Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 21st April 2021

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a virtual Meeting of the Council
held on Wednesday, 21st April 2021 at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr Painter, Cllr Dorling, Cllr Bagnell, Cllr Davey, Cllr Palfrey, Cllr Sargent and Cllr Sidebotham. Two 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 did not attend a report was received and circulated to Councillors.
Borough Councillor's Report:-
Cllr Brown advised he would be delayed and a report had been received and read to Council which included: Village W.I. Bench very happy to support the purchase of a bench to commemorate 100 years of the W.I. and also for a resident who has been a great beneficiary for the village, in recognition and remembrance of their efforts.
Sizewell C – Pakenham Fen Meadow Suffolk County Council is taking over discussions from East Suffolk Council. I have enquired into the reason for this. Based on the information received from SCC, West Suffolk Council is satisfied that they are taking into account the comments/concerns raised by Pakenham Parish Council. In addition, bodies such as the Wildlife Trust are involved in the process and we are confident that the asset will be protected. SCC will consult with West Suffolk Council on any final detail for the scheme so we will continue to have an opportunity to comment.
Additional Local Business Grant Funding. West Suffolk Council has launched a new grant to support businesses not benefitting from the Government restart grant, with £1.8million made available. Titled ARG Restart Grants, it is part of continued efforts to support local business.
Public Forum:-
It was advised a car had been parked on Fen Road in a hazardous position for some time. The vehicle had a flat tyre and the MOT had expired in September last year. The Clerk to inform Suffolk Constabulary.
A resident highlighted the number of large vehicles using Thieves Lane, The Broadway and Fen Road with a householder's wall having been recently knocked down by a large vehicle. It was also advised there was a large pothole approximately 5/6inches deep caused by these heavy vehicles which could be hazardous to cyclists. The resident was advised to report this on the Suffolk County Council website. The Chair also informed Council this issue had also been reported to him from another resident. It was thought some of the vehicles were delivering to the boatyard and some of the problem due to an increase in delivery vehicles generally. Some large lorries (over 10 tonnes) were coming over the bridge which has a weight limit and the drivers are ignoring this, this was briefly discussed it was also felt it may be necessary for Highways to widen and make suitable the corner at the bottom of Fen Road. The Boatyard was also briefly discussed and it was thought the temporary planning permission for use as a boatyard had now expired. The Clerk had contacted the planning department for a site update. To place the Boatyard on next agenda for an update. Cllr Brown had joined the meeting and confirmed he would also look into the permitted use planning application which had lapsed at the Boatyard and what they may do and take any necessary action.
Council was asked if they were happy for a local choir to practice on the meadow at the Lawn Cemetery, all Councillors were happy for this to take place.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 31st March 2021 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
i. Sizewell C meeting in regards Pakenham Fen: The Chair and Cllr Sidebotham had attended a meeting with EDF in regards Sizewell C and fen meadow in Pakenham. Cllr Painter gave a brief overview of the meeting, his notes of the meeting had been sent to EDF to confirm they were correct, these had been confirmed as a correct reflection of the meeting. It was agreed to circulate to Councillors including Cllr Hopfensperger, Cllr Brown and the Chief Planning Officer at SCC with a copy to the Village Newsletter. Cllr Brown to send a copy to Jo Churchill M.P. The Chair also confirmed he had spoken to the Chief Planning Officer at Suffolk County Council. The report has been appended to the minutes. Council briefly discussed including the sewerage works affecting the stream which runs into fen meadow.
ii. Highways (cycle & pedestrian routes): The Clerk advised overhanging trees at the end of Mill Road next to the A143 had been reported to highways as dangerous. The trees had been cut back and made safe.
iii. Clerk's Report: Two funerals one in April and one in May for plots F6 and F7. Books of condolence available online for His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, details had been placed on the noticeboard. End of year accounts had been completed and the internal auditor to complete the audit in readiness for the May meeting.

6 - To consider whether to treat new benches:-
The Chair advised it was hoped they would be delivered soon. Once delivered they would be stored in the village hall and the Chair to contact Councillors for them to view and make a decision as to whether to treat them before placing outside the village hall. Cllrs: Brown and Hopfensperger were thanked for the offer of locality monies towards the cost of purchasing them.

7 - To consider maintenance of war memorial:-
Still awaiting permission from the Church to place on next agenda.

