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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 15 March 2010 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr G Plater (Vice Chairman), Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Mrs S Lewis, Mr M Manning, Mr J Ridd, Mr M Roseveare, Mr C Tucker
Also present: Mr M Bond (County Councillor), Mr B Hall (District Councillor)
- APOLOGIES were received from Mr M Argent, Mrs P Bell, Miss V Pizzey and Mr P Revett
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2010 were signed as a true record.
- COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
The Parish Council received the report of Mr Bond and had no questions.
- MATTERS ARISING
5.1 The old pump had been repainted at a cost of £85
5.2 With regard to the application for funding from Suffolk Coastal District Council towards the cost of the roadsigns on the A12, notification had been received that the Parish Council had been awarded the full grant that it had applied for of £7,523.57. The details of siting etc were being finalised between the Wickham Market Partnership and Suffolk County Council.
5.3 There was still no indication as to whether the Resource Centre had been included in the contract with Harmoni HS, as an out of hours surgery. Mr Hall had been at a meeting with Harmoni who had reported that they would be working with GP's in the area. There would be 8 GP's covering 11 outreach centres which clearly meant that not all centres would be manned all of the time. GP's would be provided with cars and one would be based at Wickham Market most of the time, however a doctors presence could not be guaranteed. Harmoni were hoping to write to all parish councils with details of where and when out of hours cover would be available.
5.4 A letter has been sent to Save Our Rural Roads (SORR) expressing concern at the apparent lack of action by Suffolk Coastal District Council over various planning enforcement issues at Debach Enterprises, Gressingham Foods and Bentwaters.
5.5 Potholes in the road were being dealt with by County Highways if and when they were reported to them. County Highways was aware that the road around the Hill from the junction opposite the Co-op to Sweet Dreams shop was breaking up.
6. CAR PARKS
6.1 It was reported that despite indications that Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) was going to charge on a Sunday for all its car parks, SCDC had now decided that Sunday car park charges would not be introduced in Wickham Market. The Parish Council welcomed this decision.
7. OPEN SESSION-COMMENCED AT 7.45pm
7.1 Mr K Cunningham distributed a mock up of the new tourism leaflet which he reported was at an advanced stage although there was likely to be changes in the text and final design. It contained elements relating to such things as places of interest, places to eat and stay and local shops. Distribution would be through the normal channels, hopefully by early May for the Bank Holiday.
He agreed that the map should contain reference to “High Street”
7.2 A resident of the Hill raised a query about the empty shop which was part of 77 High Street, Wickham Market. The Parish Council acknowledged that the property was being used in accordance with planning designations but felt that it would be nice to see the shop used as an addition to the commercial sector of the village.
It asked the clerk to write to the owner asking him to market the shop element of the property.
7.3 Mr Hall reported that he had been quoted a price of £930 for the installation of a higher voltage supply on the Hill. This was primarily for the youthbus but could be used by other organisations. It was agreed that this should go on the next agenda.
7.4 Mr Hall reported that the Local Development Framework was in its final stages. One element was that villages designated as key service centres, such as Wickham Market, were likely to have 5/6 additional houses built each year for the next 16 years.
(The session closed at 8.10pm)
8. POLICE MATTERS
8.1 At its meeting in November 2009 the Parish Council was advised by the police representatives of their wish to start up a “youth club” in the village. On 4 February 2010 a meeting was held with the various interested parties to discuss the matter. Whilst a number of issues were yet to be finalised, it was likely that a youth club for 10-14 years olds would be held in the Beehive on a Thursday evening whilst the Youthbus would cater for the 13-19 years olds, also on a Thursday evening. It was hoped that the youth club would start around Easter.
8.2 It was reported that between 14 February and 14 March 2010 6 offences had been committed as compared to 4 last year. However despite this slight increase there was no significant crime in the village at the moment.
On 16 March 2010 there was to be a Neighbourhood Watch/Business Watch promotion day on the Hill and later there was to be a day at Wickham Market, Woodbridge and Rendlesham to carry out cycle coding.
9. SPORT AND LEISURE MATTERS
9.1 At its last meeting the Parish Council was advised that the Wickham Market Youth Football Club was still £20,000 short of its target of £175,000 needed to complete the pavilion scheme. The problem facing the Club was that unless they could raise the amount of funds needed in the very near future, they might lose some of the funds already awarded to them. Since then the Wickham Market partnership had awarded a grant of £10,000.
The Parish Council noted that a sum of £1,735 was already earmarked for the Club but this included a sum of £1,000 from another source. The Council agreed that the Club had done an excellent job and in recognition:
RESOLVED
That a grant of £5,000 (including the £735 already earmarked from Parish Council funds) be awarded to the Wickham Market Youth Football Club in 2010/2011.
9.2 Basketball coaching would be available at the court on 5, 12, 17 and 26 August 2010 from 9.30am to 12 noon and possibly earlier in the year.
10. PLANNING MATTERS
10.2 Applications dealt with since the last meeting were 15 California, Wickham Market IP13 0JL (erection of cart lodge - application subsequently withdrawn), Outbuildings at Greystone House, 87 High Street, Wickham Market (revised application partial demolition of outbuildings to facilitate creation of new dwelling and conversion of outbuilding to dwelling including partial rebuilding - no objections submitted).
10.3 Decisions received since the last meeting were 42 Churchill Crescent, Wickham Market IP13 0RW - erection of first floor side extension (permission granted)and Hill House, 52 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0QT - insertion of replacement windows to rear elevation (listed building consent granted).
11. ALLOTMENT MATTERS
The allotments were getting busier with the improvement in the weather. Nothing to report.
12. CEMETERY MATTERS
12.1 Further to its last meeting the Parish Council receive a schedule of charges levied by Suffolk Coastal District Council for the cemeteries in Leiston, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh and Woodbridge. It also received a verbal report on the charges at Felixstowe cemetery.
It was clear that the charges at Wickham Market cemetery were considerably lower than elsewhere. In addition income for the cemetery was much lower than expenses.
The Parish Council felt that this was a matter that needed further consideration and asked that the Cemetery Group meet to discuss the issue and report back to the next appropriate meeting of the Council.
13. HIGHWAY MATTERS
13.1 It was reported that the County Highways Department had advised that they were about to do some alterations at the top of Broad Road by making a short stretch of the new pavement wider and less sloping. This was apparently to make access along the pavement easier for wheelchair users.
14. FINANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
14.1 Bi-monthly accounts January/February 2010 - these were noted and accepted.
15. CORRESPONDENCE
15.1 Boundary Review - On Wednesday, 10 February 2010, the Government had announced that it had been unable to decide whether to introduce unitary councils in Suffolk as there was 'not a consensus on a unitary solution' for Suffolk. The Government had called on all the Suffolk councils, with local MPs, stakeholders and through a 'county constitutional convention' to reach a consensus.
The Parish Council expressed its concern at the cost of this whole exercise which now seemed to be going nowhere.
15.2 A request had been received from the owners of the Italian Market asking that they be allowed to return to Wickham Market on 8 May 2010 on the same basis as they came in 2009. The Parish Council agreed to the request as they felt that the previous market had been a great success despite the weather.
This time directional signage to the school car park would be improved, if it was available again,.
15.3 The Parish Council agreed to enter the County “Village of the Year” competition which in 2010 was for larger villages between 500 and 3000 population.
16. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT AGENDA
A report on cemetery charges if available
An update on the progress with the Co-operative site.
The meeting closed at 8.50pm