Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 28th November 2018

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

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent 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.

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Declarations of interest received from Cllr Sidebotham in respect of item 12i

3 :-
County Councillor's report: Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend and no report had been received.
Borough Councillors report - Cllr Brown did not attend a brief report had been received: St Edmundsbury Borough Council has decided to defer its decision on whether it wishes to be: West Suffolk Borough Council or West Suffolk District Council until 2019. This also means the decision on whether we have a Mayor or not is deferred.
Public Forum: It was asked if the most recent housing needs survey carried out, if Council could re-look at this. To place 'to consider housing needs survey' on next agenda. A question was asked who was responsible if a car hit a stone/bolder/post placed on the verge, it was advised it would depend who had placed them in position and who owned the land usually either SCC highways or a resident. Concern was expressed in regards some building work taking place and whether the proper planning permissions were in place. It was advised they should contact Borough Cllr Simon Brown in the first instance, the resident was given Cllr Browns contact details. A resident advised they were disappointed in the lack of detail given in an objection the Parish Council had sent to the Planning Authority and asked if Council could re-visit or resubmit a more detailed objection. This was discussed by Council and all in agreement for a further letter to be sent asking for no decision to be made on the application until Natural England had commented due to this site being in a designated SSSI area. (Following further information it was advised the site is not in an SSSI area but adjacent to Pakenham Fen Meadows County Wildlife Site). To also highlight the concerns of neighbours in regards the noise of barking dogs and if the application is to be approved to ensure the applicant includes measures to reduce the noise of barking dogs such as acoustic screening and hedging.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 24th October 2018 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issue: The clerk updated the current list of outstanding highway issues. Cllr Hopfensperger had confirmed using locality monies to pay for white lines in front of properties and driveway on The Street which have a problem with cars parking.
ii. Clerks Report: The Clerk confirmed a new account had been opened at Clarkes of Walsham with a credit limit of £150, this can be changed if necessary. Planning training was carried out on 22nd November and an invoice has been sent to Elmswell PC for the Councillor who attended. There were 17 attendees at the recent CPRE training organised in the village hall. To confirm the Clerk had received the public liability insurance in regards the work to be carried out on the hedges in the former bowling area.

6 - To consider Sycamore trees at allotments:-
Cllr Dorling reported he had not yet received a further price for works on the x2 Sycamore trees, to place on next agenda.

7 - To consider defibrillator at Watermill and use of Borough Cllr locality monies:-
The Clerk confirmed a letter had been sent to the Trustees of the Watermill but no reply had been received as yet. It was confirmed Borough Cllr Brown had confirmed locality grant monies were available towards the cost of the defibrillator. To place on next agenda.

8 - To consider Councillor attendance at Heritage planning training:-
Council discussed and all in agreement Cllr Sidebotham to attend at a cost of £40.

9 - To consider donation of 2 seater wooden bench for lawn cemetery:-
The Clerk advised a request had been received from a resident asking if they could donate a small 2 seater wooden bench in the lawn cemetery near to where a loved one was buried. Council discussed and all were in agreement for a 2 seater wooden bench to be placed in the corner of the lawn cemetery but to ask that the bench be securely anchored and space is left to allow the hedges to be trimmed.

10 - Annual review:-
i. Lawn Cemetery Charges: The Clerk advised the last rise in charges had taken place on 1st April 2018. Council discussed and agreed not to raise the charges at the current time.
ii. Allotment Fees: The Clerk advised the previous rise in charges had taken place on 1st April 2016. Council discussed and all in agreement to raise the annual charges to £20 for a full plot and £10 for a half plot from 1st April 2019.

11 - Correspondence:-
To circulate CPRE & Countryside Voice
i. Suffolk Minerals & Waste Local Plane - Appropriate Assessment online: Noted
ii. Polling District Review for West Suffolk - online: Noted
iii. Enforcement policy consultation online: Noted
iv. West Suffolk call for sites 2018 strategic housing & economic land availability assessment (SHELAA) online – Noted
v. Email from Residents: An email had been received thanking Council for organising the recent CPRE training and asked if those attending could be contacted to consider forming a group available to help in emergencies with a defibrillator. Unfortunately the clerk does not hold these contact details, Council discussed and were happy if the resident wished to place an article in the Newsletter. Council felt the CPR training was excellent and felt more training to allow members of organisations within the village as well as residents to attend would be to the benefit of the village. The clerk to try to arrange further training with the First Responders for May next year.

12 - Planning Applications:-
Cllr Sidebotham left the meeting.
i. DC/18/2084/TCA : Bridge House, The Street
1Acer, 1 Yew, 1 Hawthorn, 1 Laurel, 1 Pom Pom crown reduce or thin.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection. Cllr Sidebotham re-joined the meeting.

ii. DC/18/2150/TPO : Mulberry House, Church Hill
1 Holm Oak, 1 Mulberry crown reduction, 1 Sycamore remove lowest limbs.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.

iii. DC/18/2234/TCA : Mulberry House, Church Hill
1 Walnut remove/reduce limbs.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.

iv. Notification of Development Control Committee Meeting for DC/18/1507/FUL Paltry Farm, Brand Road – Noted

13 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account held a balance of £10,014.35
and the current account held a cleared balance at 1st October of £20,229.20
and an uncleared balance after invoices have been paid of £16,521.90.
The third quarter against budget had been circulated to Councillors.
i. To consider budget for 2019-2020: All Councillors had received a copy of the draft budget. Council discussed and all in agreement to accept the budget.
ii. To consider precept for 2019-2020: Council discussed and all Councillors in agreement to precept of £12,200 for year 2019/20. The Chair and Clerk signed the application for precept.
All Councillors were in agreement for the payment of invoices: