Meeting of
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
7.30pm Thursday 10th April 2008 In the Martin Room, St Mary’s Church
Present: Cllr H Painter (Chairman), Cllrs N Farthing, D Dorling, R Griffin, A Kibbel, Borough Councillor C Spicer & County Councillor R Hopfensperger. Mrs M Gardiner (Clerk) was also in attendance. Several members of the public were present.
1 - Apologies for absence: Cllrs M Bryant & M Sargent
2 - Borough Councillor’s report:
Cllr Spicer reported that the designation of the land owned by Mr Anderson was as a disused pit. The Environment Agency have been consulted about the use of the area.
The application could be refused on planning grounds or, if it is granted it is likely to have conditions. These will involve local and Enforcement Officer monitoring.
A limit could be placed on the number of machines working at any one time – this would also require monitoring (by Environmental Health). Two speakers may attend the planning meeting. Cllr Spicer will request a site meeting.
Local Government Review –Borough & District Councils will be abolished. Unitary authorities are still being discussed. The role of parish councils will increase and they will have more responsibility.
Storage tank at Manor Garth - The oil company have found a buyer for the tank and the site. Safer Neighbourhood Scheme – Cllr Spicer has asked for more police patrols during the evenings.
Street lights - The light at the Greenwoods will be replaced with no charge. A grant may be available for a new light along Fen Road.
No 2 Micklemere – Cllr Spicer has asked for a progress report.
Shetland Boats – A member of the public queried an advertisement for boat builders at Pakenham. Cllr Spicer to follow up.
Tipping along Mill Road – a member of the public had approached the Chairman about the site along Mill Road. A letter has been sent from the Council to the Planning Dept asking what the position is with regard to this site. Nothing appears to have been reinstated. Cllr Spicer to follow up.
3 - County Councillor’s report:
Cllr Hopfensperger reported on progress on the Local Government Review and the possible new divisions within the county. Fewer councils equals less cost. Powers and budgets will be devolved down to parishes. If they are very small, clusters will be formed. Residents will have more say as Parish church councils, police groups etc will also be involved. Draft concepts will be decided between 14th April and 4th July. A decision will be made between 29th September and 19th December and the new arrangements will be implemented by 2010. The Secretary of State will make the final decision.
Speeding through villages was discussed at a recent Safer Neighbourhood meeting. Some villages are getting together to purchase the equipment for the community speedwatch scheme. SALC are helping in some cases.
Cllr Hopfensperger has requested a ‘do not use satnavs’ sign for several inappropriate roads for heavy vehicles, including one for Baileypool Bridge.
A sign for Grimstone End is being made!
The total cost of a new lamp will be approximately £3000. She will pay up to half from her Locality Budget. All neighbours should be consulted before money is spent.
4 - Police report: no Police report available.
Neighbourhood Watch Community Forum- is being held at Whepstead Community Centre on Monday 12th May from 7-9pm. Cllr Kibbel agreed to attend on our behalf.
5 - Public Forum:
Members of the public present had been consulted by Cllr Spicer during his report and had nothing further to add.
The Chairman convened the meeting.
6 - Receive members’ declaration of interest: none declared.
7 - Approve minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2008:
Councillors agreed that these should be signed as a true record.
8 - Allotments:
R & S Garnham have done a very good job digging over the site and digging a trench for the fencing. The fencing and gate have been delivered. Allotment holders are meeting on Saturday to erect fencing and allocate plots. An agreement has been drawn up and will be distributed to allotment holders for signature when the clerk receives a list of names and addresses, together with plot numbers. This agreement also to be signed by existing allotment holders.
9 - Planning applications:
1018/08 : Hadfield, Church Hill.
Addition of second storey to existing bungalow.
This property is in the parish of Thurston but very close to Pakenham’s border so we were invited to comment.
Councillors agreed unanimously that they had no objection to the application, although they would have preferred a more attractive design.
SE/08/0381 : Gardeners Lodge, Bury Road, Ixworth IP31 2HX
Internal alterations to a listed building application.
Councillors agreed unanimously that they had no objection to the proposed internal alterations. TPO68(1966)5 : 18 Manor Garth, Pakenham
Crown lift one oak tree by removing two large lower limbs.
Following a site meeting, Councillors agreed that they had no objection to this work. They asked the owner to remove the ivy which is unbalancing the tree.
Planning applications granted:
SE/08/0150 : Clatter Cottage, Grimstone End
SE/08/0156 : The Broadway, Grimstone End
10 - Tree Warden’s report: Nothing to report
11 - Footpath Warden’s report: Nothing new to report.
Work is continuing on the footpath leaflet.
12 - Clerk’s report:
The Annual Parish meeting will now take place in the Village Hall, starting at 7.00 pm on Thursday 22nd May.
This will be followed by the Annual Parish Council meeting.
The Parish Plan meeting will also be held in the Village Hall. Mondays 23rd & 30th June were suggested. To be confirmed.
Mr Anderson had queried whether a quorum of councillors had been present at the meeting at which his application was discussed. It was confirmed that the Council was quorate on that occasion.
Councillors were reminded about the Parish Council Conference at Whelnetham Community Centre on Tuesday 22nd April between 4.00-6.00pm.
Two Councillors and the clerk attended a meeting at Ixworth on LDF and information was circulated to Councillors.
13 - Parish Plan: Date to be confirmed for the village meeting.
14 - Finance Report:
A Finance Report was circulated and all payments were agreed.
Councillors also agreed to donate £100 to the East Anglian Childrens’ Hospices.
Councillors agreed that Malcolm Saunders should be approached to carry out our internal audit.
15 - Correspondence circulated to Councillors SCC:
Bus service changes St Edmundsbury : Rural News; Village of the Year Award; Havebury News; Town & Parish Standard
David Ruffley : Post Office closures
Suffolk Waste Partnership CPRE : Countryside Voice; Fieldwork
Suffolk Preservation Society : Review of Local Government
SALC : Trainings; Boundary Committee for England; The Local Councillor
Suffolk NHS : Head & Neck Cancer Services Terminal Control North Proposed changes to airspace.
Tree Care Services
16 - Any other business: None.
17 - Date of next meeting: Thursday 22nd May in the Village Hall.
