PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD
MON 25 JANUARY 2016 @ 7.30p.m.
@ THE VILLAGE HALL, CREETING ST MARY
Present: Cllrs N Hardingham, R Coton, N Smart, P Scully & J Palmer.
Mrs A Squirrell (Clerk)
In Attendance: MSDCllr S Morley
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1. Public Session – nothing raised
2. Apologies
Cllr A McKelvie, D Primmer (CSM Welfare Charities).
3. Reports from District/County Councillors/Police
SCC - Cllr Hicks: the January report had been circulated for comment.
MSDC – Cllr Morley: presented her report highlighting her Locality Budget rewards should be decided by end January; Housing grants for council tenants to help buy on the open market and free up council properties; the reduction of income from Government by 30%; office accommodation review for Babergh & MSDC planned.
Police Report: no report received.
4. Declaration of Pecuniary/Non-Pecuniary interest – None raised
5. Approval of minutes of the Parish Council Annual Meeting held on 16 November 2015 and the Planning Meeting held 11 January 2016 and to consider any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda
PC Meeting 16 November 2015
It was proposed by Cllr Scully, seconded by Cllr Palmer and unanimously agreed that these were a true record of the meeting held. They were then signed by the Chairman.
Matters Arising
18-2015/16 5 -13-2015/16 7(i) Highways – warning to vehicle drivers approaching St Marys Rd from Alder Carr Farm: although the warning notices have been erected at Alder Carr Farm it was reported that drivers are not always taking note. It was agreed that SCC Highways would be approached to see if white line warnings could be placed in the road.
19-2015/16 5 -13-2015/16 12 (i) – repairs to notice boards: The notice boards at Jacks Green Road and St Marys Gardens Road have now been replaced and thanks sent to the volunteers responsible.
20-2015/16 8(iv) Requests for Sponsorship/Donations: after receiving further information from Val Brittain regarding the setup and use of the recently formed Mother and Toddler group, it was proposed by Cllr Hardingham, seconded by Cllr Smart and unanimously agreed that a one-off donation of £50.00 be made as “seed” funding for the group.
Planning Meeting 11 January 2016
It was proposed by Cllr Scully, seconded by Cllr Hardingham and unanimously agreed that these were a true record of the meeting held. They were then signed by the Chairman.
There was no Matters Arising.
6. Blacksmiths Field
(i) General
Cllr Palmer submitted her report, see appendix 2.
(ii) A report was presented by the Blacksmiths Play Area committee which showed that they held sufficient funds to covers the costs of equipment suitable for stages 1 and 2 of the proposed replacements. Confirmation had been received that Breheny Ltd were still willing to install the equipment free of charge and were looking for an early start date, possibly February. It was proposed by Cllr Smart, seconded by Cllr Scully and unanimously agreed that the group be approved to submit an order to Sovereign Play Equipment to provide the equipment as per their quote dated 24 November 2016 for £6,310.09net.
The clerk was asked to research costs of a rubberised play surface as an alternative to the proposed grass or play bark.
(iii) Regular Maintenance Plan for BSF
A list of routine maintenance for BSF was submitted for consideration. It was agreed to postpone any decisions pending further research on possible contractor costs or volunteer promises.
7. Website Advertising
A request had been received asking for permission to run advertising on the village website. After discussion it was decided not to pursue this matter at this time. Further clarification from SALC has confirmed this decision.
8. Reports from Parish Councillor Representatives not raised elsewhere
8.1 Report from SALC Representative – Cllr Coton
Nothing significant to report.
8.2 Report from Emergency Co-ordinator – Cllr Coton
MSDC has asked for an update on progress of CSM Community Emergency Plan.
8.3 CSM Welfare Charities –
It was reported that 19 retirement grants and 1 TV license grant had been made since January 2016.
8.4 CSM Village Hall Report – Cllr Smart.
Nothing significant to report.
8.5 Newsletter – there is still a request for a replacement editor.
8.6 Highways –
It was reported that there is still significant surface water flooring at the The Waterings; SCC Highways will be notified.
Repairs to the fencing along the footpath to the church is still outstanding; this work is on order with SCC Highways who have said the contractors will need to close the road to enable them to carry out the work.
The road surface at Jacks Green/Flordon Road is breaking up; this will be reported to SCC Highways for repairs to be carried out.
Recent road closures through the village have caused serious inconvenience to users due to lack of information. Suffolk Highways will be asked to identify where closures are taking place when notifying of future closures.
8.7 Sustainability – Cllr N Hardingham.
It was confirmed that the gift of saplings from the Woodland Trust would be available for planting during March. Planting sites were discussed.
An update on the decision for the rail crossing at Gypsy Lane, Needham Market suggests the footpath will be diverted through the existing culverts at Badley Hill; a public meeting will be called to make the decided announcement.
8.8 Footpaths – Cllr P Scully
Cllr Scully had reported broken FP signs for repair.
It has been agreed that the Crown Street river footbridge will be added to the definitive footpath map although it is not currently listed to be maintained by SCC.
9. Finance
(i)(ii) Financial Report & Payment for Goods & Services
See RFO report at Appendix 1.
(iii) Precept Application for 2016/17
The form was completed and signed and would be submitted to MSDC before Jan 31 2016. The precept figure applied for was £8,700.00; no change from last year.
10. Planning –
(i) New Planning Applications.
Ref: 4459/15 – 53 All Saints Road, Creeting St Mary – 1st floor rear extension & single storey side extension and associated works.
After discussion it was proposed by Cllr Smart, seconded by Cllr Palmer and unanimously agreed that a comment of support of this application be submitted to MSDC.
Ref: 0100/16 – Land at Shrubland Lodge, Shrubland Park, Norwich Road, Coddenham – installation of 25m high monopole supporting 3no antennas, etc.
Following discussion it was agreed “No Comment” be made to MSDC.
(ii) MSDC Planning Decisions received –
Cllr Hardingham reported that MSDC had approved the planning application from Poundfield Products, Grove Farm, Creeting St Peter, for a new office block and machine store, albeit with several planning conditions.
11. Correspondence
(i) Arrangements for Local Celebrations for Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations.
SALC has requested details of any local celebrations parishes are organising to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday. Dates suggested by them were 21 April 2016 asking whether villages with beacons would be willing to light them and 11-12 June as a celebration weekend. It was suggested that the latter date could coincide with celebrations to mark the official opening of the new play area. The Clerk was asked to contact the Social Club to see if they would like to participate before confirming any final decisions.
12. Matters to be brought to the attention of the Council
Nothing significant to report.
13. Date of next Meeting: Mon 7 March 2016
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.10pm
Appendix 1
RFO Report to PC Meeting 25 January 2016
Income/Expenditure since 17.11.15 with actual totals
19.11.15 / Construction Notice Boards (B Jessup) / 100723 / 24 / £250.00
07.12.15 / MSDC (Play Equip Insp Apr/Sept) / 100724 / 25 / £72.00
18.12.15 / MSDC (ROSPA Annual Inspection) / 100725 / 26 / £54.78
21.12.15 / Vertas Grass Cutting Q3 / 100726 / 27 / £246.08
30.12.15 / HMCR / 100727 / 28 / £137.60
30.12.15 / Clerks Salary (Oct/Nov/Dec) / 100728 / 29 / £551.14
30.12.15 / Interest (Reserve ac) / N / 0.69
30.12.15 / Interest (BSF ac) / O / 0.57
08.01.16 / BSF Big Lottery Grant / P / 9150.00
12.01.16 / G Peck (Grasscutting) / 100729 / 30 / £90.00
25.01.16 / CSM PCC Churchyard Mtnce / 100730 / 31 / £500.00
25.01.16 / NMkt 1st Responder Donation / 100731 / 32 / £50.00
25.01.16 / B Jessup (Notice Board repairs) / 100732 / 33 / £48.09
Totals / 32827.69 / £7,331.97
Balance / 25495.72
Note:
1. Construction of 2no Notice Boards (Jacks Green Rd/St Marys Gdns Rd) total £298.09
2. Authority given to release budgeted donation for Churchyard Mtne £500.00 as proven by receipted invoice
3. Authority given to release budgeted donation to NMkt 1st Responders £50.00
Appendix 2
BLACKSMITHS’ FIELD REPORT –
I have carried out an inspection of Blacksmiths’ Field and submit my report for our meeting
scheduled on the 25 January.
The entrance to the field is a little muddy, but the matting is helping to stop it becoming
impassable.
Unfortunately despite three signs on the entrance to the field regarding dog fouling, there is still
evidence that people aren’t clearing up after exercising their dogs. The dog waste bin is being
used.
The play equipment looks in good repair and there has been no further deterioration around the
slide. Over the past weeks I have been refilling holes that have been dug in the tree bark. I’m not sure what animal is causing this, although I have seen a fox in the area. They are not huge holes,but it could cause a toddler to lose their footing if they step into one of these.
The Minutes circulated earlier in the week for the Play Equipment Committee confirms that we are now in a position to purchase the play equipment for phases one and two. Ann will approach
Brehenys to ask if they will store the equipment and commence the installation in the spring. It is
hoped to have a formal opening to coincide with the Queen’s 90th Birthdays celebrations. Rob will give an update in the Newsletter and will also ask if anyone would like to donate a picnic bench for the site, perhaps in memory of a loved one. It was also suggested that the first bench should be in memory of Alan Walton and Ann will approach the Executors of the Estate.
The ground has been newly marked out for what I assume to be a football pitch. However, it is in the opposite direction to the goal posts.
I haven’t heard if the trees the Parish have been offered are available. To give them a chance of
surviving I would hope they would be planted by early spring.
The remainder of the field is in a good state of repair.
Cllr Jan Palmer
28 – 2015/16 PC Mtg 25.01.16