Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held at the Village Hall on Monday, 7th November 2022 at 7.30pm.
- Present
- Councillors: M Gillett (Chair), H Stanford, H Glasse, S Baker, S Budd, M Mann
- In Attendance
- J Blackburn – Clerk, M Hicks – County Cllr, S Morley – District Cllr, S Henriksen - Police
ES89/22/23 – To Receive Apologies of Absence
Apologies had been received from Cllr Turner, Cllr Wilkinson and Cllr Stevens.
ES90/22/23 – To Receive Declarations of Interest
Cllr Stanford declared an interest in item 9(d) on the Agenda.
ES91/22/23 – To Receive Applications for Dispensation
None had been received.
ES92/22/23 – To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 5th September 2022
It was AGREED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5th September 2022 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
ES93/22/23 – Public Forum
No members of the public were present.
ES94/22/23 – Police
Stefan Henriksen from Suffolk Police was present at the meeting. He reported the following:
- A new Inspector had been appointed in the Safer Communities Team.
- The importance of members of the public reporting incidents either online or by telephone to the Police as soon as they happen. That way the incidents can be logged and dealt with appropriately.
- Local crime in the Earl Stonham area was very low.
Cllr Gillett confirmed to Stefan Henriksen the statistics from the local Community Speedwatch and the successfulness of the monitoring of the traffic.
Cllr Budd informed members of the theft of tractor GPS systems.
ES95/22/23 – To Receive the District Councillor’s Report – Cllr Morley
Cllr Morley’s full report, once received, would be published on the village website. She briefly went through her report as follows:
- Council Tax bills to be reduced for those on low incomes
- Winter Warmth funding for community causes
- Winners announced for the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Innovation Awards 2022
- CIFCO – the District Council’s commercial property company, continues to generate income for districts
- New bin lorries and competition to name them
- Women’s Cycling Tour
- Recycling of food and drink cans
- Gateway 14 update
- Exemplar housing development for Elmswell to be considered
Cllr Glasse asked Cllr Morley if there was an update on the proposed pylons to which Cllr Morley confirmed there was no update as yet.
Cllr Budd asked Cllr Morley about the proposed plans to improve the A1120/A140 junction and whether any more information was available. Cllr Morley stated that she was currently investigating the proposals further.
ES96/22/23 – To Receive the Clerk’s Report and Financial Matters
a) Clerk’s Report
The Clerk reported that the defibrillator battery had expired and a replacement one had been purchased. Until the battery had been delivered the defibrillator would be taken out of use and off the Ambulance Services’ list. She also reported that the pads were due to expire in March 2023 and replacement ones would need to be ordered. All Agreed.
b) To Receive the Clerk’s Financial Report
The Clerk reported on the Council’s current financial position and movements since the last meeting. It was reported that the balance in the accounts on 1st November 2022 was £10,826.61.
c) To Authorise Payments and Note Receipts
The Clerk reported the following payments be authorised:
- Jennie Blackburn - Clerk's Pay (Oct) - £265.05
- Jennie Blackburn - Clerk's Office Allowance/Exp (Oct) - £26.00
- Vertas Group Ltd - Grass Cutting July-Sept - £337.32
- Vertas Group Ltd - Grass Cutting Oct-Dec - £337.32
- ESVH - Half of Recycling Credit - £157.52
- Suffolk Cloud - Operation London Bridge (website) - £30.00
- Jennie Blackburn - Clerk's Pay (Nov) - £265.05
- Jennie Blackburn - Clerk's Office Allowance/Exp (Nov) - £31.69
- Community Heartbeat Trust - Defibrillator Battery - £156.00
It was AGREED: That payments totaling £1,605.95 be approved.
