Minutes of the Meeting

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Residents might be interested to know that a £1000 donation was approved to support the monthly CommuniTEA Chinwag, a local event combating social isolation for those over 60. Additionally, there was a discussion about Suffolk's potential involvement in a new Devolution Priority Programme, which could lead to significant changes in local governance.

Minutes of the Meeting

Present:
Chair Cllr Nick Leonard, Vice Chair Cllr Debbie Kemp, Cllr Will Durrant, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chris Chambers, Chinwags representative & 3 GBVH representatives.

1. Apologies for Absence

  1. Cllr Marriott

2. Declaration of Interests

  1. Councillor's declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda. - Cllr Leonard 8b Headway
  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.

3. Public Forum

  1. County Councillor's Report: Cllr Chambers provided an update regarding the Devolution White Paper concerning Town and Parish Councils in Suffolk. He participated in a meeting on January 9, 2025, where a vote was held to determine Suffolk County Council's interest in joining the Devolution Priority Programme. This initiative involves a commitment to implement reorganisation and devolution within a specified timeline, as well as a proposal to delay the May 2025 County Council elections. Cllr Chambers is uncomfortable with the lack of elections. The outcome of the meeting was to seek priority consideration from ministers. The subsequent step involves cabinet ministers deciding which councils will be included on the priority list. Should Suffolk be selected for the Devolution Priority Programme, a government-led consultation is anticipated in early 2025.
  2. District Councillor's Report: See attached report
  3. Questions from the Public: None received

4. Approval of Minutes

To approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21st November 2024 — Approved & Signed

5. Clerk's Update

  1. The Parish Rooms & Church thanks for continued support in 2024 — Noted
  2. Thank you from Gipping River Trust for donation — Noted

6. Planning

  1. To consider the following planning applications. — None received
  2. To note any planning determinations. — None received

7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure

— None received

8. Governance

  1. Precept agreement/signing — Precept Approved and signed. Clerk to submit — see attached
  2. Donation requests — Headway, CAB, Chinwags, EAAA, Claydon girls football team
  3. Chinwags: Representative Jenny Day presenting Chinwags Communities Together, located in Stowmarket, hosts a FREE CommuniTEA Chinwag at the Great Blakenham Village Hall every month to combat social isolation and loneliness among individuals aged 60 and over. They create a welcoming environment filled with various activities, entertainment, and, of course, refreshments like cake and fruit! With around 30 attendees each month, it's clear there's a strong demand for this initiative. Dedicated staff and volunteers help make this possible. Currently funded by Mid-Suffolk Council, this support will end in April 2025. Jenny the representative at the meeting is seeking additional funding to sustain the group for another year if possible — Donation of £1000 approved.
  4. Headway Suffolk: Headway Suffolk is a community charity dedicated to providing rehabilitation, support, and care for individuals affected by acquired brain injuries, strokes, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. — Donation of £500 approved. Councillor Leonard was not involved in the approval process due to him declaring an interest.
  5. East Anglian Air Ambulance: Dedicated to enhancing and delivering life-saving services, offering advanced pre-hospital medical care to those who are critically ill or injured in our community, available around the clock by both air and road during some of the most challenging moments in our lives. — Donation of £500 approved.
  6. Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk: has continued to offer vital support to the residents of Great Blakenham, tackling important challenges like debt, financial literacy, energy, employment, housing, benefits, consumer rights, legal issues, family matters, health, and education. They have also been organizing food parcels for those in need. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has made our services increasingly essential. We are dedicated to providing advice through various methods, including phone, email, and a growing number of in-person consultations. Over the past year, Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk assisted 39 individuals in Great Blakenham with a total of 488 issues, with many clients facing multiple challenges throughout the year — Donation of £500 approved.
  7. Claydon Girls Football Team: The team were hoping to raise £600 so that they can send under 10s girls team to play on the pitch at Portman Road — Informed that they had achieved target amount on their JustGiving page. Advised if need further funding going forward to contact the clerk.
  8. Three mobile phone contract — The annual SIM contract for clerks' phones has been extended for another year at a monthly rate of £13.00, reflecting a 13p increase per month.
  9. Visit to Gipping Valley Bowls Club — The club has extended an invitation to councillors to visit and observe the progress of the pavilion construction, as well as to understand how the council's donation is being utilised. Clerk to contact and arrange.

