Meeting of
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
7.30pm Monday 14th January 2008 In the Martin Room, St Mary’s Church
Present: Cllr H Painter (Chairman), Cllrs D Dorling, N Farthing, M Sargent,, R Griffin, A Kibbel & M Bryant. Mrs M Gardiner (Clerk) was also in attendance.
1 - Apologies for absence: None.
2 - Borough Councillor’s report:
Suffolk Police Forum : A Forum will be held at Ixworth Village Hall on Thursday 28th February at 7.30pm. All welcome.
Micklemere : Councillor Spicer was not informed about the meeting, The decision was that separate occupancy of this building must now cease. The case will now go to appeal.
Shetland Boats : An application has been made to extend the temporary use for another six months.
Rubbish on land next to 1 Micklemere : The land is owned by 2 Micklemere and the rubbish has been there since the erection of the extension. Clerk to ask St Edmundsbury to investigate.
Chicken Farm : Councillor Spicer queried the omission of the 106 agreement and was told that it was not enforceable.
Streetlight at The Greenwoods :It is not permissible to attach a streetlight to the pole of another utility.
Oil tank : No progress.
Ménage at Bailey Pool Lane : Withdrawn.
Councillor Spicer was asked about Andersons pit - nothing new to report – and Mr Reynolds tipping on Mill Road and the Ixworth bypass. Clerk to write to the Planning Dept to chase reinstatement of hedges along Mill Road as agreed.
3 - County Councillor’s report:
Budget. The grant settlement has been received with a 7.3% increase i.e. £155 million. This leaves a shortfall of £13 million. Savings will have to be made and will be finalised in February.
Local Government Review. Ipswich failed in its bid to be a unitary authority on financial grounds.
Boundaries. The committee will implement changes before 2011 and look into various other unitary options.
The County and Districts/Boroughs will continue to work together. The Pathfinder status bid is also on hold.
Schools Reorganisation. Discussions will be held late 2008 for decisions in 2009 for the local area.. Councillor Hopfensperger to chair local Stakeholder Forums.
Highways. Councillor Hopfensperger asked for comments about the recent road surfacing. Councillors were happy with the work.
Upper Town crossroads. Possible Locality budget money available to help with this. Awaiting further plans.
Baileypool Bridge. Lorries are still trying to use this route. Cllr Hopfensperger to follow up.
Nursery at Old Hall Farm. No road signs have been erected although nursery has opened, contrary to planning conditions.
Clerk to write to Planners.
Grimstone End. Cllr Dorling enquired about the sign which had been promised for some time. Cllr Hopfensperger will chase.
Post Office closures. Cllr Hopfensperger has no further information.
4 - Police report – attached.
Councillors confirmed that they would be happy to meet the Police, with the public, half an hour before the commencement of our meetings.
PC Graham Howe attended the meeting, introduced himself and gave a short report. There have been 6 crimes in Pakenham in the last 6 months. He regularly attends the Police surgeries arranged by the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.
5 - Public Forum – no public present but issues discussed:
Allotments. Councillor Bryant to obtain quote for clearing the ground and then rotavating the area. James Dawkins to be invited to the next meeting.
WI. The WI would like to organise a litter pick, to tidy up the village and asked if the Council would fund the necessary equipment? Councillors agreed that they would fund equipment up to a value of £100.
WI. The ladies are organising a car boot sale & wondered about using the car park at the church. This is not really suitable. The meadow by the pavilion was suggested as a more suitable site.
WI. They would like to arrange for a Welcome Pack to be available to all newcomers to the village. They have collated all the relevant information but need someone to design the publication. Councillor Farthing volunteered to help.
6 - Pakenham Village website:
Councillor Painter to discuss with current editor and owner of the website.
7 - Receive members’ declaration of interest – none.
8 - Approve minutes of the meetings held on 26th November & 14th December 2008:
Councillors agreed that these should be signed as a true record.
9 - Planning applications:
TPO236(1997(8) – Tree Preservation Order application.
Crown lift to six metres & selectively reduce longer lateral limbs by 20% to one Horse Chestnut tree.
Councillors discussed the matter and agreed that they objected to this work which would spoil the shape of a very old tree, which they gathered from the evidence submitted is not a danger to people or buildings.
Application refused.
SE/07/1547 – 2 Micklemere.
Change of use of existing cottage and extension into 2 separate dwellings.
Application withdrawn.
SE/07/1862 – Construction of ménage & provision of associated low level lighting. Site opposite Roses Roost, Bailey Pool Lane, Pakenham.
.
10 - Tree Warden’s report:
Hedgerow Survey & Countryside Access Scheme – Cllr Dorling will put a note in the Church magazine to see if any person or group would like to undertake a hedgerow survey.
11 - Footpath Warden’s report:
Cllr Dorling was working on the footpath leaflet prior to a reprint. Some signposts need replacing and some stiles are not suitable for dogs. Clerk to contact SCC Rights of Way to ascertain requirement for dog access.
12 - Clerk’s report:
Grit bin. Thanks was extended to Cllr Bryant for arranging to move the grit bin at the junction of Fen Road and Bull Lane to allow BT access to their equipment.
13 - Parish Plan:
Councillors agreed that Cllr Painter should arrange a special meeting to which the public would be particularly invited. He should also invite the Head of Policy at St Edmundsbury and a representative from SALC.
14 - Finance Report – attached.
15 - Correspondence to be circulated:
SCC : Waste Education leaflets
St Edmundsbury : Christmas card; Rural News; Standards Committee minutes; Moyses Hall & West Stow events; Parish magazine submissions
Neighbourhood Watch : Newsletters
SALC : Post Office Closures; Suffolk Estuarine Strategy; Getting Greens Registered; Society of Local Council Clerks
Suffolk Preservation Society : Suffolk View
CPRE : Fieldwork
Havebury News
16 - Any other business:
Upper Town crossroads : Blackberry bushes are obscuring the view for vehicles turning right at the crossroads when approaching from Ixworth. Councillor Bryant was asked to arrange for them to be cut back.
Footpath at The Owell : The hedges have been cut, but the cuttings have not been removed, although they have been strimmed, which makes the path very difficult to walk. Councillor Sargent has been clearing the path. Clerk to write to Mr Whitwell to enquire if this is his property. If so, would he please remove the rubbish, and if not, to ask to whom we should write.
Street cleaners : The pavement behind the bus stop is very dangerous and covered with leaves and apples. Clerk to ask St Edmundsbury when and how often street cleaners visit the village and to point out this area.
17 - Date of next meeting – Thursday 6th March. Venue to be advised.
