MEETING OF LITCHAM PARISH COUNCIL
20th November 2006 at 7:30pm in the
Jubilee Hall, Church Street, Litcham.
Present:Mike Oldfield (Chairman),
Roy Payne (Vice-Chairman)
Trevor Carter
Claire Lawrence
Chris Mitchell
Les Raven
Mark Sheard
John Relph (Clerk)
Chris Holland (District Councillor), Diana Collen (Jubilee Hall
Management Committee), Sergeant David Howell (Norfolk Constabulary),
Shara & Edison Furmin, Paul Mummery (Norfolk Youth Fund), Sadie
Bailey (Litcham Relief in Need Charity), Tim Angel (Litcham Common
Conservation Committee) and approximately ten members of the Public.
Before the meeting there was a long discussion regarding the boarding
up of the Bus Shelter. It was reported that this had been instigated by
a member of the newly formed Jubilee Hall Trust and paid for by a
private individual, Cllr. Sheard believed that the decision to board up
the shelter contravened the Trust’s constitution. The reason
given for the action was that it was part of a scheme to install
disabled toilets, however it was generally felt that the action had
come about as a result of friction between local youngsters, who use it
as a meeting place, and a resident of Church Street. Police Sergeant
David Howells confirmed that there had been an incident in Church
Street recently during which two males had been arrested for public
disorder offences. Members of the Norfolk Youth Fund and other young
people present said they felt victimised by the action and in general
they had good relations with most villagers and helped to keep the
shelter clean and tidy. The problems surrounding anti-social behavior
in general were then discussed and Sergeant Howell informed the meeting
of plans for new ‘Safer Neigbourhood Teams’ that would work
in partnership with Parish Councils on such problems. He confirmed that
accurate reporting of incidents was an essential part of facilitating
action by the police and other agencies.
1) Apologies: None received.
2) Declarations of Interest by Councilors: Chairman declared an interest in item 5.
3) Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th October 2006 were agreed and signed.
4) Reports: Graveyard Gate: the Clerk reported that
he had received no response to the Faculty Application submitted in
September. However he had heard that the P.C.C. had now voted on the
matter. Council requested that a letter be sent to the Chairman of the
P.C.C. asking him to confirm that the application had been completed
and sent o the Diocesan Advisory Board.
Sale of Allotment: The Council considered a request from Sharon Junge
asking for confirmation that the proposed sale of an Allotment to the
new owner of the Priory had not gone ahead and the Council’s
opinion on the outcome of the recent Public meeting regarding the
matter. The Council replied that they were unable to inform her about
the progress of the sale and suggested she contact members of the
Litcham Relief in Need Charity who administer the allotments. Regarding
the public meeting the Council stated that they did not want to voice
an opinion on the matter.
Litter Bins: These have now arrived and need installing, the Chairman and Chris Mitchell agreed undertake this task.
4.1) Jubilee Hall Bus Shelter: In response to the comments made by
members of the public present, the Council considered and agreed the
following resolution and asked that it be presented to the Jubilee Hall
Trust for their consideration at their meeting on the 22nd November.
• The Parish Council regrets the
actions of the Trustees of the Jubilee Hall in boarding up the part of
the Jubilee Hall known as the bus shelter.
• The Parish Council wish to
encourage the Trustees to remove the boarding as a matter of urgency.
• The Parish Council requests
that the Trustees review their decision-making processes, given there
is a significant amount of evidence that the process used prior to the
bus shelter being boarded-up would appear to be against the
constitution of the Trust.
5) Appointments: Following recent resignations, Mr.
David Holland and Mr. Tony Green were appointed as the Parish Council
Trustees to the Litcham Relief in Need Charity. In accordance with the
Council’s instruction’s of 16th October, a letter from Kate
Downs, Youth Support Officer with Norfolk County Council regarding the
siteing of a Youth Shelter on an Allotment was passed onto Sadie Bailey
for consideration by the Trust at their next meeting.
6) Notice Board on the Village Green: the Clerk
handed round a brochures and price lists for the Councils
consideration, a decision on the type of board required will be made a
the next meeting.
7) Meetings in 2007. The following dates were agreed for meetings in 2007.
January 15th, February 19th, March 19th (last meeting of present Council).
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on April 16th.
Local Council Elections will be held on the 3rd of May and the first
meeting of the new council must fall within 14 days of the declaration
of the result (4th) so the Annual General Meeting and first meeting of
the new council was set for 14th May 2007
8) Planning:
i) The granting of planning
permission 3PL/2006/1307/CU, change of use of land adjacent to
Cedarville in Manor Drive was noted.
ii) The granting of planning permission
for applications 3PL/2006/0739/F and 3PL/2006/0740/LB; The Priory;
alterations to existing house and outbuilding was noted.
iii) The granting of planning permission
for application 3PL/2006/1424/F “Southerly”, Tittleshall
Road; erection of two storey extension and new porch to existing
cottage was noted.
iv) The granting of planning
permission for application 3PL/2006/1425/F, “Middle
Cottage”, Tittleshall Road; erection of two storey extension and
new porch to existing cottage was noted.
v) Planning application
3PL/2006/1505/F Pit House, Lexham Road; erection of small oak barn and
passed without comment.
9) Financial Business: the financial reconciliation
for the year to date was checked with the latest bank statements and
signed.
i) Completion of bi-annual internal audit on 31st October was noted.
BUDGET:
ii) Mark Sheard presented budget
proposals for 2007/08. He noted that Council spending has risen in the
last year and that the Council is committed to providing a public open
space for the village and needs to put aside funds for to purchase of
land for this project. It was therefore agreed that the Precept be
increased by 5% and set at £7875.00 for 2007/8.
Receipts:
iii) Deposit Account Interest of £27.09 for September.
Payments:
iv) £183.70 by cheque to Norfolk County Services for grass-cutting was approved.
v) £84.88 by cheque to
T.T. Jones for street-lighting maintenance Oct-Dec was approved.
vi) £843.23 by cheque to Glasdon U.K. ltd for 4 Plaza litter bins.
vii) A request for an donation by Litcham
Common Conservation Group to cover the cost of tools and insurance was
considered and a donation to £250.00 was agreed
viii) A request for an donation to Dereham and
District Citizens Advice Bureau was considered and a increase of 50% on
last years donation to £75.00 was agreed
ix) the internal Auditor’s
request that her fee be donated to an local animal Charity was
considered, it was agreed to donate £100 to the Dereham and
District Cat Adoption Centre at Longham.
x) A request for an donation to
the Open Space Society was considered and the Council decided not to
make a donation at this time
10) Correspondence from the following was noted;
Breckland, Norfolk County Council, NCAPTC, Norfolk Rural Community
Council, East of England Regional Authority.
i) Also noted was the receipt of the Beeston Village Appraisal.
11) Items for the next agenda. Notice Board on green, Rights of Way, Street-lighting.
12) The date of next meeting was confirmed as Monday
18th December 2006 to take place in the Jubilee Hall starting at
7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 21.18pm
Approved by resolution of Litcham Parish Council 18th December 2006
