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Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
24th March 2005 at 7.30 p.m. in the MSC Pavilion |
| Present |
ACTION |
Cllrs. J. Wilson (Chairman), K. Merritt, A. Harrison,
P. Bevan, S. Sumner, J. Claydon
County Cllr. J. Midwood; Community Beat Officer PC B. McKenna
Clerk P. Miller
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1. Apologies for absence
Cllr. J. Walker, Borough Cllr. D. Redhead, Mrs L. Pitt
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2. Minutes of Meeting of
24th February
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. Sumner declared interest in the Mdsign
payment (minute 7.1.3).
Cllr. Wilson declared interest in the Almshouses grounds maintenance
(minute 11.1).
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| 5. Reports |
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5.1 County Cllr. – see minute 13.1
5.2 Community Beat Officer
5.2.1 Crimes. Four reported this month.
5.2.2 Incident reporting. Process of dealing with incident reports
and how they are recorded and notified explained. The Clare
police station telephone number is now routed through the main
police switchboard.
5.2.3 Vandalism. The Clerk reported that paint had been thrown
over the rear wall of the cemetery chapel. PC McKenna asked
for further details of this and other incidents, such as the
fires in and around the Teen Project, to be forwarded to him.
5.2.4 Neighbourhood Watch. A list of those residents that had
shown interest in co-ordinating had been passed on to the police
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator with a request that a meeting
with them be arranged as soon as possible. Hopefully this will
be in April.
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| 6. Clerk’s Report |
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6.1 Regional Strategy – draft response
by Suffolk Preservation Society. Contents noted.
6.2 Citizen Engagement and Local Leadership. Contents noted.
6.3 Clean Neighbourhoods Bill summary. Contents noted. |
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| 6.4 Code of Practice Review. Questionnaire received.
Consultation paper not yet received. |
Clerk |
6.5 Suffolk ACRE newsletter. On circulation.
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| 7. Finance |
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| 7.1 The following payments were noted: |
| 7.1.1 |
1161 |
Allianz Cornhill |
Insurance premium 2005/6 |
1,608.28 |
| 7.1.2 |
1162 |
Suffolk ACRE |
Membership subscription |
20.00 |
| 7.1.3 |
1163 |
Mdsign |
Website maintenance - December to February |
141.25 |
| 7.1.4 |
1164 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s salary – January to March |
687.88 |
| 7.1.5 |
1165 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s office costs – January to March |
45.00 |
| 7.1.6 |
1166 |
D King & Son |
Grounds contract – final payment
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1,359.16 |
| 7.1.7 |
1167 |
St Edmundsbury B.C. |
Cemetery rates 2005/6 |
61.70 |
| 7.2 Income. None received |
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7.3 Precept and Parish Tax. The Clerk reported
that he had issued the precept demand. The band D Parish Tax
for 2005/6 is £30.03 against the estimated figure of £35.09
presented at the Annual Parish Meeting. The Clerk explained
that the difference was due to the change in the Borough grants
system. The estimate had been based on the old grant system
as details of the new grants had not been available.
7.4 Powergen – disputed bill. The Clerk reported that
once again an excessive bill had been received for the cemetery
chapel electricity supply. In the course of disputing this a
fault in the meter had been confirmed. The meter had now been
replaced and a revised bill is awaited.
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RFO |
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7.5 Funding request from Wickhambrook Players.
At the Annual Parish Meeting on 10th March a request had been
made for the Parish Council to fund a production by the Players
to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of VEDay, the production to
be a single performance with free admission for approximately
200. A 50th anniversary production was said to have been funded
entirely by the Parish Council.
On request further details had been received indicating that
a budget of £1.200 had been set by the Players and that
it had been decide that admission should be charged at £2
for adults and £1 for children which was expected to raise
approximately £360. A collection would be held at the
performance for ‘The Soldiers’, Sailors’ and
Airmen’s Association.
