Denton Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting Held on Tuesday 12th March 2013
at 8pm at Denton Village Hall
Present: Peter Hill (Chairman), Terry Hanner (Vice Chairman), Roger Gibson, Adrian Hipwell, Wayne Mayhew, Kerry Norfolk, Annie Whiteman, Pauline Sandell (Clerk). Also Present: Murray Gray (District Councillor) and 1 member of the Public.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Declaration of Interest
None.
3. Minutes of the Last Meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record, proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Annie Whiteman, unanimously agreed. The minutes were signed and dated.
4. District and County Council Matters
Murray Gray reported;
1) SNC and NCC have frozen their portion of the Council Tax for the coming year. The Police have increased their portion by 1.965%.
2) SNC is part of a new scheme to enable people living in Norfolk to get savings on supplies of electricity. SNC would like lots of people to register for this scheme so that they can get the best possible price for the electricity. People need to register by 8th April by registering on www.bigswitchandsave.co.uk. Once registered they will receive a quote.
3) From 1st April 2014 new developments will need drainage permission as well as planning and building regs. This will be mainly for larger developments to start with but will eventually be for all new developments. SUDS (sustainable drainage system) is being implemented to minimize the risk of flooding and NCC will be the SUDS approving body.
4) SNC is about to produce Development Management Policies which will be going out for consultation early summer.
SNC is aware that they need to make improvements to the crossroads at Hempnall junction with the A140 due to the area action plan for Long Stratton producing more housing.
5) Answers to questions; Murray said that the Local Planning responses were still being analysed but that it would be going to Government at the end of the month. After that there will be a further consultation and then it will be passed to the Inspector. With respect to the proposed pylons, there is no proposed line yet.
5. Questions from the Public
Drains blocked at bottom of Marshalls Hill. This will be discussed under AOB.
6. Matters Arising:
a) Ditch at Skinners’Meadow; Terry Hanner reported that he had spoken to Mike Loftus and it was planned to dam with sandbags to stop water flowing and pump out at the other side.
b) Speedwatch; Nothing to report.
c) Footpaths; Terry, Adrian and Wayne will organize a working party.
d) Parish Green Deal; This has been advertised on Denton Talk and in the Parish News. Four people have responded.
e) Post Box; The Clerk said that she had been told that it was replaced. However, this is not the case. She will speak to her contact at the Royal Mail.
f) Any Other Matter Arising; None.
7. Chairman's Report
The Chairman reported that Ken Ashton has a MOT testing station up and running and that the Body Works Garage is open at the Old Dairy.
Alan Henderson has become the Community Governor at the school and there is now a total of 5 governors from the parish.
8. Playing Field Inspection
Wayne Mayhew reported that everything was OK. Adrian Hipwell to do the next report.
9. Grove Farm
Murray Gray gave an update on the situation. A meeting is to be arranged between the Enforcement Officer, Peter Hill and Murray Gray. A new planning application had been received but this had been refused by SNC.
10. Empty Saffron Housing
The Parish Councillors were concerned that one of the flats at Skinners’ Meadow had been unoccupied for 21 months. A bungalow in Denton has also been empty for 10 months. Murray will report back to Peter the following day and then a letter will be sent to SNC and a separate a letter to Saffron.
11. PreSchool Allocation
There was concern that pre school funded places had been given to children outside of the area. And therefore, as there are only a limited amount of spaces, some Denton children were unable to get a place. Annie Whiteman and Peter Hill will make enquires.
12. Planning Applications
None.
13. Parish Meeting
The Head Teacher, Mr. Joel Crawley, has agreed to speak. Annie Whiteman will ask if someone from the Pre School would also like to speak. Other items for the agenda are; future projects and village hall extension.
14. Correspondence
Norfolk Link
Parish Partnership Meeting on March 18th – Peter Hill to attend.
SNC – Asking Parish Councils if they would be interested in training regarding declaration of interest and code of conduct. Peter Hill said that he would be interested.
15. Finance
a. Accounts Summary – The accounts summary agreed, proposed by Annie Whiteman, seconded by Adrian Hipwell, unanimously agreed.
b. Pay the Clerk £89.19 for March.
The annual subscription to the CPRE was discussed and it was propsed that the subscription should continue and that the Clerk be paid. Proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Terry Hanner, unanimously agreed.
15. Any Other Business
Terry Hanner; Bob Edwards from Highways will be meeting with Terry on Friday. Peter Hill will also attend. They will look at Alburgh Road and Marshalls Hill. Ditch on left hand side of Trunch House needs looking at.
Terry Hanner; salt bin will cost between £100-£110. Discuss in September.
Terry Hanner; Saffron are planning to remove the chimney of No.5 Upland Terrace. The Clerk was asked to write to Saffron to ask about their policy on chimneys.
Peter Hill; As there is no wire at the top of the netting at the allotment site, the wire netting is sagging. A gate has also been requested. It was agreed that the materials would be bought by the Parish Council but it was up to the allotment holders to make a gate out of the materials and to put the wire up.
Peter Hill; the joint parish meeting that was to be held in April has now been postponed.