Badwell Ash Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Residents gathered to discuss concerns over Simonds Bus Company reducing services, which could impact students and shoppers. The Parish Council will support efforts to address this with local MPs. Additionally, safety improvements on Richer Road are being pursued, aiming to reduce speed limits for pedestrian safety.
Present
Councillors Richard Morris (Chairman), Stephen Russell (Vice Chairman), Roy Woodfine, Bill Woodall, Mark Tomkins, Clare Taylor and John Morgan. C Cllr Andy Mellen (part), DC Richard Winch and 30 members of the public attended.

Public Forum

  1. A large number of residents attended the meeting at the suggestion of District Councillor Winch in response to Simonds Bus Company proposing to cut the bus services through Badwell Ash from 6 a day to 2 a day. This would make it impossible for students to attend the West Suffolk College (Sarah Brown) and for other residents to attend Bury for shopping, appointments etc. Cllr Winch explained the background to this problem and after updating the Parish Councillors Cllr Winch reconvened in the main hall to take further details from residents to progress this investigation. The Parish Council were asked to write a letter of support to be presented to our MP Adrian Ramsey which the Clerk would do. This reduction in service would also affect Hunston, Walsham, Stowlangtoft and Pakenham.

    Ms Sue Taylor stated she could not find the clauses in our Standing Orders about filming/recording Parish Council meetings and stated the Minutes of 23 May were not sufficient explanation in her view. The Clerk to confirm the clause numbers in writing in the next Minutes (Clauses 1 & 4 of Protocol for Reporting at Public Meetings).

    A resident questioned why there had been a supplementary planning application in relation to the MUGA. He was informed there had not been a supplementary application but merely a response to Sport England showing the possibility of a 5 a side pitch should one ever need to be installed. Cllr Woodhall confirmed, again, there had been no alterations to the MUGA application and confirmed that Mid Suffolk District Council had asked for a planning extension until 20 September to consider their views. As a result of this request, which the Parish Council agreed to, the public consultation day would take place after 20 September.

  2. Broadsheet questionnaire (September), P&C Commissioner meeting (September), Multi Agency Meeting re AW (September), Streams and Rivers (September), NP Design Codes (September).
  3. CC Andy Mellen had written to Harthog Hutton regarding a possible agreement to move the 30mph sign on Richer Road which was requested (and promised by the applicant) in the original planning application back in 2020. This is regarded as a vital safety measure on a stretch of road currently at 60mph which poses a huge danger to both residents and any pedestrians/dog walkers using Richer Road. NB this whole site is outside the village envelope. Cllr Mellen also mentioned the ongoing roads and potholes problems and the HMOB Highways Plan was being reviewed. It would need approx. £50m per year to fully correct the problems whereas in reality there was only approx. £17m available.
  4. DC Richard Winch did not provide a report this month.

Apologies

Cllrs Will Draper and Nick Harvey.

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensation

  1. None
  2. None

Minutes

  1. The minutes of 2 July 2024 having been circulated and unanimously approved by the Parish Councillors were then signed by the Chairman.
  2. None.

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

The Clerk gave a verbal report on various matters:

  • The Chairman had received a complaint from Mr Pollen re his collapsed brick wall at the front of his property (No. 1 The Street). He had reported this in January to MSDC and nothing had been done. The Clerk and Cllr Winch to follow this up.
  • The Clerk had received a number of complaints re vegetation either overhanging or blocking pavements in the village. The Clerk had written to the individual householders to ask them to cut back, and keep tidy, their plants and gardens adjacent to the public paths.
  • The Clerk confirmed that FP11 had been granted a closure extension until August 2025.
  • A concerned resident had emailed the PC regarding the sandpit in the children’s playground which local cats were using as a toilet. The Clerk would investigate remedies and undertake a risk assessment.
  • The Clerk had received confirmation from Cllr Draper that he had held a liaison meeting with the Village Hall Committee just about every month this year so far so was completely up to date.
  1. NALC – the suggested annual pay agreement was currently with the Unions for their consideration.
  2. Cllr Russell and the Clerk had repainted the telephone box housing the defib as no volunteers from the village had come forward to help which was disappointing. The Clerk had also revarnished the notice board adjacent to the telephone box and tidied up the shingle area surrounding the bench.
  3. The Parish Council have learned that they have been unsuccessful in obtaining a Capital Grant for the resurfacing of the Village Hall Drive. This project would now be shelved but minor repairs would be undertaken to eliminate any trip hazards.