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council minutes for 1995
showed that for the 50th anniversary a payment of £250
had been agreed but that a subsequent cost estimate had been
£650 and £706.92 had finally been paid in respect
of the production expenses. At that time the production had
been under the auspices of the Community Association and £250
had subsequently been paid to the Parish Council as the Community
Association’s contribution towards the costs.
Cllrs. expressed concern at the way in which the request for
funding had been presented and at the short notice which did
not allow sufficient time for proper consideration of the request.
It was assumed that planning for the production must have been
in hand for some time so earlier notice could have been given
in time for the cost to be included in the 2005/6 budget and
precept. It was felt that a greater proportion of the production
costs should be met by the admission charge and possibly by
providing a licensed bar. It was also considered that as the
seating restrictions meant that the production would only be
available to a relatively small part of the village population
major funding could not be justified. After considerable discussion:
Cllr. Sumner proposed that no contribution be made to the production
costs but that a donation be made to the collection. Not seconded.
Cllr. Claydon proposed and Cllr. Merritt seconded that £250
be paid towards the production costs. This was passed by a majority
of 4 to 2. Cllr. Sumner requested that his vote against the
proposal be recorded.
The Clerk was instructed to advise the Wickhambrook Players
accordingly and to pass on the Cllrs. concerns at the way in
which the funding request had been presented. |
Clerk |
| 7.6 Grounds maintenance contract. It was resolved
that the recently received quote for 2005/6 be accepted and
the contract renewed. Also that the additional tree and shrub
maintenance detailed should be approved at the budget estimate
provided. |
Clerk |
| 8. Planning |
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| 8.1 The following applications had been considered
by the Parish Council on circulation: |
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8.1.1 SE/05/1220/P – Badmondisfield End
Cottage – extensions, barn replacement & land change
of use – no objection to the extensions and barn
but reservations on change of use.
8.2 The following applications granted/refused by the Borough
Council or withdrawn were noted:
8.2.1 SE/04/1600/P – Sunnydale, Wash Lane – removal
of agricultural occupancy appeal - withdrawn
8.2.2 SE/05/1003/P – 1 Malting End – conservatory
- granted
8.2.3 SE/05/1012/P – land adj. Stone Hall Cottage, Baxters
Green – change of use – granted
8.2.4 SE/05/1066/P – Westfield, Thorns Corner –
extension and dormer windows - granted
8.3 Notice of planning appeal. SE/04/1433/P – OS 5806,
Bury Road, Depden – retention of caravans for gypsies
- refused. Public enquiry to be held on 19th
April.
8.4 Land off Wash Lane – further development work had
been notified and information from the Planning Enforcement
Officer is awaited.
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| 9. Estates Committee |
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9.1 Minutes of the meeting of 8th March had been
issued. No matters raised.
9.2 Re-instatement. There was a brief discussion about the implications
of not re-instating the committee when this comes up for consideration
at the Annual Parish Council Meeting in May.
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| 10. MSC |
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Cllr. Sumner reported:
10.1 The Carnival will be held on Saturday 9th July.
10.2 A new committee Secretary had been appointed.
10.3 Annual subscription to the MSC Supporters’ Association
had been increased from £7 to £8.
10.4 Arrangements for the clubs’ Open Evening on 15th
April are progressing. Cllr. Sumner asked for suggestions for
documents to be displayed on the Parish Council table.
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All |
| 10000 |
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| 11. United Charities |
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Cllr. Wilson retired from
the meeting while the next item was discussed (interest declared).
Cllr. Bevan, Vice-Chairman, took the chair.
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11.1 Maintenance of Almshouses grounds. Further
consideration was given to 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.
It was noted that cutting of the grass verge was already included
in the churchyard section of the grounds maintenance contract.
An estimate for maintenance of the hedges had been requested
but not yet received. The Clerk again advised that Cllrs. should
consider whether agreement to maintain the hedges would create
a precedent. After discussion, which gave consideration to the
status of residents of the Almshouses and the possible implications
for other village residents, it was resolved that it would not
be appropriate for the Parish Council to meet the cost of maintaining
the garden hedges.
