Minutes of Oulton Parish Council Meeting 9 February 2015

The Chairman, Brian Hunter, welcomed everyone and informed the attendees of the emergency/exit instructions.

The meeting commenced at 7pm.

  1. Attendance

Parish Councillors present were Brian Hunter, Charles Swan, George Hawes, John Grist, Bill Robertson, Peter Collecott, Carolyn Goslingand Lindsey Hook. Also present were County Cllr Bert Poole, the clerk Frances Aspinall and 5members of the public.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Captain Paul McDonough, David Jefferson and County Cllr Len Jacklin.

  1. Declarations of Interest

Cllrs Brian Hunter, John Gristand Peter Collecott declared an interest as members of Oulton Community Association.

  1. Minutes of Last Ordinary Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2015were proposed as agreed, subject to replacing Cllr Swan for Cllr Gosling on page 587 item 6, and each page was authenticated by the Chairman.

  1. Progress Updates Suffolk County Council Councillors’ and Waveney District Council

Parish Council

  • The closure of Oulton Street had caused a few problems, however Cllrs Hunter, Jacklin and Collecott had intervened as appropriate.
  • Cllr Grist gave a report on the meeting held with Jack Green concerning open spaces in the parish. A report following the Open Space Consultation should be published in March.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Ninety One Authenticated by The Chairman

Suffolk County Council

County Cllr Bert Poole reported: -

  • He and County Cllr Len Jacklin had met with Keith Sampson from Highways following the accident on Oulton Road North where a lamppost had been knocked over. There is a possibility that the road maybe made one way and a chicane put on Oulton Street near to the zebra crossing, after the spine road has been completed.
  • He had attended a cabinet meeting which was concerned mainly with a third river crossing.
  • As a member of the Public Transport Consortium he is able to take forward any issues that anyone has with public transport.

Waveney District Council

There was nothing to report.

  1. Police report

PCSO Sue Kershaw was on annual leave and a report was not available.

  1. Planning

Cllr Carolyn Gosling gave her report as follows: -

  • DC/15/0184/VOC – Bridleway Camps Heath – variation of condition 3 – will be followed up by Cllr Gosling with the planning department as the full implications are not understood.
  • DC/14/4235/FUL – 3 bed house Cutler Road – as the deadline preceded the meeting comments had already been submitted after consultation with councillors. “The application goes against policy DM02 – Design Principals. The proposed house will be too dominant and is forward of the existing building line of the properties directly to the west in Sands Lane. It will not relate well to the existing street scene.”

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Ninety Two Authenticated by The Chairman

  • DC/15/0115/FUL – 8 Birch Close – side and back extensions – no objections.
  • DC/15/0209/TPO – 17 Willowvale – 3 oak trees to be cut back – no objections.
  • DC/01/0977/OUT – discharge of condition No. 3A Woods Meadow Master Plan – details of an email from Persimmon Homes was also read out “I can confirm the intention is not to build on the part of the fat and bone site which has been identified as being at risk of contamination, which is approximately the area where the buildings were formerly located. The remainder will however be used for residential purposes. This intention is to stabilise the contaminated material in-situ, cap it with clean soil and present the area as Public Open Space. This strategy has been developed in consultation with the Council’s Environmental Health Officer and the Environment Agency, and is all subject to the Regulators’ approval. The area of Public Open Space is shown on the Master plan, which has now been approved by Waveney District Council.”
  • DC/14/3849/FUL – 262 Gorleston Road – revised plans permitted.
  1. The Open Forum

Neighbourhood Plan

As Chairperson Anne O’Callaghan reported that the steering group was gaining momentum and hopefully a referendum will take place in a year’s time. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 February at 6.30pm. Laura Townes from Persimmon Homes will be attending to discuss proposals for the country park. Liam Martin, chairman of Kessingland Parish Council will also be attending. A grant application is being made to cover future costs and a link will be established with the Oulton Parish Council website.The service agreement between Oulton Parish and Waveney District councils would be signed off after the meeting tonight. The next litter pick will be the following Saturday morning.

Mr Moore, a resident, said that the diverted footpath by Hobart Way was still not clearly signed. Cllr Swan said he would follow the matter up.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Ninety Three Authenticated by The Chairman

  1. Additional Matting for Exercise Equipment

Cllr Gosling has the matter under enquiry with Simon Walker and will report back as soon as she has some definite costs.

9. Road Names for Phase 1 of Woods Meadow

After much discussion it was agreed the clerk would submit a list of the names of the rectors of St Michaels Church as possible road names.

10. Layby Oulton Street

The possible time limits for parking were discussed and it was agreed 4 hours would be suitable. The clerk would advise Suffolk Highways accordingly of the councils opinion.

11.Clerks Report & Financial Matters

Financial

  • The clerk’s salary has been paid by standing order.

Correspondence

  • A letter and poster advertising campaigns by Age UK were presented.
  • The clerk outlined the details of the forthcoming election received from Waveney D C. Nomination papers will be sent around 20March and must be returned by 9 April.

Other

  • Relevant documents have been archived at the Lowestoft Records Office.
  • Dates for the Waveney SALC meetings were passed to Cllr Swan as representative.
  • The next meeting of the Northern Parishes is 17 February and will be attended by the clerk and Cllr Swan.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Ninety Four Authenticated by The Chairman

  • An overgrown hedge on Oulton Street was reported to Suffolk Highways and has been trimmed back.
  • A request had been received to use the open space at Holly Hill Camps Heath and is being dealt with by parishioners.

12.Any Other Business

  • Cllr Swan was concerned about the tarmac at the entrance to Bonds Meadow. This was done by the resident of the house adjacent as he was having trouble with drainage.
  • Cllr Swan raised concerns about the verge along Parkhill where vegetation has been removed, a gate put in a fence and a tree felled. After some discussion it was agreed the clerk would write to Suffolk Highways to get written confirmation of the ownership.

The chairman closed the meeting at 8.40pm. Thenext full meeting of the council will be on Monday 9 March 2015 at 7pm.

The parish councillors remained to discuss the salary increase due to the clerk. It was agreed that she should be paid the increase due in accordance with the published Local Government Guidelines from 1 January 2015. The council congratulated the clerk on the way in which she carries out the position of Clerk to the Council. Also her support and advice which is very much appreciated by Cllrs.

Police Report for the Month of January submitted after the meeting

There were four recorded crimes for the parish.

Theft of pedal cycle

Theft in dwelling

Theft -other – this was from a garage

Owner of a dog to enter a place and cause injury.

In and around rural North Lowestoft there has been thefts from garage and sheds, tools and fishing equipment have been taken, Suffolk Police remind residents to lock and secure items of high value in more secure area.

If residents witnesses persons or vehicles acting suspiciously, please ring 101 asking for Suffolk Police

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and NinetyFive Authenticated by The Chairman