Surlingham

Published 19 March 2020

• Measures include ensuring prepayment and pay-as-you go customers remain supplied with energy through challenging times and supporting all customers in financial distress
• industry agreement signed by all UK domestic suppliers and will come into force immediately

New emergency measures with the energy industry have been agreed by the government to protect the domestic energy supply of those most in need during the disruption caused by COVID-19.

From today customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This will benefit over 4 million customers.

This could include nominating a third party for credit top ups, having a discretionary fund added to their credit, or being sent a pre-loaded top up card so that their supply is not interrupted.

More broadly, any energy customer in financial distress will also be supported by their supplier, which could include debt repayments and bill payments being reassessed, reduced or paused where necessary, while disconnection of credit meters will be completely suspended.

SURLINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting dated Tuesday 17 March 2020

Present: Councillors John Broom, Richard Atkins, Dave Swinborne, Mike Stiff, Will Mack. Clerk Janet Rogers and 8 members of the public.

1. Welcome by the Chairman

Councillor Broom advised that where possible the business of the Parish Council agenda would be suspended for this meeting and the time devoted to establishing a plan for support to residents in self isolation.

2. Apologies and approval of absences – Councillor Phil Reeve, Pat Scowen and County and District Councillor Vic Thomson
3. Declarations of Interest – None
4. To approve as accurate the minutes of the meeting on 17 February 2020 – Approved
5. The meeting was then thrown open to the residents for ideas of how residents could be supported and how the volunteers can be co-ordinated.

Following her post on Surlingham.org at the weekend, Sarah Broom been contacted by 15 volunteers and Padmaloka has offered too.

Residents will be assured regarding confidentiality that any personal information either regarding health/medication or personal details divulged to a volunteer in the course of delivering supplies or emotional support via the telephone, will remain between the resident and the volunteer and not shared with another person.

The Ferry will provide basic meals either hot or chilled to microwave or freeze. Discounted for the over 60s. The Patisserie and Yare Valley Farm shop are also willing to provide supplies and the farm shop is now stocking milk. Sarah has stocked up on disposable glove and hand sanitiser for volunteers and has reserved online delivery slots with one of the supermarkets.

Louise Swift suggested setting up a dedicated a page on Surlingham.org for updates and information. Rev Nick Garrard confirmed church services have been suspended. There are plans for a Facebook page for the Rockland group of Churches. Louise suggested he also posts on Surlingham.org.

Clive Evans mentioned that for the first 6 weeks newspapers can be delivered free of the delivery charge click the link here.

Discussions then turned to how to inform residents and how the volunteers would be managed. A flyer will be produced, and hand delivered to each property. It will explain what help is available and how to contact the volunteers.  It is likely that a ‘Whatsapp’ group is the most practical way of organising the volunteers. It was established four volunteers should share the co-ordination of the group and a further meeting was arranged for the next day.

7. Parish Council Finance – To authorise payments/cheques Payments; Clerk Salary £295.95, Household Expenses £15.15, Travel 19.80, Booking clerk/cleaner including expenses £111.95, HMRC PAYE £222, SSE electricity bill £2591.71, Debit card payments – Minute man press £21, Toilet roll holder £1.89, Post caps £29.97, Waste bin for servery £10.90, postage £4.20 – Authorised
8. 30 MPH Bramerton Road – NCC update to follow
9. Parish Hall – to date almost all groups have ceased for the duration of the crisis. Hirers can rest assured they will not lose their regular bookings.
10. To confirm the date of the next meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting planned for the 21 April 2020 will not go-ahead urgent Council business will be dealt with via email and the details posted on Surlingham.org. and the noticeboard. Councillors will decide later if and how the Annual Parish Council meeting on 19 May 2020 will be held.

We’ve taken the decision to stop hosting retreats and guests at Padmaloka until the end of June, this hasn’t been an easy decision to come to and does, of course, come at a significant cost to the charity, but in the context of the challenges faced by the whole world at the moment, this seems a small sacrifice, not least in terms of contributing to helping slow the spread of coronavirus. Whilst levels of coronavirus are still very low in Norfolk, given than many of those who come on retreat at Padmaloka travel here from outside the county, continuing as normal has not been an option for us even with enhanced hygiene efforts.

The process of contacting all those who were booked onto our retreats over the coming months and issuing them with refunds will be a time-consuming process, but once complete the resident community here will be looking to help with the efforts in the village to support the elderly and vulnerable residents, which in case you missed it, can be read about here: https://surlingham.org/2020/03/15/can-you-help-coronavirus-issues/

Warm regards,
Sanghanistha

With the latest advice to stay away from pubs we would like to assure anyone who decides to come to Coldham Hall that we are still OPEN and taking a serious stance on hygiene at this time. We will remain open as long as we are allowed and having sought advice from W.H.O. and Environmental Health we hope to provide as safe an environment as we possibly can. We ask anyone who is still planning on joining us to take their own precautions with hand washing and staying away if they believe themselves a risk. 

We hope it goes with-out saying, but we are here! Anyone in the surrounding area who needs food, assistance or even a loo roll, we will help as much as we are able. We can provide deliveries to the surrounding areas where possible and to anyone isolated, lonely or vulnerable, we are but a phone call away. 

We will be cutting our stocks back, focussing our supplies to the more local business in an effort to help each other stay afloat. We hope together we can all get through this. 

***Important Notice***

Due to the Covid-19 and its constraints, we are offering some extra services/help to everyone that needs help:
– free delivery in a 5 mile radius of all our goods (soup, light meals, cakes and everything we offer). Orders are done on the previous day of the delivery and they can be paid by BACS or on delivery;

– if you need help with your daily routine (going shopping, paying bills, walk the dog…), please let us know. We are happy to do it for you;

In the meantime we are open as usual from 10.00 to 4.00.

As you know we have a big outdoor area where you can relax and have a cuppa. Inside the shop we will have windows open to keep the air circulating and be fresh. Our already strict cleaning measures will be even more strict.

And please, wash your hands as often as you can.

See you soon!
Stay healthy.
Stay safe.
Stay strong.

#washyourhands #fightcoronavirus #supportlocalbusiness #savehumanlife

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