Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 20th April 2022

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 20th April 2022 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Davey, 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 from Cllr Bagnell all in agreement to approve absence.

2 - Declarations of interest: No declarations of interest received.

3:-
County Councillors Report: Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend apologies had been sent, no report received.
Borough Councillors Report: Cllr Brown did not attend and no report had been received.
Public Forum: A resident highlighted the A143 and the difficulties in crossing and asked about the possibility of introducing speed reduction measures. Cllr Dorling advised our County Cllr Hopfensperger had been asked to look at this issue some time ago and currently nothing further had been achieved. Cllr Painter highlighted the highway meetings the Parish Council had attended. The resident was happy for the Clerk to forward the email to Cllr Hopfensperger.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2022 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
i. Highways: Nothing to report
ii. Queens Platinum Jubilee Weekend & confirm design for Jubilee Mugs: The Clerk advised the photograph of the village sign had been sent to the Mug Company to use in the design of the mugs, a draft had not yet been received. Council agreed the Clerk to circulate the pro forma design to Councillors as soon as they are received. Councillors to approve the design by email and confirm at the next meeting due to time limits. Cllr Sidebotham and resident advised an event was taking place on Sunday 5 June at 12noon until 4pm at the field at the rear of The Fox public house. With the Pakenham Players and a live band attending, side shows, a free street type party on the field for the children, a BBQ put on by the pub, a marquee and gazebo to be put up in case of inclement weather, the pub to have an outside bar. A risk assessment and insurance being put in place by the Fox public house. Grant monies being received from District Cllr Simon Brown through Pakenham village hall and playing field association. A meeting to be held for volunteers next Thursday. To place donation to Jubilee Group of approximately £200 on the next agenda. It was advised St Marys will be lighting up the tower from the Thursday evening of the jubilee weekend. The Clerk to seek advice as to whether the Parish Council are able to give a donation towards the cost of lighting the tower.
iii. Clerks Report: The tenant of plot 10 on the allotments had handed back the plot, this has been offered and accepted by the next on the waiting list. A reminder has gone out to all plot holders that the allotment rent is now due. A burial is due to take place on 21 April in plot E2. The locality grant offer letter for monies towards the jubilee mugs from Cllr Hopfensperger has been received, completed and sent back to Suffolk County Council. A new Councillor Code of Conduct has been produced by the Local Government Association with all Suffolk District Councils and SALC recommending Councils adopt. To place on the next agenda for Council to consider adopting. The Clerk is hoping to attend a training session on the new Code of Conduct.

6 - To consider West Suffolk local plan (up to 2040):-
West Suffolk Council's Cabinet (26 April) will be asked to recommend to Council on 17 May, that public consultation on the preferred options draft begins on 26 May 2022. The preferred options report suggests which sites should go forward in the plan including early indicative numbers for how many homes could be built on a site. Council looked at the paper on site allocations and it appeared the possible sites in Pakenham were considered unsuitable.

7 - To consider response to Green Ixworth letter:-
Council discussed it was agreed Cllr Painter to draft a brief response. Council also briefly discussed the increase in traffic caused by the new housing in the wider area. It was felt the Bunbury Arms junction needed to be improved and it was important to keep pressure on Highways.

8 - To consider increase in burial charge of £200 to cover cost of soil disposal:-
Council discussed and a majority decision to increase burial charges by £200 a small area at the lawn cemetery to be made available for spoil and once full the extra monies would be used to clear the spoil.

9 - To consider memorial application for Plot F4:-
Council discussed and all in agreement to give permission for the memorial.

10 - Correspondence circulated:-
• SALC ebulletins – Noted
• West Suffolk Council Taxi Policy Consultation – Noted
• SARS donation request: Council discussed and all in agreement to a give a donation of £100
• Festival of Suffolk Torch Bearer Nomination: Council discussed and a young resident was suggested, the Clerk to try and find contact details.
• Sizewell C Project Update – Noted a Sizewell C works tracker is now available
• Emails from residents – The Clerk read out three emails received:
i. Request for an extra dog waste bin: Council discussed and agreed not to purchase a further bin.
ii. Comments on planning application DC/22/0190/FUL amended
iii. Reducing the speed limit on A143: Discussed within the public forum.

11 - Planning Applications to comment:-
DC/22/0190/FUL amended: 1 Broadway
a. detached garage with home office above
b. change of use of amenity land to garden land
c. formation of access and driveway.
Council discussed and all in agreement to strongly object to this application with the following comments:
- The site for this garage is not presently within the curtilage of the house and the parish council are concerned at the extending of the boundary of this site and believe there is plentiful space to construct this building withing the current site.
- The Parish Council are concerned this building may be used as a house in future and ask if permission is given protection is put in place to prevent this happening.
- The drive is outside the curtilage of the site and has never been used as a drive and as such should not be permitted to give access to this site.

Applications determined by Planning Authority advised: None received.

12 - Finance Report:-
The VAT for the year 2021-22 had been reclaimed from HMRC.
The end of year accounts has been completed with the internal audit to be undertaken in preparation for the May meeting.
The end of year statement was circulated to Councillors.
Bank balances: the deposit account held £10,146.18 at 30 April 2021.
The current account held a cleared balance at 31 March 2022 of £16,729.42 with one outstanding cheque at year end of £173.80,
the uncleared balance after the invoice on the agenda is paid of £16,168.42.
To consider any payments to be made:
i. Insurance review and premium: The Clerk had contacted the insurance company but had not yet received the new costs, to place on next agenda.

13 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised he had attended the recent annual meeting of the PVH & PFA, it was agreed Cllr Palfrey continue as the Parish Council's representative. Cllr Palfrey advised the PVH & PFA had a new member who had taken responsibility for the re-building of the play area and was doing a really good job.

14 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 18th May 2022 following the Annual Parish Meeting starting at 7pm.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.05pm

(Ref: 398-401)