Parish Council Meeting of 21st May 2015

Written by Anne Rayner.

The Parish Council meeting on 21st May 2015 was attended by Councillors Brian Frith, Beverley Humphreys, Jackie Bowers, Claire Jordan and Andrew Coleman. Also present were County Councillor Bev Spratt and seven members of the public.                   

Some of the main items discussed at the meeting are mentioned here. Full minutes of the meeting are available here - in draft form until agreed by the Council at the next meeting (18 June 2015).

As this was the first meeting of the new parish council, the first task was to accept nominations for Chairman. Brian Frith was nominated and accepted and Bev Humphreys was nominated as Vice Chair and also accepted. A warm welcome was also given to Andrew Coleman at his first meeting as a parish councillor. One vacancy remains on the parish council. Please do contact the clerk (by June 11th) if you are interested in serving as a parish councillor. No particular experience is required, training is available and the clerk will be happy to talk through the responsibilities.

The following planning applications were discussed:

  • 2015 / 0556: 8 Orchard Close, Forncett St Peter – Extension to front of property – recommended for approval.
  • 2015 / 0828: Worcesters, Long Stratton Rd, Forncett St Peter – Loft conversion and rear extension – recommended for approval.
  • 2015 / 0648: The Barn at the Croft, Cheney’s Lane, Forncett St Peter – Demolition of existing link building and construction of garden room – recommended for approval.
  • 2015 / 0505: Caravan at Laynes Farm, Gilderswood Lane, Forncett St Peter – Removal of condition 3 to allow permanent use of land for residential purposes and for the standing of resident caravans for human habitation and associated domestic items – Councillors felt that the planning inspector’s report of 2011 should be adhered to and therefore recommended for refusal.

County Councillor Bev Spratt reported on how the budgets are being cut at Norfolk County Council. Highways is a budget under particular pressure and, with this in mind, the parish council has obtained a quote to cut back some of the most widely used footpaths in the village - West Road to the B1113, the path beside the Tabernacle Lane sewage works and the path across ‘the Park’ from the school - and it was agreed to have one cut and seek feedback of public opinion as to whether the scheme should be continued or extended. Please contact the clerk if you have any particular views on this matter.

After prolonged debate it was decided not to install ‘dog bins’ in the village at this time.  Signs reminder owners to 'clear up' are available from the Clerk and South Norfolk Council.

The parish council’s accounts have been audited by the internal auditor and the accounts were reviewed and discussed before being agreed for submission to the external auditor.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 18th June 2015. The agenda will be published about a week before the meeting, but if you have any matters to bring to the attention of the Parish Council in the meantime, please contact the clerk, Anne Rayner, on 01508 570700 or by email