- Present
- Councillors Clive Hawkins (CH) (Chairman), Clive Morris (CM), 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 Clerk stated that two Councillors who were absent this evening had submitted written comments which they requested were read out and included in the meeting this evening. The Chairman sought opinions of the Parish Councillors present and a vote was taken unanimously rejecting the inclusion of emailed or written notes without attendance in person.
The County Councillor’s report had been circulated by email. AM explained a review is to be undertaken regarding the strategic lorry routes. Input from Parish Councils would be sought in the near future. AM also highlighted the availability of Locality funds which the Clerk would respond to formally after the meeting. AM left the meeting at 7.30pm.
The report from the District Councillor had been circulated by email. RMe arrived at the meeting at 8pm and highlighted his advice to the Parish Council to consider implementing a Neighbourhood Plan which might help with planning application difficulties. RMe also endorsed the need for a Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan (PIIP).
Apologies
Stephen Russell (SR) and Richard Morris (RM).
Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations
- Councillor Donat re 6.8.
- None.
Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 September 2021 had previously been circulated. It was resolved that these were an accurate record of the meeting and accordingly signed by the Chairman.
None.
Clerk’s Report and Correspondence
The Councillors again discussed the letter from Gt Ashfield PC regarding the origins, use and costs of a second speed gun. It was reiterated that we neither had any volunteers for a CSW group within Badwell Ash nor a designated site authorised by the Police to operate within BA. It was therefore agreed that there was no justification for a speed gun within Badwell Ash and we would defer to Gt Ashfield to use the speed gun within their own CSW group as they wished. The Clerk would formally respond.
The Clerk explained that the Parish Council had been let down by CAS Ltd regarding the renewal of our annual insurance policy. We were given notification of less than 2 weeks that CAS would not be renewing insurance policies and each Parish would have to source their own. After research the Clerk sourced a compatible policy with Zurich Insurance Co Ltd which, whilst costing more per annum than the previous policy, had been taken out with a LTA agreement for 3 years so we wouldn’t fall into the same trap next year. This course of action was approved by the Councillors present.
Due to the clash of dates for monthly meetings with Walsham le Willows PC on the second Wednesday of the month (brought about by Walsham PC changing their dates in August 2021), our Parish Council has reluctantly agreed to alter our monthly PC dates to the second Tuesday of the month in 2022. This is solely for us to have the benefit of having the County and District Councillors attend the whole of our meetings, rather than have to share with WlW thereby only having the Councillors for half a meeting each.
The vacancy for a new Parish Councillor had been registered with MSDC for the required period. No representations had been made to MSDC requiring us to hold an election for this vacancy. It was now possible to co-opt a suitable applicant and the Clerk would send the appropriate paperwork to interested parties for a possible co-option at our November meeting.
Environment
The CPR event arranged for 23 October by SARS to hold CPR and defibrillator training for residents was now full. The Clerk would arrange for refreshments and a SARS donation bucket at the door on the day.
The Clerk presented a Draft Plan for improvements and repairs to the village hall as agreed at our September meeting. Each element would be dealt with individually and prioritised by number. The Councillors agreed to make this a regular agenda item which would grow organically over the next few months with each element agreed on at the PC meetings in terms of quotation, cost and responsibility. The PC had been granted a Locality Grant by the District Councillor for the first item on the project list and the County Councillor also offered a Locality Grant to be put towards another item on the list.
Due to the absence of Councillor R Morris, this item was unable to be discussed and would be deferred until the November meeting.
Grateful thanks were expressed to Councillors Ed Walsh and Richard Morris for erecting the SIDs at either end of the village. It is very much hoped that these will be effective in reducing the speed limits travelled within the village boundaries. Councillor Walsh hoped to provide data collected from the SIDs at the November meeting.
Councillor R Morris and the Clerk are due to have a meeting with a recommended company to see about the viability of installing broadband to the village hall this month. If successful, it is hoped to improve the facilities for existing users of the village hall and encourage new bookings and users.
Following an attempt to report a blocked drain on a roadside within the village, it has become apparent that not all public roads have been adopted which means that they are not under the auspices of SCC for maintenance. In cases where the roads have not been adopted by the developers, the onus for repairs falls upon residents in the location. You can check whether your own road/street has been adopted on www.findmystreet.co.uk website.
Orchard Way footpath – no significant progress regarding Orchard Way footpath. Would be costly in legal terms to buy and maintain from the present owners (Chelsteen Homes who built Orchard Way). We have no legal responsibility to maintain or repair something which is privately owned, albeit for common use.
Austin Close update – despite the Parish Council agreeing to reinstate the pavement at the junction with the highway and Austin Close following a pedestrian falling over, the owner of Austin Close has failed to adhere to their side of the agreement ‘to reinstate the surface of Austin Close’ to stop the stones and loose gravel travelling down and causing a hazard to both the pavement at the bottom and the highway. The Clerk was now asked to report this to Suffolk County Council’s Highways Department and our County Councillor for further action.
Planning
Progress of recent planning applications are as follows:
- DC/21/04127 Land North Of The Broadway, The Broadway, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3DR- Discharge of Conditions 4 & 7 - APPROVED
- DC/21/04128 Land North Of The Broadway, The Broadway, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3DR Discharge of Condition 17 – APPROVED
- DC/21/04338 Mill House, Hunston Road, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3DJ Discharge of Conditions 3 & 4 - APPROVED
- DC/21/04294 Mill House, Hunston Road, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3DJ Discharge of Conditions 5 & 6 - APPROVED
- DC/21/03304 Land North East Of Hill House And Broadway Bungalow, The Broadway, Badwell Ash, IP31 3DR - Discharge of Condition 3 - APPROVED
- DC/21/04379 Land North Of The Broadway, The Broadway, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3DR - Discharge of Condition 8 - APPROVED
- DC/21/04382 Land North Of The Broadway, The Broadway, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds IP31 3DR - Discharge of Condition 2 – APPROVED
- To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application DC/21/05201 - Land To The North Of Woodside Cottage (Site Not Connected To Woodside Cottage), Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3JA (12/10). It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council had no objections to this planning application.
- To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application DC/21/05398 - Field North Of Green Farm Barn, Badwell Green, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3JG (7/10). It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council had no objections to this planning application.
- To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application - DC/21/05515 - Land West Of, The Street, Badwell Ash, Suffolk (28/10). It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council unanimously rejected this application for the following reasons – excess of over-development; lack of pavements causing safety issues onto main road; adoption of internal roadway; cost of re-siting the SID if development went ahead.
Finance and Policies
The Councillors considered the issue of the following payments:
- £269.69 – September salaries
- £48.00 – Metal on Designs 4 brackets
- £1260.00 - NBB Recycled furniture 3 picnic benches
- £600.00 – Elite fencing
- £52.19 – MSDC dog litter bin (The Broadway)
- £421.00 – HMRC Q2 tax
- £523.35 – Zurich annual insurance
- £82.80 – SALC 6 months payroll
- £124.96 – Clerk’s expenses Aug/Sept
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 Parish Council had been awarded a CIL payment of £10733 for the second half of this year. It was proposed that half of this fund be put toward the Village Hall project and half towards new play equipment. It was suggested that Badwell Ash Parish Council implement a Parish Infrastructure Plan for improvements going forward. The Clerk would advertise in the next edition of the Broadsheet for suggestions of improvements as well as on our own website.
The Clerk reminded that Parish Councillors that our Budget for 2022 must be set in December so any suggestions for expenditure should be brought to the November PC meeting.
Next Meeting
Dates of Parish Council Meetings for 2021 – 2nd Wednesday of the month.
10 Nov; 8 Dec.
Carole Rose, Parish Clerk
17 October 2021