SOUTH CREAKE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the South Creake Parish Council extraordinary meeting held in the Ostrich Function Room on Monday Apr 27th 2011 at 7 30pm.

Present: Councillors L Ringwood, Chairman, R Wakeman, G Allen, D Cox, T Harrison, A Harvey, V May, R Maslin. The Clerk and 8 Parishioners.

1. The Chairman welcomed all present to the meeting.

2. Apologies for absence.
It was agreed to accept apologies for absence from Councillor C Gardner (hospital). Apologies were also received from Borough / County Councillor M Chenery of Horsbrugh.

3. Declaration of Interests on Agenda Items
Agenda Items 5 and 6 Memorial Pavilion. Personal Interests were declared by Councillors, L Ringwood, R Wakeman, D Cox. A Harvey, V May and R Maslin.

4. Public Participation
It was resolved to adjourn the meeting for Parishioners Questions and Statements.
There were no points raised.
The meeting resumed.

5. Memorial Pavilion Lease
The Chairman stated that a lease had been drawn up between the Parish Council and the and the War Memorial Institute Trustees for an area of land on the Recreation Ground for the construction of the new Memorial Pavilion. The lease would be for 99 years at an annual rent of £5.00. The lease would be signed by Councillor L Ringwood and the Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council and Mr R Wakeman and Mrs A Harvey on behalf of the War Memorial Institute Trustees. Members agreed the details of the lease which was duly signed.

6. To consider the use of the New Memorial Pavilion and whether it would be for the greater enjoyment of the Recreation Ground (registered as a Village green) for recreation and sporting purposes.
The Chairman reminded the meeting of the problems which had been en-counted do to the recreation ground being registered as a village green. Advice had been sort from a private solicitor, Mr Henry Bellingham MP and solicitors attached to NALC. The advice obtained stated that it could be done at at a very heavy cost and the provision of an extra piece of land to be registered as a village green. Another appeal for help had been made to Norfolk Public Law based at County Hall Norwich. They had come to the conclusion that if the main purpose of the building was for use in connection with the use of the village green for sporting and recreational purposes and the primary purpose of the building met that criteria it did not matter that the building could be used for ancillary purposes too. On the other hand if the building was just a community facility that happened to be sited on the village green even though there were changing rooms the building would be unlawful.
Norfolk Public Law suggested that it would be helpful for the Parish Council to consider the main purpose of the building. If the conclusion was that the main purpose of the building was to provided for the better enjoyment of the village green for recreation and sporting purposes in their opinion the project could proceed with the reassurance that it was unlikely to be successfully challenged.
The Chairman then invited comments from members informing them that he had already received enquiries for carpet bowls, table tennis and yoga. Members agreed that the building "ticked all he right boxes" relating to all of the village sporting activities and would provide better and safer facilities than were available at the present time including the provision of toilets which were desperately required for any outside activity. It was unanimously agreed that the proposed building would fit all the requirements and would provide for the better enjoyment of the village green for recreation purposes.

7. Street Lighting Maintenance Contract
The Clerk informed members that the new contract, which would come into force in August 2011 had a price increase of 5%, the first increase for over 8 years. The contract with MHB Services Ltd would be for period of 3 years at a cost of £482.46 plus VAT per annum.It was agreed that the contract should be accepted and the Clerk authorised to sign the agreement.

With no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8 15pm.

THESE MINUTES WERE APPROVED BY THE FULL COUNCIL ON MAY 16th 2011