Denton Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting Held on Tuesday 11th September 2012
at 8pm at Denton Village Hall
Present: Peter Hill (Chairman), Terry Hanner (Vice Chairman), Roger Gibson, Adrian Hipwell, Wayne Mayhew, Kerry Norfolk, Pauline Sandell (Clerk).
Also Present: Dr. Murray Gray (District Councillor) 1 Member of the Public.1. Apologies
Annie Whiteman.
2. Declaration of Interest
None.
3. Minutes of the Last Meeting and Planning Meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record, proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Terry Hanner, unanimously agreed. The minutes were signed and dated.
4. District and County Council Matters
Murray Gray explained the reason for the attendance of the member of the public. When SNC transferred the properties in Upland Terrace to Saffron, about 8 years ago, it was decided that SNC would retain responsibility for the pumping station. The residents of Upland Terrace would therefore pay two bills for their water, one to SNC and the other to Anglian Water. The pumping station was recently upgraded and Anglian Water has now adopted the scheme and residents only have one bill to pay. However, SNC had forgotten to bill three of the houses until recently, but one resident has been paying two bills for the last eight years. Murray had been trying to get a refund for the resident in question, but had come up against a brick wall. Murray said that the three residents that had not been billed would not get a back dated bill. He asked the Parish Council if they could complete a Community Reference form to get the problem put before a Committee Member. However, he was not sure if the form was the right way to go. It was agreed that the Parish Council would send off the form and if this was not the right procedure the PC would take it further. Peter Hill to action.
Murray informed the Councillors that there will be a change in the way that the PC request the precept and the PC will be asked not to request the precept until January 2013. More information will follow.
Two affordable housing schemes are taking place in neighbouring villages, four in Alburgh and five in Topcroft. Denton residents will be considered for these houses if not enough people from the village where the houses are built apply. The Clerk was asked to put this in the Parish Magazine so that Denton residents can register.
Murray said that the Council has £100,000 for community projects.
Murray was told that Grove Farm Buildings are still occupied. Murray will look into it.
5. Questions from the Public
None
6. Matters Arising:
a) Ditch at Skinners' Meadow; Peter Hill reported that he had had a meeting with Peter Ramsdale and members of Crocus on site when measurements were taken of the water at the ditch and at the culvert. He had since received a letter from Peter Ramsdale and he read this out to the Councillors. The letter said that no further work was needed. The Councillors disagreed with this and felt that the ditch at the Thanksgiving Cottage end should be filled in with clay. More water lays in the ditch now than before and it has been reported as smelly and a danger to children. Peter will respond to Saffron's letter by asking for the ditch at the front of the housing to be filled in.
b) Better Broadband; Peter had investigated and discovered that NCC has £35 million to be allocated for better broadband for those areas that cannot be reached commercially by broadband; 57% of properties in Norfolk. The aim is to provide as many as possible of the 57% a broadband of 24mbps and the remainder will have a minimum of 2mbps. This is to be completed by June 2015. A report is due from NCC in the next few weeks.
c) Speedwatch/SAM; Peter had heard nothing further from the police regarding speedwatch or SAM. Kerry will chase this up. Murray said that SNC also have a SAM that can be used by the PC and training is also given. The person to contact is Mike Bentley.
d) Footpaths; Terry and Wayne were thanked for strimming the footpaths.
e) Allotments; Peter Hill had spoken to the person whose allotment needed weeding and was told that it would be done within the next couple of weeks.
f) Any Other Matters Arising; Annie Whiteman reported that following the film archive event in Norwich recently, she had been informed that funding had not been given. However, this may still go ahead by operating it in a different way and they will keep in touch.
Peter Hill reported that Liz Cargill agreed that the cash she held from the compost sales should be handed over to be banked. Some expenditure had been made which had not been relayed to the Clerk.
7. Chairman's Report
The Chairman said that he had contacted Mike Rider of the Woodland Trust and he will give Peter a ring when he is next in the area.
Attended a meeting on the 29th August regarding the Preferred Sites and Development Boundary.
Attended the opening of the pre-school at Alburgh and was very impressed. He also looked around the school and was equally impressed.
8. Playing Field Inspection
Terry reported that the vertical climbing wall on the slide has a crack across it. Peter will inform Joy Playgrounds. The ground around the willow and the swings is full of weed. Wayne will spray it and then corden off the area for a week. The maple will be looked at first to decide whether to remove it. Branches on other trees need attention. This needs to be done in the winter. Peter Hill to do the next inspection.
9. Playing Field Signage
The signs had arrived. Wayne will put them up.
10. Preferred Sites/Development Boundary
The information and map received from SNC about Denton was incorrect and out of date. Peter had contacted Tim Barker of SNC who will be happy to discuss what has been written and will revise it. Peter will draft what he thinks it should be and will then go through it with Tim.
11. Compost Finance
The clerk had met with Liz Cargill and had come to an agreement with the compost cash. The clerk had not been notified of some of the expenditure. It was decided that the compost cash would be checked and given to the clerk at the end of each financial year to bank.
12. Planning Applications
None.
13. Correspondence
NCC – Public Rights of Way. The Clerk informed the Councillors that the public rights of way service is now the responsibility of the Highways Rangers and problems should be reported to them. Hedges however are the landowners responsibility.
14. Finance
a. Accounts Summary – It was suggested that the compost fund should be used for small projects. This will be put on the agenda next month. The accounts summary agreed, proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Roger Gibson, unanimously agreed.
b. Pay the Clerk £89.19 for September
c. Pay £100 to the Village Hall
d. Pay £81.00 to Black Dog Signs for dog signs
e. Pay £144 to Mazars for audit
f. Paid £440.81 to Mr. Skinner for repairing the playing field car park
g. Pay £270 to Thos Rogerson Trust for annual rent of the playing field
It was proposed that b–g be paid. Proposed by Terry Hanner, seconded by Roger Gibson, unanimously agreed.
15. Any Other Business
None
The meeting finished at 9.40 pm.