Meeting Date: 20th September 2021
Venue: Mendham Primary School & Virtual meeting via Zoom
Time: 7.00pm
- Committee Members
- Dennis Pye, Thelma Brown, Kathy Farrar, Jimmy Kent, Richard Mattocks, Sally Mckinnon, Clare Rix, Mark Shortt, Yvonne Lidgate
- Role
- Chair, Vice Chair, Zoom, Absent
- Present/Absent
- , , Zoom, , Absent, , , ,
- In attendance
- Lavinia Hadingham, Peter Gould – Apologies received from both
- Clerk
- Liz Frere-Smith
1. Public Forum & Reports from Councillors
No comments from public forum. LH correspondence had previously been circulated and questions and comments were invited. PG report had been circulated which was considered to contain more political content than comments regarding local issues.
2. Welcome and Apologies
Chair welcomed all attendees, 1 member attended virtually, RM absence accepted.
3. Declarations of Interest and Any Dispensations Allowed
MS declared a Pecuniary Interest with regard to the Primary School application for funding.
4. Minutes of Previous Meeting
Agreed as accurate and correct.
5. Matters Arising Not Covered by the Agenda
None that wouldn’t be addressed.
6. Chairman’s Report
DP advised that the flooding within the village had been partially addressed but as it had been a very dry period it would be difficult to measure the success of the work undertaken.
DP updated the position regarding the continued closure of the Low Road and was informed that this was a complex repair and would be completed after Dec 2021 but luckily it doesn’t appear to affect too many of the Mendham residents. Flooding and sand that had been left at the cross roads at Withersdale would be removed by the Highways very soon.
The recent construction work within the village had caused chaos with no-one apparently being notified of the road closure. A few random village members had received apologies. The school had coped with the road closure very well.
EFS updated the committee that the paper bin had been delivered to Withersdale Village Hall carpark instead of Mendham. It was decided to keep it there as they had more space within the carpark.
DP reminded the committee that they would need to find a new chair as he would be stepping down from the role as planned at the end of this term and he was taking a 2 month sabbatical during October and November to concentrate on some personal affairs. He would be available for planning support.
7. Finances
Carpark upkeep - £165
EFS confirmed the receipt of CIL funding of £3929.99 and confirmed that the current balance at Barclays was £14704.61 as most of the funding had been received but as yet not much had been spent compare to the budget that had been set.
Locality Grant received £1000
CIL – The requests were considered, EFS confirmed that they were eligible under CIL restrictions and the spending was decided as follows
- Village Hall £1500 for benches and floor polisher. EFS to inform village Hall of the outcome and to complete payments of donations.
- Traffic speed signs £2000
- Salt Grit bins £300
- Doo Bins £ TBC
The request from Mendham Primary School play equipment would be reconsidered at a later date and possibly supported from remaining funds. EFS to write the cheques for the planned annual donations so that the remaining balance would be clear.
8. Planning
2 Applications that required site visits. Suggested date 29th September 2021. Wakelyn’s planning still ongoing. EFS to confirm attendance with applicants and then inform councillors.
DP advised that there was a planning consultation in Harleston and advised members to attend and add their views on the new plans regarding the town centre.
9. Update on Speeding Signs
SM advised that the equipment had been ordered and would be delivered shortly after her return from annual leave. There may be some smaller items required to complete the installation. SM updated the members that more volunteers would be needed. SM to provide invoices when received to EFS for processing.
10. Update of Village Parking
RM was absent so this item will be discussed at a further meeting. School are keen to participate in any discussions. There was some concern that villagers were still parking on the village green following the road closure period. This would be discussed at a later date if it continued. Item to stay on agenda for following meeting.
11. Facebook Page
DP raised the question with regard to use Facebook as a means of promoting local information. EFS was concerned about the time and upkeep of the initiative as her time was limited. It was agreed that no further action would be taken on this matter currently.
12. Correspondence
EFS confirmed that any correspondence had been forwarded to the members.
13. Any Other Business
TB raised concern over speeding through the village especially as the road signage had been removed by the construction site. TB commented on not moving to online banking. EFS replied that she had modernised many of the functions, archived all of the historic paperwork and would move to online banking when a new chair was in place as the signatories would change again.
14. Next Meeting
Planned for 15th November 2021, Mendham Primary School 7.00pm
The meeting closed at: 19.55pm
Signed by Vice Chair: Thelma Brown
Date: 15th November 2021