Environment

  1. Cllr Tomkins stated that the Draft Neighbourhood Plan was now complete (Report attached for filing).
  2. The Neighbourhood Plan team formally requested ‘Permission to Consult’ from the Parish Council. This was unanimously granted. The NP Plan team also wished to add Design Codes to the agenda for the September PC meeting.
  3. Consultation dates for the Neighbourhood Plan would now be Saturday 28 September and Monday 30 September. Following the consultation, the display would be moved to the Church where it would remain to ensure that everyone had the chance to visit and comment on it. Due to the Planning Department at MSDC requesting an extension to consider the planning application until 20 September, it was agreed that the revised date for the MUGA and Village Hall improvements would be on a single date (yet to be agreed) in early October.
  4. Cllr Woodfine had no update on the Long Thurlow gates.
  5. Cllr Taylor reported on her attendance at a PCC open meeting where she discussed various Police concerns with the Police and Crime Commissioner. He has offered to attend a meeting in our area (with other Parishes if desired) to discuss any matters of local concern. The Clerk will make contact with local Parish Councils to assess appetite.
  6. No update on the damaged war memorial (stone slab) but Cllr Harvey has this in hand for review.
  7. Cllr Woodhall reported that he was in constant touch with the Footpath Team at SCC and would ensure that the cutting schedule in our Parish was completed by the end of August.
  8. No VHC liaison meeting this month (or report) as the Councillor was on holiday. A query was raised re the correct route of FP 9 and 10. The Clerk to write to Ed Walsh re his land. Cllr Woodhall also to check the designated route with the Footpaths Team.
  9. The Clerk reported a Zoom meeting was due to be held on 12 August regarding our bid to have ECPs installed in the village. There is due to be a site survey undertaken by Connected Kerb (newly appointed contractors for this project). If successful the ECPs requested would be fully funded and there would be no cost whatsoever to the Village either in terms of up front costs, delivery or installation. There was the potential of small credits in the years to come to the village too.

Planning

Progress on recent planning applications:

  • DC/24/02096 Land Off, Dovedale Close, Badwell Ash, Suffolk IP31 3EY – Refused - Condition 3, Approved - Discharge of Conditions 6, 13 and 14.
  • Enforcement case ongoing - EN/24/00423 - Land West of Richer Road, Badwell Ash – commencement of work prior to approval of Condition 22 below.
  1. To consider a planning consultation Discharge of Conditions Application DC/20/02989 Conditions 8 & 22 Land West of Richer Road (13/8). After discussion the Councillors unanimously agreed to withhold approval of Condition 22 until the above Enforcement Case was determined. It had already been noted that the specific clauses in the Management Plan were being flouted (HGVs through the village; not observing the ‘turn right’ instruction out of the site; mud on road; no signage or lights or fencing at night on the road or adjacent to the site).
  2. The Clerk to circulate a Monthly Planning Circular to the Councillors (provided by DC Winch). This would also be available on our website for all residents to review and in our noticeboards.

Finance, Governance and Policies

  1. To consider and agree the issue of BACS for the following payments:
    • £872.45 – Wages
    • £1279.01 – HMRC Q1 Tax
    • £1125.26 – MSDC Dog & Litter Bin Annual emptying charges
    • £418.00 – S Rose street cleaning Apr/May/Jun
    • £600.00 – Rachel Leggett Neighbourhood Plan
    • £1971.50 – Andrea Long Compass Point Neighbourhood Plan
    • £53.99 – Clerk’s expenses
    • £5.00 – HSBC 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.

Next Meeting

The remaining dates are Tuesday 3 September, Tuesday 1 October, Tuesday 5 November and Tuesday 3 December.

Carole Rose – Parish Clerk
01359 259045
13 August 2024

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