Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 21st October 2015

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 21st October, 2015 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present:Cllr Painter (Chair), Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Brookman, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey and Cllr Sidebotham
Eight members of the public were in attendance
Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes.

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence:-
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Dorling.

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Declarations of interest received from Cllr Brookman in relation to item 11ii

3 - Police Report:-
No Officer was in attendance and no report had been received. PCSO Rebecca McDaid was hoping to attend the village cafe on 21st November. Letter received from the Chief Constable reviewing officers attending meeting circulated to Councillors.

County Councillor's report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave her report which included: The pot holes on Fen Road should have been completed, the hedge has been cut back by the Water Mill, the skirting back has been delayed as more soil than anticipated needs to be removed, it is hoped this will be completed before the end of December. Cllr Hopfensperger gave a brief description of the Bury Transport Plan which can be found through a link on the SCC website. Running alongside the Transport Plan is Bury Sustainable Travel Plan which is currently being worked on. There is currently a review of car parking in the Borough as there is a particular problem with the multi storey car park being used as long term parking instead of for shoppers, there is a need for approximately 120 extra car parking places. Devolution; SCC and Norfolk were currently in negotiation on economic growth. Cllr Hopfensperger advised there were no bylaws to cover the parking of a van on Bury Road, she had contacted the police re safety issues and the police had agreed to monitor the situation. Cllr Palfrey advised a large pot hole on Fen Road nr Bill & Ben's nursery still needed to be filled. Cllr Bagnell advised a large pot hole on Brand Road still needed filling as well as 20/30 articulated vehicles and buses were going up Brand Road every day. Cllr Hopfensperger to investigate. Pot holes on Livermere Road and Thurston Road also had a number of pot holes. Cllr Sidebotham asked if it was possible to have a weight limit on The Street because it is in a conservation area. Council discussed it was advised evidence on the amounts of traffic coming down the Street would be needed Cllr Hopfensperger to arrange. A copy of the notes of the site visit between the Parish Council and Highways were given to Cllr Hopfensperger.

Borough Councillors report:-
Mill Road enforcement: Cllr Painter read out highlights from the enforcement notice on Mill Road which does include removal of the debris dumped on the site. Cllr Brown to check the Mill Road enforcement notice, the parish council asked for the enforcement to be carried out in total including the debris. A resident advised the site may be up for sale. Cllr Brown hoped to find a date for the re-planting of hedging. Cllr Painter highlighted the need to remove the debris first. Cllr Brookman advised Mr Gallin had agreed this enforcement would be carried out when he addressed a Parish Council meeting in April 2015. Cllr Brown advised he would see the respective planning officer and will update the Parish Council. Cllr Brown advised Newbury, Fen Road were looking to put dwellings on the land and were in discussion with the planning department. A charge between £35 and £50 will be made on residents wishing to have a brown bin; this will be an optional service. Cllr Sidebotham asked if St Edmundsbury will be offering a composting bin, Cllr Brown advised the Borough were looking into other options. Monies from the locality funding had been given to Pakenham village hall.

Public Forum:-
The Parish Council were thanked on behalf of the church for cutting back and removing the dead trees in the lawn meadow. It was advised the drain/culvert on Thurston Road (opp. Ponderosa) was flooding the road. A resident was happy for the parish council to proceed with the affordable houses to rent. The resident hoped the Borough Council would honour their obligations at Mill Road. It was reported the pavements were overgrown on Bury Road as well as the verges. The clerk to report. Concern was expressed on the possible re-opening of the right turn at the junction on Windmill Hill and A143 (this was previously closed due to the high number of accidents) The Chair advised agreement from County Highways would have to be given before this could be reopened. The clerk to write to Highways and the police to make them aware cars are illegally turning right at this junction and Ixworth Parish Council may be considering asking for this turning to be re-opened and advising them of the concerns which have been raised over safety. It was advised the direction sign on Windmill hill was also missing. A resident was concerned Anglia Water was cutting down 2 trees on Fen Road. The clerk read out an email received from Anglia Water in regards to this. The clerk to arrange a meeting at the site with the Anglia Water engineer, to inform Cllr Brown, Cllr Painter and resident when arranged. It was advised the street light near Greenwoods was not working

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meetings held on 3rd September were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Matters arising from previous meeting:-
i. Affordable Housing update: A new sketch of possible affordable housing had been received, Council discussed, Cllr Brookman proposed the drawings of July 2015 supplied by Havebury were more in line with what the Parish Council had asked for therefore the Parish Council would like to move to the next stage of discussion seconded by Cllr Davey. Agreed with a majority decision. The clerk to send Cllr Sidebotham details of the previous sites which had been looked at for affordable housing.
ii. Highways: An update from the site visit as well as outstanding highways issues was circulated. Notification of a temporary traffic order was read to Council.
iii. Lawn Cemetery/meadow: Cllr Dorling had advised the tree works had taken place. A dead cherry tree in the lawn cemetery was reported by a member of the public.

