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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 21 March 2011 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent (Chairman), Mr G Plater (Vice Chairman), Mrs P Bell, Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Mrs S Lewis, Mr M Manning, Miss V Pizzey and Mr C Tucker.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr B Hall (Suffolk Coastal District Council) and Mr M Bond (Suffolk County Council)
- APOLOGIES were received from Mr M Roseveare
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2011 were signed as a true record.
- COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
Mr Bond reported that residents had expressed their concern over possible problems that might arise if Deben Court was demolished and replaced by housing that would offer more accommodation. These were: Inadequacy of pavements, traffic moving too fast, heavy plant fouling electricity lines, low water pressure, parked vehicles obstructing fire engines.
He requests that the Parish Council advise him on the level of local support for these proposals, particularly the speed limit and parking restrictions.
The Parish Council agreed to defer consideration of this item until its May 2011 meeting when a decision on planning permission should have been reached.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES
4.1 It was agreed to defer consideration of the future of the Wickham Market Library, until more detailed information was available.
4.2 The Annual Parish Meeting was to be held on 18 April 2011 with Mrs Lewis in the Chair.
- SPORT AND LEISURE MATTERS
5.1 It was reported that the Wickham Market Sports Forum now had seven member organisations.
- POLICE MATTERS
6.1 Between 18 February and 18 March fifteen offences had been recorded including two burglaries and five thefts from motor vehicles, compared with eight offences in the same period in 2010. As a result of these offences there had been an increase in the number of police in the village.
6.2 Wickham Market had come off the police tasking priority list but if the current level of offences continued then it would return to the priority list until the situation was sorted.
6.3 Finally anyone wishing to join “police direct” should contact John Hoe.
7. PLANNING MATTERS
7.1 Applications dealt with since the last meeting - Whistlecraft Cottage, 41 Mill Lane, Wickham Market IP13 0SF - change of use of cartlodge granted by CO7/1617, from ancillary building to holiday accommodation (no objections submitted); 36 Dallinghoo Road, Wickham Market IP13 0RP - erection of two storey rear extension and first floor extension over existing bedroom (no objections submitted); 210,212,216A and land surrounding High Street, Wickham Market - amended application for residential development comprising 8 dwellings: 6 affordable dwellings, one replacement market dwelling and one residential barn conversion. Erection of a two-storey side extension to 210 High Street. Demolition of Gospel Hall, outbuilding and Easticott bungalow.(the Planning Committee maintained its objection to the application on the grounds of the vehicular access might was not fit for purpose and might be considered dangerous); 28 Spring Lane, Wickham Market IP13 0SJ - erection of an extension to existing reception and shop (no objections submitted).
7.2 Decisions received since the last meeting - 52 Churchill Crescent, Wickham Market IP13 0RW - erection of first floor addition to rear of dwelling (permission granted); 14-18 High Street, Wickham Market IP13 0HE - mixed use development comprising of retail store & 14 dwellings (6 to be provided in an affordable form) with associated car parking and landscaping. Construction of new vehicular access (permission granted subject to conditions being met)
7.3 The Chairman reported on a meeting that he and the Clerk had had with representatives of the East of England Co-operative Society now that planning permission for the new stores had been granted. One of the conditions to be met was the creation of a pedestrian link between the stores and The Hill. The Parish Council agreed that a properly lit and signposted link was vital. It requested the Chairman to negotiate with the Co-op on the provision and wording of signs, erection of a new light on the village hall playing field side and just in the Percy Mason car park by the toilets. Discussions would also need to be held with the Village Hall Management Committee and Football Club to get their agreement.
It was also felt that an additional public notice board should be provided in the vicinity of the exit from the stores to the car park.
7.4 Mrs Breese reported that she was attending a planning meeting on 20 April 2011 on the developments proposed at Bentwaters.
8. ALLOTMENT MATTERS
8.1 The Council noted that some vandalism had occurred on the Glebe allotments sites including some windows broken in a greenhouse. The police had been advised.
9. FINANCE AND LEGAL MATTERS
9.1 Bi-monthly accounts - January/February 2011, these were noted and accepted.
9.2 Council's Insurance - the Parish Council was currently insured through Aon which had recently taken over Allianz, the Council's previous insurer. Aon was highly experienced in dealing with insurance matters for local authorities so there was no reason to consider changing insurers at this stage. Following recommendations made by the internal auditors report, a number of minor amendments have been made to the insurance policy.
