Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 24th April 2019

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 24th April 2019 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent and Cllr Sidebotham. Six 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: None received

3:-
County Councillor's report: Cllr Hopfensperger attended and gave a report which included: Guidelines on verges had been sent to the Clerk. The Chair requested a copy of the definitive map which also shows highway classifications, Cllr Hopfensperger to try to get a copy for Pakenham. Extra investment into special educational needs. The gates in Upper Town should be installed in May/June, when an exact date is known this will be sent to the Clerk. An email had been received from a resident with concerns over speeding, Cllr Hopfensperger advised a speed check in Church Hill had been pre-ordered and the resident had been advised. Cllr Hopfensperger was thanked for the SID's in the village which had helped with reducing speeding. Kebab Van it was advised the SCC legal team are still looking at putting in a protection order, this was briefly discussed, it was asked if an update on where we are with this could be given.
A resident asked if the kerb could be dropped on the pavement from the Dell up to the playing field. It was also advised the pavement on Church Hill opposite the Church turns and slopes at an angle and is very dangerous for those using mobility scooters, it was asked if it could be extended to make it easier to use. Cllr Hopfensperger to look into this matter to see what can be done as there needs to be access to the community facilities of the Church and playing field as these need to be accessible to all residents.
It was advised there was a car parked on the highway which was an obstruction; a resident to try to arrange this to be removed. Cllr Bagnell advised the 'Brand Road' sign had been pushed into the hedge he would try to rectify this if unsuccessful to inform Cllr Hopfensperger. The Chair advised Cllr Hopfensperger a resident had complained about the time taken to reply to their questions, there had been an issue a few months ago but Cllr Hopfensperger did try to respond to queries as soon as possible.
Borough Councillors report: Cllr Brown did not attend and no report had been received.
Public Forum: It was asked if the play equipment was to be refurbished, it was advised this was a matter for the Playing Field Association. The Clerk to contact the PVH & PFA if any progress had been made.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th March 2019 were approved and signed as a true record.

5 - Reports:-
i. Outstanding Highways Issues: A broken manhole on Fen Road had been reported to SCC. The Clerk informed Council of the highway's advice on verges: In general residents should refer to their land registry title and plan to confirm where their property boundary ends. Works on the highway are not permitted and should there be any issues with defects or general condition of the highways verges they should be reported through the highways reporting tool. They do not tolerate any works/objects on the highway verges, the community warden may pick up and investigate issues when on their rounds, others are picked up through reports from the general public. In short nothing is allowed on a highway verge, due to the potential of causing an obstruction or health and safety issue. The Chair to place the advice in the Newsletter. A resident asked if a notice could also be placed in the Newsletter asking residents not to park cars on the pavement; Cllr Hopfensperger to also inform the Community Enforcement Officer.
ii. Clerks Report: The Clerk advised the internal audit is currently being carried out. The allotment rent notices had gone out to plot holders. Three plots had become vacant with two having new tenants and the third currently waiting to hear back from the next on the waiting list. Following a visit to the allotments it was noted the boundary fence is in need of some work. The new defibrillator and cabinet have been taken to the Watermill and currently waiting for the electrician to return from holiday and a contact being available on a Saturday morning for the work to install it to take place. A children's pack of defibrillator pads had been ordered for the village hall unit.

6 - To consider access for wheelchairs in Pakenham: This had been covered in item 3 above.

7 - To consider lack of mobile signal in the village:-
Cllr Sargent advised there had been talk some time ago of a mast being placed on the church tower and nothing further had been heard, this was briefly discussed and it was felt lack of signal did depend on the network provider. A resident asked about fibre broadband this was briefly discussed with some advice given.

8 - Annual review of asset register:-
All Councillors had received a copy of the asset register; the clerk advised the new defibrillator and cabinet had been added to the register. Council all in agreement the asset register was correct.

9 - To consider refurbishment of allotment fence:-
The Clerk advised the allotment fence was in need of re-staking the Chair and Cllr Dorling to inspect. To place on next agenda.

10 - Annual review of Clerk's salary:-
Council discussed and all in agreement to increase the clerk's salary to the new Spinal Column Point 14 the clerk to inform the payroll department at SALC.

11 - Correspondence:-
To circulate – Suffolk View, Countryside Voice, CPRE Fieldwork, Fly the Red Ensign and Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra
i. Healthwatch Suffolk – Noted and a copy had been sent to the Newsletter
ii. SCC grass cutting schedule – Noted
iii. Highways England works on A14 between junction 40/47 – Noted
iv. West Suffolk Council planning newsletter – It was highlighted paperless planning would come into effect on 1 May 2019
v. MSDC publication of independent examiners report on reg.16 submission version of the Thurston Neighbourhood plan – Noted
vi. Email received from Resident and response from Cllr Hopfensperger - Request to extend the 30mph speed limit on Church Hill – This had been dealt with in item 3.

12 - Planning Applications:-
DC/19/0456/TPO : Manor Garth – (i) Lime crown lift (ii) Lime crown lift (iii) Cherry raise to 3m from ground (iv) Cherry crown reduction (v) Cherry crown lift (vi) Oak crown reduction (vii)Horse Chestnut crown reduction (viii) Tree belt clear back from highway & coppice
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection with the comment it should be ensured the Prunus and Horse Chestnut should be pruned in mid-summer with the Oaks and Limes pruned in winter.

DC/19/0514/FUL : James Reinman Marine, The Broadway
3no dwellings & associated works
Council discussed and Cllr Dorling proposed no objection with the comment: a condition is made that before any building works take place it is ensured the existing workshops are demolished and all commercial use on this site is extinguished seconded by Cllr Davey all in agreement. A resident asked why the Parish Council had no objection to this application, the Chair gave a brief history of this site.

DC/19/0643/HH : Bull House, Bull Road
single storey side extension
Council discussed and Cllr Dorling proposed no objection seconded by Cllr Davey all in agreement.

13 - Finance Report and to consider payments to be made:-
The deposit account held £10,014.35 at 31.3.19
and the current account held a cleared balance of £15,046.51 at 31.3.19.
VAT of £902.56 had been reclaimed from HMRC.
The precept had been received of £12,200.
i. Insurance review and payment of insurance premium: The insurance premium due on 31.5.19 had not been received - to place on next agenda

No further invoices had been received.

14 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised the Village Hall AGM to take place on Thursday at 7pm. Cllr Palfrey agreed to continue as the Parish Council representative on the Village Hall committee. Cllr Bagnell felt the new seat outside the Village Hall needed to be bolted down.

15 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 23rd May 2019 following the Annual Parish Meeting at 7pm in the village hall.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9pm

(Ref: 262-265)