| 9981 |
Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
23rd September 2004 at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room |
| Present |
ACTION |
Cllrs. J. Wilson (Chairman), S. Sumner, J. Claydon,
J. Walker, K. Merritt, Cllr. A. Harrison
Community Beat Officer PC M. England
Clerk P. Miller
3 members of the public.
The Chairman welcomed the members of the public, two of whom
advised a specific concern about car parking in Coltsfoot Close.
(see minute 12.6)
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1. Apologies for absence
Cllr. P. Bevan, Borough Cllr. D. Redhead, County Cllr. J. Midwood |
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2. Minutes of Meeting of
26th August
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 village
website (minute 7.6).
The Clerk declared interest in Newstalk (minute 7.3.4) |
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| 5. Reports |
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5.1 County Cllr.
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| Cllr. Wilson reported on behalf of County Cllr.
Midwood |
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5.1.1 A new direct train service between Bury
and London is being started.
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5.1.2 Has there been any feedback on new bus
timetables? None of those present were aware of any.
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| 5.1.3 Is “About Suffolk” being received?
Approximately 30% of those present had received a copy. |
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5.2 Borough Cllr.
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The Clerk reported on behalf of the Borough Cllr.
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5.2.1 Cattle Market. Had questioned again the
short delivery of the consultation. In response it had been
stated that all parish councils had had the opportunity to comment
on the plans. The Clerk and Cllrs. confirmed that no plans had
been received.
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5.3 Community Beat Officer
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5.3.1 Policing Forum. Worthwhile to attend and
provide rural input. 6th October, 7 p.m. at Samuel Ward School.
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5.3.2 Speed enforcement. There is concern about
the placement and obscuring of some speed signs as speed checks
are not valid if signs are not clearly visible. Obscured signs
should be reported.
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5.3.3 Local policing. The second Clare based
officer has been moved to Bury and not yet replaced.
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5.3.4 Hare coursing. In response to a question
from Cllr. Claydon it was confirmed that illegal coursing should
be reported via 999.
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| 5.3.5 Neighbourhood Watch. See minute 14. |
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6. Clerk’s Report
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6.1 Periodic Electoral Review – final recommendations.
Circulated. Contents noted
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6.2 Health Service PPI Forums. Notice circulated.
Contents noted. Cllr. Bevan had expressed concern at the time
taken in circulation.
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6.3 Corporate Environmental Crime consultation.
Document circulated. Contents noted.
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6.4 Action on SALC AGM 2003 resolutions. Document
on circulation.
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6.5 Hedgerow Survey newsletter. On circulation.
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6.6 Wildlife Training Day. Notice on circulation.
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6.7 Common Land – right of way for vehicles.
Document on circulation.
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6.8 Routes to Advice Project. Circulated. The
Clerk was instructed to contact with a view to arranging a public
meeting.
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Clerk |
6.9 Bus routes and service changes. Details circulated.
No action required.
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6.10 Suffolk ACRE annual review and AGM. Documents
circulated. Contents noted.
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| 6.11 Draft Licensing Act. Consultation notice
circulated. Cllr. Sumner had requested the draft statement and
questionnaire. The Clerk advised that it was available on-line.
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| 9982 |
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6.12 Emergency Planning. Offer of presentation
by the Borough Emergency Planning Officer circulated. The Clerk
reported that advertising on the website, notice board, Scene
and Whats-On for a village Emergency Officer had brought no
response. The Clerk was instructed to invite the Borough Officer
to a Parish Council meeting.
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Clerk |
6.13 Community Action for Sustainability seminar.
Notice circulated. Contents noted.
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6.14 Suffolk Under Pressure conference. Notice
on circulation.
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6.15 Suffolk Preservation Society newsletter.
On circulation.
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6.16 Clerks & Councils Direct – September
issue. On circulation.
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6.17 Clean Neighbourhoods consultation. Document
on circulation.
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6.18 Political Activities of Local Government
Employees. Consultation document on circulation.
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6.19 Model Code of Conduct for Local Government
Employees. Consultation document on circulation.
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6.20 Local Transport Plan. Results document on
circulation.
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6.21 Wildlife Trust newsletters. On circulation.
