Brief notes from PC meeting 25 January 2019

Planning

18/02224/FUL. Morelands Farm – proposed porch and two storey extension. Members had no comment.

18/02311/FUL use of annexe building for part residential, part holiday let. Members objected to this application as the building has never had formal planning approval and lies outside the village envelope and as such is a development in the open countryside,

Budget 2019/20

a 5% increase in the precept was agreed which equates to £55.14 on Band D property (last year £55.) The clerks salary was increased by 2% and £1000 needed to be in the budget to cover a possible election this year.

Community Liaison

A  village wide  picking event is to be organised for February/March

A new Neighbourhood Watch co ordinator needs to be found, as Sue Norris is retiring (thanks to her for all her work in the pas

Highways

ECC Jo Beavis in attendance.

A new design for the roadway around the village  green will be drawn up by ECC to overcome the problem of  large vehicles hitting the pavement/low wall along Colneford Hill. Members expressed dismay  at the continual delay and asked if the problem of legal ownership of the Green had been resolved by ECC legal services.

Members expressed disappointment that  the poor state of the pavement in Colneford Hill (large hole, fills with water and freezes,) still does not meet ECC highways criteria for repair.

Members discussed ECC Highways plans for devolution to the Parishes ( £1000 per annum to carry out Highways work around the village, but a 24 page document  with unrealistic demands to agree beforehand)

Jo Beacis  agreed to take all concerns back to Cabinet.

Village Hall

The interior of the hall including the kitchen has been re decorated and now looks very smart and clean

Hirings for the hall have increased with a new  weekly National Childbirth Trust group meeting in the daytime.

Members agreed to scrap the defunct solar light and replace it with two Victorian style lamps, fixed on each  of the road side facing corners of the hall.  This to be funded by 50 club monies.

Members discussed a design paper proposed by Councillor Bond, giving ideas for upgrading the exterior of the hall.  Members agreed to look into possible funding streams.

Allotments

All allotments are now let but some rents remain unpaid.