Sheringham Town Council Meeting Held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Sheringham, On

Sheringham Town Council Meeting

5th February 2013

SHERINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, TOWN HALL, SHERINGHAM, ON TUESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY, 2013, AT 7.30PM.

PRESENT: The Mayor – Cllr D Smith

The Deputy Mayor – Cllr D Gooch

Cllrs Ashcroft, Birtwell, Booth, Bush, Cox, Fields, Fraser, Hewitt, Hill & McGinn,

Cty Cllr Brian Hannah

Dist Cllrs Oliver, Shepherd & Smith

PC Ian Smith

The Clerk and Deputy Clerk

Steve Downes, EDP

2 Members of the Public

9009. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER APOLOGIES: Cllrs Brooks, Burns Stevens & Talbot sent their apologies.

9010. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST RELATING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA:

Cllrs Birtwell and Bush both declared an interest as Allotment Tenants.

9011. TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON 8th JANUARY, 2013 and 29th JANUARY, 2013:

Cllr Cox PROPOSED acceptance of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th January 2013, seconded by Cllr McGinn. IT WAS AGREED. Cllr Gooch asked for an amendment to the Minutes of 29th January 2013, to replace Cllr Hewitt with Cllr Hill on line 48 and with this amendment so PROPOSED acceptance of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 29th January, 2013, seconded by Cllr Hill. IT WAS AGREED.

9012. ITEMS REQUIRING A RESOLUTION UNDER THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS ACT 1960) TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS AND PUBLIC: There were none on this occasion.

9013. TOWN MAYORS REPORT:

The Mayor gave a report as follows:

10th December Meeting with regard to crossing points on Cromer

Road with a resident and Cty Cllr Hannah

13th December Opened the Christmas Tree Festival

14th December Attended the Primary School Christmas Play

17th December Attended a Chamber of Trade meeting at NNR

19th December Launch of the new Lighting on east promenade with

Dst Cllr Oliver

21st January Meeting with Film Company Location manager at

Town Hall

24th January Attended launch of Crab & Lobster Festival

4th February Attended a site visit in Cooper Road with Dominic

Crago and PC Ian Smith

9014. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES: There were none

on this occasion.

9015. POLICE REPORT:

PC Ian Smith gave a report as follows:

This Police report covers the period from the 1st January 2013 to the 31st January 2013.

During January Sheringham town has had only 3 recordable crimes reported to the Police. Compared with January 2012 when we had a spate of burglaries and thefts in the area we had 27 crimes reported. It would be great to stand here and say that Sheringham Police have cracked this Policing job, but I am not that naive. I have my suspicions that the snow and ice played a big part in these low figures.

2 of the crimes relate to minor public order offences. A parking enforcement officer aka a traffic warden was verbally abused shortly after issuing a ticket on a car parked on Church Street. The enforcement officer reported this matter and the driver of the car was spoken to about his conduct. The officer was able to use their professional judgement and decided to leave the matter at that. The enforcement officer was happy with the matter being dealt with in this manner, as she had already issued him one fine that day.

The other public order offence took place when a drunk male chased a taxi down the road after the driver had had words with him about placing cones in the road. The investigation was positive as we were able to identify the person, where they had been. It appeared that they were from out of the area, making it very difficult for us to now locate.

The last crime that was recorded was Criminal Damage to a motor vehicle parked in a back road of the town. The usual enquiries have been made but at this time the investigation has been closed down.

You may be asking what we have been doing with our time if we have had no crimes to investigate. Apart from dealing with road traffic collisions we have been busy with our problem solving plans.

We are currently carrying out a number of speed checks in the Common Lane area due to reports of speeding vehicles. I have organised a multi agency day for later in the month. We have got a team together to target travelling criminals in the area. I also have an operation taking place aimed at our night time economy. I will give you full updates next month.

