Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 25th April 2018

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 25th April 2018 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, 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:-
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Davey. The Chair advised Cllr Brookman had forwarded his resignation due to work commitments.

2 - Declarations of interest: Cllr Bagnell declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 8ii

3:-
County Councillor's report: Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave a report which included: No resident had contacted her in regards the kebab van, the Clerk advised a resident had telephoned stating they and their neighbours would be happy to have a meeting if given a date. Cllr Hopfensperger asked if the resident would contact her directly. The flooding on Bull Road was an ongoing issue and may need some substantial work including putting in a storm drain, Highways will look to put this on their schedule of works. Cllr Hopfensperger confirmed ditches should be maintained by the landowner and SCC will be contacting them in this case. It was also confirmed that 80% of the time ditches are the landowners responsibility and the remainder will be Suffolk County Councils. Highways will be inspecting again the junction with the A143 that has problems with flooding to see what further works are needed. Cllr Hopfensperger to pass on comments received in regards the size, intervention criteria and filling of pot holes to the member responsible. There was a short discussion on pot holes and a number of comments were given from members of the public who attended. Cllr Dorling to pass the contact details of a resident, if in agreement, to Cllr Hopfensperger for Highways to give advice. Cllr Bagnell advised a number of pot holes had been filled on Brand Road but there still remains the large pot hole which has been unfilled for a considerable amount of time. Cllr Hopfensperger confirmed the logs on Fen Road have been reported again and Highways have written to the landowner. Upper Town Highways to collect all the data for the area to ensure a gateway is the best most effective way to approach the safety issues in this area. Council advised the temporary VAS is very useful and a very good system which helps with reducing speeding through the village.

Borough Councillors report: Cllr Brown attended and gave a report which included:-
Cllr Brown is still following up the query on the sale of a house in Pakenham with Havebury.
Update was given on Shetland Boatyard in regards the alleged residential property.
An update was given on the enforcement issues - Reference Nos: EN/18/0129 Land South of Rivendell, Grimstone End and EN/18/0029 Land to the West of Micklemere these issues were discussed.
Cllr Brown advised the caravan/mobile home parked on land was moved. Cllr Painter asked Cllr Brown if further information on the rules of keeping a caravan/mobile home on land could be given to the Parish Council. This issue was discussed.
Cllr Brown advised he was liaising with Jo Churchill M.P. for a date for the next meeting with Anglian Water, as soon as he had confirmation the date would be circulated to Councillors.
Cllr Brown advised there were logs on an area of land near the Watermill he confirmed he would send details of this to Cllr Hopfensperger as it was SCC land.
A resident informed Cllr Brown about cars using the area where the hedge had been reinstated on Mill Road as a lay by or passing area. Cllr Brown advised there was no legal requirement for the landowner to maintain hedging. Cllr Painter advised he felt the land owner was using this area as an entrance for which no planning permission had been sought, this was discussed and Council asked that the landowner should be asked to close the opening or apply for planning permission.
Cllr Brown advised a full Council meeting had been held last night where Council had voted on paybands for senior officers which had been passed.

Public Forum: No residents wished to speak.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 28th March 2018 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from previous meeting:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: This had been dealt with in item 3.
ii. Clerks Report: The x2 replacement defibrillator pads have now been received. The allotment rent notices have gone out to holders, one allotment holder has indicated this will be their last year on the allotment. A freezer dumped behind the electric sub station at the back of the Owell has been reported. The internal audit will be carried out at the beginning of May.
iii. Planning Enforcements: This had been dealt with in item 3.
iv. GDPR: Pakenham is working towards GDPR compliance. The laptop will be encrypted at the end of this week, the DPO Centre has been appointed as the Data Protection Officer and the clerk is attending an impact assessment on either the 11 or 17 May.

6 - To consider change of use of land to allotments:-
An email received from an allotment holder had previously been forwarded to Councillors. Councillors had undertaken a site visit to the area. Council discussed the removal of the hedge, which was full of brambles, between the main allotments and the former bowling green area. Cllr Bagnell advised there was a standpipe in the vicinity which could still be live. Cllr Dorling had previously received a quote for the hedge to be removed and Cllr Davey had been able to obtain a further quotation. Council discussed the costs, a resident who was on the waiting list for an allotment advised he would be happy to contribute a modest sum of money to help with costs if further allotments were added. Cllr Bagnell proposed the removal of the hedging using the quote from Mr Davidson seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement further to a copy of their insurance to be seen. Cllr Dorling to liaise with Cllr Davey and Mr Davidson to confirm the works needed at the agreed price and also to ensure insurance is in order.

7 - Correspondence:-
To circulate: Countryside Voice and C.P.R.E.
i. Safeguarding conference 3 May SALC offices: Cllr Sideobotham to attend, this is a free event.
ii. St Edmundsbury Parish & Town Forum 29 May 6 – 8pm venue TBC: Cllr Sidebotham advised a representative from Highways will be speaking at the forum and Cllr Sidebotham was hoping to attend the meeting.

8 - Planning:-
Planning applications:-
i. DC/18/0511/HH The Croft, Bell Corner, Fen Road
Single storey side & rear extensions revised scheme of DC/17/0932/HH.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection

Council Bagnell withdrew from the meeting.
ii. DC/18/0613/OUT Paltrey Farm, Brand Road
1no. dwelling (following demolition of B8 storage & distribution building & stables).
Council discussed and all in agreement to object to the application with the comment we consider this to be a new dwelling in the countryside with no reason to go against planning policy.
Council Bagnell re-joined the meeting.

Planning Appeal:-
AP/18/0015/REF Land adj. Pelambech, Fen Road
1no. dwelling with off street parking & assoc. vehicular access.
Council discussed and all in agreement there was nothing further Council wished to add to their previous comments.

Applications determined by planning authority: None received.

9 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
Internal audit to be completed by the next meeting.
The form to reclaim VAT had been sent to HMRC for a total of £1383.55.
£144 allotment rent has been received to date.
The deposit account on 4th April 2018 had a cleared balance of £6741.87.
The current account had a cleared balance at 31st March 2018 of £15,339.82 the uncleared balance including the invoices below was £12,346.39.
A letter to Santander instructing the bank to transfer £3,250 from the current account to the deposit account was signed by Cllr Painter and Cllr Dorling.
This will bring the reserves in the deposit account to £10,000.
All Councillors were in agreement for the payment of invoices:-