Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 22nd April 2015

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 22nd April, 2015 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr H Painter (Chairman), Cllr D Dorling (Vice-Chairman), Cllr M Bagnell, Cllr I Brookman, Cllr N Davey, Cllr C Palfrey and Cllr M Sargent
9 Members of the public were in attendance
Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes

1 - Apologies for absence: All Councillors were in attendance

2 - Declarations of interest: No declarations of interest were received

3 - Police Report:-
No police officer was in attendance and no report had been received.

County Councillor's Report:
Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend and no report had been received.
Mr Ian Gallin CEO St Edmundsbury Borough Council: Mr Gallin was invited to address the Council. Mr Gallin thanked the Council and spoke on various issues including: Since he had taken the post of CEO three years ago there had been a lot of changes. Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury had entered into a shared service provision. The Councils remain separate in sovereignty terms. Savings of 4 million pounds a year had been seen which is ongoing. Fundamental service delivery hadn't changed over this time. Going ahead for the next four years there was a need to make investments in the right areas i.e. housing. They were the Governments 'New Homes Bonus' and 'Business Rate Retention'. They had established a set of shared priorities: housing, economic growth, families and communities. Funding challenges is going to be difficult but West Suffolk is in a good position to weather this. Cllr Painter asked whether St Edmundsbury was introducing 'CIL' Mr Gallin was not sure as yet a debate was still needed on the issue. Cllr Brookman asked does the electorate get a say on a 'unitary council'. Mr Gallin's response included there were only a shared group of staff at the moment otherwise the Councils are separate. Legislation does allow Councils to formally share. If you take the route of a single body i.e. 'West Suffolk' you have to demonstrate there is enough public support which a referendum would give. The quickest it could happen is approximately 4 years, there would be a need to address the Council Tax issue i.e. more in St Edmundsbury than Forest Heath there would need to be a way of equalising Council Tax. Also with two separate Councils they can currently do all the same things as 'one' Council. It can be a bit 'clunky' at times but it does work. At the moment because of the above points there is no reason to become one Council. Cllr Dorling asked what do you see the role of Parish Councils. Mr Gallin's response included elected members, including Parish Councillors are what makes us different and need to treasure and guard that. The Community agenda is the biggest untapped asset we have and we need those conversations going forward one way is the introduction of the locality budget which will continue to evolve. It was asked if it would end up with the Parish Councils taking on some services and having to put up precepts therefore not getting savings. There had been a lot of work around village halls and community centres becoming locally owned and managed with the ability to add value. Could see new facilities in villages i.e. nurseries the Borough could give support for the first year for a facility. Cllr Dorling advised most of the items we have problems with are legal. Parish Councils should not need to get involved with that side of things for example planning enforcements when parishioners approach us as Councillors they expect us to do something and St Edmundsbury has not done anything with enforcement. Mr Gallin advised St Edmundsbury have had various issues and had got some things wrong in the past. One of the service areas that we have got wrong is enforcement but we are now on top of it. They have now recruited more staff to the enforcement department who have been working through the backlog. When issues are reported there is a need to get better at updating Parish Councils. Cllr Painter advised Mill Road enforcement had been going on for the last 8 years. Mr Gallin reported a new hedge will be planted in the next planting season in the autumn which would cost approximately £130. A member of the public expressed frustration this had been said before and nothing had happened and explained briefly some of the issues. Mr Gallin advised legal action has continued and it is increasingly frustrating. It was asked if the hardstanding/spoil would be removed. Mr Gallin agreed if hardcore is found underneath it will be removed. It was asked if this referred to the entrance or the whole site i.e. does this include spoil and deposits dropped on site, Mr Gallin to confirm this. The enforcement at Newbury it was advised a site visit was made last year. Cllr Painter asked whether a planning officer could simply go on site and have a conversation with those involved in possible planning infringements. Mr Gallin agreed there were examples of conversations with people where it does work and there was a need to do more of this, there are of course some cases where this will not work and the Borough persues a legal route. It was asked if the new computer system will flag up issues i.e. Shetland Boatyard where there is a need to renew planning so the Parish Councils do not have to let planning departments know. They are now pursuing this. Cllr Spicer stated there are often various conditions on granted planning applications and there are no planning officers to inspect whether these have been followed he suggested Parish Councils could check. Cllr Brookman asked if there were any rules on who could work in polling stations. Mr Gallin as returning officer explained how they try to ensure the confidentiality of your vote.
Mr Gallin was thanked for attending.

Borough Councillors Report:-
Wished the Council well for the future and hoped the Council was able to go ahead with the community housing and he would give support from the sidelines. He also wished well on the work with Anglian Water for good drainage within the village. On Oak Farm he had spoken with the applicant who had agreed the proposed house was large and they would now consider producing a more modest dwelling. Cllr Spicer reported he had seen the findings of the agricultural panel. Clerk to check with the planning department to ensure the Parish Council is sent any new planning application for this site for comment. Cllr Spicer stated he had tried to achieve something with enforcement and was very pleased they now have the staff to achieve this. He advised the Council to work with the Borough and wished the Council a very happy future. Cllr Spicer was thanked for all his hard work on behalf of the Parish Council.

Public Forum:-
It was asked if there was any further news on the Fox public house. Cllr Painter advised he understood this was still being offered for sale. The Conservation Officer had written to the owner asking if the site could be kept tidy. Cllr Painter to chase this.

4 - To Consider the approval of the minutes of the last meeting:-
The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18th March was approved and signed as a correct record.

5 - Matters arising from previous meetings:-
Affordable Housing Update: Emma Hall an Officer from Havebury Housing to attend a special parish council meeting on Wednesday, 20th May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. It was hoped Kim Langley an Officer from St Edmundsbury would also be able to attend.

6 - Clerk's Report:-
Hanchetts have carried out the remedial works in the lawn cemetery. The Village Marquee, defibrillator and cabinet have been added to the insurance. This alteration has increased the outside equipment sum insured to £4,424.91 and the total all risk sum insured to £32,406.22. As the annual additional premium for this change is only £10.96 including IPT they have waived the pro-rata additional premium due from 26 March to 31 May and confirm the revised annual premium amounts to £598.46 including 6%IPT. It had been asked under the new transparency code whether 'Clerk's report', 'planning applications received after the agenda has gone out' and 'invoices received after the agenda has gone out' were acceptable on the agenda. SALC had advised 'Clerk report' is acceptable as this is reporting on matters and no decisions are to be made. NALC legal department has advised 'invoices received' is acceptable as an administrative matter. 'Planning applications' should not be a standing item on the agenda. It was advised a planning committee could be formed, if a planning application came in after the agenda had gone out, this committee could call a short notice meeting and look at the planning application following the parish council meeting. To place this item on the next agenda
i. Schedule of outstanding items: All items had been reported to the relevant authorities. Unrepaired signs at the Nature Reserve have been added to the list and re-reported to the relevant authority. It was advised the road to Livermere was badly potholed the clerk to report. The clerk to ask C.Cllr Hopfensperger whether there is a Reinstatement Officer to check whether potholes have been completed and done correctly.

7 - Correspondence:-
Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore and the Chief Constable are holding public meetings to invite views on policing. St Edmundsbury will be held on Thursday, 21 May 6.30pm in The Farmers Club Northgate Street. Notification of the West Suffolk Annual Report 2014/15 was circulated to Councillors Also circulated: Suffolk View, Countryside Voice, Came & Company newsletter and CPRE newsletter.

8 - To consider application for additional inscription on memorial plot E11:-
Council discussed and was happy for this to go ahead.

9 - CPR/Defibrillator training:-
The defibrillator has been installed and registered with the East of England Ambulance service. Cllr Painter asked whether the cabinet code should be published in the village magazine, Council discussed, to seek advice from First Responder at the training session. Training on CPR and defibrillator with Tony France a First Responder (Heartstart) has been organised for Saturday, 23rd May 9.45 – 12 noon in the village hall. A maximum of twenty attendees is advised. A donation to the British Heart Foundation is suggested to help support the role of First Responders. A notice to go on the noticeboard for anyone interested in attending to contact the clerk.

10 - Planning Applications:-
No applications had been received.

Any applications determined by Planning Authority:-
DC/15/0178/FUL Land adjacent to 22 The Owell
Change of use of amenity land to create 7no. parking spaces including realignment of kerb to facilitate widening of roadway – Granted 1.4.15

11 - Finance Report – to consider payments to be made:-
The internal audit will be carried out in the next few days and will be completed by the next meeting. Allotment holders have been contacted for the annual rent £85 has been received and £75 banked so far. Claim for VAT of £1030.90 has been sent to HMRC.
Cleared balance of the deposit account £6662.78.
Current account a cleared balance at 6/4/15 £5,709.49.
All in agreement for payments to be made:

12 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Dorling reported the owner of the boatyard had advised the Parish Council should expect a new planning application. It was advised a number of trees in the cemetery meadow are dead and could be dangerous. Cllr Palfrey and Cllr Dorling to investigate. The clerk was asked to check for a reply from Anglian Water before the next meeting. Cllr Brookman stated OneSuffolk and SALC were carrying out an audit of website compliance for the transparency code. The Clerk to ask for a copy on Pakenhams website.

13 - Date of next meeting:-
The next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 13th May 2015 following the Annual Parish Meeting starting at 7pm in the Village Hall.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30pm