Minutes of the Meeting of Sustead Parish Council
Held on Monday 23rd May 2016 at 7.30pm
Pear Tree Cottage, Aylmerton Road, Sustead.

PRESENT:  	
		Mr. A. Fell (Chairman) (AF)
		Mr. A Thompson (Vice Chairman) (AT)
Mrs. C Cheyne (CC)
Mrs. J Thorne	 (JT)
		Ms. P Howell (PH)	 
Mrs. A Williams (AW)	
Mr. R Harrison (RH)
		Mrs. Kirsty Cotgrove (Clerk)

1.	(i) Election of Chair for 2016-17 and declaration of office: AW nominated AF, sec. by PH. All 	agreed and declaration of office signed.
	(ii) Election of Vice Chair for 2016-17 and declaration of office: AF nominated AT, sec. by JT. All 	agreed and declaration of office signed.	
		
2. 	Apologies:  Mr. M Knowles (NNDC), Mr. M Baker (NCC), Ms. G Bridges (PCSO).

3.	Declarations of interest:  None.

4.	The Minutes of the last meeting: Minutes from the last meeting held on 2nd February 2016 were 	agreed and signed off as a true record.  

5. 	 To discuss matters arising from these minutes: NCC Highways dept. have agreed to replace the 	posts around the war memorial in 	Metton, and the work should be carried out in the next few weeks.

