Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes - 14th August 2000

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on MONDAY 14th AUGUST 2000
AT THE PAVILION AT 7.30pm

Present: Cllr. D. Dorling, Chairman; Cllr. B. Chester; Cllr. A. Cox; Cllr. H. Painter; Cllr. P. Smith; Cllr. L. Couper; Mrs V. White, Borough Councillor; Mrs. P. Griffiths, Clerk.

APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr. J. Mangnall.

MINUTES:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 26th June 2000 were signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING:-
(i) Cllr. Mangnall and Cllr. Couper had met with Mr. T. Welch of Suffolk County Council Highways department to discuss various highway problems in the village, including traffic problems in Thurston Road, bend signs at Grimstone End, and the danger of the narrowing road just before the water mill. The pot holes on Church Hill had been attended to and a remedy suggested to put kerbing round the corner into Thurston Road to stop the pooling of water.
(ii) Cllr. Mangnall, Cllr. Painter, Mrs. White and residents of Thurston Road had also met with Marilyn Davies, Traffic Safety Officer, to review safety at the Thurston Road Junction. It was agreed that hedgerows be cut back and orange boards be placed behind the present Give Way signs. The situation would be monitored before any decision was made on altering the traffic island. If this was done, it would probably be on a partnership basis, with the parish council having to contribute to the cost. Councillor Dorling said that the parish council should not be expected to pay for the work to be done.
(iii) The work to the trees on the playing field was expected to be carried out during August.
(iv) New Village Hall: The Village Hall and Playing Field Committee had engaged Henry Painter to draw up plans and proceed to planning permission. Mathew Stearn of Whitworth Co. Partnership would then see the project through. It was hoped to display plans in the village within the next couple of months.
(v) Cllr. Dorling and Cllr. Smith had visited Mr. Hosken and ascertained that the parish council was his main employer. Cllr. Painter had spoken to the Inland Revenue department who had confirmed that, as Mr. Hosken’s earnings were below the tax threshold, no tax or national insurance contributions had to be deducted from his wages. Mrs. Griffiths stated that deductions from her wages were made by her main employer, the Post Office.
(vi) Bowls and Buggy Clubs: St. Edmundsbury Borough Council had now drawn up draft documentation of a lease and submitted it to the Bowls and Buggy Clubs. The Parish council unanimously agreed to formalising the granting of a lease to both clubs.

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR’S REPORT:-
Mrs. White said that under proposed electoral review for St. Edmundsbury, Ingham would be included in Pakenham Ward. The parish council had no objection to this and the clerk was asked to write to the Electoral Services Manager confirming that they were happy with the proposal. The new parish boundary Order had been passed and would come into effect on 1st April 2001. The Brown Bin Scheme would be starting in Pakenham shortly and a mobile road show was being held at the village hall car park on 24th August to introduce the scheme to villagers.

VILLAGE WEB SITE:-
Mrs. Harvey, the web-site provider was unable to be present at the meeting but an invitation was extended to her to attend the next one.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS:-

Past Applications:-

 Permission had been granted to erect a conservatory and garage extension at Montacute, Thurston Road, Pakenham.

New Applications:-

(i) Acorns, Brand Road, Gt. Barton. Application had been made to erect a two storey residential annexe and detached double garage, following the demolition of the existing garage. This application was discussed at length and the concern expressed that the annexe might be used as a dwelling in its own right. The clerk was asked to write to the planning officer and request that a condition be made that the annexe be ancillary to the main dwelling and also to query whether the dormer window complied with the Suffolk Design Guide.

(ii) Crossways Farm, Brand Road, Gt. Barton There were no objections to the application to construct a pig farrowing house to replace obsolete buildings.

FINANCE:-
(i) The accounts for the year ended 31st March 2000 had been approved by the auditors and were circulated to the council.
(ii) The sum of £14.35 had been received from St. Edmundsbury Borough Council for the recycling of glass for the period 1st April 1999 to 31st March 2000.
(iii) The following cheques were approved for payment:-

CORRESPONDENCE:-
(i) A Rural Housing Seminar sponsored by SALC was to be held in October. Cllr. Lisa Couper said that she would attend the meeting.
(ii) The Environment Agency were holding a flood warning meeting on 19th September. Cllr. Smith said he would represent the council at the meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-
(i) Councillor Chester said that the information sign for Church Green was ready to be erected and he would get Dave Thrower to carry out the work. It would be positioned about half way down towards the gate, side-ways on, to hopefully deter vandals.
(ii) Councillor Cox said he was concerned about undergrowth on footpath number one. Some of it had been cleared by Suffolk County Council bit it was overgrown again. Also, when he had been walking on footpath number three, about 15 or 20 bullocks had come charging up in a threatening manner and he felt this could have been very frightening to a child or elderly person. He had contacted the Rights of Way Office and would follow up on the matter. Councillor Smith mentioned another path at the back of Manor Garth was overgrown and people were walking in the field instead.
(iii) Cllr. Couper asked that the clerk write and send a vote of thanks to the organisers of the Millennium Barn Dance, which had been very enjoyable.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:-
It was confirmed that the next meeting should be held on Monday 18th September 2000.