Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 22nd February 2017

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held onWednesday, 22nd February 2017 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

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

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence: All in attendancce

2 - Declarations of interest: No declarations of interest received

3 - County Councillor's report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave a report which included: The budget was passed at a full Council meeting, there was still a short fall which will come out of reserves. SCC will need to review all traffic regulation orders and in place as St Edmundsbury to take over civil parking enforcement from 2018/19. Information about vehicle activated signage has been passed to the clerk. Have asked Highways about dragon's teeth on all four roads leading to the Upper Town crossroads they have responded that at this moment in time they don't plan to add any to the other parts of the crossroads without further traffic survey data and they would like to get this underway to help minimise the risk and then assess if further measures need to be taken. Cllr Hopfensperger to get clarification on where the dragons teeth will be placed at Upper Town. The email from Highways in regards to visibility at Upper Town crossroads was read to Council and discussed. It was asked if the highways officer could re look at the visibility concerns. Cllr Hopfensperger to ask if the officer could re-visit to look at the whole area again. To place on the next agenda. It was asked if 30mph roundels could be used to help with traffic calming. Cllr Hopfensperger to investigate a number of outstanding highway issues: lack of signage of 'no right turn' coming from Ixworth, large number of pot holes on Brand Road and Livermere Road with some pot hole works on these roads not completed properly, the verge outside Millers Meadow the flexible warnings have been installed but the wooden poles are still on the verge. A possible blocked drain causing a dangerous large puddle at Ixworth/Pakenham crossroad to get an investigation of the area. Cllr Hopfensperger was thanked for her support in helping with the jetting out of the village hall drains.
Borough Councillors report:-
Cllr Brown attended and gave a report which included: There is a new owner of the kebab van, the environmental officer had visited the site and spoken to the owner who had been told they are responsible for the area and must pick up all litter. The kebab van was discussed. Site at Mill road St Edmundsbury as well as Cllr Brown are monitoring the site, concern was expressed as this site is on a flood plain within a conservation area and dirt/rubbish is being tipped. Cllr Brown advised Council tax rise, the members have voted not to agree a rise in allowances this year and the new Mayor of St Edmundsbury has been elected. A court order had been given to a resident for a fence keeping a dog within the garden. Cllr Brown highlighted the extremely poor and dangerous state of the A143, Council were happy for Cllr Brown to take this issue forward to SCC on behalf of Pakenham and Ixworth Parish Council's. The amount of new housing being built in Ixworth and Thurston was highlighted which will increase the amount of traffic and put increased pressure on local infrastructure.
Public Forum: Residents advised the Shetland Boat site has increased traffic with at least x20 lorry loads with soil going in and concrete going off site. This included a low loader at 11pm on 31st January which caused considerable damage to verges and hedging when trying to turn around. Council discussed, the clerk to advise the planning authority they understand the resident was running a boat building business without the necessary planning consent. Cllr Bagnell reported he had advised Suffolk Constabulary recently on hare coursing taking place in the area.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 25th January 2017 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Matters arising from previous meeting:-
i. Speeding in village/Upper Town: Suffolk Constabulary will try to carry out speed checks in the village and they will also try to get the speed boards deployed in Pakenham as well. Forms and guidance to complete for the SCC temporary VAS had been received. Council discussed and agreed possible sites at: Manor Garth, Agri Centre, Church Road, Fen Road and Bury Road. Cllr Sidebotham and the clerk to complete. The temporary VAS signage is currently 2 to 3 visits a year, 2 weeks at a time and is proving to be effective. Highways have confirmed the improved lining/signing scheme on the approach to the 30mph limit from Ixworth has been ordered and are awaiting a programmed start date.
ii. Kebab Van: This was discussed in item 3

6 - Clerks Report:-
Attendance of Mayor at the Annual Parish Meeting, this has been entered in the Mayor's diary but will be confirmed nearer the time.
An email received from Havebury Housing was read to Council who passed on their thanks to the Parish Council and should the position change in the future to please let them know and they will be happy to assist.
i. Outstanding Highways issues: Missing reflective discs on bollard on Mill Road with junction of Ixworth bypass reported ref:159949. Reinstatement of children sign Ixworth Road reported ref:159947.
Debris left on triangle Upper Town reported to St Edmundsbury Borough Council. To place Highways on next agenda.

7 - To consider Wi-Fi in the Village Hall:-
Cllr Sidebotham advised the Borough Councillors had locality monies available for help towards installing wi-fi in village halls. Council discussed, Cllr Palfrey advised the village hall committee had discussed the issue a year ago and decided not to take it forward. The parish council were happy to back the village hall committee if they decided in the future to go ahead with this.

8 - To consider Mill Road east/Mill Road west:-
A resident reported the poor state of these roads which were very neglected, overgrown with cracked tarmac. Borough Councillor Brown to investigate and report back to Council.

9 - To consider works needed to The Dell:-
Cllr Dorling reported the chestnut fence put up 10/15 years ago is very overgrown, unstable or fallen over. A new fence will be needed but it is currently not a safety issue. Council agreed to leave until the tree works near the fence have been completed to then place on the agenda.

10 - Annual Review of allotment rents:-
Council discussed and resolved to keep the allotment rents the same as 2016-17 £16 per full plot and £8 per half plot.

11 - Review of grass/hedge cutting contract:-
All Councillors happy with the service provided by M & TJs which to continue for 2017-18. Cllr Sidebotham reported an overgrown hedge by the allotments. Cllr Painter, Dorling and Sidebotham to inspect hedge and check ownership of the hedge.

12 - Correspondence: To circulate:-
Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Masterplan consultation, RSPB species recovery conference & evening reception invitation, St Edmundsbury Parish Forum follow up – paperless consultation for planning applications FAQs, SALC Planning for All Conference at Mildenhall jubilee centre at a cost of £75 + VAT, PCC-CC public meeting programme 2017 the Chief Constable and Locality Inspector in each of the 18 safer neighbourhood areas. The meetings are an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable and to find out more about policing in the county. All meetings start at 6.30pm for Bury St Edmunds the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 12th September. An email received from a resident in regards to derelict pig pens was read to Council, Borough Councillor Brown to investigate, the clerk to forward to Ixworth Parish Council.

13 - Planning Applications:-
DC/17/0064/TCA : Bell House, The Street
1no Norway Spruce fell, 1no Sycamore pollard 85%, 1no Sycamore thin crown, 1no Ash lift crown approx. 3m.
Council discussed and agreed no objection.

DC/17/0081/TCA : The Fox, The Street
4no while Willow coppice, 1no Willow pollard, 1no Ash pollard, 3no young Sycamore fell, 2no Sycamore pollard.
Council discussed and agreed no objection

AP/17/0005/REF : 6 Council Houses, Fen Road
1no dwelling with attached garage (following demolition of existing garage).
Council discussed and agreed to reiterate the parish council position: the design and location of this application is not an annexe but a separate dwelling and is an intrusion in the countryside and does not comply with Policy DM27.

Applications determined by planning authority: None received.

14 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account on 4th April 2016 had a cleared balance of £6715.34.
The current account held a cleared balance of £17,236.96 on 2nd January 2017 and an uncleared balance of £15,242.96. No invoices had been received.

15 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
To place VAS sites on next agenda and dog waste bins on next agenda.

16 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 22nd March 2017 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.15pm

(Ref : 179 – 182)