Meeting of
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2007 - THE PAVILION, PAKENHAM
PRESENT: Cllr J Mangnall, Cllr M Sargent, Cllr L Patterson, Cllr H Painter, Cllr R Griffin, Cllr P Smith.
Borough Cllr C Spicer and Mrs M Gardiner (clerk) were in attendance & County Councillor R Hopfensperger attended for part of the meeting.
1 - APOLOGIES: Cllr Dorling
2 - DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: None
3 - PUBLIC FORUM:
Six members of the public were present. It was unanimously agreed to change the order of agenda items to place Borough Councillor Spicer next on the agenda as his report was relevant to questions the villagers wanted to raise.
4 - POLICE REPORT:
No report
5 - BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:
Parking in Bury St Edmunds: The Council has a watching brief.
Public Service Village
Borough & County Council offices will all be located together on the Western Way site. Cllr Spicer invited comments. The Chairman remarked that access was not easy without a car. Cllr Spicer said that bus access would be improved and that plenty of car parking would be provided. Cllr Painter requested site of economics of the venture.
The Borough recycles 50% of its waste. Pakenham WI is hosting a coffee morning on 24th March, when waste recycling would be explained fully.
Pakenham items
Planning application for the site next to 54 The Owell will be going to committee on 5th April. A council representative was requested at the meeting, although Cllr Spicer will be present.
The Borough maintenance engineer has agreed to re-instate the light at the entrance to The Greenwoods.
Cllr Spicer circulated a letter he had sent to the Head of Planning concerning our worries over various sites in the village.
Shetland Boats site: Environmental Health found no odours. There is no evidence of harm to amenities from any smell & this would have to be proved. Cllr Spicer will keep a watching brief. The Head of Planning will be asked to remind Shetland Boats before their agreement comes to an end shortly.
No 2 Micklemere: The Head of Planning would be unlikely to grant retrospective planning permission and is not prepared to allow the two dwellings. Cllr Spicer will enquire whether Land Registry has been informed and also whether rates are being paid on both properties. There has been no change of use and no criminal offence has been committed. The Council should activate their Enforcement Officer. The motion: Should we insist that it must remain a single dwelling? was carried unanimously by the parish councillors and the public.
Dumping on the A143 & Mill Road: This is all linked to the Bardwell site. Mr Reynolds has stated that he is removing and replacing material on the sites. The Borough to examine material on site to ascertain its origin.
Anderson's pit: Cllr Spicer reported that the Borough officers were aware of our concerns, but could take no action as, in their view, activity did not occur often enough! There must be evidence of harm, through noise, health etc. Mrs Lovegrove provided a further schedule showing activity occurred almost every day. Mr Anderson has not replied to the letter sent to him by the Borough. Two large concrete foundations and two toilets have arrived on site, plus a large container.
6 - COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:
Baileypool Bridge: As the signs were being replaced, a tractor with a very large trailer went over the bridge & was given a warning. Local residents are asked to take a note of number plates of similar offenders, when the culprits will be prosecuted. Cllr Hopfensperger was unaware of the latest damage to the bridge and requested copies of the photographs. There will be a site visit to review grass triangles.
The County Council has allocated money from the locality budget towards the provision of equestrian signs, which will be erected shortly.
Mobile Library routes are changing - comments welcomed. Flyers advertising the routes will be placed in the Post Office.
School transport requests: Cllr Hopfensperger has been dealing with requests from two families in Fen Road for the provision of transport to Ixworth school.
Schools re-organisation: Decision day is 28th March. Cllr Hopfensperger has not received any comments from Pakenham residents.
All councils, except Ipswich, have signed up for Pathfinder status, which should make it easier for councils to work together.
The Chairman asked for potholes along the church end of Fen Road to be brought to the attention of the Highways Dept.
The Chairman convened the meeting.
7 - MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
8th January & 29th January were agreed & signed as true records.
8 - CLERK'S REPORT:
CPS Fuels wrote telling us that the Manor Garth oil tank is planned for removal during the first half of this year. The site will then be up for sale, should the Council be interested.
A burial space had been pre-booked.
Fen Road - A reply had been received from the Highways Dept about the condition of this road. A site meeting will be arranged between their representative and members of the council to discuss this matter and also the triangles at the Fen Road junction with Bull Lane and the Fen Road to Baileypool Bridge junction.
No 1 Micklemere - A reply had been received from Environmental Health regarding the building rubbish in the garden. They had visited the site and passed the matter to Waste Management who will also visit.
A143 Tipping - Telephone call from Borough saying they have spoken to the owner of a nearby house. They are actively pursuing the matter but it will take time!
David Ruffley acknowledged the copy sent to him of the Planning Officer's letter outlining our several points of concern.
Baileypool Bridge has been damaged again. Photographs were passed to the County Councillor.
Pakenham Council website - Clerk had prepared a front page for our council through the Onesuffolk site that hosts county, borough & parish councils and other community organisations. Councillors approved the page, which will lead people to the current Pakenham Village web-site.
9 - PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
SE/07/0068 - 54 The Owell.
Access amendment to previous application.
The council compared the amendment to the previous drawing and could see no improvement to the access, therefore our original comments still stand.
SE/07/1223 - Gemeed, Bury Road, Ixworth.
Erection of 2 storey & single storey extension to rear.
The applicants attended the meeting. Councillors were concerned about the visual impact of the side elevation and suggested it be redesigned to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
APPLICATIONS GRANTED/REFUSED
Planning granted: Old Hall Farm, Pakenham.
SE/04/3237/P - Priory Farmhouse, Bury Rd, Ixworth.
Amendments submitted to Planning Dept & approved by them.
SE/05/1118/P - 1 & 2 Upper Town, Pakenham.
Amendment submitted to Planning Dept who advised that a new application should be made to them.
ENF/06/001 - Woodstock Bungalow, Fen Rd.
Letter from Planning Dept clarifying amendments to original plans.
Letter from Head of Planning & Engineering Services informing councillors of progress over problems with Shetland Boats, Anderson's Pit, No 2 Micklemere and Tipping at Mill Road & the A143.
10 - FINANCE REPORT: attached.
.
11 - CCTV OUTSIDE VILLAGE HALL:
The light is not working again, but the camera is up and running. Cllr Painter to chase McAlpine to repair lamp.
12 - THE DELL:
Hedge trimming & fencing - it was unanimously agreed that Mark Bleay's estimate for the work should be accepted.
13 - SHETLAND BOATS SITE:
Replies had been received from Anglian Water and the Environment Agency, who had found no pollution in the area. Natural England (English Nature) had no trace of a report on the site, but had records of great crested newts as well as otter and water vole in the area and asked to be kept informed of any proposed development of the site. Copy to be sent to Planning Dept.
14 - CORRESPONDENCE:
Communities & Local Government: Revised Model Code of Conduct - comments by 9 March. Circulated.
St Edmundsbury - Standards Committee 31 Jan considered revised Code of Conduct.
Standards Committee Hearing Panel
Lettings policy consultation.
Bury St Edmunds Town Council/Peninsula - Employment Law & Health & Safety seminar.
Suffolk County Council - Bird Flu outbreak notice
School organisation review - leaflets distributed to councillors & placed in Post Office.
Suffolk Garbology Project - circulated
Road safety poster - for noticeboard
Booklet - Just around the corner, in conjunction with Age Concern
Suffolk Waste Partnership - Annual Report
SALC: Consultation document - The Commons Act 2006: Protection of Common Land in England: none in Pakenham.
Care about Healthcare - Feedback form deadline 30 March: circulated.
Building & Strengthening your Community - Horringer Community Centre, Fri 16 March 10.30-3.30: No councillors free to attend.
Suffolk Calor Gas Village of the Year competition - it was agreed not to enter this year.
EEAPTC News - circulated.
Suffolk Acre newsletter - circulated.
Rainwater harvesting - circulated.
Local Councillor magazines distributed.
Website & other trainings.
GO-East - Proposed changes to the East of England Plan - comments by 9 March. Circulated.
National Probation Service Community payback scheme - labour available for community projects.
Suffolk Accident Rescue Service - donations requested.
Agreed.
Suffolk Family Carers - Donation request. Agreed not this time.
Shaw Trust - Shaping Health - Patient & Public Involvement in Health Forums. For noticeboard.
Turfsol Ltd - Grounds maintenance work. To be kept on file.
15 - OPEN FORUM:
Cllr Patterson reported that she had walked into Church Wood, which was not in good order. Residents of a nearby cottage had been dumping their waste at the entrance. The Chairman will visit and then write to residents.
Cllr Griffin reported that hedges on the corner of Fen Road/Broadway were growing into the road. Clerk to write to Mr R Ballard at Nether Hall, the owners of the land to request that they be trimmed.
Some residents had asked if we were due to have a travellers' site in our area. The Council is not aware of any being planned locally.
Buggy Club - No further money has been received from the club. It was unanimously agreed to give the club notice to leave the site and remove their equipment.
16 - DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday 5th April 2007, 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
