Heacham Parish Council
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2015
THOSE PRESENT: Mr P Colvin (Chair), Mr T Clay, Mr C Hammond, Mr D Parton,
Mr M Johnson, Mrs P Hammond, Miss T Swann, Mrs P Harrod,
Mr J Stares, Mr A Walker, Mr C Moore, Mr R Drinkwater, Mrs J Carr, Mr T Parish and Miss H Skerry
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs L Butters (Clerk)
15 minutes for Parishioners’ Questions
None.
15.044 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Council noted and accepted apologies from Mr M Williamson and Mr J McIntyre.
15.045 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 17 March Council Meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
15.046 MATTERS ARISING
Cheney Hill: Mr Colvin and Mr Clay had met with the Head of the Junior School on 17 April. The Head is aware of the parking and chicken problems and will bring the matter up again with the Governors, but is reluctant to give up any of the playing field for parking. The Head will allow access to school land should the Parish Council wish to undertake a cull of the cockerels.
15.047 CORRESPONDENCE
The Council received correspondence as listed.
The Council agreed not to provide a First Aid refresher course. The Clerk is to provide copies of Mr Gilbert’s letters concerning parking to Mr Hammond for the next SNAP meeting. Ms Bailey’s request to use a metal detector on Parish land is to be referred to the Natural Environment Committee and the Recreation Ground tree issue is to be referred to the Community Activities Committee. The Clerk is to respond to Hunstanton Town Council concerning their report. The Clerk, Mrs Harrod and Miss Swann are to attend the Word Press training course.
15.048 PAYMENTS FOR MARCH (2) AND APRIL 2015
The Council noted the further list of payments and receipts for the month of March 2015 and for April 2015.
MARCH (2) Opening Balance / 81571.00 / End of Year Opening Balance / 81571.00Receipts / 375107.34 / Receipts / 375192.53
Payments / 327726.09 / Payments / 330243.25
Closing Balance / 128952.25 / Closing Balance / 126520.28
March (2) Payments (inc VAT) / 2529.90
March (2) Receipts / 85.19
APRIL Opening Balance / 126520.28
Receipts / 0
Payments / 0
Closing Balance / 126520.28
April Payments (inc VAT) / 18411.88
April Receipts / 104045.13
§ Mr Johnson proposed: Council to authorise Expenditure for March (2) and April as listed - Resolved
Resolution to suspend business to receive reports from Ward Members
Cllr. M Chenery of Horsbrugh had sent his apologies as he is busy with the election.
Cllr. C Manning had sent his apologies as he is covering mayoral duties while the Mayor is in hospital. Cllr. Manning had been re-elected as a Parish Councillor for Roydon PC and hopes to be re-elected as one of Heacham’s Borough Councillors. He thanked the Parish Council for all its help and support over the last four years.
Business resumed
15.049 TO RECEIVE REPORTS AND ACCEPT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMITTEES
Lighting & Watching Committee
§ Report noted
Samphire Developments: Highways are aware of the encroachment and have met with the landowner to discuss it. They do not intend to enforce the movement of the fence line as it would not be fair or reasonable due to the extent of the line. This has, however, been registered as an encroachment on the land so should the land be sold this will be flagged up. The landowner is fully aware that it has encroached on highway land.
A resident had informed Mr Walker that Samphire Developments had removed more trees from their Hunstanton Road site than authorised. Mrs Hammond will contact the Borough Tree Officer for clarification.
Recommendations:
§ Council to make a donation to Sedgeford’s ‘fighting fund’ if the planning application for the poultry farm is resubmitted.
§ Council to approve HEB (Norfolk) Ltd.’s request to name the access road to the development on Hunstanton Road in front of Heacham Manor ‘Mulberry Place’.
§ Recommendations agreed
Old Friends Hall Management Committee
§ Report noted
Community Activities Committee
§ Report noted
Community Building Project Committee
VAT: The Committee is seeking further clarification of the VAT position.
§ Report noted
Natural Environment Committee
§ Report noted
Finance and General Purposes Committee
§ Report noted
Recommendations
§ Council to agree pay awards for the Clerk’s Assistant and PMOs for 2015-2016 as proposed by the Clerk. The cleaners’ rates of pay to remain as at 2014-2015.
