Beckham East and West Parish Council

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Draft  Minutes of East and West Beckham Parish Council

 Meeting Held remotely by Zoom on Thursday 24^th September 2020

Present. 

Cllrs. R. McNeil Wilson, (chairman),G. Place,  D. Barrass, R. Batt, J. Dovey, K. Lord,  T. Toyn.

County Cllr. S. Butikofer,  Dist. Cllr. P. Butikofer,  Mr. C. Ringer (community shop)

          J.Stibbons(clerk)

The chairman opened the meeting at 7.02pm, and welcomed everyone  

1. There were no  Apologies or Declaration of Interest

2. There were no comments or questions from members of the public.   

3. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 16^th July  2020, having been previously circulated, it was proposed by Cllr. Lord  they  should be confirmed as correct. This was seconded by

Cllr. Dovey and carried. 

The chairman will sign the minutes at a later date.

4. There were no Matters arising from the Minutes  which are not covered later in the agenda. 

5. Reports from County and District Councillors.

County Cllr, S. Butikofer. There was a disappointing meeting of the County Council recently with no cross party cooperation. There is a budget deficit of £55million Main discussions were on food poverty and the environment.

The possible closure of Holt Hall was announced. The Project Manager is to enquire what consultation should be undertaken.

A new system of Track and Trace has been implemented. The focus must be on how to control Covid and help for businesses.

Dist. Cllr. Butikofer,  

Electric vehicle charge points have successfully been launched in two car parks Albert street in Holt and Morris street in Sheringham. This is part of on-going works to get electric vehicle charge points in six locations across the district.

They use a web-based system called “genie-point” to operate charging and payment.

Two different charging tariff – standard 08:00 to 18:00 0.30p/KWh +50p connection fee plus 

normal parking fee. Resident tariff  18:00 to08:00 30p/Kw h ( no connection fee) plus parking is free between these hours.

Successful prosecution of a man in Stalham pleaded guilty to three noise offenses including a noise abatement notice. He was playing amplified music over the Christmas period. He was fined £68, victims surcharge of £32 and costs of 31325, totaling £1425 with  forfeiture order

New sea-side car park opens giving easy access to Bacton’s beautiful sandy beaches which has been brought about by the recent landscaping project. 

The car park will be operating on a pay and display basis.

Council awarded funding to regenerate historic North Walsham town center. Secured a double funding boost from Historic England and government throughout the New Anglia Local enterprise Partnership (LEP). Received £975K from Historic England’s High Streets Heritage action zone and the LEP gave £1.17M, part of the Getting Building fund. Key features – town center “re-stitching” 

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improved connectivity and access through the town center via likes and gateways. To support improvements to current buildings and business premises and support new businesses or uses of vacant space, making Market Place more accessible and attractive for users and repair and restoration of the Cedars (old council offices)

There is an understanding that another branch of funding is coming down from government. NNDC has already given over £52M

The new splash is progressing well and is currently on target to be completed next year

6. Community Shop (Report given by Mr. C. Ringer). A short presentation of the history of shops in Bodham was given.

The results of the survey conducted in Bodham and Beckham received 166 replies, 103 from Bodham which was 40% of the households.  83% of the people who replied would use the shop at least once a week. 

A preliminary meeting was held at the Red Hart on 10th of September. No chairman or committee was selected at this meeting which was attended by the district and county councillors. Unfortunately no Parish Council members attended from either parishes.

The parishes have a high population of young people and many of them are willing to get

involved.

A volunteer Steering Committee is to be formed in October and if possible this should include a representative from Beckham. This committee will be independent from both parish councils. 

Initially the idea is to take on a an area of land, possibly the car park with a modular building or on land opposite the Red Hart. Another alternative is to use the village hall which would be multi-purpose.

All these ideas are to be explored further by the steering committee.  

The chairman thanked Mr. Ringer for his presentation. Mr. Ringer left the meeting 7.56pm

The proposal of a community shop was then discussed further by the members. All wished the project well but agreed that it must be run on business lines and have the commitment of the community.

An item will be placed in the Beckham news letter asking if anyone from the parish would like to join the committee. 

7. Solar Community Fund Committee.  The Felbeck Trust have cut and cleared the docks and weeds on parts

of the West Beckham Old Allotment to boost the restoration process. Some areas of longer vegetation will be

left to encourage bio-diversity. A circular path has been created around the property.

A visit from the Operation Turtle Dove project manager confirmed that the area already has many of the

required conditions for  breeding Turtle Doves.

There have been complementary comments on the bench at the bus stop, it makes the village look very

welcoming.

With the present Covid restrictions there will be no chance to celebrate the installation of the new village

sign.

8. Playing Field

The following  quotations were submitted  for the replacement of the fence.

Simon’s Landscaping £6500     Prestige fencing £4835     Dodd & co £3171 

It was agreed to circulate these quotations and enquire if NNDC will extend the lease before any final

decision was made.

The trees near the gate need cutting back. Cllr. Lord will obtain quotations for the trimming of the whole hedge.

9. Extension of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It was proposed  by Cllr. Barrass that the parish council should press for both East and West Beckham to

come within the AONB  This was seconded by Cllr. Lord.

On a show of hands the proposal was approved by a majority of five in favour with two against. 

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10. Financial matters.

Bank Balances at 16/9/2020   Current a/c £12883.23  Savings a/c £6495.54

Outstanding invoice to be approved:- 

K. Lord Paint £12.34

Chevertons Printing £100

 

11. Correspondence there was no correspondence.

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

An advertising board has been placed at the Lodge corner junction by a local estate agent advertising business premises for lease. This board is restricting the view towards Cromer. Cllr. Place will arrange to have the board relocated.