Sheringham Primary school has been high on the agenda with the parking issues. We get a large number of grumbles from the residents in the area as well the parents that use the school about the parking issues in Cooper Road and the surrounding streets. There is a general feeling by lots of parents of “Well that is just how it is”.

The school is now the largest primary school in the county and is projected to get even larger student numbers. The concerns of parents are that one day an incident will occur outside the school. Residents are becoming less tolerant towards the parking and the attitude of parents getting their children to school.

Sheringham SNT and the primary school have worked together many times in the past. We believe there are three main issues that need to be resolved in relation to the parking issues in the area. These are:

1)  Stopping people parking/stopping on the Zig Zag Lines outside the school

2)  Stopping People driving on the pavements of Cooper Road to park.

3)  Looking to provide further parking facilities in the area.

The team has been involved in the making of a banner for the school gate. This banner has a very clear message about keeping the lines outside the school gate clear. I have brought you some pictures to show you the message that we are trying to get across. I have also worked alongside the parking partnership team (traffic wardens) and we have some enforcement days planned over the next month. This has now become a no tolerance area. People have been warned.

In relation to stopping people parking on the pavements, PSCO Simms met with the Highways Dept about the option of placing trees on the grass verges on Cooper Road. We see this as a simple way of putting a divide between the cars and the children using the pavement. I have provided some plans of the idea put forward by the Highways Dept. It is all sounding so simple.

Norfolk County Council and Highways have located funds to support the plan and will provide the trees required, the consultation with residents and the work to place them in situ. It is all sounding so simple. The cost of each tree and planting is over £400. The funding for these trees has been obtained through highways. If the trees were to be planted they are required to be maintained to uphold the warranty they come with. This has a cost of £585 + VAT. Once the trees are planted by highways they would become the property of the Town Council. NORSE and the Highway Dept are asking if Sheringham Town Council would consider taking on the responsibilities of the trees long term. This means paying the maintenance cost for the first 3 years and then continuing to maintain the trees thereafter.

I believe that this measure may be disliked by people using the School as it will take away some parking places, but these parking spaces should not be used in the first place.

Finally consideration needs to be given to the long term future parking needs of the area and the potential of providing a parking facility that could benefit the Primary School, the High School and Woodfields School for the years to come.

PC Ian Smith left the meeting.

9016. COUNTY/ DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS:

Cty Cllr Hannah provided a brief report as follows:

Attended the Sports Association visit and presentation on Saturday 2nd February, which was an excellent presentation, attended also by District Councillors and Officers. There is support for this project by many young people of Sheringham.

Dist Cllr Oliver gave a brief report as follows:

I have received complaints of people parking on the verges, particularly on the West side of the Holway Road and also on the East side on the corner of Seaview Crescent and Beech Avenue. This parking is making it difficult to corner and I shall be reporting it to the safer neighbourhood action team.

People adjacent to Butts Lane are tidying up the bank which is now very tidy and they are to be congratulated. There is also a notable absence of any dog mess both here and on the play area.

9017. TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD ON 8TH JANUARY 2013 AND 22ND JANUARY 2013: The Minutes having been previously circulated, Cllr McGinn PROPOSED acceptance of the Minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 8th January 2013 and 22nd January 2013, Cllr Cox seconded. IT WAS AGREED.

9018. ALLOTMENTS, COMMONS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE:

(a) To Approve Letters of Reply to Blyth & Sons and a Resident Regarding Cemetery Fees at Weekends:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation to approve the letters, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED.

(b)  To Approve Continued Closing of Cemetery Gates at Weekends:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation to continue closing the Cemetery gates at weekends, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED.

(c)  To Approve Request for a Non Standard Headstone:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation to approve the non standard memorial, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED

(d)  To Approve Continued Policy Regarding Markers on Graves:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation to continue the policy of not having grave markers, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED.

(e)  To Approve Recommendation Not To Install a Water Meter for Cemetery Usage:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation not to install a water meter for cemetery usage, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED.

