Gt 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.
Residents may be interested to know that discussions are ongoing about maintaining Gipping Meadows for community use, with hopes to secure its future for residents. The council is also addressing noise issues from a loose manhole cover on Stowmarket Road, and updates on Claydon High School's temporary classroom arrangements were shared.

Minutes of Gt Blakenham Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 26th September 2023 in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham at 7.30pm.

Present
Cllr Steve Plume (Chairman), Cllr Nick Leonard, Cllr Will Durrant, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chambers, MSDC Cllr Marriott and 1 member of the public

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies accepted from Cllr Kemp

2. Declaration of Interests

  1. Councillor’s declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda. Cllr Plume regarding 8.b. and Clerk advised that her husband is the new Great Blakenham Village Hall chairman.
  2. To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interest
  3. To grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate.
  4. Co-option of parish councillor(s) / to sign declaration of acceptance.

3. Public Forum

  1. To receive the report from the District Councillor – see attached report
  2. To receive questions from members of the public (5 mins)
    • Could PC help with the problem on Stowmarket Road with loose manhole cover. The noise of traffic going over the manhole is keeping residents in the area awake? PC have reported to highways and will chase.
    • Is there an update on Port One concerning Gipping meadows? Discussions with MSDC etc are still ongoing but Port One are hoping to maintain ownership of the land and keep it as it is. Then gift the use to PC for perpetuity so can be used for the residents. This way they will be responsible for maintaining land and cost and also any liability. Updates will be ongoing.
  3. To receive the report from the County Councillor

    Cllr Chambers joined the meeting at 8pm.

    • Update on Claydon High school with Raacs concrete: SCC are in regular contact and assisting with surveys. Corridor is affecting entrance to 12 classrooms. Portacabins being used in carpark for classrooms. Schooling is staggered at present. Cannot say how long it will go on but can envisage 18-24 months.
    • Budget- SCC has a 23M shortfall and not hopeful for help from government. Cannot say how this will affect non statutory services going forward.
    • Cllr chambers asked to help the issue with the manhole cover on Stowmarket Road. This has been reported 14 times now and no conclusion to help with the issue. The ongoing problems with Highways and their reluctance to help with any issue needs to be investigated. This also concerns the ongoing issues with placement of speed indicator devices in the village.
    • Advised that he has had concerns from Little Blakenham concerning the height of the soil pile on Port One development. Cllr Plume agrees that it is high at the moment but has been told by developers that this will be temporary and will be reduced as the project continues.

4. Approval of Draft Minutes

To approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 13th July 2023 - Approved

5. Clerk’s Update

  1. To note that Cllr McNamee has resigned his position as councillor with immediate effect on 24th August 2023. Noted

6. Planning

  1. To consider the following planning applications
    Application Details Response
    DC/23/00589 The Chequers Inn, 19 Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham, IP6 0LP Re-consultation of retention of change of use of public house (Sui Generis) to Indian restaurant (Use Class E(b) – response required by 23rd August. Responded that we had no additional comments from previous response.
    SCC/0035/23MS Masons Landfill, Bramford Road, Great Blakenham, IP6 0JX Construction and operation of materials recycling facility and associated infrastructure. Response required by 5th Sept 2023 – Clerk to ask - Hours of operation? Will the hours be extended to earlier/later times or even weekends? Volume of vehicles accessing the site and how it will impact traffic on Bramford Road?
    DC/22/01161 Land R/O 253 Stowmarket road (Off bell Lane) Gt Blakenham Crown gate Homes appealing for refusal to erect 3 detached bungalows. No issues from PC
  2. To note any planning determinations

    DC/23/01656 Port One logistics, Blackacre Hill, Bramford Road IP6 0RL Part Discharge of Condition 18- Noted

  3. Any other planning matters to note

7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure

  1. Update on SID application.- Cllr Chambers to chase Highways about location of devices.
  2. Update on Port One meetings- See 3b
  3. Pride in your place funding – Although this did not fit PC criteria this was passed to Village Hall and Gipping Trust
  4. Update on Parish Infrastructure – PC has decided to concentrate on helping with Gipping Meadows Project and the Village Hall
  5. Grit Bins – Request if contractors will be happy to check whilst in the village.

