- Screen Colours:
- Normal
- Black & Yellow
Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 17 November 2008 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent (Chairman), Mr G Plater (Vice Chairman), Mrs P Bell, Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Mr M Manning, Miss V Pizzey, Mr P Ridd, Mr C Tucker
Also present: Mr B Hall (District Councillor)
- APOLOGIES were received from Mrs S Lewis, Mr P Revett and Mr M Roseveare
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mrs J Evans declared a personal interest in Item 6 Car Parks.
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2008 were signed as a true record.
- MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Pill Box on Simons Cross - It was reported that work was in hand and the door would be ready as soon as possible
4.2 Cemetery - the improvements to the cemetery turning circle had been carried out at the agreed cost of £8,084..
4.3 Cemetery - the barn owl box had been erected and would be monitored by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
5. BOUNDARY REVIEW
The Clerk reported that he had a copy of Suffolk Coastal District Council's formal response to the Boundary Committee if any member wanted to read it.
The future of the reorganisation of local government within Suffolk was questioned bearing in mind the economic situation. However it was accepted that if the expected savings were proven to be made then this would be a reason for it to take place.
It was agreed that Mr Plater would attend a meeting for central town and parish councils to consider the proposals of the Boundary Committee on 7 January 2009 at the Riverside Centre, Stratford St Andrew.
- CAR PARKS
6.1 Charges - The Chairman went through a report of a meeting held with Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) on 30 September 2008 to discuss the issue of car park charges. As a result of this meeting 11 spaces had been designated on Crafers car park as free for the first 30 minutes. In addition the starting times for charges to take effect had changed from 8am to 9 am on the Hill and Crafers car parks.
The Council welcomed these changes but stressed that they would continue to provide informed evidence to SCDC to support having the charges removed completely.
6.2 Car Parking at the Village Hall - the Chairman reported that he had contacted the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee to discuss the issue of cars parking unofficially on the village hall car park rather than use the car parks in the village. It appeared that the Village Hall Committee did not want to see this sort of use develop and would welcome steps to prevent it. Suffolk Coastal District Council were about to erect signs in the village hall car park indicating that such parking was not allowed.
6.3 Changes to waiting restrictions - the Clerk reported that the Order was now in force, the effect of which was to remove the prohibition of waiting currently in force on the Southern side of the Hill and replace it with 1 hour limited waiting 8.00am - 6.00pm Monday to Saturday inclusive, no return within 2 hours.
6.4 Chapel Lane Car Park - the Chairman reported that at the meeting with SCDC on 30 September 2008, he had agreed that the Parish Council would come up with some suggestions for an altered management regime at Chapel Lane car park. Having considered the Chairman's proposals in detail the Council agreed to recommend to SCDC:
1) That the maximum stay for permitted vehicles in this car park should be two hours per visit. Return to this car park on the same day within two hours of the previous departure is not permitted.
2) That enforcement of this regulation be carried out by the monitoring of the position of tyre valves using a clockface notation as it was impossible for cars to be driven away and then returned to the same space without the valves being repositioned.
- OPEN SESSION - commenced at 8.10pm
As part of this Mr Hoe presented his report on local police issues.
7.1 Police Report - Mr Hoe felt that it was unlikely that the Parish Council would get a regular written report from the police on local issues under the new arrangements. However he had received a report for this meeting and went through the contents.
The Parish Council were concerned at the apparent increase in crime in the local area which between 1 October 2008 and 9 November 2008 had gone up
They agreed to write to Sgt Gilmore asking that the regular police report should continue and expressing concern at the increase in crimes committed and asking Sgt Gilmore if he was aware of any reasons for the increase.
7.2 Mobile police unit - Mr Hoe reported that following the closure of the police surgery, due to the lack of public use, he would be in the police mobile station on the Hill when it was in the village.
The Parish Council thanked Mr Hoe for his continuing good work.
The Open Session closed at 8.21 pm.
- POLICE MATTERS
8.1 Woodbridge and District Safer Neighbourhood Team - this new team would be run by Sergeant Chris Gilmore and PC Shaun Brett and PCSO Sally-Anna Chatten-Berry would be specifically responsible for Wickham Market. A police representative would only attend a parish council meeting to deal with specific issues there would be no general attendance.
8.2 Police Surgery - as in item 7.2 above it was reported that due to lack of public use the Police Surgery at the Resource Centre would cease from November 2008.
