Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 27th November 2019

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 27th November 2019 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey and Cllr Sidebotham.
Seven 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 Sargent.

2 - Declarations of interest: None received.

3:-
County Councillor's report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger was in attendance and gave a report which included: Civil parking enforcement has been transferred to the Local Authority West Suffolk and will begin at the end of January 2020; they are in the process of recruitment. The police were still able to enforce illegal parking. Cllr Dorling advised of the problem of cars parking on the pavement in the village, Cllr Hopfensperger advised if a photo could be taken of the offending vehicles and sent to her she would contact the local police officer. A resident asked a question on parking on the road at night. The flooding at the A143 junction capital works are planned however following the recent accident Cllr Hopfensperger has asked if something could be done in the interim to help alleviate the problem before the substantive works takes place. It was asked about the SCC boundary changes consultation and whether it would affect Pakenham parish. Cllr Hopfensperger advised neither the district nor parish will change. SCC are looking at loosing 5 divisions and changing from 75 to 70 Councillors. It was advised when maps are available Council will be able to view them.
Cllr Painter stated he was concerned about the increase of housing in Thurston and the impact on the Thurston Road into Pakenham with large vehicles starting to use this narrow road and causing a problem. It was suggested a meeting between Highways, the County Councillor and District Councillor to discuss this problem with the possibility of re-organising the road to make it safer as it is becoming increasingly dangerous. With the proposal of making it one way either temporarily while house building takes place or permanently. It was also highlighted only 2 of the housing schemes notified Anglia Water. Cllr Hopfensperger advised the junction at the Bunbury Arms would be receiving monies to allow improvement, this was briefly discussed. Lorries within the local area were also briefly discussed. If a lorry is parked up in the village overnight it was advised to take a photo and send to Cllr Hopfensperger who would advise the local police officer.
A resident highlighted the length of time barriers were left up for road works when no work was taking place. Cllr Hopfensperger advised SCC were trying to tighten this up. The bin change day and notification were briefly discussed.
Borough Councillors report:-
Cllr Brown did not attend and no report had been received. Cllr Brown sent his apologies after the meeting and advised he had not heard from a resident in regards a recent planning application. To arrange a meeting with the Chairman.
Public Forum:-
A resident spoke in regards the procedures with a planning application.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2019 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: Cllr Palfrey had advised a new finger post has been installed at the bottom of Maulkins Drive.
ii. Clerks Report: The meeting dates for next year, as agreed at the meeting of 23 October have been circulated to Councillors, Cllr Hopfensperger and Cllr Brown. A copy has also been placed in the Post Office and on the main Noticeboard. The Clerk attended the 'Shaping Suffolk' conference on 18 November, a report and links had been circulated to Councillors. All allotment plots are now rented.

6 - To consider request to purchase or manage Church Green Wood:-
Council agreed Church Green Wood was not for sale but happy to have help with the management. The resident who was interested in volunteering to help with the management of the wood spoke about his passion and ideas as well as his extensive experience (letter of reference received). It was agreed Cllr Dorling and the resident to meet and to put together a management plan for Church Green Wood and The Dell, to place the item on the next agenda. The resident was thanked for coming forward.

7 - To consider quote to undertake tree survey:-
A quote had been received from Urban Forestry to carry out a tree survey in January 2020. Councillors discussed and Cllr Dorling proposed to accept the quote seconded by Cllr Palfrey all in agreement to accept the quote. The Clerk to inform Urban Forestry.

8 - To consider documents to be deposited within the Suffolk Record Office:-
The Clerk listed all documents which could be placed with the Suffolk Record Office. Council discussed and all in agreement for the Clerk to deposit the listed documents with Suffolk Record Office.

9 - To consider purchase of projector and screen for planning applications:-
The Clerk advised of approximate cost of a projector, Council discussed the options for viewing planning applications. It was agreed the Clerk to check with the Chair of the village hall if a projector is available and if so, would it be suitable for the parish council to use. The Clerk to also check how large the image from a new projector would be. To place on the next agenda.

10 - Annual Review:-
i. Lawn Cemetery charges: The Clerk advised the last rise had occurred on 1st April 2018. Council discussed and agreed to raise the charges in line with Bury St Edmunds cemetery.
ii. Allotment fees: The Clerk advised the fees had been increased on 1st April 2019. Council discussed and agreed to freeze the allotment fees.

11 - Correspondence:-
To circulate to Councillors: Clerks & Councils Direct, Countryside Voice and Fieldwork. Circulated to Councillors:
i. Formal adoption of Thurston Neighbourhood Plan by MSDC - Noted
ii. Local Government Boundary Commission changes to SCC boundary divisions discussed in item 3 - Noted

12 - Planning Applications to comment:-
i. DC/19/1447/OUT : Re-consultation land adj Acorn Cottage, Fen Road
Outline planning (means of access to be considered) 5 no. dwellings with garages
Council discussed the application and Cllr Dorling proposed to object to the application with the comments:
• The Parish Council strongly object to this proposal and urge that the application is refused.
• The scheme is outside the settlement boundary by a considerable distance.
• Does not comply with policy DM27
• It is in a rural location and will be very prominent as it sits on rising ground.
• The site is adjacent to a listed building and will make a considerable impact on the building.
• It is understood the proposal is in outline but the site plan does indicate an intention to create a rigid layout with a very urban house design. The Parish Council consider this to be very inappropriate on this site and be detrimental to the visual amenity of Pakenham.
• The proposal does not reflect the informal pattern of housing in Pakenham, it suggests a very rigid scheme.
• Does not comply with Highways.
• The Parish Council do not consider this to be an infill and believe if granted will create an unfortunate precedent for future housing in Pakenham.
This was seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement to object to this application with the above comments.

13 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account held £10,068.96 at 31.5.19
and the current account held a cleared balance of £22,693.97 at 31.10.2019.
The third quarter against budget had been circulated to all Councillors.
i. To consider budget for 2020- 2021: All Councillors had received a copy of the draft budget for 2020-21. Council discussed and agreed to add £5000 to the reserves for play equipment and £250 for a royal event. The budget including the above was agreed by all Councillors, a copy attached.
ii. To consider precept for 2020-21: Council discussed the precept and all in agreement for a precept of £12026 this equates to a slight decrease of 0.24 or 0.67% for a Band D property. Council in agreement for the Chair and Clerk to sign the application for Parish Council precept 2020/21.
All Councillors were in agreement for the payment of invoices as below:-

No further invoices had been received.

14 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Dorling asked for the re-painting of the telephone kiosk in Grimstone End to be placed on the next agenda. The light in the kiosk no longer works but it was advised it sat under a street light Council agreed there was no need to place on a future agenda as there wasn't a need to replace the bulb.
Cllr Palfrey advised the Council representatives would be attending the Charities meeting next week and he would also be attending the next village hall meeting.
Cllr Sidebotham supplied the minutes and a handout from the latest Ixworth Patients Association meeting, these were placed in the Councillors circulation folder.
Cllr Dorling advised there had been another case of fly tipping which had been reported to West Suffolk and taken away.
Cllr Bagnell advised there may be grants available from DEFRA for the works in the wooded areas.

15 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 15th January 2020 at 7.45pm in the village hall.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.20pm

(Ref 292-295)