Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 17th February 2021

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a virtual Meeting of the Council
held on Wednesday, 17th February 2021 at 7.30pm

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

1 - Record Councillors' apologies for absence: All in attendance.

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Cllr Sidebotham in regards item 10iii and Cllr Painter in regards item 10i and 10ii.

3 :-
County Councillors Report: Cllr Hopfensperger was in attendance and provided a report which was circulated to Councillors and included:-
Have your say on the post-16 travel policy for 2021/22. Coronavirus rapid testing centre opens at University of Suffolk, new vehicle banners encourage Suffolk to be food and freezer savvy, new home-schooling resource 'a godsend', Suffolk 2020 fund project embraces love of the great outdoors – discovering Suffolk, strong interest shown by Suffolk's communities to engage with 2020 fund project creating electric vehicle charging points, Suffolk fire and rescue service praised for its work throughout the pandemic, new recycling campaign aims to get Suffolk's recycling right, help us shape ambitious new dementia therapy initiative using virtual reality experiences. Cllr Hopfensperger advised she will be attending the zoom infrastructure/cycle route meeting with highways arranged for Friday, 19th February at 2pm and has asked the Highways officer attending of the need for a response to the letter sent to Highways in August last year from the Parish Council. For highways to also think 'outside the box' with the parish looking for ideas to move forward with an open mind and to listen to the Parish Council and residents. Cllr Hopfensperger advised on a pilot for automatic number recognition cameras and if Pakenham wished to be included, Council discussed including possible sites and what criteria was used. Council were all in agreement to express an interest in taking part, Cllr Hopfensperger to take forward. It was also advised there was the possibility of grant funding for an EV charging point in the village, Council discussed the possibility of one at the village hall, the Clerk advised an email had been sent advising the Chair of the village hall of the grant and if they wished the Parish Council to pursue this. Council were all in agreement if the village hall were happy for the Parish Council to take this forward the Clerk would advise Cllr Hopfensperger.
Borough Councillors Report: Cllr Brown was in attendance and provided a report which had been circulated to Councillors and included: parking charge increases paused as Council continues to back local communities and help to shape future plans of West Suffolk hospital.
Public Forum: A member of the public was also interested in developing cycle infrastructure in the area and the need to help reduce traffic. The resident advised he had highlighted the issue on social media and had received a lot of positivity on the need of cycling/walking routes from villagers. With the best outcome the designation of safe ways to cycle/walk to Thurston including the ability of Pakenham children to safely cycle to school. Cllr Hopfensperger advised SCC should have the number of Pakenham children at school in Thurston and will try and get these figures. The resident advised he had been in contact with Thurston parish council and had been invited to attend one of their meetings as they were also pushing for good cycle routes. It was highlighted it was not only the need for residents of Pakenham to have a safe route to Thurston but also for Thurston residents to visit Pakenham amenities of the pub and Watermill visitor centre for example. The resident advised he was offering residents the use of an electric bike to try out in the local area. Cllr Dorling suggested it may be useful for the resident to attend the cycle route meeting with Highways, Council were all in agreement and invited the resident who agreed to attend, the Clerk to email a Zoom invite. Council briefly discussed further highway and cycle routes Cllr Dorling felt the links between cycle routes were particularly dangerous and there was a need for safe links to be created. The resident advised there had also been support for the quiet lane initiative, the Clerk advised both the Thurston Road and Church Hill route, neither had met the criteria of a quiet lane and therefore been withdrawn. Cllr Hopfensperger gave an example of a quiet lane. It was advised that since all the development at Thurston Pakenham stream becomes very cloudy after it rains, Cllr Hopfensperger to bring this to the attention of the relevant authority. It was noted Anglia Water was more helpful since the meeting held with the Parish Council.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th January 2021 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports:-
i. Infrastructure meeting/Cycle Routes/Quiet Lane: A zoom meeting has been arranged for Friday, 19th February at 2pm with a Highways officer to discuss cycle routes. Cllr Hopfensperger, Cllr Brown, Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Davey and resident to attend, the Clerk had sent out invites. Quiet Lanes the Clerk advised the Church Hill route had not met the criteria and had also been withdrawn from the initiative.
ii. Sizewell C: The Editor of the village newsletter had confirmed the information received from EDF Sizewell C will be published in the next village Newsletter along with a plan of the area involved.
iii. Outstanding Highway Issues: The Clerk advised the bins which were full at the playing field and village hall had been reported, along with the grit bins at The Dell and St Marys View which needed refilling. The overgrown footpath at the back of the garages at The Owell had been reported to SCC.
iv. Clerks Report: The updated precept request had been signed and sent to West Suffolk Council. Thank you cards have been sent to the resident who kindly helped with clearing old carpet at the allotments and to the village postmistress for all her work keeping the shop and post office open for residents. The Clerk advised the current cost of HP ink and to confirm Council were happy to purchase HP ink rather than generic. Council confirmed the Clerk should continue to purchase HP ink.

