LANGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 14th May, 2024 in the Village Hall at 7.23 p.m.
                                 
Present:  
Patrick Allen (Chair)
Anne-Marie Coe
Louise Goodenough
Sir Richard Gozney
Ben Phelps 
Peter O’Hare (co-opted at the start of the meeting – see item 3)	
The Clerk
Six parishioners

1.        Election of Chairman
One nomination as follows:
Patrick Allen (nominated by Ben Phelps and seconded by Louise Goodenough). All in favour.

2.        Election of Vice Chairman
Anne-Marie Coe (nominated by Richard Gozney and seconded by Louise Goodenough). All in favour. 

3.        Co-option of new member
Peter O’Hare was proposed by Anne-Marie Coe and seconded by Richard Gozney. All in favour. He was welcomed to the Parish Council by the Chairman.

4.        Apologies for Absence
James Priest, Michael Dalby (County Councillor) and Sarah Butikofer (District Councillor)

5.       Declarations of Interest
None
6.   Minutes of last meeting held on 5th March, 2024   –   were approved by all members (proposed by  Anne-Marie Coe and seconded by Ben Phelps)

7.         Updated information and matters arising from the previous meeting:
a)         Peter O’Hare agreed to take over the responsibility of looking after the SAM camera. He is initially to be advised by Alan Smith who has kindly offered his assistance.       			

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b)        The proposed trod (cost £11.2K) is proceeding as expected (confirmed by Norfolk County Council) with the Parish Council’s share being £1.6K (50% of £11.2K less Mr. Dalby’s contribution of £4K). 
  
c)         Louise Goodenough will provide an update regarding progress with the company called Armadillo Lighting which makes available solar powered lighting. 

							
8.      Finance
Income
7/3/24     LVRG (proceeds from Bingo night)			                     £996.50
27/3/24   Donation (the Trustees of Lord Cozens-Hardy Trust)		    £5,000.00 **
15/4/24   HMRC (refund of VAT from 1/3/23 to 31/3/24)			       £567.77
16/4/24   North Norfolk District Council (rental)				         £50.00
30/4/24   North Norfolk District Council (Precept – 6 months)		    £5,536.00
				     			
Expenditure
14/5/24   K & M Lighting Services (street lighting maintenance – April)              £21.36
14/5/24   K & M Lighting Services (street lighting maintenance – May)	         £21.36
14/5/24   SCS Accounting Solutions (payroll 4th quarter 2023)                              £12.00
14/5/24   SCS Account Solutions (payroll 1st quarter 2024)	                       £12.00
14/5/24   Langham Parish Room (six meetings and one training session)         £210.00        
14/5/24   Action Play and Leisure (playground signs)			       £240.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (mowing)			       	                      £100.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (mowing and barbed wire removal)       	       £115.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (mowing and barbed wire removal)       	       £135.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (mowing and gardening)			       £190.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (gardening, materials and spraying of car park)     £162.36
14/5/24   K. Webb (Clerk’s pay for January, February and March)	                  £1,211.18
14/5/24   HMRC (tax on Clerk’s pay)	      				       £302.80
14/5/24   Anglian Water (playing field from 2/1/24 to 1/4/24)		         £48.77
14/5/24   Clear Insurance Management Ltd (annual insurance)		       £431.03
14/5/24   Norfolk County Council (Parish Council share of footway cost)       £1,600.00
14/5/24   LVRG (donation of £5K ** to be transferred to LVRG account)       £5,000.00 **
14/5/24   Langham PCC (annual donation)				       £600.00
14/5/24   S W Horticulture (5th mowing)					       £100.00
												
Acceptance of expenditure approved by all members.

Balances of Bank accounts:- Current - £12,986.52 credit, Business Saver- £11,934.97 credit  (as at 13th May, 2024)

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An interest rate of 1.5% is currently obtained for the monies held on the Business Saver account. It was queried whether a better return could be achieved elsewhere with the Co-op and First Direct mentioned aa possible alternatives. This is worth investigating but there has traditionally been a general reluctance from financial institutions to open interest bearing accounts for Parish Councils. 
AGAR  (Annual Governance and Accountability Return)
The Clerk produced the annual accounts, (these had been circulated in advance of the meeting), which showed income of £20,308.77 (£11,365.20), expenditure of £13,785.41 (£9,063.72) and year end Bank balances totalling £18,760.54 (£12,237.18). As both income and expenditure are below the threshold of £25K, it will be necessary to only submit Certificate of Exemption (Form 2) to the External Auditors. This will confirm annual income of £20,308.77 and expenditure of £13,785.41.
The Annual Governance Statement and Accounting Statements were approved by all (proposed by Anne-Marie Coe and seconded by Richard Gozney).
The Internal Audit Report was completed by Di Dann who had noted some recommendations which had been circulated to members. Action will be taken on these in the forthcoming period.	

