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Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
22nd January 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room |
Present
Cllrs. J. Wilson (Chairman), P. Bevan, S. Sumner, A. Harrison
County Cllr. J. Midwood; Borough Cllr. D. Redhead
Clerk P. Miller.
1. Apologies for absence
Cllrs. K. Merritt , J. Claydon, J. Walker
Community Beat Officer P.C. M. England.
2.
Minutes of Meeting of 18th December 2003
The previously issued minutes were then taken as read and signed.
3. Minutes of Meeting of 18th December 2003
The previously issued minutes were taken as read and
signed.
4. Matters arising.
There were no matters arising that were not otherwise on the
agenda.
5. Declarations of interest in agenda
items.
There were no declarations of interest.
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ACTION |
6. Register of Interests
The Clerk reported that the non-compliance referral to the Standards
Committee had been withdrawn following receipt of the outstanding
registrations. |
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7. Reports
7 .1 County Cllr. |
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7.1.1 Boundary Committee report for 2005 elections, subject
to approval. Recommends that Wickhambrook remains as is. Own
constituency to be expanded from 18 to 24 parishes over a wider
area. Number of Cllrs. to be reduced from 80 to 75.
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| 7.1.2 Strategic Technological Partnership. Should lead to
better technical services delivery. |
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| 7.1.3 Council Tax. County Council portion increased by only
3.9% following injection of £3M government funding aimed
at minimising tax increases. |
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| 7.1.4 Other comments recorded under related minute 14.5. |
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| 7.2 Borough Cllr. |
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| 7.2.1 Cattle Market development. Final decision due on 26th.
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| 7.2.2 Council Tax. Will be set mid-February. |
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8. Clerk’s Report
8.1 Emergency Planning Officer. Appeal for volunteer published
on Notice Board and website. |
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8.2 Parish Conference follow-up. On circulation.
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8.3 Go-East Renewable Energy follow-up. On circulation.
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8.4 NHS Public and Patient Strategy draft. On circulation.
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8.5 Hedgerow Survey News. On circulation.
In response to a question from Cllr. Bevan it was confirmed
that carrying out such a survey had been considered on a number
of occasions but thought not to be viable because of the large
area involved. Volunteers had been sought but without success.
Cllr. Bevan offered to study the matter further.
The Clerk to provide documentation.
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PB
Clerk |
8.6 Rural Housing seminars. On circulation.
Cllr. Wilson pointed out that the seminars appeared to be based
on East and Mid-Suffolk. No delegate.
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8.7 The Local Councillor. Issued. No action required.
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8.8 Clerks and Councils Direct, January issue. On circulation.
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8.9 Wildlife Trust newsletters. On circulation.
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8.10 SALC Training Programme. On circulation.
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| 8.11 Suffolk Preservation Society newsletter. On circulation. |
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9. Finance
9 .1 The following payments were approved: |
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| 9.1.1 |
1089 |
WMSC |
Recycling grant |
346.11 |
| 9.1.2 |
1090 |
Lubbock Fine |
External Audit fee |
293.75 |
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| 9.2 The following income was received: |
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| 9.2.1 |
100347 |
St Edmundsbury B.C. |
Recycling credit |
346.11 |
| 9.2.2 |
BACS |
Customs & Excise |
VAT refund |
11,123.78 |
| 9.2.3 |
100348 |
J. Paintin Ltd |
Cemetery fee |
84.00 |
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9.3 Bank mandates. One personal information form outstanding.
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KM |
9.4 Insurance extensions. Details issued to insurers. Confirmation
of premium awaited.
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Clerk |
9.5 External Audit for year ending 31st March 2003. The auditors’
report was presented. This confirmed the annual return to be
in order and there being no matters of concern. The Clerk confirmed
that the statutory notice of completion was on display on the
Parish Notice Board.
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9.6 Clerk’s annual salary review.
The Clerk
retired from the meeting while this matter was considered.
