Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Residents should be aware of potential traffic increases due to the Shepherd’s Grove development, with advice to participate in community responses. New reflective bollards will be installed on Sheepgate Lane following a resident's concern. Additionally, the village shop is required to provide a litter bin under Environmental Law.
Present
Councillors Stephen Russell, Will Draper, Maciej Siarkowski, Roy Woodfine and Bill Woodhall. District Councillor Richard Winch also attended.

Public Forum

  1. None.
  2. None.
  3. Cllr Mellen submitted a report by email which was distributed to the Parish Councillors in his absence at another event.
  4. Cllr Winch warned the PC regarding the likelihood of a huge increase in the volume of traffic should/when the Shepherd’s Grove development by Equation Properties at Stanton go forward. This is in addition to the existing Jaynic development. He advised keeping a close eye on this and taking part in any inter-village group responses. Cllr Winch informed the PC that all MSDC depts were now based in Ipswich but plans to hold Council meetings externally (i.e. The Blackbourne at Elmswell) were in place. He also reaffirmed that there had been no further development on the Govt NP funding which would affect our PC’s finances this Autumn should we have to fund it directly. Cllr Winch reported that new reflective bollards adjacent to a ditch in Sheepgate Lane, Long Thurlow were due to be installed following a resident’s complaint – this to be funded by County Councillor A Mellen. The Mulberry Homes issued to be dealt with at 6.8.

Apologies

County Councillor Andy Mellen, PC Chairman Richard Morris and Cllr Nick Harvey.

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations

  1. None.
  2. None.

Minutes

  1. The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023 were approved and signed by the Vice-Chairman.
  2. The Clerk reported that the sandpit (Item 6.4) had been moved to within the playground. Despite the request to the Village Shop to supply their own litter bin (Item 5), none had been forthcoming to date. Cllr Winch confirmed that the Environmental Dept at MSDC stated the shop need to provide a bin under Environmental Law. The Clerk will follow up.

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

The Clerk reported a busy month with 8 items brought to the PC’s attention:

  • Street name in Orchard Way had been hit by a vehicle and bent over – reported to MSDC for action.
  • Overgrown vegetation on the corner of Orchard Way/Richer Road – photos taken and reported to MSDC.
  • The hedge adjacent to The Old Vicarage impeding the pavement – reported to the householder who had taken immediate remedial action.
  • Resident constructing a bonfire of combustible materials adjacent to the public footpath in Long Thurlow – reported to the landowner – no action taken to date.
  • A car in Back Lane with flat tyres and in an unroadworthy condition unmoved for many weeks with no MOT – reported to the Police.
  • New concrete bollards engraved SCC installed in The Broadway at frequent intervals presumably to protect the grass verges from vehicle parking.
  • Nuisance car and caravan combination parked outside the Defibrillator in the Street with generator and petrol cans on the pavement, no tax to the car and in a poor condition – reported to the Police, MSDC and the DVLA.
  • General complaints regarding the state of the public footpaths within our area - the Clerk to circulate the Cutting Schedule for our footpaths with SCC to the Parish Councillors for further discussion in September. The 5 named footpaths we have chosen are cut twice a year in March and July only. The remainder of the footpaths should be maintained by the landowners whose fields the PROWs cross. It is possible to report footpaths in a serious overgrown state online at SCC Report It. Walkers should also be encouraged to carry secateurs with them to cut back any offending brambles/stinging nettles thereby helping others to keep footpaths clear. The Vice Chairman asked all the Councillors to walk our PROWs and the matter would be discussed again in September if the cutting schedule needed amendment.

