Minutes of Oulton Parish Council Meeting 9 June 2014

The Chairman, Brian Hunter, welcomed everyone and informed the attendees of the emergency/exit instructions.. Having been re-elected at The Annual Parish Council Meeting the Chairman recited his election oath which was accepted by the council.

The meeting commenced at 7pm.

  1. Attendance

Parish Councillors present were Brian Hunter, Charles Swan, John Grist, Bill Robertson, Carolyn Gosling, Paul McDonough, George Hawesand Peter Collecott who attended later in the meeting. Also present were County Cllr Bert Poole, the clerk Frances Aspinall and 7 members of the public.

Apologies were received from County Cllr Len Jacklin, Cllr David Jefferson and PCSO Sue Kershaw.

  1. Declarations of Interest

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

  1. Minutes of Last Ordinary Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2014 were proposed as agreed and each page was authenticated by the Chairman.

  1. Progress Updates Suffolk County Cllrs’ and Waveney District Cllrs’ Information

Parish Council

  • Cllr Hunter read out the notes of the Neighbourhood Plan Meeting held on 3June 2014. There will be an element of expense for the parish council to get the plan moving. After discussion it was agreed that £500 should be set aside for this purpose until the next annual meeting of the

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Forty Six Authenticated by The Chairman

parish. The consultation event to be held in July will be advertised on the website and in the journal.

  • The Clerk reported that she had contacted Health East and was told that the medical centre in Kirkley is for the whole of Lowestoft. Only blood tests will be provided at the old hospital.

Suffolk County Council

Cllr Bert Poole said there were no special grants for solar panels suitable for the community centre but suggested the Suffolk Empowering Communities Fund may apply. The clerk said she would send details to Barbara at the community centre.

The clerk brought attention to the press release, regarding the third river crossing, which Cllr Len Jacklin had sent her earlier.

Waveney District Council

There were no reports from district councillors.

  1. Police report

The clerk read out the report from PCSO Sue Kershaw as follows: -

“There were two crimes for the parish.Both crimes relate to glass fronts being smashed at the Parish Notice board on the corner of Meadow Road.The first crime of criminal damage, both glass fronts were smashed by unknown means, this occurred evening/next morning of 17th /18th.A second crime to this notice board was only one replaced glass panel being smashed again by means which may have been small stones or pellets this damage was between 27th/28thMay.Extra attention has been given to this area.

Police were called to a parking obstruction at the medical centre- I attended and the issues were resolved, this was Tuesday morning, vehicles could have parked neater and I have requested that painted lines be marked out on the area between the dentist and hall to relievethe problem. I have contacted S.C.C. highways to request the double yellow lines are repainted. Disabled drivers can park on this

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Forty Seven Authenticated by The Chairman

restricted area but cannot cause an obstruction to the entrance of the community centre.

I have issued one non endorsable parking ticket on Oulton North road at the junction with The Street Oulton, no waiting on double yellow lines.

Vehicles for sale have reappeared in the layby, I have issued stickers on windscreens- it is an offence to have vehicle for sale on a public highway.

A post, stating cycle lane, was severely damaged on Sands lane- I have viewed CCTV of this and at this present time we are unable to ID the driver. The vehicle was driving at speed, clipped the pavement turn sideways and round at this junction flattening the metal post.

On Millennium Way, it appears a person is deliberatelyputting used saw dust on the grass verge, this has been passed on to WDC for littering.

There has recently been a change made to the Community Priority Setting Meetings which will now be a joint North & South Lowestoft meeting. The new meeting will be held at Lowestoft 6th Form College on 1st July. The actual meeting will be between 6pm and 7.30, however for half an hour before and after the meeting, there will be staff from the Public Services on hand to speak to the public should they want to raise more minor issues. All residents are invited to attend, the North Lowestoft SNT officers will be present along with WDC and SCC councillors.

At this point the matter of the proposed new OPC notice boards was discussed. It was agreed that the clerk would contact SOLD to supply the boards as previously discussed but with polycarbonate instead of glass.

  1. Planning Matters

There had been no new planning applications.

Cllr Grist read out the OPC comments submitted to the planning department regarding the application at plot 23 Mobbs Way and the response received back from Chris Green.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Forty Eight Authenticated by The Chairman

Cllr Gosling gave her report as follows: -

  • There was nothing further to report regarding the drainage ditches at the old ambulance site as the matter is still under enquiry with the property team. The tyres and horse muck at the nearby field should be cleared soon.
  • The sale of land at Melrose Close was still unclear. After some discussion it was agreed that the Chairman would write to Stephen Baker (CEO of WDC) to establish the full facts.
  • The application for 53 houses on Hall Lane would be decided by the planning committee on 17th June at 6pm. As Cllr Gosling is unable to attend Cllrs Hunter and Swan agreed to attend and speak on behalf of the parish council.
  • The adult play equipment has been ordered but a delivery date is not yet known. Cllr Robertson will ensure that a LOGO is available to use on the signage.
  • There is £6,000 S106 monies available for play equipment at Bloomsbury Close. After some discussion it was agreed that the clerk would contact Cllrs Jacklin and Poole to find out how much they were willing to contribute from their locality budgets. Parish Cllrs would then meet to discuss how much would be donated and what should be ordered.
  • The damage to the fence at the community centre had been reported to Waveney Norse.
  1. The Open Forum
  • Mrs O’Callaghan, a resident, thanked Cllrs Hunter and Swan for their intention to attend the planning meeting on 17th June 2014. She said she would also attend and would speak.
  • Mrs Small, a resident, said she was still concerned where the crossing on the new spine road would be situated. Cllr Gosling said she would contact Keith Sampson at Suffolk Highways to ask for an update. She also asked if there had been any progress with the town sign. Cllr Collecott agreed to follow it up.
  • Mr Small, a resident, was concerned that there was very little promotion of tourism in Lowestoft, especially in connection with “Heritage”.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Forty Nine Authenticated by The Chairman

  1. Clerks Report & Financial Matters

Financial

  • The clerk’s salary had been paid by standing order.
  • Cheque no 100781, £35.00 for use of room at Parkhill was drawn.
  • The 2014 audit had been submitted and all the relevant paper work had been displayed on the notice boards.

Correspondence

  • Thank you letters for annual donations had been received from SARS, East Anglian Air Ambulance and Oulton Community Council.
  • Details of the trunking and de-trunking, by Highways, of the A12 was received.
  • An email had been received asking for information to be put on the parish website for the Home Alarms Service. It was agreed that this could be done.
  • Paper copies of the Village Profile were distributed.
  • Attention was brought to the Suffolk Empowering Communities Fund, which had already been circulated by email.
  • An email had been received from a resident concerned about the overgrown trees and bushes on the bund on Millennium Way. The clerk will report the matter to Highways.
  • SWT had contacted the parish council regarding a stretch of Fisher Row as a resident was willing to keep the path clear. It was agreed that there were no objections to this. It was also agreed in principle that a post for a lifebelt and a sign could be replaced.

Minutes Page Number Five Hundred and Fifty Authenticated by The Chairman

  1. Any Other Business
  • Cllr Grist reported that traffic was travelling too fast down Bloomsbury Close and traffic calming measures should be considered. This will be discussed at the next meeting.
  • Cllrs Gosling reported that two oak trees in Cheviot Road were overgrown. The clerk will report this to Highways.
  • Cllr McDonough said that St Margaret’s Church would be holding a celebration of the outbreak of the First World War during the week commencing 4th August 2014.

The chairman closed the meeting at 8.55pm. Thenext full meeting of the councilwill be on Monday 14 July 2014 at 7pm.

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