Apologies
- Cllr Baber, District Cllr Sarah Pugh
Declaration of Interests & Requests for Dispensations
None received.
Co-Option
Proposed and seconded that Susan Hudson and Stephen Holmes be co-opted as members of Brockley Parish Council – all in agreement. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms were duly signed.
To Approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting Held on Thursday 13th July 2023
With one typo error to be amended, it was proposed by Cllr Dinsey, seconded by Cllr Wymer that the minutes of the meeting of the 13th July 2023 are approved – unanimous.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
The Chairman asked it to be recorded in the minutes that the purchase of a dog waste bin is now not going ahead; following consultation with residents at the August coffee morning, the new notice board is in the process of being ordered. A thank you was given to Cllr Pugh for her locality budget grant of £250 and likewise to Cllr Bennett for her contribution of £500 towards the cost.
County & District Councillor Reports
Along with many other councils experiencing cost pressures, SCC will be looking very carefully at their budget. Areas of high cost include children in care, building new facilities for care homes and house to school transport for Special Needs Children.
Brockley specific: A Highways engineer has been out looking at speed limit signs within the village; SCC will not support a 40mph sign between Hartest and Brockley due to their being too few houses and the short distance between the existing 30mph signage. A 40mph buffer zone can be considered. If in agreement, Cllr Bennett proposed to fund the requisite speed survey – all in favour. In relation to the possibility of being included in the ANPR system, the parish council will work with the community safety team and the local landowner to look at the viability of siting another pole at the south end of the village. In addition, Brockley residents will be consulted to ascertain whether there is a wish for a Community Speed Watch Scheme.
Public Forum
A member of the public read out a statement regarding the power failure he had recently experienced due to overgrown and overhanging leylandii trees from a private property that had damaged the UK Power Networks cable that runs 90 degrees to two properties. Although the information has been logged using the Highways Reporting Tool, no action has been taken. In the first instance, planning enforcement to be contacted and likewise, contact to be made with UK Power Networks. Cllr Wymer offered to speak with the property owners.
To Receive Finance Reports and Approve Cheques Raised Since the Last Meeting
| Description | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Bank statement as of 12th June 2023 | 27644.37 |
| Expenditure | -4378.00 |
| Bank statement as of 12 September 2023 | 23266.37 |
| Clerk’s salary | -198.94 |
| Arthur Gallagher Insurance | -507.70 |
| WSC election recharge | -81.91 |
| Deposit for new notice board | -1192.50 |
| Balance | 21285.32 |
Biodiversity Policy
It is intended to hold a ‘community planting morning’ on the 18th November to plant 140 hedge whips provided by the Woodland Trust, followed by a short public meeting to find out what residents would like to see as a set of priorities for the coming year. It is envisaged once grown, the fence around the pond will disappear. It was further suggested that as access will be required, a barn gate for machinery with a small gate for access should be considered. David Rhodes to be consulted. Communication for the planting/short meeting to be promoted in the village newsletter and with leaflets available at Breakfast Clubs and Coffee Mornings.
Jean English attended a SWT seminar and has come back with ideas on how the parish council should consult i.e. a list of specific species that residents would like to increase, enhance, protect. The top one, two or three would then be the ones to work on. Formal agreement of the biodiversity policy, the next steps going forward and the ringfencing of monies from the parish council budget to fund the project were unanimously approved.
Anglian Water
Following a survey by Anglian Water and a subsequent meeting with AW to discuss their findings, the village hall and parish council have several options to try to address the issue with surface water. To cut back brambles and overgrown vegetation, clear ditch to the west of the car park, clear ditch alongside boundary with Birdbrook, channel a drain into the village carpark, do nothing. Following a further meeting with Andrew English and Ian Robertson the following actions were suggested:
- Village Hall Chair to contact Oliver Cornish for a quote to cut back the brambles on the west side of the car park. The property owner to the side of the boundary has been consulted and is happy for this work to be carried out and would like the hedging taken back from their fencing. Although the hedging will be cut back it is not proposed to expose the ditch, but rather leave hedging for wildlife.
- Parish Council to seek a quote from Kevin Mayes to clear the ditch at the corner of Mill Road and Playground, clear the ditch along Mill Road to the B1066, clear the ditch along the B1066 and along the first part of the ditch beside Birdbrook to Clock Pond.
- Parish Council to seek a quote for extending the eco drain across the Village Hall Car Park into the ditch on the west side.
- A village working party to scrap the ditch of debris from Clock Pond to the drain that runs into Chapel Lane.
Potholes / Grass Verge
The application for minor works has been submitted to Highways but no response as yet. They have however, waived the licence fee required prior to the works being carried out. All agreed the potholes and the drain at the car park should be progressed as a separate piece of work. The contractor to be contacted.
D Day Celebrations
Next year will celebrate the 80th year of the D Day landings on 6th June 1944 and residents are keen to celebrate the event. A fish & chip van and possibly an ice cream van to be booked, funding to be sought. An advertisement for volunteers to be placed in the village newsletter and a small working group set up. A resident in the village who has a specific link to a relative who was at the D Day landing to be sought via the newsletter. Cllr Wymer to lead.
Community Litter Picking Event
Due to Health & Safety issues of working on the highway, it was agreed not to hold a community litter picking event. As an alternative, a piece to be placed in the newsletter suggesting residents pick up litter if seen in their immediate area.
Risk Register to Include Playground Reports
The clerk to send copies of financial regulations/standing orders/code of conduct/SALC training days to the newly co-opted councillors.
Tree survey: The annual tree survey due in November to be booked, the clerk to action.
Playground reports: Alternative to matting is the use of bark chips. To be discussed further at the precept meeting.
Benches: Those around The Green and outside the Village Hall have not been incorporated within the WSC Service Level Agreement agreed prior to Covid and therefore are not regularly inspected. Cllr Wymer has requested the agreement is amended/modified to include benches, no response as yet. If not possible, Cllr Dinsey offered to carry out the task.
Village newsletter: Following their AGM on the 14th November, it is highly likely the Community Council will cease to exist. The parish council, however, have agreed to take this on. The clerk to investigate current GDPR legislation.
Other matters raised: Yellow lines at the bus stop still missing, the clerk to chase. Fly posting on the bus shelter, consideration to be given at the precept meeting to purchase a mini noticeboard to help deter this practice.
Correspondence
Correspondence has been received in relation to speeding through the village and the Anglian Water Strategic Pipeline Scheme. Cllr Wymer to ask AW to inform the parish council when the roads are likely to be closed in advance of the works being carried out.
Parish Matters for the Next Meeting
Identified within the meeting.
One additional matter: Data from the speed sign has been downloaded and circulated. In and out figures for one week to be published in the newsletter.
Date of Next Meeting
Date to be confirmed. Starting time of the meeting to be changed from 7.30pm to 7.00pm.
With no further business the meeting closed at 8.40pm.