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Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 5th September 2013
PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 5th September, 2013 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall
Present: Cllr M Sargent (Acting-Chairman), Cllr C Palfrey, Cllr I Brookman, Cllr M Bagnell, Cllr D Dorling and Cllr R Griffin
Eleven Members of the public attended
Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes
1 - Apologies for absence:-
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr H Painter
2 - Declarations of interest:-
Cllr Griffin declared an interest in item 11 (a) Trelawne
3 - Public Forum:-
A member of the public enquired about the road repairs to the A143, C Cllr Hopfensperger thought they had been completed. Mr G Hunt from F.O.I.L. thanked the Council for its recent donation and advised they will be needing help with funding next year.
4 - County Councillor's Report:-
Cllr R Hopfensperger reported on the problem of flooding in Grimestone End: an officer was coming out to look at the area again and check what needed doing to rectify the problem. Cllr Hopfensperger reported she had been advised re Speedwatch a mobile vehicle activated device would not be put on the Street as it doesn’t fit the criteria and the number of parked cars acted to slow down any traffic but they would look at putting one on Fen Road. Having Speedwatch set up in the village has advantages among which extra support is given to members. A member of the public said the through traffic was still fast going through the village even with the parked cars. Cllr Hopfensperger advised the more data we can collect the better. She reported: Suffolk was missing out on £5 million from free school meals as eligible people were not claiming. She suggested this could be put in the local newsletter. All those who felt they may be eligible should call: 01284 758883. Clerk to send this information to the editor of the newsletter. Fly tipping cost Suffolk £265,000 in regards to clear up and enforcement last year. It seems to have increased over the summer. A £25,800 grant had been received from Government to help with the problem.
Cabinet meeting next week to discuss home care and community meals – is there a better way these services could be delivered.
Vision 2031 – Scrutiny Committee found the decision was solid.
Cllr Palfrey advised the problem at Woodstock House
reported previously had not been rectified. Cllr Hopfensperger to chase it up.
5 - Borough Councillor's Report:-
B Cllr Spicer thanked the Council for the card and good wishes. Cllr Spicer spoke on Vision 2031. He advised the footpath behind the Owell was owned by Havebury Housing. The clerk to write to SCC asking them to send a letter to Havebury Housing reminding them of their responsibility to keep this area maintained. The footpath near the Agri Centre was now clear. Cllr Spicer advised the 'Bull Cottage' footpath sign is now up.
Cllr Spicer reported on the on-going difficulty of getting street light repairs. Cllr Spicer explained the Borough Council’s support grant to Parish Councils is to be withdrawn. Next year will see the first decrease of 25% and the grant will disappear over the next 4 years. A member of the public asked what this would mean: A small increase for residents towards the precept. Cllr Spicer was asked about Mr Reynolds, who had stopped his agricultural activities but the hedge had not been replaced. The clerk to write to Jane Stanley St Edmundsbury to ask for a statement on the situation at the present time.
6 - Police report:-
The Police were unable to attend and no report had been sent. Clerk read out relevant items to Pakenham from the St Edmundsbury Rural North Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter. B.Cllr Spicer advised everyone to lock all bikes away as there had been a number of thefts in the area.
7 - To Consider the approval of the minutes of the last meeting:-
It was asked for an addendum to item 8 a. The Council decided not to take this further. The minutes of the meeting held on 18th July were approved and signed as a true record.
8 - Reports from previous meeting:-
a. The Fox
The clerk had received a letter from the Legal Services Manager at St Edmundsbury B.C. confirming receipt of nomination of an Asset of Community Value: The Fox PH advising Council they will be informed of the outcome by 26 September. An e-mail had been received from Jane Chance Senior Health & Community Development Officer St Edmundsbury asking for clarification on:-
1. To the best of your knowledge, how long has it been since the property operated as a Public House? Council answered November 2011
2. If the property were to come on to the open market, would the PC be in a position to raise the funds to purchase it at market value? Council answered No – There may be other parties within the village who may be able.
3. If the PC were to purchase the property, would it be in a position to operate it as a public house? Council answered No – There may be other parties within the village who may wish to.
The clerk to send these responses back to Jane Chance.
A member of the public asked B.Cllr Spicer if he could try to get the Fox tidied up through the environmental department at St Edmundsbury.
b. Tree Risk Assessment Report
After the Chairman and Cllr Dorling had seen the example tree reports provided by Urban Forestry they agreed to accept the quotation from them to carry out a tree risk assessment on the Dell, Church Green Wood and the Lawn Cemetery. The clerk informed Urban Forestry of the decision and advised them there may be an extra area to be added pending checking of ownership. Treecare Consultants have been informed that they were not successful on this occasion.
9 - Pakenham Village Hall Report:-
The Chairman of PVH & PFA reported they were now coming to the end of the summer season. While it had been quiet they had taken the opportunity to have the floor refinished. The village hall was now ten years old and beyond its newness and starting to require remedial works. They had been working hard to improve the storage facilities. The stage can now easily be moved as items have been moved into the new storage shed and the back room is a lot tidier and more usable. They are now looking forward to the autumn season. Cllr Brookman asked for the accounts to be available ready for the budget meeting for the precept. The Chairman advised the budget will be similar to this year and they will furnish the accounts for the November budget setting. The Village Hall are very grateful for all the sums of money received.
B.Cllr Spicer gave details of previous grants and subsides given to the village hall.
10 - Clerks Report:-
The footpath near the Agri Centre is now clear although there is still some clearing up to do on the land next to it. The TV programme ‘Four in a Bed’ have been given permission to film in the area. Pakenham restricted byway no.15(part) will be temporarily closed to allow Anglia Water to carry out works. A few allotment holders have been contacted to remind them of overdue rents. One allotment holder has given in their notice - if anyone is on the waiting list they will be contacted. Clerk reported the flooding at Grimestone End and the flickering light on Fen Road. The Parish Council lap top is very slow Council advised contacting Steve Gage to have it cleaned and checked.
11 - Planning Applications:-
a. Application No:SE/13/0762/HH Trelawne, Fen Road
Erection of first floor addition & installation of dormer window in roof at front (revised application).
Cllr Griffin left the room. The applicant’s agent and a neighbour were invited to answer questions on the application/plans. Council then discussed the application - Object with the comments: No improvement to the aesthetics of the building and impact on street scene. Object to the bulk of the proposed property and the additional height that we find unacceptable. It is noted the plans are inaccurate as new driveway has been added.
Cllr Griffin rejoined the meeting.
b. Application No:SE/13/0845/HH 5 Church Cottages, Church Hill
Erection of single storey rear extension.
Council discussed the application – No objection
c. Application No:DC/13/0015/HH River Cottage, The Street
Erection of single storey front & side extension.
Council discussed the application – No objection
12 - Speedwatch:-
A member of the public interested in speedwatch was given the contact details of the PCSO.
13 - Bottle Bank Relocation Request:-
The clerk reported a request from St Edmundsbury for permission to move the bottle bank from The Fox to the car park to the left of the BT telephone exchange. The Council had no objection. The PVH & PFA on whose land the bottle bank would be relocated could see no objection as long as the area was monitored for misuse. The clerk to contact St Edmundsbury asking them to contact the PVH & PFA for permission and to ascertain whether they could provide a wheelie bin for any rubbish which St Edmunsbury would empty. Also if having other recycling bins whether monies would be available to Pakenham.
14 - Church Driveway:-
Cllr Dorling advised the driveway potholes had been filled in for a cost of £96 and M.J. Nunn had done a good job.
15 - Land Ownership – Allotments:-
Cllr Brookman reported he had checked the land registry and the road by the allotments was not registered, nor was it owned by SCC or St Edmundsbury and was not adopted. The Chairman of the PFA has been asked to look into whether they are the owners. To go on the next agenda.
16 - Church Green Wood Fence:-
Council agreed for a concrete bollard at the end of the fence to protect it from damage. The clerk to contact Mr David Thrower to go ahead with the works as per Cllr Dorling instructions.
17 - The Dell:-
Cllr Brookman advised until the tree survey was completed work to make the Dell more user friendly could not go any further.
18 - Lawn Cemetery review of burial charges & terms and conditions:-
A number of local burial charges and terms & conditions had been obtained. Council asked for them to placed on a spreadsheet and put on the next agenda. The clerk had contacted funeral directors whether graves are dug double depth as a matter of course. They advise families to have graves dug double depth as they are the same cost as single depth. The family normally agrees but occasionally they request a single depth of grave dug. It was also advised to have the memorial head stones risk checked every 3-4 years. The Lawn Cemetery was checked in November 2010 it is recommended to have one done in 2014.
19 – Correspondence:-
a. Application for new memorial - granted.
b. Publications: One Good Councillor Guide was ordered.
20 - Finance Report - National Pay Award & to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account had a cleared balance of £6656.12, current account cleared balance as per bank statement of 25th June of £12,135.51. At the last meeting there was an uncleared balance of £10,946.46. Two payments for allotment rent received £20, cheque to F.O.I.L. on 27/7/13 £50. After the two payments of £50 to G Cranmer & HMRC £113.60 are paid the uncleared balance in the current account £10,752.86. The clerk read out the current break down of receipts/payments against the 2013/14 budget and is attached. Clerk advised the National pay award for this year is 1% Council agreed this to be added to clerk’s salary.
Consider payments to be made:
a. Payment of expenses April – Sept. G.Cranmer £50 a cheque was raised for £50 no: 1366 signed by Cllr Sargent and Cllr Dorling.
b. HMRC a cheque was raised for £113.60 no: 1367
signed by Cllr Sargent & Cllr Dorling
c. Invoice received from M.J.Nunn for the church driveway after the agenda had gone out. A cheque was raised for £96 no: 1368 signed by Cllr Sargent & Cllr Dorling.
21 - Internal Audit Quotes:-
Clerk reported Malcolm Saunders did not have professional indemnity insurance and Heelis & Lodge had not replied to e-mails or answered telephone calls. Clerk to report back at next meeting.
22 - Councillors’ reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Griffin to check whether BT Kiosk needed a PAT test to go on next agenda. Repairs to go on next agenda. Clerk to contact Thurston Parish Council to check the overgrown hedge on Pakenham Road is to be cut in the autumn put on next agenda. Clerk informed Council she was unable to attend the scheduled meeting on Thursday 28th November. Council asked clerk to check availability of the village hall for Wednesday, 27th November and book, put on next agenda.
23 - Date of next meeting:-
Thursday 17th October 2013 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm