16th April 2013
As you make have seen from published
Minutes and the Church and Village magazine the Parish Council has had to raise
itÕs precept by a considerable amount for this year. The precept had been set at itÕs previous level for five years.
The reason for the increase is
because Breckland District Council will no longer fund
the full cost of elections for Parish Councils when another election is held at
the same time. The cost could be
upward of £800 per election.
Changes to the Council Tax benefits
have been implemented by the government.
Some properties will pay less, the shortfall being picked up by
others. A grant from central
government has allayed some increase, however this grant may not be given next
year leading to further increases next time.
Following bjections
to the Parish Council accounts to the external auditors last year, and sadly
again this year, the cost of processing these has had to be met by the Parish
Council. The Objections on both
occasions has been by the same parishioner. The cost last year was approximately
£1,600 + VAT, a similar cost is expected this year for the adjudication.
On lighter note the Parish Council
set up a sub-committee to organise the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. By all accounts it was a great day with
a fantastic turn out. A DVD is in
production thanks to John Relph and Diana Patterson. Jubilee mugs were purchased to give to
all the children under eleven, unfortunately the Primary School were unable to help in the distribution, so apologies if any
were missed out. There are still a
few available.
The land opposite the Bull is now
officially the ÔVillage GreenÓ owned by the Parish Council. The Parish Council Notice board has been
erected with a village map. It is
hoped that the posts on the green can be replaced with support from Solar
Energy who have just built the solar farm north of the village.
The Parish Council has supported the
setting up of a fuel syndicate.
Co-ordinator Lyn Flowerdew expects to make
four orders per year, contact is via litchamoil2012yahoo.co.uk.
We have also tried to establish a
Community Car Scheme. Co-ordinator
Cllr Liz Christie has got together the volunteers required together with Clerk
Bryan Leigh the scheme will take off once the volunteers have been signed up.
We have coordinated with Breckland
Council and Norfolk County Council in making sure roads and signage in Litcham
are maintained and corrected when problems arise.
Planning applications included the
usual extensions and improvements and small wind turbines required
observations. However the
application for the solar farm adjacent to Wellingham Heath was objected on the
grounds of being an industrialised intrusion into a
rural landscape. It was approved by
Breckland Council.
Access to the graveyard via Druids
lane is still a problem with the gate remaining locked. Norfolk County Council officers have
visited the site and consultation letters were sent and replies sought. Archive research is ongoing; we await
the outcome.
Donations this year were made to the
CitizenÕs Advice Bureau, Litcham Common Conservation Group and the British
Legion.
And finally the Parish Council wishes
all success and backing to Mr and Mrs Nichol who area attempting to construct a
Norfolk garden based on the limekiln in Ron ShawÕs garden at this yearÕs
Hampton Court Flower Show. Good
support for this they hope could lead to ÔLitcham in BloomÓ or ÔLitcham Open
GardensÕ next year.
Thanks for everybodyÕs contribution
this year and tonight attendance.
Mike Oldfield,
Chairman LITCHAM PARISH COUNCIL 2013