Needham Parish Council

After the September meeting I reported on a joint initiative by Needham and Brockdish Parish Councils in requesting a meeting with the Highways Authority to resolve the concerns of both Parishes on speeding and existing weight restrictions.  Regrettably, the reply is that they are unable to help with our concerns.  However, Brockdish Parish Council is applying for grant assistance to purchase a SAM2 machine.  These have been effective in other villages in alerting motorists to the speed they are going.  We have therefore agreed to share the cost and the use of the machine with Brockdish.

I was able to report on a meeting for Parish Council Chairmen held at the South Norfolk Council offices.  There are 119 Parish Councils in South Norfolk but only in 19 of those was there sufficient interest to justify holding an election.  Because of the low support the suggestion therefore was that parishes could voluntarily combine to form a single PC.  The meeting discussed the merits of combining with Brockdish but unanimously agreed that we want to retain our own identity.  I am therefore extremely grateful we currently have a full complement of Councillors.

It was noted that boundary changes to constabularies mean that Needham is no longer covered by the Harleston police station but will be the responsibility of Diss.  The meeting expressed regret that this change was carried out without consultation as we have always enjoyed the support of extremely able and enthusiastic officers in Harleston, and we have no previous link with Diss.  It was agreed to request the Diss beat manager to attend a future meeting to introduce himself.

As last year, it was agreed to donate the sum of £100 to Harleston Town Council towards the maintenance and use of the Bullock Fair car park.

It was noted that requests to the Rangers to clear local footpaths had been successful.  However, we have complained about the practice of shovelling soil off the pavements onto the verge where it washes back down again after the first rain.  As there have been no complaints about the missing dog bin on Upper Burnt House Lane it was decided not to purchase a replacement.

The planning appeal against the refusal of a planning application for a new house for a manager at Whitehouse Farm, which the Parish Council had supported, has been successful. 

Parish Council meetings in 2016 will be held on:

11 January        Precept setting meeting

4 April

23 May              Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

18 July

26 September

21 November

All meetings are held at 7.30 in the annex to the Village Hall.  Issues that affect all of us in the village are discussed at these meetings.  Councillors very much appreciate the support of all those attending the meetings and it is our hope that more will do so in the coming year.

Andrew Major

Chairman, Needham Parish Council