Resolved unanimously that salary be at SCP 21 from 1st January. |
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10. Planning
10 .1 The following applications had been considered by the
Parish Council on circulation |
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| 10.1.1 SE/03/3994/P – 8 Wickham House Bungalows - replacement
– no objection |
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| 10.2 The following applications granted/refused by the Borough
Council or withdrawn were noted: |
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10.2.1 TCA03/974 – The Old Rectory – tree surgery
– granted
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10.2.2 SE/03/3524/LB – Wakelins, Genesis Green –
retention of works – granted
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10.2.3 SE/03/3525/LB – Wakelins, Genesis Green –
retention of works – refused
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10.2.4 SE/03/3584/P – Sunnydale, Wash Lane – replacement
– refused
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10.2.5 SE/03/3660/P – West View, Genesis Green –
extension – refused
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| 10.2.6 SE/03/3688/P – Crows Farmhouse, Malting End –
extensions - granted |
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11. Estates Committee
11.1 Minutes of the meeting of 13th January had been issued.
No matters were raised. |
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11.2 Teen Project.
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11.2.1 Borough grant. The Clerk reported that the grant had
still not been received. Borough Cllr. Redhead agreed to raise
the matter again.
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DR |
11.2.2 Outstanding work. Contractors due to complete equipment
work on 24th January. Remedial groundwork to be carried out
when ground is drier.
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Clerk |
| 11.2.3 Official opening. The Clerk reported that all arrangements
were in hand. County Cllr. Midwood commented that she was looking
forward to opening the Project. |
Clerk |
| 12. MSC |
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12.1 Letter to the MSC. The Clerk presented the letter he
had issued covering the outstanding issues.
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12.2 Representatives report. Cllr. Sumner reported on the
January trustees meeting
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12.2.1 The Clerk’s letter had been presented.
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12.2.2 Disabled access grant to Tennis and Bowls clubs. This
had been applauded.
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12.2.3 Hall maintenance. It had been made clear that the Parish
council was not prepared to make a grant at this time.
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12.2.4 Football goals on the six-acres. It was noted that
the Parish Council had again written to the Club but as there
was no representative present no further information was available.
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12.2.5 It had been reported that of the £20,000 allocated
from the closing RAFT fund, £10,000 had been spent on
improved heating.
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12.2.6 The heating system was not considered to be fully effective.
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| 12.2.7 Concern was expressed that the introduction of Blue
Bins might lead to loss of the paper bank. |
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| 12.3 Cllr. Sumner expressed concern that the MSC funds did
not appear to be invested so as to maximise interest. After
discussion he was instructed to raise the matter at the next
trustees meeting. |
SS |
| 13. United Charities representatives report |
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| Cllr. Wilson reported that there had been a further meeting
with the Borough and that , hopefully, funds are now in place
to enable work to start shortly. Oil fired heating to be installed
instead of electric to comply with Borough grant requirements. |
JW |
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14. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains
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14.1 Attendance of Highways representative. The Clerk reported
that he had taken no further action on this matter as no issues
had been reported by Cllrs.
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14.2 Stream on Coltsfoot Green. Vegetation cleared and stream
running freely.
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14.3 Thorns Close house numbering. The Clerk reported that
he had not yet got an answer. Clerk
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Clerk |
14.4 Speeding. The apparent effectiveness of the speed signs
in Ashley was noted. Cost to be ascertained.
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Clerk |
| 14.5 County Cllr Midwood reported: |
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14.5.1 Thorns Close soakaway. Had been ¾ full all Summer
but not clear why. The problem stems from the original development
of the Close.
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14.4.2 Nunnery Green drainage. A drainage pipe opposite the
Surgery had been found to be broken 5and has been repaired.
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14.5.3 Nunnery Green sewerage overflow. The leak on the Surgery
drain had been repaired.
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14.5.4 Nunnery Green roads and footways. Highways Dept. has
agreed that these are in very poor condition and that efforts
will be made to improve.
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14.5.5 Potholes. This is a major problem and Highways will
be kept informed.
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| 14.5.6 Church Road and Duddery flooding. The amount of standing
water to be advised to Highways. |
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15. Rights of Way
Nothing reported.
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16. Date of next meeting
Thursday 26th February, 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room
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18. Dates of subsequent meetings
25th March; 22nd April
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| 19. Any other business |
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18.1 Cllr. Bevan reported that a visit by the Arboricultural
Officer had been arranged. The Clerk had agreed to stand in
for Cllr. Bevan.
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Clerk |
18.2 Cllr. Wilson commented that the travellers had not yet
left the field at Dodds Farm. Borough Cllr. Redhead advised
that they had been given a leaving date.
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| 18.2 The Clerk apologised that the annual review of Cemetery
Fees had not been included on the agenda but would be included
for the February meeting. |
Clerk |
| Meeting closed at 9.25 p.m. |
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