(f)  To Approve Recommendation Not To Install A Composting Toilet at the Allotment Site:

Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the recommendation not to install a composting toilet at the allotment site, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED

(g)  To Accept the Minutes of the Allotments, Commons and Cemetery Committee Meeting held on 22nd January 2013.

The Minutes having been previously circulated, Cllr Hill PROPOSED acceptance of the Minutes of the Allotments, Cemetery and Commons Committee meeting held on 22nd January 2013, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED.

9019. FINANCE:

(a) ACCOUNTS: The Accounts for Payment having been previously circulated, Cllr McGinn PROPOSED acceptance of the Schedule of Accounts in the sum of £15,785.86 inclusive of vat, seconded by Cllr Cox. IT WAS AGREED. Included in the Accounts for Payment was an invoice from Howes Percival for £6,413 exclusive of vat, this would give an overspend on the Legal/Valuation Fees budget of £2217.50. Cllr Cox so PROPOSED that £5,000 is moved from the Cemetery Shed Ear Marked Reserves budget to the Legal/Valuation Fees budget, seconded by Cllr Gooch. IT WAS AGREED.

(b) TO CONSIDER REVISED PRECEPT REQUEST:

The Finance Officers had a meeting on 26th January to discuss Government changes resulting in a new system for setting Council Tax and the implications on Local Council Precept requests. Cllr Cox had prepared a report which was circulated to all members and spoke with regard to the issues contained within. The effect of the changes to the Council Tax Base will result in less households contributing towards the Precept therefore raising the amount each household pays. To offset this increase NNDC is offering a 10% grant to STC to minimise the effect on individual households. If STC accepts the grant the Precept will be set at £160,000, however the grant may not be available next year or it may be at a reduced rate. If STC accepts the grant it will increase a Band D household by 50p for the 2013/14 year for the Parish Precept part of the Council Tax and if the grant is not accepted the increase will be £1 for the 2013/14 year. The Finance Officers recommend not to accept the grant and therefore Cllr Cox so PROPOSED not accepting the NNDC grant, seconded by Cllr Ashcroft. IT WAS AGREED.

(c) TO CONSIDER RESCISSION OF DECISION NOT TO AWARD GRANTS TO COAST AND CRAB & LOBSTER FESTIVALS:

The Mayor reminded Members that no monies had been set aside in the budget for either Festival as they are now self sustaining. The Clerk has received a written request to rescind this decision as it was made within the last six months, signed by Cllrs Birtwell, Hill and Talbot. NALC have advised that although the Crab and Lobster Festival is a registered limited company this does not automatically mean they are a profit making business and can see no reason why a grant should not be made. Cllr Birtwell PROPOSED that STC rescind the decision not to award a grant to COAST, seconded by Cllr Hill. IT WAS AGREED. A discussion ensued regarding where the money should come from after which Cllr Booth PROPOSED that STC pay a grant of £1,500 for the COAST Festival funded from the 2013/13 budget. IT WAS AGREED.

Cllr Birtwell PROPOSED that STC rescind the decision not to award a grant to the Crab & Lobster Festival, seconded by Cllr Ashcroft. There were 4 votes for and 6 votes against, the PROPOSITION was lost.

(d) SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TRAFFIC CALMING:

The Mayor gave a background on problems encountered during drop off and collecting times of day at the Primary School. One major concern is cars driving along the pavement. Norfolk County Council have suggested planting 9 trees along Cooper Road to address this problem. NCC are asking STC to fund the maintenance and take on responsibility of the trees, in the sum of £585 + vat. A discussion ensued after which Cllr Fraser PROPOSED that STC do not accept the offer to maintain the trees due to lack of funds, seconded by Cllr Hewitt. IT WAS AGREED. Cllr Booth PROPOSED that STC write to NCC to investigate the possibility of installing wooden posts, similar to posts at Britons Lane, instead of trees, seconded by Cllr Fields. IT WAS AGREED.