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Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
24th June 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting Room |
Present
Cllrs. P. Bevan (Vice-chairman), S. Sumner, K. Merritt, J. Claydon,
J. Walker
County Cllr. J. Midwood; Borough Cllr. D. Redhead
Clerk P. Miller
In the absence of Chairman,
Cllr. Bevan took the chair
1. Apologies
for absence
Cllrs. J. Wilson and A. Harrison
2. Minutes
of Meeting of 27th May
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. Bevan re. the Churchyard
Cllr. Walker re. planning application SE/04/1614/P, Crow Cottage.
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| 5. Reports |
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5.1 County Cllr.
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5.1.1 Catholic school transport. Will be charged to parents
but not until 2005 and then for new pupils only. Will be phased
in over 5 years so savings will not be fully achieved until
2010.
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5.1.2 Bus services. Noted that First Direct propose to stop
their services between Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
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5.1.3 Locality Fund. Grants for the Tennis and Bowls disabled
access being processed. Grant for the Primary School already
entered.
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5.1.4 Other matters recorded under relevant minutes 13 and
14
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5.2 Borough Cllr.
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5.2.1 Comprehensive Performance Assessment. Currently being
carried out on the Borough by the Audit Commission. Interim
report due 25th June.
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5.2.1 Cattle Market development. The consultation display
has produced a good response from the public. In response to
a question from the Clerk, gave assurance that all residents
of the Borough would be receiving consultation documents.
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| 5.2.3 Haverbury grounds maintenance. Had contacted Haverbury
re. cutting of grassed areas of Nunnery Green. There had been
problems with the grounds contract but these are being resolved. |
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6. Clerk’s Report
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6.1 Wildlife Trust course. The Churchyard Management Course
was over subscribed so no place could be booked for Cllr. Bevan.
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6.2 Rural Services Review Consultation. Circulated. Noted.
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6.3 Haverbury News, April. Circulated. No action required.
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6.4 Clerks and Councils Direct, May. Circulated. Letter re.
audit costs noted – the Clerk advised that this was because
a transaction took the charges into the next band but that this
should not happen with ours.
Possible village green signs noted – the Clerk advised
the cost to be £300-£400, depending on design, plus
installation. No action required.
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6.5 Sustainable Communities Conference. Circulated. Noted.
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6.6 Police Western Area Plan 2004/5. Circulated. Noted that
conviction rates not included and that detection rates are low.
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6.7 SALC Training Courses. Circulated. No action required.
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6.8 Review of Revenue Support Grants Consultation. Circulated.
Confirmed that a grant is received. Advised of a meeting on
28th June at Borough Offices to provide further information.
Noted.
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6.9 Borough Grants Policy consultation. Circulated. Noted.
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6.10 Borough Comprehensive Performance Review consultation.
Circulated. Cllrs. had indicated that they wished to respond
from this meeting. However following a proposal from Cllr. Claydon
it was agreed that the document be re-circulated for attention.
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Clerk |
| 6.11 Bowls Club. Correspondence received indicating impending
closure of the Club and seeking help/advice to continue. Agreed
that Bowls Club be invited to attend next meeting. |
Clerk |
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6.12 Suffolk Housing Society Annual Report. On circulation.
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6.13 CPRE Fieldwork newsletter. On circulation.
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| 6.14 CPRE Countryside Voice newsletter. On circulation. |
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| 7. Finance |
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| 7.1 The following payments were approved: |
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| 7.1.1 |
1114 |
J. Wilson |
Pet portrait – B. Fairhall presentation
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65.00 S137 |
| 7.1.2 |
1115 |
Anglian Water |
Bowls green supply |
24.36 |
| 7.1.3 |
1116 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s salary – April to June |
669.47 |
| 7.1.4 |
1117 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s home/office costs – April to June |
45.00 |
| 7.2 The following income was received: |
| 7.2.1 |
100354 |
Southgates |
Cemetery fees – 2 interments |
128.00 |
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7.3 Audit for year ending 31st March 2004.
The Statement of Accounts prepared by the Clerk was accepted.
Cllrs. agreed their positive responses to all sections of the
Statement of Assurance.
The documents were duly signed by the Clerk and Cllr. Bevan.
Resolved that all documentation be submitted to the Internal
Auditor.
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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/04/2211/P – Crows Farm - extensions –
no objection
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8.1.2 SE/04/2324/P – Lady’s Green Farm - extension
– no objection
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8.1.3 SE/04/2230/P – land off Wash Lane – erection
of stabling and storage - objection
not considered appropriate to proposed purpose; contravenes
guidance on development in countryside; inadequate vehicle access.
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8.1.4 SE/04/2231/P – 13 Coltsfoot Close – conservatory
– no objection
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8.1.5 SE/04/2436/P – 2 Bleak Cottage, Cemetery Road
– conservatory – no objection
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| 8.3 The following applications granted/refused by the Borough
Council or withdrawn were noted: |
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8.2.1 SE/04/1061/P – Easterwood Farm – holiday
accommodation – withdrawn
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8.2.2 SE/04/1614/P – Crow Cottage – swimming pool
pavilion – granted
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8.2.3 SE/04/1750/P – Moatwood Cottage, Giffords Lane
– extension (revised) – granted
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| 8.2.4 SE/04/1957/P – 1 Hill Cottages, Old Bury Road
– extension (revised) - granted |
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| 9. Estates Committee |
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| Minutes of meeting of 8th June had been issued. No matters
were raised. |
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10. Churchyard and Cemetery
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Cllr. Bevan retired from the meeting in view of his
declared interest.
