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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 18 July 2011 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent, Mrs J Breese, Mr R Cooke, Mrs F Etheridge, Mrs J Evans, Mr G Jones, Mr M Manning, Mr B Nobbs, Miss V Pizzey, Mr M Roseveare, Mrs E Salmon and Mr C Tucker.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr B Hall (Suffolk Coastal District Council), Mr M Bond (Suffolk County Council) and Mr D Fawcett (Suffolk County Council Highways Department)
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr J Ridd
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2011 were signed as a true record.
- COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
Mr Bond presented his report which had been emailed to all members with email. There were no questions for Mr Bond.
- MATTERS ARISING
4.1 It was reported that the Co-operative development was expected to start in early August 2011, whilst the redevelopment of the Deben Court site by Flagship Housing had been delayed for some 9-12 months because of funding difficulties. This would mean that the two construction programmes would now run separately.
4.2 At the last meeting some concern was expressed about the level of construction traffic, particularly in and around Chapel Lane, if Deben Court and the Co-op site were developed at the same time. Mr David Fawcett from Suffolk County Council Highways, reported that when the Deben Court development took place it was likely that 20 tonne vehicles would be used. He was concerned that the surface of Chapel Lane would break up. He would look to Flagship Housing to meet the cost of any repairs. It was clear that traffic to and from the site would have to use the B1438 due to the unsuitability of other routes. He would enter negotiations with Flagship at the appropriate time to agree a management programme for the traffic. With regard to the Co-op site he would encourage lorries to come in from and leave to the south. Again this would be taken up with the contractors. With regard to the Gospel Hall site he expected to try and persuade contractors to arrive and leave via the bridge by Rackhams Mill to get on to the A12.
He stressed that Suffolk County Highways only had the powers of persuasion/negotiation when it came to the routes taken by contractors lorries.
4.3 A “Meet your MP” event had been organised with Dr Dan Poulter MP for Friday 23 September 2011starting at 7.00pm in the village hall and going on until 9.00pm. It would be chaired by Mr Argent, the Parish Council Chairman. The basic format would be an address by Dr Poulter to the meeting, then questions of a general nature to him from the audience ending up with an informal coffee evening enabling Dr Poulter to meet and chat to representatives of the village.
4.4 The flower bed by the War Memorial had again been planted with bedding
plants. These would be removed in autumn and be replaced by perennial shrubs. The Council asked that Miss Westover liaise with Suffolk Coastal District Council to agree a planting scheme.
4.5 Mrs Evans reported that the Italian Market on 25 June 2011 had again been successful despite the weather. The new position on the roadway had worked well and she hoped would be used for the planned Christmas market
4.6 It was reported at the last meeting that it was hoped that over the Christmas period all the properties surrounding the Hill car park would have a Christmas tree and lights on their front wall. Unfortunately Aon the Council's insurers have said that the Council's public liability insurance cannot be used to cover this event. Mrs Evans reported that the shops putting up the trees would be using their own public liability cover. It was unlikely that trees would be erected on residential properties round the Hill as they did not have public liability insurance.4.7Some early consideration has been given to the building of a Parish. An application would go to Suffolk Coastal District Council for an EDF grant to help with the purchase of trees etc.
4.7 Some early consideration had been given to the building of a Parish Council website using the facilities offered by One Suffolk. The website was provided completely free by OneSuffolk. The software provided allowed you to choose the layout of your site from a fairly extensive selection and included good and quite easy to use 'Content Management Software' so you can create your own site. Some expert assistance is also available.
It was agreed to work with the Wickham Market Partnership to consider the best way forward.
- OPEN SESSION (commenced at 8.15pm)
A member of the public asked if Wickham Market was in a position to use any of the partial refund of business rates as much of this appeared to be going to Felixstowe. It was likely that business rates would end up back with District Councils in 2013.
Mr Hall gave a brief background to the youthbus which came to Wickham Market each Thursday evening. He was seeking the support of the Parish Council for the bus in financial and volunteer terms. It was agreed that he would put his request in writing to the Clerk for the next agenda. He went on to report that the LDF was in its final stages although there were some difficulties at Martlesham and the Trimleys. Finally the Carers Programme in Wickham market was running well and he congratulated all concerned on their efforts (session closed at 8.25pm).
- POLICE MATTERS
Mr Hoe reported that since the 16 May 2011 there had been 31 reported crimes in Wickham Market. Many of these were criminal damage to vehicles. Of the 31 3 had been detected, 2 were pending, 14 were undetected and 12 were under investigation. As a result the Safer neighbourhood Team were increasing the police presence in the village to combat criminal damage, litter etc. The mobile police station would next be on the car park on 8 September 2011.
- SPORT AND LEISURE MATTERS
Mr Roseveare volunteered, as part of the Parish Council's risk assessment programme, to inspect the basketball court and skatepark on a regular fortnightly basis.
