Held at The White House, The Street, West Beckham
Present: Julia Dovey (Chair) Kathryn Lord (Secretary) David McNeight, Anthea Sweeney, Rosabelle Batt (after 7:30pm)
The Meeting opened at 7:00pm
1. Apologies
Denise Lewis
Bob Lewis
Mike Baker
John Stibbons
Simon Wakeford
Lorraine Marks
2. Review Minutes of last meeting
It was agreed the previous minutes were a fair reflection of the meeting.
3. Parish Map Noticeboard Project
KL/JD reported progress with NPS Group at the County Council office after their meeting. It was felt work carried out by NPS was still ‘work in progress’ with several errors noted. We had been advised any further work would be charged for over the quoted sum. As a result, we are unsure if we wish to carry on with the maps as they stand, as the overall quality is not really up to the standard we were hoping for. We will review with the Parish Council and investigate other options before committing any further funds. Frames for the maps at NPS were also 110cm x 71cm not 90cm x 90cm as previously advised.
3A East Beckham Church Ruins ‘Information Board’
RB was concerned that the cows would damage an Information Board relating to the site of St Helen’s ruins or encourage people to investigate further. It was felt careful wording regards the lack of any remains, plus the engravings found at the Heritage Centre in Norwich would be enough to satisfy the public without needing the footpath access to the site.
4. Telephone Box
LM and SW had made some enquiries regards an ‘old style’ red phone box to replace the ‘modern style’ box currently in place. Costs of a restored red box would be between £2500 – £3000. It was felt however that the work/costs to swap over the boxes could be excessive. The old style box door was also heavy and more difficult to open – hence the re-design. The committee therefore voted for the current box to remain as a housing for the defibrillator.
5. Community Bus Service
JD had made enquiries for the bus service and they were very happy to include East and West beckham into a regular Saturday route if the Solar Fund was paying for the service. JD had asked her neighbour (a regular bus user) to complete the supplied survey, however further users and information from others should be gathered. A flyer will be created and sent out to the villages asking for information: e.g. Suggested day Saturday, service regularity Monthly, Fortnightly, Weekly, What times? 9:30-10am leaving from and retuning in 2 or 3 hours? What stops in East and West Beckham?
6. Village Gates
JS had advised end of March. KL to ask Highways (Steve White) for confirmation artwork so that it could be reported in the Spring Bulletin correctly.
7. Playing Area
JD advised she had had confirmation from NNDC that the Parish Council’s lease on the playing area has almost 11 years to run. A copy of the lease was now available and was passed onto the Parish Clerk. NNDC will not transfer the asset to the PC.
KL had received the pack of information from Andrew and Lynne Clarke with useful facts and background. It is clear there was already some good equipment installed in the play are although it was rather dowdy. Could this be brightened up with painting/refurbishing?
New equipment for toddlers, which had previously been well used until broken and removed, should be investigated.
The chain-link fencing was also rusted and very unappealing. This should be replaced either with a powder coated chain link or a lower level picket or metal fence/gates.
KL had a meeting with a play equipment company who offer a ’no obligation’ survey on 8th March at 3pm to see what they had to say.
8. Bench installation & Noticeboard
As yet nothing has be installed. Await warmer weather?
The wooded bench in Sheringham Road had gone missing, but this was likely to be Geoff Place who agreed to refurbish the bench.
9. TCV West and East Beckham
TCV have a further date working party visit arranged for West Beckham on 22nd March. LM will attend. LM has also created a sketch map with best options to place a picnic bench and further clearance.
The snowdrops are coming through where the bracken/brambles have been cleared and hope that further clearance will uncover others.
JD has been contacted by TCV’s Debbie Murray, Practical Project Officer, who will organise site visit in mid May and as a result a management plan to be created.
JD advised the Tesco’s grant had been received of £1000 and this had paid for previous site visits, and the forthcoming plan. Tesco’s have requested a report to be written and photos to show the progress as a result of the grant.
10. Various items for the Bulletin Spring Issue
Mission Hut
The Mission Hut land had been sold at Auction for £44,000. It should be included in the Spring Bulletin and the terms of the deed of Sale published “in event of a duly authorised sale of the property the proceeds shall be used to provide a fabric fund for the maintenance and repair of the Parish Church of St Helen with All Saints East and West Beckham”
Graveyard Entrance
The graveyard entrance design had been discussed with Fr Phil, but they had not reported back.
AS advised she was attending the graveyard and the beaters from a shoot came running thought the graveyard – a frightening experience as the guns were going off in the background. RB advised that the Game Keeper would be spoken with as this was unacceptable.
KL had contacted the NWT and had been approached by Emily Nobbs who was willing to arrange a survey of the Churchyard (previously surveyed in 1982) and the Graveyard. Fr Phil had given permission. Emily had offered to come out to advise where to leave uncut in spring/summer but this had not been responded to by the PCC.
East Anglian Children’s Hospital (EACH) – funds raised of £550 from donations at Dick Moretons funeral- (Rose Moreton)
Community Bus Service (as discussed above)
Appeal for SCFCommittee members or Parish Councillors – RB offered to be co opted as a Parish Councillor
Various Nature Surveys – including a sheet from NWT for garden bird survey to be included
Bodham Village Hall – Photos of West Beckham and East Beckham village signs to be added to the walls
11. AOB
An Invertebrate Survey: LM asked if permission could be given to survey the water course for invertebrates at the culvert by the entrance of East Beckham Hall, and the water course by the stile by the footpath nr old East Beckham Church. RB to ask if this would be possible.
12. Date of Next meetings
7PM – 8:30PM
23rd March – B&B Village Hall
27th April – B&B Village Hall
Meeting closed at 9.10pm
