Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 26th July 2017

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 26th July 2017 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter (Chair), Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Brookman, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Davey and Cllr Sidebotham
Six Members of the public were in attendance.

1 - Record Councillors’ apologies for absence: All in attendance

2 - Declarations of interest: No declarations of interest received

3 :-
County Councillor’s report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave a report which included: Outstanding highway issues in Pakenham – Fen Road badly worn surface 5msq highways to patch this area and make level as soon as possible. The whole of Fen Road to be placed on future programme for re-surfacing, possibly carried out Spring next year. Cllr Hopfensperger to ensure Grimestone End to bypass is included in the re-surfacing works.
Children sign Ixworth Road, Upper Town has been ordered.
Brand Road potholes Cllr Hopfensperger to ask Highways to come out again and complete the works.
Giant Hogweed has been dealt with.
Livermere Road works completed.
Blocked grip near Riverside will be done as part of the cyclic programme.
Bury Road potholes on the resurfacing programme and speed checks ordered.
The broken fingerpost signs will be replaced when the paths have been cut.
Missing sign ‘Pakenham please drive carefully’ near Windmill has been re-ordered.
Upper Town crossroads visibility, Cllr Brookman advised this was still a problem and gave Cllr Hopfensperger photographs of the issue, highways to come out again and cut back hedges, Cllr Sidebotham asked if highways could also ensure the hedges are cut back to allow signage to be seen. Cllr Painter stated with all the new housing going into Thurston many more cars will be using this crossroads and asked if highways had considered this? Cllr Hopfensperger to ask the questions and report back to the parish council.
Blocked drain causing puddling, Cllr Hopfensperger advised highways have cleared the gulley. Cllr Brookman reported it was still flooding, highways to re-visit site.
It was asked if Council would still like a highways site visit, this was briefly discussed. Council agreed they would like a visit as long as the agreed works take place. Cllr Hopfensperger to book a date for a site visit for September and send the clerk a document on highway regular maintenance and general maintenance, what takes priority and the parameters highways work to.
Cllr Hopfensperger reported that many Councils were also getting frustrated with the comment given when reporting highway matters on the website which will be looked into.
Cllr Painter also highlighted the pot hole in the pavement near Manor Garth and Cllr Dorling advised the section on Fen Road still needs skirting out as gulley full of silt. Cllr Hopfensperger to advise highways.
Cllr Hopfensperger advised if residents did not cut back their hedges after being asked to do so by the parish council then SCC will deal with the matter.
A resident highlighted the dangerous plum tree on the highways verge near Millers Meadow, which has been hit by at least 4 lorries and the overgrown verges in this section of Fen Road. Cllr Dorling to send all the details of this to Cllr Hopfensperger who will arrange for this area to be cut back. A resident suggested Fen Road needed re-building rather than re-surfacing. 
A resident asked if a drop kerb could be placed at the end of the footpath going to the playing field for a mobility scooter. Cllr Hopfensperger to look into this and to pay for this through her locality budget.
Cllr Hopfensperger reported the West Suffolk Operational Hub was deferred on traffic grounds but would probably come back in September. The joining of Councils was still under consideration but nothing would happen until at least 2019. A consultation will be coming out on West Suffolk Council Western Way.

Borough Councillors report:-
Cllr Brown sent apologies as unable to attend.

