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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 19 July 2010 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent (Chairman), Mrs P Bell, Miss V Pizzey, Mr G Plater (Vice Chairman), Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Mrs S Lewis, Mr M Manning, Mr P Revett, Mr M Roseveare,
Also present: Mr M Bond (County Councillor), Mr B Hall (District Councillor)
- APOLOGIES were received from Mr J Ridd and Mr C Tucker
- BEST KEPT ALLOTMENT AWARDS 2010
Unfortunately neither Mr Simpson from the Simons Cross site (winner of the Holland Cup) or Mr Garnham from the Glebe site were able to be present to collect their prizes
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Miss V Pizzey declared a personal interest in the planning matter relating to 147 High Street, Wickham Market as she lived next door to the property.
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2010 were signed as a true record.
- COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
The Parish Council received the report of Mr Bond and had no questions.
- MATTERS ARISING
6.1 The Parish Council noted the current position with regards to the Gospel Hall site. Any purchaser would be asked to contact Wickham Woods if they wanted to.
6.2 It noted the response from Mr Hayward regards the piece of land he had given to the village between Deben Court and Mill Lane. His main concern about the existing path through the site was that it should not become a public right of way through usage. He would take steps to ensure that this did not happen.
6.3 Having come first in the District Village of the Year Competition the next round of judging would be by the County Council on 23 July. It was suggested that the District presentation to the village might be able to take place as part of the quilting weekend. The Clerk would investigate.
6.4 No information on the new Co-operative stores development was available.
6.5 The new Wickham Market tourism leaflet was now available at various outlets within and outside the village.
- CAR PARKS
There was nothing to report
- OPEN SESSION (commenced at 7.50pm)
8.1 A member of the public asked if there was any up to date information on the development of Deben Court. Flagship housing had been writing to tenants many of whom were now uncertain about the future. If there was going to be redevelopment of the site the access problems for site vehicles experienced in the previous development had to be avoided.
It was explained that the Council had no further information in addition to that discussed in private at its last meeting. However there was full agreement that access problems to the site had to be avoided if redevelopment took place.
8.2 The Wickham Market Outreach scheme was working well and further applications would be considered by the Outreach committee on 23 July 2010. At a recent conference in Newmarket the scheme was recognised as the way forward for other areas.
8.3 Councillor Hall reported that at Suffolk Coastal the planning/enforcement department was being scrutinised by an internal committee. All parish and town councils had been asked for comments, 15 were happy with the performance, 12 were not. He was unhappy that some single issue lobby groups had hijacked the process.
The Suffolk Coastal Sports Award nominations were being requested. Mr Hall stated that if anyone knew of someone they wanted to put forward then to contact him. (The session closed at 8.07pm)
- POLICE MATTERS
9.1 PCSO Sally Anna Chatten-Bury reported that between 21 June and 19 July there had been 7 crimes reported in the village:
1 theft of a motor vehicle
1 theft other
I case of harassment
4 criminal damage to vehicles - 2 offenders had been caught and were being dealt with.
She warned of the danger of distraction burglaries and on 20 July from 12 noon on the Hill the Crime Prevention Officer would be available to give advice. At 3pm on the same day in the George public house there would be a public meeting on starting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
On 12 August 2010 an activity night had been arranged including a game of rounders which might include some representatives of the police. A day of cycle coding would take place in mid-August 2010. Finally allotment watch was up and running and signs would soon be ready to put up.
9.2 The Parish Council noted that Suffolk Constabulary had advised of changes, from the end of 2010, to be made to the opening hours of public enquiry desks at police stations across the county. The changes would result in an overall reduction in opening hours and savings of £200k per annum after 3 years at most. There would also be a reduction of 6.5 staff.
Information had also been received from the Suffolk Police Authority and Suffolk County Council on their review of properties currently occupied in Ipswich town centre and southern Suffolk. This would involve the joint purchase and occupation of St Edmund House and Landmark House together with the vacation of a number of currently occupied buildings.
- SPORT AND LEISURE MATTERS
10.1 Suffolk Coastal DC was about to update the Outdoor Playing Space Parish Schedule which identified current play provision and highlights what the District Council sees as shortfalls. The Parish Council felt that the Simons Cross play area needed updating but that this matter should be deferred until the availability of grant aid/external financial assistance etc was clearer.
10.2 The Chairman had agreed that the Parish Council should enter into a third foul drainage easement, this time with Suffolk Coastal DC, to allow the pipe to the new Wickham Market Youth Football Club (WMYFC) pavilion, to pass under some 8 feet of its land before it went into land belonging to Flagship Housing and then Mr Holland.
