Minutes Signed

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Exciting news for local bus users: Suffolk is set to receive an £8.1 million boost to improve bus services, especially benefiting rural areas. Additionally, a 5% increase in the precept has been agreed upon to address budget shortfalls for the upcoming financial year.
Present
Vice Chair Cllr Debbie Kemp, Chair Cllr Nick Leonard, Cllr Will Durrant, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chris Chambers.

1. To Receive and Approve Any Apologies for Absence

  1. MSDC Cllr Addrienne Marriott

2. Declaration of Any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

  1. Councillor's declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda. Cllr Nick Leonard for section 8C
  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. None

3. Public Forum

  1. To receive the report from the County Councillor — See attached report. Cllr Chambers advised that he has chased the road/flood repairs to Chapel Lane and it has been confirmed that should be completed in this financial year.
  2. To receive the report from the District Councillor — See attached report
  3. To receive questions from members of the public - None

4. To Approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Held on 10th October 2024

Approved

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

None

6. Planning

  1. To consider the following planning applications. — No planning received
  2. To note any planning determinations. DC/24/04350 26A Blueleighs Park, Chalk Hill Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich Suffolk IP6 0ND

7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure

Application for works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Order MS141/W1 - Fell 3 No. Ash trees (T1, T2 and T3) NOTED CONSENT GRANTED

  1. 88 Service Improvement update — Suffolk bus services are in line for £8.1 million boost to bus services in the next financial year. As the Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Cllr Chambers is committed to ensuring that this funding is used to better connect our communities — particularly those in rural areas — making it easier for everyone to access vital services and opportunities.

8. Governance

  1. Budget 25/26 - The budget forecast for the financial year 2025/2026 has been approved and signed. It has been determined that the projected income for the upcoming financial year will fall short unless the precept is raised. Consequently, it was agreed that a 5% increase in the precept is necessary. See attached budget forecast.
  2. Payroll review — The National Joint Council for Local Government Services has announced the establishment of a new pay scale for 2024/25, which will come into effect on April 1, 2024. SALC advises that councillors engage in discussions regarding this increase to raise clerks' salaries to the new level. During these discussions, the clerk briefly left the room. The councillors reached a consensus to approve the proposed increase, agreeing that it should be applied retroactively from April 2024.
  3. Donation requests — Deferred to next meeting
  4. Policy reviews — Subject Access Policy, Subject Access Procedure, Reserves Policy, Media Policy, Data Protection, Dignity at Work, Accident Reporting, Community Engagement, Co-Option Procedure, Co-Option Policy, Equality & Diversity Policy. All approved and adopted.
  5. POLBEF update - Cllr Leonard participated in the grant panel meeting, where two grants received approval. All parishes were encouraged to propose additional candidates who could benefit from a grant. The Gipping River Trust was highlighted as a potential candidate. The Clerk will reach out to them. Following this, the Port One Liaison Meeting took place. MSDC representative Richard Parmee is currently waiting for a management plan for the Gipping Meadows from consultants, which may take up to a year to finalise. It is anticipated that the meadows will primarily remain as grazing meadows, with some additional trees being planted.
  6. BMSDC Gambling act consultation — Agreed
  7. Gipping Valley update — The building of the Bowling Club Pavilion is coming along nicely and they envisage the re-opening to be in the spring. PC awaiting pro formas/invoices for works completed.

9. Allotments

  1. Update on licence — A licence from the landowner has been received. Agreed that Cllr Durrant will amend certain aspects of the conditions and then it can be sent back to the solicitors to start negotiations. It's looking highly likely that it will not be extended beyond 10 October 2026.
  2. Vandalism on site — The key codes on the gates have been changed due to some vandalism on some of the plots.

10. Village Maintenance

  1. Discuss Tender Contracts — It is acknowledged that the existing contracts require updates prior to their use for tendering when they expire in June 2025. The clerk will prepare drafts for discussion and approval at the upcoming meeting.
  2. Community black bins — The community black bins have been moved to the allotment site and MSDC have agreed to collect from Stowmarket Road.
  3. Discuss volunteer working party — Deferred to next meeting

11. Churchyard and Cemetery

No updates

12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk

13. Finance

  1. To consider approving and making the following payments: Approved
    • St Marys Church - Donation for Xmas festival of light £100.00
    • British Legion - Donation for wreath £50.00
    • Payroll - Clerk-Ending 30.10.24 £958.04
    • Shades - Maintenance/street cleaning as per tender inv 2569, 2570, 2571 £1959.17
    • River Gipping Trust - Donation for Insurance for 1 year £1000.00
    • SCC - Road Traffic Survey 9549372 £468.00
    • EE/K Grimwood - Reimbursement for WiFi hub/phone £28.04
  2. Payments outside of meeting
    • Nest - Month 7 Pension Ending 30.10.24 £41.08
    • Lloyds Bank - Bank Card fees £3.00
    • Unity Trust - Bank Service Charge £6.00
    • Three (HG) - Clerk phone £13.16
  3. Money Received
    • CIL
    • Bank Balance @ 31.10.2024
    • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £213,412.28
    • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £9,641.73

14. Reports

To receive reports from Councillors assigned to the following:

  1. Village Hall — Cllr Debbie Kemp — The clerk is tasked with sending a letter to GBVH to inform them that the PC will no longer be able to provide a member representative for the village hall committee. Additionally, the clerk will draft a letter for Cllrs approval outlining specific topics for discussion prior to the PC's continued financial support for the village hall.

15. Correspondence

  1. Sackers Explosions — Various emails concerning the amount and intensity of explosions at Sackers during October and November 2024 have been received. These explosions have been notified to SCC and the Environment agency. PC have also spoken to Health & Safety manager at Sackers to look into why we have had so many explosions recently.

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 9th January 2025 and any items for the agenda.

Karen Grimwood - Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer Date: 15/11/2024

Signed................................... 01/11/2025 Date ................

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