Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 18th July 2024

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 18th July 2024 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

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

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

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

3 :-
County Councillors Report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend, no report had been received.
District Councillors Report:-
Cllr Speed sent his apologies, no report had been received.
Public Forum:-
A resident had concerns in regards the traffic diversion, the Chair advised this would be discussed in item 5 on the agenda.
A resident advised the narrow gap in the hedge between the playing field and car park had been extended and would now be large enough for vehicles to access. Cllr Bagnell to inspect and report to the Clerk and if necessary the Clerk to advise the PVH & PFA.
The grass cutting contractor had asked Cllr Dorling for a key to access the play equipment area. The clerk to send Cllr Dorling the email for PVH & PFA the clerk to also check whether the contractor cuts the hedge at the playing field on behalf of the parish council and advise Cllr Dorling.
Cllr Sidebotham highlighted the path at Church Green Wood needed cutting again Cllr Dorling to inform the contractor.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meeting:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2024 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
i. Highways: The diversion in respect of the closure of the A1088 to repair the bridge was discussed. A resident advised some diversion signage had already gone up in Ixworth they also thought some re-surfacing works were also going ahead on the A1088. Cllr Davey felt drivers would make their own rat runs even though there is an official diversion and Highways or the parish council will not be able to do anything about it. A resident felt it was going to be very difficult through the village particularly on The Street. Cllr Dorling and Cllr Sargent had highlighted these issues at the recent meeting with Highways. A resident advised they had viewed the new proposals for 210 houses at Thurston whose vehicles would probably be using the narrow road through to the cross roads at Upper Town.
A resident felt the CIL monies received by the district council should be used for road infrastructure.
ii. Clerks Report: Letter of thanks have been sent to members of the public who have kindly cut the verges & hedges in Upper Town and Mill Road. Letters have been sent to two land owners where trees have been reported as dead and may be in need of attention or could fall into the road. A new pad has been ordered for the pavilion defibrillator.

6 - Correspondence circulated:-
i. Regular information from SALC ebulletins, West Suffolk Community News and Suffolk County Council updates – Noted
ii. West Suffolk Council consultation & survey on Street Trading Policy - Noted
iii. West Suffolk Council survey on Taxi's in West Suffolk – Noted
iv. West Suffolk Council funding: The Thriving Communities Funding is now open this replaces the Community Chest Funding – Noted

7 - Planning Applications West Suffolk Council Decisions:-
i. DC/24/0604/VAR The Dell, The Street variation of DC/22/1803/VAR – Approved 4.7.2024
ii. DC/24/0563/CLE Stanley Lodge, Fen Road – Approved 12.7.24

8 - Finance Report:-
Bank balances
the deposit account had a balance of £10,851.94 at 30.4.24
the current account had a statement balance at 1.7.24 of £15,902.86 once payments made a current account balance of £14,546.72 at 18.7.24
To consider any payments to be made: All in agreement for the payment of invoices:-

9 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey reported the bus service through Pakenham was almost non-existent, a resident agreed that getting into and back from Bury by bus was very difficult. The Clerk to ask Cllr Hopfensperger for an update on the bus situation and what was being done about it. Cllr Palfrey also highlighted a number of cars were seen to be speeding on Fen Road, Cllr Sidebotham also advised cars were also speeding in The Street and the village generally.

10 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 19 September 2024 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 7.55pm

(Ref: 499-500)