Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Present: Cllr Steve Plume (Chairman), Cllr Debbie Kemp, Cllr Nick Leonard, Karen Grimwood (Parish Clerk), District Cllr Adrienne Marriott, SCC Cllr Chris Chambers, Village Hall Representative Karen Wheeler and five members of the public.

Minutes

To receive and approve any apologies for absence.
1. Cllr Will Durrant and Cllr Eoin McNamee
Declaration of any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, None Received for all sections
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.
Public Forum
1. To receive the report from the County Councillor. See attached report. Additional to the report a request to enquire about the flooding to Addisons Way and Chapel Lane near Brands. Highways are aware of the problem. Cllr Chambers to investigate further. Addisons Way has been improved with soakaway being cleared.
2. To receive the report from the District Councillor. See attached report.
3. To receive questions from members of the public. Issues regarding the No Mow May and the height of the weeds especially at the junction Chapel Ln and Bramford Road. Concerns that dog waste is not easily seen in the long grass - Advised that to report any dangerous junctions to Highways on the Highways Tool and the PC will instruct contractors to trim back some weeds in the meantime. Other areas that PC manage will have more grass. Our contractors will clear the area around Budgens but the grass on Hackney's Corner will not be cut until September (the area around the bench will be kept clear). We are trying to encourage a wildflower/grass area and are awaiting the licence to have suitable trees planted to make the corner more attractive. Along with the bank on Bramford Road, this will be managed in September. This is a long-term project so will take some time to cultivate. Concerns over the Port One new no right turn sign and vehicles — Advised that this issue has been reported to Highways and Cllr Chambers will follow up for an update. Has there been any update on the blocks placed on Blue Barn Lane? The issue has been reported to Highways and they have advised that they will investigate more practical ideas to stop motorbikes accessing the lane and to allow access for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Manhole cover outside Tollgate Farm is damaged so the noise from traffic driving over it especially HGV lorries is awful. Requires reporting to Highways.
To approve the Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 11th May 2023. Approved
To note the Clerk's update from previous Meetings. To advise that the external audit form has been completed and signed and is ready to be submitted to PKF Littlejohn - Form approved and signed
Planning
1. To consider the following planning applications — None received
2. To note any planning determinations — None received
3. Any other planning matters to note — None received.
Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure
1. To discuss bus shelter lighting ideas. Approved that reflection strip should be placed on shelter to ensure that it can be seen in the dark
2. To discuss painting bench in coronation colours. Agreed that contractors to provide quote to paint bench
3. To note submitted potential SID devices to highways. Noted
Governance
1. Budget forecast 23/24. Postponed until next meeting
2. To extend licence for Acronis (£260.00). Approved
Allotments
1. To discuss allotment review. Cllr Plume and Clerk conducted review of allotment. We have written to all allotment holders asking them to follow the terms of their tenancy and if needed those not being used will be either subdivided or passed on to the people on the waiting list. They're really working hard and overall; the allotments have never looked better. Noted that most of the new sheds require some work on the windows to make them more waterproof.
Village Maintenance
1. To discuss tree maintenance and quotes for Mulberry Gardens. None received to date
Churchyard and Cemetery
1. To consider any options for the rebuild and maintenance of the shelter in the Cemetery. Agreed that it might be best to gain quotes to replace the shelter rather than repair
Training and Development for Councillors and Clerk
Finance
1. To consider approving and making the following payments:
  - Shades Street cleaning as per tender — Inv 2328 £300.00 LGA 1972 s111
  - Shades Grounds maintenance as per tender - Inv 2329 £507.50 LGA 1972 s111
  - Shades Hackneys Corner Maintenance as per tender Inv 2330 £135.00 LGA 1972 s111
  - Monthly Payroll Ending 31st May 2023 £976.30 LGA 1972 s111
  - defibshop Replacement equipment/batteries for defibrillator Inv. 1000133688 £833.40 LGA 1972 s111
  - Barclays credit Card Office Equipment — Printer toners Inv-SOA2404615 Inv - SOA2404868 £540.00 LGA 1972 s111
Reports
1. To receive update on Village Hall: Gt Blakenham Village Hall — Karen Wheeler (VHMC representative). Charity accounts have now been filed. All Trustees have been listed and updated. VH having limited waste bins and are having problems with seagulls ripping waste bags open and causing mess. Cllr Plume advised that if they contact Sackers they will provide additional bins for a fee. The sustainability report for the VH building has been received and highlights that it requires complete redecoration, lighting, guttering fixed and work to be completed on the bar. VH currently looking for estimates for the work to be completed but do not have the funds. They will apply for additional s106 funding plus other funding and hope to work together with PC for help with costs. They hope to have an online calendar up and running soon so that people can book the hall for meetings and events. The playground will be re-opened on 15th July 2023 and will be combining with Grub on the Ground Event. There will be food outlets and free to attend. Posters will be posted soon. Looking into someone to cut the grass and maintain the land directly adjacent to the hall. PC to pass on details of their contractors. The AGM was cancelled due to bereavement, but a new date will be advised soon.
Correspondence None received
Future meetings
1. To note invitation for items to be considered in the next meeting. Quotes to improve Village Milestone.
2. To note the date of the next scheduled Meeting on Thursday 13th July 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: 16th June 2023

