Minutes of Oulton Parish Council Meeting 14 March 2016

The Chairman, Brian Hunter, informed the attendees of the emergency/exit instructions and opened the meeting.

The meeting commenced at 7pm.

  1. Attendance

Parish Councillors present were Brian Hunter, John Grist, David Jefferson, Peter Collecott, Bill Robertson, Capt. Paul McDonough, Lindsey Hook and Carolyn Gosling. Also present were District Cllrs Jane Murray and Malcolm Cherry, County Cllrs Bert Poole and Len Jacklin, the clerk Frances Aspinall and 9 members of the public. Apologies were received from Cllrs George Hawes andCharles Swan,

  1. Declarations of Interest

Cllrs Brian Hunter, John Grist, Capt. Paul McDonough and Peter Collecott declared an interest as members of Oulton Community Association.

  1. Minutes of Last Ordinary Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2016 were proposed as agreed and each page was authenticated by the Chairman.

  1. Progress Updates Suffolk County Council Councillors’ and Waveney District Council
  • Cllrs Hunter and McDonough have arranged for Oldman Homes to transport the village sign and bench (corner of Union Lane) to be transported to Lowestoft College where they will be refurbished by students. Any costs for materials will be met by Oldman Homes.

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and sixty six Authenticated by The Chairman

  • A meeting was held at Riverside with Keith Sampson from Highways. Notes of the meeting are at Appendix 1.

Suffolk County Council

Cllr Poole reported that he was trying to arrange a meeting with Bridge Road Surgery. He had visited the acute ward at Northgate Hospital and attended a board meeting at James Paget Hospital where targets are now back on track.

Waveney District Council

Cllr Murray had attended a devolution meeting in Woodbridge, environmental protection training, the third river crossing briefing given by Moucel (engineers), a meeting with Keith Sampson from Highways and a Neighbourhood Steering Group meeting.

Her casework has included the provision of dog bins (ongoing), fencing around Oulton Broad Primary School (resolved), the problems with parking near the school, drainage along Church Lane and fly tipping at Camps Heath.

Cllr Cherry has received calls about signs that have gone missing in the area, (following up with Suffolk C.C.) and pavements being broken up by HGV’s. He continues his surgeries on Tuesdays which have included fly tipping and antisocial behaviour.

  1. Police Report

PCSO Sue Kershaw sent the following report: -

“There was one recorded crime for the parish this was Criminal damage.I have received complaints about the parking at the bottom of Sands lane at school time, the lines are in poor repair and I have requested Highways for repainting the double lines and likewise in Camps Heath.I have reported abandoned vehicles on the parish to W.D.C. to deal with.”

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and sixty seven Authenticated by The Chairman

  1. Open Forum

Two residents raised their concerns regarding a planning application for 4 terraced houses on land adjacent to 19 Union Lane. (District Cllr Malcolm Cherry left the meeting as he is a member of W.D.C. Planning Committee whilst this was discussed). Cllr Gosling gave some background information about the site and advised the residents how they could send their objections to Waveney.

Mrs Small pointed out that the charge for the green bins commences on 29February but the council tax is levied from 1 April to 31 March. Cllr Cherry said he would follow this up. She also asked about the missing bin on Park Meadows (being dealt with by Cllr Murray), overgrown bushes on Bentley Drive (Cllr Poole to follow up) and the lack of official notices to patients when Oulton Medical centre closed.

Mrs Graham, a resident of Fallowfields, expressed her concerns about the play area that her young children are being told they can’t play on even though it is shown as a designated play area on the plans. Cllr Gosling had met with Simon Walker (Waveney Norse) and it had been agreed that a sign would not be erected to deter children from playing. Some trees will be planted to provide some screening for the nearby properties.

Mr Moore said he was concerned with the number of adult cyclists that illegally rode on the pavement. The clerk will advise the police accordingly.

Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Anne O’Callaghan reported that the steering group had met with Jo from W.D.C. and Gillian from S.C.C. Lots of research was still required before the questionnaire could be compiled as the questions must be evidence led. This must be a joint venture with the parish council as it will eventually be their plan. Cllr Hunter gave his report regarding this and a copy is at Appendix 2. The next meeting of the steering group will be held on Tuesday 22 March 2016.

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and sixty eight Authenticated by The Chairman

7. Planning Matters

Cllr Gosling had not received replies to the emails she had sent to Persimmon Homes regarding earlier concerns. She had, however, spoken to Chris Sperrin earlier in the day and established: -

  • The school footprint had not been agreed and so the country park cannot be marked out yet.
  • The actual hours being worked by the builders is being looked into.
  • A revised plan is being done for the link road and a meeting is due to be held. Cllr Gosling will send the views of Oulton Parish Council as they have not been invited to attend.
  • The lagoon is still under enquiry.
  • The tall conifers at the back of Whiting Road will be dealt with by Persimmon Homes.
  • The extension to the industrial estate will be dealt with soon.

A meeting had been held with Simon Walker on 26 February 2016. The old play equipment at Dunston has been removed by Oldman Homes and the new kit should be installed very soon. Matting is missing at Bloomsbury play area and will be replaced. The junior swings on Oulton Meadow will be re-painted and the wildlife planting done.