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6.22 CPRE newsletter. On circulation.
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6.23 Proposal for Affordable Housing Scheme.
The Clerk was instructed to contact with a view to arranging
a public meeting – if possible in conjunction with Routes
to Advice Project (minute 6.8).
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Clerk |
6.24 Training on Planning Matters, 2nd November,
6 p.m. in the Borough Offices, Angel Hill. Cllr. Merritt indicated
willingness to attend.
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KM |
| 6.25 Funding of WicKids youth club. Request for
financial assistance received. Resolved that this be considered
when setting the 2005/6 budget. |
Clerk |
| 7. Finance |
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| 7.1 The following payments were approved: |
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| 7.1.1 |
1130 |
Lubbock Fine |
Audit fee |
411.25 |
| 7.1.2 |
1131 |
P. Miller |
Golden Wedding voucher (Diggens) |
25.00 S137 |
| 7.1.3 |
1132 |
PCC |
Donation ref. use of Meeting Room |
71.75 |
| 7.1.4 |
1133 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s salary July-Sept. + backdated increase |
706.29 |
| 7.1.5 |
1134 |
P. Miller |
Clerk’s office costs July-Sept. |
45.00 |
| 7.2 The following income was received: |
| 7.2.1 |
100357 |
Suffolk C.C. |
Locality Fund donation from County Cllr. |
636.00 |
| 7.3 The following donation appeals were
considered and payments approved: |
| 7.3.1 |
1135 |
Wickhambrook Local History Society (History
Recorder)
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30.00 S137 |
| 7.3.2 |
1136 |
Suffolk Accident Rescue Service
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30.00 S137 |
| 7.3.3 |
1137 |
Gatehouse
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30.00 S137 |
| 7.3.4 |
1138 |
St Edmundsbury Newstalk |
30.00 S137 |
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| 7.4 Disputed electricity bills. The Clerk reported
that this had still not been resolved. |
Clerk |
| 7.5 Audit. The report of the independent auditor,
Lubbock Fine, was tabled. This confirmed the annual return for
2003/4 to have been satisfactory and in accordance with Audit
Commission requirements. |
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| 7.6 Website costs. |
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| Cllr Sumner, having declared interest,
retired from the meeting while this item was considered. |
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| The village website had been set up and maintained
for the first year by Mdsign free of charge. Projected costs
for the year December 2004 to November 2005 and the proposed
cost to the Parish Council had been circulated. It was agreed
that the website had been well designed and maintained and represented
valuable publicity for the village as well as a useful information
source. It was therefore agreed in principle
that that the website should be funded for the next year although
the final decision could only be made when setting the budget
for 2005/6. |
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| Cllr. Sumner was recalled to the meeting. |
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| 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/04/3023/P – West View, Genesis
Green – no objection |
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8.1.2 SE/04/3033/P – 8 Wickham House Bungalows
– enlarged rooflight – no objection
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8.1.3 SE/04/3065/LB – Wakelins, Genesis
Green – security lights – no objection
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8.1.4 SE/04/3078/P – Westlea Cottage, Attleton
Green – replacement garage – no objection
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8.1.5 SE/04/3100/P – Samples Farm, Ashfield
Green – barn change of use – no objection
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| 8.1.6 SE/04/3144/P – Genesis Green Stud
– replacement stables – no objection |
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8.2 The following applications granted/refused
by the Borough Council or withdrawn were noted:
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8.2.1 SE/04/1848/LB – Rookery Farm, Genesis
Green – extension – granted
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8.2.2 SE/04/2692/P – Attleton Farm, Attleton
Green – change of use & erection of stables –
granted
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| 8.2.3 SE/04/2810/P – land adjacent to Landmark,
Coltsfoot Green – outline new dwelling - refused |
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| 9983 |
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| 9. Estates Committee |
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| Minutes of meeting of 14th September had been
issued. No matters were raised. |
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| 10. MSC representative’s report
by Cllr. Sumner |
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10.1 Committee structure. A number of initiatives
had been discussed. A proposal to reduce the number of meetings
per year was approved by the trustees.
Cllr. Wilson asked whether reducing the size of the trustees
committee had been considered. Cllr. Sumner responded that this
would require a change of constitution. However it was the view
of the trustees that many operational matters did not need to
be referred to the full trustees committee.
