Present Councillor M Oldfield (Chair)
Councillor T Carter
Councillor D Holland
Councillor C Holland
Councillor C Lawrence
District Councillor M Kiddle Morris
2 members of the public
1. Apologies for Absence. Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor C Mitchell and this was accepted.
2. Declaration of Interest. There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2007 having been circulated were
approved and signed with the amendment to Item 4.2 to read Councillor C Holland and
up to £1000.
4. Matters to Report.
4.1 Local Development Framework Presentation.
It was agreed that Councillors Oldfield, C. Holland,
D. Holland and Carter would attend the presentation on 15th October at
Beeston Village Hall at 7.30p.m.
4.2 Annual Norfolk Emergency Preparedness Study Day 9th October.
No one would be attending.
4.3 Replacement Tree outside Blenheim House.
District Councillor Kiddle Morris had contacted the
tree officer at Breckland Council who had agreed that the existing tree
should be replaced. The trees that had been recommended were in the
opinion of the members too large as there were several overhead wires
at this point. The landowner is to be contacted by District Councillor
Kiddle Morris to ensure that he has no objection. A grant may be
necessary to remove the existing tree and replant.
4.4 Breckland Council Advertisement of the New Code of Conduct.
It was agreed to contribute to the block
advertisement by Breckland Council advertising the adoption of the New
Code of Conduct at a cost of £10.
4.5 Access to the Graveyard from Druids Lane.
A reply had been received from the Parochial Church
Council together with copies of letters from The High School, Norfolk
Police and the Diocese. The impression given by the Parochial Church
Council is that the Parish Council wished for a signed footpath through
the graveyard. This is not true as the Parish Council have only wanted
an access from Druids Lane. The aforementioned are to be written to
stating the Parish Council’s position again.
4.6 Advertising The Green for registering as an open space.
The members agreed to purchase the brochure from the
Open Space Society for £10 which gives the advised questionnaire
for advertising the Green.
4.7 Open Space.
No information had been received from Breckland
Council following a meeting with Savills the agent for the landowner.
As Tony Needham has now left Breckland Council, David Spencer is to be
contacted for information.
5. Planning.
5.1 Applications.
5.1.1 3PL/2007/1477/F-Mrs. K
Dodd-Utting Lime Kiln Barn Back lane-proposed extension &
alterations to existing dwelling.
As the plans were not available no decision was made.
5.1.2 3PL/2007/1528/F-W G Walpole
3 Council Houses Lexham Road-erection of garage.
NO OBJECTION
5.2 Decisions.
The following decisions were noted:-
5.2.1 3PL/2007/0915/F-Blenheim
House Church Street-alterations & refurbishment, partial
demolition, extension Permission
5.2.2 3PL/2007/0914/LB-Blenheim
House Church street-demolition of rear lobby, study7 fuel store,
constr. of garden room extension& rebuild part of boundary wall.
Permission
5.2.3 3PL/2007/1266/LB-Point House
Back Street-remove double glazed window &replace single glazed
French doors. Permission
5.2.4 3PL/2007/1146/F-Flint
Cottage Front Street-installation of dormer window& modification to
other windows. Permission
6. Correspondence for circulation.
6.1
Norfolk Primary Care Trust-consultation on Older
People’s
Mental Health Services in Central Norfolk
6.2 NCAPTC AGM and Report
6.3 Energy Saving Trust Anglia Centre-Village Green 2008
6.4 Breckland Development Control Committee-Public Speaking
6.5 Dereham Local Action Group minutes 28 08 07
6.6 NRCC-Council Meeting and Annual Review
6.7 Norfolk Wildlife Trust-Notable Trees of Norfolk Survey
6.8 Breckland Council-Agenda
7. Highways
7.1 Meeting with Assistant Highways Engineer.
The Chairman and Clerk had met Shaun Simpson on site and toured the village
and a reply had been received from Norfolk County Council stating:-
1. Mr Birkbeck had been written to again concerning the hedge at Litcham
Hall.
2. the cutting back of the verge on Lexham Road had been programmed. Work on
this had already started.
3. he is looking into the B1145 Mileham Road to remedy the deformation of the
road.
4. the grass area at the top of Druids Lane is Highway and will be maintained by
them.
5. the finger post at the junction of Mileham Road and Back Lane will be moved
and refurbished.
6. he will pressure the contractor to amend the “Slow” marking on Back Lane.
7. Druids Lane has been added to the forward programme for surface dressing.
8. vegetation outside the school and the drainage are programmed to be cleared.
Work on this had already started.
9. the verge next to the ditch on Church Street is not Highway but the vegetation
will be cleared.
10. the grip on the junction of Dunham Road will be
moved to the low spot.
11. the carriageway damage opposite Holly Cottage is programmed.
12. stopping up Back Lane will not be actioned as this is a safer route for vehicles
to take in preference
over turning right at the Tittleshall Road/B1145 junction
due to lack of visibility.
It was agreed to write to the owner of the ditch on Church Road expressing the Parish
Council’s concerns regarding the depth of the ditch and having a fence on the side
nearest to the road.
It was also agreed to request the Son of Sam signs for the village to be placed on
Dereham Road and Lexham Road.
As no further progress would be made a letter is to be sent to the School Governors
expressing the concerns of the Parish Council especially as children use the playing
field at weekends and during school holidays when supervision would not be as good.
No extension to the speed limit on Mileham or Dereham Roads would be authorised as
There is not a continuous line of dwellings for 400 metres from the first dwelling on
entering the village.
7.2 Bulb Planting.
It was agreed to instigate a five year plan to plant bulbs along the roads into Litcham
and to request volunteers to assist with the planting.
8. Finance.
8.1 The budget sheets had been circulated and these were approved.
It was agreed to put out for tender the grass cutting of the churchyard to see if a more
competitive price could be found.
8.2 Balances:
Business 30 Day account
Balance at 31 07
07
13309.03
Interest
38.31
Balance at 31 08 07
13347.34
Current Account
Balance at 31 07 2007
1671.81 Direct Debits E-on
Energy
60.82
Balance at 31 08 07
1610.99
Less unpresented cheques authorised 03 09 07
1245.76
365.23
Amount available for Section 137 :
Spend to Date :£ 18.00
Cheques for authorisation:
563 B J Leigh Salary-Sep 209.68
564 Breckland Council Advert 10.00
8.3 Upgrade of Street Lighting.
The Clerk reported that the lighting units that needed replacing had degraded with
time. A further quotation is to be obtained and to confirm with T T Jones if the price
is to do all seven at the same time. The light at the junction of Pound Lane and Butt
Lane is permanently on and this together with a necessity to clean all lenses is to
be reported to T T Jones.
8.4 Donation to Dereham Citizens Advice Bureau.
It was agreed to donate £50.
8.5 Precept 2008-2009.
The Clerk reported that the request is to be with Breckland Council by 15th
December and this will be considered at the next meeting.
9. Clerk’s Corner.
9.1 Extract of the minutes for the church magazine.
The format for getting this to the editors for inclusion in the magazine in the month
following the meeting was agreed. The Clerk would prepare the extract and send
to the Chairman for approval. This would ensure that the minutes are of the
meeting held in that month.
10. Matters for the next meeting.
10.1 5 Lexham Road- selling of items on the pavement.
10.2 Replacement of posts on the Green to deter parking
11. Date of the next meeting.
This was confirmed as Monday 5th November 2007 at 1930 to be held at The Jubilee
Hall Litcham.
The meeting closed at 2155.