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| Cllr Wilson was recalled to
the meeting and took the chair. |
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| 12 SALC Area Meeting representative’s
report. |
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| Cllr. Merritt reported that he had not attended
the meeting on 2nd March. |
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13. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains
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13.1 Meeting Green crossroads. County Cllr. Midwood
reported on a site meeting this day with Highways to consider
how visibility along Ousden Road for vehicles approaching from
Coltsfoot Green might be improved. Highways confirmed their
responsibility for the hedgerow on this corner. However it was
considered that the main problem is with the line of the Ousden
Road and a mini-roundabout was suggested. County Cllr. Midwood
had expressed the view that this would not be acceptable. Highways
had requested details of all traffic incidents at the junction.
Cllrs. suggested that give-way signing on all approaches to
the junction might improve the situation.
13.2 Potholes. The severe potholing at the edge of Moor Green
had been reported to Highways.
13.3 Coltsfoot Green bridge. Repairs under way.
13.4 Ashfield Green verge marker posts. Highways had confirmed
that these had been erected at the request of the property owners. |
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| 14. Rights of Way |
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14.1 Signposting. New signs had been erected.
The Clerk had reported a partially obscured sign at the Ashfield
Green start of FP 20 to Rights of Way.
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| 15. Emergency Planning. |
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| Cllr. Bevan reported that he was working on revisions
to the Emergency Response Plan but that completion would be
delayed due to other commitments. |
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16. Affordable Housing Survey
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The Clerk distributed example packs based on
information provided by Suffolk ACRE.
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17. Replacement St Edmundsbury Local Plan
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Cllrs. had attended a presentation of the Plan on 17th March
and a consultation copy is on circulation. It had been indicated
at the presentation that the Plan as presented is likely to
be subjected to major changes.
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| 18. Appointment of Clerk |
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| A satisfactory employer reference for the sole
applicant having been presented it was proposed by Cllr. Harrison,
seconded by Cllr. Sumner and passed unanimously that Mrs. L.
Pitt be offered the post of Clerk and Proper Officer. Appointment
to be subject to 6 months probation and be for 6 hours per week
average at salary LC1-SCP15 subject to review on completion
of the probationary period. The Clerk was instructed to present
the offer. |
Clerk |
| 19. Appointment of Responsible Finance
Officer |
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It was explained that in order to assist with
the transfer of duties to the new Clerk and with the annual
audit, the present Clerk had offered to continue with the RFO
responsibilities until the end of August at latest. Resolved
that the Clerk be appointed as RFO for 3 hours per week at current
salary.
RFO duties to transfer to the new Clerk together with the additional
hours by end August.
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15. Date of next meeting
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| Thursday 21st April, 7.30 p.m., MSC Pavilion |
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16. Dates of subsequent meetings
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| To be arranged |
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| 10001 |
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| 22. Any other business |
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22.1 Chairmanship of the Parish Council. Cllr.
Wilson reminded the meeting that, as previously resolved, the
chairman’s term of office was limited to four years and
as such he would not be able to stand for re-election at the
Annual Parish Council Meeting in May. However he suggested that
to provide continuity while the new Clerk is becoming established
Cllrs. might wish to consider his remaining in post for a further
period, say three months, with a chairperson-elect being appointed
in May.
22.2 Cemetery administration. The Clerk reported that D. Pope,
who has been voluntarily carrying out grave allocations and
liaison with funeral directors etc on behalf of the Parish Council
for some years, had indicated that he now wished to retire.
These duties would then fall to the Clerk.
22.3 Football on the six-acres. It was noted that the small
goals were being used for training of the junior football team.
The Clerk was instructed to advise the Football Club that such
use is not permitted. |
Clerk |
| Meeting closed at 9.55p.m. |
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