- WICKHAM MARKET PARTNERSHIP REPORT
9.1 Basketball Court - The Wickham Market Partnership was underwriting the cost of extending the basketball court to ensure that work was completed by the spring of 2009.
9.2 Youth bus - Mr Hall reported that the youth bus was nearly ready for use and there would be an official opening early in the New Year.
10. SPORT AND LEISURE REPORT
10.1 Tennis Courts - the new tennis courts had officially been opened by Christine Janes on 28 September 2008. Approximately 110 members had joined the tennis club so far.
10.2 Wickham Woods - local primary school children had been out gathering tree seeds which had been planted in school grounds and would hopefully come up in 2009.The 1st AGM of Wickham Woods would be on 12 January 2009 but as yet no local landowner had come forward with an offer of land. There was a good possibility of funding for the group.
11. PLANNING REPORT
11.1 The Parish Council was advised of new rules from 1 October 2008 governing what householder development did and did not require planning permission.
11.2 Since the last meeting planning permission had been given for:
- the erection of two-storey side extensions to The Willows, 31 Spring Lane, Wickham Market, IP13 0SJ
- replacing two sheds with one barn style, 52 Churchill Crescent, Wickham Market, IP13 0RW
- erection of double garage, 161 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RD
11.3 Applications dealt with since the last meeting
- 23 Broad Road - demolish fire damaged bungalow and build new dwelling and car port (no objection)
- Barn and land to the rear of 2-6 Little Lane - extension and conversion of barn to form a dwelling (no objection)
12. ALLOTMENT REPORT
12.1 Allotment rents had been collected on 20 October 2008 and so far some 97% of rents had been collected. Reminders were about to go out.
12.2 Mrs Bell gave a verbal report on the work being carried out at the Glebe allotment site. She took the opportunity of thanking Mr Fairhurst for his ongoing advice and assistance and the members of the Allotment Association who were willing to carry out much of the necessary work. Mr Catchpole had also been very helpful in bringing his experiences on the Simon's Cross allotment site to hand.
The Allotment Association was up and running and would be working to clear the area of brambles to create new allotments. The Association had met on 8 November 2008 to draw up an action plan and agree a list of works that were required.
The criteria for the Best kept Allotment competition was to be reviewed for approval by the Parish Council
The Council welcomed the progress on the Glebe site and noted that work was necessary to improve the site.
RESOLVED
That a sum of up to £500 be allocated for the improvement of the Glebe allotment site.
13. CEMETERY REPORT
13.1 The work on the turning circle had been carried out by EFM Surfacing Contractors at the agreed price of £8,084.
14. HIGHWAY MATTERS
14.1 Bus Shelter - It was reported that the Chairman of the Council, in accordance with his delegated authority, had approved expenditure of £358 to repair the bus shelter.
14.2 Bus Shelter at Spring Lane - The Council was advised that a final decision was now needed on the future of the proposed bus shelter to enable Suffolk County Council to take the next step.
One letter of objection to the proposal had been received from Roy Webb Antiques the contents of which the Parish Council carefully considered. Having noted the letter and the points put forward by Suffolk Coastal District Council, the Parish Council felt that the benefits of the shelter had overwhelming public support in the area and that the matter should now proceed.
Having discussed the matter at length the Council agreed that the Suffolk County Council should be instructed to erect the bus shelter as soon as possible.
14.3 Save our Rural Roads (SORR)- Mrs Breese presented a short report on the activities of SORR which had just produced its Annual Report for 2007/2008.
The Parish Council felt that, arising out of the report, it might be useful to organise their own traffic survey through the village during summer 2009.
14.4 Traffic Management - arising out of this Mr Plater reported that at the SALC Conference and AGM on 21 October 2008, managing lorries on rural roads had been a main topic of discussion. Following a successful trial in Leicestershire a traffic management scheme was to be introduced within the triangle of A140, A1120 and A12. If successful it might be expanded to the whole of Suffolk.
15. FINANCIAL AND LEGAL
15.1 Bi-monthly accounts - these were received and noted
15.2 External Auditor - the report of the external auditor for year ended 31 March 2008 was received. The Council noted that the only recommendation to increase fidelity cover to £40,000 had been done in July 2008.
RESOLVED
That the Annual Report of the external auditor for year ending 31 March 2008 be approved and accepted.
The meeting closed at 9.20pm