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Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes - Annual - 13th May 2002
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON 13 MAY 2002
Pakenham Village Hall
Present : Cllr D Dorling (Chairman), Cllr J Mangnall, Cllr B Chester, Cllr H Painter, Cllr P Smith, Cllr A Cox, Cllr L Couper, Mr R Dennis-Jones, Mr J Culley and Mrs J Brookman (Clerk).
APOLOGIES : Apologies were received from Mr M Youngs, Clerk to the Pakenham Charities and Cllr V White.
1.0 - MINUTES :-
The minutes of the meeting held on 30 April, 2001 were approved and
signed as a true record.
2.0 - MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES :-
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
3.0 - PRESENTATION OF CHARITIES ACCOUNTS :-
Mr Youngs had submitted a written report of the year's activities
and this was read out by the Chairman. Monies had been used for
a pensioners fuel allowance and the young in need. It was confirmed
that Cllrs Dorling and Couper would continue to be the two Parish
Council representatives on the Charities Committee. It was also
confirmed that grants had been made to the Pakenham Monday Club,
The Ixworth Patients Association, The Gatehouse and The Blackbourne
Centre.
4.0 - PARISH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS :-
The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002 were presented by the
Clerk and approved.
5.0 - COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT :-
Cllr White submitted a written report confirming the A143 Pakenham
Flood Relief Scheme was scheduled to start June 2002 and it was
hoped that disruption would be minimal and repairs an effective
benefit to all, the Highways Department appear to have taken local
advice and knowledge on board. Cllr White confirmed that she was
currently serving on a small working party to investigate the management
performance of SCC Highways Division, which should take about three
months commencing in June and she hopes to use all the experience
and frustrations Pakenham village has had with the department.
The main issue for the next few months is the planning application
from IKEA for the distribution centre at Stanton. Cllr White advised
that she was against the proposal mainly as it is not common sense
to have lorries leaving the A14 and travelling along the A143 to
Stanton. If the proposal goes ahead she hopes there will be substantial
106 agreements to benefit Gt Barton village and particularly the
Bunbury Arms crossroads. Gt Barton Parish Council has a special
meeting on 22 May at 7.30pm in the village hall. Cllr White also
confirmed that she had sent a cheque for £5,000 from the
Locality Grant to St Edmunds BC to part fund the additional lights
in The Owell, awaiting to hear if the police will also contribute
some money.
6.0 - BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S REPORT :-
Cllr Dorling read out a report on behalf of Cllr White advising that
2002 will see major changes on the council. The housing stock is
more than likely to be transferred to Havebury with benefits from
this in future to the tenants and council taxpayers. The Council
will become Leader/Cabinet managed from Thursday. Changes also
reported to the Planning Committee, a new name of Development Control
Committee. There will be three minutes of public speaking (from
well defined categories) to the committee in future on any particular
application. (No debate with councillors or officers though). A
leaflet is being produced to give details and the new system should
commence in June. This is hoped to improve the participation of
the public and their elected representatives in the planning process.
She also reported some successes for all of us : Forcing the EV
to dredge the Blackbourne, forcing Anglian Water to spend money
and sort out the sewerage problems at the pumping station and house
in Fen Road. Landscaping works and ramp for River Close. Various
social security improvements for elderly village residents. Cllr
White concluded that she had enjoyed the year and hoped to have
served the village well.
The clerk was asked to write and thank Cllr White for her work and
achievements on behalf of the village.
7.0 - ANNUAL REPORTS :-
SALC :-
Cllr Smith confirmed that he had attended the AGM at the beginning
of the year and also a training course on the Ethical Framework
with other councillors.
FOOTPATHS :-
Cllr Cox had placed a book in the Post Office welcoming comments
from walkers re the footpaths. This had not proved to be fruitful
and had since been removed. A letter had been received from Mr
Ballard of Nether Hall thanking people for their consideration
regarding footpath closures during Foot and Mouth. FP1 by Suffolk
Agri had been flooding due to the wet season and type of land;
FP15 had been obstructed by a fallen tree, which has subsequently
been cleared.
PAKENHAM VILLAGE HALL & PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION :-
The Chairman of the PVH & PFA reported to the meeting that the
committee was fortunate in obtaining a grant of £500 towards
providing disabled access and disabled toilet facilities in the Pavilion.
