Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 26th June 2014

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 26th June, 2014 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr H Painter (Chairman), Cllr D Dorling (Vice-Chairman), Cllr C Palfrey and Cllr I Brookman 
Three Members of the public attended.
Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes.
 
Cllr Dorling was acting Chairman for the meeting as Cllr Painter arrived later.
 
1 - Apologies for absence: Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Sargent and Cllr Bagnell
 
2 - Declarations of interest: Cllr Painter declared an interest in item 11b The Willows
 
3 - Jonathan Chown Broadband Officer SCC:-
Handouts were given to all Councillors and members of the public which explained the Broadband briefing. Mr Chown addressed the meeting and explained how the ‘Better Broadband to Suffolk’ would affect Pakenham. SCC will write to the Parish Council when Pakenham will ‘go live’ B.T. normally writes to householders informing them they are now able to upgrade.
The clerk to email Mr Chown a number of telephone number from different areas of the village and he will give speed estimates for each area. Cllr Dorling asked why new BT poles were being erected at Grimestone End. Mr Chown will find out and let the clerk know.
 
4 - County Councillor’s Report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger was unable to attend & sent her apologies. Her report was read out: In regards to Pakenham Bus the changing of the contract & the consequently changing of the route effectively cutting off those patrons in Grimstone End and Fen Road. I have spoken to the officer responsible at SCC the new operators Norse were going to use a large low level bus which they deemed not appropriate for the narrow roads such as Fen Road. However they have now agreed to re-visit the schedule & look at the possibility of using a smaller 16 seater mini bus which will allow them access to the smaller roads. They will let me know next week. The flooding next to the Village Hall, this has been reported, the work which was carried out last year does not appear to have had the desired effect. Therefore an engineer will be coming out to look at it again, if he has not already done so he will be there in the next few days. The Suffolk County Council newsletter was distributed in the correspondence folder.
 
5 - Borough Councillor’s Report:-
Cllr. Spicer was unable to attend and sent his apologies. He asked if he could be updated on affordable housing in the village. He asked whether a Parish Councillor could ask the owner whether the barn at Millers Meadow was being used as a residential building. Cllr Spicer advised the operations manager at SCC had been contacted to report Pakenham Fen Road had been omitted from the new bus timetable for September.

6 - Police report:-
PCSO Holly from Ixworth reported there had been no crimes of interest in the Parish since the last meeting. Two residents from St Edmundsbury Rural North have been victim to purse theft in Bury St Edmunds. Officers are reminding shoppers to be vigilant after a number of reports of purse thefts in Bury St Edmunds town centre on Wednesday 25 June. The thefts occurred at various locations in Cornhill & Brentgovel Street between 10am & midday.
 
7 - Public Forum:-
The footpath behind the garages at the Owell is very overgrown. The clerk had previously reported this to SCC. It was felt it would be useful to invite the Rights of Way Officer to attend the next Parish Council meeting. Two access covers on a driveway had been replaced by workmen and they were no longer flush. The resident was concerned at water ingress Cllr Dorling to investigate and inform the clerk of any action needed.
 
8 - To Consider the approval of the minutes of the last meeting:-
Item 18 to be amended to add The Cottage to household with overhanging trees. The minutes of the meeting held on 29th May were approved and signed as a true record.
 
9 - Reports from previous meeting:-
Shetland Boatyard – This has been passed to the Enforcement Officer for investigation Ref No: EN/14/0114 and they will update us on the outcome of the enquiry. To put on schedule of outstanding items for the next agenda.
 