5.1 Advance apologies from Cllrs Draper and Woodfine for any potential PC meeting in August should it become necessary.

Environment

  1. Cllr Winch explained the current 20mph within a village scenario and shared a proposed draft letter to go to the Cabinet Member for Transport at the County Council. Our Councillors to read and respond to this to the Clerk. Many local villages had already signed up in agreement for this and it was suggested that our PC did the same. Various methods of traffic calming measures were discussed – all likely to be expensive with no guarantee that the Highways Dept would sanction or indeed fund them. Cllr Winch to do more homework and return to September’s meeting with thoughts. The Clerk was asked to garner residents’ opinions via The Broadsheet and report back in September.
  2. Cllr Siarkowski had received a complaint from a resident regarding speeding at the Walsham le Willows end of the village. Cllr Siarkowski had shared our collected SID data and the contact of the Community Speedwatch organisation locally with the resident. No further action needed at this point.
  3. The SID reports were circulated which showed the period April to June 2023. There was a significant increase in cars entering the village from the Walsham end but not leaving from the Holiday Lodges end meaning that the surplus were exiting via Richer Road where there was no speed camera. It is vital that we add a third SID to our village which hopefully will be possible when the intended planning project in Richer Road goes ahead. Despite the perception that cars were travelling through our villages too fast, the data does not support this, therefore the Police are not willing to take any extra action at this point.
  4. Cllr Woodhall reported that funds for a full size football pitch would not be available. He and Cllr Harvey had met with a tree firm who had analysed the work necessary to the trees surrounding the village playing field on safety grounds. It amounted to approximately one day’s work for two men and was regarded as a necessary project by the Councillors who gave their approval for this to take place. Cllr Woodhall was asked if he and Cllr Harvey could come to the September meeting with further details of the intended regeneration plan including a map and next steps in order that funding could be applied for as soon as possible to make a start on this project. It should be remembered that CIL funding is only allocated twice a year and this could hamper a start to the project if we were tardy with the administration. Funding for any equipment on site could be delayed until Stage 2 with the ground works, paths and car park being Stage 1.
  5. Cllr Woodhall had received complaints from residents in Wilding Road regarding the lack of finish to the pavement levels, the lighting and general finish to the development which it was thought to be in the hands of MSDC. This work is now about a year overdue for finish. Cllr Winch to investigate at MSDC and report back.
  6. Cllr Russell again repeated that no progress on funding for our NP had been made and it was likely that the Parish Council would have to fund the first instalment of £1400 which would be due in the Autumn. Cllr Winch reiterated the importance of each Parish Council having a Neighbourhood Plan but agreed it was annoying not to have a funding update from the Government.
  7. The Clerk had made significant progress with obtaining new Bus Timetable cases for the two bus stops in the village (adjacent to the Village Hall drive and opposite St Mary’s Crescent). The Clerk had also sourced and printed up to date timetables which were now prominently displayed. The Clerk requested permission to purchase paint to restore the inside of the bus shelters both in Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow which the Councillors unanimously approved. It was also proposed to apply for a Locality Grant offered by County Councillor Andy Mellen for two simple benches – one for each bus stop. Again the Councillors in full agreement with this worthwhile small project to enhance our villages.
  8. The beginning of the new development at Hunston Road had been a nightmare with hedges and trees being randomly decimated during the nesting season including to the entrance to FP 11 followed by metal Heras fencing installed along a large section of Hunston Road illegally blocking the entrance to a PROW. Following an in-depth Zoom call with Mulberry Homes and the Area Footpaths Officer by Cllr Winch and the Clerk including an onsite meeting, the fencing has now been removed and plans made for a more cordial and satisfactory liaison between the Parish Council and Mulberry Homes going forward.

Planning

Progress of recent planning applications are as follows:

None.

  1. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed Demolition of Buildings – DC/23/03112 – Olive House, Langham Road, Badwell Ash. The Councillors discussed this planning request and were unanimous in their approval. It was resolved to approve this application.

Finance and Policies

  1. To consider and confirm the issue of payment of the following:
    • £603.28 – June salary
    • £830.00 – HMRC Q1 tax
    • £60.00 – Village Hall fees
    • £431.98 – Clerk’s expenses including new Metal Shed for Village Hall
    • £96.00 – M&TJs grass maintenance for July
    • £5.00 – HSBC monthly bank charge
    It was resolved that these payments could be made. The Vice Chairman signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
  2. The Clerk shared the quarterly bank balance with the Councillors which was verified.
  3. The Clerk reported that she had purchased the new metal shed for the Village Hall using the compensation money from Barclays for losing the Deeds to the Village Hall.
  4. The final Audit from the external auditors had still not been received. It was reported that the auditors were generally being ‘very picky’ this year with all local Parish Councils.

The next Parish Council meeting would be held on Tuesday 12 September at 19.00 in the Village Hall following a short meeting with a developer regarding a proposed building project at 18.15.

Carole Rose – Parish Clerk
01359 259045
13 July 2023

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