The work was mainly done by committee members and volunteers, to
whom they are most grateful. A lottery grant of nearly £4,000
was received to buy tables and chairs, which will be useful when,
moved into the new hall. Volunteers have worked hard on making the
present hall waterproof, repairing holes in the floor and adjusting
the fire doors every time the building drops a bit. The plumbing
too has given problems from time to time. It was reported that the
committee was loathed to spend money on the present building, but
that it must be kept going for the present users. They are grateful
to all the users who put up with conditions that are less than ideal.
The association has applied to the Lottery Community Fund for a grant
of £283,000; the new hall will cost about £350,000. Fund
raising is going well and along with a special village appeal and
grants there is about £73,000 in the kitty. Thanks to all those
who have supported and who are continuing to do so. It will be worth
the effort. The playing field is providing a good venue for the football
club - it is just a pity it is not used more. The children's play
area is well used by young children and grandparents.
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE :-
The WI reported that in this Jubilee year, they would like to offer
their congratulations and support to HM Queen Elizabeth II and
pay tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Honorary President
of Sandringham WI. Pakenham WI continues to meet every month with
an average attendance of 26. There have been a variety of interesting
speakers on subjects such as The Universe, Suffolk Accident Rescue
Service, Trekking in Georgia, Corn Dollies and the like. From within
the village they heard from Muriel Finch about her and Ted's visit
to the ' Real Russia ', from Clive Blanchard, adventuring on the
slopes of Everest and Malcolm Wright's inside on Birding in Australia
and New Zealand. Visits have been made to the Botanical Gardens,
Cambridge and the Theatre in Ipswich. Contact has been kept with
WI at County and National level and the WI do their best to support
as many village activities as possible. Fundraising both as individuals
and as a group for the new village hall continues. Visitors are
always welcome to the meetings.
MONDAY CLUB :-
Mr Culley reported it had been a very good year with lots of activities
and trips with a membership of 36. Perhaps the perception of the
club is for the elderly but it is much more and there is a full
programme of events. There is concern about the loss of use of
the village hall, but the club is alive and kicking just as the
people are in it.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH :-
It was reported that two gardens in the vicinity of The Owell had
vegetables pulled up or taken, the police visited the scene. Police
were alerted to the fact that there was a group of immigrants in
the area and leaflets had been distributed locally. The Dog Warden
had been advised via the police that two dogs had been attacked
by a pair of German Shepherds in two separate incidents. There
are ongoing worries over drugs. Max Bacon confirmed he would continue
in his current role as co-ordinator until an enthusiastic recruit
relieved him of this responsibility.
Cllr Chester requested to be included in Neighbourhood Watch communications.
BOWLS CLUB :-
Jim Burrows, Secretary to the Pakenham Bowls Club sent the following
report:-
The Bowls Club has managed to continue with some success for another
season. The green lease arrived in July and two annual payments have
been made. The Club thanked the PC for the grant received. Some refurbishment
has been carried out to the surrounds but the green itself still
needs improvement, the intention is to replace the changing hut.
Membership has decreased by one to 24, but members are keen and enjoying
the new season. Last season was a mixture, won one league, gaining
promotion but in another the club was relegated to a lower league.
BUGGY CLUB :-
There was no report from the club, Cllr Chester confirmed that the
lease was an ongoing issue.
FOOTBALL CLUB :-
No report given but the club is still active.
TREE WARDENS REPORT :-
Cllr Dorling reported that several years ago tree and hedge planting
at Beaumonts Hall had taken place which had been followed by drought
years and it was now pleasing to see that with the recent rain
how much they have now grown and developed.
8.0 - CHAIRMAN'S REPORT :-
Cllr Dorling reported that 2001 seemed a busy year during which we
had said goodbye to Pam Griffiths and welcomed Jane Brookman as
Parish Clerk. The Code of Conduct has certainly made individual
councillors aware of the responsibilities we take on in this role.
I have to confess to thinking seriously if I needed this tier of
bureaucracy but ended up coming to the conclusion that I have only
ever been a Parish Councillor as a way of giving something back
to the village that I feel privileged to live in. We look forward
to the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations especially in our
village. We also look forward to hearing that we have won lottery
grants for the village hall and Watermill. We will follow with
interest the transfer of the council housing and other assets to
the housing association. With thanks to Jane, Joan, Tony Hosken,
Cllr White and all other councillors and Mike Youngs.
9.0 - DATE OF NEXT MEETING :-
It was agreed that the date of the next meeting would be decided
at a later date.