Firstly the fidelity guarantee cover had been increased from £40,000 to £50,000 and secondly the list of property insured, including litter bins, benches etc has been amended so that it now agreed with the Council's fixed asset register. In total the additional cost on the premium for the additions was £31.56.
9.3 Elections - election date was Thursday 5 May 2011 and local elections would almost certainly be held alongside a referendum on the adoption of the Alternative Vote System. Nomination papers had been sent out in early March and the Notice of Election was displayed from 18 March 2011.
At the moment 4 parish councillors would not be seeking re-election. If, ultimately, there were more than 13 people wishing to stand for the Council then a poll would be held on 5 May.
9.4 It was reported that some members of the Council had indicated that they felt it was time that the Parish Council had an improved website. At the moment Parish Council information was contained within the Wickham Market Partnership site. The Parish Council asked the Clerk to investigate the cost and feasibility of the information on the current site being directly available via the search engine and the site content being increased.
9.5 It was reported that all parish councils now had to be registered as an employer with HMRC and operate PAYE on the income the Clerk earns.
10. CORRESPONDENCE
10.1 A letter had been received from the Royal British Legion about the “Great Poppy Party Weekend”. This was encouraging individuals and groups to organise a Poppy Party over the weekend of 10-12 June 2011 in celebration of the Royal British Legions 90th birthday. The local branch was aware of this and if any events were organised they would be reported to the next meeting.
10.2 Notification had been received that in 2011/12 Suffolk Coastal Services would remove all spring and summer bedding plants, within SCDC existing maintenance regimes, and plant with low maintenance shrubs or grass. This would affect the small bed by the war memorial. The Parish Council regretted the loss of the colour entering the village and felt that this might be something that could be sponsored locally and managed by volunteers. The Clerk would report further.
Secondly SCDC had indicated that from 1 April 2011 the provision of recycling banks for paper and cans would cease. This presumably meant that the village hall car park would lose its paper recycling facility.
10.3 Suffolk Coastal Services was initiating “Spring Clean Suffolk” with the aim of the people of Suffolk helping to clean up the County. Mrs Lewis reported that the Womens Institute were organising a litter pick in the spring/summer and the Green Gym group had offered to assist.
10.4 Mrs Evans reported that a meeting had been held to discuss events on the Hill. This had been well supported. As a result Andy Simpson from Suffolk ACRE was hoping to set up a business association to take the lead in many of these areas.
An Italian market had been organised for Saturday 25 June 2011 and it was hoped to site it on the road between Sweet Dreams and the junction with the High Street if permission could be obtained. This would prevent the loss of car parking spaces by using the Hill car park. There was also to be a Christmas market on Saturday 3 December 2011 on the same area if permission was forthcoming. Deben Markets would be erecting and dismantling the stalls for £20 a stall. It was hoped that local organisations would rent the stalls for £20 a time.
Between 14-16 June 2012 the quilting weekend would take place and it was hoped to match this up with a local market on 16 June.
This Christmas it was hoped that instead of the central tree, each property round the Hill would have its own lit tree on the outside of the building to give the Hill a festive feel. Talks were ongoing about brackets to hold the trees that were appropriate for listed buildings.
Finally one Hill resident was hoping to organise plays on the Hill featuring local residents.
10.5 The Parish Council noted with regret that due to increased costs, lack of volunteers and reducing numbers of participants the Over 70's lunch would no longer take place.
10.6 A letter had been received from Wickham Market & District Family Carers Support Group asking the Council to press Suffolk County Council, prior to its Cabinet meeting, to ensure the future of Lehmann House as a residential and respite care home. It was reported that events since this letter had raised hopes that a local organisation would take over the running of Lehmann House.
The Council congratulated Mrs Bell on the way she had moved forward the Carers Support Group. Mr Manning was the Chairman of a small charity that had been set up in conjunction with the Group.
11. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
The use of Chapel Lane,(see item 3 above)
The future of the Wickham Market Library (see item 4.1 above)
Update on Poppy Weekend
The meeting closed at 9pm
After the meeting the Chairman thanked Miss Johnson, Mrs Bell and Mrs Lewis for all of their efforts and work as parish councillors over previous years. These members were retiring from the Parish Council and the Chairman wished them a long and happy “retirement”.