Great Blakenham Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Catch up on the latest updates: Nick Leonard was elected as Chair, and Debbie Kemp as Vice Chair. Suffolk Highways is set to replace street bulbs on Stowmarket Road. Plus, there's a meeting planned for Port One's site expansion. Stay informed about these key developments in our community!
Present
Chair Cllr Nick Leonard, Vice Chair Cllr Debbie Kemp, Cllr Matt Powell, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chris Chambers, MSDC Cllr Marriott and 1 member of the public.

1. To Elect Chair of Great Blakenham Parish Council

Cllr Kemp and Cllr Powell nominated and seconded Cllr Nick Leonard as chair.

2. To Elect the Deputy Chair of Great Blakenham Parish Council

Cllr Leonard and Cllr Powell nominated and seconded Cllr Nick Leonard as chair Debbie Kemp as vice Chair.

3. To Receive and Approve Any Apologies for Absence

Cllr Will Durrant & Cllr Karen Wheeler

4. Declaration of Any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

  1. Councillor's declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda.
  2. To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interest (if any)
  3. To grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate.
  4. Co-option of parish councillor(s) / to sign declaration of acceptance

5. Public Forum

  1. To receive the report from the County Councillor — see attached report
  2. To receive the report from the District Councillor — see attached report
  3. To receive questions from members of the public — No questions received

6. Planning

  1. To consider the following planning applications.
  2. To note planning determinations. DC/24/05243 Land Adjacent To 10 Chapel Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich. Erection of self-build/custom build detached single storey bungalow. — Noted that application was refused

7. To Approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Held on 10th April 2025

Approved

8. To Note the Clerk's Update from Previous Meetings

  1. Suffolk Highways are organising for contractor to carry out the replacement of street bulbs in Stowmarket Road — Noted
  2. Emailed confirm that we would have a joint PC surgery - Awaiting response.

9. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure

  1. Masons landfill Site update — Cllr Chambers confirmed that officers have been monitoring the site for working hours, noise, height of landfill and the most recent fire. Awaiting report from SCC.
  2. To Note Bayham Neighbourhood Plan consultation - Noted
  3. Port One — Confirmed presentation meeting with Port One on 28th May 2025 for future plans on site expansion. Confirmed a closed unofficial meeting with nearby parishes to discuss thoughts on expansion site for 16th June 2025.

10. Governance

  1. End of year accounts — Accounts approved. Clerk to upload on website
  2. BYOD Policy / Gov.uk domains — BOYD Policy approved. Agreed that Cllrs should sign a contract to ensure that they are aware of responsibilities with data etc. New domain up and running.
  3. Internal Audit. Section 1 — Confirmation that this section was approved and signed on 10/04/2025
  4. Section 2 — revisions to form which was originally approved on 10/04/2025. Clerk had not changed the figures to correct amounts PKF Littlejohn had advised in report 23124 so that all totals are correct. The revisions were corrected, approved and form signed on 08.05.2025
  5. ICO — Noted that certificate from ICO received and covered for the year.
  6. Mobile Phones — All clerks, chairs, mobile phone accounts, and mobile Wi-Fi accounts are managed through Three.

11. Allotments

Community Asset still in progress. Noted

12. Village Maintenance

  1. Speed Devices — Noted that it appears that the device has been vandalised. Chair will contact the company and arrange for it to be fixed.
  2. Maintenance Tenders - The councillors reviewed all submitted tenders and decided to award the contract to Shades Home Maintenance. The Clerk will confirm the acceptance and prepare a contract that includes the agreed figures and hours for signing.

13. Churchyard and Cemetery

Tree removal Quote — Approved quote from NSK landscape to complete once the nesting season has ended

14. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk

Clerk to speak to Salc to confirm that training is in place for Cllr Wheeler and Powell as no email received for dates registered.

15. Finance

  1. To consider approving and making the following payments: Approved
  • Brave Futures - £100.00 - LGA1972 s111
  • Suffolk.cloud - £130.00 - LGA1972 s111
  • Gipping Valley Bowls Club - £2014.00 - LGA1972 s111
  • Anglian Water (Wave) - £59.49 - LGA1972 s111
  • Rialtas Business - £243.60 - LGA1972 s111
  • Nest Payroll - £28.12 - LGA1972 s111
  • NSK Landscapes - £1050.42 - LGA1972 s111
  • Shades - £804.00 - LGA1972 s111
  • Shades - £135.00 - LGA1972 s111
  • Shades - £2507.50 - LGA1972 s111
  • Shades - £1316.67 - LGA1972 s111
  • Three - £13.99 - LGA1972 s111
  • SALC - £398.40 - LGA1972 s111

Payments outside of meeting

Money Received 27,562.50 Precept 25/26

Bank Balance @ 31.04.2025

  • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £191,810.90
  • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £12,032.47

16. Reports

None

17. Correspondence

None

18. Future Meetings

  1. To note invitation for items to be considered in the next meeting.
  2. To note the date of the next scheduled Meeting on 12th June 2025 and any items for the agenda.

Karen Grimwood - Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer

Great Blakenham Parish Council

Email: clerk@greatblakenhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Phone: 07463329570

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