9. Allotments

  1. Update on licence signing: In November 2024, the solicitors representing the landowner of the allotment site indicated that negotiations or a license with an expiration date of October 10, 2026, needed to commence. If the parish council did not proceed, the landowner would require the land to be vacated. The Councillors unanimously agreed to sign the license to ensure the land's continued use. Councillors Durrant and Leonard made some amendments to the proposed license, which the solicitor subsequently accepted. The Councillors have signed the license and returned it for the landowner's signature, with a copy pending receipt. The Clerk to inform the current plot owners of these developments.
  2. Discuss offer of alternative site: An alternative parcel of land located across the road from the existing allotment site has been offered from the landowner, but it was agreed to reject the offer due to frequent flooding and inadequate access for vehicles and parking. The clerk will inform the landowner's solicitors.

10. Village Maintenance

Discuss Tender Contracts — Not all the councillors had managed to review the draft contracts submitted by the clerk. Agreed to defer until next meeting.

11. Churchyard and Cemetery

— No updates

12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk

— No requests received

13. Finance

  1. To consider approving and making the following payments: Approved
  • Gipping Valley Bowls Club
  • Gipping Valley Bowls Club
  • Payroll
  • HMRC
  • Nest
  • EE/K Grimwood
  • Shades
  • Suffolk.cloud

Payments outside of meeting December 2024

  • Shades
  • Payroll
  • EE/WIFI
  • Nest
  • Lloyds Bank
  • Lloyds Bank
  • Unity Trust

Money Received

  • Unity Trust bank

Bank Balance @ 30.11.2024

  • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £208,424.29
  • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £9,641.73

Bank Balance @ 31.12.2024

  • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £205,328.14
  • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £29,706.30

14. Reports

To receive reports from Councillors assigned to the following:

  1. Village Hall: Three representatives from the Gt Blakenham village hall committee (GBVH) attended the meeting to provide updates on progress thus far and to address any concerns, particularly regarding the solar panel proposal from Port One. The GBVH acknowledges that the solar panel proposal would likely result in lower electricity costs for the hall; however, they remain hesitant to move forward with the agreement due to ongoing issues with MSDC and Port One representatives, who have not supplied sufficient information regarding the advantages of the offer. They believe that thorough due diligence is necessary before making a commitment. An invitation has been extended to the relevant parties to attend their upcoming meeting, allowing for questions to be addressed.

It was advised that several tasks relating to the sustainability report have been completed. While they believe the roof is waterproof, they agreed that having it surveyed would be helpful to confirm its suitability for solar panels and any further work outlined in the sustainability report, e.g., guttering.

The community has provided positive feedback regarding the events organised over the past year e.g., Christmas party. This response has highlighted the need for such initiatives to continue, particularly for the less affluent members of the community. This success motivates them to continue helping the community.

The bar events and clubs are generating positive financial outcomes, leading to a much improved bank balance. They hope to use some of this bank balance to improve the CCTV at the hall amongst other things.

They still have big challenges in recruiting additional trustees and volunteers to help with the hall especially in regards to help with applying for grants and donations.

The PC recognises the dedication and improvements made to the hall under the new committee's leadership including club relationships. They fully support the village hall's future and have allocated funds to assist with potential requests going forward. As always, requests for support should include all relevant information, like quotes and any additional funding they may have secured, and must be submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting. This allows councillors to make informed decisions regarding approval. Councillors have asked for a list and potential photographic evidence of the work completed for their records. Additionally, they would like to receive a copy of the roof report upon its completion.

PC has confirmed that they are currently unable to provide a councillor as a trustee for the committee, but they are optimistic that this situation may improve in the future. They also request that all communications be directed through the clerk.

15. Correspondence

None received

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 February 2025 and any items for the agenda.

Karen Grimwood
Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
Date: 10/01/2025

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