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.
Join in the community spirit with a litter pick along Bramford Road, organized by Cllr Chambers, aiming to keep our area clean. Exciting news as the new fire control room at Beacon House is now operational. Plus, check out the updated timetable for the No.88 bus service.
Present
Chair Nick Leonard, Vice Chair Debbie Kemp, Cllr Matt Powell, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), SCC Cllr Chris Chambers, MSDC Cllr Adrienne Marriott.

Minutes

  1. To receive and approve any apologies for absence.
    • Cllr Wheeler

    To note resignation of Cllr Durrant — Cllr Will Durrant resigned from his position as of 28/08/2025. The Parish Council would like to thank Will for all his help and time dedicated to the community in the last 5 years and wish him the best for the future.

  2. Declaration of any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests — None
    1. Councillor's declaration of interest appropriate to any item on the agenda.
    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. To receive the report from the County Councillor — See attached August 25 report.
      • Litter Picking: Cllr Chambers has arranged a litter pick along the length of Bramford Road and hopes the dual carriageway will be addressed next. He also hopes to set up liaison with local businesses to help keep this area clean.
      • Fire Control Room: The new fire control room, situated in Beacon House, has now gone live.
      • One Suffolk: Suffolk County Council's (SCC) bid for One Suffolk is now live.
      • SCC Finances: The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit has grown from £100m to £170m. There is insufficient funding to meet the demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). To cover the shortfall, SCC is borrowing against the capital budget, which is recorded as a negative reserve. It is hoped that future government reforms will help address this issue.
      • Public Transport: A new timetable has been introduced for the No.88 bus service.
    2. To receive the report from the District Councillor — See attached report.
      • Three Councils: MSDC bid for three councils is live.
    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 July 2025 — Approved
  5. To note the Clerk's update from previous Meetings.
    1. The clerk has begun the application process for planning permission on behalf of the village hall for hardstanding to hold storage container. Noted
    2. Awaiting update on meeting with MSDC and Boardly @ Roberts regarding use of land and planning permissions. Noted
  6. Planning
    1. To consider the following planning applications.
      • DC/25/03793
      • DC/25/03648
      • DC/25/03608
      • 64 Blueleighs Park, Chalk Hill Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich Suffolk IP6 0ND
      • 67 Blueleighs Park, Chalk Hill Lane, Gt Blakenham, IP6 0ND
      • Bridge House Building, Gipping Rd Gt Blakenham
    2. To note any planning determinations.
      • DC/25/02617
      • DC/25/03540
      • DC/25/02726
      • 30A Blueleighs Park, Chalk Hill Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich Suffolk IP6 0ND
      • 1 Blueleighs Park, Chalk Hill Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich Suffolk IP6 0ND
      • 1 Aspen Close Gt Blakenham IP6 0HQ
      • Pollard 1 No Oak (T1) reduce height and width by 10ft. Comments by 17/09/2025. No Objection
      • T1 Oak tree remove all deadwood. Comments by 11/09/25. No Objection
      • Proposed demolition of an existing structure and erection of a side extension to accommodate a new air chiller system, together with the installation of two storage containers and externally mounted gas coolers. Comments by 11/09/2025. No Objection
      • T1 Ash Remove tree as it's not suitable for location and has poor form. Noted
      • Repollard ash tree back to old cuts. Noted
      • Erection of single storey rear extension following removal of existing conservatory. Noted
  7. Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure
    1. Note Neighbourhood Planning Funding withdrawal update — Noted
    2. Note formal adoption of Baylham Neighbourhood plan — Noted
    3. Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan Update — Cllr Leonard attended the Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan Update. The consultant was unable to give a clear indication of the overall project cost, stating that it could range between £18,000 and £40,000. The consultant hopes to provide a more definitive figure in approximately one month's time. Councillors discussed whether to join the joint plan, noting that Great Blakenham has no land remaining for future development and that a Neighbourhood Plan may therefore offer limited benefit to the parish. It was agreed to defer a decision until the next meeting.
    4. Section 106 Agreements — Cllrs discussed MSDC Section 106 agreements and expressed concerns that the Parish has not, to date, received any benefits from the Port One development. Expected contributions had included items such as solar panels for the Village Hall and Parish Rooms, a community minibus service to GP surgeries, and the completion of Gipping Meadows. The Parish Council has requested that Cllr Marriott investigate the status of these benefits. It was also noted that a neighbouring parish is in discussions with MSDC regarding why joint parish CIL money from the Persimmon development was not allocated to Blakenham. Barham Parish and
  8. Governance
    1. To note increase in Payroll service — The parish minutes were noted, and it was agreed that SALC should continue managing/completing the payment of salaries.
    2. Note CIL Bid Consultation — Noted
    3. Note CIL debt recovery — Court hearing held on Monday, 14th August, regarding an outstanding CIL debt in Great Blakenham. Outstanding CIL debt case under planning permission; DC/22/01433, awarded a Liability Order. Debt recovery will continue to engage with the developer to settle the outstanding CIL charge of £51,711.83 (plus LPI).
    4. Note PCC update report — Noted
    5. Note pay award 2025/26 agreement reached — Clerk left the room whilst councillors discussed the pay awards. Parish agreed to the 3.2% increase from 1st April 2025. Clerk to advise Salc.
