| 9995 |
Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
24th February 2005 at 7.30 p.m. in the MSC Pavilion |
| Present |
ACTION |
Cllrs. J. Wilson (Chairman), J. Walker, K. Merritt,
A. Harrison, P. Bevan, S. Sumner
1 member of the public
Clerk P. Miller
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Address on affordable housing
by Louise Wilby of Suffolk ACRE cancelled due to inclement weather.
It was agreed that the address be re-arranged for the Annual
Parish Meeting on 10th March.
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Clerk |
1. Apologies for absence
Cllr. J. Claydon, County Cllr. J. Midwood, Borough Cllr. D.
Redhead,
Community Beat Officer PC B. McKenna
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2. Minutes of Meeting of
20th January
The previously issued minutes were taken as read and signed. |
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3. Matters arising.
There were no matters arising that were not otherwise on the
agenda. |
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4. Declarations of interest in agenda
items.
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| Cllr. Wilson declared interest in the Almshouses
grounds maintenance (minute 10.2). |
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| 5. Clerk's Report |
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| 5.1 SALC Area Meeting – Chief Executives
report. Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.2 Parish Council Conference papers. Circulated.
Contents noted. |
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| 5.3 SALC Training Courses. A request for evening
training had been referred to SALC but no response had been
received. |
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| 5.4 Wildlife Trust newsletters. Circulated. It
was suggested that these and future issues be placed in the
new school library. |
Clerk |
| 5.5 Borough Council Comprehensive Performance
Assessment results. Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.6 East of England Plan consultation. Circulated.
Contents noted. |
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| 5.7 Emergency Planning seminar. Circulated. Contents
noted. |
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| 5.8 Employment seminar. Circulated. Contents
noted. |
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| 5.9 Suffolk Portal training fund appeal. Circulated.
Contents noted. |
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| 5.10 SALC Interactive Training. Circulated. Contents
noted. |
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| 5.11 Suffolk Preservation Society newsletter.
Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.12 Clerks and Councils Direct – January
issue. Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.13 County Council Draft Statement of Community
Involvement consultation. Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.14 Freedom of Information Act – qualified
persons. Circulated. Contents noted. |
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| 5.15 Emergency Response Plan. Circulated. Cllr.
Bevan volunteered to produce a concise version. The Clerk presented
his summary of the address given at the January meeting which
had been placed on the village website and would be placed on
the notice board. Approval of the summary had not been received
in time for inclusion in the Scene. Suggested that Emergency
Planning might be included in the remit of Neighbourhood Watch
Co-ordinators. Agreed that the need for Emergency Panning Officers
be raised at the Annual Parish Meeting. |
Clerk |
| 5.16 Cattle Market Public Building Plan. Circulated.
Contents noted. |
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| 5.17 Customer Service Direct. Circulated. It
was suggested that details be placed on the village website.
However the Clerk advised that County Cllr. Midwood had voiced
some reservations about the scheme so it was agreed that no
action be taken until her views can be considered. |
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| 5.18 Regional Strategy – draft response
by Suffolk Preservation Society. On circulation. |
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| 5.19 Citizen Engagement and Local Leadership.
On circulation. |
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| 5.20 Clean Neighbourhoods Bill summary. On circulation. |
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| 5.21 Cattle Market Planning Meeting. Notification
of the Borough Council Planning Committee meeting received on
the morning of the meeting – too late for attendance. |
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| 5.22 Code of Practice Review. Questionnaire received.
Held pending receipt of consultation paper. |
Clerk |
5.23 Draft Local Plan. Agreed that presentation
meeting be arranged.
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Clerk |
| 9996 |
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| 6. Finance |
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| 6.1 The following payments were noted: |
| 6.1.1 |
1154 |
Hanchett Toys |
Games equipment |
346.00 |
| 6.1.2 |
1155 |
Harpers Sports Ltd |
Sports equipment |
303.30 |
| 6.1.3 |
1156 |
Argos Ltd |
Games equipment |
254.71 |
| |
Equipment donated to WicKids Youth Club. |
| 6.2 The following payments were approved: |
| 6.2.1 |
1157 |
Wickhambrook Bowls Club |
Green refurbishment
|
305.01 |
| 6.2.2 |
1158 |
British Legion |
Donation |
50.00 S137 |
| 6.2.3 |
1159 |
P. Miller |
Telephone costs December to February |
85.85 |
| 6.2.4 |
1160 |
Saxon Monumental Craft |
Churchyard headstones maintenance |
117.50
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| 6.3 The following income was received: |
| 6.3.1 |
100362 |
D. Pope |
Cemetery fee – grave space (Alexander)
|
50.00 |
| 6.3.2 |
100362 |
J. Hopkinson |
Cemetery fee – CR interment & memorial |
100.00 |
| 6.4 BT Home Highway/Midband (Clerk’s
phone). Noted that removal cost £50.00. |
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| 7. Planning |
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| 7.1 The following applications had been considered
by the Parish Council on circulation: |
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7.1.1 SE/05/1003/P – 1 Malting End –
conservatory – no objection.