Cllr. Claydon was elected to the chair. |
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10.1 Responsibility for maintenance. This had been referred
from the Estates Committee as the extent of the Parish Council’s
responsibility had been unclear.
The Clerk reported that he had researched past minutes held
at the Records Office and found:
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10.1.1 Closed churchyard of All Saints Church. No confirmation
that the Parish Council had formally accepted responsibility
but various references back to 1947 indicated that maintenance
work had been undertaken as a matter of responsibility. Works
included were repairs to the walls and gate; tree surgery; making
good pathways; graves maintenance including the laying down
of headstones under a faculty granted in 1965. The Clerk expressed
the opinion that even if a formal agreement had not been made
or minuted the Parish Council had clearly accepted responsibility
for maintenance.
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10.1.2 Cemetery. Minuted that the Parish Council merged with
the Burial Authority in 1895 under the Local Government Act
1894. Under this and subsequent Acts, the Parish Council is
the burial authority and therefore responsible for the old and
new cemeteries.
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10.2 Extent of responsibility. The Clerk advised that the
Parish Council appears only to have a “duty of care”,
i.e. to maintain the churchyard/cemetery as a safe and tidy
environment, and is not required to maintain to the original
condition. Responsibility for grave maintenance rests with the
descendents or nominees of the deceased but where these cannot
be traced the Parish Council becomes responsible. However the
Parish Council does have a responsibility to take urgent remedial
action where necessary to ensure public safety, to provide Public
Liability Insurance, and to carry out such safety checks and
risk assessments as may be appropriate.
Resolved that a meeting be arranged with the Parochial Church
Council to clarify mutual responsibility.
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Clerk |
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10.3 Repair of grave. The Clerk advised the need for a policy
regarding the repair of graves and repair or laying-down of
unsafe headstones for which the Parish Council is responsible.
A quote of £50 had been obtained for repair of a currently
unsafe headstone in the churchyard – there are no known
descendents of the deceased.
Resolved that this headstone be repaired but without prejudice
to consideration of future works or policy.
The Clerk was instructed to place the repair contract.
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Clerk |
10.4 Memorial repair. A letter from the PCC seeking financial
support with the repair of two historic memorials on the outside
wall of the church was considered. Resolved that £200
be granted.
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Clerk |
| Cllr. Bevan was recalled to the meeting and resumed the chair. |
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| 11. MSC |
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11.1 Representatives report. Cllr. Sumner reported that there
had been no trustees meeting.
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| 11.2 In response to a question from Cllr. Sumner, the Clerk
confirmed that a written instruction had been issued to both
the Carnival Committee and the Football Club to the effect that
a football match could not be played on the six-acres on Carnival
Day unless appropriate insurance had been arranged and confirmed
with the Clerk. It was noted that the Carnival programme includes
a five-a-side match. |
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| 12. United Charities representatives report |
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| No report received |
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| 13. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains |
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13.1 Cutting of verges. County Cllr. Midwood had received
apologies from Highways and assurances that efforts are being
made to correct the poor cutting which is a safety issue, particularly
on lanes where vision is restricted.
The Clerk explained that he had not written to Highways as instructed
at the previous meeting as he had been awaiting the outcome
of recent verge cutting. As this was unsatisfactory he will
write now.
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Clerk |
13.2 Roadworks. County Cllr. Midwood had received surface
dressing and forward works programme.
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13.3 Overnight lorry parking. Noted that lay-by on Shop Hill
is being used. County Cllr. Midwood advised that this is becoming
a serious problem in some villages due to the lack of adequate
facilities generally.
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13.4 Wide vehicle routes. Cllr. Claydon drew attention to
the inadequate width, for 4 metre loads, of parts of the advised
route through Bury St Edmunds following restrictions on use
of the Westley bridge.
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13.5 Thorns Close drainage sump. In response to a question
from the Clerk, County Cllr. Midwood agreed to contact Highways
re. the planned by-pass drain.
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13.6 Meeting Green hedges. The Clerk reported that he had
received a number of complaints about the hedges on the corners
of the crossroads restricting vision. As the householders were
not known to Cllrs. the Clerk was instructed to write.
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Clerk |
| 13.7 Bus stop on A143. The Clerk presented a letter expressing
concern at the potential road safety hazard at the school bus
stop near the Plumbers Arms. The Clerk was instructed to refer
the matter to Highways. |
Clerk |
| 14. Rights of Way |
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14.1 Cutting of footpaths. County Cllr. Midwood reported that
she had contacted Highways and had been asked for details of
uncut paths. The Clerk commented that since the County Cllr.
had spoken to him on this matter he had made enquiries and was
not aware of any cutting by Rights of Way this year. It was
agreed that the Clerk inform Rights of Way accordingly.
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Clerk |
14.2 Vehicles on footpaths. The Clerk reported that he had
included this in his Scene report for July.
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15. Broadband.
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| Cllr. Bevan advised that as BT had closed the trigger registration
process there was no point in proceeding with the promotion
campaign. Agreed that this matter be closed. |
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| 16. Neighbourhood Watch |
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Cllr. Sumner reported that he had not yet contacted the Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinator.
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SS |
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17. Date of next meeting
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| Thursday 22nd July, 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room. |
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18. Dates of subsequent meetings
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| 26th August; 23rd September |
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| 19. Any other business |
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19.1 SALC AGM. The Clerk explained that this had not appeared
on the agenda as the papers were received after preparation.
However as the meeting is on 17th July Cllrs. might wish to
consider mandating Cllr. Sumner, who is attending the meeting,
on the published resolutions. The Clerk then presented the resolutions.
No mandates were given.
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| Meeting closed at 11.10p.m. |
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