8 - Lawn Cemetery:-
i. To consider signage: Council discussed and it was agreed Cllr Dorling to create a laminated sign 'No spoil to be tipped on site' in the first instance.
ii. To consider headstone survey: Hanchets had carried out a memorial safety inspection at no charge to the Parish Council. A report has been received with ten headstones, from the older section of the Lawn Cemetery, needing remedial works with an anchor and seven needing attention. The cost of anchors was £230 for each headstone and those needing attention £25/£30 each this was be an approximate cost of £2,510 including VAT. Council discussed and Cllr Dorling proposed going ahead with the works seconded by Cllr Bagnell all in agreement to ask Hanchets to carry out the works as there were no other suitable stone masons in the area. The works would be carried out in mid to late June 2020.
Cllr Dorling advised a number of items/memorials had been left by some of the headstones which had been placed without Parish Council agreement and would impede grass cutting. The Clerk to inspect.
The Chair advised a request had been received from a male voice choir if they may use the meadow by the lawn cemetery to practice. All Councillors were in agreement no objection to this.

9 - Allotments:-
i. To consider former bowling green area for allotments & transfer of water pipe to allotment association: The clerk advised she was still waiting for a response from Anglian Water on the water pipe. Council discussed and Council were happy for the allotment association to take over the water meter as long as Anglian Water confirms the Parish Council would not be responsible for any costs. A plot holder to contact Cllr Bagnell to discuss the location of the pipe. Council briefly discussed the former bowling green area, the Clerk advised there were currently three on the waiting list and three current plot holders had advised they would like a further plot if one next to their current plot became available. Cllr Palfrey gave a vote of thanks to Cllr Bagnell and a plot holder for their work in removing further old carpet and rubbish from the allotments. To place allotments on next agenda.
ii. To consider if notice should be given to non-compliant allotment plot holder: It was confirmed all the plots were being looked after.
iii. To consider request from plot holder to keep 2/3 chickens: Council discussed and Cllr Sidebotham proposed not to give permission seconded by Cllr Bagnell all in agreement not to give permission to a plot holder to keep chickens on their plot.

10 - To consider purchase of new litter/dog bins:-
It was advised the dog bin at the playing field just needed a new post. The Chair of the PVH & PFA advised he would arrange the replacement of the post.

11 - Correspondence circulated:-
• SALC ebulletins – noted
• Suffolk Constabulary information – Noted
• West Suffolk Council Town Centre Recovery – Noted
• Telephone call received from resident in regards closure of unofficial footpath: Cllr Dorling advised the notices had been removed however it was not known if this had been done by the landowner. Cllr Dorling informed Council this walk had been used by residents for at least 35 years. The Clerk advised if Council wished to apply to have the path added to the definitive map it is quite a long process with 8 stages. The first stage is to apply for a definitive map modification order (DMMO) and you have to have at least six people complete an evidence statement. The second stage a Schedule 8 notice has to be completed and given to the landowner and Stage three a Schedule 7 application and a Schedule 9 certificate have to be completed and everything to be then sent to Suffolk County Council. Council discussed and Cllr Dorling proposed to take forward and seconded by Cllr Sidebotham, Council agreed to take forward. The Clerk to drop off some copies of the form 'Public rights of way user evidence statement and accompanying an application for Suffolk County Council to make a definitive map modification order' to Cllr Dorling.

Cllr Bagnell left the meeting.

12 - Planning Applications to comment:-
i. Applications determined by Planning Authority advised.
ii. Enforcement Updates:-
EN/19/0367 : Strathcona is ongoing, the owners are aware that planning permission is required.
EN/20/0143 : Clatter Cottage the enforcement officer had been advised the porch is to be altered to fall into PD.
The officer to chase up if no works are carried out.

13 - Finance Report:-
Bank balances : the deposit account held £10,129.50 at 30 April 2020.
The current account held a cleared balance at 31 March 2021 of £14,173.82 this includes £102 received for the reservation of burial plot F3 and £90 allotment rent. It was also confirmed a further £130 had been received of allotment rents and £102 for the reservation of burial plot F5.
To consider any payments to be made:-

14 - Councillors' reports and items for future agenda: Nothing further to add.

15 - Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled virtual meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 19 May 2021

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.10pm

(Ref: 354-357)