Flooding in Great Blakenham added to 22/23 Drainage Improvement Programme

I am pleased to confirm the continued flooding that affects properties up to 25 Gipping Road has been added to 2022/23 Drainage Improvement Programme. Engineers with specialist equipment attended the affected area throughout April and early May to investigate the issue with the hope they could alleviate the problem. However, as we had long suspected, the problem was far more serious. Therefore Suffolk Highways have added this to the 2022/23 Drainage Improvement Programme and designs are currently underway with works expected to be carried out by the end of 2023 or early 2024. This work will include raising both the kerbs and the footpath at the driveway to number 25 and repairing collapses to some pipes.

Library services protected as Suffolk County Council approves additional funding

Suffolk County Council in May underlined its commitment to library services in Suffolk. Suffolk County Council has underlined its commitment to library services in Suffolk, as it approved plans to increase its funding to Suffolk Libraries, to enable the service to continue operating at its current level, until the end of the contract in July 2024. Suffolk Libraries currently receives £5.9m per year from Suffolk County Council, however the service is forecasting a deficit of £60k per month from April 2023. The service has cited increases in service costs, a reduction in income opportunities following the Coronavirus Pandemic and rising inflation, as causes of the deficit. This means it is no longer possible for the service to continue operating at its current level of service, within its current contract value. At Suffolk County Council's Cabinet meeting, the council has approved plans to absorb this cost pressure, funding Suffolk Libraries an additional £720k per year, through to the end of the current contract in July 2024. This additional funding will support Suffolk Libraries to continue delivering its highly valued services to Suffolk Residents.

Suffolk residents urged to #ShakeItOut when recycling

A new campaign by Suffolk Waste Partnership is encouraging people to empty plastic bags and not throw them in recycling. The #ShakeItOut campaign has been launched by the Suffolk Waste Partnership to encourage households in Suffolk to help improve recycling rates across the county by making sure black bin bags and other plastic sacks are not thrown in with recyclable materials. #ShakeItOut is encouraging people to shake out plastic bags and keep recycling clean, dry, and loose. The Partnership, which comprises Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, Suffolk County Council, and West Suffolk Council, says more than a quarter (26%) of the materials in Suffolk's recycling bins in 2022/23 were not able to be processed as they were spoiled. Items that contributed to spoiled recycling collections included:

Materials that were not clean and dry, or contained food and drink residue
Rubbish sacks or plastic bags containing recycling
Non-recyclable items, such as nappies and food waste

Plastic bags and rubbish sacks are a particular problem — recycling handlers can't see what's inside them and they are often full of rubbish or other non-recyclable items. This means bags are removed during the sorting process to avoid spoiling other good recycling. Any removed bags are then sent for disposal.

£10 million new funding to fix residential roads

Local road surfaces in villages and residential areas in Suffolk should be blitzed as part of a new £10 million programme, Suffolk County Council has announced today (25th May). The extra funding will nearly double Suffolk Highways' £11 million annual roads maintenance budget, but be targeted at smaller residential streets which are typically maintained less frequently than busier A and B roads. The announcement was made by Suffolk County Council's leader, Cllr Matthew Hicks, at the authority's annual general meeting. The funding is subject to a formal Cabinet decision which will follow later this year.

Commitment to Improving Key Services

Cllr Hicks reiterated the council's commitment to improving services for children with special educational needs and disabilities, including £55 million to create 1,275 new SEND school places by 2025. Highways and SEND will be areas of particular focus for Suffolk County Council over the next two years. There was also reaffirmed commitments to deliver:

The Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft
New homes on SCC land
Further help for Ukrainian refugees
A new highways contract with Milestone Group
Hundreds more EV charging points
A £20 million flood prevention and footpath improvement programme.

