Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 25th November 2020

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a virtual Meeting of the Council
held on Wednesday, 25th November 2020 at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent and Cllr Sidebotham
No Members of the public were in attendance. Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes.

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence: All in attendance.

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Cllr Sargent for item 6 in respect of being a member of the W.I.& Cllr Sidebotham in respect of item 11ii.

3 :-
County Councillor's Report: Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend.
Borough Councillor's Report:-
Cllr Brown was in attendance and provided a report which included:
Barley Homes which is owned by West Suffolk has successfully provided 37 new homes in Haverhill, which includes 11 affordable homes. Following this success there are plans for further homes in Bury St Edmunds and Great Barton. Homelessness emergency accommodation across West Suffolk is being increased.
Services during Covid-19 : our bin service continues, parks and play areas as well as cemeteries in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill remain open. West Suffolk Council aim to keep public toilets open at this time but under the new Government rules facilities such as leisure centres, cultural venues and museums, such as Moyse's Hall and West Stow centre will be closed to the public. Where we are able to keep facilities open, the current COVID-19 restrictions to reduce infection still apply. Markets will remain open selling essential goods as set out by Government. This means our regular and farmers markets will remain open during this time.
Communities: West Suffolk Council has relaunched the Home But Not Alone Service to help the most vulnerable make sure they can access food, medicine and support. The service number is freephone: 0800 876 6926 and will be staffed from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Cllr Brown advised the Water Mill had been in contact with the community funding department at West Suffolk Council.
Details on resources available from West Suffolk to help with litter picking had been sent to the Clerk, this had been forwarded to Cllr Sidebotham who was happy to act as the Parish contact with the volunteer in the village and arrange for hi-vis jacket etc to be supplied.
Cllr Sidebotham asked if there was any update on play equipment Cllr Brown advised he had not yet spoken to the Chair of PVH & PFA.
Cllr Brown confirmed he had received the notes that the Clerk had circulated in regards Sizewell C and the impact on Pakenham.
To forward anything further to Cllr Brown once the discussion had taken place in item 10i.
Public Forum: No members of the public in attendance.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st October 2020 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports:-
i. Infrastructure meeting/Cycle Routes/Quiet Lane: Nothing received in regards the infrastructure meeting/cycle routes. The Clerk has registered Thurston Road from the crossroads at Upper Town towards Thurston and registered the Clerk as the Lead contact. A meeting is being held tonight, apologies have been sent and asked if any relevant material could be emailed out.
Council agreed to register Church Hill from The Street through to the Creamery crossroads at Norton to be considered as a possible quiet lane.
ii. Pakenham Stream: Council discussed and the Clerk to chase the Environment Agency for their comments on the high nitrate levels reported which they had previously agreed to send.
iii. Outstanding Highway Issues: Nothing further to report.
iv. Clerks Report: Attendance at a 'benchmarking' session with SALC, a new initiative to help Parishes with charging for allotments/cemeteries etc. The new meeting dates have been sent through to the Editor of the Village Newsletter along with any information received residents may find useful. Two funerals taking place in November/December one to re-open plot D6 and a new plot F4.

6 - To consider donation to W.I. for welcome packs:-
A letter received from Cllr Sargent on behalf of Pakenham W.I. had been circulated to Councillors which asked for a donation towards the cost of producing information packs for new residents. The last contribution had been made in February 2018 for £40. Council discussed and agreed to make a donation of £50 towards the cost of information packs.

7 - To consider donation/purchase of village Christmas Tree:-
Cllr Painter had received an email from the Chair of PVH & PFA who advised the total cost would be in the region of £150. Council discussed and it was agreed by 6 votes and 1 abstention to donate £150 to PVH & PFA.

8 - To consider removal of carpeting from allotment plots 10 & 11:-
The Clerk advised a previous tenant of plot 10 & 11 had covered the area with carpet and an old compost bin had since broken, the tenant had left the area and the Clerk was unable to contact them. Two new tenants had been unable to remove the carpets as they were extremely heavy.
The Clerk had received some estimates for the removal: the smallest skip is £240 + VAT for haulage plus £140 + VAT per tonne minimum price - the company suggested the price would be in the region of £520 + VAT and would only take the carpet.
M&TJ's had given a rough estimate of £725 + VAT to remove all debris.
The Clerk advised money was available within the village repair/improvement allocation for the current financial year. Council discussed, Cllr Bagnell advised he would visit the site and look to see if he could remove the carpet, Council thanked Cllr Bagnell.
To place allotments on next agenda to look at whether to ask new tenants for a deposit at the start of the tenancy.

