Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 24th January 2018

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 24th January 2018 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

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

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence: Apologies received and accepted for Cllr Brookman

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Declaration of interest received from Cllr Bagnell in respect of item 16iii.

3 -
County Councillor's report:-
Cllr Hopfensperger was unable to attend and sent her apologies a SCC report had been received and was circulated to Councillors. An email update had also been received and was read to Councillors which included: Highway issues - Cllr Dorling had met with a highways officer from SCC. It has now been confirmed the officer has ordered the work for the potholes and the drainage issues in Fen Road and will update Cllr Hopfensperger on the reference numbers. The bramble hedge she believed had now been moved back and some of the further potholes reported had already been picked up on an inspection and scheduled for repair within 10 days. Cllr Hopfensperger had asked for the accident data for Upper Town, as requested by the clerk, and the times of accident do vary, it appears the majority are during daylight hours, Cllr Hopfensperger is awaiting some further in depth data when this is available it will be passed to the Clerk. Cllr Hopfensperger has ordered the design for the gates for Upper Town but the work itself will not be carried out until the new financial year. Cllr Hopfensperger has tried to arrange a round table meeting with all stakeholders re the kebab van and associated issues unfortunately she has not heard back from residents willing to meet, if there is still an appetite for a meeting can the residents let her know and she will pursue it.
Borough Councillors report:-
Cllr Brown attended and gave a report which included: Cllr Brown advised the caravan on Bury Road has now moved on, thanks were given to St Edmundsbury and Norfolk County Council for dealing with this matter. Kebab van SCC is in the process of dealing with the issue. Cllr Brown advised he is meeting with Jo Churchill MP and the CEO of BT Openreach to discuss broadband issues in the area. It was asked if the resident who had made a number of representations on the issue could be invited to attend, Council were happy for him to attend. Cllr Brown will update the Council at the next meeting of the outcomes. It was advised Jo Churchill MP was still following up the drainage/sewage issues with Anglian Water and will update the Council when a meeting is arranged.
Dumping of rubble, Mill Road Ref No: EN/18/0029 Cllr Brown advised an Enforcement Officer would be carrying out a site visit tomorrow (Thursday 25 January) Cllr Dorling and Cllr Davey to attend the site visit. A resident advised if such a large opening onto the highway was used this would be a road safety issue. Cllr Painter advised they would need planning permission for any works to the land. Cllr Dorling stated he would like to see the dumped rubble without planning permission taken away from the site. It was asked if the Enforcement Officer could also view the replacement hedge on Mill Road Cllr Brown to advise the Officer. Cllr Dorling advised a resident had highlighted the amount of rubbish being currently dumped in this area as some were using it as a layby this will be shown to the Enforcement Officer.
Cllr Brown updated Council on the A143 boundary between Ixworth and Pakenham. The Parish Council discussed and agreed it was ultimately down to the will of the residents who lived in the area affected. It was asked that Cllr Brown report back to Council when he is informed of the residents views and Council will look at the matter. Cllr Brown advised a resident had contacted him re water at the bottom of Windmill Road, the clerk to report to SCC. Cllr Dorling advised he had taken the highways officer to see the flooding issues in this area.
Public Forum:-
A resident advised some logs had been placed on the edge of the verge/highway, Council directed them to report this to SCC. It was noted dog fouling was occurring on Church Hill. The Chair to include this in the next Newsletter. Cllr Sidebotham advised a notice from St Edmundsbury was being published in the next newsletter on dog fouling with a telephone number to call. The wheelie bin causing an obstruction on the pavement on Bury Road was highlighted, the clerk to inform the police to deal with the matter.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th December 2017 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from previous meeting:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: The issues had been covered in item 3.
ii. Ownership of triangle of land near allotments: Cllr Davey had obtained information from the land registry and this was circulated to Councillors. Two tree surgeons had inspected the trees on the land and advised the cherry tree was dying and should be removed and x3 trees needed tidying up; quotes were received. Council discussed and agreed to the works, to also plant a new tree in its place Cllr Dorling to speak to the tree surgeon to agree the most suitable replacement tree. The Clerk to confirm acceptance of quote with DB Tree Services and advise the unsuccessful company.

6 - To consider changing use of 'bowling green' area into allotments:-
Council discussed and agreed to obtain quotes for the removal of a hedge and a number of trees to create allotments. Cllr Dorling to arrange for the quotes, to place on March agenda. Cllr Sidebotham advised an allotment holder had asked if he could remove some branches from a tree overhanging his allotment plot. Council discussed and agreed they were happy for the allotment holder to trim off any branches encroaching onto the parish council owned allotment. Cllr Sidebotham to advise the allotment holder.

