Minutes of a Meeting of Loddon Parish Council
held in The Library Annexe on Thursday 10 September 2009 at 7.00pm

Present: Councillors Jane Hale, Dorothy Jones, Michael Roe, Angela Gibson, Judith Gray, Rod Williams and Linda Wilson.
Also present were Christine Smith (clerk), Karen Read (RFO), County Councillor Adrian Gunson, PC Robert Hipperson and PCSO Kevin Nightingale.
Two members of the public also attended.

70. Apologies were received from Cllr Ro Cooper (family commitments), Cllr Margaret Wallace (on holiday), Cllr Bruce Corke (ill) and District Councillor Gould.

71. Declarations of Interest - Cllr Linda Wilson declared a financial interest in agenda item 15 (Old Town Hall) and Cllr Jane Hale declared a personal interest in the same item.

72. Previous Minutes - the minutes of a meeting held on Thursday 9 July 2009 were circulated, APPROVED and signed by the chairman.

73. Planning Decisions - the following decisions were noted:
a) 2009/ 0713/F - Valley Farm, Heckingham Holes, Heckingham - conversion of barn to holiday let - REFUSED, delegated
b) SP/Y/7/2009/7015 - Hobart High School - roof replacement to technology block - PERMITTED
c) 2009/0851/H - 52 Gunton Road, Loddon - demolition of conservatory and construction of a single storey rear extension - APPROVED with conditions, delegated
d) 2009/1081/AG - Bush Farm, Stubbs Green, Loddon - erection of purpose built agricultural building - prior approval not required (agricultural), delegated
e) 2009/0832/H - Willow Cottage, 18 Market Place, Loddon - construction of single storey extension to north and west elevations to form garden room - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
f) 2009/0895/F - Cowslip Farm, Hales Green, Loddon - Conversion of agricultural barn into dwelling to create residence for disabled person - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
g) 2009/0906/H - 8 Elm Close, Loddon - erection of conservatory on back elevation - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
h) 2009/0941/H - 5 Norton Road, Loddon - final phase refurbishment to existing workshop and two outbuildings, construction of new storm porch to rear elevation, construction of new carport and retrospective application for garden shed - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
i) 2009/0942/LB - details as for (h) above - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
j) SP/Y/7/2009/7026 - Hobart High School, Kittens lane, Loddon - provision of one 3-bay modular classroom - PERMITTED.

74. Planning Applications - The council considered the following planning applications; [In order to minimize light pollution the parish council recommended that any outdoor lights associated with any of the applications below should be: i) fully shielded ii) directed downwards iii) switched on only when needed iv) white light low energy lamps and not orange or pink sodium sources]
a) 2009/ 0895 - Cowslip Farm, Hales Green, Loddon - conversion and extension of agricultural barn into dwelling to create residence for disabled person - amendments to original plans - no objections to minor changes
b) 2009/1042 - Loddon Business Centre, 2B High Street, Loddon - proposed replacement of existing brass plaques with new sign - APPROVE
c) 2009/1094 - 12 Garden Court, Loddon - proposed installation of conservatory to rear of property - APPROVE
d) 2009/1081 - Bush Farm, Stubbs Green, Loddon - erection of purpose built agricultural building - APPROVE
e) 2009/1100/LB - Boots the Chemist, 4 High Street, Loddon - internal refurbishment and shop-fit inclusive of new air conditioning and associated condenser - APPROVE subject to acceptable noise levels from air conditioning unit
f) 2009/1224/F - Boots the Chemist, 4 High Street, Loddon - internal refurbishment and shop-fit inclusive of new air conditioning and associated condenser - APPROVE subject to acceptable noise levels from air conditioning unit. The above application required a response from the parish council before the formal meeting - the clerk responded using delegated powers after consultation with councillors.

75. Planning Correspondence -
a) Norfolk County Council - notification of work commencing on the streetlight PFI contract including column replacements in the Loddon area
b) Jubilee Hall - notification of intention to erect a sign at the George Lane entrance - South Norfolk Council had advised that planning permission may be required. It was AGREED that the Jubilee Hall would complete any application naming the parish council as applicant, to reduce costs.

The meeting adjourned for public participation at 7.15pm and reconvened at 7.35pm

76. Chairman's report - the chairman reported that the caretaker of the Jubilee Hall would be retiring at the end of the year.
The heating boiler at the Jubilee Hall had broken down and the Management Committee of the hall would be seeking grant funding for a replacement.
The chairman stated that she had received a letter from a member of the public complaining, among other things, that the clerk had removed posters he had pinned to trees on Church Plain. The chair had replied stating that this was correct council policy and that notices should only be placed on the notice boards provided.

77. Councillors' Reports -
a) Cllr Judith Gray reported that the church would be considering taking action to reduce the number of rabbits in the churchyard.
b) Cllr Rod Williams reported that the improvements to the tennis courts were underway and that old tennis nets would be offered to the Hobart High School. The Community Cinema project was going well, with the first screening planned for 24 September.

78. Police Report - PCSO Kevin Nightingale reported that reports of anti-social behaviour had declined recently and that the recently installed youth shelter in Chedgrave was proving popular with young people in the area.
It was acknowledged by PC Robert Hipperson that there were problems with the non-emergency police telephone number and that callers did experience delays in answering at times.
The chairman requested that PCSOs patrol areas where several incidents of dog fouling had been reported (footpaths off Beccles Road and the Jubilee Hall playing field in particular) to speak to offenders not clearing up after their dogs.

79. Finance Report - The finance report (previously circulated) was APPROVED by the Council and signed by the Chairman and the RFO.
The RFO reported that the annual audit had been completed and that no problems had been identified with the council's accounts.
The half-yearly report would be circulated before the next meeting.

80. County Councillor's and District Councillor's Reports - County Councillor Adrian Gunson's report was as circulated and noted.
Cllr Linda Wilson thanked CC Gunson for his help with recent street light replacement issues.
No report was received from District Councillor Gould.

81. RoSPA Playground and Skatepark Report - the annual report was circulated, received and noted.
The council AGREED not to take action on the recommendations on raising the soil level under the teenage shelter or adding topsoil and grass seed mix to worn areas around play equipment.

82. Youth Matters - A report from Cllr Roy Cooper was circulated and noted.
It was AGREED to delay reaching a final decision on the erection of a youth shelter on the Jubilee Hall playing field until March 2010.

At this point the Chairman proposed a change to the order of the agenda; this was AGREED

83. Grant Request from Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind - REFUSED.

84. Remembrance Day Wreath - It was AGREED that the parish council would purchase a wreath to be laid at the Remembrance Day service to a maximum of £20 (s137 expenditure).

85. Christmas Lights - It was AGREED that the parish council owned strings of old style filament bulbs would not be erected in Bridge Street and High Street for the 2009 Christmas season due to costs.
The council would instead arrange for more environmentally friendly modern lighting to be installed around Church Plain and would erect a lit Christmas Tree outside the library, thereby creating a festive central area in the village.

86. Cigarette Disposal Bin - Following a request from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, the council considered the purchase and installation of a cigarette bin near the youth shelter on the Jubilee Hall playing field.
After discussion, the council REFUSED the request.

87. Correspondence - A list of significant correspondence, which had been previously circulated, was NOTED.

At this point the Chairman proposed a change to the order of the agenda; this was AGREED

Cllr Linda Wilson left the meeting, having declared a financial interest in the next item.

88. Old Town Hall - the Loddon Buildings Preservation Trust was obtaining a full structural survey and engineer's report on the Old Town Hall using its own funds. The report would be copied to the council when received.

89. Date of Next Meeting - meeting confirmed as Thursday 8 October 2009 at 7pm in the Library Annexe (unless an additional meeting was required before this date).

The formal meeting ended at 9.17pm