To coincide with the annual general meeting, Suffolk County Council has published a list of its top 50 achievements since 2021, including:

Our Cassius Digital Care work and innovation is going from strength to strength
An extra £2.5m for mental health services
300 miles of road now designated as quiet lanes
New household waste sites in Ipswich and Haverhill
£13 million in funding secured for active travel
3,000 environmentally friendly homes being delivered on SCC land
250,000 trees planted
Over 100 new EV charging points
A new Highways Contract with Milestone starting in October
43,400 streetlights converted to LED.

District Councillor Report June 2023

Mid Suffolk's new leader outlines initial priorities. Mid Suffolk District Council's new leader has outlined the priorities for its new administration - refocusing the council's work in a "greener and more sustainable direction" whilst tackling community issues. Cllr Andy Mellen was elected as the council's new leader at the Annual Council Meeting on 22nd May. Cllr Rachel Eburne was appointed his deputy, while the new chair of the council will be Cllr Rowland Warboys with Cllr Daniel Pratt as vice-chair. The cabinet will be made up of six portfolios:

Cllr Andy Mellen (leader) - Performance and resilience
Cllr Rachel Eburne (deputy leader) - Finance and resources
Cllr Andrew Stringer - Heritage, planning and infrastructure
Cllr Tim Weller - Environment, culture and wellbeing
Cllr Richard Winch - Housing and property
Cllr Teresa Davis - Thriving towns and rural communities

In his leader's speech, Cllr Mellen said the administration would re-focus the work of the council in a "greener and more sustainable direction". He said the council would take the lead and work with others to address challenges faced by communities - such as the cost-of-living, finding an affordable place to live, provision of local services, town centre decline, public transport, and climate change. Cllr Mellen said the administration wanted to improve the 'liveability' of communities - supporting the provision of key facilities.

"This might be the local pub which also hosts the village post office or the food bank, two examples that are already happening. It could be redundant farm buildings re-purposed as a micro-brewery or a professional services centre, or the village hall which acts as a hub for community life. On the administration's approach to the climate emergency, Cllr Mellen said: "We must take environmental concerns into account in every decision that we make: how we work; what we invest in; the kind of houses we build, the locations we allow to develop, the type of businesses that we support and encourage, and all the services we provide."

Gateway 14: Latest plans submitted

Plans have been submitted for a new 164,500 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse unit at Gateway 14 - the new state-of-the-art business, innovation and logistics park taking shape in Stowmarket. Property developer Jaynic, in partnership with Gateway 14 Ltd - a wholly owned subsidiary of Mid Suffolk District Council - has submitted a reserved matters planning application for the latest addition to the Freeport East site, adjacent to Junction 50 of the A14. The new unit has been designed to include EV charging, LED lighting, solar PV, smart energy systems and rainwater harvesting, delivering low carbon and net zero solutions where possible. Biodiversity is also a priority, with high-quality landscaping, green corridors and nesting boxes all being introduced to support not only the wildlife and ecology but also to create a vibrant, attractive, and healthy working environment for employees. Gateway 14 Ltd and Mid Suffolk District Council also intend to bring forward a skills and innovation centre for the site, providing a dedicated space for start-ups and businesses looking at innovative ways to grow.

Suffolk residents urged to #ShakeItOut and keep recycling clean, dry and loose

A campaign encouraging people in Suffolk to shake out their plastic bags and not to put them in their recycling bins is underway. The #ShakeItOut campaign has been launched by the Suffolk Waste Partnership to encourage households in Suffolk to help improve recycling rates across the county by making sure black bin bags and other plastic sacks are not thrown in with recyclable materials. The partnership, made up of the county, district and borough councils in Suffolk, says more than a quarter (26%) of the materials in Suffolk's recycling bins in 2022/23 were not able to be processed as they were spoiled. Items that contributed to spoiled recycling collections included:

Materials that were not clean and dry, or contained food and drink residue
Rubbish sacks or plastic bags containing recycling
Non-recyclable items, such as nappies and food waste

Plastic bags and rubbish sacks are a particular problem - recycling handlers can't see what's inside them and they are often full of rubbish or other non-recyclable items.

This means bags are removed during the sorting process to avoid spoiling other good recycling. Any removed bags are then sent for disposal.

Rob Cole, of Suffolk Waste Partnership, said: "We know from previous research that 73% of Suffolk residents are concerned about the environment and most people want to get their recycling right. Our ShakeItOut campaign aims to help residents better understand their recycling services and ensure items are clean, dry and loose when they are placed in their recycling bins. We appreciate that some households may collect their recycling in plastic bags, to make it easy to carry out. This great work can be wasted if recycling is then added to your wheelie bin in a plastic bag. We're urging all Suffolk residents to make sure any plastic bags used to collect recycling are shaken out into the recycling bin."

Adrienne Marriott
Blakenham District Councillor
06/06/23