Meeting of
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MONDAY 21ST MAY 2007 - PAKENHAM VILLAGE HALL
Signed declarations of acceptance of office and declarations of interest forms were accepted from all councillors and counter-signed before the meeting.
PRESENT: Cllr M Sargent, Cllr H Painter, Cllr R Griffin, Cllr D Dorling, Cllr M Bryant, Cllr N Farthing, Cllr A Kibbel, Borough Cllr C Spicer and County Cllr R Hopfensperger. 7 members of the public also attended.
Mrs M Gardiner (clerk) was in attendance.
1 - ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN:
There were two nominations: A paper vote was taken with Cllr H Painter receiving the most votes. Cllr Painter (proposed by Cllr Dorling & seconded by Cllr Sargent) was, therefore, elected as Chairman and Cllr N Farthing (proposed by Cllr Painter & seconded by Cllr R Griffin was elected Vice-Chairman).
2 - SIGNATURE OF DECLARATION OF OFFICE:
The Chairman signed a declaration of acceptance of office form for the post.
3 - APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: none received. .
4 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
5 - PUBLIC FORUM: no subjects for discussion.
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6 - BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:
The Borough Council are trying to ensure that people can still get into BSE during the current Cattle Market development and are investigating the position of new public conveniences in the town centre.
Cllr Spicer is chasing the erection of a replacement streetlight at the entrance to The Greenwood.
He attended the Neighbourhood Watch meeting at Ixworth with Mrs Jackson, the village representative. Our new police officer, under the new Safer Neighbourhoods scheme is PC Graham Howe, who is based at Horringer, but who will also cover the Ixworth area.
Planning - Cllr Spicer is continuing to push for action with regard to Shetland Boats, tipping at Mill Lane, Anderson's field, No 2 Micklemere and building rubbish at No 1 Micklemere. He has spoken to the Chief Executive and has received confirmation that all these issues are being dealt with. The Borough Council is to appoint new planning and enforcement officer to deal with the backlog of cases, many of them in this area.
7 - COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:
Dumping in Mill Road - flooding, talks to reinstate ditch. Residents told Cllr Hopfensperger that there are cars parking on the site where hardcore has been tipped and coaches are dropping off children visiting the mill at the site. A caravan has also appeared there. What was a wood has been turned into a car park. Cllr Hopfensperger reported that the Environment Agency has been informed of the misuse of the site.
Cllr Griffin reported that the promised horse signs had not yet been erected.
Councillors asked about progress in repairing the footbridge across the fen. The sign still says that the footpath is closed.
Cllr Hopfensperger promised to look into both issues.
Residents also commented that the A143 between Ixworth and the Bunbury crossroads is becoming very grooved. Lorries and trailers have difficulty keeping out of the grooves. Re-surfacing or patch-up work is requested.
The road from Upper Town crossroads to Mere Close has a very bad surface and the verges are falling away.
Cllr Hopfensperger will report both these items to the Highways Dept
8 - POLICE REPORT:
No report but discussion as Annual Parish meeting:
Members of the public commented that a police presence in the village occurred very rarely and they thought that this was the reason for the recent spate of burglaries. They hoped that things would improve with the advent of the Safer Neighbourhood Scheme. Residents of The Owell reported that behaviour there had improved thanks to PC Tate. Cllr Sargent and Havebury Housing. Mr Kibble is to liaise with Mrs Jackson and approach the police with a request that they drive through Pakenham during the night, to discourage those intent on mischief.
The Chairman convened the meeting.
9 - MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:
Minutes of the previous meetings 5th & 23rd April were agreed as a true record and signed.
10 - CLERK'S REPORT:
Overhanging hedge in Fen Road. Cllr Griffin returned the plan with the offending hedge marked. Clerk to return to Mr Ballard.
Allotments: An area recently vacated by the Buggy Club had been offered as possible allotments. Considerable work needs to be carried out on the site. An advertisement should be placed to see if others are interested in joining a group, set up by Mr Dawkins to cultivate allotments on the site. There is no water available at the site.
Church Wood. Nothing has been heard from the Probation Service. Clerk to chase. Councillors had noticed that there was an infringement of the boundary there.
Buggy Club: - clerk to write again re removal of caravan
11 - ADOPTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007:
Cllr Sargent formally proposed the adoption of the 2007 Code of Conduct, seconded by Cllr Griffin. The motion was carried unanimously.
12 - PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
SE/07/0793 - Erection of chalet bungalow, detached single garage & construction of vehicular access off Pakenham road (revised scheme).
Councillors discussed this carefully and all agreed they had no objection to the application, although they would like to ensure that obscured glass be used for the rooflights.
SE/07/0775 - Gemeed, Bury Road, Ixworth.
Erection of single storey building to house boarding kennels for 20 dogs..
Mrs Babington was in attendance and the meeting was adjourned so that she could explain the plans to Councillors and answer questions.
Cllr Bryant left the meeting at this point (9.30pm)
A noise assessment study had been undertaken and consultations with Environmental Health had taken place. There was a cesspit on the site and there would be a rainwater harvester on the roof of the building. Neighbours had been approached.
The meeting was re-convened for the Councillors to discuss and vote. They had no objection in principle but would like a condition applied to ensure that the dogs should be kept in at night between 10pm and 7am.
Granted:
SE/07/0336 - Meadow Garth, Mill Road.
Provision of ménage for private use.
SE/07/0588 - The Old Shop, The Street.
Insertion of French doors following demolition of existing rear porch.
TCA07/1445 - Old Farm House, The Street.
Fell one ash tree.
13 - FINANCE REPORT: attached.
The Councillors agreed all payments scheduled.
A motion that Heelis & Lodge (through SALC) be appointed as Internal Auditors was proposed by Cllr Painter and seconded by Cllr Griffin. Carried unanimously.
Adoption of the statement of accounts for 2006-7 was proposed by Cllr Sargent and seconded by Cllr Dorling. All agreed.
Financial regulations: the amended regulations had been circulated to all councillors and Cllr Griffin proposed their adoption, seconded by Cllr Painter. All agreed.
A new bank mandate needs signing - for next meeting.
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14 - PAY REVIEW: for next meeting.
15 - THE DELL:
The Tree Officer will be visiting the site for a meeting with councillors, who are all invited to attend, at 5pm on Thursday 24th May.
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16 - CCTV AND LIGHTING OUTSIDE VILLAGE HALL:
The light is now working again, but the camera is not. It appears to be a defective camera. We hope that the supplier and McAlpine are arranging its exchange.
17 - CORRESPONDENCE:
St Edmundsbury: Standards Committee minutes.
SCC: Letter re Unitary Council for Ipswich - reservations.
Preparing for Stage 2 of School Organisation Review - leaflets distributed.
Police - Western Area Plan 2007-8
SALC - Invitation to Sty Edmundsbury Area meeting Wed 6th June 2007. Speaker: Chief Inspectior Bacon - changes to policing in West Suffolk.
East of England Regional Assembly: - regional gypsy & traveller public engagement event
Suffolk Preservation Society: AGM 7th June 2007, Haughley Park Barn.
Affordable Housing briefing note.
Advert for urban & rural outdoor furniture.
18 - Open Forum: no problems reported.
19 - DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Monday 25th June and Monday 30th July 2007, 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