The following receipts were also noted:
- Orchard Garage - Recorder Advert - £30.00
- MSDC - Precept 2nd Instalment - £3,404.00
- Stonham Aspal Pre School - Recorder Advert - £30.00
- Zoe Hyde - Recorder Advert - £30.00
- MSDC - Glass Bottle Recycling Credit - £315.05
- F Northcote - Allotment Rent - £15.32
- J Coward - Allotment Rent - £15.30
- MSDC - Locality Grant Funding (Streetlight 2 units) - £444.00
- Mrs Beckett - Allotment Rent - £151.00
- Mr Porch - Allotment Rent - £379.06
- Mr Stiff - Allotment Rent - £15.32
- Mr De Cova/Ms Seaman - Allotment Rents - £217.47
- Mrs Arnold - Allotment Rent - £202.15
d) Draft Budget 2023/24
The Clerk reported that the tax base had yet to be received from the District Council, which would show the calculation of what a rise in precept would mean for each household.
Cllr Stanford queried the street lighting budget and stated that information recently received showed an increase of 102% in the street light energy costs which needed to be factored into the budget. Clerk to re-visit.
It was AGREED: That the Draft Budget for 2023/24 be agreed via email once the tax base had been received and calculations made.
ES97/22/23 - To Receive the County Councillor’s Report – Cllr Hicks
Cllr Hicks’ report had been circulated prior to the meeting and would be published on the Village Website.
He reported the following:
- Cost of Living to impact council’s budget
- Special Educational Needs (SEND) – next round of new SEND places agreed by Cabinet
- Ukrainian families needed homes following end of initial six month time scale
- Budget
- Increase on Council Tax
ES98/22/23 – Planning Applications
Ref: DC/22/05436 - Householder Application - Proposed dropped kerb and vehicular access - Willow Wood Barn, Forward Green, Earl Stonham
It was AGREED: That the Parish Council had no objections to the application. Clerk to action.
ES99/22/23 - Planning Decisions
The following decisions were noted:
- Ref: DC/22/03632 - Full Planning Application- Subdivision of existing dwelling to form 2 no. dwellings. Demolition of existing single-storey rear extension and garage. Erection of two two-storey side extensions. Installation of new driveway - Lime Tree Cottage, Stowmarket Road, Earl Stonham – Granted
- Ref: DC/22/04009 - Listed Building Consent - Application for repairs to 2 no. outbuildings White House Farm, Church Lane, Earl Stonham – Granted
- Ref: DC/22/03186 - Planning Application - Use of land for the siting of 2 no. shepherds huts for use as holiday lets and relocation of existing manege - Beechwood Farm, Forward Green, Earl Stonham – Granted
- Ref: DC/22/04173 - Full Planning Application - Change Use of land for the stationing of 5 Shephard's Huts for use as holiday accommodation. Land Adjacent Jockeys Farmhouse, Blacksmiths Lane, Forward Green - Refused
ES100/22/23 – War Memorial
Cllr Gillett reported that the war memorial was in need of some refurbishment.
It was AGREED: That the Clerk obtain quotes for the works needed.
ES101/22/23 – Delivery Arrangements of the Recorder
The Clerk reported in Cllr Turner’s absence, that someone was needed to collect the Recorders from her, sort them into piles and take them to the distributors.
Cllr Baker offered to take over this role from Cllr Wilkinson.
ES102/22/23 – Pathway from Blacksmiths Lane to Wicks Lane
Reports had been received that the pathway from Blacksmiths Lane to Wicks Lane was overgrown with some of the path being covered in growth therefore resulting in limited pathway to use. The verge therefore needed to be recreated and as such needed to be reported to Highways. Clerk to action.
It was also reported that the bushes along the above pathway were overhanging and needed to be cut back, therefore the land owner needed to be informed. Cllr Budd to inform Clerk of contact details of landowner.
ES103/22/23 – Footpath from School Lane
It was reported that a tree was down over the footpath from School Lane and the landowner needed to be informed. Cllr Budd to give the contact details of the landowner to the Clerk to action.
ES104/22/23 – Warm Space Initiative
Cllr Gillett informed members that Tony Turner had approached him in relation to providing the Village Hall as a Warm Space for residents as part of the Warm Space Initiative.
