Parish Council

Parish Council Report – 29th July 2014

Amongst the issues discussed at July’s meeting were:

Nocton 200 Club
As you will know, the Nocton 200 Club was established to raise funds for village “projects” which have been highlighted in the Parish Plan but which could not be funded by the Parish Council.  Together with the Club’s Promoter, we are most anxious that these funds are fully spent so if you are a member of any village group, or an individual, with an idea for a project that you think would benefit our village, please do get in touch with the Parish Clerk or one of your councillors so that we can see if we can help you.

Village Hall
It was noted that following the recent testing of the Hall’s electrical equipment a number of problems were identified with some of the building’s circuitry.  The Parish Council endorsed the Management Committee’s proposals to have the necessary remedial work carried out as a matter of urgency.
Since the July meeting of the VHMC was inquorate, it was unable to consider a number of changes to the existing Terms of Conditions for Hire and Scale of Charges.  These would, therefore, be discussed at the next meeting.

We are continuing to make progress with the scheme to refurbish the Village Hall and were pleased to note that the Architect nominated by ProHelp was now in the process of preparing outline drawings based on the Project Team’s initial design scheme.  Once the plans are available, we will then be able to start looking for funding!

Youth Club
Since the meeting, the person appointed to run the Youth Club has, unfortunately, withdrawn her acceptance of the job offer.  We are now in urgent discussions with the County’s Council for Voluntary Youth Service to see how best we can get this important project back on track.

Woodland Trust – Centenary of World War 1
The Parish Council has agreed to participate in the Woodland Trust’s scheme to mark the centenary of WW1 by applying for a “pack” of 30 saplings of native trees to be planted around the village.  Further details will be announced in due course.

Nocton and Potterhanworth Neighbourhood Development Plan
A productive meeting of the joint Working Group was held earlier in the month.  As a first step in the process to prepare this Plan, two public meetings will be held (one in each village) after the summer holiday period.  The meetings will explain what the Plan is about, how all residents can get involved and how they will be consulted about their views on the future development of our two villages.  In addition, we are applying to NKDC for some funding to enable us to have the benefit of specialist advice and support as we begin to put the Plan together.

Proposed Housing Development in Wellhead Lane
As some of you will probably know, we have been consulted by NKDC on the recent outline planning application to build 12 “affordable” houses in Wellhead Lane on the former allotment site.  We were extremely concerned about the effect that this development as proposed could have on Wellhead Lane in particular and on the village in general.  We considered it to be entirely inappropriate both in size, layout and design and did not feel that it complied with the NKDC’s own policies for such developments.  We will, of course, be making our views known to NKDC including our concern and considerable disappointment that the applicant did not see fit to consult with the local community (as encouraged to do under the government’s new planning regime on what has been classified as a major development) before submitting the application.

REMINDER
Next meeting is on Tuesday, 9th September at 7.00 p.m. (Meetings are now held every SIX weeks)

Councillor Ian Goldsworthy