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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 18 January 2010 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent (Chairman), Mrs P Bell, Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Miss V Pizzey, Mr J Ridd, Mr M Roseveare,
Also present: Mr M Bond (County Councillor), Mr B Hall (District Councillor)
- APOLOGIES were received from Mrs S Lewis, Mr M Manning, Mr G Plater and Mr P Revett, and Mr C Tucker
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mrs Lewis declared a personal interest in Item 6 Car Parks.
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2009 were signed as a true record.
- VICE CHAIRMAN
The Chairman reported that Mr and Mrs Plater had now returned home and Mrs Plater was recovering well.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
5.1 Out of hours surgery - TCN had now lost the contract to supply out of hours surgery services. From 1 April 2010 the contract would be taken over by Harmoni HS Ltd. NHS Suffolk had recently visited the resource centre as part of its inspection of outreach facilities. There was still no indication whether or not the resource centre had been included in the new contract as a facility from which an out of hour's surgery must be provided.
5.2 Application for grant aid towards road signs - no indication had been received yet from Suffolk Coastal District Council on the success of the application for grant aid.
5.3 Pump and horse trough - the Council was advised that a verbal estimate had put the cost of repainting the pump at £150.
RESOLVED
That a sum of up to £150 be spent on the repainting of the old pump
5.4 Provision of dog bin -The Council was advised of the cost of installing a dog bin on the bend of the footpath beside the George public house where it goes in to King Edward Avenue. They agreed it was an appropriate spot and
RESOLVED
That a vandal resistant metal bin be erected at a cost of £230 plus VAT
5.5 Water in front of recycling bins - this was still being investigated by Suffolk Coastal District Council.
- CAR PARKS
6.1 It was reported that Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) had been looking for ways to meet their budget deficit for 2010/2011. As well as looking to cut costs SCDC has been identifying ways of increasing their income. One method identified was to charge for Sunday parking on all car parks not currently charged, including Wickham Market. To meet the informal consultation deadline the Chairman had responded to the proposal. .
However, it appeared that the District Council's Cabinet at its meeting on 5 January 2010, had agreed that formal consultation now be carried out with various bodies including all 92 parish councils in order that revised car parking and management changes could be introduced from 1 April 2010 (or as soon thereafter as was practical) (this included Sunday charging in Wickham Market) subject to any new issues being raised as a result of that consultation.
The formal consultation document was likely after the proposal had formally been approved by the full council of SCDC.
- OPEN SESSION - COMMENCED AT 7.49pm
7.1 A resident complained about the parking that was taking place on the left hand side of Yew Tree Rise as drivers entered the estate. The number of cars was increasing and he felt that the danger of a collision was obvious.
The Chairman advised him that this was a Suffolk County Council Highways matter and the residents of the estate should take up the matter with them as forcefully as reasonable. Mr Hall also expressed concern at the current situation.
If a complaint was made it was likely that Highways would refer to the Parish Council seeking its views.
7.2 A member of the public expressed concern that the meetings and deliberations of the Parish Council Planning Committee appeared not to be available to the public. He was advised that the current system for planning issues was currently being looked at.
7.3 Mr P Roper reported on the Wickham Market Outreach Project. He had sent out invitations to 22 local organisations to apply for grant aid. He had had 13 replies, 11 of which had shown interest, 2 had not. He thanked the whole Outreach team for their efforts.
(The session closed at 8.04)
- POLICE MATTERS
8.1 Mr Hoe went through the police report. Between 17 December 2009 and 17 January 2010 there had been four burglaries, two domestic non crime, three thefts from motor vehicles and a criminal damage. He re-iterated the importance of reporting any crime as soon as it was witnessed, this would help the police.
He continued that tasking meetings would be replaced by meetings at which the general public could have their say. One was likely to be on a date to be decided, at the village hall starting at 7.00pm. After the public meeting the police and other bodies would discuss the best ways to tackle the issues raised by the general public.
- SPORT AND LEISURE MATTERS
9.1 Mr Hall reported that the pavilion was progressing but funding was still £20,000 short of the £175,000 required. There were twelve organisations in the village who would like to use the facility when completed. The next meeting of the Wickham Market Partnership would discuss how they could help.
The Chairman stated that the Parish Council would consider awarding additional grant aid when the level of financial input to the application for grant aid towards road signing was known (currently the PC had agreed a grant of up to £5,000)
10. PLANNING MATTERS
10.1 Applications dealt with since the last meeting were, 21 Bordercot Lane Industrial Estate, Wickham Market IP13 0TA (change of use from light industrial to canine rehabilitation centre), 14-18 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0HE (revised application) and 42 Churchill Crescent, Wickham market IP13 0RW (erection of a first floor side extension. No objections were submitted to any of the applications.
10.2 Decisions received since the last meeting were Greystone House, 87 High Street, Wickham Market (erection of dwelling and existing outbuildings to be demolished) - permission refused, 1 Broad Road, Wickham Market IP13 0RJ (erection of single storey extension to side/rear of house) - permission granted and 21 Bordercot Lane Industrial estate, Wickham Market IP13 0TA (as above) - permission granted.
11. ALLOTMENT MATTERS
11.1 It was reported that Simons Cross had been subject to a small amount of vandalism and that on the Glebe two tenants had been advised not to dump non combustible rubbish on their plots. All Glebe plots now displayed numbers.
12. CEMETERY MATTERS
12.1 Cemetery Fees 2010/2011 - the Council considered the recommended schedule of fees which had been increased by approximately 10% rounded up or down. They asked to have a comparison with other local cemeteries.
RESOLVED
That the schedule of cemetery fees for 2010/2011 as attached to the official minute book be approved.
- COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
13.1 Mr Bond reported that progress was being made with the provision of additional car parking at the railway station in Campsea Ashe by converting the existing garden. He was also recommending that the old station house should remain in public ownership and be used as a shop and waiting room.
He was dissatisfied at the way that the snow had been dealt with by the County Council and would be taking this up with them. He wanted a register of difficult stretches of road in the County that could be targeted for priority gritting.
He had no news on where Harmoni HS Ltd would be based when they took over the contract from TCN and he understood that the resource centre would be a surgery that could be used but he did not know if it was to be written into the contract.
14. HIGHWAY MATTERS
14.1 Snowdon Hill - The Suffolk County Council (SCC) had been investigating the possibility of introducing low cost traffic measures in this area similar to those outside the post office.
However, along Snowdon Hill there was very little pavement and some that was there, was very narrow. The SCC had real concerns that, if the lines were moved out, pedestrians could feel that they were safer but there would be no actual protection of a path. As a consequence it was suggested that SCC look at providing a physical protection for pedestrians by building a wider path along one side of the road. However this would not give a low cost scheme as originally intended but would enable pedestrians to be given a safe area to walk. If a path were provided, SCC would need to introduce a priority system as the road would not physically be wide enough for two vehicles to cross. An estimate for this scheme was £11,600. At present there is no funding available for this work and the Parish Council agreed that it should not be added to the list of future projects as it was unlikely to be done for many years.
The Parish Council considered the issue and suggested that SCC be asked to trial a speed limit of 20mph through the village which would help matters. It also asked that a traffic priority scheme be trialled on Snowdon Hill to gauge the effects on traffic. Finally they asked that a representative of County Highways be asked to attend a future meeting to discuss traffic issues in the village.
14.2 Mrs Breese read out extracts from a report that went to a meeting of Save Our Rural Roads (SORR) in November 2009 from its secretary. The basis of it was a request to the Parish Council to support SORR's view that it had no confidence in the Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) planning enforcement team and its dealings with Debach Enterprises, Gressingham Foods, development at Bentwaters and Hill Farm, Clopton. As a result of these dealings many more HGV's were likely to be on local roads in the near future.
Mr Hall reported that an SCDC Overview and Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the enforcement process and were under the impression that it was making inroads into the Bentwaters situation.
The Parish Council agreed that the Chairman should write to SCDC supporting the view of SORR.
15 FINANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
15.1 Bi-monthly accounts November and December 2009 - these were noted and accepted.
15.2 Precept for 2010/2011 - the Finance Group had met and formulated the budget for the coming year which was circulated and discussed. This included a grant of £600 to help finance the youthbus. It was agreed that the precept should be increased to meet the demand of rising prices.
RESOLVED
That the precept for 2010/2011 be set at £20,000.
16 CORRESPONDENCE
16.1 The Clerk to the Wickham Market Charities had indicated that the term of office of Mrs S Lewis and Mr C Tucker, two of the Parish Council's nominees to the Wickham Market Relief in Need and Town Lands Trust Charities expires in February 2010.
RESOLVED
That Mrs Lewis and Mr Tucker be re-appointed for a further term
15.2 A request has been received from Lehmann House for the Parish Council to request a salt bin for the facility. This will be provided and maintained by Suffolk County Council. The Parish Council had no objection to a bin being sited at the facility but agreed that Suffolk County Council should be asked to meet any cost as it was their property.
17 HANGING BASKETS
The Clerk had met with Mr Hammond and his staff from the Orchard Campsite and it appeared that there were no problems at this stage. Mr Hammond had indicated that his staff would hang the baskets and then keep them regularly watered on at least a daily basis.
Local shopkeepers would be approached in the normal way to seek sponsorship from them to meet the cost of the baskets.
18 SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT AGENDA
18.1 It was agreed that any potholes still remaining should be reported at the next meeting so that a comprehensive list could be supplied to County Highways.
18.2 The Clerk was asked to report on the current usage of certain properties within the village.
The meeting closed at 9.50pm