Badwell Ash Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Explore the latest updates, including exciting news about the Kickstart programme at the Museum of Life in Stowmarket and extra funding for pandemic-related financial hardship. Plus, learn about our new solar SIDs and the ongoing efforts to tackle speeding issues in the village.
Present Virtually via Zoom
Councillors Clive Hawkins (CH) (Chairman), Clive Morris (CM), Richard Morris (RM), Stephen Russell (SR), District Councillor Richard Meyer and County Councillor Jane Storey.

Public Forum

  1. None
  2. County Councillor Jane Storey presented her report which had previously been circulated. She highlighted the County Council’s elections on 6 May and the requirement to complete the Census on 23 March. The Chairman formally thanked her for her contribution from her Locality Budget towards the purchase of our solar SIDs.
  3. District Councillor Richard Meyer presented his report which had previously been circulated. He highlighted the Kickstart programme being run at the Museum of Life in Stowmarket and the fact that the District Council had been given extra funding for financial hardship experienced during this pandemic.

Apologies

David Smith (DS), Ed Walsh (EW), Diane Donat (DD).

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations

  1. Councillor Hawkins re 7.1.
  2. None.

Minutes

  1. The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 10 February 2021 had previously been circulated. It was resolved that these were an accurate record of the meeting and signed accordingly.
  2. None.

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

  1. The question was posed as to whether Badwell Ash Parish Council should have a presence on social media. After discussion it was decided that we would not subscribe to any social media platforms at this time.
  2. Councillor Russell had attended the online Speeding Forum with the Police Commissioner, SCC and 60 parish councils. He provided a brief report on his observations and circulated the documentation provided at the Forum. It was suggested that we make contact with our Community Support Officer and ask for an onsite meeting to discuss our current speeding problems through the village. The Clerk will follow up.
  3. Councillor C Morris had not been able to update the Long Thurlow section for the new website but promised to review before the next meeting.
  4. Councillor Russell had requested permission to attend 5 training modules with SALC in July to further his knowledge and experience of Parish Council workings. He was given permission to take part in these at the PC’s expense.
  5. No further requests had been received from potential County Council candidates so no decision could be made as to whether to allow them to address the Parish Council at this time.
  6. A discussion ensued about whether to draw up a Local Emergency Plan for Badwell Ash. There are copious draft documents relating to this subject but an early sticking point was our lack of a suitable premises with telephone and broadband facilities from which to run a Headquarters should an emergency present itself. It was decided that we would not take this further at the moment but would perhaps review again later in the year.
  7. Having compared our village newsletter with other parish councils, it was agreed that ours was a little out of date and could do with a refresh in terms of design, greater input and possibly colour. Further details at our next PC meeting.

Environment

  1. We had been informed that the village hall driveway, over which we have right of way to access the playground and village hall, will now remain in the ownership of the developer of the two new houses on the old school site.
  2. Our contract with Vertas (the grounds maintenance body) has been renewed for another year at a slight increase in price but they have agreed to incorporate the new play equipment and outfield in their visits to keep in good order.
  3. The defibrillator has at long last received its new door so it is just about complete. We owe a huge thank you to Aaron from The White Horse for undertaking this for us – apparently it took four men to lift it so not an easy or quick job but we are very grateful.
  4. As agreed the PC have undertaken a survey of the remaining streetlights to be upgraded in both Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow. It is hoped that the remaining 8 lights will all be upgraded to LED during this summer which will be a huge improvement to the lighting for residents as we have already experienced from the lights completed this year.
  5. There had still been no response from Mr Austin regarding the repairs to the private road of Austin Close. The Clerk was asked to follow up and obtain a definitive reply.
  6. The Parish Council agreed to go ahead with installing concrete plinths on the playground for siting the new benches and picnic tables which we have planned to add this year. Quotations will be sought for these concrete pads.
  7. Anglian Water are planning a 10 week project on the Water Recycling Centre on the outskirts of Badwell Ash going towards Walsham le Willows which will involve road closures from approx. the end of March for 10 weeks.
  8. Following a letter to Great Ashfield Parish Council, we have received a reply saying they did not want to buy our old SID. We will therefore explore the possibility of retaining this just for use in Long Thurlow. Councillor C Morris will discuss with the two operators in Long Thurlow for their thoughts.
  9. District Councillor Richard Meyer had circulated details of the plans for a new hospital in Bury St Edmunds to replace the West Suffolk Hospital and ask for the parish councils’ support to these plans. The Chairman confirmed that we would of course give every support necessary at the appropriate juncture.

Planning

  1. Progress of recent planning applications as follows:
    • DC/20/05683 Green Farm Barn, Badwell Green, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3JG - PLANNING PERMISSION REFUSED
    • DC/20/02989 Land West Of, Richer Road, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3EU – PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
    • DC/20/05811 Land At Warren Farm, The Street, Badwell Ash, Suffolk – DISCHARGE OF CONDITIONS APPROVED
    • DC/21/00012 Land At Warren Farm, The Street, Badwell Ash, Suffolk – DISCHARGE OF CONDITIONS APPROVED
  2. To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application - DC/21/00790 – Land at The Broadway, Back Lane, Badwell Ash. It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council had no objections to this request however there still remains concerns about flooding, fire hydrants and surface drainage management which we would ask the Planning Department to keep a watching brief on adherence to the conditions of those points.
  3. To consider a planning request letter relating to planning application - DC/21/01111 – Lane West of Brook Farm Road, Langham, IP31 3EA. The Parish Councillors recorded a holding objection to this planning application until the additional reports are provided as this site is over 1000 sq m and should be classified as a major planning application.
  4. To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application - DC/21/01176 – 1 The Row, Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash IP31 3JD. It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council had no objections to this application.

Finance and Policies

  1. The Councillors considered the issue of the following payments:
    • £271.67 – February salaries
    • £45.10 – Broadsheet Feb/Mar
    • £30,000 – Proludic playground equipment
    • £82.80 – SALC 6 months payroll
    • £44.99 – Clerk’s expenses
    It was resolved that these payments could be made. The Chairman and Vice Chairman signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
  2. The end of the financial year will be on 31 March and the Responsible Financial Officer confirmed that we were on course for meeting our targets and all payments due would be settled by that date.

Next Meeting

Dates of Parish Council Meetings for 2021 – 2nd Wednesday of the month. 14 April; 12 May; 9 June; 14 July; 8 Sept; 13 Oct; 10 Nov; 8 Dec.

Carole Rose, Parish Clerk
14 March 2021

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Updates to this page

Published