He stated that 18 volunteers had come forward to help with the initiative, on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and hot drinks and soup would be provided. It was confirmed that funding was available.
ES105/22/23 – Carols on the Green
The date for Carols on the Green had been confirmed as Monday, 19th December 2022. Cllr Glasse had agreed for his garage to be used for the refreshments, which would be organised by the WI.
ES106/22/23 – Christmas Tree
Cllr Gillett reported that an offer had been made to donate a tree to the village for the Green but he would need to pick this up with Cllr Wilkinson.
It was AGREED: That a tree be purchased if necessary for the Village Green.
ES107/22/23 - Village Signage at Entrances to Village - Update
Cllr Mann had circulated prior to the meeting information on the purchase and installation of gates at either end of the village.
He stated that whilst gates would look good, there would be a degree of upkeep over time. He also confirmed that permission would be needed from Suffolk Highways to put gates onto the verges and the cost of them could be quite high.
Members suggested perhaps locality funding could be applied for.
ES108/22/23 – Refurbishment of Village Sign - Update
The Clerk reported that Colin Fitch who had refurbished the village sign in the past would be happy to do so again.
A resident had also agreed to paint it once it had been completed. Tony Turner and Colin Fitch had also planned to take a mould of the sign for future use.
It was felt that refurbishing the sign before next May would be ideal to be in time for the Coronation.
ES109/22/23 – Tree Funding - Update
Cllr Gillett confirmed that an application would not be pursued.
ES110/22/23 – Collection of Speed Data – A1120 - Update
The Clerk reported that Cllr Hicks had confirmed that cables would be laid across the A1120 from 10th – 21st November 2022 from which data would be collected after those dates.
ES111/22/23 - Update on Street Lighting
Cllr Glasse had circulated a quote for the replacement of the remaining street lights in the village with LED bulbs.
He confirmed that the Working Party had yet to meet.
He explained that Tony Turner had sought a quote for the light outside the village hall as a new pole would also be needed. He stated that as an Electrician Tony could do the work himself.
Cllr Glasse stated that now units 1 and 5 had been replaced they could be set on a timer, switching them off between the hours of 11pm and 7am.
Cllr Gillett suggested that the Working Party meet and bring proposals back to the Parish Council in relation to the remaining lights.
It was AGREED: That units 1 and 5 be timed to switch off between 11pm and 7am. Cllr Glasse to action.
ES112/22/23 - Update on the Community Speedwatch Team
Cllr Gillett reported that two new volunteers had joined making a total of 14.
During October three sessions totaling three hours had been held where a total of 58 vehicles recorded as speeding and reported through to the Police of which 41 were going between 34 and 39 MPH, 16 were going between 40 and 49 MPH and 1 in excess of 50 MPH
ES113/22/23 - Update on the Village Hall
Cllr Gillett reported the following:
- A couple of bookings had been lost but the Diocese had started to return which was positive.
- The Theatre Guild’s Panto would be held in December.
- The EV Charger – price has had to be increased.
- Village Hall was taking over the Bowls Club with electricity and water being installed in the buildings and a wildflower area constructed. Both the inside and outside spaces would then be able to be used.
ES114/22/23 – Wooden Posts on Village Green
Cllr Gillett reported that he would be happy to help replace the wooden posts on the Village Green along with any volunteers.
It was noted that spare posts were being stored under the cricket pavilion.
ES115/22/23 - Matters to be Brought to the Attention of the Council
- Cllr Budd had purchased the remembrance wreath
- Cllr Stanford stated that a service would be held on Remembrance Sunday and a Christingle Service on 4th December. The Carol Service would be on Christmas Eve at 6.30pm and Holy Communion at 11am on Christmas Day.
- Wreath making session on 9th December at the Village Hall – charge of £30
ES115/22/23 – Date of Next Meeting
Monday, 9th January 2023 at 7.30pm
The meeting finished at 9.25pm.
Chairman: …………………………………………… Dated: …………………………………………