9.	      Specific duties of individual members
Members are to give consideration to their personal preference regarding involvement in and responsibility for Parish Council areas of operation so that a discussion can be held at the next meeting.
10.         Langham Village Recreation Ground update
Concern was expressed that bills submitted by S W Horticulture are not being paid as promptly as the contractor would prefer. There is a requirement for all invoices to be submitted, considered and approved at Parish Council meetings. Mrs. Goodenough is to contact Norfolk Parish Training and Support for guidance.
				 
11.         Purchase of defibrillator - update
The Chairman is to chase Martin Fagan, the representative from the Community Heartbeat Trust. A quotation for £2,754.00 has been received.			
										
12.       Planning applications and determinations.
Applications
            None
Determinations
a)	Land on Langham Road, Langham – change of use of land to storage of caravans and boats – appeal against refusal dismissed – AP/23/0012.

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It was reported that an officer from North Norfolk District Council had recently visited the previously reported property on Holt Road and did not consider it unsafe.

13.	Correspondence		
1)	Norfolk Police introducing Beat Manager PC Jonathan Kentfield.
2)	Norfolk Police – details of public meeting held on 9th April.
3)	Norfolk Police – details of public meeting to be held on 9th July.
4)	E-mail from Tracey Bayfield (Blakeney PC Clerk) re Blakeney Surgery.
5)	CSW Conference details – to be held on 17th June.
6)	Ofcom response to Duncan Baker MP on the migration to digital lines. 

 14.       Report from District Councillor
 The reports, as follows, are to be placed on the website.

YEAR 2023-24 DISTRICT COUNCIL PERFORMANCE REPORT
The Liberal Democrats were re-elected for a second 4-year term in May last year taking 25 of the 40 seats and immediately started to prepare the 2023-27 Corporate Plan and Delivery Plan. We have made significant progress in areas of core service delivery during the year in the face of unprecedented financial challenges set by central government across all local authorities. These include the following:
- A new District-wide Local Plan setting planning policies and site allocations until 2036 was submitted to the Government last May and is currently undergoing examination by the Inspector for adoption later this year. A planning service improvement plan will be developed this year to identify where positive changes are needed in planning service delivery for all service users.
- Completion of a new Economic Strategy and Action Plan to support infrastructure for growth and skills for jobs to enable local businesses to develop and thrive. The Rural Business and Communities Grant funded by the Rural England UK Shared Prosperity Fund was launched last year to allocate £630k to support local businesses.
- Work has been completed on time and within budget in North Walsham with Heritage Action Zone Improvement Grant funding to 11 buildings with associated street works. Works to install the new solar carport at The Reef Leisure Centre in Sheringham were completed last July. The High Street task force has started a scheme to improve Stalham town centre. Major investment to repair Cromer Pier was also carried out without recourse to any borrowing.
- Successfully allocated UK Shared Prosperity Funding as one of the top 5% of Councils in the country to achieve this delivering high quality skills training and improving life chances by supporting pay, productivity and employment for our residents.

