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Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council
27th November 2003 at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room |
Present
P. Bevan (Vice-chairman), K. Merritt, S. Sumner, J. Claydon,
J. Walker
County Cllr. J. Midwood; District Cllr. D. Redhead
Clerk P. Miller.
In the absence of the Chairman,
Cllr Bevan took the chair.
1. Apologies for absence
Cllrs. J. Wilson, A. Harrison, Community Beat Officer P.C. M.
England.
2. Minutes of Meeting of 30th October
The previously issued minutes were then taken as read and signed.
3. Matters arising.
There were no matters arising that were not otherwise on the
agenda.
4. Declarations of interest in agenda
items.
Cllr. Sumner declared interest in the website – minute
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5. Register of Interests
These had been completed. |
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6. Reports
6 .1 County Cllr. |
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6 .1.1 Funding Roadshow. 26th November. Some interesting
points had been raised and useful guidance given on sources
of funding. Broadband options being taken up by some parishes
were outlined. The opportunity for networking between parishes
was considered very valuable.
Unfortunately problems with access to the MSC Pavilion had given
a poor impression to visitors on arrival.
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6.1.2 Operation of new reactive speed limit signs in Ashley
had been noted.
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| 6 .1.3 Locality Fund 2004/05. Application received from the
Primary School for assistance with provision of solar heating
for the swimming pool. |
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| 6.1.4 Cllr. Sumner re-raised the matter of cyclist without
lights at night, this time on Shop Hill. Joggers/runners in
dark clothing was also mentioned. The Clerk was instructed to
refer to the Community Beat Officer. |
Clerk |
| 6.1.5 Other comments recorded under related minutes 14.3,
14.5. |
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| 6.2 District Cllr. |
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| 6.2.1 Blue Bin scheme. Now under way. Initial responses have
been variable. Scheme is intended to reduce pressure on landfill
sites and if successful should lead to increased government
funding which can be used to offset Council Tax. |
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| 6.2.2 Bury Christmas lights. There had been less aggravation
over funding this year. |
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| 6.2.3 Standards Board. Had attended a Board meeting and found
it interesting to see how the procedures work. Noticeable that
Board members were very careful in conducting the meeting to
avoid possible standards contravention which could result in
them being brought before the Board. |
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7. Clerk’s Report
7.1 Countryside Act information pack. Circulated. No action
required. |
Clerk |
| 7.2 SALC Risk Assessment course. Circulated. No action required. |
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| 7.3 Ponds and Wildlife course information. Circulated. No
action required. |
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| 7.4 CPRE newsletter. Circulated. No action required. |
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| 7.5 Drug Action information. Circulated. Attendance by Cllr.
Merritt at 8th January awareness-raising session approved. |
KM |
| 7.6 SALC subscription increase information. Circulated. No
action required. |
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| 7.7 Clerks & Councils Direct, September issue. Circulated.
No action required. |
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| 7.8 Clerks and Councils Direct, November issue. On circulation. |
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| 7.9 Suffolk ACRE magazine, Autumn issue. On circulation. |
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| 7.10 NHS West Suffolk Primary Care Trust report. On circulation. |
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| 7.11 CPRE Rural Matters. On circulation. |
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| 7.12 NHS Patient and Public Involvement Forums application
pack. On circulation. |
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| 7.13 Neighbourhood Watch News. On circulation. |
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| 7.14 SALC Area Committee meeting, 3rd December. On circulation.
A separate copy had been issued to Cllr. Merritt as the representative
to the committee. |
KM |
| 7.15 Suffolk Wildlife Trust course – woodland protection
and management, 5th December. No representative. |
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| 7.16 Suffolk Wildlife Trust course – hedgerows protection
and management, 14th January. To be circulated. |
Clerk |
| 7.17 MSC Entertainment Licence extension, New Year’s
Eve. In order to meet the consultation closing date, the Clerk
had approved this in accordance with previous Parish Council
policy. |
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8. Finance
8.1 The following payments were approved: |
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| 8.1.1 1075 Heelis and Lodge
Internal audit fee 50.00 |
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| 8.1.2 1076 P. Miller Telephone
costs 91.09 |
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| 8.1.3 1077 Spoiled |
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| 8.1.4 1078 P. Miller Safety
mats – playground senior climber 75.20 |
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8.1.5 121 EIBE-play Ltd Teen
Project – 2nd payment 25,000.00 No.2 a/c
(First payment of £25,000 made 7th November to comply
with agreed terms.)
