Held in Bodham and Beckham Village Hall
Present: Julia Dovey (Chair), Kathryn Lord (Secretary), Bob Lewis, Rosabelle Batt, Lorraine Mark, Simon Wakeford, Mike Baker
The Meeting opened at 7.10pm
1. Apologies
Denise Lewis
Anthea Sweeny
John Stibbons
Lynne and Andrew Clark (on going)
2. Review Minutes of last meeting
It was agreed the previous minutes were a fair reflection of the meeting.
NOTE: In future, as circulation of the minutes will include all the Parish Cllrs, Chairperson Julia Dovey will no longer create a separate Report for the Parish Council Meetings. Instead the Parish Council will review the minutes for follow up. The Council Clerk will include these subjects in the Parish Council Meeting Agenda.
3. Points for review
- Bus shelter & area
Work had been completed around the Bus Shelter today (24/11/16) to create two retaining walls with sleepers, although on inspection it was felt this may need to be increased in height to adequately keep the earth bank in position. JD to discuss further with the contractor.
Bench. One of the new benches has been allocated for the Bus Shelter. Fitting date TBC
The Notice board under the large chestnut tree to be moved to the Bus Shelter area. A new general noticeboard to be installed inside the Bus Shelter and the current noticeboard moved to outside the Bus Shelter for Parish Council information.
The Post Box under the Chestnut Tree (Note: at the last Parish Council meeting an objection was made at the moving of the Post Box due to the current position being more useful for turning vehicles. The green triangle being a 3 way route whereas the bus shelter would require a 3 point turn) This was not discussed at this SCFC meeting – review in Jan.
- New Benches (x four)
- Village Green & Conservation
The Conservation Volunteers had done a very good job at the Village Green in WB. The entrance had been cleared and a new pathway created.
The East Beckham Common had been visited by TCV (today 24/11/16). They have done another good job of clearing both top and bottom entrances to the Common, plus cleared a portion of brambles/bracken and made the path easier to walk through. More work is needed in both sites but in particular when brambles etc start to regrow this will need to be maintained. Could this be maintained as regular Parish Council work?
- Allotments East and West
No meeting with allotment holders had been held, but the committee felt that rain water capture seemed the best option to follow. BL/KL to speak with allotment holders.
- St Helen’s East Beckham site
RB advised the stile to the site that was broken has been repaired/reinstated.
- Play Area
JD advised she had not been advised of any decision regards transfer of assets from the County Council.
- War memorial
The new memorial stone had been installed against the old one and the well attended Remembrance Service had taken place.
- Church Projects
KL to email Fr Phil Blamire and Neil Thompson regards the Graveyard Entrance ‘design’. It was felt natural hedging (not brick walls), entrance to be set back allowing more clearance for larger hearses/vehicles and better visibility to pull out from the currently restricted entrance. No gates were needed.
- Village Gates
- Bulletin Issue
KL is (still) working on the next edition to include ‘before and afters’ around the villages. BL requested publicising the track at the top of the EB Common being closed during the shooting season – so everyone was aware this was a temporary measure. A pre Christmas Edition will be aimed for!
- Website
Work in progress, but still require content.
- Defibrillator
At the Parish Council it was strongly requested by Councillors the equipment is purchased regardless of grants available. It was an item that could save a life. It was however instructed a lottery grant be tried again. JS has applied and will not hear for a further 4 months. However the SCFC agreed unanimously there should be no more waiting.
- Shop
KL advised Chris Wheeler had spoken to Daniella at the Wheatsheaf. “They are planning to rearrange the tea room for a shop (amongst other work) during the week when the pub is closed, starting 20/11/16. I also think there was someone from Pub is the Hub eating there 26/10/16!” JD Advised the ‘shop’ volunteers were not so interested to work in this kind of set up. MB advised a Mobile Post Office was to being put into operation to tour the Villages. KL to find out more details from Shane the Manager at Aylsham CT Baker Budgens.
- Educational Trust
At the Parish Council meeting this subject had been discussed and JD reported that it had been put on the ‘back burner’ for the time being. It needed further investigation due to the possible difficulty and divisiveness of deciding who would get a grant. BL gave the details of the POORS + PLOUGHLETS which is a 50 year old Trust set up locally of a fund in action and worth talking to.
