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.
Matthew Powell has been co-opted as a new councillor. The council opposed a planning application for additional parking spaces near Budgens due to safety concerns for pedestrians, especially children. Approval was granted for several local construction projects, including a rear extension and a new driveway.

Minutes of Great Blakenham Parish Council Meeting

Present
Chair Cllr Nick Leonard, Vice Chair Cllr Debbie Kemp, Cllr Will Durrant, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chris Chambers, MSDC Cllr Adrienne Marriot and 1 representative of GBVH

1. Apologies for Absence

None

2. Declaration of Interests

  1. Councillor's declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda. - None
  2. To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interest (if any) - None
  3. To grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate. - None
  4. Co-option of parish councillor(s) / to sign declaration of acceptance. — Cllrs unanimously voted for Matthew Powell to be co-opted as a councillor.

3. 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 - None

4. Approval of Draft Minutes

To approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 9th January 2025 - Approved

5. Clerk's Update from Previous Meetings

  1. Precept request submitted and approval received from MSDC. Noted
  2. Visit to Gipping Valley Bowls club agreed. Noted

6. Planning

  1. To consider the following planning applications.
    • DC/24/05560 Port One Logistics Park, DC/25/00050 - Blackacre Hill, Bramford Road, Great Blakenham Suffolk Land At, Moses Walk, Great Blakenham, Suffolk Installation of sunken weighbridge (retention of). Deadline extended to 14.02.25 - APPROVED
    • Construction of 5 no. staff car parking spaces. Deadline extended to 14.02.25 - OBJECTED
      • GBPC have decided to oppose this application: The crossing from Sandy Close to Budgens is heavily used, particularly by children due to the nearby play area, raising concerns about increased risks to pedestrians. Vehicles turning into Budgens have been observed driving at excessive speeds, which raises the possibility that cars exiting the proposed site could lead to accidents. The access road to Budgens currently does not accommodate two vehicles passing each other on the bend, which could result in congestion in a confined area. The councillors do not see a need for more parking, as the current parking lot does not seem to be fully utilised by customers visiting the shop.
  2. To note planning determinations.
    • Erection of single storey rear extension (following demolition of conservatory), first floor extension and front porch extension. Deadline 26.02.2025 - APPROVED
    • Retrospective application for the erection and operation of Material Recycling Facility, provision of access road and associated works. Deadline 18.02.2025 - APPROVED
    • Land At Claydon Industrial Park, Gipping Road, Claydon - DC/24/05086 DC/24/03230 Land At Claydon Industrial Park, Gipping Road, Claydon Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 OLQ - GRANTED NOTED
    • Change of use of land to residential amenity land to enable construction of new driveway to existing access. — GRANTED NOTED

7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure

  1. Sackers update — See attached response letter from Environment Agency. Cllr Chambers intends to write back with some extra questions around air pollution and explosions.
  2. Consultation on Baylam neighbourhood Plan — Acknowledged with no additional remarks.

8. Governance

  1. Archive storage — The clerk to confirm with SALC whether electronic copies of minutes and related documents are permissible, eliminating the need for paper copies. To acquire pricing for the archiving of additional documents with Ipswich Archive
  2. Discuss who completes Internal audit — Cllrs approved SALC to complete internal audit
  3. Quarterly VAT return submitted — Noted
  4. Gipping Valley Bowls Club — Councillors met with the bowling club committee to see the progress made and discuss remaining tasks. They recognised that the committee requires additional funding to finish the kitchen, heating, and flooring. The councillors suggested potential funding sources and ways to promote the new pavilion. They expressed admiration for the volunteers' accomplishments to date and are happy to continue their support in the future where it is needed.

9. Allotments

  1. Update on licence signing — Licence has been signed by all relevant parties. Clerk to notify plot holders of the situation.
  2. Alternative site — The Parish Council has communicated with the land agent regarding the possibility of an alternative site on Stowmarket Road. The agent indicated that the site might be utilised for community benefit, either through a licensing agreement or a freehold purchase. However, council members are struggling to envision potential uses for the land due to its frequent flooding and challenging access. The clerk will relay this feedback to the land agent.

10. Village Maintenance

  1. Discuss Tender Contracts — Cllrs agreed draft contracts for maintenance litter picking clerk to send out to relevant parties
  2. Discuss Volunteer working party — The clerk will begin gathering information on the necessary tasks throughout the village to establish a specific date each month for a volunteer work party.

11. Churchyard and Cemetery

  1. Churchyard maintenance report — Report identifies some work on bus shelter, overgrown trees etc. Chair & clerk to visit churchyard/cemetery to assess potential work needed as mentioned in the report

12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk

None

13. Finance

  1. To consider approving and making the following payments: Approved
    • SALC
    • Wave (Anglia Water)
    • Payroll
    • Nest
    • EE/K Grimwood
    • Shades
    • Shades
    • Shades
    • Headway Suffolk
    • Mid Suffolk CAB
    • Communities Together
    • Chinwas
    • Lloyds Bank
    • Three
    • Invoice for payroll services ending Sept 2024-29229
    • Charges ending 24.01.2025 - 14534455
    • Ending 31.01.2025
    • Month 10 Ending 31.01.2025
    • WIFI/mobile reimbursement
    • Maintenance/street cleaning as per tender Inv 2612
    • Hackneys Corner maintenance as per tender Inv 2613
    • Street Cleaning as per tender Inv 2614
    • Donation
    • Donation
    • Donation
    • Donation
    • Multipay card
    • Clerk phone contract
    • £257.60
    • £35.91
    • £1050.22
    • £50.61
    • £228.04
    • £507.50
    • £135.00
    • £316.67
    • £500.00
    • £500.00
    • £1000.00
    • £149.99
    • £13.76
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  2. Payments outside of meeting — None
  3. Money Received — None
  4. Bank Balance @ 31.01.2025 - Noted
  5. Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £177,746.86
  6. Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £9,706.30

14. Reports

To receive reports from Councillors assigned to the following:

  1. Village Hall — Copies of the roof and asbestos surveys have been provided to the Parish Council. Sustainability images of the finished work will be distributed soon. The effort to gather quotes for fascia, guttering, soffits, and CCTV/fire safety measures is currently in progress. The Accounts and Trustee Annual Report has been submitted. A recent meeting focused on solar panels was productive for all participants, and a follow-up meeting will be arranged to maintain momentum.

15. Correspondence

  1. Dog fouling — Increase in complaints about dog fouling in the village. Parish currently has 16 dog litter bins in the village but some dog owners still not using them. Clerk to post some awareness posters on social media and in Intouch magazine

16. 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 13th March 2025 and any items for the agenda.

Karen Grimwood - Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer

Email: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk

Phone: 07463329570

Date: 8th February 2025

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