Present    Councillor M Oldfield     (Chair)
    Councillor R Payne
    Councillor D Holland
    Councillor C Holland
    Councillor C Lawrence
    Councillor C Mitchell

    District Councillor M Kiddle Morris
    1 member of the public

1.     Apologies for Absence.   
    Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor T Carter who was
    ill and this was accepted.

2.    Declaration of Interest.
    Councillor Payne declared a prejudicial interest in Item 5.1.1 being the architect and
    Councillor D Holland a prejudicial interest in Item 4.4 being a trustee

3.    Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
    The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2007 having been circulated were
    approved and signed.

4.    Matters to Report.
    4.1    CAG Meeting 5 November.
        The Clerk reported on his attendance at the meeting and stated that over the previous two months the Safer Neighbourhood Teams had had success with the drug problems at Wendling telephone exchange and had identified the persons responsible and had moved them on and gained significant intelligence. Extra patrols had been out in Dunham and there had been only one criminal damage in the period and the culprits had been moved on. The targeting of Sandy Lane had been successful but there were still areas of concern. The problems had been pinned down to two individuals but the Team was not happy that all has been resolved. Halloween had been a success with 18 extra police and more patrols in Toftwood, Watton Dereham and Swaffham. There had been good public exposure especially with the Team on bicycles, with the Schools, and shops who were requested not to sell eggs and flour to under sixteens. It had been a quiet Halloween for the police and the same procedure would be followed next year. This had been linked with Bonfire night with the Fire Service. The targets for the next two months were agreed as The Maltings Dereham where there are problems of noise drugs, fights, arson and alarms being set off, continued surveillance in Sandy Lane and extra patrols in the town centre leading up to Christmas.
    4.2    Breckland Council Local Government Review 20 November.
        This had been well attended by Parish and Town Councils. The Leader and Chief Executive of Breckland Council had that morning been to a meeting with the Minister in London to try and obtain some answers. Unfortunately these answers were not forthcoming during the meeting. The proposals from the local councils had to be presented by the end of November but there were no terms of reference for the Boundary Committee and these were unlikely to be available until January. The proposals must come from the whole County not District Councils on their own. Breckland Council is pressing for the status quo but this does not seem to be an option although this may be looked at provided the Councils’ proposals show that the cost of implementation of a Unitary Authority is excessive. Each scheme
       
        that is costed to provide a viable solution would cost £600,000 and no funding is available from Central Government for this. To change would cost millions of pounds and there is no idea where this funding would come from. Parish Councils may have additional responsibilities for example for the collection of rubbish, lighting and roads and parishes may have to form cluster groups. The downside of this is that the services would be run by amateurs who are unpaid and have no experience.
    4.3    Provision of Dog Bins on the Footpath between Manor Drive and Church Street.
        Neither Peddars Way, who do not own the footpath, nor Breckland Council would provide dog bins. It was agreed to attempt to identify the culprits and to pass the information to the appropriate authority.   
    4.4    Litchasm Relief in Need Charity.
        A copy of a letter sent to the charity had been received regarding the removal of a hedge. The contents were noted. A reply from the Charity stating that the hedge was less than 20 metres long and therefore the regulations do not apply was also noted
    4.5    Vandalism in Litcham.
        The shed at the rear of the Jubilee Hall had been broken into, a wall pushed over, and the bus sign had been broken down. It was agreed to contact the Homewatch co-ordinators to display their names in the village magazine and to inform them of the problems. The vandalism is possibly due to there being no Youth Club at present.
   
5.    Planning.
    5.1     Applications.

Councillor Payne withdrew from the meeting       

        5.1.1    3PL/2007/1686/F-Cedaville Front Street-domestic extension-amendment
        NO OBJECTION.
        The proposal was passed by a majority decision.

Councillor Payne rejoined the meeting       
    5.2    Decisions.
        The following decisions were noted:-
        5.2.1    3PL/2007/1555/F-The Old Rectory Mileham Road-replace flat roof on existing garage with pitched roof.        Permission   
    5.3    Enforcements.   
        5.3.1    7 Lexham Road and 7 Weasenham Road.
        The Clerk had spoken to both Breckland and Peddars Way and the latter is dealing with the problem and will keep Breckland informed of developments.
    5.4    Tree Preservation Orders.
        Nothing had been received from Breckland and District Councillor Kiddle Morris agreed to press for a list.
           