Dog walkers are not keeping to the footpaths and an article is to be put in the next news letter. Visitors in holiday accommodation are also the be informed.

Cars are speeding through the village. It was asked it 30mph signs could be put near the village gates.

The hedge at allotment lane has become overgrown as have various garden hedges with a road frontage.

Highways are to be contacted.

There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 8.59pm

The next meeting of E&W Beckham parish council will be held on Thursday 12^th November 2020

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Draft Minutes of East and West Beckham Parish Council
Meeting Held on Thursday 12th March 2020

Present.
Cllrs. R. McNeil Wilson, (chairman),G. Place, D. Barrass, R. Batt, J. Dovey, K. Lord, T. Toyn.
J.Stibbons(clerk)
The chairman opened the meeting at 7.04pm,

1. Apologies Dist. Cllr. P. Butikofer

3.There were no declarations of interest.

4. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 9th January 2020, having been previously circulated, it was proposed by Cllr. Toyn they should be confirmed as correct. This was seconded by Cllr. Lord and carried.
The chairman then signed the minutes.

5. Matters arising from the Minutes NCC Highways will attend to the Holly tree which has partly blown into the road at the Nature area and have cut the hedge and cleared the ditch at the Garth.

6. Reports from County, District or Parish Councillors
Dist.Cllr. P. Butikofer. A written report was read to the meeting.
A copy of the report is attached to these minutes.

7. Solar Community Fund Committee
V.E.Day is on the 9th and 10th of May. The village hall will be open and there will be a large screen
television.
It was proposed by Cllr. Lord that a display board of local interest during the war years should be
installed in the village hall. This would be a permanent feature and the estimated cost would be
£250. This proposal was seconded by Cllr. Toyn and approved by the members.
The old West Beckham village sign will be removed so the base can be painted before the new sign
arrives. The new sign may not be delivered until after March.
It was agreed to obtain quotations for the cost of a new wooden bench to be placed in the bus
shelter.

8. Playing Field.
The inspection for January/February was carried out be Cllr, Toyn. The fencing near the road and the back fence near the sports wall are in poor repair. All fencing is to be kept under review and inspected regularly.

9. Insurance renewal The value for insurance purposes on the bus shelter has been increased from £2652 to £6000 and the new village sign has been included at £6500.
The premium has remained virtually the same at £473.78, the previous year being £467.27

10. Financial matters.
Bank Balances at 12/3/2020 Current a/c £7930.14 Savings a/c £17926.36
The following invoices were approved:-
The Village Sign People Invoice 141 £5675.00
Zurich Insurance Renewal 473.78
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11. Correspondence
Letters of thanks for donations were received from NARS, Priscilla Bacon Hospice and Air Ambulance
A publication concerning the Bio Diversity awards.

12. Matters for information only or for the next agenda.
It was noted that the access to the Village Green was becoming very overgrown.

There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 8.26pm.

Copy of the Report from District Councillor P. Butikofer

At full council meeting, held on 26th Feb 2020, the council tax for all properties has gone up. The increase of 3.99% is the maximum allowed. This is a £4.95 increase for NNDC (excluding town and parish precepts), a £54.27 increase for Norfolk County Council and a £9.99 increase for Norfolk Police and `crime Commissioner.
For every pound that is paid in council tax only 8p comes back to the district. NNDC delivers around 83 (63%) of the 137 essential local government services. It does that currently for a Council Tax charge of £148.77 for Band D domestic Council Tax properties.
NNDC also continues to have a Council Tax charge which out of over 190 District Councils in England, is amongst the lowest.
Following February’s storms and subsequent damage to the Splash Leisure Centre in Sheringham, NNDC is pleased to confirm it has commissioned essential repairs to the roof and the swimming pool is set to re-open, hopefully, at Easter.
The high winds damaged roof panelling and made it necessary, for safety reason, to close all pool access and commissioned a safety report.
Land adjacent to Splash is being sold in order to help overall funding towards the construction.
The council has bought two houses. These will be used for temporary emergency accommodation. At present the council have families having to live in the Spixworth area. There are currently 42 families requiring emergency housing – normally we have 12 but the rapid increase is due to landlords not taking on families that are on Universal credit.
Funds are in place to purchase another three properties.
These properties will eventually go into the property company currently being set up.
20,000 trees out of the 109,000 have currently been planted with1,500 being planted this week in Holt country park.
A new play area was unveiled in Holt Country Park. This included a modern zip line, bug see-saw and three different swings, one of which is an inclusive bucket swing and a ‘me and you’ swing where parents and toddlers can swing together..
The new area replaces the old playground which has been in place for 12 years and required updating and was funded by NNDC.
NNDC working in partnership with East Suffolk Council have taken the initiative to express concerns about the proposed onshore National Grid cable connections and wider implications for the district, in a letter to Dept of Business, Energy and Industrial Energy
Under proposed plans, both local authorities will see 40% of UK offshore wind generation pass through their districts.
The letter proposes that the Government explores the development of an Offshore Ring Main to minimise construction impact on the coastal region. The ring main would connect to the National Grid through one single cable connection, potentially saving the North Norfolk countryside from widespread infrastructure works delivered over many years.
Onshore wind turbines at Selbrigg and Bodham, NNDC is seeking additional legal advise and hopefully will make a decision in the very near future.

There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 8.26pm.