Parish Council Meeting of 16th March 2017

The Parish Council meeting on 16th March 2017 was attended by Councillors Brian Frith, Beverley Humphreys, Andrew Coleman, Gilly Barnes and Sarah Allen. Also present were the Clerk and four 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 (20th April 2017).

The following planning applications were discussed:

• 2017 / 0545 & 0549 – Chequers, High Road, Forncett St Mary – Change of use from barn to annexe – Councillors raised no objections to this application
• 2017 / 0225 – This is the planning application relating to the proposed development of 21 houses on the land west of The Fields, Tacolneston. Although the official deadline for comments has passed, it is noted that several residents of The Fields have highlighted their concerns about construction traffic during the building, should permission be granted. An alternative access route via Common Road has been suggested by several people. In light of this, it was agreed that the clerk would write to South Norfolk Council, opposing this suggestion. The parish council consider that construction traffic exiting Common Road at the crossroads near the Jolly Farmers would not be appropriate at all.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England have completed their review of South Norfolk Council. A full copy of the review is available on their website at www.lgbce.org.uk  . Forncett is currently in a ward with Tacolneston and Ashwellthorpe & Fundenhall but the proposal, if accepted, would mean that Forncett would be in a ward with Tacolneston, Tharston, Hapton and Wacton. One of the main aims of the review is to adjust the number of electorate to a more even level, per Councillor. This would take into account large areas of growth in places like Wymondham and Costessey. A draft order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament. It is planned that the changes come into force at the local elections in 2019.

Norfolk County Council Highways have recently confirmed that a dedicated public rights of way officer for the area will be in post from 1 April 2017. Reports of overflowing ditches and blocked drains were passed on by members of the public, and these will be reported to Norfolk Highways.  Just a reminder that any member of the public can use the reporting system at  https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/highwaysdefect .

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held at the village hall on Thursday 20 April 2017, commencing at 7pm. This is a chance for clubs and groups in the village to get together and report on everything they have been doing during the last year. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The next parish council meeting will be on Thursday 20 April 2017, commencing immediately after the Annual Parish meeting, probably at around 8pm.  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  .