Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes - 10th December 2001

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on 10TH DECEMBER 2001
IN THE PAVILION AT 7.30 PM

Present: Cllr D Dorling, Chairman; Cllr B Chester, Cllr A Cox, Cllr L Couper, Cllr P Smith, Cllr H Painter, Mrs V White, Borough & County Councillor, Mr J Culley, Mrs J Brookman, Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr J Mangnall.

2. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting held on 29th October 2001 were approved and signed as a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING:-

(i) CHURCH GREEN CONSERVATION AREA: Mrs White confirmed that a letter from the Borough Council solicitors had been sent requesting the land be cleared forthwith. Mrs White agreed to follow up if the situation required further action. When the access is cleared it was agreed that the conservation area should receive publicity so that people are aware of the location.

(ii) RIVER CLOSE: Mrs White confirmed that the improvements to River Close had been completed and that the dropped kerb had been installed.

(iii) QUEEN’S GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS: It was reported that the Community Council proposed to hold an event separate to the Barn Dance on the 6th July 2002. After much discussion it was decided that Councillors Dorling and Cox would attend the next Community Council Meeting to be held on the 14th January in order to discover/discuss the role the Parish Council might play if appropriate. Councillor Painter agreed to make enquires at The Fox regarding any fete celebrations they may be planning and report back to the next Parish Council meeting. Councillor Couper agreed to investigate the number of children within the parish up to the end of middle school age with a view to presenting them with an item to commemorate the event and report back at the next meeting.

(iv) Mrs White confirmed that she had attended the Police Forum meeting which included a film about the air ambulance, confirmation from Inspector Mayhew that more police officers would be on the beat in Westley and Horringer and that speeding was need perceived to be a problem in the Pakenham area.

4. BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT:-
Mrs White said that there was nothing to report on Borough matters but that regarding the County Council, the river had been dredged.

5. OPEN SESSION:-
Mr Culley raised the point that the Parish Council’s minutes displayed in the Post Office were out of date, it was explained that the minutes had to be agreed by the Parish Council and signed by the Chairman at the following meeting before they can been publicly displayed. Mr Culley also raised the matter of the poor quality of lighting near The Dell and it was agreed to look into the matter.

6. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:-

New Applications:-

(i) 3 The Greenwoods, Pakenham. The Parish Council objected in principle to the trimming of the Lime/Tilia tree protected by a preservation order and considered this to be a continuation of the felling application to which they had previously objected, but would to be guided by the St Edmundsbury Tree Officer, if a minimal thinning would be appropriate in his opinion.

(ii) High House, The Street,Pakenham. There were no objections to the erection of a conservatory to the rear of High House. 

(iii) Priory Farm House, Bury Road, Ixworth. There parish council objected to the application to change the use and alterations and extension to the building at Priory Farm House
Past Applications

(i)The Old Farm House, Home Farm Lane, Pakenham. The proposed revision of the plans was approved.

7. FINANCE:-

8. CORRESPONDENCE:-
A letter from Councillor Mangnall confirmed that the request for a lottery grant had been submitted for the new village hall. Councillor Mangnall requested that £1,000 precept for the upkeep of the present village hall be donated to the new village hall fund, this was agreed in principle but it was decided to withhold payment until the end of March.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-
(i) Councillor Cox informed the meeting that the footpath beside Suffolk Agri was flooded and that he had contacted the Footpath Officer to see if it would be possible with the help of volunteers to lay duck boarding, he was now awaiting a reply.
(ii) Councillor Chester asked if the parish council would be consulted about plans regarding possible flooding along Bury Road, Ixworth. Mrs White confirmed she had been in contact with Mr Nunn and would report any details to the future meetings.
(iii)Councillor Painter tabled the idea of fencing/wall to mark the entrance to the village, instead of more signs, as had been carried out at Thurston, Beyton, Rickinghall and Fakenham Magna, parish councillors agreed to look at the above and that signs should be included on the agenda of the next meeting.

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:-
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on 21st January 2002 in The Pavilion at 7.30 pm.