6 - Clerk's Report:-
The clerk had been advised by allotment holders a number of sheds on the site had been broken into with items stolen. The police are investigating. An allotment holder has asked whether the Parish Council could look at improved security at the allotments. To put on next agenda. Cllr Dorling had advised the light in the phone box at Grimstone End is not working. The Clerk to ask Mr Griffin if he would be able to replace the tube.

7 - Hedges and Verges:-
Cllr Sidebotham reported a number of hedges in the village were overgrown and obstructing the highway. The clerk to write to the various landowners asking if they could cut them back.

8 - To consider adoption of complaints procedure:-
All Councillors had received a copy of the complaints procedure, Council discussed all in agreement to adopt the complaints procedure.

9 - Pakenham Stream:-
A letter had been received from a resident with concerns about the stream, the clerk to send them a copy of the Environmental Agency report on the stream and if they had further concerns they were welcome to come to the next meeting. The clerk to contact the flood and water manager at SCC to ask what steps the Parish Council could take when receiving a complaint on flooding/stream in the future. Cllr Sidebotham updated the Council on her contact with Anglia Water.

10 - Correspondence:-
i. Kebab Van – Bury Road: The clerk advised a number of complaints had been received about a van trading on Bury Road. The clerk had advised St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk County Council and their respective Councillor. Council discussed, Cllr Bagnell thought the van would need a Statement 8 to trade on the roadside. Cllr Hopfensperger to pass the details onto SCC's legal department. Both Councillor Hopfensperger and Cllr Brown advised they would do all they could to help in the matter and keep the Parish Council updated.
ii. The Suffolk Association of Local Councils is administering applications for compensation from Parish Councils for the burden of complying with the new smaller Authorities transparency fund. Claims can be made back to 1 April 2015 and the Council can claim for the financial year that we are in. Council discussed and agreed the clerk to obtain the application form and submit expenses occurred on behalf of the Council.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council asked for feedback on the 'On the Spot' outreach vehicle that visited Pakenham in the summer. No Councillor was aware of its visit. An email received from Mr Manning and a reply from Suffolk Building Preservation Trust Ltd was read to Council. An email received from the Chairman of Pakenham Water Mill Management Committee asked for an update following the Highways site visit. The Clerk to send them an update. All other correspondence was circulated to Councillors for information.

Councillor Brookman left the meeting.

11 - Planning Applications:-
i. DC/15/1904/TCA 2 Church Green, Church Hill
Trees in a conservation area Ash – Fell: Council discussed all in agreement no objection

ii. DC/15/1849/FUL Ponderosa, Fen Road
1no. dwelling (following demolition of existing bungalow) & associated landscaping: Council discussed majority decision object with the comments: The Parish Council consider the applicant seems to be lowering the land, are they aware this is in a flood plain. The Parish Council feel the size of the building is considerably in excess of what is there currently.

iii. DC/15/2068/ South of Compton Cottage, Fen Road
Trees in a conservation area Acer – Fell: Council discussed all in agreement object with the comment: object because the tree is on the road frontage, object unless there is an overwhelming need to take this down

Any applications determined by planning authority:-
DC/15/1660/PMBPA notification of prior approval application under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment and Consequential Provisions)(England)Order 2014 –(i) Change of use of agricultural building to dwelling house (Class C3) to create 1no. dwelling (ii) associated operational development – application approved.

12 - To consider donation to the British Legion:-
Council discussed Cllr Bagnell proposed donation of £50 seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement.

13 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account has a cleared balance of £6681.86.
The current account at 5th October 2015 holds a cleared balance of £15,245.76
The uncleared balance before tonight's invoice's of £15,327.93 this includes a £9.57 wayleave received and £200 for a burial (plot E22).
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has advised the parish revenue support grant for 2016/17 for Pakenham is £510.
No further invoices had been received

14 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Sidebotham reported the training she had attended was excellent. No items were received for future agenda.

15 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 25th November 2015

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.50pm