- Present
- Councillors Richard Morris (RM), Stephen Russell, Vice Chairman (SR), Will Draper (WD), Maciej Siarkowski (MS), Roy Woodfine (RW), County Councillor Andy Mellen (AM) and District Councillor Rick Meyer (RMe).
Public Forum
- No members of the public attended. No questions posed.
- No requests for additional agenda items for the next Agenda.
- Cllr Mellen’s monthly report was circulated to Councillors. Cllr Mellen stated that SCC were proposing an increase of 3.99% this year. He also highlighted the continued need for new housing for Ukrainian refugees, particularly as the initial 6 months had now expired. Cllr Mellen also announced that SCC had launched their new website www.suffolk.gov.uk which it is hoped would improve the experience for end users.
- Cllr Meyer’s report was circulated. Cllr Meyer highlighted that Town and Parish Liaison meetings have been reinstated the first one for Mid Suffolk is on 7 February at 1.30 in Stowmarket.
Apologies
None.
Cllr Yates – unapproved absence.
Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations
- None
- None
Minutes
- The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13 December were approved and signed by the Chairman.
- The Clerk informed CC Mellen that a resident had commented on a new effluent pipe leading from the new chicken farm in Langham into the river. Cllr Mellen to follow up.
Clerk’s Report and Correspondence
- The Clerk reported that MSDC had given approval to co-opt a new Parish Councillor without the need for an election. The Clerk will advertise the post on the website, noticeboards and in the Broadsheet.
- The Winter Warm Fridays were progressing well with an average of 11-17 people attending who appreciated the opportunity for coffee and chat. These will continue until the end of March providing the numbers stay static. Requests had been received from the attendees for this facility to continue beyond the end of March. This was a decision for the Village Hall Committee to address.
- The deadline for the next edition of the Broadsheet was 16 January. The Clerk and Chairman would get their articles in by this date. It was also proposed to try a new printer in order to speed up the timing between submission and distribution.
- The Chairman produced a draft Social Media and Communications policy which had been shared from another Parish. The Chairman asked the Parish Councillors to review this document and we would discuss further at the next PC meeting. The Clerk would ask SALC for their opinion too.
Environment
- Cllr Russell explained the plans and procedure for the Neighbourhood Plan meeting for Saturday 28 January in the Village Hall – 10.30-12.30. Notices to be put on the website and in the shop/pub/chippy if possible. All Parish Councillors to be in attendance please for the presentation by Paul Bryant from MSDC.
- The Clerk had been in touch with Walsham le Willows who had also recently lost their street cleaner. DC Meyer was unaware of any of his other parishes with a street cleaner to share. It was suggested that we research agencies supplying temporary staff in addition to advertising for a street cleaner on our own website. The allowance from MSDC per quarter would only cover approx. 2 hours work per week.
- The proposed CIL projects within our parish for the coming year would likely consist of the beginning of Stage 2 of the playground, improvements to the village hall, help with a woodland trail and nature area in the Hunston Road development and a bench within the bus shelter in Long Thurlow.
- Despite the Chairman finding the old life ring abandoned up near the lake, it is in a poor condition. It was proposed that the Parish Council provide a new life ring and fittings to be installed at the Gun Club/Fishing Lake to enhance the safety near water. The Clerk to liaise with Tony Turp. Cllr Draper volunteered to source a new life ring.
- Cllr Woodfine confirmed that he had received the litter picking equipment that the Clerk had ordered from MSDC. Cllr Woodfine will initiate a litter picking event in Long Thurlow in the coming weeks. Cllr Woodfine reported that the white gates at the entrance to Long Thurlow had been installed. The Clerk would purchase white exterior wood paint and brushes to paint these when the weather allowed.
- The Clerk brought up the subject of King Charles III’s coronation in May in order that the Parish Council might plan an event to commemorate it. Cllr Siarkowski informed the Councillors that the Village Hall Committee were planning an event so the PC would support that event and an amount of £2000 would be reserved for that celebration if required.
Planning
Progress of recent planning applications are as follows:
DC/21/05515 Land West of The Street, Badwell Ash – APPLICATION GRANTED (Action included: re-site the SID board at the developer’s expense and at an agreed distance from the 30mph sign at that end of the village; also a new pavement to link the development to the rest of the village to avoid residents having to walk on the highway).
Finance, Governance and Policies
- The Councillors considered the issue of the following payments:
- £842.46 – December salaries
- £716.72 – HMRC Q3 tax and NI
- £181.00 - Ten Hats Nov/Dec
- £12,591.89 – Playdale (final payment)
- £38.99 – Clerk’s expenses December
- £5.00 – HSBC monthly charge
- Further discussion ensued regarding the percentage to be applied for this year’s Precept. In the knowledge that the CIL payments would not be everlasting in helping improve our parish, it was finally agreed that BAPC would apply for a 4% increase on last year in line with most contractors/councils/the Police/businesses that the Parish Council had dealings with. The Clerk would submit the new figure before the deadline of 31 January. In real terms this would provide an increase of £959.80 for this year’s Budget 2023/24.
Chairman’s Update
The Chairman brought the Councillors up to date on a meeting he and the Clerk had been invited to with three members of the Village Hall Committee. Whilst there was no published agenda, the conversation centred on trying to work together to improve both the village, its surroundings and the village hall. It was accepted that the Village Hall had little income of its own and therefore would wish to call on the PC to help financially. It was also pointed out that the Village Hall could and should apply for funding from other sources to supplement its finances. The PC have agreed to reserve a provisional sum of £10,000 for the financial year April 23 to April 24.
The Village Hall Committee also proposed that the PC should acquire and buy the village hall drive in order that Broadband and possible new lighting might be installed in the future. The Clerk to contact the developer to open discussions. As and when the Village Hall needed funds they would submit detailed quotes for consideration through Cllr Siarkowski who is also the Treasurer of the VHC.
Cllr Draper and Cllr Woodfine offered to investigate other large events held locally (eg Bardfest and Wyverstone) to see if a large, and potentially lucrative, event could be held in Badwell Ash in 2024 in conjunction with the VHC. It was generally agreed that it would be in the village’s best interest if the two bodies worked in unison as well as separately. The Clerk was also asked to contact the Charity Commissioners as Badwell Ash Parish Council is named as the only Trustee on the Village Hall Charity submission on the Charity Commission website. They may be able to provide further documentation and plans as opposed to the only photocopy we have. The VHC also confirmed, in principle, that they had no objection to the PC drafting plans for Stage 2 of the playground on the remaining area of the playing field.
Next Meeting
Date of next Parish Council Meeting – 14 February 2023
Carole Rose, Parish Clerk
12 January 2023
Dates of Meetings in 2023 - 10 January, Tuesday 14 February, Tuesday 14 March, Tuesday 11 April, Tuesday 9 May, Tuesday 13 June, Tuesday 11 July, Tuesday 8 August (if needed), Tuesday 12 September, Tuesday 10 October, Tuesday 14 November, Tuesday 12 December.