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Minutes of the meeting of the WICKHAM MARKET PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 19 January 2009 at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Mr M Argent (Chairman), Mr G Plater (Vice Chairman), Mrs J Breese, Mrs J Evans, Miss P Johnson, Mrs S Lewis, Mr M Manning, Mr P Ridd, Mr M Roseveare, Mr C Tucker
Also present: Mr B Hall (District Councillor)
Mrs C Aitchison (County Councillor)
In attendance: Mr J Hoe
- APOLOGIES were received from Mrs P Bell, Miss V Pizzey and Mr P Revett
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mrs J Evans declared a personal interest in Item 6 Car Parks.
- MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2008 were signed as a true record subject to the deletion of “southern” in paragraph 6.3 and the insertion of “northern”.
- MATTERS ARISING
Tennis Courts - concern was expressed that the reinstatement by the contractor of some of the grassed areas surrounding the courts was not of the quality expected. Mrs Lewis stated that she would raise this matter with the Wickham Market Partnership at its next meeting.
- PRESENTATION
Mr Jon Denny, the driver/coordinator of the “Go with the Flow” Youth Bus project gave a brief presentation on the history and working of the Youth Bus. He stated that the bus would travel round the Framlingham/Leiston cluster area stopping for two hours between 7.30 and 9.30 in different villages on different nights. Wickham Market was likely to be weekly on a Thursday night and he was waiting to hear where the Parish Council would like the bus sited on these visits.
The bus was very high tec with computers, controlled internet access, televisions, music mixing equipment etc. Also present would be fully trained and CRB checked youth workers. There was room on the bus for 25 young people at any one time.
He asked that if the Parish Council had any ideas for additional activities on the bus then to let him know. It was suggested that a management committee of young people might make the bus more relevant to its users. Mr Denny agreed this was a suggestion worth considering.
Funding at the moment was through the Lottery, Suffolk County Council and some sponsors and funding for the next 12 months and possibly a further 12 months was in place. However any contribution from a parish council would be welcome.
- CAR PARKS
6.1 It was reported that the District Council had erected signs in the village hall car park indicating that the car park was only for users of the village hall.
6.2 The Chairman reported that a response had been received from the Cabinet member with responsibility for car parks at Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) concerning the Parish Council's suggestions for the management of Chapel Lane car park.
The letter indicated that SCDC had reservations about the suggested management proposals relating to a limit of 2 hours with no return within 2 hours and a means of monitoring this. It would not be implementing the suggestions for reasons of cost and legal implications.
The letter did indicate that if anyone were issued with a Excess Charge Notice when they had to make a return visit to the doctors surgery or to pick up a prescription, then it would be cancelled on appeal.
The Parish Council regretted the attitude taken by SCDC as it saw its own suggestions as offering an imaginative and workable means of policing use of Chapel Lane car park.
Whilst acknowledging the letter the Council made it clear that they would not let this matter rest and would consider ways of publicising its concerns.
- OPEN SESSION - COMMENCED AT 8.10pm
Mr Hoe reported that he had attended the Police Tasking meeting on 19 January 2009. Three main issues were raised for Wickham Market which were anti-social behaviour, speeding in Broad Road and alcohol designation area signing.
Anti-social behaviour, particularly involving drinking on the Hill, was to be one of the Tasking issues for the future.
Speeding in the village had recently been monitored whilst Mr Hoe was manning the mobile police station. This would be the arrangement for the future. Parling outside the Co-operative stores would also be monitored.
The police wanted to increase the Alcohol Designation Signs by 5 so that it was clear where the no drinking areas were. It was not clear who would pay for these but it was agreed that a small contribution could be made.
RESOLVED
That a sum of up to £100 be approved for the purchase of the Alcohol Designation Signs.
Mr Hoe continued that the Wickham Market Volunteer Group had carried out 340 jobs since April 2008.
Mrs Aitchison, the County Councillor, reported that with the £3,500 for the basketball court her locality budget 2008/09 was now exhausted so no further applications would be considered this year. Suffolk County Council would be meeting in February 2009 to discuss the budget and it was intended to keep council tax as low as possible.
Mr Hall, the District Councillor, expressed his gratitude for the £3,500 locality budget grant and indicated that Suffolk Coastal DC would also be meeting in February 2009 when it was aiming for no more than a 3% budget increase.
He was concerned that the out of hours doctors service now appeared to be non-existent as doctors were no longer turning up. The Wickham Market Partnership had put a lot of money into the surgery and as the service was now so poor the Parish Council might like to take a stance.
RESOLVED
That a letter of concern be sent to Take Care about the out of hours surgery.
