KPC Minutes July 2006
Knapton Parish Council
Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Tuesday 4 July 2006 in the Village Hall.
Present: Alan Young (in the Chair)
Peter Kaye
David Spencer
Karen Herbert-Okey
Brenda Lancaster
County Councillor: Wyndham Northam
4 members of Knapton village
1. Apologies
Norman Dodd.
2. Declarations of Interest
MADRA - Karen Herbert-Okey.
3. Minutes:
The Parish Clerk reviewed the minutes. Brenda Lancaster proposed that the minutes of the AGM of Knapton Parish Council held on 6 June 2006, constituted a true and correct record. Peter Kaye seconded and it was carried. The Chairman initialled and signed these minutes. Peter Kaye proposed that the minute of the Parish Meeting also held on the 2 May 2006 constituted a true record, David Spencer seconded and it was unanimously agreed.
4. Matters Arising
(a) Notice board
This was carried over to the September meeting.
Action: The Chairman
(b) Bus shelter
There was a discussion regarding the positioning of a new bus shelter in the village. The Parish Clerk was asked to investigate some options and report back. The Clerk stated he had made contact, but the Officers concerned were on holiday, he had spoken to their admin person and contact would be made shortly. The format is that the Officers would review the village location, obtain feedback on where the shelter should be sited, dependant upon the outcome, some funding may be available.
Action: Parish Clerk
(c)
Village Plan
The Clerk stated that what was now needed was the agreement from other village organizations such as Knapton Ladies, Women's Own, Church Hall, and Fete Committee to form a working group. The Clerk undertook to talk with these organizations and report back in September.
Action: Parish Clerk
(d) Speed Limit - Hall Lane
This was discussed, with a view to extending the 30 mph restriction to the village boundary in Hall Lane. The Clerk was tasked to find out from highways if this was feasible and report back.
The Clerk was also tasked with investigating the possibility with the CC regarding the cutting of the hedges along the roadside, and establish the cost implication. It had been noted that the bund surrounding the car park was nor looking a little untidy. It is understood that this had been kept down by a kind volunteer from the Art club. The Clerk will look into this matter.
Action: Parish Clerk
5. Finance
(a) Statement
The Parish Clerk outlined the current financial situation. There is £1,183.55 in the current account, and £1,724.90 in the deposit account. The Clerk still has some bills to pay, but will look at transferring some money into the deposit account as soon as practicable.
The Clerks remuneration was agreed.
Action: Parish Clerk
6. Planning
Nil.
7. Correspondence
Dealt with throughout meeting under individual headings, and items later circulated for information.
8. Village Matters
The Chairman opened the meeting to the floor.
(a) MADRA
A very graphic presentation was given to the Parish Council indicating the level of noise and foul language being experienced by some residents in School Close. After discussion to establish the root cause, it was established that the problem emanated from a set of football nets adjacent the bottom of the gardens in School Close. The Parish Council will take this matter up with MADRA shortly, and try to prevent this happening in the future. The Parish Council once again made clear to all concerned that if anything like this happened again, then the complainant(s) must contact the Police individually to report the nuisance.
9. Reports:
Police Liaison
Karen Herbert-Okey explained that a new representative had been nominated as our point of contact with the North Walsham Police.
County Councillor Mr Wyndham Northam
Wyndham asked the Chairman if he could quickly give the Parish Council an update on what was happening in his area of his responsibility for he now has a new Cabinet Portfolio; Fire and Community Protection, with responsibility for the Fire & Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Trading Standards Departments.
Recent Avian Flu incident:
Norfolk County Council has received national acclaim for the excellent way the incident was handled. Our Trading Standards, Emergency Planning, Planning and Transportation and Communications departments excelled. DEFRA has taken away details of the handling to be used as a national example.
Fire & Rescue Emergency Response Consultation:
Public Consultation is now taking place to decide the modern Emergency response standards. At present they are 8 to 10 minutes from time of callout to arriving at the incident for Norwich and the big Norfolk towns, 20 minutes for the remainder of the County. The proposal for consideration is 10 minutes for a fire incident where lives are at risk, 13 minutes for incidents such as Road Traffic Collisions. All Parish Councils will be invited to respond to the consultation exercise.
Budgets
We are now working on next years Budgets which will prove a demanding effort. Having made efficiency savings of £30m last year, being short changed to the tune of £24m by Central Government, we still had to make savings of £22m in preparing this years budget. We face a black hole of £20m to be covered for next year.
Closed session
The Parish Council went into closed session to discuss an item that had been reported to the Parish Clerk. This item was resolved, and the Parish Clerk would deal with this item by contacting the person concerned.
Action: Parish Clerk
10. Date of next meeting and agenda items
Next meeting to be held on Tues 5 Sept 2006, at 1930 in the Village Hall.