6.    Correspondence for circulation.   
    6.1    GO-East Consultation
    6.2    Police Western Area Mobile Police Office-Timetable
    6.3    Breckland Council- Agenda
    6.4    Dereham Local Action Group minutes 30 10 07
    6.5    Litcham Common Management Meeting minutes-14 09 07

7.    Highways
    7.1    General.
        The Clerk reported that he had spoken to the Highways Inspector following his visit
       
        regarding the flooding on Dereham Road and Norfolk County Council are to be
        contacted again to review the problem
    7.2    Replacement of posts on the Green.
        30 oak posts are needed and a price is to be obtained.
    7.3    Planting of Bulbs.
        A letter from Mr T Angell was noted that whilst being in favour of planting to
        improve the visual impact for the Village he expressed concern at not planting the
        verges with native     species. This was noted and passed to Councillor Lawrence for
        consideration.       
         
8.    Finance.
    8.1    The budget sheets had been circulated and these were approved. A request was
        made to date these.   
    8.2    Balances:
       
    Business 30 Day account       
         Balance at 28 09 07                       13384.52
        Interest           36.08
        Transfer from Current Account       2000.00
        Balance at 30 10 07     15420.60     
     
        Current Account   
        Balance at 28 09 07             4241.91            Less-Direct Debits E-on Energy-                     60.82
        Cheques authorised   01 10 07                      219.68        280.50
                         3961.41
        Less Transfer to 30 day account         2000.00            Balance at 30 10 07             1961.41
        Less unpresented cheques authorised 05 11 07           650.28
                         1311.13

Amount available for Section 137 :483x5.64= £2724.12
Spend to Date :£ 18.00



Cheques for authorisation:

570    B J Leigh    Salary-Nov    209.68
571    T T Jones    Maintenance Oct-Dec and repairs    149.98


    8.3    Donation to The Open Space Society.
        It was proposed by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Lawrence that a
        donation be sent to the Open Space Society for their fund for registering new
        greens. This was agreed.   
    8.4    Upgrade of Street Lighting.       
        The further quotation had been received and it was agreed to leave any remedial
work until the new contract had been placed in April. Quotations are to be obtained for the next two years.           
    8.5    Annual Audit for 2006-2007.
        The Clerk reported that he had replied to the Audit Commission with the information
        required.
    8.6    Precept 2008-2009.
        It was proposed by Councillor C Holland and seconded by Councillor D Holland that
        the precept be set at £6000.
        All were in favour.
    8.7    Litcham Common Conservation Group.
        It was proposed by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Lawrence that a
        donation of £200 be given to the Group. All were in favour.
    8.8    Norfolk Accident Rescue Service.
        It was proposed by Councillor Lawrence and seconded by Councillor C Holland that
        £50 be donated to the service. All were in favour

9.    Heritage Map.
    This was deferred to the next meeting but it was noted that Breckland no longer do these.

10.    Affordable Housing Survey.
    The Clerk had contacted Tim Godden at NRCC and he had suggested a meeting with
    Lee Webster the Enabler for Breckland Council. The Clerk is to forward dates of the
    Parish Council meetings in the New Year to arrange a mutually convenient time.
 
11.    Clerk’s Corner.
    11.1    Register of Electors.
    The application forms were distributed.
    11.2    Salary Scales for Clerks.
    The details of the salary scales for Clerks from April 2007 were given to the members
    and it was agreed to backdate the pay increase for both the Clerks.
    11.3    Planning and Finance prior to the February meeting.
    It was agreed that if necessary a Committee Meeting would be convened.
    11.4    Distribution of Minutes.
    It was agreed that these would be e-mailed or posted in future.

12.     Dates of the meetings for 2008.
    These were agreed as follows:
    12.1    Parish Council Meetings
    February 4th    March 3rd
    April 7th    May 6th 
    June 2nd    July 7th
    September 1st    October 6th
    November 3rd    December 1st
    12.2    Annual Parish Council Meeting
    May 6th
    12.3    Annual Parish Meeting
    April 14th

13.    Matters for the next meeting.
    13.1    Parking at the Post Office.
    13.2 Drains on Church Street.
    13.3    Footpath:Nar Valley Way.

14.    Date of the next meeting.
    This was confirmed as Monday 4th February 2007 at 1930 to be held at The Jubilee
    Hall    Litcham.

The meeting closed at 2155.