Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Loddon Parish Council
held in The Library Annexe on Thursday 13 May 2010 at 7pm

Present: Councillors Jane Hale, Linda Wilson, Sarah Morris, Dorothy Jones (until 9.10pm), Rod Williams, Michael Roe, Angela Gibson and Judith Gray.
Also present were Christine Smith (clerk), Karen Read (RFO) and County Councillor Adrian Gunson.
Six members of the public also attended.

1. Election of Chairman: Cllr Jane Hale was nominated to be chairman. This was proposed, seconded and agreed.

2. Declaration of acceptance of office: This was signed by Cllr Hale and witnessed by the clerk.

3. Election of Vice Chairman: Cllr Sarah Morris was nominated to be vice chairman. This was proposed, seconded and agreed.

4. Declaration of acceptance of office: This was signed by Cllr Morris and witnessed by the clerk.

5. Election of committees, working parties and outside representatives: The following appointments were proposed, seconded and agreed:

6. Apologies and Resignation - apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Margaret Wallace and Bruce Corke, who were on holiday.
The resignation of Cllr Roy Cooper was noted; the clerk would take the necessary steps to publicise the resulting casual vacancy.

7. Declarations of Interest - Cllr Sarah Morris declared a financial interest in planning application d (35 Bridge Street), Cllr Judith Gray declared a personal interest in planning application a (15 Church Plain, Loddon), Cllr Linda Wilson declared a financial interest in agenda item 20 (Old Town Hall) and Cllr Jane Hale declared a personal interest in the same item.

8. Previous Minutes - the minutes of a meeting held on Thursday 8 April 2010 were circulated, APPROVED and signed by the chairman.

9. Planning Decisions - the following decisions were noted:
a) 2010/0505CU - Hall Green Farm, Norton Road, Loddon - proposed change of use of workshop/store/bed and breakfast accommodation to self-contained holiday accommodation with replacement windows to the first floor on North and East elevations - APPROVED with conditions, committee.
b) 2010/0263/H - Dr M Souter, 33 Low Bungay Road, Loddon - proposed carport extension - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.
c) 2010/0335/A - Mrs K Troung, 9 Bridge Street, Loddon - retention of illuminated sign with proposed changes to fit non-reflective panel over existing sign and colour trough light black - APPROVED with conditions, committee.
d) 2010/0324/H - Mr S Price, 6 Crossway Terrace, Loddon - retrospective application for the erection of garage (partially built) and porch - APPROVED with conditions, delegated.

10. 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) 2010/0677 - Carole Shelton, 15 Church Plain, Loddon - retrospective application for replacement of a casement window and roof light at rear of building, with items of the same design and materials - APPROVE
b) 2010/0688 - Mr Peter Burton, Framingham House Investments Ltd, Prospect House, Little Money Road, Loddon Industrial Park, Loddon - proposed car park/storage area - REFUSE, suggest amendments to application to include " no changes to the area in the front of the building facing Beccles Road to permit the retention of trees " screening between site and Warren House " confirmation that no articulated vehicles would use proposed new access
Items c to f were received after publication of the agenda. The clerk was delegated authority to respond after consultation with councilors and neighbours.
c) 2010/0706 - Mr & Mrs Doe, Warren View, Stubbs Green Lane, Loddon - amended design to 2009/0769/F (approved in July 2009) - erection of two storey detached dwelling with garage on land adjacent to the existing dwelling - APPROVE
At this point Cllr Morris left the meeting:
d) 2010/0725 - Miss Sarah Morris, 35 Bridge Street, Loddon - proposed rebuild of existing single storey extension - APPROVE
Cllr Morris rejoined the meeting
e) P/Y/7/2010/7021 - Norfolk County Council, Loddon Infant & Nursery School, Kittens Lane, Loddon - proposed Phase 3 Children's centre - APPROVE
f) 2010/0761 - Barn at Valley Farm, Heckingham Holes - conversion of barn to holiday let - REFUSE, not in keeping with character of the area or the landscape, road serving site inadequate to support additional vehicles and it is unrealistic to think visitors would arrive on foot or by cycle.

11. Planning Correspondence - The following items were considered;
a) Letter from John Horsman, 1st Loddon Scouts, requesting that the parish council seeks provision of a new Scout HQ from developers of a proposed site on George Lane, Loddon - the clerk would reply to Mr Horsman explaining that any future development plans were not advanced to the necessary stage to make such a request of the developers.
b) South Norfolk Council - confirmation that the following planning applications have been withdrawn: 2010/0331/LB and 2010/0183/H for proposed alterations to existing barn and extension to existing garage at Walnut Tree Barn, Hales Green, Loddon - noted
c) Broads Authority - notification that an appeal has been made to the Secretary of State in respect of an enforcement notice issued on stationing of a caravan at Mill Farm, Pyes Mill Road, Loddon - representation may be made to the planning inspectorate before the end of June - the clerk would respond to the Secretary of State supporting the Broads Authority view that the caravan should not be permitted on the site.
d) South Norfolk Council - agenda for planning committee meeting on Tuesday 11 May - noted

A proposal was made that the agenda order be changed - this was AGREED

12. Finance Report - The finance report for April was APPROVED by the council and signed by the Chairman and the RFO.

13. Year End Accounts Review - the RFO stated that general reserves had increased and after discussion it was AGREED to vire funds from general reserves to be earmarked for the following:
Play equipment - £10,000
Old Town Hall - £2,000
Christmas lights - £500
Community projects - £500
The accounts for year ending 31 March 2010 would be available for approval at the next meeting.

14. Risk Register - a review of the council's risk register had been carried out and it was recommended that no action was required; the council concurred that no action would be taken.

The meeting order returned to that of the published agenda

The meeting was adjourned for public participation at 8.40pm and reconvened at 8.45pm

15. Chairman's Report - the chairman reported on a new tourist leaflet for Loddon which would shortly be available for visitors

16. Councillors' Reports -
Dorothy Jones reported that a seat at Pyes Mill needed replacing - the clerk would investigate
Jane Hale gave an update on the Jubilee Hall
Linda Wilson reported on the death of former councilor Paul Turner - the clerk would write offering condolences to the family
Angela Gibson reported that youth worker Sarah Woodger was trialing a youth café and hoping to establish a monthly youth cinema in conjunction with Loddon Community Cinema
Michael Roe stated that the streets were in need of sweeping - the clerk would pursue with South Norfolk Council. He added that speed enforcement should be requested for Loddon - this would be raised at the next SNAP meeting

17. County Councillor's and District Councillor's Reports - County Councillor Gunson's report was as circulated and noted.
No report was received from District Councillor Gould.

18. Police Report - no report was received

19. NALC Chief Executive Committee - it was AGREED that the council would vote for Russell Wilkins and David Hewer to join the committee

20. Old Town Hall - Jane Hale reported that the Loddon Building Preservation Trust had funded a ground investigation, including excavation of boreholes, to ascertain the cause of continued subsidence.

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

22. Date of Next Meeting - confirmed as Thursday 10 June 2010 at 7pm in the Library Annexe.

The formal meeting ended at 9.25pm