9 - Annual Review:-
i. Lawn cemetery charges: Council discussed and agreed to increase the non-parishioner charge for burial to £600 and non-parishioner headstone to £150 all other charges to remain the same.
ii. Allotment fees: To add to the next meeting.

10 - Correspondence: Circulated to Councillors:-
West Suffolk updates Town & Parish Forum, SALC updates, Suffolk Constabulary updates, SCC updates, Planning Aid, email from residents in regards Pakenham stream and bus service.
• Consultation Sizewell C: Consultation (ending 18 December 2020) information had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting. Cllr Painter advised he had spoken to the Chief Planning Officer of Suffolk County and documents had been circulated. Council discussed; Cllr Dorling advised the current landowners did not know what EDF actually wanted. Cllr Painter highlighted EDF would be able to compulsory purchase the land if granted as apparently there were not enough areas of fen land nearer to Sizewell. The effect on the Water Mill, the water table, footpaths were discussed.
Cllr Painter had put together a number of questions that needed answering:-
i. What is the proposed timescale for this (start to finish)?
ii. Who will ultimately own the land and will this organisation be legally separate from EDF and a charity?
iii. Will this land be open to access by the general public, currently footpath no.3 runs through this area?
iv. Will there be footpaths created across the new Fenland and where would the access be?
v. Will there be an opportunity for Pakenham Parish Council to agree the location of new footpaths?
vi. It appears that the boundary of the new Fenland follows the route of Pakenham stream. How will this impact on the flow of the stream and in turn the listed Pakenham Water Mill? Currently there are problems with the flow of this stream. How will the charity managing the new Fenland improve the stream and maintain the stream?
vii. Will this proposal have an impact beyond the immediate area and have an effect on the wider area including water levels?
It was agreed Councillors to look further at the documents, the Clerk to circulate the questions and Councillors to come back to the Clerk by Monday, 30 November with anything further to add to the list above. If felt an extra meeting is needed to let the Clerk know by 30 November. If no further meeting is required Council were all in agreement for the Clerk to send the questions to the Chief Planning Officer and EDF with the comment: If Sizewell C does go ahead and the land at Pakenham is obtained the Parish Council would like these questions answered to inform the residents of Pakenham.
Cllr Bagnell left the meeting.
• Consultation Sunnica Energy Farm: Information had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting. Councillors discussed and noted these were sited to the west of Mildenhall.

11 - Planning Applications to comment:-
i. DC/20/1692/LB : The Old Bakery, The Street
Listed building application outbuilding for habitable use (following demolition of existing outbuilding)
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.

Cllr Sidebotham left the meeting.
ii. DC/20/1922/HH : The Garden House, The Street
Detatched garage (following demolition of existing)
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.
Cllr Sidebotham re-joined the meeting.

iii. Applications determined by Planning Authority: No applications determined by the Planning Authority had been received.

12 - Finance Report:-
Bank balances: the deposit account held £10,129.50 at 30 April 2020.
The current account held a cleared balance of £17,766.42 at 30 October 2020 and an uncleared balance after the invoices on the agenda have been paid of £16,529.36 (this did not include any donation to the W.I. or PVH & PFA).
A receipt of £205 had been received in regards a burial for plot F4.
The third quarter against budget had been circulated to Councillors.
i. To consider budget 2021/22: Councillors had received draft budget 1 and draft budget 2 for 2021/22 prior to the meeting. Council discussed, Cllr Painter proposed draft budget 2 seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement.
ii. To consider precept 2021/22: As discussed above all in agreement for the Chairman to sign the request for a precept of £11,907 for year 2021/22 which equated to a 0% rise.
To consider any payments to be made: All in agreement for the payment of invoices to be made.

No further invoices had been received.

13 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised the War Memorial was in need of cleaning. Cllr Dorling was unsure whether this could be undertaken by volunteers or if a specialist needed to be used. The Clerk and Cllr Palfrey to try and get advice.
Cllr Palfrey and Cllr Dorling to attend the Charities meeting on 3 December.

14 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled virtual meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 20 January 2021.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.10pm

(Ref: 333-336)