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| 8.2 The following income was received: |
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| 8.2.1 BACS Sport England Teen Project grant 25,868.00 No.2
a/c |
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| 8.2.2 Landfill Tax Credit grant of £2,500 for the Teen
Project had been paid directly by Suffolk Environmental Trust
to the Project suppliers EIBE-play Ltd. |
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8.3 Bank mandates. The Clerk reported on a meeting with the
bank manager. According to the bank, two recent mandate forms
were still outstanding.
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AH, SS |
Two mandate forms from a previous mandate change had been
lost by the bank and that mandate had not been actioned. New
forms were provided for completion.
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PB, KM |
The bank manager had accepted full responsibility for the
loss and for the acceptance of cheques signed by non-mandated
signatories.
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8.4 Councillors’ allowances. The NALC Legal Topic Note
24 had been circulated. A report of the Borough Council’s
Parish Remuneration Panel dated 20th November was tabled which
recommended a basic allowance for all cllrs. of up to £100.
This allowance would only be applicable to elected cllrs. not
co-opted ones. Levels of travel expenses and subsistence allowances
were also recommended in the report. Travel expenses can now
be paid for in-parish journeys.
It was agreed that the decision on whether the basic allowance
should be paid be deferred to the next meeting.
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| 8.5 Budget and Precept 2004/05 |
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| 8.5.1 Bowls Club grant. The Clerk reported that the Bowls
Club had decided not to apply for a grant towards the cost of
repairs to the pavilion. |
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| 8.5.2 Special needs access to Playground and Teen Project.
Agreed that no additional funds be allocated for disabled access
to the Playground and Teen Project in 2004/05 as there are some
earmarked funds in-hand which could be allocated if necessary. |
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8.5.3 MSC grant. Cost details for future works had been provided
by letter from J. Field, Vice-chairman, MSC Committee.
Cllr.
Claydon was advised to retire from the meeting while this matter
was discussed as, being Chairman of the MSC committee, he had
a prejudicial interest.
After consideration of the information provided it was suggested
that no grant should be made to the MSC in the next financial
year. It was considered that more detailed information regarding
the MSC’s projected financial status, long term planning
and fundraising intentions would be needed before any grant
could be considered. It was noted that this information had
been requested when the initial grant application had been made
in 2002/03 and again in the current year.
However it was suggested that £2,000 be allocated towards
the cost of providing disabled access to the Tennis Courts and
Bowls Green which had been included in the MSC’s projected
costs. This work to be ordered and controlled by the Parish
Council.
It was proposed by Cllr. Sumner, seconded Cllr. Walker and resolved
unanimously that £2,000, to be earmarked for Tennis Courts
and Bowls Green disabled access, be added to the draft budget
previously circulated and considered at the October meeting
and that the budget should then form the precept estimate for
2004/05 resulting in a precept of £19,024 and estimated
Band D tax of £33.88.
The Clerk was instructed to complete the precept demand accordingly.
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Clerk |
Cllr. Claydon was recalled to the meeting.
The decision regarding the MSC grant application was advised
to Cllr. Claydon.
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9. Planning
9 .1 The following applications had been considered by the Parish
Council on circulation |
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9.1.1 SE/03/3375/P – Beechwood, Ladys Green –
conservatory – no objection
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9.1.2 SE/03/3524/LB – Wakelins. Genesis Green –
retention of works – no objection
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9.1.3 SE/03/3525/LB – Wakelins. Genesis Green –
retention of works – no objection
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9.1.4 SE/03/2139/P – 7 Wickham House Bungalows –
extension (amended) – no objection
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| 9.1.5 TCA/03/974 – The Old rectory – tree reduction
and felling – no objection |
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9.2 The following application was considered:
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9.2.1 SE/03/3660/P – Sunnydale, Wash Lane – replacement
dwelling – objection
the proposed property was considered to be too large and to
contravene the Local Plan policy which specifies that replacement
dwellings in the countryside should only present a modest change
to the size and appearance of the original building.
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| 9.3 The following application granted/refused by the Borough
Council or withdrawn were noted: |
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| 9.3.1 SE/03/3154/P – New House Farm, Baxters Green –
new dwellings – granted |
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| 9.3.2 SE/03/3191/P – Grove Farm Stud – outline,
new dwellings – withdrawn |
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| 9.3.3 SE/03/3263/P – 4 Clopton Park - conservatory –
granted |
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10. Estates Committee
12.1 Minutes of the meeting of 11th November had been issued.
No matters were raised. |
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| 10.2 Teen Project progress. |
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10.2.1 Installation. On target.
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10.2.2 RoSPA safety inspection. Ordered. Date to be confirmed.
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Clerk |
| 10.2.3 Insurance. Current specification awaited. |
Clerk |
| 10.3 Six acres sports agreements. Completed. |
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11. MSC
Representatives report. Cllr. Sumner reported on the Trustees
meeting of 3rd November: |
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| 11.1 Youth Club. Membership had increased from 21 to 48. |
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| 11.2 Funds. Although the Treasurer was not present it was
reported that the funds were healthy. |
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| 11.3 Keyholding. Concern had been expressed and was being
investigated. |
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| 11.4 Hire charges. Discussed, particularly in relation to
the Players. Agreed that a flat charge be proposed to the Players. |
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12. Tree Warden’s report
Cllr. Bevan tabled a map indicating a number of trees on the
Cemetery, Recreation Ground and Coltsfoot Green which need pruning
and/or thinning for cosmetic or safety reasons. It was agreed
that this should be referred to the Estates Committee as having
delegated responsibility for the areas in question. Cllr. Bevan
agreed to attend the next Estates Committee meeting.
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PB |
13. United Charities representatives report
No report available. |
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14. Hedges, Verges, Roads and Drains
14.1 Grit heaps. These had been provided.
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| 14.2 Bridge at Coltsfoot Green. Work re-started.
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| 14.3 Flooding of footway/road opposite surgery. County Cllr.
Midwood reported that West Area Highways had agreed to investigate
and establish responsibility for drainage damage. |
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| 14.4 Drainage problem, Boyden Close. Cllr. Claydon reported
to County Cllr. Midwood that a Yew tree had grown into the roadside
drain and blocked it. |
JM |
| 14.5 Sewerage problem, Nunnery Green. County Cllr. Midwood
reported that this was due to a blockage at the Surgery and
has been or is being resolved. |
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| 14.6 Hedges. Noted that considerable roadside hedging was
being carried out. |
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| 14.7 Attendance of Highways representative. The Clerk reported
that only one Cllr. had advised any points of concern for discussion
with Highways. |
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| 14.8 U7053 (Nunnery Green to Boyden End) speed limit. Draft
order for extension of 40 mph limit from Boyden End to existing
30 mph zone. This had been overlooked when the 40 mph zone was
introduced. |
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15. Rights of Way
Nothing reported.
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| 16. Website |
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Cllr. Sumner retired from the meeting in view of his
declared prejudicial interest.
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16.1 Site presentation. Cllr. Bevan reported on a meeting
between himself, Cllr. Merritt, the Clerk and Maria Sumner of
Mdsign, the site designer. The site had been viewed and found
to be very comprehensive. Village clubs and organisations had
provided contact points and information. The overall appearance
and navigability of the site was considered excellent.
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| 16.2 Future costs. The site design and updating is being provided
free-of-charge for the first year. In subsequent years there
will be a site licence charge, currently £100, plus updating
charges. The importance of regular updating was stressed and
this could be costly considering the size of site. Experience
in the first year should provide for on-going cost projections.
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| 16.3 Advertising. The site provided a list of available local
services and contacts. Alternative options for offering commercial
block/page adverts were considered. It was suggested that such
advertising should be external to the site and should be a separate
service provided to advertisers by Mdsign. |
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| 16.4 Start-up date. It was suggested that the site could go
on-line from 1st December for advance viewing and publicised,
through posters and/or press releases, two weeks later. |
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| 16.5 Resolved that the site be approved to go on-line from
1st December and that off-site commercial advertising be provided
by Mdsign. |
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17. Date of next meeting
Thursday 18th December, 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Meeting
Room
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18. Dates of subsequent meetings
22nd January 2004; 26th February
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19. Any other business
19.1 Consideration be given to a presentation to a retired cllr.
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Clerk |
| Meeting closed at 10.30 p.m. |
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