LANGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 19th November, 2024 in the Village Hall at 7.00 p.m.
                                 
Present: 
Patrick Allen (Chair) 
Anne-Marie Coe (arrived at 8.00 p.m. from work)
Louise Goodenough
Sir Richard Gozney
Ben Phelps
Peter O’Hare 
Matthew Reynolds 
The Clerk
Seven parishioners

1.        Apologies for Absence
Anne-Marie Coe gave prior notice of her late arrival.

2.       Declarations of Interest
Ben Phelps declared an interest in a planning application on the agenda.

3.   Minutes of the last meeting held on 3rd September, 2024  –  approved by all members. Proposed by Mr. Phelps and seconded by Mrs. Goodenough. 

4.         Updated information and matters arising from the previous meeting:
All matters arising would be covered in the minutes under items specified in the following minutes. 

5.      Finance
Income
30/9/24    North Norfolk District Council – Precept (6 months)	                £5,536.00

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Expenditure
17/9/24   Drax Energy (street light electricity from 1/8/24 to 31/8/24)                            £104.63
17/10/24 Anglian Water (Playing Field from 2/7/24 to 1/10/24)		                       £114.32
19/11/24 K & M Lighting Services (street lighting maintenance – October)                       £25.43
19/11/24 K & M Lighting Services (street lighting maintenance – November)                   £25.43
19/11/24 S W Horticulure (mowing – 13th mow)				                       £100.00
19/11/24 SCS Accounting Solutions – quarterly payroll			                         £12.00
19/11/24 K. Webb (Clerk’s pay for July, August and September)                                    £1,263.18
19/11/24 HMRC (tax on Clerk’s pay)					                      £302.80
19/11/24 K. Webb (Clerk’s pay for October)					        £429.66
19/11/24 HMRC (tax on Clerk’s pay)					                       £101.00
19/11/24 S W Horticulture (mowing – 14th mow)				        £100.00
19/11/24 S W Horticulture (2nd spray)					                         £30.00
	
Acceptance of expenditure approved by all members. 

Balances of Bank accounts:- Current - £6,454.97 credit, Business Saver- £6,016.76 credit  (as at 16th November, 2024)
6.	      Specific duties of individual members
The Chairman had identified eight Parish Council areas of operation and these were allocated to members for involvement with certain items. Mr. O’Hare reported a problem with the speed monitor and Mr. Smith, who had previously been involved with this equipment, volunteered to provide assistance.
7.         Langham Village Recreation Ground update
Mrs. Goodenough reported that the sum of £400 had been raised at the Christmas Fayre. A Christmas bingo night and Valentine’s dance have also been arranged. Plans are being made to apply for grants. Some trees are due to be felled. A quotation has been received from S.W. Horticulture and one is awaited from B.C. Landscapes for the grounds maintenance contract for next year. The Clerk is to obtain a quotation from Playsafety Ltd for the annual inspection of the play equipment. The paper bank is full and LVRG will chase for it to be emptied, together with the associated payment.

8.         Parish Council meeting dates for 2025
The following dates were agreed:-
Tuesday, 7th January
Tuesday, 4th March
Tuesday, 20th May  (Annual Meeting of Parish Council and Annual Parish Meeting)
Tuesday, 8th July
Tuesday, 2nd September
Tuesday, 11th November

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9            Commemorative book for the 25 years from 2000 to 2025
All members are to look at the Millennium book, produced in 2000, following which a plan on whether to replicate a new book to show the village 25 years on, will be formulated. There was discussion as to whether to have the existing book professionally scanned.

10.       Local Plan Further Consultation and Small Growth Villages
Following the Government Inspectors response to North Norfolk District Council’s draft Local Plan, it is proposed that Langham should be re- designated as a Small Growth Village by the planners, together with a number of other villages (ten in all). It has been recommended that villages should have 9% of new houses, based on the current number of houses, over the next ten years. The Parish Council will formulate a view and there is to be a public meeting on Wednesday, 4th December at 6.30 p.m. This will be advertised with a “flyer” in the Lynx (permission to be obtained from Lynx officials) and on the website.

11.       Parish Precept 2025/2026
The Parish Precept return has to be submitted to the District Council by 31st January, 2025. The tax base has increased from 207.10 (2024/2025) to 214.50. The Clerk will prepare and circulate financial information to members so that decisions can be made at the next meeting.

12.       Planning applications and determinations.
	Applications
a)	Two storey side extension to dwelling, replacement windows and doors, re-facing of front elevation with brick and flint, conversion of detached garage to annexe – 8 Binham Road, Langham - PF/24/2001 – no comments.
b)	Change of use of part of an agricultural building to commercial storage (class B8) – land on Cockthorpe Road, Langham – PU/24/2198 – no comments.
c)	Internal and external works to dwelling including single storey rear extension following removal of conservatory, alterations to front dormers, raising part of roof to rear – Rowan Cottage, Hollow Lane, Langham – LA/24/2251 – no comments.