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| 10.2 Events. Consideration is being given to
running a number of events during the year. |
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| 11. United Charities representatives
report |
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| 11.1 Work on the Almshouses was nearing completion.
Weather conditions had caused delays but external work had been
completed and internal decoration was almost complete. |
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| 12. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains |
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12.1 Thorns Close drainage sump. Drainage system
completed.
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12.2 Thorns Close house numbering. The Clerk
reported that he had received no further response so would be
re-raising the issue following a further request from residents.
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12.3 Flooding outside The Greyhound. The Clerk
reported that Highways had advised that reconstruction of the
drainage system would be included in the 2005/6 programme at
cost of around £10,000. In the meantime the existing system
would be jetted on a number of occasions.
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12.4 Speeding motorcycles. The Clerk reported
that PC England had advised that traffic officers would be dealing
with the matter.
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12.5 Roadside access mirrors. The Clerk reported
that a Planning Officer had advised that although such mirrors
do not usually require planning approval it is advisable to
seek confirmation before installation particularly as Highways
approval may be required to ensure that the mirror does not
present a distraction to road users.
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12.6 Parking in Coltsfoot Close. Two residents
of the Close explained that vehicles were regularly parked outside
their property at the entrance to the Close and that the drivers
were not residents of the Close. These vehicles sometimes blocked
access to their drive, prevented them parking in front of their
gate and prevented their visitors from parking. They also said
that some other residents experienced difficulty entering and
leaving the Close. They considered that the situation had been
aggravated by the barrier posts being erected around Coltsfoot
Green so preventing parking there.
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Cllr. Wilson pointed out that the posts were
erected to restrict such parking as the Green was being damaged
and the Parish Council has a legal duty to protect the village
greens.
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The Community Beat Officer confirmed information
already given to the residents by the Clerk that as the Close
is an adopted road parking cannot be restricted unless such
parking causes an obstruction e.g. alongside a dropped curb.
As described it appeared that the vehicles were not usually
causing an obstruction. However he agreed to look into the matter.
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ME |
| It was suggested that having an ‘H’
painted on the road at the drive entrance may help to stop it
being blocked and the Clerk was instructed to investigate. |
Clerk |
| 13. Rights of Way |
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| 13.1 A footpaths Improvement Plan consultation
had been received. The Clerk was instructed to circulate it
for urgent responses. |
Clerk |
| 14. Neighbourhood Watch |
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14.1 The Community Beat Officer confirmed that
he had been contacted by the Sector Commander following an e-mail
to the latter from the Clerk.
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14.2 Communication. PC England advised that Neighbourhood
Watch co-ordinators are kept informed of local crimes through
a fortnightly e-mailed newsletter. In the case of an urgent
matter, e.g. a request to watch for a suspect vehicle or notification
of distraction burglaries in the village, contact is made by
phone through the Comnet system..
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Cllr. Sumner suggested that fortnightly newsletter
was not sufficient and suggested that more frequent crime reports
could be e-mailed to co-ordinators. PC England agreed to discuss
this with the Community Watch Liaison Officer.
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ME |
| 14.3 Recruitment. A copy of the village Neighbourhood
Watch recruitment flier was tabled and it was explained that
distribution had been postponed pending the present Co-ordinator
standing down. Cllr. Wilson suggested that the flier be distributed
with the Whats-On and PC England agreed to contact the editor. |
ME |
| 9984 |
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15. Date of next meeting
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| Thursday 28th October, 7.30 p.m., (venue to be
confirmed). |
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16. Dates of subsequent meetings
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| 9th December (re-scheduled from 25th November) |
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| 17. Any other business |
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The Chairman, on advice from the Clerk,
asked members of the public to leave the meeting as the following
discussion would relate to a confidential matter.
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17.1 The Clerk reported that a Cllr. had been
referred to the Standards Board for non-compliance with interest
regulations. The complainant had asked for a copy of an internal
letter to forward to the Standards Board. After discussion it
was agreed that the letter be provided and the Clerk was instructed
to act accordingly.
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Clerk |
| Meeting closed at 9.40p.m. |
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