It had been made clear to the WMYFC that no responsibility for any future costs arising from these easements must devolve upon the Parish Council. As a consequence the WMYFC were arranging for a solicitor's letter to be sent to the Parish Council agreeing to this.
11. PLANNING MATTERS
11.1 Applications dealt with since the last meeting were:
77C High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RA - Alterations in connection with installation of hanging sign above pharmacy entrance (no objections submitted); 111A High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RA - erection of a single storey extension (no objections submitted); 6 Featherbroom Gardens, Wickham Market IP13 0JH - erection of a dwelling (existing dwelling to be demolished) (no objections submitted); 147 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RD - erection of a single storey rear extension (no objections submitted); 215 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RQ - erection of a conservatory (no objections submitted); Notice of intent to carry out tree work - 11 The Drift, Wickham Market IP13 0TD - (no objections submitted).
11.2 Decisions received since the last meeting were:
16 Broadway, Wickham Market, IP13 0RN - erection of air sourced heat pump (application has been withdrawn): 22 Barhams Way, Wickham Market IP13 0SR - erection of porch and car port with pitched roof to extend over existing flat roofed element (existing porch and carport to be demolished) (planning permission granted); 11A High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0RA - erection of a single storey rear extension (planning permission granted)
11.3 The Parish Council noted that the core strategy, developed by Suffolk Coastal District Council as part of the Local Development Framework, had been adopted as “Interim Planning Policy” and would be used in the determination of planning applications and enforcement. There would, however, be a review of the Strategy as and when more detail of Government policy relating to the planning system was known..
12. ALLOTMENT MATTERS
12.1 It was reported that some complaints had been received about the noise of cockerels from some residents living near the Glebe allotment site. These had been dealt with by moving the birds to a part of the site well away from nearby houses.
12.2 A very small number of allotment holders had been selling produce which was a contravention of the allotment agreement. However the law on this was open to interpretation and it appeared that selling small amounts to get rid of surpluses was acceptable. No allotment could be used for purely commercial growing of crops.
12.3 Due to cuts in budget the community payback scheme was having problems in buying and maintaining tools and equipment. It was likely that in the future they would be available on a labour only basis. This was a very important source of labour for the village so Mrs Bell was starting a scheme to collect unwanted tools and equipment so that they could be used within the village by the payback scheme.
The Parish Council agreed that this was a good idea and that a notice should go into the parish magazine.
Finally the new bee club had six members attending courses in Cambridge and Ipswich. Hives would be carefully sited on both allotment sites.
13. CEMETERY MATTERS
13.1 The Cemetery Group had met on 14 July 2010 at the cemetery to discuss various issues. It acknowledged that the cost of maintaining the cemetery was far in excess of income received. Whilst the cemetery was a vital local facility the question of the level of fees would have to be considered in future years.
The general appearance of the cemetery was excellent with a lot of good work having been carried out by volunteers and Suffolk Coastal Services. The bierhouse was in reasonable condition. However the Group was extremely annoyed to discover that the spoil from a newly dug grave had been left on top of an adjacent grave. This was totally unacceptable and the Clerk reported that he had contacted the undertakers and advised them that if this happened again then action would be taken.
14. HIGHWAY MATTERS
14.1 Speed Management Guidelines had been received from Suffolk County Council. These gave information on various speed management treatments and their cost.
15. FINANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
15.1 Bi-monthly accounts - May/June 2010 - these were received and noted.
15.2 Internal Audit Report - the accounts for 2009/2010 had been internally audited prior to submission to the external auditor. Overall the audit was satisfactory but there were issues relating to matters such as Financial Standing Orders and risk assessments that the Clerk would submit to a future meeting.
15.3 A request had been received from the Village Hall management Committee for an increase in its annual grant which currently was £1,000. The Council agreed that before any increase was considered the Chairman and Vice Chairman should meet with the Hall Committee to discuss the current situation relating to the Hall and its finances.
16. CORRESPONDENCE
16.1 At its meeting in January 2010 the Council had agreed to spend £230 plus vat on the provision of a dog litter bin on the bend of the footpath beside the George public house where it went into King Edward Avenue. Suffolk Coastal Services had considered this request and pointed out that its collection vehicle could not safely get within 100 metres of the proposed bin which would mean a collection charge to the parish council. In addition it could not find an appropriate site at the top of King Edward Avenue.
The Parish Council accepted these points and agreed not to pursue the matter.
17. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT AGENDA
There were no suggestions.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm