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.
Exciting developments are underway with the adoption of the Joint Local Plan, shaping our community's future until 2037. Residents can also benefit from the 'Cosy Homes' initiative, offering loft and wall insulation for eligible homes. Plus, get involved with the Neighbourhood Plan through upcoming consultation sessions in January.
Present
Councillors Richard Morris (Chairman), Stephen Russell (Vice Chairman), Roy Woodfine, Nick Harvey, Maciej Siarkowski, Will Draper and Bill Woodhall. District Councillor Richard Winch and County Councillor Andy Mellen attended for part of the meeting only.

Public Forum

  1. Mr Roger Castro attended as a prospective Parish Councillor.
  2. None
  3. CCllr Andy Mellen’s report had been circulated ahead of the meeting. AM stated that the Joint Local Plan had been adopted which is the blueprint for future development until 2037. The Council were also looking at energy savings for listed buildings.
  4. Cllr Winch’s report had been circulated to the Parish Councillors and he highlighted MSDC’s initiative entitled ‘Cosy Homes’ comprising loft and wall insulation to eligible homes. MSDC were also focussing on their council housing stock which had received a very low level of maintenance service in the past.

Apologies

None

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensation

  1. None
  2. None

Minutes

  1. The Minutes of the meetings held on 14 November were signed by the Chairman.
  2. None.

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

The Clerk gave a verbal report to the Councillors on the admin and housekeeping matters that had occurred this month. In future only topics which required the Councillors specific approval would be itemised. The Clerk’s monthly precis report will be attached to these minutes. It is hoped that this new method of feedback will be more efficient and allow more discussion time for other topics.

  1. The Chairman welcomed Mr Roger Castro as a prospective new Parish Councillor. The Clerk passed over the appropriate application forms and, provided these were all in order, Mr Castro would be co-opted in January 2024. There still remains one further space for a Parish Councillor.

Environment

  1. Cllr Russell gave an update on the inaugural meeting held on 4 November of the Neighbourhood Plan which produced a Vision Statement. Two steering group meetings had since taken place with the resultant two drop-in consultation sessions proposed for 20 (morning) and 22 (late afternoon) January. He hoped more volunteers would join the sub-group and get involved (see Broadsheet and website for more details). Cllr Russell stated that £2000 had already been allocated of the £10k initial budget and he would look to apply for the further £4k on offer in the New Year. The possible differential of £1600 at the conclusion of the project would be funded out of PC funds. APPROVED
  2. Cllr Harvey gave the Councillors a verbal report on the legal topics he had been discussing with his solicitors. This gave the Councillors clarification on their duties and responsibilities in relation to the Playing Field Conveyance of 1971. The Clerk was asked to check the public liability insurance that the Village Hall have for the playing field.
  3. Cllr Draper was still waiting to hear back from the Village Hall Committee regarding their opinion of a proposed car park extension and the possibility of outdoor courts behind the village hall. It was noted that the opinion of the V Hall Committee was urgently needed in order to go forward with proposed planning permission in the New Year. Cllr Draper would chase and report back in January.
  4. No further actions could take place on the proposed plan put forward by Cllr Harvey and Woodhall until the opinion of the Village Hall was received.
  5. FP9 was again mentioned as being impossible to cross due to the condition of the land at present. The Clerk confirmed this had been reported to SCC in November and Cllr Russell would also follow through.
  6. Nothing to report from Long Thurlow at this meeting. A new litter bin had been purchased but the Parish Council was waiting for certain decisions on waste collections from MSDC before this bin was sited.
  7. Cllr Woodhall confirmed that a new Neighbourhood Watch scheme had been set up to include part of the Broadway, Wilding Road and Symonds Close which cover 65 residences. Cllr Woodhall had constructed a Whatsapp Group and had a couple of signs to put on lamp posts but requested a small budget for further signage. This was approved.
  8. The Village Hall Committee had requested the Parish Council’s approval to sign a Wayleave Agreement for BT to erect a new pole on the village hall driveway in order for Broadband to be installed. The Councillors were unanimous with their approval for this. The Chairman also pointed out that the second pole adjacent to the kitchen door was also on Parish Council land, therefore this pole should also be included in a Wayleave Agreement. There would be a small remuneration from BT it is understood for having these poles on PC land.

Planning

Progress of recent planning applications:

  • DC/23/05182 Moat House, Badwell Green, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3JG agricultural works designated APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED
  • DC/23/05179 Land At, Dovedale Close, Badwell Ash, Suffolk – request for phased development (2 properties, then 1 property) - APPROVED
  • DC/23/04605 Land West Of, Richer Road, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3EU (discharge of Condition 7 only) – APPROVED
  • DC/21/06564 Cadogan House, Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3JA – REFUSED
  • DC/23/04021 - Croft Cottage, The Street, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3DH – APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
  1. To consider a planning consultation request letter relating to planning application DC/23/05405 Broadway Bungalow, The Broadway, Badwell Ash IP31 3DR (13/12). The Councillors discussed this planning application for ancillary buildings and raised no objections. The main planning application for the house had already been approved on a separate planning application.

Finance, Governance and Policies

  1. To consider and confirm the issue of payments for the following:
    • £1000.00 – Emma Harrison NP
    • £832.40 – Rachel Leggett NP
    • £611.70 – Andrea Long NP
    • £166.87 – Glasdon litter bin for LT
    • £72.00 – Gipping Press NP
    • £186.00 – Gipping Press Broadsheet
    • £121.47 – Clerk’s expenses
    • £5.00 – Bank charges
    It was resolved that these payments could be made. The Chairman and Vice Chairman signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
  2. The Clerk presented the current bank reconciliation to the meeting which was signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman as an accurate balance.
  3. The Clerk had circulated a draft budget to the Councillors prior to the meeting which they discussed and a few contingency sums were suggested for inclusion. It was also suggested that any major expenditure connected with the Village Hall should, if possible, go through the Parish Council as VAT could be reclaimed. The Budget would not be signed off until January in order that the Precept for 2024 be included which may or may not change the Budget figures.
  4. The Clerk had presented four alternative suggestions for the Precept which the Councillors discussed. They agreed to make a final decision at the January meeting when all figures were known from Mid Suffolk District Council.

Next Meeting

Dates of Meetings in 2024 - 3rd Tuesday in the month
16 January, 20 February, 19 March, 16 April, 21 May, 18 June, 16 July, 20 August (if needed), 17 September, 15 October, 19 November, 17 December.

Carole Rose – Parish Clerk
01359 259045
16 December 2023

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