§ Council to undertake a job evaluation of the roles of the Clerk’s Assistant and PMOs to establish appropriate rates of pay for the work.
§ Council to make permanent the increase in Mrs Liddington’s hours to 12hpw.
§ Council to instruct SJP Solicitors to draw up a lease on 1a Lodge Road between the Parish Council and the Church for the period 19 March 2015 to 18 March 2020. This is to include a 3 month notice clause for both parties and provision for a rent review.
§ Recommendations agreed
15.050 Chairman’s Report
Clerk’s Probationary Period: The Clerk had completed her 13 week probationary period.
§ Miss Swan proposed: Council to confirm the Clerk’s appointment - Resolved
Clerk’s hours: The Clerk reported that she was working more than 28 hours per week, such that she had accrued over 40 additional hours. As she gets up to speed the number of hours she is having to work should reduce, but it would appear that the Clerk’s job as it currently stands requires more than 28 hpw and this will need to be monitored and addressed. Mrs Sewell had worked just over 25 hours in March and Mrs Liddington had worked 2 extra hours.
Green Team: The Chairman sought to clarify the Council’s role. It was agreed that the Chairman would draft a letter for discussion at the next Green Team meeting on 5 May.
Highway and Community Ranger Visit: Rangers will be visiting Heacham and the Chairman asked members to inform the Clerk of any works that needed doing.
15.051 PARISH COUNCIL ELECTION
The Chairman reported that 16 members had been elected unopposed and thanked Miss Skerry, who was not seeking re-election, for her work on the Council. The Clerk is to seek expressions of interest for the vacant post through the Newsletter and members are to consider providing profiles for the Newsletter at the May Council meeting. The Chairman asked that members give thought to the election of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Committee Chairs and Committee membership prior to the May Council meeting.
15.052 DOG FOULING
Members discussed the perennial problem of dog fouling, which was increasing again. Mr Stares outlined powers under Public Space Protection Orders and Mr Drinkwater agreed to produce a summary for the Newsletter. Mrs Harrod suggested using sprays to highlight the deposits and it was agreed to try this approach.
15.053 ALLOTMENTS
The Chairman noted that Council had agreed in October 2014 that the tenant of plot 11C be permitted to retain his plot, subject to satisfactory upkeep and review after 3 months. The review was never undertaken. The Chairman asked that two independent but experienced Councillors inspect the plot and provide a report, ideally with photographs showing that it is not being cultivated. Miss Swann and Mr Parish agreed to do this. The Clerk will write to the allotment holder giving him notice, as he is in breach of his contract and has not paid for the current year.
15.054 COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
Mr Parish noted that the School Road appeal had now been referred to the High Court.
Mr Walker reported that work was being undertaken on the sea defences. This appeared to be legitimate Environment Agency work.
Mr Colvin reported complaints about motor homes from a resident of College Drive.
Miss Swann reported fly posting by the Station Road kebab shop, a request from the infant school for Councillor input into their mock elections and a Facebook request for provision for a nursery in the new Community Building.
Mrs Carr reported fishing in the Heacham river out of season.
Mr Hammond reported complaints from residents of Fenway about Anglian Water tankers working on Sundays.
15.055 DATE, TIME OF NEXT MEETING AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
The next meeting (Annual Full Council) will be held on Tuesday 19 May at 7.30pm in the Parish Council Office.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Wed 27 May at 7.30pm in Old Friends’ Hall.
Future Agenda items: Councillors’ profiles for the Newsletter.
15.056 PLANS
5/00424/FM / Summerville Residential Home, Fenway / Sehgal / Broadly in favour, with the proviso that Fenway be brought up to standard by the developer to enable adoption by Highways15/00452/F / Dongola, 11 The South Beach / Jackson / Object on grounds of development within the floodplain
15/00463/F / Harbour Cottage, 56A South Beach Road / Boyden / No observations
15/00577/F / 19 Woodend Road / Osmond / No observations
...... Chairman ...... Date
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