Minutes of the Meeting of Sustead Parish Council
Held on Thursday 18th May at 7.30pm
Pear Tree Cottage, Aylmerton Road, Sustead.

PRESENT:  	
		Mr. A. Fell (Chairman) (AF)
		Mr. A Thompson (Vice Chairman) (AT)
Mrs. J Thorne	 (JT)
		Ms. P Howell (PH)	 
Mrs. A Williams (AW)	
Mr. R Harrison (RH)
Mr. H Davenport
		Mrs. Kirsty Cotgrove (Clerk)
		Cllr Sarah Butikofer (Norfolk County Councillor) (SB)
		Rebekah Simms (PCSO) (RS)
		3 members of the public

1.	(i) Election of Chair for 2017-18 and declaration of office: AW nominated AF, sec. by PH. All 	agreed and declaration of office signed.
	(ii) Election of Vice Chair for 2017-18 and declaration of office: AF nominated AW, sec. by PH. All 	agreed and declaration of office signed.	
		
2. 	Apologies:  None.

3.	Declarations of interest: AW – non-pecuniary interest in item 8. HD – non-pecuniary interest in item 8. Dispensation was granted for both to speak and vote.	

4.	The Minutes of the last meeting: Minutes from the last meeting held on 23rd February 2017 were 	agreed and signed off as a true record.  

6.	To receive reports from Parish Organisations and Local Members: 
	(i)  Mike Knowles – District Councillor – No report.
(ii) Sarah Butikofer – County Councillor – SB reported that the Council have met once, but work has been suspended until after the General Election. SB requested that if anyone needs any help or assistance, to please contact her, and confirmed that she and Norman Lamb are still investigating nuisance noise from helicopter traffic. 
(iii) Rebekah Simms – PCSO – RS explained the changes in the area Sustead is now included in, and that crime figures now include the whole area. The crime figures for the last year were given. The Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel meet at Sheringham Community Centre. The current priorities are speeding, crime prevention on allotments and vehicle defects and misuse. Councillors raised concern at the amount of speeding within the Parish. As there is no speed limit in the Parish, measures such as Community Speedwatch and speed activated signs would be ineffective. Village gates would be useful, but as the Parish consists of three villages, the number of gates required would be prohibitively expensive. SB confirmed that after the election she is meeting with Steve White (Highways engineer) to visit her Parishes and see what can be done. It was agreed that the village gates would be particularly effective in Metton, so it was agreed that the Clerk will contact Steve White to discuss further. 	
 
5.	Matters arising from the meeting on 23rd February 2017: None

7. 	Planning Matters:  
(i) Applications: PF/17/0668. Common End, Bessingham Road, Barningham, NR11 7JU. Erection of detached oak cart lodge. This application was discussed, and it was agreed that the Parish Council has no objection.

8.	To update eon the village hall deeds and trust, and to approve further action if necessary: AF has spoken to three estate agents to value the strip of land, but none would give an exact figure, stating it was worth what a purchaser was willing to pay. They all confirmed that selling the strip would no effect the value of the village hall. Mr. Welfare has written to AF with a best and final offer of £1000 for the strip of land. It was unanimously agreed that there would be no value in the Parish Council or village hall trust selling for that price, and it was also agreed that the Village Hall trust could lease the strip to him, and the length of lease preferably be tied in at the same length as the village hall lease. The Clerk will write to Mr. Welfare to thank him for his offer but decline, and to deal directly with the trustees regarding the lease. AT will contact Mr. Amis to get the deed of transfer signed, and Mrs. Mayes has signed hers. The deed of transfer was signed by AF & AW on behalf of the Parish Council, and witnessed by a Parishioner. 

RS (PCSO) left the meeting at 8:11pm

9.	To update on flooding issues in the village: The Felbeck Trust and John Toye have cleared the land drains and therefore alleviated the flooding problems in the village. The Parish Council recorded their thanks for their hard work, and the Clerk will write to the Felbeck Trust to thank them. 

10.	To discuss future Councillor vacancy: AT confirmed that he is resigning, as he is moving house soon. PH stated that the Parish Council should try to co-opt from Metton, as there is only one Councillor from there at the moment. The Clerk will report the vacancy to Electoral Services, so the co-option process can start.
 
11.	Financial Matters: (i) The following payments were agreed and cheques signed
	K Cotgrove – clerk wages		chq no 100407	£250.00
	S Fowler – internal audit		chq no 100405	£  25.00
	Norfolk ALC – subs			chq no 100406	£  93.29
	(ii) Receipts
	NNDC precept 1st Instalment & grant			£1412.00	
	(iii) To agree and sign the 2016-17 Annual Return
	All agreed and signed.

12.	To review the following documents: The following policies were agreed and signed as necessary.
	(i)	Financial Risk Assessment
	(ii)	Financial Regulations
	(iii)	Annual Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Control
	(iv)	Annual Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Audit

13.	Correspondence: None.

14.	AOB for information: RH asked if anything further had been done regarding someone apparently living in a mobile home without planning permission. The Clerk reported this after the last meeting, and will chase NNDC planning department. 
AW advised a Parishioner had asked about holding meetings at residential properties. The Clerk advised that always best to hold meetings at a public venue, but there are none in the Parish. The only choices are the Church (not ideal as Parish Councils are not supposed to give funds to the Church), a house, or a village hall outside the Parish. The meetings are always open to the public, who are welcome to attend. AW asked if she is covered under the Parish Council’s insurance. The Clerk will check. PH reported that the Felbeck Trust having an official opening of Sustead Common on 9th September. A parishioner reported that the village sign has been taken down for repainting. As the sign is not owned by the Parish Council, the money will be raised by villagers to renovate it. 

16.	Date of next meeting:  17th August 2017, location to be confirmed.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8:38pm.

Signed	                                                 Date