10 - Clerks Report:-
Street lights – Adrian Last SCC informed the clerk he has visited Pakenham to check on the street lights. All works are scheduled to be completed but 2 of the cases he is still waiting on UK Power Networks. He apologised and thanked Pakenham residents for their patience.
Allotments – One of the unworked plot holders has given up the clerk is still waiting to hear from the two other plots. The letters went out on 9 June and were given 21 days notice if we have not heard by 8 July to assume they no longer want their plots. A poster has gone on the noticeboard if anyone wishes to rent an allotment plot to contact the clerk. A notice has also gone in the Newsletter.
Lawn Cemetery Memorial survey – Hanchetts will carry out the survey and should be completed in the next few weeks.
Scattering of Ashes – The family were informed of the Council’s decision the clerk has not heard anything further.
Manor Garth branch on ground – SCC were informed an operative was sent out but couldn’t find it. The brushwood is still on the verge in Manor Garth possibly outside no:20 the clerk to inform SCC
Overhanging trees onto pavement – Letters went to the two householders. One kindly telephoned to say their tree had been cut back. The clerk to send further letter to the Cottage.
Notice of vacancy – Electors have until 3 July to call for an election.
Enforcement issues – Re-instatement of land and hedge at Mill Road. Jane Stanley Principal Enforcement Officer advised they are having a case review in June to discuss with their legal advisors the next level of action that is appropriate. ‘This is a difficult case but we will be continuing to pursue the owner(s).’ Once a programme has been agreed I have been informed they will let the Council know of their intentions going forward.
Playing field – The PFA asked if the contractors could cut the grass in good time before the Fun Day on 19 July. Also the field margins were starting to encroach on the field. EFMS were contacted they will cut the field on the 16 July and they intend to flail the headlands around the field in the next week or so prior to the fun day and again in the autumn which should keep them in check. The clerk to forward the contractors email to Cllr Dorling.
The clerk to remind Cllr Hopfensperger of the proposed meeting with Highways.
 
11 – Planning:-
DC/14/0923/TCA : Linden House, Church Hill
Lime tree pollard to single trunk Council discussed the application.
No objection proposed by Cllr Brookman and seconded by Cllr Palfrey
DC/14/0999/LB : The Willows, Bury Road, Ixworth
Listed building application retention & adaption of existing softwood casement windows. Cllr Painter did not take part in discussion. Council discussed the application.
No objection proposed by Cllr Palfrey and seconded by Cllr Brookman

No further applications had been received – The clerk was asked to check Old Hall Barns ‘change of use’ should the Parish Council see this application
 
12 – Correspondence:- 
Correspondence was circulated.
Residents letter: flooding/sewage after heavy rain.
The clerk had received two emails from residents on The Street about this matter. The clerk had sent a letter to Anglian Water asking what they propose to do to avoid this situation happening in the future.
A further letter had been received about flooding issues to add to the Highways list. An incident was reported of knocking on a resident’s door at 5.30am in the morning with no one there. The clerk to inform the police.
 
13 - Dog Waste Bins:-
To ask the Rights of Way Officer if she attends the next meeting where the best place to site bins would be. The clerk to contact the dog warden for advice on dealing with dog fouling. Cllr Painter to include a further piece in the Newsletter asking residents to contact the clerk if they know of persistent offenders, the information to be passed to the authorities.
 
14 - To adopt revised Suffolk Local Code of Conduct:-
All Councillors had received a copy with the agenda. All in favour of adopting the revised Suffolk Code of Conduct.
 
15 - Defibrillator for Village Hall:-
The clerk had received the contact details of the East of England Co-op who have installed defibrillators free of charge in other areas. The clerk to pursue the matter. Council to consider installing a defibrillator at either the Water Mill or adopted BT kiosk at a later date.

16 - Finance Report – to consider payments to be made:-
Cleared balance of the deposit account 3/4/14 £6662.78
Cleared balance of the current account 31/3/14 £2682.82 uncleared balance £14,657.01 this includes the invoices on the agenda. The first quarter accounts were distributed to Councillors.
To confirm accounting statements of Annual Return cir. With agenda. All Councillors accepted the statement as correct.

17 - Councillors’ reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised residents had mended the fence and cleared overgrowth at The Dell next to the footpath. A note of thanks to be sent. Cllr Dorling reported an overgrown hedge at Grimestone End which was causing a hazard to motor vehicles turning right into Bailey Pool the clerk to contact the householder. The clerk was asked to contact the enforcement officer in regards to a fence that exceed one metre in height. The clerk to contact Mr Griffin if he has the large footpath map. It was asked to add Footpath warden, Co-option and Affordable Housing to the next agenda. The clerk to include a schedule of outstanding items under reports from previous meetings on the next agenda. Barbara Whitford the postmistress had been in hospital the Chairman to purchase some flowers for her on behalf of the Parish Council.
 
18 - Date of next meeting:-
Thursday, 31st July, 2014 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.05pm.