7 - Crossroads Upper Town to consider additional street lighting and purchase of replacement salt box following the recent accident:-
Cllr Painter asked whether additional street lighting in this area was needed due to the number of accidents occurring. Cllr Brown advised all street lighting is dealt with by SCC. Council discussed it was felt it was more problematic coming from Thurston towards the crossroads. To place on the next agenda when more information was available from Cllr Hopfensperger.
Council discussed the replacement of the salt box and all in agreement not to replace this at the current time.

8 - To consider use of kiosk on The Street:-
Council discussed and all in agreement to leave as it is.

9 - To consider overgrown hedgerows within Pakenham: This had been dealt with in item 3.

10 - Lawn Cemetery:-
i. To consider request to use memorial meadow for theatre production: Council discussed and all in agreement using the meadow to hold the outdoor theatre production (copy of insurance to be sent to the clerk), it was also agree a hay cut could be taken.
ii. To consider memorial requests: Council discussed and agreed to memorial requests for plots: D3 and E25.
iii. To consider request for tree to be planted in boundary in memory of a resident: Council discussed and noted a tree, to be agreed by Council, could be planted in the corner of the meadow. Cllr Dorling to advise resident and confirm the type of tree to be planted at the next meeting to be placed on next agenda for agreement by Council

11 - To consider quote for fence maintenance at The Dell:-
Cllr Dorling had received a quote of £300 from M & TJs for the fence works, Council discussed and all in agreement to go ahead with the works, the clerk to contact M & TJs. Cllr Palfrey advised a branch had broken in the Dell, Council agreed Cllr Dorling to arrange for this to be dealt with.

12 - To consider purchase of dog waste bin to be placed near the Windmill:-
Council discussed and agreed not to purchase a dog waste bin at the current time.

13 - To consider upgrade of Pakenham pc laptop to Windows 10 pro:-
The clerk advised the cost of upgrading was £119.99. Council discussed all in agreement for the clerk to purchase upgrade to Windows 10 pro to allow for encryption of documents held on laptop.

14 - To consider asking for future footpath leaflets to be amended:-
Cllr Dorling explained the amendment needed to the resident who kindly printed them for future prints.

15 - Correspondence:-
To circulate: Clerks & Councils Direct, The Local Councillor x 2, CPRE, Countryside Voice, West Suffolk Electoral Review survey.
An event notice from St Nicholas Hospice had been received re carol singing event December 2018 Council agreed to forward the information to the church choir.

16 - Planning:-
Applications:-
DC/17/2666/TCA : Plummers Cottage, The Street
1no. Cypress fell
Council discussed all in agreement no objection.

DC/18/0004/HH : Plummers Cottage, The Street
Garage conversion to office
Council discussed all in agreement no objection.

DC/17/2675/OUT : Paltry Farm, Brand Road
1no. dwelling following demolition of B8 storage & distribution building with stables
Council discussed Cllr Painter proposed objecting with the comment we consider this to be a new dwelling in the countryside seconded by Cllr Dorling all in agreement to object with the comment we consider this to be a new dwelling in the countryside.

Applications determined by planning authority: None received.

17 - Finance Report & 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 £18,295.67 at 1st January 2018 an uncleared balance after the invoices on the agenda have been paid of £15,192.47.
If the memorials are agreed and a recent burial cost is added, £442, to the above figure it gives an uncleared balance of £15,634.47
i. To consider budget for 2018-2019: A draft budget had been circulated to Councillors. Council discussed and agreed the budget for 2018 - 2019
ii. To confirm precept for 2018 – 2019 & sign: Council discussed and confirmed agreement for precept 2018 – 2019 the Chair and Clerk dually signed the precept form.
iii. To confirm internal audit to be carried out by M Saunders: Council discussed and all in agreement for M. Saunders to carry out the internal audit.

No further invoices had been received

18 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised a sign 'A143' was broken at the bottom of Cutters Lane the clerk to report to SCC.
Cllr Dorling and Cllr Palfrey represented the parish council at the Pakenham Charities meeting.
The clerk was asked to send a current allotment holder list to the treasurer of the allotment committee.
The clerk advised the defibrillator had been opened but not used unfortunately the small Perspex cover on the cabinet had been broken. Council were happy for a local handyman to rectify. It was asked if the clerk could arrange further first aid training in CPR for the village.

19 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 21st February 2018 in the village hall at 7.30pm

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

(Ref: 218-222)