Finally he reported that the Wickham Market railway station was celebrating its 150th birthday this year. He asked for any artefacts that anyone might have on the station to be made available for an exhibition.
The public session closed at 8.35pm
10 SPORT AND LEISURE
10.1 As mentioned above the basketball court had received a locality budget grant of £3,500 and the Wickham Market Partnership was funding the balance to ensure a spring 2009 start.
10.2 In considering the siting for the youth bus the Parish Council considered a number of sites. It also discussed financial support for the bus.
RESOLVED
1) That the Youthbus be sited in the current bus layby on the Hill during the winter months and in the Village Hall car park during the summer months.
2) That at the appropriate time the Council will consider making a small sum available to support the cost of the bus.
11 PLANNING MATTERS
11.1 Since the last meeting planning permission had been given for the extension and conversion of a barn at the rear of 2-6 Little Lane, Wickham Market to form one dwelling.
11.2 The only application dealt with since the last meeting was an application for change of use of Unit 1 from a shop to a dental practice .Crown House, Crown Lane, Wickham Market. The Planning Committee had no objections.
11.3 It was reported that the deadline for responses to the Local Development Framework last consultation was 16 February 2009. Mr Hall questioned how up to date the document was bearing in mind the recently submitted applications that were not in the document. The Planning Committee agreed to meet at 6.30pm on Monday 26 January 2009 to formulate a response.
12 ALLOTMENT MATTERS
12.1 The Community Service workforce had cleared nearly all of the brambles on the Glebe allotments and now it was just a matter of dealing with the roots. Miss Johnson was going to investigate the possibility of a local farmer ploughing the area up.
13 CEMETERY MATTERS
13.1 Tenders had been invited for the grass cutting of the cemetery for a three year period starting 1 April 2009 and finishing 31 March 2012. Only one tender was received up to the deadline given which was from Suffolk Coastal Services Ltd (SCS Ltd) at a 3 year fixed price cost of £21,600 + VAT.
RESOLVED
That the tender from Suffolk Coastal Services Ltd be accepted at a 3 year fixed price cost of £21,000 + VAT.
13.2 Cemetery Fees 2009/2010
RESOLVED
That the cemetery fees for 2009/2010 not be increased from 2008/2009 levels.
13.3 The contractor who carried out the work on the turning circle had expressed concern at cracks that had appeared in the centre of the driveway to the cemetery. It was possible that water would get under the driveway ultimately leading to the surface being lifted leading to costly repairs. He had suggested that he seal these cracks to prevent later damage.
RESOLVED
That the Chairman be authorised to agree to the work being carried out up to a cost of £250.
14 HIGHWAY MATTERS
14.1 The work on creating a pavement at the end of Broad Road would start in February 2009 and would take approximately one week.
14.2 Bus shelter - Confirmation had been received from Suffolk County Council (SCC) that it would not be erecting the bus shelter in the previously agreed site on High Street/Spring Lane. Apparently the location has caused some problems with the site owner (SCC) and with conservation officers, and SCC, rather latterly, felt it was inappropriate to put the shelter in front of a listed property.
However SCC was willing to widen the footway on the other side of the junction and erect a shelter. This was felt to be a more suitable location as there was a boundary wall and railings to the rear of the shelter. SCC and the conservation officers have no objection to this proposal.
The Parish Council was concerned that after a great deal of public consultation and work by local councillors the site should be changed at the last moment. These concerns should have been dealt with earlier. Reluctantly, having noted that local residents had not been advised of this change, it:
RESOLVED
That the bus shelter be erected in the area indicated on the plan sent and that Suffolk County Council officers be reminded to consult with appropriate local residents.
15 FINANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
15.1 Bi-monthly accounts - November/December 2008 - these were received and noted.
15.2 Precept for 2009/2010 - the Finance Group had met and formulated the budget for the coming year which was circulated and discussed. This included a grant of £1200 to the village hall to help with the cost of refurbishing the disabled toilets.
RESOLVED
That the precept for 2009/2010 be set at £19,000.
16 CORRESPONDENCE
16.1 Suffolk Coastal Services Ltd was considering the possibility of siting a recycling bank for tetrapaks in the village hall car park in the vicinity of the other recycling facilities.
16.2 Notification had been received from the Wickham Market Relief in Need and Town Lands Trust Charities that the term of office of one of the Parish Council's nominees, Mr David Hall, expired in February 2009.
Mr Hall has indicated that he is willing to continue as the Parish Council's nominee.
RESOLVED
That Mr David Hall be nominated as one of the Parish Council's representatives on the Wickham Market Relief in Need and Town Lands Trust Charities from February 2009.
16.3 The Parish Council received a report from Mrs Lewis on the Village Hall Management Committee AGM held on 24 November 2008.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm