Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 18th January 2023

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18th January 2023 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Dorling vice chair, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent and Cllr Sidebotham
Four Members of the public were in attendance. Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes.
Cllr Dorling chaired the meeting and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence:-
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Painter.

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

3:-
County Councillor's Report: Cllr Hopfensperger had sent apologies she would be delayed and attended later in the meeting. The Suffolk County Council proposed budget to go to full Cabinet on 9th February. Total budget £629 million with adult social care accounting for £326 million.
Borough Councillor's Report: Cllr Brown did not attend and no report had been received.
Public Forum: A resident asked if any organisations in the village are providing a warm space area, it was advised the Water Mill was opening as a warm space on Thursday's with soup available.
A resident advised as part of the Governments levelling up fund there is a Rural England Prosperity Fund available which is to help grow businesses in rural areas, this funding may be of interest to other businesses in the area. It was advised the Fox public house will be applying they are hoping to add additional car parking and glamping pods. Cllr Bagnell felt it might be difficult to get permission for the additional car parking.
It was asked if an event to commemorate the coronation will be taking place, this was discussed. The Fox public house was happy to do something for the coronation and asked if there was an appetite for an event. Council advised they were not arranging an event. It was advised the village hall was not available on either the Saturday or Sunday of the coronation weekend. Cllr Hopfensperger advised approximately £400 could be available towards a coronation event. The Clerk to email Cllr Brown to see if any further grants are available and send through to a resident who may wish to arrange an event.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2022 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
i. Highways: The Clerk had nothing to report. Highways in the larger area were briefly discussed with Cllr Hopfensperger, including potholes, flooding and lack of white lines in the middle of the road.
ii. Clerks Report: Elections are taking place on 4 May 2023, West Suffolk Council and SALC are holding an election briefing on 24 January which the Clerk will attend and report back at the next meeting. SCC Rights of Way officer has advised the stile on footpath 003 off Fen Road is in a poor condition. The landowner will install a temporary repair of a timber brace to steady the stile until repairs can be made once the land is drier when a new gate post can be installed.
The meeting dates for this year have been circulated and notices placed on the two noticeboards in the village.
Pakenham parish council were on the waiting list for the Thermal Imaging Loan Project a booking form had been received to be completed by Cllr Painter who had volunteered to use the camera.
Cllr Painter had advised the Clerk that a stop notice for 2/3 weeks had been served on works at The Dell.

6 - To consider tree survey for Dell/Church Green Wood/Allotments/Lawn Cemetery:-
The Clerk confirmed the last survey was carried out in January 2020 and cost £645. Council discussed Cllr Dorling was happy to attend the survey with the contractor. All in agreement for Cllr Dorling to check if the previous surveyor at Urban Forestery was still carrying out safety checks and explain any possible changes Pakenham parish council require, to ask him to forward to the Clerk with the quotation and date of survey.

7 - Lawn Cemetery to consider:-
i. Works to the drive: Cllr Dorling had met the contractor to discuss how to avoid the problems with the driveway and help prevent material being washed away. A quote had been received to carry out the remedial works. Council discussed and were all in agreement to accept the quote. A further quote from the contractor was received for the remedial works to the footpath at the bottom of the drive which Council discussed. Cllr Bagnell proposed to go ahead with the works and accept the quote this was seconded by Cllr Dorling, however Council had liability concerns to be resolved before going ahead. This matter was discussed with Cllr Hopfensperger who took a copy of the quote which outlined the works to receive approval from Highways and inform Council of the process and any liability. It was advised the works would probably go through the adoption process once inspected after the works take place. Cllr Hopfensperger advised some monies from the locality fund may be available to help with the cost.
ii. Additional inscription to headstone Plot D22: Council discussed and all in agreement to give permission for the additional inscription.
iii. Meadow to be used for annual Open Air Play Saturday 15 July 2023: Council discussed and all in agreement to give permission for the use of the meadow for the open air play. The Clerk to ask for copies of the insurance.

8 - To consider subsidising an Easter lunch for Pakenham elderly residents:-
Council discussed including the resident who organised the Christmas lunches in the past who advised these events involved a lot of work, the funding was not a problem it was having enough volunteers. It was agreed unfortunately that there was not enough time to arrange an Easter lunch.

9 - Correspondence circulated:-
i. Regular SALC ebulletins – Suffolk County Council – West Suffolk Council including information regarding the introduction of photo id when voting in person: The Clerk advised this information had been forwarded to the editor of the village newsletter for inclusion if room. The Clerk was asked to complete the SALC surveys on behalf of the Council.
ii. Ixworth Parish Council comment on SCC/0106/22/DOR Discharge of Requirement 25 Sizewell C: Council had discussed at their December meeting however this was looked at again and all in agreement to send the comment: SCC/0106/22/DOR Pakenham Fen Meadow, Discharge of Requirement 25 - Sizewell C:
Pakenham Parish Council have concerns in regards lorries turning right from the A143 onto Thurston Road due to this being a busy road with a staggered junction there have been a number of accidents in recent years we would ask that lorries are asked to carry on to the roundabout and then approach Thurston Road from the opposite direction thus enabling the lorries to make a left turn off the A143.
It is also asked that Thurston Road and junction is kept clean at all times whilst lorries are going on to and away from site.
It is also asked that reassurance is sought that the minor roads (Thurston Road) will be repaired if damaged once the soil transfers have been completed.
Pakenham Parish Council have some concern whether the impact of altering the landscape at Fen Meadows on the water levels at the Mill and Blackbourn and would seek reassurance.

10 - Planning Applications decided by the Planning Authority: The Clerk advised no planning applications had been received.
i. Application Decided:-
DC/22/1852/HH : Grimstone Cottage, Grimstone End
Detached timber outbuilding – Approved 6.1.2023

11 - Finance Report:-
The current account held a cleared balance at 31 December 2022 of £14,952.01
with an uncleared balance of £14,430.61 after outstanding cheques had been paid.
The deposit account held £16,647.19 at 30 April 2022.
i. To confirm internal audit review and the appointment of external auditors: All in agreement for M. Saunders to undertake the annual internal audit of Pakenham Parish Council. The Clerk advised PKF Littlejohn LLP had been appointed as the external auditors for Suffolk.
To consider any payments to be made: All in agreement for the payment of invoices:-

12 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised he had attended the PVH & PFA meeting where the village hall hire fee had been agreed to be raised from 1st April also the new community councillor has been very successful in getting a lot of grants towards works needed. Cllr Sidebotham advised the kiosk on The Street was up and running as a book club and thanks to go to the resident for organising.

13 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 22nd February 2023 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9pm

(Ref: 430-433)