KPC Minutes February 2005
Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Tuesday 1st February 2005 in the Village Hall.
Present:
Alan Young (in the Chair)
Karen Herbert Okey
Norman Dodd
David Ross
Dennis Watmuff
Cllr. Jones
One member of the public
1. Apologies
David Spencer, Henry Wild
2. Declarations of Interest
None.
3. Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 11th January 2005
They were proposed as a true record by David Ross, seconded by Norman
Dodd and agreed. They were signed and initialled by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising
a) Village Hall Car Park
Blair Construction Ltd intend to begin work within a few days. The
Chairman and Vice Chairman will check the dimensions of the area. Those
trees and bushes that have to be moved will be marked so that the
gardener can transplant them
b) Trafalgar Weekend
The chairman will organise a meeting involving David Ross, Norman Dodd, John Kemp
and Roger McPhee to plan the celebrations in the village, and respond to
the district council's request for information by 11th March 2005.
c) Homewatch Scheme
Mr Ted Gill told the council that there are 486 schemes in Norfolk, run by over 40,000 volunteers. One of the greatest risks in the county is
complacency, as in September 2004 Norfolk was the safest area in the country, and North Norfolk the safest county.
Homewatch is an interactive service, engaged in crime reduction, advising people who are members of the scheme of risks, and enhancing the neighbourliness of communities. It recognises that many criminals are professional, and particularly prey on the elderly and vulnerable. Of all recorded crime, 25% is criminal damage. The police rely on information from Homewatch members. Also the existence of a scheme, ideally indicated by a sign on each road coming into the village , is a deterrent in itself. Presently only 2 parishes in North Norfolk do not have a scheme. Normally each co-rdinator links to upwards of 15 householders.
It was agreed to hold a village meeting, circulating leaflets beforehand, and councillors to contact the people who could be encouraged to act as co-ordinators.
d) Retirement of Clerk
There have been several expressions of interest. Adverts placed will be run to the end of February. It was agreed that the Chairman and Vice Chairman should interview applicants. Council members were asked to submit job specification notes to the chairman.
e) Bus Shelter
Henry Wild had asked the clerk to remind the council that the shelter had been donated to the village, and there was still some use of it. The damage is vandalism, but he advised he could repair it. David Ross was asked to assess its condition.
f) Dog Bins
The quotation from the District Council was welcomed, after the receipt of the first half-yearly precept
g) Allotment Hedge
This was identified as that nearest North Walsham. The Chairman is to ask Andrew Claydon to arrange for it to be trimmed in September
5. Finance
a) The Clerk explained that the Village Hall chairman had agreed that a loan of £500 should be made from their funds to cover the period before the Parish Council receives the VATon the car park construction, and the first half-year precept. It was proposed by David Ross, seconded by Norman Dodd, and agreed that all funds be transferred from the 30-day notice account 7270928 to the current account. The Clerk advised that this would not involve closing the account.
b) The Clerk's renumeration of £157.95 was authorised.
6. Planning
Two applications are in circulation. In both cases the nearest neighbours have been consulted and have no objections.
7. Correspondence
This included invitations to meetings (Shoreline Management Plan, Crime and Disorder, North Walsham Town Council annual meeting, East of
England Plan) where the council will be represented, and consultation items (AONB boundary review, and a letter from Norman Lamb on a proposal to
restrict the veto the local councils have on the removal of telephone boxes).
8. Village Matters
The Clerk explained the recent concern over vandalism at the church and the village hall.
9. Reports
a) David Ross had been advised that footpath signs are not intended to show directions.
b) Karen Herbert-Okey reported on her attendance at the Homelessness Forum on 21st January 2005 which covered such items as the upgrading of
empty properties, action being taken on youth homelessness - a drama workshop for schools, and an explanation of the priorities for rehousing.
c) MADRA
The new playground, to be called the Nelson play area , is due to be started. An opening ceremony is being planned for late April. The general
entrance to MADRA is to be improved. New floodlights have been obtained. There have been problems with waste being dumped on council land. The
Clerk was asked to write to the householder involved.
d) Councillor Northam advised that the District council was not supporting the Shoreline Management Plan.
10. Next Meeting.
To be held on 1 March 2005.