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Draft Minutes of East and West Beckham Parish Council
Meeting Held on Thursday 14th March 2024

Present.
Cllrs. R. McNeil Wilson, (chairman), D. Barrass, R. Batt, R. Lewis, G. Place, T. Toyn,
Dist. Cllr. Callum Ringer. One member of the public. J.Stibbons (clerk)

The chairman opened the meeting at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies Cllr. J. Dovey, County Cllr. E. Vardy, PC J. Houghton

2. Declarations of interest Cllr. Wilson declared an interest in item 7.

3. Comments or Questions. Felbeck Trust have been working at East Beckham common.
Tree guards are to be fitted.

The new vice-chairman of the Bodham and Beckham village hall Association addressed the meeting.
The committee are receiving a quotation for the installation of Solar Panels on the village hall. These would reduce the cost of electricity by about 50% Total cost of installation is sixteen thousand The committee have £2000 but are asking for a donation of two to three thousand pounds. The hall is now being used more by Beckham residents. Councillors agreed that they would consider a donation but will decide the amount after grants and other donations are known.

4. Reports from County, District or Parish Councillors

A written report from County Cllr. Vardy was circulated to the members. A copy of the report is attached to
these minutes.

Report from District Cllr. Ringer. (Full report attached to these minutes)
There are to be changes to the bin collections. Each household will be informed.
There is to be a Bank Hub at Holt. Exact location is not yet decided.
Hedging has been planted on the bank of the burial ground.
Cllr. Ringer was asked if he the would make enquiries regarding the ditch on the side of the Sheringham road
next to The Garth, as it was in ended of cleaning to avoid flooding on the highway in future.

Cllr. Toyn informed the meeting of a request from the Bodham and Beckham Horticultural Show for a
donation.
It was proposed by the chairman that a donation of £100 should be given to the Horticultural Show.
This was seconded by Cllr. Lewis and approved by the members.

5. The Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 11th January 2024, having been previously circulated, it was agreed that they were an accurate record of the meeting. The chairman then signed the minute.

6. Matters arising from the Minutes. Although Broadland housing have agreed that they will provide a gate into the play they have not replied to the request for the fencing to be renewed. They are to be contacted again.

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7. Planning
PO/23/2643 Williams Barn, W. Beckham. As replies were required by NNDC before the next parish council meeting, members were contacted for their views. Replies from members agreed that there was no objection to the application.

PF/23/1065 Land at North of Church Road – affordable housing approval noted.

8. Wheatsheaf. This will be discussed at the next meeting when more information should be available.

9. Allotments. Rents are being collected. There is one new applicant for a plot.

10. Playing Field Safety Inspection report.
The bench is going green.
The large swing needs bird spikes replacing to prevent birds sitting on the top..
The shed is rotten and needs to be removed.

11. Litter is being collected by persons unknown and left at the Bus Shelter in bags.

12. Financial matters.
Bank Balances at 14/03/2024 Current a/c £ 3052.80 Savings a/c £15885.33 Investment a/c £35000
The final instalment from Grantscape for £11440 has been received.
The following cheques signed:-
Zurich Insurance £627.95
Bodham and Beckham Horticultural Show Donation £100
Cambridge Building Society Investment account £11440

13. Village Hall request for contribution. See item 3 in these minutes

14. Correspondence
The following correspondence was sent to members by email:-
Grantscape (Hall Farm Solar) final breakdown of figures.
Broadland hedge coppicing
February County Councillors report

15. Matters for information only or for the next agenda.

Due to cars being parked on Church Road the bank is being destroyed by passing vehicles on this narrow road.
Highways are to be contacted to enquire what improvements can be made.

There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 8.50pm

The next meeting of Beckham parish council will be on Thursday 9th May 2024