Meeting of
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
7.30pm 16th April 2009, The Martin Room, St Mary's Church
Present: Cllr H Painter (Chairman), Cllr N Farthing, Cllr M Sargent, Cllr A Kibbel, Cllr R Griffin, Cllr D Dorling, Borough Cllr C Spicer & County Cllr R Hopfensperger.
Several members of the public and Mrs M Gardiner (clerk) were also in attendance.
1 - Apologies for absence: Cllr M Bryant (who is unwell), & PC Tate.
2 - Borough Councillor's report:
Cllr Spicer is still asking for the streetlight at the Greenwoods to be lit.
Church Green Wood. After a meeting with St Edmundsbury, he is waiting to hear how much it would cost the Parish to purchase the wood.
SCC will subsidise village walks leaflets. Cllr D Dorling will contact the Countryside Access Manager with the quote for printing our leaflets.
Linden House - application for the erection of a conservatory was refused, but will be resubmitted.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council are still hoping to have a West Suffolk area included in the boundary changes and more consultation meetings are being held.
Cllr Griffin enquired about the position of a letterbox on the new Council Offices.
3 - County Councillor's report:
Local Government Review - A further consultation meeting will be held on 20th April at King Edward VI Upper School.
West Suffolk House is now open and offices have moved from Shire Hall and Angel Hill. All Bury St Edmunds based services are now under one roof.
Brand Road will be closed for 2-3 weeks during May for improvements to the entrance as well as road maintenance.
Potholes - Cllr Hopfensperger has not been given a list of potholes in the village yet. Repairs will not take place until all sites are identified.
Grimstone End signs will appear soon.
County Council Elections -will take place on 4th June.
Deer signs - Survey to take place.
4 - Police report:
No-one was able to attend but PC Tate sent the following report:
2 crimes reported since the last meeting.
(i)Driving with excess alcohol.
(ii)Theft of diesel. This was from Bryant's farm again and a car was left to burn out in the field. Councillors suggested that a Crime Prevention Officer should visit the farm to help prevent further thefts of this nature.
Police surgery : Village Hall car park 11am-12noon on 30th April and again on 26th June.
5 - Public Forum:
The Council was thanked for attending a site meeting with Ms Stanley from St Edmundsbury Borough Council at Mill Lane and also for publishing minutes of Parish Council meeting on the website and in the paper.
6 - Declaration of interest: none.
The Chairman convened the meeting.
7 - Approve minutes of the meeting held on 26th February 2009:
Councillors agreed that these should be signed as a true record.
8 - Planning applications:
SE/09/0315 - Dell House, The Street.
Erection of conservatory to rear elevation.
Councillors considered the proposal very carefully and agreed unanimously to object to the application. Councillors consider the extension to be too large and too close to the boundary and that it will cause nuisance to the neighbour.
TPO68(1966)6 - Manor Garth.
Crown lift to 3 metres 9 cherry trees, 3 lime trees, 1 horse chestnut tree, 1 Norway maple & crown lift to 5.5 metres 1 oak tree & 1 horse chestnut tree.
No objection.
Granted:
SE/09/0092 - The Broadway, Grimstone End.
Continued use of former builders yard for joinery work and soft furnishings in connection with fitting out moulded glass fibre boats for a temporary period.
SE/09/0100 - Wheelwrights Cottage, Fen Road
Erection of two-storey rear extension (ii) alteration to roof pitch on North elevation (iii) alterations to fenestration.
SE/09/0190 - Greenwoods Farm.
Erection of part single part two storey side extension incorporating balcony & covered way.
Refused:
SE/09/0185 & 0186 - Linden House, Church Hill.
Erection of conservatory to rear elevation.
Appeal Enquiry: Land at Mill Road, Pakenham, 29th July.
The meeting was opened to general public.
9 - Proposed provision of accommodation for the egg unit at Mere Farm - open discussion:
Mr & Mrs Reed, the farmers and their agent were present at the meeting. An application for erecting a residential mobile home, in which Mr & Mrs Reed will live on the chicken farm site, has been submitted to the Planning Dept. The mobile home will be in the same position as the building previously proposed and a condition limiting its permission to three years is expected. A condition on the type of building provided is also expected. The area has already been named Oak Farm and a tarmac drive is in place.
Mr & Mrs Reed have bought the chicken farm site and are contract farming the adjoining land. They stated that the arable/agricultural business will not be moved to this site. All equipment, including that used at the egg unit, will be stored elsewhere.
The agent was asked why it was not stated on the planning application that accommodation would be required. Indeed, it was stated that accommodation would not be required. He replied that setting up the unit was done in stages. To make an application it is necessary to prove that accommodation is essential on site and that there are no suitable properties available locally. It also has to be proved that the business is sustainable and so it cannot be done before planning permission for the egg unit granted.
There was considerable discussion between the agent and residents of homes overlooking the site. The main issue seemed to be the lack of integrity when submitting the application for the egg unit by not disclosing that a home will be needed on the site.
The Parish Council expect to receive the application shortly.
The meeting was re-convened.
10 - Memorial erection request:
Agreed, but Councillors would like a more traditional font to be used.
11 - Clerk's report:
The Clerk brought to Councillors attention the dates of return of feedback forms and meetings, details of which will be included with the correspondence to be circulated.
12 - Finance Report: attached.
Councillors agreed specified payments should be made.
The Statement of Accounts 2008-2009 had been circulated with the agenda and the Chairman proposed that these be adopted. Councillors unanimously agreed. The accounts are with the Internal Auditor.
A letter had been received stating the cost of grass-cutting in the new playground. Councillors formally agreed to pay half this cost.
Quotations from other sources will be requested for the following year. Clerk to request a copy of the contractor's Third Party insurance.
13 - Correspondence circulated to Councillors:
Boundary Committee - Further draft proposals
SCC - Securing the Future restructuring - street lighting issues; Disposal of
Plasterboard.
St Edmundsbury - Havebury News; Litter Campaign; Parish Improving Out of Hours
Care.
Suffolk Acre - Vitalising Rural Communities for 21st Century, Elmswell; Update
magazine; Good Neighbour Scheme.
CPRE - Fieldwork magazine; Countryside Voice.
SALC - S76 Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act 2007; Connected
villages; Trainings Annual Survey of Councils - reply date 15thJune.
Rural Services Community - Weekly News.
Log-a-heads; L E Humphreys Ltd; Online playgrounds; Play equipment; Bus shelters; Litter poster; Signs.
14 - Any Other Business:
Risk Assessment has arrived and has been circulated. To be discussed at a future meeting.
Anglian Water are charging Pakenham residents for surface water drainage. Pakenham has no surface water drains. The Chairman will post notice on noticeboard suggesting residents challenge this charge.
15 - Date of next meetings:
Annual Parish meeting & Parish Council AGM Thursday 28st May 2009 at 7pm.