6 - To consider allotment fees, plots and update to tenancy agreement:-
Councillors had received a copy of the draft updated tenancy agreement and all in agreement for the new agreement to be sent to tenants highlighting the additions and the need to keep the plots in good condition. To also confirm they wished to continue with their plots. To also advise it had been very costly for the parish over the last year for the allotments and been very difficult to move all the old carpet from a previous tenant. Cllr Bagnell advised there was still some carpet to move but would have to use a digger, Council were all in agreement for Cllr Bagnell to hire a digger to carry this out. Cllr Bagnell also advised one of the tenants was happy to organise and join the Allotment Association. To place on next agenda for an update.

7 - To consider grass & hedge cutting contract:-
Council were happy to continue using M & TJ's for grass and hedge cutting.

8 - To consider memorial/requests:-
The Clerk had contacted Pakenham PCC to seek permission to arrange maintenance of the war memorial, the PCC is currently waiting for a response from the Church authorities and will contact the Clerk when received. To place on next agenda. A request had been received from a resident asking if they could plant a tree with a memorial plaque for their late husband within one of the gaps in the row of trees between the cemetery and graveyard. Council discussed and all in agreement there should not be any more trees planted in the area. Cllr Bagnell advised a new one-acre wet woodland with a small memorial was being planted off Brand Road and if they wished to a tree could be planted. If they wished for more information or to go ahead with this, they could telephone Cllr Bagnell. The Chair advised a request had been received from the family of a resident for a tree to be planted in memorial, the Council were in agreement, as above, no further trees to be planted at the lawn cemetery. It was suggested as the resident had been fundamental in the raising of monies for the village hall a bench with a plaque could be placed outside the village hall. The Chair to go back to the family. The Clerk to send details of a proposed bench to Councillors. The Clerk to email the Chair of the village hall if they would be happy for a bench to be placed outside the village hall. To place on next agenda. Cllr Bagnell left the meeting.

9 - Correspondence:-
• SALC ebulletins – noted
• West Suffolk new Hospital survey – A copy had been forwarded for inclusion in the village newsletter.

10 - Planning Applications to comment:-
i. DC/21/0047/TPO : Pakenham Lodge.
Various tree works.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.
ii. DC/21/0112/TCA : Pakenham Lodge.
Various tree works.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.
iii. DC/21/0244/TCA : Bridge House, The Street.
3 silver birch fell.
Council discussed and all in agreement no objection.

iv. Applications determined by Planning Authority: None received.

v. Gates at Pelembach: The Clerk had forwarded photographs of the gates/site to the enforcement planning officer no update has been received.

vi. Cllr Sidebotham asked if there were any updates on Clatter Cottage and Strathcona. The Clerk advised there had been no updates, Council discussed. The Clerk to ask for an update from the enforcement officer and to highlight that many residents correctly apply for planning permission and the system should be fair for all.

11 - Finance Report:-
Bank balances: the deposit account held £10,129.50 at 30 April 2020.
The current account held a cleared balance of £15,994.56 at 1 February 2021 and an uncleared balance of £15,844.56.
To consider any payments to be made: No invoices had been received.

12 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised one of the headstones in the lawn cemetery looked to have sunk on one side, he would continue to monitor. The Clerk to check when the last headstone check had taken place, to put on next agenda. Cllr Dorling advised gravediggers were again depositing spoil at the lawn cemetery. Cllrs Dorling, Bagnell and Sidebotham to view with looking at levelling the area and erecting a post and rail. Cllr Dorling to get some prices for the works and to place on next agenda.

13 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled virtual meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 17th March 2021.

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

(Ref: 343-346)