6.	To receive reports from Parish Organisations and Local Members: 
	(i) Mike Knowles – District Councillor: The Clerk read the following report:
	Planning.   
	The council has embarked on a three-year project to compile a new Local Plan to cover development 	policies and land allocations for the period to 2036.   The government has also introduced a "Duty to 	Co-operate" between neighbouring planning authorities in drawing up new Local Plans.   In this 	connection, the Call for Sites has been initiated.   Anyone can suggest a particular site for 	development, be it for affordable housing, market housing, commercial use etc.     The suggestions 	will then undergo a technical appraisal before being put to public consultation.   Forms are available 	on the council website.   The deadline for submissions is 31st. May.
	Shared Services. 
	In September members were advised that preliminary talks were under way with Great Yarmouth 	Borough Council to see if there is any scope for sharing some senior officers and back office work with 	a view to making savings.    A special meeting of the council was held on 21st. October, and we were 	advised that Great Yarmouth had requested the secondment of certain personnel on an interim 	shared basis.   This would involve salary increases for both officers, who were keen to participate.  The 	sharing with GYBC of NNDC's Chief Executive and Head of Finance went ahead as from the second 	week in November. The arrangements clearly benefit Great Yarmouth, and it is to be hoped that when 	the promised report on the potential for a permanent situation materialises, that benefit will also 	extend to NNDC. A business case for a longer term arrangement is scheduled to be presented to full 	Council in the near future.
	NNDC has lent £3m to GYBC for 3 years, the first time NNDC has made an investment of this type, 	though we are assured that this was a straightforward commercial deal.
	Devolution. 
	In September we learned that Norfolk had submitted a case to the government for the devolution of 	powers, only to be told that Norfolk was not big enough and that a joint bid with Suffolk was 	required, which was also rebuffed.   Ultimately a bid was submitted on behalf of Norfolk, Suffolk, 	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  George Osborne announced in his budget on 16th March that the 	Eastern Powerhouse was to go ahead.   In fact the document that was signed by all the local 	authorities, apart from Cambridge City Council, was simply an agreement to carry on talking.  The 	final details are still under discussion. 
	As of now, it is still not clear whether Cambridge is in or out, though they have rejected the proposals 	as they currently stand.   There remains very little detail in the proposals so far and the leaders of the 	22 councils are to set up various committees to generate specific-proposals to the Government.   	What has been offered so far, £30m p.a. for 30 years, is far less than was originally requested.   In 	addition, the Government requires the setting up of another tier of local government, headed up by 	an elected mayor who will have some control over funding and will take specific responsibility for 	transport and major roads and have powers over planning and housing.   How this new Combined 	Authority will be staffed and funded has not been defined.   
	At the meeting of NNDC the leader was given the following brief:
	"This council does not support the concept of a mayor or a mayoral authority in East Anglia, but is 	mindful of the potential benefits for the people of North Norfolk delivered under a sound and robust 	governance model on which all councils are represented equally and have equal voting rights; and 	recommends that the Leader of the council continues discussions with other Leaders and with 	government with a view to bringing developed proposals back to the council for further 	consideration."
	Boundary Review.   
	It appears that North Norfolk has gradually drifted away from the accepted norm in terms of 	population per ward, and therefore (in their view) proper representation at District level.  This has 	generated a full boundary review, covering all wards.    The process for this begins with an appraisal of 	how many councillors are required to run the council in terms of committees, etc. Currently we have 	48 and it seems likely that there will be a move to reduce that number. In fact, it seems likely that the 	Council is to make a recommendation to the Commission that it can operate efficiently with 40 	members. The second phase will almost certainly involve the redrawing of some boundaries. The final 	proposals are to take effect from the May 2019 elections.   The Review will not be able to take into 	account any future changes in population that could result from the current process of revising the 	district's Local Plan, only planning consents currently in place will be considered. My understanding 	is that Parish boundaries cannot be altered, but it may be that certain Parishes will be “transferred” to 	a different ward. For your information Chaucer currently has around 2000 voters, which is 	approximately 13% above the average (there are wards with only 1500), but of course if the number of 	councillors is reduced, that average will alter accordingly. The proposals will go out for consultation 	at the various stages, so I would suggest we watch this space.
	In September Full Council formally approved the audited accounts for 2014/15.   After allowing for 	slippage of capital projects resulting from the disruption caused by the sea surge in December 2013, 	the accounts showed a surplus of £366k.   The General Reserve is nearly £2.3m compared to its 	recommended amount of £1.75m, but we have to consider that central government grants are all 	either reducing significantly or disappearing altogether over the next couple of years and that reserve 	may well stand us in good stead.
	Central government's draft proposals for funding local government provides for a 4 year period 	2016/17 to 2019/20.   It would seem that the New Homes Bonus element will be reduced from year 2 	onwards.    This amounts to £416k in 2016/17 out of a total sum of £2.085m.   Over the 4 year period 	the amount of the grant element within the funding formula looks set to reduce to only £88k.   An 	increase in Council Tax of more than 2% requires a local referendum.
	As part of its statutory requirements, Full Council agreed to the formation of an Independent 	Remuneration Panel to undertake the regular review of members' allowances.   No increase had taken 	place since 2003.   Following the independent report an increase from £4,054 to £5,000 was 	recommended to take effect from May.   This figure is around the mid-point of allowances of all 	Norfolk and Suffolk councils, with some of those below that level already in the process of their own 	review.
	Following the motion on road safety along the A148 several representatives each from NCC and the 	Police attended the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18th. May.   There were 	representations from members of the public and many questions from Councillors. Sadly, although 	our perception may be different, the statistics indicate that the A148 between Holt and Cromer is not 	sufficiently dangerous to merit any major improvements, such as roundabouts, or even a review of 	speed limits.
	At its recent meeting, the council agreed to maintain the Big Society Fund programme for a further 	year with a maintained pot of £225,000.   It also allocated £630,000 to fund the possible compulsory 	purchase of 5 domestic properties, 3 in Sheringham and 2 in Sculthorpe with a view to bringing them 	back into use.   The position of the former Shannocks Hotel in Sheringham will be discussed later this 	month.
	(ii) Michael Baker - County Councillor: None.
	(iii) Gillian Bridges – Norfolk Police SNT: The Clerk read the following report:
	Meeting Report of Monday 23rd May 2016, for period 23rd May 2015 to 23rd May 2016
	Calls to Police
	Total calls across the three parishes of Sustead, Metton & Bessingham are 3 
	Crimes
	The crime figures are taken from two different systems (C.I.S & Athena) for the relevant period with a 	total of 29 across the three parishes, which is an average of just over 2 per month.
	The figures above reflect the new system of crime and investigation recording from November 2015 on 	the Athena system which dictates that often investigations are recorded based upon an initial 	allegation, rather than proof of crime as previously.
	Current Priorities
Speeding in the Poppyland Area – A priority that has been running since November 2014 which helps to encourage patrol officers to join in with SNT activity and monitor speed of traffic around the area. On most occasions of engagement Traffic Offence Reports and Words of Advice to offenders are handed out to drivers of vehicles seen to be over the posted limit.
High Visibility Patrols – A priority which has been running since June 2013 that effectively helps to centralise a log of local patrols undertaken by SNT personnel and any actions taken for anti-social behaviour.
Youth Engagement at Cromer Skate Park – This priority is to monitor patrols to the area and to log action taken in conjunction with NNDC and the skate park committee where a problem of anti-social behaviour and littering was reported.
	The next Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) Priority Setting Meeting will be held at Cromer 	Town Council Offices, North Lodge Park on the 25th July at 6.30pm
	Police Surgeries
	As previously reported, the way in which Parish surgeries are undertaken has changed during the year 	and instead of monthly surgeries in every Parish every month, it has been decided by senior officers 	that due to low footfall in the Parishes, officer time will now be dedicated to larger Parishes and 	Cromer Town. 
	Regular surgeries are now held at six locations around Cromer as follows:
	Budgens Supermarket	Mondays	12noon to 1pm (Except 30th May)
	Barclays Bank		Tuesdays	12noon to 1pm 
	NatWest Bank		Wednesdays	11am to 12noon
	Cromer Library	Thursdays	12noon to 1pm
	Tourist Information Office	Fridays	12noon to 1pm
	Morrisons Supermarket	Saturdays	12noon to 1pm
	We’d welcome seeing anyone from our parishes coming along to speak with us in Cromer
	Team News
	During late January a change in Safer Neighbourhood Team personnel is that PCSO Guy Slade has 	moved to be with Sheringham SNT, and PCSO Gillian Bridges has joined Cromer SNT in a direct swap 	or responsibilities.
	The number of crimes (29) in the last year was noted with concern. It was agreed the Clerk will 	contact the police to try and obtain a breakdown of where and what type of crimes. 

