Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 27th September 2017

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 27th September 2017 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Present: Cllr Painter (Chair), Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Brookman, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Davey and Cllr Sidebotham
Seven Members of the public were in attendance.
Mrs S Brown (clerk) took the minutes.

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 sent her apologies a report had been received which was read to Council and included: a link to the highways maintenance operational plan which sets out the standards and timescale for intervention. Highways have re-structured and moved to Rougham we draw a line under what's happened (or not) and start with a site visit. Anthony Smith will be contacting me for some dates as soon as I have these l will let you know. The council were due to consult on changes to free school transport, changing the policy to providing free school transport to a person's nearest school only, (this is all SCC legally have to offer). Thurston Community College is one school which maybe particularly affected, and a number of residents from Pakenham have contacted me as their nearest school would be Ixworth free school yet they sent their children to Thurston. I will be meeting with the head of Thurston to look at what options are available to those pupils affected. The decision will be discussed at scrutiny tomorrow, and if passed there will be a full consultation. Council discussed and agreed to ask the Highways Officer to attend a meeting rather than a site visit. To make a freedom of information request for the criteria used for highway maintenance. It was noted the temporary vehicle activated signage was in the village.
Borough Councillors report:-
Cllr Brown attended and gave a report which included: Cllr Brown attended the full Council meeting which was discussing the coming together of St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath and reported this went through. A resident in Pakenham had received an apology from the Planning department for not responding to their emails. 'Bury and Beyond' Cllr Brown had highlighted local villages including Pakenham as a tourist destination. Cllr Palfrey asked about the possible closure of Bury bus station. Cllr Dorling advised lorries had been seen again possibly dumping soil on land at the side of the by-pass, noting this is a flood plain and in a conservation area. Cllr Brookman asked if the landowner had been served papers, Cllr Brown stated the landowner has been served notice. Council discussed and asked if a picture was taken of the lorry & number plate dumping soil on the area whether St Edmundsbury could prosecute the contractor, Cllr Brown to look into this. It was also noted when the road was re-surfaced and white lines marked space was left indicating a designated entrance Council asked for this to be addressed. Cllr Brown to give the new information to the enforcement officer and keep up the pressure.
Public Forum:-
A resident reported a suspicious vehicle, poorly mimicking a highways maintenance vehicle, they had called the police about the matter and asked if a note could be placed in the village magazine, the Chairman agreed to include this in his report.
Speeding vehicles coming off the A143 onto Bury Road was highlighted with a number of vehicles being caught by the Community Speedwatch team. It was asked if 'SLOW' could be drawn on Bury Road as it was felt this would help in reducing speeding.
To add to the list of highway issues to be discussed with the highways officer.
A resident reported her brown bin had been taken and this had been reported to the Council and the Police. Highways issues were discussed and Council were very unhappy with the level of service received. It was agreed the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to arrange a meeting with County Cllr Hopfensperger to express their concerns.
A resident asked whether the Parish Council would like to join her and her family in taking SCC to court over the kebab van. Council discussed the issue of the kebab van. Cllr Brown advised St Edmundsbury have served a notice and the owner of the kebab van is currently appealing it. Cllr Brown to write to the Parish Council advising them what is happening with the kebab van. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman to bring the continuing issue of the kebab van to the attention of Cllr Hopfensperger and to try to ensure a highways officer attends a meeting with the Parish Council.
A resident asked if there was an update on the Paddocks. Cllr Brown advised St Edmundsbury legal department is currently reviewing it.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st August 2017 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from previous meeting:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: Previously dealt with as above.
ii. Sewerage Pumping Station: The clerk read out a letter received from Jo Churchill MP who stated she had written to Anglia Water and the Environment Agency to raise this urgent issue and demand a meeting, in Pakenham, to assess the situation. Once the reply had been received a copy to be sent to Pakenham parish council. It was hoped to get a meeting arranged at the earliest convenience. Council were all in agreement they were happy to attend a meeting. An email received from Anglian Water was read to Council advising they were not a statutory consultee on planning applications but do seek to make comments on major development i.e. 10 or more dwellings or for lesser developments if they are requested to do so by the Local Planning Authority. An email had also been received from the Environment Agency on the three water samples taken from Pakenham stream.
iii. Clerks Report: Pakenham parish council's free membership of Community Action Suffolk had been renewed.
The new audit arrangements were highlighted with the auditor for Suffolk for the next 5 years being PKF Littlejohn LLP.
If a limited assurance review was necessary the cost will be £200.
As of 31st March 2018 the parish council will be obliged to complete and sign a certificate of exemption which will need to be sent to its appointed external auditor.
The General Data Protection Regulations come into effect May 2018 sessions on this have been arranged by SALC. If the clerk had not received sufficient information on this Council agreed she should attend one of the November sessions.

