Badwell Ash Parish Council Meeting Minutes -

Present: Councillors Clive Hawkins (CH) (Chairman), Clive Morris (CM), David Smith (DS), Richard Morris (RM), Diane Donat (DD), Ed Walsh (EW), County Councillor Andy Mellen (AM) and District Councillor Richard Meyer (RMe).

Public Forum

No members of the public in attendance.

The County Councillor’s report had been circulated by email. AM highlighted the concerns people had expressed regarding recent confusing road closure signs and had passed all comments to the County Council who promised to improve signage and directions in future.
The report from the District Councillor had been circulated by email and RMe highlighted the hope of an early discussion regarding the devolution deal involving devolved decision-making powers for Suffolk.

Stephen Russell (SR)

The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14 July and the Planning Meeting held on 11 August 2021 had previously been circulated. It was resolved that these were an accurate record of the meetings and accordingly signed by the Chairman.
None.

The Clerk read out an email from Gt Ashfield Parish Council asking for funds to calibrate a newly acquired speed gun. After discussion the Clerk was asked to go back to GAPC with further questions.
A resident had reported the poor state of the white lines at junctions on roads within Badwell Ash on the ‘Report It’ site in SCC’s website. We will monitor any remedies that take place.
There is currently a clash of monthly meeting dates with Walsham Le Willows parish council on the 2nd Wednesday of the month which affects the attendance of both the County and District Councillors. RMe offered to talk to Walsham regarding the dates and get back to us with suggestions.
After many years’ service on the Parish Council, Councillor David Smith has announced his retirement. The Chairman thanked him profusely for all his help and knowledge over the years which had been invaluable particularly with highlighting possible problems with planning applications, drains, water courses and general historic knowledge of the village. The Clerk will post a vacancy notice for a new Parish Councillor on both our website, the Broadsheet and our noticeboard.

SARS have agreed to hold a CPR and defibrillator training date for residents on Saturday 23 October at 10.00. The training to last for approximately one hour and residents must register for a place with the Clerk to ensure maximum numbers are not exceeded.
The Clerk and Chairman of the Village Hall had drawn up a plan of improvements and repairs needed to bring the village hall up to standard and to encourage greater use of the facilities. The Parish Council have offered to help achieve this objective, both practically and financially and it was agreed to establish costings for the various elements and then work through them as time and finance and availability of contractors permit. Each element would be agreed on at future Council Meetings as it arose. The Parish Council has been awarded a Locality Grant of £1,000 for which very grateful thanks were extended to Councillor Meyer. This grant would be put towards the refurbishment of the patio at the back of the village hall and a new metal storage shed.
It was agreed that the Parish Council could begin to look at Stage 2 of the village playground with pieces of equipment suitable for older children. The current five pieces of equipment are suitable for children aged 2 – 12. RM offered to research suitable equipment from various suppliers and report back at the next meeting.
The request for the removal of school signage (now five years out of date) had been reported on the ‘Report It’ site of Suffolk County Council.

Progress of recent planning applications as follows:

DC/21/03927 – 1 Council Houses, Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash IP31 3JA - PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
DC/21/04126 - Land north of the Broadway, The Broadway, Badwell Ash IP31 3DR – DISCHARGE OF CONDITIONS

The Councillors considered the issue of the following payments:
- £269.49 – August salaries
- £360.00 – PKF Littlejohn external auditor
- £88.00 – Village Hall hire charges
- £50.00 – Suffolk Cloud clerk’s website training
It was resolved that these payments could be made. The Chairman signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
The Clerk reported the successful conclusion of the external audit for the year 2020/2021.
The Clerk reported that HSBC are ceasing all charity and community accounts from November 2021. Our account would be transferred to a Current Account for which there would be a £5 monthly fee. The Parish Councillors accepted this change as there was no viable alternative.
The bank reconciliation to 30 August 2021 was present to the Councillors and signed as correct by The Chairman.

Dates of Parish Council Meetings for 2021 – 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Carole Rose, Parish Clerk
10 September 2021