Minutes of Gt Blakenham Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 9th November 2023 in the Parish Room,
Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham at 7.30pm.
- Present
- Cllr Steve Plume (Chairman), Cllr Nick Leonard, Cllr Debbie Kemp, Cllr Will Durrant, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chambers, MSDC Cllr Marriott, 2 representatives from Hygreen Energy/Vertigo and 7 members of the public
1. To Receive and Approve Any Apologies for Absence
None
2. Declaration of Any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests
- Councillor’s declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda. None
- To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interest (if any) None
- To grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate. None
- Co-option of parish councillor(s) / to sign declaration of acceptance. None
3. Public Forum
- To receive presentation from Vertigo/ Hygreen Energy on Pyrolysis Application at Masons Landfill Site Bramford Road. The application is to build a demonstration site adjacent to the current landfill site on Bramford Road to deliver a project that will take waste feedstocks to produce a range of different energy vectors including electricity, hydrogen and Syncrude. The government has provided a grant of £5m to create carbon capture hydrogen technology and they are a working study with University of Suffolk. The site size will be approx. 0.6 hectares. The plan is to have 3 modules which will be built in 3 phases. An environment permit has been granted. There is no room on the site for any further phases and building. The plan is to use feedstock from local businesses such as Valencia, Biffa and Sackers. Sackers have confirmed that they will be able to provide sufficient material for the 1st module to run. The building will be no higher than 12 m high going down to 8M high and they will grow a green wall along the site to screen the building. The process is quiet and noise levels will be no higher than 31 decibels. The operating hours are 24 hrs, but no deliveries will be outside working hours. Traffic levels will be monitored, and the developer is happy to talk about collaborating to try and keep the roads clean on Bramford Rd. Developers hope to include a community benefit scheme and are happy to communicate and work with the community. Developers realise that the lighting in the plans are not the best and are currently looking to improve. There will not be a significant number of explosive gases on the site and hope to reuse the hydrogen for lorries with neighbouring companies. PC believe that this application will have very little impact on the village.
- To receive the report from the County Councillor – See attached report. Cllr Chambers also advised that Bramford Road will be added to the flooding work programme for next year. He will also confirm operating hours for Landfill and MRF Licencing/Permissions
- To receive the report from the District Councillor – see attached report
- To receive questions from members of the public (15 mins) – Residents of Blueleighs Park have again raised concerns over the amount, size and management of potholes and road on Chalk Hill Lane. They reported that damage has been caused to cars. Residents advised that the lane is a bridleway and has not been adopted by Suffolk Highways. The cost to do so could be in the region of £250K. The tarmac part of the road is believed to be owned between a local land owner and Wyldcrest who neither have been known to repair the road. Residents approached MSDC with a view to fix the issues to be told that they can’t, not licensed, no liability insurance etc. Concerns were also raised about the efficiency of the sewers at the bottom of the road. Cllr Durrant reported this on the highways reporting tool during the meeting. Whilst the PC, SCC and MSDC sympathise with the issues they are not responsible for repairs etc unless the road is adopted.
4. To Approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Held on 12th October 2023
Approved
5. To Note the Clerk’s Update from Previous Meetings
- Thank you email received from SARS Noted
- Notice board for Village Hall has been delivered and awaiting installation. Noted
- Email to MSDC planning sent concerning benefits for the village and awaiting a response from Phil Isobell Noted
6. Planning
- To consider the following planning applications
Application Location Proposal Decision DC/23/00718 (Re submission DC/22/02495) Chalk Hill Lane Great Blakenham Erection of 1 detached dwelling No objections raised - To note any planning determinations None received
- Any other planning matters to note None received
7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure
- SID Devices – Devices have been ordered and should be delivered in December 2023
8. Governance
- Clerk new mobile contract – New contract with Three
- Budgets and earmarked reserves for 23/24 – To be finalised but likely precept will have to be increased
- Gipping Valley Bowls Club Support – Has requested support from PC for their project to rebuild new clubhouse. Support was agreed
- Barham Picnic Site Support – Request for support. PC agreed that once other project costs have been agreed then will look again at supporting
9. Allotments
- Update on plot retrieval – Agreed to cover costs to clear plots and to split up to smaller size in the new year.
- Awaiting quote from Fisk Tree Services to crown tree on Plot 23 – likely that quote will be in the region of £500. PC agreed to cover
10. Village Maintenance
- Purchase of daffodil bulbs for verges and plug cutters – Agreed to purchase bulbs and arranged a date to plant on Hackneys corner verge.
- To consider removing turf from small areas of Hackneys Corner and to reseed with wildflowers.- Agreed and to contact Biodiversity officer to discuss
- To consider a bramble removal program from the bank on Bramford Road during early spring and reseed areas with wildflower seeds.- Agreed to get quotes
11. Churchyard and Cemetery
12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk
13. Finance
- To consider approving and making the following payments: Approved
| Payee | Type | Description | Amount | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shades | B | Hackneys Corner maintenance as per tender – Invoice 2393 | £197.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Shades | B | Grounds maintenance as per tender -Invoice 2394 | £507.50 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Shades | B | Street cleaning as per tender -Invoice 2392 | £1316.67 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Shades | B | Bank clearance Bramford Road - 2384 | £350.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Shades | B | Hedge plant removal and disposal Cemetery – 2385 | £130.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Clerk | B | Reimbursement of EE Wifi Hub and Mobile costs October 2023 | £26.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Monthly Payroll | B | Month ending 31/10/2023 | £976.30 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| HMRC | B | P30 ending 5/10/2023 | £90.36 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| PKF Littlejohn | B | Audit fees ending 31 March 2023 | £378.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| St Marys Church | B | Christmas Festival and Fayre Donation | £500.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Three | D | Clerk Mobile – 104790676 02/11/2023 | £12.78 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| Fisk Tree Services | B | Tree and hedge cutting Mulberry Gardens – (paid out of meeting on 01/11/23) | £885.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
| GBVH | B | Gift Aid (paid out of meeting on 02/11/23) | £3000.00 | LGA 1972 s111 |
14. Reports
To receive reports from Councillors assigned to the following:
- Gt Blakenham Village Hall
15. Correspondence
- Email complaining about potholes on Chalk Hill Lane – advised the same as 3d
16. Future Meetings
- To note invitation for items to be considered in the next meeting.
- To note the date of the next scheduled Meeting on Thursday 11th January 2024 and any items for the agenda.
Karen Grimwood
Clerk to Great Blakenham Parish Council
Email: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk
Phone: 07508830777/
Parish Council website: www.greatblakenham.suffolk.cloud
Date: 2nd November 2023