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- We have invested in new public toilets in North Walsham, Fakenham, Sheringham and Holt to include new Changing Places facilities for the benefit of local people and visitors. A total of seven principal towns will have had either new or improved facilities by the end of the year.
- As part of our commitment to improve our environment, the Council’s carbon footprint has reduced by more than 50% and the target set when we took office in 2019 to plant 110,000 trees (one for each resident) has been surpassed by 5,000.
- The Council continues to meet the challenge from Government to control nutrient pollution in our water catchment area of the Wensum and The Broads and is working with a syndicate of district councils across Norfolk on a strategy to unlock delayed building sites. Further announcements will follow during the next 3-6 months.
- The Council continues its highly successful program of investment in properties for Temporary Accommodation with up to 25 properties providing vital protection for displaced families within our community. The team have spoken with smaller housing associations and developers who are keen to bring more affordable homes to North Norfolk.  The Housing team have been under increased pressure this year as we see a rise this year of 47% of people presenting in desperate need of homes. With a vastly reduced number of social homes being built due to Government Neutriant Neutrality rules, the end of the current local plan and building costs.
- NNDC Energy team managed to secure over 40 percent of the County wide funding from Norfolk Warm Homes.  Proactively reaching out to communities in the District to offer home energy improvements.  This will continue when the next round of grants are announced.
- Social Prescribing service won the Norfolk and Waveney award for Social Prescribing of the Year.  I am incredibly proud and passionate of this service.  They help those residents that need an extra hand when dealing with every day life.
The Benefits team continue to distribute funds and grants to those in need of more support, in addition to Housing and Council Tax support.  Our Financial Inclusion team give budgeting advice and have a Citizens Advice link in house for more complex cases.
We continue to perform well above national targets in collecting Council Tax, Business Rates, win more Planning Appeals in Norfolk than any other Council and Decisions on domestic applications, Building Control management, meeting our affordable housing targets to name just a few of our services.
- Coastwise funded by Government together with the Council is a nationally significant pilot scheme to prepare us for coastal climate change outcomes and its potential for future coastal erosion. The Council award winning team won a bid for a multi-million-pound grant to trial a program to replace property at risk, improve and replace community infrastructure and re-purposing land at risk whilst restoring habitats I coastal locations. Defenses are being provided at Bacton and Mundesley under the scheme.
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- Last September the Local Government Association carried out an independent Peer Review of how the Council conducts its business and delivers services to residents, communities, businesses and visitors alike. It concluded that the Council performs well in caring fand delivering for residents and gave a 4 (very good) out of 5 (excellent) rating.  Housing and peoples services were given special praise.  The Council will continue to work proactively to achieve the highest category.
Latest News
-	We have secured funding to repair the building housing The RNLI Museum and the Rocket House café in Cromer. These two facilities not only provide support to our tourist economy but also provide disabled access to the beach area and toilet facilities in the area.
-	We have today announced we have retained our Blue Flags and regained the award for the East Runton Beach. 
As always if I can be of help or assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Sarah Butikofer
District Councillor for Priory Ward

Report from County Councillor
Economy-boosting Local Enterprise Partnership to continue under County Councils
Business support and other economy-boosting services delivered by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are to continue following its integration into Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils. 
Key functions and employees of the LEP transferred to the authorities on 1 April 2024 as part of the Government's devolution process. Its functions include business representation, strategic economic planning, and responsibility for the delivery of government programmes. 
Business support will continue to be provided by New Anglia Growth Hub - which delivers the LEP's business growth programme, including the administration of grant schemes. 
The Growth Hub has supported businesses and the region's economy, with the economic impact of its Business Growth Programme measured over a 10-year period at £1,032,797,741, creating new jobs and safeguarding existing employment. 

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Major construction and infrastructure projects across Norfolk have received significant funding thanks to the LEP's Growth Deal with Government, which secured £223.5m for the region to 2021. These include the recently opened Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth, the Digi-Tech Factory at City College Norwich, and Productivity East, the centre for engineering, technology and management at the University of East Anglia. 
Great Yarmouth's Operations & Maintenance Campus for the offshore industry, and the North Walsham Town Centre improvements were among the shovel-ready schemes for which the LEP secured £32.1m from the Government's Getting Building Fund. 
The LEP's work can also be seen in the projects supported via its Growing Places Fund, such as Broadland Food Innovation Centre at the Food Enterprise Park at Honingham, and the power upgrade for businesses at Snetterton Park.
Both councils have worked closely in the run-up to the transition and are keen to build on the LEP's 13-year legacy. 
Established by the government in 2011, New Anglia LEP has: 
•	Attracted around £350m in Government funding to Norfolk and Suffolk, attracting a further £1.3bn in public and private sector funds. 
•	Awarded over 1,800 grants totalling £51.4m to businesses and organisations in the region. 
•	Invested £4.172m in high growth businesses through its New Anglia Capital. 
•	Supported over 13,000 businesses and delivered nearly 74,000 hours of support via New Anglia Growth Hub. 
•	Added £1bn to the local economy over 10 years through its Business Growth Programme. 
•	Supported the delivery of 5,476 jobs and 222 businesses via its Enterprise Zones.
Inspectors say progress and improvements are evident at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
Improvements at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) are evident with positive progress in many areas, according to a report published today (Friday 8 March). 
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found NFRS had improved in five key areas since its last inspection. 
The report recognised the service's sound financial management, positive working culture, and the high priority it gives fire prevention.  
Particular praise was given for 'promising practice' in significant incident and multi-agency fatal fire reviews, which are improving outcomes both locally and nationally. 
Inspectors found NFRS is good at: understanding risk, responding to major and multi-agency incidents, and ensuring the affordability of its services now and in the future.  

