PC Mins 6 Jan 26

SHOTESHAM PARISH COUNCIL.

Becmead, Shotesham St Mary, NR15 1UJ     01508550358     shoteshampc.clerk@outlook.com

Minutes of the meeting of Shotesham Parish Council held in the Trinity on January 6th 2026.

1.Apologies for absence received from CC A Thomas and K Dyke.

In Attendance…H Jackson, J Nott, H Walker, S Dinsdale, J Webber, M Dyke and DC J Cook plus  3 parishioners…Mr and Mrs Simmonds and L Heywood.

  1. Approval of minutes of 11th of November

The minutes were approved

  1. The proposed Local Government Reorganisation.
  • The scene was set by the Chairman. The deadline for submission of comments was also stressed.
  • All in attendance at the meeting were encouraged by the Chairman to ask

questions and share views and thoughts

  • To facilitate the discussion J Webber was asked to lead the discussion. JW explained the present models in some detail, answered questions and encouraged follow up comments/question on his presentation.
  • At the end of the session JW offered to draw the discussion together in a form that could be included with the minutes.
  1. The Chairman asked the parish councillors’ their view.
  • The conclusion was that the council could not support the 3 part council with a separate greater Norwich but merit could be seen in both of the other options.

       5. The meeting discussed setting the 2025/26 precept.

               A number of points were discussed.

  • current expenditure would appear to within the monies budgeted for 2025/6.
  • potential additional expenditure..e.g. One-off items ..upgrade/replacement of the computer, purchase of a printer for the  parish council was agreed.
  • estimate of the %age increase in the annual requirement of the council
  • The ability to call of reserves to meet unexpected needs or to match grant applications.
  • The wish to maintain the precept as low as possible in 2026/27..

A decision was made to set the precept for 2026/27 by increasing the current precept by 5%.

      6. Pollution in the bec……the way forward.

All members expressed concern. It was agreed to contact The Commons Trustees with the request that they contact Anglian Water and Tas River Trust as the SSI status of the Common was hugely valued and may be impacted by any pollution of the bec.

J K Gough, The Clerk.