Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 16th February 2022

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 16 February 2022 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent and Cllr Sidebotham
Two 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 Painter in respect of item 11i.

3 -
County Councillors Report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger was unable to attend and sent apologies a report had been received and circulated to Councillors which included: Council prepares budgets for its finances and environment; Levell Partnerships selected as joint venture preferred bidder by Suffolk County Council; Suffolk proudly supports Register my Appliance Week; keeping Suffolk safe from scams; Council's Net Zero ambitions aim high with first-ever full carbon budget and biodiversity commitment; Suffolk County Council waives fees for Platinum Jubilee events; Suffolk places co-production at the heart of its strategy of support for adults with learning disabilities; Warm Homes Suffolk Fund to heat up cold homes this winter
Borough Councillors Report: Cllr Brown did not attend and no report had been received
Public Forum:-
A member of the public hoped the village would be doing something for the Queens platinum jubilee.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2021 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
Highways: The Clerk advised a blocked gulley on Fen Road had been reported to SCC Ref: 347347 a response had been received from SCC. Cllr Palfrey advised a resident had been clearing gullies in Grimstone End, the Clerk to send thanks. National highways notification had been received of essential maintenance on A14 eastbound junction 43 to 44 (Bury) will be closed for 3 weeks between 14 February and 4 March between the hours of 8pm and 6am. Cllr Dorling highlighted the possible closure of the bridge on the 1088 at Stowlangtoft, the Clerk to contact Highways to receive clarification. Cllr Hopfensperger had advised she had chased Highways for a site visit to check the state of the footpath outside the church. The Clerk advised the parish council had been selected in the first tranche of ANPR SID device deployments however no other interventions aimed at speeding drivers take place in the parish over the 14-week period. Council discussed with a majority decision to go ahead with the ANPR SID research in the village.
Clerks Report: One tenant at the allotments had given up their plot; the next on the waiting list had taken it on with the tenancy agreement and privacy notice signed and payment made for the following year. Reminders for the allotment rent will be sent towards the end of March. Cllr Bagnell asked for the allotment holders to be reminded to keep their plots tidy.

6 - To consider working group reports:-
i. Revision of local plan: Cllr Painter to arrange a meeting with West Suffolk Cllr Simon Brown in regards the local plan. Council discussed the identified land for possible housing and resident's concerns; it was currently not known when the consultation would begin.
ii. Queen's Platinum Jubilee June 2022: Cllr Painter had been informed the W.I. had booked the village hall on the Saturday of the jubilee weekend to hold a 1950's themed tea party. Cllr Sidebotham advised PVH & PFA were hoping to put on a street party. Council discussed, the Clerk advised information on street closures had been forwarded to the Chair of PVH & PFA, if the road was a cul-de-sac or a no through road these could be closed. Information on funding had also been sent through to PVH & PFA. The member of the public attending had volunteered to help with the event and would try to attend the next meeting of PVH which will take place on Monday 21 February. Cllr Sidebotham would also attend and advised a number of residents had offered help. To place this item on the extraordinary meeting being held in the first week of March.

7 - To confirm:-
i. Works to rectify pot hole on drive to lawn cemetery: All in agreement for the works to rectify the pot hole.
ii. Consent for use of lawn cemetery meadow for fundraising play July 2022: Cllr Palfrey reported there may be a restriction on the use of the lawn meadow, Council briefly discussed and all in agreement to consent to the use of the lawn cemetery to hold the fundraising play July 2022.

8 - To review the grass cutting contract:-
Notification of any changes to the cost of grass cutting had not yet been received, to place on next agenda.

9 - To consider use of the Telephone Box on The Street:-
The Clerk advised an email from a resident had been received suggesting it could be used as a seed exchange and/or book exchange. Council discussed and agreed this would need someone to monitor on a regular basis. Cllr Palfrey advised this had been discussed at a previous meeting and no one had volunteered to come forward to monitor it. Cllr Sidebotham reported the base of the box appeared to be rotten.

10 - Correspondence: Circulated to Councillors including
-West Suffolk Council Community Governance Review/Parish & Town Forum information – Noted.
-Suffolk County Council news release Suffolk spectacular re platinum jubilee/Emergency Plan for Parishes help with templates etc. is available/Update on Suffolk LED upgrade 2021/22 – Noted.
-Sizewell C project notification of extension to the reporting period to 25 February 2022 – Noted.
Healthwatch Suffolk Elective Care Survey – Noted and forwarded to the village newsletter for inclusion if room. Ixworth Patients Association 'Veterans Friendly' – Noted
Emails received from:-
-Enforcement Officer, Private Sector Housing & Environmental Health West Suffolk in regards a complaint about smoke from the allotment to the right of the Telephone Exchange building. Council discussed the Clerk to visit the allotments, to advise allotment holders not to burn debris.
-UK Power Networks in regard preparation for storms Dudley & Eunice – noted
-Chair of Green Ixworth. Council discussed and agreed to place on next agenda, to advise the Chair of Green Ixworth.
-Donation request from St Edmundsbury Newstalk Association: Council discussed and all in agreement to give a donation of £50.
-Kebab Van and state of surrounding area: Council discussed to be forward the email to Cllrs Hopfensperger and Brown (with residents permission) as the parish council does not have any powers to deal with this problem.

11 - Planning Applications to comment:-
Cllr Painter left the meeting.
i. Application DC/22/0048/TPO : Rohan 6 Manor Garth
One Lime pollard to 9m above ground level.
The Clerk advised a letter had been received from a resident in regards this application which was read to Council. Council discussed Cllr Davey proposed objecting seconded by Cllr Dorling with the comments: The tree is a landscape feature and needs to be treated as such, the Parish Council do recognise it needs some work but would ask that this is kept to a minimum with removal only of dead wood and unwanted new vertical growth keeping the existing shape. All Councillors in agreement.
Cllr Painter re-joined the meeting.
ii. Application DC/22/0214/TCA : Hedge Rise, The Street
One Cherry overall crown reduction by 2m
Council discussed Cllr Painter proposed objecting seconded by Cllr Dorling with the comment it is recognised one large limb goes into the neighbouring property the Parish Council would ask that only this limb is cut back and any tree work needs to be carried out at the appropriate time. All Councillors in agreement.

12 - Finance Report:-
Bank balances, the deposit account held £10,146.18 at 30 April 2021.
The current account held a cleared balance at 31 January 2022 of £16,639.21
Receipts had been received of £952.50 locality monies from Cllr Brown West Suffolk Council in respect of part payment for the defibrillator and cabinets also £600 in regards burial in the Lawn Cemetery in December.
The uncleared balance of the current account after the invoices below have been paid of £16,787.21.
To consider use of internet banking: Council discussed and agreed to keep using cheques for the current time. The Clerk to investigate this for future use.
To consider Local Government pay claim 2021/22: The Clerk advised the local government pay claim for 2021/22 is still ongoing with unions rejecting the employers offer of 1.75%.
To confirm internal auditor: Council discussed and agreed M. Saunders to be appointed as a competent and independent internal auditor for Pakenham.
To consider any payments to be made: All in agreement for the invoices listed below to be paid.

13 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Dorling advised a resident at The Greenwoods was concerned at the state of a tree just outside the boundary fence. The Clerk to contact Cllr Hopfensperger to find out if it is owned by Highways. It was reported four further statements had been received in regards footpath, the Clerk to send through to Suffolk County Council. To place 'spoil at lawn cemetery' on the next agenda.

14 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 16 March 2022. An extraordinary meeting to be arranged for the first week of March.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.30pm

(Ref: 388-391)