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They noted a positive working culture with staff feeling empowered to challenge poor behaviours and the service acting to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination, dealing effectively with disciplinaries, grievances and dismissals. 
A good approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion and a good people strategy which aims to attract, retain and develop a diverse and talented workforce, create an inclusive culture, and better represent the community it serves were also noted in the report. 
Staff wellbeing is a high priority with a significant range of support available for both physical and mental health and most staff reporting they understand and have confidence in the processes available, the report said. 
In recognition of the progress made, the 'cause for concern' related to preventing fires and risks has now been removed with the service improving its rating from 'inadequate' in this area to 'requires improvement'. 
Inspectors recognised the direction of travel on improvements, but said it needs to do more on assurance for the quality of its prevention and protection work, more on training, more to improve diversity in its workforce, and more on identifying and developing leaders.  
The HMICFRS team spent eight weeks in Norfolk in September and October 2023 in the third of its ongoing series of inspections of fire and rescue services across the country. These are an assessment of the services' effectiveness and efficiency and how well they look after their people. It last carried out a full inspection in Norfolk in October 2021. 
Other key findings were: 
•	Prevention activity has been made a high priority, with staffing increased from three to 15 officers with specific staff dedicated to water safety, road safety, and reducing arson
•	Engagement with the community has improved, including seldom-heard groups, with positive work noted with partners, other fire and rescue services, and Norfolk Resilience Forum
•	Staff have a good understanding of how to identify vulnerability and safeguard vulnerable people and have almost doubled the number of home fire safety visits in the year to March 2022
•	Norfolk's highest-risk premises have all been inspected to a high standard with a new business engagement officer in the Protection team employed to improve work with businesses
•	The service shows sound financial management and is working well with Norfolk County Council to develop and support increased funding for its improvement plans across its fleet, estate, and for technology improvements

It was found that NFRS is adequate at: protecting the public through fire regulation; responding to fires and other emergencies; making the best use of its resources and within its workforce promoting its values and culture and ensuring fairness and diversity.  
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It requires improvement in preventing fires and other risks, getting the right people with the right skills, and managing performance and developing leaders. 
Apprenticeships Norfolk hits £1m milestone in levy transfer scheme success
An apprentice butcher has told of how his life has been changed by an innovative levy transfer scheme in Norfolk - which has now achieved £1m of levy transfers. 
Harvey Boyer was unemployed and struggling with his mental health until the Apprenticeships Norfolk scheme supported him to receive the training to work at Hethersett Butchers near Norwich.  
Thanks to the initiative, 90 businesses in the county have started 180 apprenticeships, from Level 2 through to Level 7, using unspent funds that would otherwise been returned to HM Treasury.  
Without levy transfers from organisations with strong ties to the county, including a new additional £100,000 commitment from Aviva, many smaller businesses would have been unable to create new apprenticeship opportunities.  
The scheme has now hit the £1m milestone a year ahead of schedule. Harvey's apprenticeship, which began in August 2023, was made possible after Alan Boswell Group transferred its levy. 
The apprenticeship levy is payable by organisations whose annual wage bill is more than £3m and equates to 0.5% of the bill. But if the business has undertaken all the apprenticeships that it has capacity to deliver, it can donate up to 25% of its annual apprenticeship levy to another organisation. Levy transfers are used for new apprentice starts, new recruits and existing employees. 
Any businesses wanting to find out more about can view details about the scheme on the Apprenticeships Norfolk website. Businesses can enquire about receiving a levy transfer, or donating their unspent levy, by completing an expression of interest form or calling 0344 800 8024. 

