Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 28th March 2018

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 28th March 2018 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter (Chair), Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davy, Cllr Palfrey and Cllr Sidebotham
Five 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 Brookman.

2 - Declarations of interest: Cllrs: Painter, Dorling and Bagnell declared an interest in item 13i.

3:-
County Councillor's report: Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave a report which included: The home to school transport consultation has now ended and the responses are being collated and will go to cabinet in June for a decision. Upper Town the process has been started towards getting an entry gate which will go ahead in April with approximately six weeks to get the plans in place with the gates hoping to be in place by September. Cllr Hopfensperger advised she had been in correspondence with a resident in regards logs on Fen Road, highways to remove them. Suffolk County Council had received monies from Government to help deal with potholes and an extra team has been put in place to deal with them. A resident asked a question on potholes and a brief discussion took place. It was highlighted that many potholes are caused by the lack of suitable drainage. A discussion took place on who is responsible for the maintenance of ditches, Cllr Hopfensperger to clarify the matter and report back at the next meeting. Cllr Hopfensperger advised she has asked what the Suffolk County Council policy is on the pothole intervention matrix in regards bicycles. The Rougham highways depot has now bedded in and Cllr Hopfensperger is hoping to set up a tour round the depot for Parish Councillors to see how they work.
Cllr Dorling thanked Cllr Hopfensperger for the repair to Bailey Bridge but asked if it was possible if some protection could be placed to stop it being damaged again.

Borough Councillors report: Cllr Brown attended and gave a report which included: Planning enforcement updates – Land adj. 1 Mill Road an officer has undertaken a compliance visit and rubble remains on site a notice to be sent to the landowner with 21 days to respond.
Land on Mill Road reinstating land and hedging the case is now closed. The Parish Council clarified that the Borough Council re-planted the hedging and not the landowner. The Chair highlighted the Borough Council do not seem to enforce the planning law and the Parish Council should not have to keep pushing the Borough for action. A discussion took place and Council will wait to see how the Borough responds to the outstanding planning enforcement and will seriously consider contacting the Ombudsman if no action is taken. Cllr Dorling asked if it would be possible to see the wording of the fixed notice which was sent to the landowner, Cllr Brown to look into this.
Grimstone End land adj. Pelembach an officer had spoken to the landowner in 2016 who had agreed to remove soil. All Councillors asked for an enforcement officer to re-look at this as excess soil was still insitu, the clerk to write to the Borough Councillor confirming this.
Shetland Boatyard a planning application had been received and granted for continued use as workshop for re-fitting for 12 months. No planning application had been received for residential use. Cllr Sidebotham advised Rightmove had appeared to advertise a property to rent on the Shetland Boatyard site. Cllr Brown was asked to confirm if the boatyard had planning permission for residential use, if work had started and the permission is still operational or if it had expired. The clerk to write to the Borough Councillor confirming this.

Public Forum: A resident highlighted the dreadful state of Ixworth Road with large puddles forming and verge needs skirting back. Cllr Hopfensperger to look into the problem which has been reported numerous times. It was advised there are now two kebab vans and a large amount of rats have been reported in the area. Cllr Hopfensperger asked for residents in the area concerned to email her the details and how it is affecting the quality of their lives and she will arrange a meeting with all the relevant agencies and residents.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st February 2018 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from previous meeting:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: This was dealt with in item 3
ii. Clerks Update: Have been in contact with the local First Responders and they are happy to carry out first aid/CPR training in Pakenham. They are currently training new members so the training will take place July/September. Council asked if the training could take place on a Saturday morning in the village hall as previously.
iii. Planning Enforcements: This was dealt with in item 3
iv. Meeting with Anglian Water, SCC and Jo Churchill M.P.: A letter had been sent from the Parish Council to all who attended the meeting agreeing they were happy to met Anglian Water again for an update and hopefully solutions. The meeting was discussed, Council thanked Cllr Brown for organising the initial meeting and asked if he could continue to push for another meeting and continue to engage with Jo Churchill M.P. Council agreed a representative from Thurston Parish Council would be invited to the next meeting if arranged and it was also suggested a representative from the Water Mill would also be asked to attend.

6 - To consider safety at Crossroads, Upper Town: This was covered in item 3.

7 - To consider quote for change of use of land to allotments:-
Cllr Dorling had received approximate costs for the removal of the conifer hedge and brambles of £1200 + VAT. A price had also been received for the removal of x2 large Sycamore trees in part of the allotments of £700 + VAT. Cllr Dorling reported a portaloo had been left on the bowling green land. An email had been received asking if water could be supplied to the allotments. Council discussed and agreed to leave the removal of the Sycamores for the time being and not to supply water to the allotments. Cllr Davey to obtain another price for the removal of the hedging. Cllr Sidebotham to regularly inspect the allotments. Council agreed to have a further meeting at the site and to place on next agenda.

8 - Lawn Cemetery:-
• To consider request for memorial bench: An email was read to Council from a resident. Council discussed and all in agreement a wooden bench could be placed in the lawn cemetery near the path in front of the hedge and to ensure the correct fittings to the ground.
• To consider memorial inscription(s) plot D31: An email was read to Council. Council discussed and all in agreement happy for ashes to be interred into burial plot and for an additional stone at the foot of the headstone but flat to the ground provided it was set low enough to allow for grass cutting.

9 - To consider to update Procurement values in regards Financial Regulations and Standing Orders:-
Council discussed and agreed to update the values. The clerk to update Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.

10 - Bi Annual Risk Assessment of Assets:-
Council reviewed and agreed no changes were needed the Chairman signed on behalf of Council. To be reviewed in September 2018.

11 - To confirm use of The DPO Centre as Council's Data Protection Officer:-
Council discussed and all in agreement to use The DPO Centre as the Parish Council's data protection officer using category one at £120 for the first year and £45 for the second year.

12 - Correspondence:-
To circulate Clerks & Councils Direct, Suffolk View, The Suffolk Walking Festival 2018 magazine (poster had been placed on the noticeboard). A donation request had been received from East Anglia's Children's Hospice. The Chairman of Ixworth Patients Association had requested to speak at the next Parish meeting, all Councillors were in agreement for him to be invited.
• Consultation on District Ward Boundaries: Cllr Brown updated Council and it was agreed no further action was needed.

13 - Planning: Cllrs: Painter, Dorling and Bagnell did not take part in the discussion.
i. Planning applications:-
DC/18/0263/HH Rivendell, Grimstone End
1no.3 bay garage with first floor habitable room (following demolition of existing outbuilding)
Council discussed Cllr Davey proposed objecting to the application seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement to object with the comments: Concern at the size of building in comparison to the bungalow. Council felt this building must be made ancillary to the main house.

ii. Applications determined by planning authority:-
DC/17/2675/OUT Paltry Farm, Brand Road
1no dwelling following demolition of B8 storage & distribution building: Withdrawn.
DC/18/0121/HH 3 Council Houses, Fen Road
Single storey front extension, two storey side extension & detached garage – Granted 9.3.18.

14 - Finance Report & to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account held a cleared balance of £6,741.87.
The current account held a cleared balance of £18,295.67 at 1st January 2018 an uncleared balance after the current invoices have been paid of £13,381.78
A copy of Receipts, Expenditure and cash book circulated to Councillors together with the fourth quarter against budget.
All in agreement for the payment of invoices:-