8. Governance

  1. Update on clerk access to finances – Bank account and new payment card system are all up and running according to financial regs. Cllr Plume to remove past Cllrs from bank mandate and change Cllr Durrants telephone number.
  2. Update on maintenance contract – Agreed for contractors to use work sheets so that we have greater transparency and recording on what work is being paid for.
  3. Update on Rialtas – Rialtas installation, training and support systems are all completed.
  4. Update on purchasing Adobe PDF editor software – Agreed that will pay for 1 year subscription for now
  5. Update on EE contract- Still having issues with account as still in name of the previous Clerk
  6. To discuss donation to Suffolk Accident Rescue Service- Donation of £500 agreed
  7. To discuss donation to church Christmas Fayre & Festival - Donation of £500 agreed
  8. Discuss funding request from Gt Blakenham Village Hall – see VH report
  9. Start discussions on Budget for next year – Decided to discuss at next meeting
  10. To note awaiting quote for insurance renewal with CAS for end of September 2023- Noted

9. Allotments

  1. Update on plots – Inspection of plots to be held on 5th October 2023
  2. Update of treatment of sheds – Booked to be completed week of 2nd October 2023
  3. To note a skip has been booked for plot holders to clear rubbish – Noted
  4. To discuss Licence with Stearn Farms – Clerk to email solicitors to see if an extension on licence could be agreed with landowner.
  5. To discuss cutting back tree on plot 22- Agreed to get quotes to cut back tree

10. Village Maintenance

  1. Update on tree maintenance and quotes for Mulberry Gardens. Booked to be completed in October 2023
  2. Update on Lock stop Planks – Awaiting date when materials are required
  3. Update on the purchase of trees for Hackneys Corner – Trees have been ordered and hope to be planted first week of December 2023
  4. Update for plaques for commemorative tree – Still ongoing
  5. To discuss options for tree guards for new trees – To contact local works to get quote for tree guards
  6. To discuss quote for Bramford Road bank clearance – Contractors confirmed that 3 people would be completing the work by the end of September 2023
  7. To discuss grass cutting on Hackneys Corner – PC acknowledge that grass needs cutting but disappointed that SCC completed in August before seeds could drop for the planned rewilding which takes 3 years. Clerk to speak to SCC

11. Churchyard and Cemetery

  1. To discuss shelter quotes – On going

12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk

13. Finance

  1. To consider approving and making the following payments:
    Payee Details Amount Authority
    Sackers Skip hire for allotment – Invoice OUT - 107434 £254.40 LGA 1972 s111
    Monthly Payroll Month ending 31/08/2023 £976.30 LGA 1972 s111
    MSDC Parish election recharge 04/05/2023 – Invoice 2000173008 £184.10 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Path Clearance hackneys Corner – Invoice 2370 £120.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Hackneys Corner Maintenance as per tender – Invoice 2371 £135.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Grounds maintenance as per tender – Invoice 2372 £507.50 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Street Cleaning as per tender – Invoice 2372 £1300.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Unity Trust Bank Bank Charges – statement 010 £18.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Unity Trust Bank Bank Charge – Multipay set up fee £50.00 LGA 1972 s111
    EE Ltd Mobile phone £11.00 LGA 1972 s111
  2. Payments paid outside of Parish meeting
    Payee Details Amount Authority
    Shades Hackneys Corner maintenance as per tender – Invoice 2355 £200.60 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Grounds maintenance as per tender - Invoice 2354 £507.50 LGA 1972 s111
    Shades Street cleaning as per tender - Invoice 2353 £1300.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Monthly Payroll Month ending 31/07/2023 £976.30 LGA 1972 s111
    Chairman Allowance £1000.00 LGA 1972 s111
    Barclay Card – Acronis Acronis subscription – 736105089914 – card trans no - 0607053702013 £53.54 LGA 1972 s111
    CWP Locksmiths Change of locks for GBVH - emergency payment. £610.00 LGA 1972 s111

14. Reports

To receive reports from Councillors assigned to the following:

  1. Gt Blakenham Village Hall - Cllr Debbie Kemp

    GBVH AGM on 29th August 2023. Vote of no confidence in current trustees and members. New Exec Trustees appointed with other trustees. The transition of new trustees has been very difficult with old members not prepared to complete a handover. These being, not giving access to bank and funds, keys and security of building, insurance, bookings, CCTV, Facebook page and many other issues. The new trustees are very keen to work with the PC to improve the hall from its current state and are all working hard to get things moving. PC has paid to change the locks on the building to ensure security and have ordered a new noticeboard to share on the village hall land. The trustees will need further help from PC during this difficult period.

15. Correspondence

  1. Two emails concerning Box Blight in the village and cemetery – Contractors have been and removed the problem

16. Future Meetings

  1. To note invitation for items to be considered in the next meeting. – Early Years Provision
  2. To note the date of the next scheduled Meeting on 12th October 2023 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: 27th September 2023

District Councillor Report September 2023

Pride in Your Place
Small grants are available to all Parish and Town Councils to improve the appearance, cleanliness and environments of our communities. Eligible projects include arranging community litter picks, sign or graffiti cleaning and the maintenance of public green spaces. Apply online at www.midsuffolk.gov.uk. Staff at the council will be undertaking clean-up work that is more difficult for communities to do themselves.

Recruitment Fairs
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council have launched a new partnership with Jobcentre Plus to bolster the local economy. A series of recruitment fairs alternating between the districts will run until April 2025 to help local businesses to connect with appropriate candidates in their area. These free-to-enter events are funded by the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and the first event takes place at The Mix in Stowmarket on Wednesday 20th September from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. To register for this and subsequent fairs go to heartofsuffolk.co.uk and search “recruitment fairs”.

MSDC Council Meeting
At July’s Council meeting at the Blackbourne Centre in Elmswell, Council Leader Andy Mellon spoke about the Council’s plans for the short term. These include making homes more energy efficient, working to improve rural transport and a more active plan for Stowmarket.

Solar Farms
I attended the Public Inquiry into the Appeal on the Enso application – land to the east of the Channel, Burstall on 15th August following which the appeal was upheld by the inspector. It was a very uneven event as the developer had brought their barrister and panel of experts whilst myself, Samantha Main, a Babergh councillor and affected local residents could not bring such a recognised level of expertise. I expect that Parish Council members have seen the inspector’s report. If not I can email it to you. I gave a report to the enquiry along the lines of what I would have said at the previous Planning Committee Meeting had the item not been taken off the agenda. The inspector was convinced that the “conversion of arable farmland to grassland for a period of 40 years, with sheep grazing the land” would result in improved soil quality. Also the “wider farmed landscape would prevail” in the face of this development.

It seems that the “free-go” planning application for this development is to be considered at the next Planning Committee meeting on 13th September. Myself and James Caston are invited to speak.

National Grid Pylons
National Grid launched its latest public consultation on plans for a new high voltage power line across East Anglia. There will be another opportunity to comment on the proposals next year before the planning application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in 2024. Copies of all maps and documents produced for both 2022 and 2023 non-statutory consultation can still be found on National Grid’s projected website. I attended the consultation, at Copdock and have been given a large-scale map of the proposed route of the pylons. At the Council meeting a motion was passed objecting to the proposed overland line and favouring offshore installations.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Council is set to review the current Carbon Reduction Management Plan with a cross-party group of councillors.

Review of Local Elections
The Audit and Standards Committee (of which I am a member) is to produce an action plan to resolve issues arising out of reviews of the local election process. Another review will be carried out by the Association of Electoral Administrators.

Locality Awards
This year’s locality awards are open for applications. Any group or organisation can apply for awards of £250 or more. Please contact me for an application form.

CIL Bids
Regarding the bid for CIL funding M23-02 for the Somersham Play Area, a recommendation will go to Cabinet for approval of £62,776.17 from the Ringfenced Infrastructure Fund. Other funding sources are from Somersham Parish Council Neighbourhood CIL, District Councillor Locality Monies and an MSDC Grant.

Adrienne Marriott
Blakenham District Councillor
18/09/23

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