Next stage of Norfolk’s ambitious climate plan revealed
Actions to support low carbon transport, climate adaptation, and decarbonisation of local business and industry was discussed by councillors at last months meeting of the Infrastructure and Development Select Committee. 
The actions cover a range of initiatives, including: 
•	A pilot to develop a sustainable and viable seaweed industry in Norfolk - the project will work with partners in the Netherlands, already implementing sea farms

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•	Supporting the development of nature-based solutions to help secure Norfolk's long term water resilience
•	Further walking and cycling improvements in places including King's Lynn, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, and Dereham

In June 2023, Norfolk County Council launched its climate strategy setting out how the council will address its own carbon footprint and its role in supporting Norfolk's transition to become a greener and more resilient county. In October 2023 the first set of actions to achieve the aims of the strategy were agreed - and committee members will now be reviewing the third set of practical actions set to help make the low carbon vision a reality. 
First Bus completes transformation of Roundtree Way to all electric bus fleet
First Bus is celebrating the completion of the project to transform its Roundtree Way Depot to an all-electric commercial bus fleet.
By the end of March, the depot will be the operational centre for 59 double deck and 11 single deck brand new state-of-the-art electric buses.
This is not only the East of England's first zero-emission bus fleet but it is also the first complete zero-emission commercial bus fleet in England located outside of London.

The works to convert the depot began in July 2023 and have taken eight-months to complete. The total investment made in the infrastructure and buses was £37.2 million. This comprises £14.7 million of Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) Government funding, bid for and won with Norfolk County Council, and a capital investment of £22.5 million from First Bus.

The new electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. This makes them great news for the environment and Norwich's many residents and visitors, as they will help to create a cleaner, greener environment for people to live, work and enjoy. They also offer customers a more comfortable ride, as they are quieter and smoother than diesel vehicles.

The introduction of the new bus fleet means that over half of the Norwich network operated by First Bus is now electric. That is over 60% of all bus journeys through Castle Meadow in the city centre.
To mark the completion of the project, a celebration was held at the depot on Wednesday 13th March. Guests included First Bus Managing Director, Janette Bell, East of England Managing Director Piers Marlow and Chief Sustainability Officer Isabel McAllister. They were joined by representatives from Norfolk County Council, including Chairman Cllr Barry Stone.

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New highways contracts will focus on value, apprenticeships and carbon reductions 
Norfolk County Council has kicked off discussions with potential bidders about its long-term highway maintenance contracts, focusing on value for money for Norfolk taxpayers, apprenticeships for local youngsters and reducing the carbon footprint from highway maintenance. 
The council is consulting major contractors about potential twelve-year contracts for highway maintenance and associated professional services and for traffic signal maintenance. 
The council says that, as now, it expects the contracts to be used mainly for highway maintenance and highway schemes, but it will have the option under the contracts to buy other civil engineering work such as recycling centre construction and flood defences. 
The council plans to invite tenders later this year for the new contracts, which take effect from April 2026. 
New national guidance set to improve the safety of people with care needs
New fire standard guidance launched this week thanks to innovative work by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is set to improve the safety of people living at home with care needs. 
The new guidance for the technology enabled care sector (TEC) focuses on improving the standards of community alarm provision for people who rely on it to live safely and independently at home.  
It aims to ensure not only that people have a community alarm linked to a smoke detector fitted in their homes to protect them against fire risk, but that crucially the alarm is also monitored by an alarm receiving centre whose staff are trained to deal with calls and work with fire and rescue service first responders correctly.  
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service's Prevention team has been at the forefront of a national special interest group which developed the new guidance.  
ssistive technology is vital in helping the increasing number of people with care needs to live better lives at home. The new fire standard aims to establish a consistent, high-quality and standardised approach to community alarms to make sure those who rely on them can have confidence they will get the very best help in an emergency.  
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service's Prevention team, which is led by Group Manager Terry Pinto, has played a key role in leading this work with the TEC Services Association (TSA), which is the industry body for TEC and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The county council's Assistive Technology team, which is part of Adult Social Care, have also been part of the work. The guidance was launched at the ITEC conference organised by the TSA in Birmingham. 

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CLLR Michael Dalby
Michael.dalby.cllr@Norfolk.gov.uk
07306886552

15.	Public Participation
The Parish Council was asked to remove CSW posters. It was confirmed that this had already been done. It was felt that road signs needed to be cleaned. This is a job for Highways. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the way NNDC had handled a recent planning matter, particularly with regard to “Condition 3”. Mr. Smith reiterated that he will give Peter O’Hare all the assistance he needs regarding the SAM camera (item 7 refers). He said there is a serious problem with speeding traffic on all roads in the village, especially on North Street where 75% of motorists exceed the speed limit. 

16.	Any other matters (for information)
One drain cover on the Recreation Ground has been repaired with another four still to be done.

17.        Agenda items for next meeting   
             Specific duties of individual members (carried forward from the last meeting)  

 18.	Date of next meetings :   Tuesday, 2nd July 2024 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall 

             

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.45 p.m.					

					
											
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