Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: 10 November 2021

Summary

This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.

Residents might be interested to know that discussions included the potential for a new footpath on Hunston Road, linked to a proposed housing development. Concerns about water sustainability for new builds were also addressed. Additionally, improvements to the playground equipment are being explored, with further options to be considered next month.

• Present: Councillors Clive Hawkins (CH) (Chairman), Clive Morris (CM), Diane Donat (DD), Ed Walsh (EW), Richard Morris (RM), Stephen Russell (SR).

Public Forum

One member of the public in attendance. Two questions were raised – one regarding the possibility of installing a footpath from the recycling bins on Hunston Road to the start of FP5 100 yards down the hill. The Chairman responded that it was highly unlikely that SCC would undertake these works upon request but a footpath would be required if the outline planning development for 52 houses on Hunston Road became a reality.

The second question regarded sustainability for water on new developments. Again the Chairman responded that each development was assessed individually although the Parish Council was under the impression that the very recent developments did have to comply with water sustainability requirements.

There was no report from the County Councillor this month and he was not in attendance.

The District Councillor had emailed his report ahead of the meeting as he was unable to attend the meeting. There were no outstanding matters to discuss.

Apologies

District Councillor Richard Meyer.

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations

1. Councillor R Morris re 7.1
2. None.

Minutes

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

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

1. Co-option of new Parish Councillor – Unfortunately Mrs Yates was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. This item would therefore be carried over to January.
2. The Clerk shared a copy of a thank you letter from Mrs Eileen le Grice with regard to the bench in Roy’s memory on the playground. She also enclosed another £100 donation.
3. Councillor R Morris voiced reports he had received of dissatisfaction with the Broadsheet and its formatting and layout. He indicated he wished to obtain prices for this to be undertaken by a professional firm to achieve a better result and report back to the Parish Council. The PC agreed to discuss this further at our next meeting.
4. The Clerk had written to Cavell Cottage regarding the non-existing gutter and downpipe that was discharging rainwater on to the Village Hall Drive. Progress to be monitored.

Environment

1. Councillor R Morris shared the results of his work on sourcing further equipment for Stage 2 of the Playground. The four quotes had all come out at double the estimated £10,000 agreed to be spent earlier this year. There was a difference of opinion regarding the actual piece or pieces of equipment to be used. The Clerk therefore would source further alternatives and put this back on the agenda for January. The Chairman thanked Councillor Morris for all his work so far.
2. Councillor R Morris and Councillor S Russell reported that the two dog bins in Back Lane and The Broadway were wobbly due to insecure posts and needed to be rectified. The Chairman would contact Elite Fencing for remedial work to be undertaken. The Clerk would also discuss with the District Council the siting of the ‘Welcome Back’ bins at the junction of Wilding Road/The Broadway as agreed by email in July 2021 and the MSDC requirements for emptying any bins adjacent to the highway.
3. The Clerk reported our dissatisfaction with the grounds maintenance undertaken during 2021 by Vertas. She would source alternative providers before a new contract was due in April to ensure we received a regular and efficient monthly service next year.
4. Councillor C Morris had sourced a resident in Long Thurlow who was willing to have a defibrillator attached to the outside wall of their house. It was a very generous offer but would need to be verified by both insurance companies before proceeding any further.
5. Councillor C Morris had also arranged with Patrick Bond (the maker of the noticeboard in Long Thurlow) to undertake some minor repairs and updates to it as the noticeboard was in a poor state of repair and should really have been oiled or varnished at inception to preserve its condition. It is hoped it can be saved as it is not very old (2018).
6. A report from Openreach had been received to say that it would be necessary to erect a new pole(s) along the village hall drive to install cabling for broadband to the village hall from The Street. The Councillors agreed to go ahead with this work as it was important the village hall had improved facilities. The Clerk was asked to write to the owner of the village hall drive for permission before proceeding.
7. Orchard Way footpath – despite further emails and letters to Chelsteen Homes regarding the upkeep and maintenance of Orchard Way footpath, nothing had been received. The Councillors agreed to archive this for the time being as no positive outcome had been achieved during the last 12 months.
8. Austin Close update – Councillor Mellen reported the results of his investigation with Suffolk County Council Highways. SCC will formally write to the owner of Austin Close instructing him to sweep the public pavement adjoining Austin Close on a regular basis. All new private roads are now required to provide 100m of bound carriageway leading to the highway but unfortunately this is not compulsory retrospectively. If further accidents occur at this junction, the owner of the private road will be liable and not the Parish, District or County Councils.
9. The Clerk will chase up the new dog and litter bin to be provided by the District Council under their ‘Welcome Back’ fund, along with the requested litter pickers in order that we have the facilities to arrange a litter pick within the village in readiness for the Spring Clean in March/April next year.

Planning

Progress of recent planning applications are as follows:

DC/21/05532 Land on the East side of The Street, Badwell Ash, Suffolk – Discharge of Condition 4 – APPROVED

1. To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application DC/21/05933 – Highbanks, Back Lane, Badwell Ash. It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council were unanimous in their rejection of this application for a number of reasons: The proposed building is outside the village boundary. Design, appearance and materials -The proposed building is totally out of character with the existing properties in Back Lane. Loss of privacy - Due to the existing height of the land, the proposed building would dominate the surrounding properties and, due to its 'upside-down' living arrangements, would cause a huge invasion of privacy to the immediate neighbours. Loss of light/overshadowing - The proposed building is 'squashed in' to a very thin plot of land too close to No. 9 Back Lane which already has outline planning permission for an additional dwelling on the plot. Highway Safety/Traffic - There already exists traffic and parking problems on Back Lane, which at this point on the road is single track, therefore this application would only exacerbate this and no additional entrances/exits are needed.
2. To consider a planning appeal letter AP/21/00089 – Green Barn Farm, Badwell Green, Badwell Ash. It was resolved to advise MSDC that the Parish Council stood by its comments earlier this year and had nothing further to add.

Finance and Policies

1. The Councillors considered the issue of the following payments:
   • £269.89 – November salaries
   • £4501.14 - Elan City, two SIDs.
   • £392.40 – Mr D Smith maintenance works on benches, tables and bins
   • £197.87 – Clark’s expenses+ ICO and Microsoft annual renewals
   It was resolved that these payments could be made. The Chairman signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
2. No updates on either the proposed PIIP or the suggested CIL spending or updates on the Village Hall Project had been received. This would be put on the agenda again for January.
3. After further discussion regarding our proposed financial spending for 2022 and our ongoing plans, the Parish Councillors unanimously agreed to a very modest 1% increase for our Precept for 2022/23. This will be submitted to MSDC in January. Unanimously approved.

Next Meeting

Dates of next Parish Council Meeting – Tuesday 11 January 2022.

Dates for Parish Council Meetings 2022 – 2nd Tuesday of the month
11 Jan, 8 Feb, 8 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 14 Jun, 12 Jul, 9 Aug (if needed), 13 Sept, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 13 Dec

Carole Rose, Parish Clerk
13 December 2021

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Published 10 November 2021