Determinations
a)	Installation of replacement windows and doors to north and east elevations – Old Salts Barn, 16A Holt Road, Langham - PF/24/1770 – approved.

13.	Correspondence		
1)	Police Priority Setting Meeting at Wells on 7/10/24
2)	Advice from Barclays of a reduction in credit interest rate from 1.50% to 1.40%.
3)	Local Government Services Pay Agreement for 2024/2025.
4)	Clerks and Councils Direct magazine for November, 2024.
5)	U.K. Government advising availability of pension credit to top up pension income. 

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 14.       Reports from County Councillor
CLLR Michael Dalby
Government intervention needed to resolve Norwich Western Link issue
In March of this year, just before the planning application for the Norwich Western Link was set to be submitted, Natural England released updated guidance regarding the protection of barbastelle bats, which are present in the area around the proposed 3.9-mile dual carriageway route west of Norwich. This new guidance has created a major obstacle for the council in advancing the project.
A report set to be reviewed by Norfolk County Council's cabinet on December 2 will provide an update on the ongoing discussions between the council and Natural England, although no resolution has yet been reached.
Given that the updated bat guidance was published after the planning process had already begun, the council has called on the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urgently review the issue. In their letter, the council is asking for intervention to ensure a positive outcome that supports the people and businesses of Norfolk.
While awaiting responses to letters sent to both Natural England and government ministers, as well as the outcome of the Government's transport spending review, the report recommends reducing expenditure by scaling back or pausing activities on the project. This includes concluding Stage 1 of the design and build contract with Ferrovial Construction and removing future stages from the current contract. Additionally, the report suggests that a further update be presented to the cabinet once there is greater clarity on how Natural England and the Government are addressing the issue.
Norfolk winter gritters are out across the county
Norfolk's gritting fleet headed out for the first gritting run of the season on 19/11/24, as icy weather is forecast for the foreseeable future. The team will continue to monitor weather conditions and forecasts throughout the winter, responding with gritting operations as needed.
For the first time, all 58 of Norfolk's gritters will be equipped with new, state-of-the-art auto-salting technology. This system, enhanced by satellite navigation, will enable more accurate salting with minimal manual input, improving efficiency, saving time, and reducing waste.
As temperatures drop and icy conditions become more frequent, Norfolk County Council’s annual winter travel and safety campaign, #NorfolkWinter, kicks off on social media. The campaign will provide helpful information and advice to ensure safe travel across the county this winter, no matter how people choose to get around.
The council's experienced highways team will monitor detailed weather forecasts and sensors across the county to determine when and where gritting will occur throughout the winter season.
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Updates on gritting activities will be posted to the county council's social media channels, along with winter travel tips and safety advice. Look for the #NorfolkWinter hashtag on Facebook, Nextdoor, and X.
Residents can check the roads included in the council’s gritting routes for the season on the map at www.norfolk.gov.uk/gritting. The map also shows the locations of around 2,000 grit bins throughout the county, which are filled by the council for public use on pavements, cycle paths, and roads to help everyone travel safely.
Each full 3-hour gritting run in Norfolk covers 2,200 miles of road. A and B-class roads, along with some C-class roads, are treated, with a focus on key commuter routes, major bus routes, and at least one route into every village. The A11 and A47 are gritted by National Highways.
New poetry project launches across Norfolk libraries
Norfolk Library and Information Service has partnered with Creative Arts East to launch the multi-lingual Words of Welcome Poetry Exchange, which will roll out this month in all 47 libraries across the county. The project aims to celebrate Norfolk's cultural diversity and highlight the county as a welcoming place. Library visitors will be invited to read specially commissioned poems on the themes of welcome and sanctuary, and contribute their own "words of welcome" in response.
The National Centre for Writing has selected renowned poets George Szirtes and Marjorie Lotfi to write two original poems for the project. These poems have been translated into Arabic, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, and Ukrainian—some of the most widely spoken languages in Norfolk. Beautifully designed postcards featuring the poems and their translations will be available in all 47 libraries, allowing visitors to read and take them home.
Library-goers are encouraged to respond to these poems on blank postcards, sharing their own words of welcome. Whether through poetry, short stories, personal reflections, or even drawings, all contributions will be collected and added to a growing collection that celebrates Norfolk as a place of inclusivity, belonging, and community.
For more information, including access to the poems, translations, audio recordings in all six languages, biographies of the poets and full project details, visit the Creative Arts East website.
CLLR Michael Dalby 
Michael.dalby.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk
07306886552

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15.	Public Participation
A boules patch was requested for the Playing Field..

16.	Any other matters (for information)
	None

17.        Agenda items for next meeting   
i)           Consultation on Local Plan.
ii)          Pavements
iii)         Finalising the Budget

 18.	Date of next meeting :   Tuesday, 7th January 2025 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall 

             

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.20 p.m.					

					
											
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