DC/16/0893/FUL – 4 terraced houses on land adjacent to 19 Union Lane -objection agreed asoutside the physical limits, not in keeping with the area, no footpath, increase in traffic and parking and more beneficial to the parish to keep the land agricultural.

DC/16/0699/ARM – 3 Hall Lane - approval of reserved matters (amended application was refused) this application is similar to original and there is no objection but similar comments will be made to the planning department.

DC/16/0646/FUL – Beatrice Cottage Camps Heath – 2 storey extension – no objections.

DC/16/0119/FUL, DC/15/4840/FUL and DC/16/0075/FUL have all been permitted.

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and sixty nine Authenticated by The Chairman

8. Projects to Commemorate World War 1

Cllr Hunter read out a letter received from Peter Aldous MP outlining the Heritage Lottery Funding that is available. After discussion it was agree that there were no relevant projects in the parish.

9. Bonds Meadow Drainage

Cllr Hunter gave a history of the water drainage in the area and referred to the parish council meeting held on 13 April 2015 when the encroachment of Bonds Meadow ditches was discussed. After that meeting Persimmon Homes confirmed that this would not affect the drainage from Woods Meadow. A planning application is expected to be made for an easement pipe through Bonds Meadow and so further enquiries will be made to Persimmon Homes.

10. Clerks Report

Financial

  • The clerk’s salary has been paid by standing order.
  • Cheque have been drawn -100812 £168.57 clerks expenses and 100813 £50.00 printing of leaflets.
  • £500 locality budget from S.C.C. received for neighbourhood plan.

Correspondence

  • A consultation by the Broads Authority will take placeat Oulton Community Centre on 19 March 2016 from 10 am.
  • S.C.C. have asked for ideas to promote walking in Suffolk. A reply will be sent by the clerk to suggest walking buses for schools.
  • Commemorative Medals for the Queens 90th birthday are available to purchase by local authorities.
  • 2 Copies of The Local Councillor were distributed.

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and seventy Authenticated by The Chairman

11. Any Other Business

  • The telephone box in Camps Heath has been refurbished. The clerk will design a poster to advertise details of the parish council for the box.
  • A bench in memory of Eve Dungate will be put on the agenda for discussion at next months meeting.

The chairman closed the meeting at 9.35pm. Thenext full meeting of the council will be on Monday 11 April 2016 at 7pm in the lounge at Oulton Community Centre.

Minutes Page Number six Hundred and seventy one Authenticated by The Chairman

Appendix 1

Notes of Meeting Held 22 February 2016 at Riverside

Present

Keith Sampson (Area Engineer Suffolk Highways), County Cllrs Len Jacklin & Bert Poole, District Cllr Jane Murray, Oulton Parish Cllrs Brian Hunter, JohnGrist, David Jefferson & Lindsey Hook and OPC clerk Frances Aspinall.

Cllrs expressed their concerns with the following:-

  • Oulton Road North being used as “rat run”.
  • The dangerous pedestrian crossing and narrow pavements in Oulton Street.
  • HGV’s using the village (weight restrictions not in place).
  • A yellow box at the junction of Somerleyton Road & Oulton Road North.

A site meeting had previously been held 9 July 2013 regarding these road problems and Cllrs were concerned that no action had been taken regarding them since. It was understood at the time that the matters would be taken up following the outcome of a traffic survey planned after the new spine road had been opened.

Keith Sampson said that the outcome of the traffic survey was still awaited but he would contact Clive Wilkinson to find out if there any proposed remedial works planned. He agreed to start a feasibility study immediately for the crossing in Oulton Street and arrange for a yellow box at the junction in Somerleyton Road as soon as possible.

The new spine road through Woods Meadow is still being considered by planners.

Frances Aspinall

Clerk Oulton Parish Council

Appendix 2

Report to Oulton Parish Council on Monday 14th April 2016 regarding the progress of the Oulton Neighbourhood Plan Group.

Thanking the Oulton Neighbourhood Plan Group Chair on her update it is appropriate at this time to recognise the work put in since the Group's inception and what has thus far been achieved on behalf of and in support to this Parish Council. Originally it was understood that the Neighbourhood Plan was to be community based and encouraged participation from parishioners, local commerce and industry to have an input into developing the plan. Ultimately the plan will be the 'property' and ownership of the Parish Council and recognised by statute.

As we have heard a stage has been reached where for around the next six months an amount of detail has to be added and inserted into the plan before it can be presented to Oulton residents hopefully to be received and endorsed. Accordingly there is now a role for this Parish Council to play working with members of the neighbourhood plan to bring it to that position. Such areas as planning, housing, medical, educational transport and environmental matters need positive profiles to accommodate realistic expectancies for the future.

I believe that to arrive at this position we all (parish councillors) should adopt one area of interest to work with the neighbourhood plan to bring about and enable the completion of the final document. It has been accepted that it is essential that the final presentation will have the full support of this Council and that evidence is supported that we have been part of it.

Respecting that it would be really helpful if Councillors could give consideration to which areas of detail they could have an input.