Public Forum:-
 A resident reported on the extensive works being undertaken at a site on Fen Road and an application for a Licence of Lawful Development DC/17/1111/CLP. The resident asked for the following questions to be asked: ‘What is Council Policy on change of use of land from being registered as agricultural land to residential use. On what basis is the decision made and how is any ‘10year rule’ verified and applied? How is the ongoing situation monitored during an application and any permitted development and how is information passed to neighbours to keep them aware of changing circumstances? If the original application includes incorrect information, how is this investigated and taken into consideration? The resident to send the details to the clerk who will forward everything to Borough Councillor Brown to investigate.
A resident reiterated the highway issues on Fen Road. Cllr Brookman proposed to minute the Parish Councils increasing frustration and disappointment with both St Edmundsbury and Suffolk County Council at the lack of service from both Councils within Pakenham seconded by Cllr Dorling all in agreement.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 28th June 2017 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from previous meeting:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: Previously discussed in item 3
ii. Sewerage Pumping Station: Cllr Painter updated Council on the recent meeting held with Jo Churchill MP, discussions with Derek Haley local Councillor for Thurston and Emma Crush officer at Anglian Water. A draft letter to Jo Churchill which she had requested had been circulated and was discussed. It was agreed to add ‘From planning documents for the new houses it appears the Environment Agency has modelled the capacity of the centre and considered it adequate. However, no reference is made to the current situation in times of significant rainfall when Pakenham Parish Council know the stream running through Pakenham is surcharged with sewerage, photographs are attached showing this.’ All in agreement for the clerk to send amended letter to Jo Churchill MP and include pictures which Cllr Sidebotham will supply.
iii. Clerks Report: The Mayor of St Edmundsbury has agreed to attend the October meeting of the Council to ask the Mayor to talk about the role of Mayor. One funeral for a resident has been held in the Lawn Cemetery plot E25. BT have signed and returned the contract for the kiosk and confirmed they have removed the telephony and sent a completion notice. The oak tree sited between the footpath and 4 The Greenwoods has been pruned back. The TVAS Pakenham has been added to the list and will be deployed from the end of September cycle.

6 - To look at a Consultation in regards the ‘bowling green area’: -
Council discussed and agreed a notice to be placed in the Newsletter asking ‘What do you want in the area formally used as a bowling green’ Suggestions please to the clerk or any Councillor, to place on next agenda.

7 - To review subscription to Community Action Suffolk for website provision: -
Council discussed and agreed to stay with CAS, for the provision of the website.

8 - Correspondence:-
To circulate: Clerks & Councils Direct, A new single council for West Suffolk – consultation with St Edmundsbury Town and Parish Councils, Thurston parish council letter in regards ‘request for the calling in of MSDC planning applications 5070/16 – 2797/16 – 4963/16 – 4942/16 – 4386/16’, donation request from SARS, letter from SWAG Suffolk West Action Group re West Suffolk Operational Hub, press release from St Edmundsbury on the annual electoral canvass.
Notification received from Ixworth & Ixworth Thorpe neighbourhood area designation no material objections were received, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth designated the Neighbourhood Area, through delegated powers under the council’s constitution on 20 July 2017. Email received from a resident on the condition of Fen Road.

9 - Planning:-
Applications:-
DC/17/1118/FUL :  Land adj Pelambech, Fen Road
1no dwelling with off street parking & assoc. vehicular access.
An email had been received from the land owner and was read to Council. Council discussed Cllr Dorling proposed objecting to the application as it did not comply with policy DM27 and the visibility splay goes beyond application. Seconded by Cllr Brookman all in agreement.

Applications determined by planning authority:-
DC/17/0907/HH : 14 The Owell
Render front elevation cladding to top half of rear elevation remove chimney – Granted 4 July 2017
DC/17/0932/HH : The Croft, Bell Corner
Demolition of existing modern conservatory and construction of single storey side extension - Granted 12 July 2017.

10 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made: -
Received £200 for a funeral plot E25.
Letter to Santander signed by Cllr Painter and Dorling asking for further paying in envelopes.
The deposit account held a cleared balance of £6,741.87.
The current account held a cleared balance of £25,877.29 on the 3rd July 2017 and an uncleared balance of £24,780.67 after the invoices on the agenda had been paid.
All Councillors agreed to the payment of invoices.

11 - Councillors’ reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Dorling to contact a number of residents asking them to cut back their hedges.
Cllr Palfrey advised cars were still parking on the footpath/pavements, the clerk to inform the police.
Cllr Brookman advised the kebab van was parking overnight on Bury Road to place on next agenda.

12 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 27th September 2017 in the village hall at 7.30pm.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.15pm

(Ref : 198 – 201)