    6. PC Insurance Renewal — Renewal cost for PC Insurance cover £967.73 with CAS. Cllrs agreed to renewal and fees. Clerk to progress with payment.
    7. Funding request for St Marys Christmas fayre & festival — PC agreed to fund a prize for the xmas fayre and festival of £100. Clerk to progress with payment.
    8. Policy Reviews — PC reviewed and agreed noticeboard, whistleblowing and standing orders policies. Clerk to update website.
    9. Bank signatories — PC agreed to remove Cllr Will Durrant from the unity trust bank as a signatory and to add Cllrs Wheeler and Powell.
    10. Adobe renewal — PC agreed to not renew the Adobe subscription of £238.00 as it not used enough to warrant payment.
    11. River Gipping Trust request — PC are happy to support the trust but agreed that they would decline to purchase a bin for the River Gipping Trust as it's not PC land and suggested that they approach the landowner regarding this matter.
    12. Remembrance Day Wreath — PC agreed to donate £50 to the British Legion for a wreath for Remembrance Day.
    13. Discuss Port One Mitigation — PC expressed concerns about discussing any new mitigation benefits related to the Port One development. They stated that they are still waiting to receive the benefits promised from Phase One of the project. PC decided that there was too much to discuss during the current meeting and agreed that a separate committee meeting would be required to address the matters in detail.
  9. Village Maintenance
    1. Bramford Rd Bank Quote — PC discussed the quote for continued clearance of the bank on Bramford Road. They requested an updated quote to determine the cost if the contractor were to carry out the bank clearance twice yearly over a three-year period.
  10. Allotments
    1. Response from land agents — Clerk corresponded with land agent to see if rent or sale of land could be a lot cheaper. The main concern is that the Parish Council covers the cost of any new lease or rental agreement. Without offsetting, achieving a rent below £200.00 would be difficult, as this amount would be needed just to cover the cost of the agreement over time. The landowner is open to selling the land. Sale would be at agricultural value: £7,500 per acre (subject to contract). Essentially, the Parish Council faces a minimum rent of £200 unless the cost of agreements is offset, and if considering purchase, the price would be £7,500 per acre.
  11. Churchyard and Cemetery
    1. Quote for cemetery work — Contractors have provided a quote to reduce the cemetery hedging to approximately six feet on all sides, chip and remove the resulting waste, fill in dipping areas of graves, and reduce trees that require attention at a cost of £1,305. PC agreed to the works being completed.
  12. Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk — None
  13. Finance
    1. To consider approving and making the following payments — Approved
      • Payments outside of meeting August 2025
        • Three H3G DD
        • Payroll
        • Shades
        • Shades
        • Nest Pension
        • Lloyds
        • UniTrust
        • Anglian water
      • Income received
        • Mobile phone contracts
        • Clerk salary
        • Street Cleaning as per tender Inv 2727
        • Grounds Maintenance as per tender Inv 2726
        • Employer contributions Month 4 31.07.25
        • Bank card fee
        • Bank service charge
        • Allotment Water Charge
        • Cleansing Grant 2025/26 - £6,349.20
        • Cemetery Fees - £700.00
      • Bank Balance @ 31.07.2025
        • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £33,046.62
        • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £163,052.51
        • Total - £196,099.13
      • Payments to Approve September 2025 - Approved
        • MSDC
        • Three H3G DD
        • Payroll
        • Nest Pension
        • Lloyds
        • UniTrust
        • Shades
        • Shades
        • Shades
        • NSK Landscapes
      • Do/Litter Bin Em in 2025/2026
        • Mobile Phone contracts
        • Clerk salary
        • Employer contributions Month 5 31.08.25
        • Bank card fee
        • Bank service charge
        • Bus Shelter/signs/noticeboards as per tender inv 2746
        • Grounds maintenance as per tender inv 2745
        • Street cleaning as per tender Inv 2744
        • Mowing and strimming of bank Bramford road
      • LGA 1972 s111
        • £33.98
        • £1,050.22
        • £1,213.33
        • £2,758.33
        • £50.61
        • £3.00
        • £6.00
        • £49.49
        • £1,001.74
        • £33.98
        • £1,050.22
        • £50.61
        • £23.00
        • £6.00
        • £485.33
        • £758.33
        • £1,213.33
        • £672.00
      • Bank Balance @ 31.08.2025
        • Unity Trust Current Account Balance - £29,931.15
        • Unity Trust Saver Account Balance - £163,052.51
        • Total - £192,983.66
  14. Reports: None
  15. Correspondence
    1. Cemetery Close Development — The Parish Council has received emails from residents enquiring when the gates at Chalk Hill Lane will be removed, noting that they are unsightly, particularly as they have now been in place for over three years. The Clerk has contacted the developer, who advised that one more bungalow remains to be completed. The public footpath is expected to be completed no later than the beginning of the new year and then hopefully the gate will be removed at the same time.
    2. Chalk Hill Lane Noise — The Parish Council noted that concerns have been raised by residents regarding high noise levels in the Chalk Hill Lane area, occurring throughout the day and particularly during the early hours of the morning. SCC have been informed and they will are monitoring the situation.
    3. Speed Indication devices — It was reported that the speed indication device near the bridge has been vandalised. The WPC are arranging for it to be returned to the manufacturer for repair or replacement. The device on Stowmarket Road is operational but requires recalibration, which will be carried out shortly.
  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 10th October 2025 and any items for the agenda.

Karen Grimwood - Email: clerk@greatblakenhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Date: 6th September 2025

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