1.1 The meeting was opened by Miss Wake. Nominations were invited for Chairman. Mrs Smith proposed Miss Wake, Mr Turner seconded and all
members present agreed to elect Miss Wake as Chairman for the coming year. The Chairman signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

2.1 Apologies were received from Parish Councillors Steve Blake (Vice-Chairman) and Robert Eady.

3.1 The Clerk reported that Ms Lee had resigned. The vacancy procedures are underway.

4.1 Councillors agreed to delay the election of the Vice-Chairman until the June meeting as two Councillors were absent from this meeting.

5.1 No declarations were made.

6.1 The minutes of the April meeting were approved and duly signed by the Chairman as a correct record without amendment. A copy of the approved minutes will be uploaded onto the Parish Council website.

7.1 The Clerk provided a report to Councillors prior to the meeting and summarised some of the key points.

8.1 The Councillors present at the meeting confirmed that their forms are correct. The Clerk will ensure that all Councillors check their forms.

9.1 All Councillors present agreed to continue membership of the working groups they are already assigned to. The Finance Working Group was confirmed as the Chairman, Mr Blake and Ms Brown.

10.1 Management Working Group – Mr Turner proposed that a charge of £2 per hour should be charged for use of electricity at the village green. This was seconded by Mr Norton and agreed by all.

10.2 Amenities Working Group – Mrs Smith gave an update on a recent meeting held by this group. It was agreed that the Clerk should organise a commercial valuation of the Old School Building (two valuations have already been organised).

10.3 Special Projects Working Group – The Chairman outlined a plan for a parish survey. All Councillors present agreed to authorise the Chairman to carry out stage 1.

11.1 Update – Mr Norton gave a brief update on the project, including news that all of the affordable houses have now been sold. The Barlow Charity is preparing a questionnaire for inclusion in Miscellanea and Councillors asked Mr Norton to show them a draft prior to printing. The Barlow Charity is awaiting legal advice on issues raised in a recent letter from the Parish Council. The Council is aware that it can obtain clarity on its own legal position from the Norfolk Association of Local Councils. It was agreed to await the response from the Barlow Charity for at least another week.

12.1 No updates were received.

• A member of the public gave his views on the village community project.
• The Chairman of Honingham Parish Council introduced himself. His letter featured in the correspondence list at item 15.

13.1 Results of applications considered by Breckland Council: None.

13.2 New applications (comments sent to Breckland District Council):

13.3 Other planning items – Nothing to report.

14.1 Payment of accounts –The following accounts were proposed by Ms Brown, seconded by Mr Norton and approved for payment by the Council.

 

General payments:
Community Car Scheme	Two monthly claim for February/March 2009	179.79
Mr Les Clark	Handyman payment for April (including expenses of £5.97 for materials*)	264.97
Paul Yaxley	2 x grass cutting and strimming during April of All Saints Churchyard, Burgh Lane Cemetery and the village green	240.00
Go Wise Print	Printing of Parish Council newsletter	79.00
Norfolk Trees and Landscaping	Reduction and pruning of trees at the cemetery and allotments*	1468.75
	0	0
	Subtotal	£2232.51
Clerk: Expenses/expenditure	Telephone (office phone agreed costs)* Telephone (4/03/10 – 3/04/10)* Brown bin, annual payment to Serco Postage Skip hire (Pip’s Skips) for use at allotments*	13.00 3.22 36.00 5.16 155.00
Salary	April (minus tax/NI/employee pension contribs) Payment to HM Revenue & Customs for tax and NI Norfolk Pension Fund, PC/Clerk contribs for April	604.82 57.41 168.96
	Subtotal	1043.57
	Total payments for Mayl 2010	£3276.08
	* VAT reclaimable.	.

 

15. Correspondence

15.1 The correspondence featured on the agenda was available for members to see. Members of the Amenities group will visit Daffodil Way to look into parking proposals and discuss at the next Amenities Group meeting. Parish Councillors agreed to send a representative to the next meeting of the A47 pressure group, organised by Honingham Parish Council Chairman.

16. Handyman

16.1 The Clerk will discuss the weeding at Old School Close and staking of the holly trees in the hedging with the Handyman. Mr Norton will look into the staking of the poplars.

17. Items for press release

17.1 None.

18. Attendance at councillor surgeries

18.1 Mr Turner will be present at Saturday’s councillor surgery.

19. Items for the next meeting agenda

19.1 The Norfolk Association of Local Councils’ AGM 2010 Resolutions for Debate and the paperwork for the Annual Return will feature on the 7 June agenda.

20. Resolution to exclude members of the public and press (under the public bodies admission to meetings Act 1960): To consider a pay rise for the Handyman – On a proposal by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Norton, it was resolved to exclude the public and press due to the financial sensitivity of the above item. The public left the room at 9.00 pm.

A pay increase was agreed for the Handyman on a recommendation by the Management Working Group. This was proposed by Mrs Smith, seconded by Mr
Norton and agreed by all.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10 pm. The next meeting will be held on Monday 7 June 2010 at 7.00 pm in the Methodist Church Rooms.