7. 	Planning Matters:  
	(i) Applications: PF/16/0497. The Old Vicarage, The Street, Sustead, NR11 8RU. Erection of orangery 	to side of dwelling. A discussion took place regarding this application. Concerns were raised that the 	new orangery would adversely affect the character of the property. It was agreed by vote that the PC 	will reply with a no objection, but comment that concerns were raised.
	PF/16/0545. Flintstones, North Barningham Road, Bessingham, NR11 7JT. Erection of detached double 	garage. No objection was raised to the application, but concern was raised that the owners may 	attempt to convert the building into a separate property in the future, due to the size of the building, 	and the plans do not include the demolition of the 2 existing garages.
	(ii) Decisions:  PF/15/1723. Church View, Church Road, Bessingham. Erection of extension to front and 	side of dwelling. NNDC permit given.
	Pf/16/0142 & LA/16/0143. The Thatched Cottage, Aylmerton Rd, Sustead, NR11 8QZ. Erection of rear 	extension & insertion of glazing to west first floor gable. NNDC permit given.
	PF/15/1579. Church Barn, the Street, Sustead. Erection of a timber frame cart shed and store. NNDC 	permit given.
	PF/15/1667. Manor House Farm, New Road, Bessingham. Conversion of agricultural building to 	five 	residential dwellings. NNDC permit given.	 

8.	To agree work for the upcoming highway rangers visit: The following work will be requested:
	Grass verges, all around the Parish, especially Metton. 
	Potholes in Bessingham
	Ditch needs clearing at and of Sheepswash Cottage lane.
	Pothole outside Old Hall Farm
	Potholes between New Road & The Street
	Pothole opposite the post box in Metton 

9.	Financial Matters: (i) The following payments were agreed and cheques signed
	K Cotgrove – clerk wages		chq no 100395	£250.00
	S Fowler – internal audit		chq no 100396	£  25.00
	Norfolk ALC – subs			chq no 100397	£  115.25
	Aon UK – Insurance			chq no 100398	£306.95
	A long term agreement for the insurance was agreed.
	(ii) Receipts
	NNDC precept 1st Instalment				£968.00	
	(iii) To agree and sign the 2015-16 Annual Return
	All agreed and signed.

10.	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

11.	Correspondence: None.

12.	An update on the village hall strip lease, and a plan regarding trustee status: The Clerk 	updated the PC regarding this issue. EastLaw are looking into it, and will attempt to obtain a copy of 	the deeds. It was agreed that the Clerk will speak to EastLaw to get advice and a possible letter 	template.

13.	Dog fouling problems in the Parish: A parishioner has approached PH to advise a local resident is 	disposing of dog faeces from their garden, by throwing it into the road. AW & PH have been to 	investigate and this appears to be the case. The Clerk has reported the issue to NNDC for action, and 	it was agreed that a notice should be put up on all Parish noticeboards to remind dog owners of their 	responsibilities.

14.	AOB for information: It was noticed that there has been more fly tipping on the road towards 	Cromer. It was agreed that if anyone sees anything suspicious, to report to 101.

16.	Date of next meeting:  Monday 8th August 2016, 7:30pm at Tudor House, Hall Farm, Sustead.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8:55pm.

Signed	                                                 Date