6 - To consider results from Consultation on 'bowling green area':-
A number of suggestions had been received which were using it as a community allotment, a seating area & path to the playing field and skatepark. Council discussed and agreed to look at creating further allotments including a communal allotment. The clerk to check those on the waiting list that still wished to take on an allotment.
To place quotes for converting land into allotments on the next agenda.
Cllrs: Painter, Dorling, Davey, Palfrey and Sidebotham to make a site visit, the Chair to arrange.
The clerk to see if any maps are available of the 'bowling green' area.
The clerk to investigate the possibility of mobile skateparks which could be used on the playing field car park possibly once a month. To place on next agenda.

7 - To consider tree works as per report – to include overhanging branches:-
Cllr Dorling had previously received two quotes for the works, using both contractors for different aspects of the works there would be an approximate cost of £2,250 Council all in agreement for the works to be carried out. Cllr Dorling to liaise with the clerk to arrange the works.

8 - To consider maintenance works to kiosk on The Street:-
Council discussed and agreed to get a quote to repair the loose glass. Cllr Sidebotham to inform clerk of the contact details of a local maintenance man. Cllr Dorling advised there was still paint left from the painting of the kiosk in Grimestone End, Cllr Sidebotham to liaise with Cllr Dorling.

9 - Bi-Annual risk assessment of Assets and Asset Register:-
Council discussed and agreed to amend the risk assessment of allotments Severity to 3 and likelihood to 3. To ask Mr G Cranmer to include checking of the fences and gate in the allotments on his weekly inspections. In respect of
the extra time involved to increase the 6 monthly payment to £75 all in agreement.
To also inform Mr Cranmer the Council are considering installing extra allotments in the old bowling green area.

10 - Correspondence:-
To circulate: Clerks & Councils Direct, Countryside
Voice & CPRE, The Local Councillor x 2, SALC AGM invite, Suffolk's Most Active community.
Letter received from HMRC no longer able to make payments at post office from December.
Email received from resident re school transport policy, to forward to County Cllr Hopfensperger.
i. Access to pond opposite Watermill: Letters had been received from a concerned resident, the clerk had contacted SCC Highways and a response had been received: In the absence of a declaration of the Court or another legal event, we cannot give an absolute assurance as to the limits of the highway at this location. However the extent of the highways maintainable at public expense is considered to be as shown in green on the attached Ordnance Survey map extract, according to our records. We have been unable to find sufficient evidence to prove that the pond forms part of the highway maintainable at public expense. As above, it does not appear to be listed as highway. If public or private access rights are claimed it would be for the claimant to seek independent legal advice as to how to proceed. As above, nevertheless I have checked our historic information with regard to the stopping up of the highway but can find no evidence to suggest that any have taken place, in relation to this site. Council discussed, Cllr Dorling advised he had spoken to resident who had dredged the pond and updated Council. Council agreed the clerk to write to resident advising him that restricting access, to an area which had been open for hundreds of years, had caused some upset to other residents but were aware the resident had been asked by the Watermill to dredge the pond. If the pond is dredged again it was asked for the spoil to go on land owned by the resident. To also be aware because of the dredging and consequent spoil the levels had changed making access more hazardous the Parish Council
suggest the resident carries out a risk assessment.
ii. Superfast Broadband: The clerk read an email received from a resident re the lack of superfast broadband - the clerk had responded with the latest information the parish council had received and contact details of the County Councillor responsible for broadband.
iii. Pakenham Wood: Resident had expressed concern about the felling of trees – the clerk had contacted St Edmundsbury and Suffolk County Council. A response had been received from the Ecologist at the Natural Environment Team at SCC: Despite Pakenham Woods being a county wildlife site, there is no protection gained from this status and the only permission the landowner might need is a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. There are a number of bat records in the area and I would assume the landowner would take the necessary
precautions to avoid damaging or destroying any bat roosts that might be present within the woodland. The clerk to ask what benefits are there of being a county wildlife site.

11 - Planning:-
Two applications had been received after the agenda had been issued, a consultation extension had been received to allow the planning applications to be on the October agenda.

Applications determined by planning authority:-
DC/17/1155/FUL : The Fox Inn, The Street
Single storey detached workshop and store - Granted 15.9.17
DC/17/1118/FUL : Land adj Pelambech, Fen Road
1no. dwelling with off street parking & associated vehicular access - Refused 21.9.17

12 - Finance Report including quarterly report and to consider payments to
be made:-
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 £21,389.95 after the invoices on the agenda had been paid (this does include a donation of £1,277 from resident towards the cost of pruning the veteran oak tree).
All Councillors in receipt of quarterly report against budget.
To approve & accept annual return with external auditor certificate: Council were all in agreement to approve and accept the annual return.
All Councillors agreed to the payment of invoices:-

No further invoices had been received.

13 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised the street lamp no: 62 outside 7, The Owell is not working, the clerk to report.
The clerk advised footpaths were only cut twice a year.
Cllr Brookman asked for Hedgerows to be placed on the next agenda.

14 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 25th October 2017 in the village hall at 7.30pm

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.25pm

(Ref : 204 – 208)