Pakenham Parish Council : Minutes 19th April 2023

PAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 19th April 2023 at 7.30pm
Pakenham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Davey (Chair), Cllr Bagnell, 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:-
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Painter and Cllr Dorling.

2 - Declarations of interest:-
Declarations of interest received from Cllr Bagnell in regards item 12i on the agenda.

3:-
County Councillors Report: Cllr Hopfensperger did not attend and sent her apologies. Cllr Hopfensperger had advised £400 locality monies were still available for a community event if required.
Borough Councillors Report: Cllr Brown did not attend and sent his apologies. The Clerk read out an email received in which Cllr Brown advised he was not standing for re-election in May. The Clerk advised £500 locality grant had been received towards an annual community event. The Parish Council thanked Cllr Brown for all his work for the village over the last 8 years and for the £500 grant towards a community event.
Public Forum: A prospective District Councillor introduced himself to the meeting. Cllr Bagnell asked if help towards energy costs could be available for the village shop. He advised he would ask both the current District Councillor as well as Cllr Hopfensperger.

4 - To consider the approval of the minutes of the last meetings:-
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2023 were approved to be signed as a true record.

5 - Reports arising from the previous meeting:-
i. Highways: Nothing further to report.
ii. Clerks Report: All present Councillors who had completed a nomination form had been re-elected in an uncontested election to Pakenham Parish Council and will take office on 9 May. All Councillors will need to complete a expenses form even if nil. The Clerk will have these available to complete at the May meeting. Allotment rent reminders had been sent out to all tenants. Three new tenants have taken on allotment plots, there are currently 2 plots available.

6 - To consider help for energy costs at village shop/post office:-
Cllr Davey updated Council on the increase in energy costs incurred by the village shop/post office. The Clerk advised Council cannot currently give a grant to an individual or business however if Council are minded they may adopt the General Power of Competence at the May meeting as they will meet the requirements. This power enables a parish council to give monies to the village shop/post office towards the cost of energy. Council discussed Cllr Davey felt the parish council could make a grant of £100 each month and ask the village hall if they could consider either making a grant of £100 towards the extra costs or reduce the rent. Council discussed further, Cllr Bagnell proposed making a grant of £100 a month with a £300 payment in May and quarterly thereafter seconded by Cllr Sidebotham all in agreement. The Clerk to advise the village hall Chair. To place General Power of Competence on the next agenda.

7 - To consider allotment hedge next to plots AB & C:-
Council discussed and agreed it was too late this year for the hedge to be cut back due to nesting birds and the allotment holders had already planted their allotments. To consider informing planning enforcement later in the year.

8 - To consider use of locality grant of £500 for community events:-
The Clerk advised a grant of £500 had been received from West Suffolk Council for use towards community events. Council discussed Cllr Sidebotham highlighted the upcoming Coronation with a possible event it was advised this had been previously discussed and that no-one had come forward to volunteer to organise an event. Council agreed to keep the £500 ringfenced towards a community event. To place on June agenda for ideas.

9 - To consider purchase of new Council laptop:-
The Clerk advised the current Council laptop's battery no longer holds charge and is becoming very slow. Council discussed and agreed the Clerk to purchase a new laptop up to £800 which had been earmarked in the 2023/24 budget.

10 - To consider purchase of new defibrillator pad for the Village Hall defibrillator:-
The Clerk advised the current pad expires at the end of April. Council discussed and all in agreement for the clerk to purchase a new defibrillator pad for the Village hall defibrillator.

11 - Correspondence circulated:-
Regular SALC ebulletins, Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk Council – Noted.
i. Public consultation Babergh & Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Examination: Noted.
ii. Email from resident re permission to place a bench on Pakenham parish council grass next to bus shelter: Council discussed it was not confirmed that the Parish Council owned this piece of grass and it maybe owned by Suffolk County Council. Cllr Davey proposed no objection to a bench being placed on the grass seconded by Cllr Palfrey all in agreement. The Clerk to inform the resident that the parish council had no objection but the resident would also need to check with Suffolk County Council to confirm that they did not own it.
iii. Email from Green Ixworth: Email was read to Council - Noted.

12. Planning Applications for comment:-
Cllr Bagnell left the meeting.
i. Application: DC/23/0117/FUL : Oak Farm, Pakenham Road.
Change of use of agricultural land for dog walking & exercising as amended by plans received 20 March 2023.
Council discussed Cllr Davey proposed no objection seconded by Cllr Sargent all in agreement no objection.
Cllr Bagnell re-joined the meeting.
ii. Notification of Planning Appeal AP/23/00026 Land to the East of Ixworth Road: Noted.

13. Finance Report:-
The current account held a cleared balance at 31 March 2023 of £12,334.30 with two unpresented payments of £204.20 giving an uncleared figure of £12,130.10.
Receipts received of £40 allotment rent and £500 grant from West Suffolk Council.
The deposit account held £16,647.19 at 30 April 2022.
The internal auditor will now complete the audit in preparation of the May meeting.
All in agreement for the payment of the following invoice:-

14. Councillors' reports and items for future agenda:-
Cllr Palfrey advised he was stepping down from representing the parish council on the playing field and church hall committees.
Cllr Palfrey reported the lawn cemetery was looking in good condition.
Cllr Bagnell advised he had planted poppies at the edge of the hedge around the new memorial.
Cllr Sidebotham advised a resident had asked if the old bowls area could be used as a wildlife area, Cllr Bagnell advised this had been discussed previously and agreed to keep grassed and cut.

15. Date of next meeting:-
The date of the next scheduled meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 18th May 2023 in the Village Hall following the Annual Parish Meeting at 7pm.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.50pm

(Ref: 440-442)