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7.1.2 SE/05/1012/P – land adj. Stone Hall
Cottage, Baxters Green – change of use – no
objection but considered that land should be protected against
subsequent building development.
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7.1.3 SE/05/1066/P – Westfield, Thorns
Corner – extension and roof dormer windows – no
objection but concern at proposed size and appearance, and overlooking
of neighbours.
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7.1.4 SE/05/1167/P – 13 Bury Road –
extensions – no objection.
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| 7.2 Land off Wash Lane – development work
had been notified to Planning Department and was being referred
to the Enforcement Officer for investigation. |
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| 8. Estates Committee |
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No meeting in February.
Cllr. Wilson questioned the situation regarding inspections
of the six-acres and village greens. The Clerk confirmed that
these were being done.
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| 9. MSC |
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9.1 Representative’s report by Cllr. Sumner.
No trustees meeting.
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| 9.2 Vandalism. The Clerk reported that following
information received he had contacted Community Beat Officer
PC England for a progress report. PC England had responded that
he was trying to confirm what had been reported. No further
information received. |
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| 9.3 Footpath. Following from the question raised
at the January meeting concerning a footpath becoming designated
a right of way, the Clerk had provided information to Cllr.
Sumner who confirmed that he had forwarded this to the MSC committee. |
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| 10. United Charities representatives
report by Cllr. Wilson |
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10.1 Representatives report by Cllr. Wilson.
The renovations of the Almshouses had been completed and paid
for. One resident was in and the second due shortly.
Cllr.
Wilson retired from the meeting while the next item was discussed
(interest declared).
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10.2 Maintenance of Almshouses grounds. The Clerk
tabled a request from Rev Ian Finn on behalf of the United Charities
for the Parish Council to meet the cost of maintenance of the
verge and garden hedges of the Almshouses. The Clerk advised
that Cllrs. should consider whether such action would create
a precedent. It was agreed that an estimate of the cost be obtained
and the matter considered at a future meeting.
|
Clerk |
| Cllr Wilson was recalled to
the meeting. |
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11. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains
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| 11.1 Footway, Cemetery Road/Browns Close. The
Clerk reported that Highways had confirmed the footway as adopted
and agreed to inspect but that funding might prevent repairs
being carried out in current financial year. |
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| 11.2 Speed limit signs. The Clerk had reported
3 damaged speed limit signs to Highways and these had been corrected. |
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| 11.3 Coltsfoot Green. Noted that repairs had
been carried out to the surface at the entrance to the lane
and the adjacent road but the equally potholed surface to The
Duddery junction had not been touched. |
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11.4 Coltsfoot Close lamppost. The Clerk had
reported the post as broken, probably by vehicle impact, and
immediate action had been taken to make it electrically safe.
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| 9997 |
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| 12. Rights of Way |
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12.1 Bridge safety. Anti-slip surfacing installed.
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| 12.2 Signposting. Notification received that
all roadside signposts are to be replaced with an enhanced design
over forthcoming months. The new signs have increased durability
and annual savings on replacement are anticipated. |
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| 13. Annual Parish Meeting |
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| 13.1 Date and venue. 10th March, 7.30 p.m. in
the MSC Pavilion. |
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| 13.2 Financial forecast. The forecast had been
issued to Cllrs. The Clerk emphasised that it was a forecast
rather than the usual statement as the meeting would be before
the end of the financial year. The forecast was based on that
used in setting the budget for 2005/2006. Resolved that the
forecast be presented to the Annual Parish Meeting. |
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13.3 Alf Hicks Crystal Biscuit Barrel. Resolved
that the barrel be presented this year to Barbara Merritt.
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| 13.4 Website. Suggested that a presentation of
the site be made to the meeting. |
SS |
14. Replacement Clerk
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One application had been received. Resolved that the post
be offered to the applicant subject to satisfactory references.
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15. Date of next meeting
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| Thursday 24th March, 7.30 p.m., MSC Pavilion. |
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16. Dates of subsequent meetings
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| 21st April |
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| 17. Any other business |
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| 17.1 Village greens signage. Cllr. Wilson reported
that he had had some discussion with the History Society regarding
the historical signage and documentation. Further meetings to
be arranged. |
JW |
| 17.2 Tree planting. Cllr. Bevan, Tree Warden,
reported that he had received seven trees. Four would be planted
in the school grounds and three around the village. |
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| 17.3 School tree removal. The Clerk reported
that he had received a query regarding the removal of the tree
in the school playground. He had been advised that the tree
was unsafe as a result of a past lightening strike. |
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| 17.4 Village bier. The Clerk had suggested that
the bier might be re-located to All saints Church where it could
be on display as currently it is in store and rarely seen. Cllr.
Bevan reported the PCC to be in favour. Agreed that bier be
re-located. |
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| Meeting closed at 9.10p.m. |
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