Beckham East and West Parish Council

  • Beckham Bulletin

    Bulletin November 2024

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  • Minutes of Parish Council Meeting Held on Thursday 14th March 2024

    Page 241

    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.

    Page 242

    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

  • Minutes of the Meeting E&WB SCFC 30th June 2016

    Held in Bodham and Beckham Village Hall
    Present: Julia Dovey (Chair) Kathryn Lord (Secretary) David McNeight, Bob Lewis, Lorraine Marks, Simon Wakeford,  Anthea Sweeney, John Stibbons
    The Meeting opened at 7pm
    1. Apologies
    • Rosabelle Batt
    • Denise Lewis
    • Andrew & Lynne Clark
    2. Review Minutes of last meeting
    It was agreed the previous minutes were a fair reflection of the meeting.
    3. Progress on action plan:
     
    Note: Prior to the meeting JD had emailed a document ‘Action Plan Sept 2015’ summarising the Questionnaire results, with an updated status ‘June 2016’ to highlight progress made. This will be used as a summary report for the next Parish Council meeting.
     
    • BUS STOP TIDY:
      • JD reported the Bus Stop Shelter had been worked on and soil ingress removed from around the building and in the phone box! In doing so 5 unknown bike stands were uncovered. It was felt by all that railway sleepers could be used to make a retaining wall by the phone box where currently the old wall is no longer strong enough. Richard to be asked to return and do this work.
      • KL volunteered to paint the inside of the shelter in a masonry paint (which will need to be bought or acquired)
      • JD had a product that could be used on outside brickwork to remove any algae called ‘wet and forget’, or a power washer could be used – although is water needed.
      • It was felt after the painting and cleaning, measurements should be taken to assess layouts for notice boards/parish map etc.
      • SW offered to review current condition of noticeboards with a view to replacement or refurbishment.
    • WAR MEMORIAL RESTORATION:
      • Await PCC
    • TREE SURVEYS, WB Village Green, EB Common: 
      • JD had used the report by Mark Webster from The Conservation Volunteering Charity to place the bid for Tesco’s Bag of Help fund. Decisions are made end August.
      • PCC to deal with Churchyard.
    • THE READING ROOM:
      • Await PCC
    • COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED:
      • Despite requests for Volunteers (environmental and social) no further volunteers have come forward. It was felt that specific dates may need to be given – project specific
    • IMPROVEMENTS TO CHURCHYARD ENTRANCE:
      • Await PCC
    • IMPROVEMENTS BY POST BOXES & NOTICEBOARDS:
      • Outside Chestnut Farm the Post Box now has a step access instead of a steep bank.
      • Discussion regards the Sheringham Road site ensued. Possibility the PO to move the Post Box to a less dangerous spot, not on a bend?
    • DEFIBRILLATOR UPDATE:
      • JS advised the Parish Council meeting is on 14th July and the Heartbeat Charity presentation will be held at the start of the meeting. All welcome.
      • BL suggested a new possible site for EB. A barn wall which is at the centre of EB.
    • SHOP:
      • It was felt that we should wait some months to discuss again with the Wheatsheaf. The PC had written a letter to help the Wheatsheaf initiate a grant assisting them to establish the Pub as a ‘Local Hub’  – which includes in the plans a shop.
    • ALLOTMENT UPDATE: 
      • EB Allotment had been made more accessible. The track had been scraped and a carpark formed.
      • It was agreed this may need ‘on going maintenance’ or further work to improve the track/entrance.
      • No allotment committee had been set up, but so far this does not seem to be needed.
      • West Beckham allotment space was not discussed.
      • WB Allotment – not discussed. Cultivation, weeding, finally establishing a pollen and nectar seed mix. Paths to be mowed once established.
    • VILLAGE GATES & TRAFFIC CALMING:
      • Not discussed – await NCC Highways to confirm site date to visit.
      • KL mentioned the safety mirrors, which seem to be popping up around the area. The Parish Council however had been given a definitive NO from the Highways department.
      • Bid for match funding from NCC (December 2016) for any safety projects.
    • GRIT BINS:
      • BL advised the Grit Bin installed is still empty but Highways promise this will be filled before winter. This would be the priority before attempting another installation.
    • BUS SERVICE:
      • Not discussed, but C Sanders advised a personalised West Beckham Bus Timetable would be prepared. The School Bus can also be used.
      • Dial and Ride and Mediride information included in the Summer Bulletin.
    • OIL BUYING SYNDICATE:
      • A Gresham Oil Syndicate and Anglian Farmers Buying Group had been advised but no particular interest had been expressed in either Village.
    • PROGRAMME OF SOCIAL EVENTS:
      • Although the Committee had not been active in initiating this, it was felt the Monthly Lunches at the Wheatsheaf launched by Martyn and Ann Waring, and the Queens Birthday Tea Party had fulfilled this request.
    • CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA:
      • AC & LC were unable to come to the meeting, so we did not discuss their progress to date.
      • The Big Society Fund (grant up to £15,000) from NNDC is available for funding. Applications needed by 8th August 2016
    • WEBSITE: 
      • DM advised the domain name is eastandwestbeckham.org for access to the website which is now set up.
      • KL & DM advised further work is still to be done (not much time had been spent due to other commitments, which includes producing The Bulletin etc.)
      • Contributions from Parishioners would be very welcome – e.g. oral memories and photographic. If any of the committee have content or can speak to others who they think may have connections with the villages (or close by) this would be very helpful.
      • The History of the Villages is still outstanding.
      • JD volunteered to write an introduction piece for the Villages
    • QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER & INFO SHEET:
      • The Bulletin is now up and running – issue 3 about to be released. The Household Information sheet issued and available on the Website.
    • MEMORIAL BENCHES:
      • These are being ordered and it was suggested memorial name plaques are added. It was felt the Dark Brown colour recycled plastic benches shown where good looking and hopefully long lasting.
    • BROADBAND SURVEY:
      • It was discussed, and decided that a request be placed in the next ‘Bulletin’ for people with NO Broadband or Poor Broadband get in touch with DM so we can assess.
    • PARISH MAPS:
      • JD has found suppliers and awaits decisions on locations/contents before ordering.
    • BODHAM & BECKHAM VILLAGE HALL:
      • A Broadband supply for the Village Hall was suggested and DMwould investigate viability/costs via ‘Thinking Wisp’ as this doesn’t require a telephone line (which the VH does not have)
    • WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION:
      • Await PCC and Tesco Bid results.
      • Not discussed. Bird, Bat & Owl boxes could be bought or made.
    • EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND:
      • JD raised the idea of the above, and if approved could be created and Trustees appointed. The fund would enable young people and anyone who needed help with educational funding from the Villages. The rules of which would need to be agreed.
    • IMPROVEMENT TO GRASS TRIANGLE 
      •  Near Chestnut Farm WB Village Sign and grass area to be protected from being run over. Oak posts and removable chains could be installed to improve matters.
    4. Date of next meeting
     
    • 23rd September 2016, at B&B Village Hall, 7.30pm

    Meeting closed at 8:50 pm