agreed by all, that addresses would continue to be included. Distributors outside of the Council had been given a Christmas card and a letter outlining the new format as it would be bulkier to distribute. The newsletter was accepted and would be produced in January. Cllr. Davidson urged councillors to provide copy for the newsletter to help the clerk with content.
22/170. REPORT OF NEW SCREEN AND TO DISCUSS THE NECESSITY OF A TV LICENCE
The new smart screen had been fitted in the Reading Room and it was decided that although normally, live TV would not be watched, it would be safer to have a licence to cover all aspects.
22/171. TO HEAR THE REPORT OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR FOR YEAR END MAR 22.
No matters of concern arose for year 2021-2022.
PKF. Littlejohn have been appointed for the next five years.
22/172. TO HEAR A REPORT OF THE INTERNAL CONTROL OFFICER Cllr. Bedwell.
Cllr. Bedwell had checked the accounts and cheque books and although there were no concerns, there was the small matter of re-iterating that cheque stubs should be initialled.
22/173. FINANCE
i. Income to report –
£84.15 interest on bank account.
£1619.00 for allotment rents. So far. Some still outstanding.
ii. Direct debits to report
Unicom Broadband/Electricity £30.31
Credit and discount applied on above
iii. Invoices for payment
Edgefield Nurseries – 2 x Christmas trees E&W Runton £265.00
Norfolk County Council – traffic study £1500.00
JB Postle – fitting smart screen at Reading Room £127.99
B. Emery – salary/expenses for clerk end December £1164.76
HMRC – tax and NI £273.58
E.A.C.H. money raised from Christmas events £300.00
Cllr. Memish asked to clarify if we were buying the tree for West Runton as she thought the Corner House were paying for it. The Clerk had received invoices for both trees from Edgefield Nurseries and therefore accepted liability.
the traffic study is costing £1500.00 and Mr. Vardy had been informed. There was some concern that the study was done simply to count vehicles and also that it was done in winter. No results had been received. It was decided that the cheque would be withheld until results had been received.
22/174. CORRESPONDENCE
To note a letter of complaint received (all councillors aware). At this point the Chairman
closed the meeting to the public and the matter was discussed. A conclusion was reached
and the complainant would be informed to that effect and no further investigation was
needed.
The meeting re-opened.
The matter of the Clerk’s safety was discussed briefly and methods of ensuring safety in
the office would be investigate including asking the police for advice.
22/175. MEMBERS REPORTS – REPORTS FROM NNDC AND NCC
Cllr. Butikofer reported: Waste bins were hopefully now being collected on time. Two
appeals against refusal of planning consent had been received. The Dormy Hotel and the
Links Hotel. The meeting heard that while an appeal was in hand, enforcement could not
take place. Warm places were being set up in the Cromer area. Toilets in East Runton
should be kept open again this winter. The sign would also be reported.
Cllr. Jonas reported that oak trees had been planted on the Playing Field. An invoice was given to the Clerk.
Cllr. Baker reported that the NCC ICT had been approached by NALC regarding a package for email and office suite services. Cllr. Baker will follow this up which would provide all Parish Councils a .gov.uk email and allow storage of documents.
Cllr. Davidson reported that the sewage leak on WR common has increased significantly and there was much concern. Environmental health had investigated earlier in the year but no further information was forthcoming. Mrs. Butikofer would contact the person dealing with environmental health concerns. The owner of the property would need to be contacted. Further investigation would take place.
Cllr. Gurney asked about the windows in Reading Room and if any more had been done. The Clerk had yet to follow this up with the short time between meetings.
Cllr. Annis: Asked to note the Cromer Lifeboat carol service at Grove Hotel Cromer 6pm 21st December.
Cllr. Simpson – street light opposite Wood Rising is unlit. The Clerk would report.
22/176. TO CONFIRM DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 24th January East Runton Reading Room 7:30pm.
Signed by the Chairman.
Date 24th January 2023.