Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in Barham Church Hall

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Residents discussed the proposed development on the playing field, with updates promised in the Broadsheet. Concerns about overhanging branches will be inspected. There's also news of a 2% council tax rise and plans to improve recycling, including a new food waste collection. Flooding assistance and grants were highlighted.
Present
Councillors Roy Woodfine, Nick Harvey, Will Draper, Roger Castro and Bill Woodhall. County Councillor Andy Mellen for part meeting; District Councillor Richard Winch. 5 members of the public attended.

In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Councillor Draper agreed to chair this meeting.

Public Forum

  1. Mr & Mrs Goswell requested information on the proposed development on the playing field. Councillor Harvey gave them a brief description. The Clerk stated that this project was still ‘a proposal’ only as planning permission had not yet been sought. Further details would be posted in the Broadsheet when necessary. Mr Goswell also wished to point out his concern with an overhanging bough from the playing field into his garden. The Clerk confirmed she would follow up with an inspection.
  2. Cllr Harvey to present invoices already incurred in connection with the development on the playing field. Cllr Harvey to update the PC on the street lighting situation in Wilding Road and Symonds Close.
  3. CCllr Andy Mellen highlighted that Ofsted had given the Councils SEND services a poor report which had led to 3 cabinet members resigning. The long term problem was lack of funding and availability of qualified Educational Psychologists. Cllr Mellen also spoke at length about the recent flooding and reminded everyone to use the ‘Report It’ tool on Suffolk County Council’s website. It was also mentioned that people could apply for an initial £500 grant payment as a first step along with supporting evidence. Cllr Mellen also wished to record his thanks to a local farmer, Stephen Miles, who had been generously clearing ditches during the flooding to assist residents in Long Thurlow.
  4. DCllr Winch announced there would be a 2% rise in council tax from April 2024 and to remember that out of every £1 of your council tax – only 9p goes to Mid Suffolk District Council. Cllr Winch also spoke at length about the District Council’s proposal to improve recycling with a wider range of items being collected including a food waste collection all due to be phased in over the next two years.

Apologies

Richard Morris (Chairman), Stephen Russell (Vice Chairman).

Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensation

  1. None
  2. None

Minutes

  1. The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2024 were signed by Councillor Draper in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
  2. The Clerk requested that Cllr Harvey approve the on-site work of the arboreal specialists he had employed for surveying and actioning the recent tree works on the playing field. This was necessary before payment of their invoice could be made.

Clerk’s Report and Correspondence

The Clerk gave a verbal report on matters which had occurred during the month. These included signing wayleaves in preparation for broadband at the village hall; arranging new Parish Councillor’s training; hedge cutting in Hunston Road; finalisation of the 2024 Budget and Precept; grounds maintenance for 2024; footpath closure; A1088 bridge works plus various complaints from residents. The Clerk asked for guidance on ‘pavement parking’ in BA. Whilst this is not yet law, consideration for others using the pavements should always be considered when parking. An item to be put in the next Broadsheet to this effect.

  1. The Clerk asked for the Councillors’ views on the retention of PC paperwork and archiving. After discussion the Councillors agreed that formal agendas, minutes and Annual Accounts (which were all on our website) should be kept for 10 years in paper format. All other correspondence/emails/copies would not be kept. Cllr Castro to talk to Suffolk Archives in Bury St Edmunds about their wishes for our paperwork and report back.

Environment

  1. Pete Dixon from the Neighbourhood Planning team gave a brief report to the Councillors in the absence of Steve Russell. The NP Planning team wanted cast iron assurances from the Parish Council that they would cover all finances after the 31 March until a new submission for funding was made post 1st April in order to avoid the NP scheme from going into abeyance in the interim. The Clerk stated that the Parish Council had agreed to fund the potential difference of £1600 over and above the proposed grant money of approximately £14,000 last Autumn. Cllr Draper reassured the NP team that the Parish Council would do whatever was necessary to assist and confirmed that the Parish Council finances were healthy enough to cover any unforeseen gap in the funding should it occur.
  2. The Councillors discussed this email request from the VHC in greater detail and, as initially thought, they confirmed that they were still of the opinion not to sanction the ‘first registration’ requested by the Village Hall Committee. The generous contribution of the land to the Parish Council back in 1971 had not caused any known problems in the intervening 51 years, therefore there was no need to engage with solicitors or lawyers at significant financial cost to change the status quo. The Clerk to inform the VHC.
  3. Cllr Draper had drafted the article re the proposal for an all-weather pitch and car parking on the playing field. The Clerk would now finalise this text and photographs and submit it in the next Broadsheet in March for the benefit of all villagers.
  4. The Clerk produced two quotes for grounds maintenance for 2024. After discussion the Councillors chose to engage Tops Garden Services (also used by Pakenham PC) on the understanding that the Clerk would inform them of the possible works taking place this year on the adult exercise equipment and possibly the all-weather pitches and car park later on.
  5. Mulberry Homes now due to start on site on 5 March for the 52 houses on Hunston Hill.
  6. Stage 2 of the Playground (adult exercise equipment) was due to start on 29 February. The delay has been due to the waterlogged playing field hence no heavy machinery could access the site.
  7. The Annual Spring Clean date was chosen as Saturday 23 March commencing at 10.00 for approximate 2 hours in both BA and LT. The Clerk would do the necessary posters and social media announcements.
  8. No confirmation had yet been received regarding the bell ringing on 6 June for the 80th anniversary of D Day. The bell ringing group also operate at Walsham so it may not be possible to serve both churches.
  9. The Clerk confirmed that she had completed and sent the application for 2 Electric Charging Points to possibly be installed in the Village Hall carpark on PC owned land. DC Winch had written a submission of support for Badwell Ash to be considered. These would be installed by a third party at no cost to the PC.

Planning

Progress of recent planning applications is as follows:

  • Planning application - DC/23/05797, 37 Richer Close, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3ET – GRANTED.
  • Planning application - DC/23/05927 Land East Of, Hunston Road, Badwell Ash, Suffolk - Partial discharge for Condition 18 (Surface Water Drainage) - Part G only.
  • Removal or Variation of a Condition following approval of DC/21/01752 dated 08/09/2021 Broadway Bungalow, The Broadway - Erection of replacement dwelling (following demolition of existing dwelling) with associated works, including creation of vehicular accesses and provision of landscaping. To vary Condition Number Condition 2 (Approved Plans and Documents) to include double cart lodge and store – GRANTED.
  • Planning application - DC/23/03397 - The Old Vicarage, The Street, Badwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3DH – (boundary walls) - WITHDRAWN

Finance, Governance and Policies

  1. To consider and confirm the issue of payments for the following:
    • £889.65 – Clerk’s wages
    • £186.00 – Gipping Press - Broadsheet
    • £76.80 – SALC councillor training – R Castro
    • £34.99 – 121 Computers - service
    • £162.00 – Community Heartbeat Year 5 costs
    • £72.00 – Community Heartbeat phone rental
    • £79.19 – Clerk’s expenses
    • £5.00 – Bank charges
    Resolved: It was resolved that these payments could be made. Councillors Draper and Harvey signed an approval for these to be paid by BACS.
  2. The Clerk distributed copies of the finalised Budget for 2024/25. This was unanimously approved.
  3. The Clerk confirmed her recent correspondence with Mulberry Homes where they have offered the Toad Patrol Group £3,000 for their improvements and the Parish Council £2,000 for possible equipment to the woodland area when built. This was gratefully acknowledged.

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
29 February 2024

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