- PLANNING MATTERS
(Mr C Tucker declared a personal interest in item 8.4 below as it might relate to an additional nuclear power station. He remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed)
8.1 Applications dealt with since last meeting: 30 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0QS - erection of fist floor extension (no objection); 46 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0QS - replacement of brick plinths and new railings at the front elevation and a serpentine brick wall 2 metres high at the rear of the property (no objection); The Orchard Campsite, 28 Spring Lane, Wickham Market IP13 0SJ - provision of 8 cabins (being used in lieu of five touring caravans), retention of two romany vans and the inclusion of adjoining land for recreational use (no objections but expressed view that only 5 cabins should be provided to replace 5 touring caravan sites and to keep traffic levels along Spring Lane at current level).
8.2 Decisions received since last meeting: The Orchard Campsite, 28 Spring Lane, Wickham Market IP13 0SJ - erection of building to accommodate swimming pool and erection of building for pool equipment and retention of an extension to existing reception and shop (permissions granted); 77C High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RA - alterations in connection with installation of sign above entrance and hanging sign (listed building consent granted); Hill House, 53 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0QT - fitting of 3 vertically sliding aluminium framed secondary double glazing windows to two first floor bedrooms (listed building consent granted); 119 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RD - various internal and external works (listed building consent granted); 133 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RD - erection of garage (permission granted); 135 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RD - erection of garage (permission granted); 30 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0QS - erection of first floor rear extension (permission granted).
8.3 The Council noted that a Notification of Tree Work had been received for 1 Two House Close, Wickham Market. Two cherry trees were to be cut back and four sycamore trees would be reduced in height by 30%.
8.4 Leiston Town Council was seeking support for a proposal agreed by them and SALC and supported by some 300 local councils, to give new planning guidance to major developers urging them as a matter of planning procedure to:
(1) Attend meetings to answer questions about their planning application if the parish council so wishes.
(2) Provide resources (if so wished) to enable the parish council to assess their applications - which may be over 1000 pages long - based on a professional critique of their evidence.
The Parish Council agreed that it should support the above proposals.
- ALLOTMENT MATTERS
(Mr B Nobbs and Mr A Biddle declared a personal interest in this item as allotment tenants and remained in the meeting whilst it was considered)
9.1 It was reported that the revenue costs of providing the two allotment sites
continued to increase, particularly the cost of providing water. In 20010/11 the cost of water was approximately £1,700. Total allotment costs in 20010/11 were approximately £2,400. The income for the year was £2,070. With the exceptionally dry spring and early summer 2011 it was certain that the costs of water on both sites would increase during 2011/2012. In addition in 2010/2011 the annual rental for the Simons Cross allotments increased by approximately 33% (from £300 to £400)
The Parish Council noted these comments and
RESOLVED
That from 1 October 2012 rents be increased to £30 for a full plot (currently £25) and £15.00 for a half plot (currently £12.50)
9.2 The allotment competition was not run in 2011 due to dry conditions and difficulties in getting an experienced judge.
10. CEMETERY MATTERS
10.1A meeting of the Cemetery Group had taken place on 4 July 2011. To meet the requirements of the risk assessment all headstones were checked for rigidity. The Group was delighted with the general management of the cemetery and congratulated the Parish Environment Group. Finally it was reported that the Bierhouse needed to be surveyed so that the cost of any future repairs could be built into the budget. Mr Nobbs volunteered to have a look with a local builder and report back.
10.2 A member of the public had indicated that they would like to contribute towards the maintenance of the cemetery. They have identified that the panels around the bin area were breaking up. A local builder has been asked to supply a quote for this work and if the quote is acceptable then the resident would like to pay for the work if that is acceptable to the Parish Council.
The Parish Council accepted the offer and thanked the resident for their generosity.
11. HIGHWAY MATTERS
Notification had been received from Suffolk County Highways that from June 2011, it would be implementing the Intelligent Street Lighting System to control street lights. This would mean that all units six metres in height and below would be switched off between midnight and 5.30am, subject to certain exceptions. Units over 6 metres might be dimmed subject to technical requirements. This action was expected to save the County Council some £550,000 per annum.
The Parish Council requested that Suffolk County Highways be asked if the Parish Council could meet the cost of leaving the lights on when they were off or dimmed.
12. FINANCE AND LEGAL MATTERS
12.1 Bi-monthly accounts - May/June 2011, these were noted and accepted.
12.2 The Clerk reported that the accounts for 2010/2011 had been internally audited and submitted to the external auditor. Overall the report was extremely good and had only picked up on the need to review the Council's Standing Orders. Revised Standing Orders would be presented to a future meeting.
13. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
The Clerk reported that it was some 10 to 12 years ago now since the last Wickham Market Plan was drawn up. It was now time to begin thinking about a new one to take its place.
The aim of the Plan should be to examine the various social, economic and environmental issues affecting the Village, to give a voice to local people and involve them in the solutions to any problems. The production of a clear set of local priorities will allow for more pro-active decision making instead of just having to react to decisions made by others. Furthermore funding bodies are increasingly requiring projects to be part of a community based village plan.
Additionally in the current economic climate and with long term changes to parish government likely the plan must be flexible and able to change to meet demands made upon it.
The Parish Council felt that work on any new plan should wait until the implications of the Localism Bill and the Governments attitude towards local government was clearer.
The Chairman reported that he had attended a joint meeting of local parish councils on 5 July to investigate ways of working together. The Parish Council requested him to continue attending until he had a clearer idea of whether joint working was feasible.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm