Minutes of Little Bealings Parish Council meeting held at Bealings Village Hall at

7.30pm on Monday 14 January 2008

Present: Mrs F Evans, Mr K Beaumont, Mr P Carr, Dr C Rowe, Mrs J Shaw, Miss D Williams and Mrs M Wilson

Also Present: Mr P Bellfield and Mr I Jowers, both for part of the meeting

In attendance: Mrs C Ramsden, Clerk to the Council

		Actions by Councillors
1	Apologies and Declarations of Interest None.
2	Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 November 2007 These were amended and then signed as a true record of the meeting.
3	Matters arising from the Minutes Application to SCDC for Trees for the Playing Field The trees had been obtained from SCDC and the Council’s contribution had been £7. A letter of thanks for the Council’s support had been received from Mrs Shaw as Playing Field Project Officer. Minute Books Binding of previous minutes books would cost in the region of £70-£80 and be funded from the 2008/09 budget as agreed. Suffolk Record Office was happy to receive the minute books and other documents. Kesgrave Town Council Annual Reception Neither the Chairman nor the Clerk had been available to attend.
It was RESOLVED: that, as Councillor Bellfield and Councillor Jowers were unable to attend for the whole meeting, the order of the Agenda be amended in respect of Highways, Planning and Police items.
4	Highways A1214 and Traffic Management The second meeting with Kesgrave Town Council, SCC, the police and other local parishes had been proposed for 4 February, but confirmation was awaited. Mrs Shaw, Mr Carr and the Clerk would attend. It was noted that SCC had advised that there was insufficient funding in the Anxiety Relief Budget for the installation of white lining pinch points on Martlesham and Playford Roads. However, SCC was planning to make an ‘in principle’ decision on the matter so that the Council would know whether the scheme would proceed at some time in the future. It was noted that SID data collected in The Street between 1.48pm and 3.26pm on 5 December had shown only 2 of 57 vehicles exceeding the speed limit. Suffolk Roadsafe and Community Speed Watch Scheme Playford and Gt Bealings Parish Councils had asked if the Council was interested in joining forces in the Scheme, which involved the purchase of approved speed detection devices at a cost of approximately £2200. Volunteers would be needed, to be trained in use of the equipment, and high visibility jackets and portable road signage also needed to be purchased. Volunteers recorded the speed and vehicle details of offending vehicles which were then passed to the police. Caution letters were issued by the police. It was noted that grant funding may be available and that the Scheme was supported by those who had attended the last Safer Neighbourhoods Team meeting. It was uncertain whether there would be volunteers to use the equipment. It was RESOLVED that: the Council would explore the Scheme further with Playford and Gt Bealings Parish Councils and would be represented by the Chairman in discussions. Footpath to Great Bealings SCC had advised that it did not consider that there was a need for warning signs at the footpath entrances. As the sugar beet had recently been harvested SCC would be asked to undertake the agreed works. Mr Bellfield confirmed that he had asked for the requested £314 locality funding and that this would be transferred within SCC so that the upgrading of the adjacent verge could proceed. It was RESOLVED that: when the footpath was finished an official opening would be arranged. P3 Scheme It was noted that the existing scheme was now likely to continue in 2008. It was noted new stiles had been installed on some routes, although there was now usually a preference for kissing gates. Mrs Shaw would supply details to the Clerk. It was RESOLVED that: SCC be asked to consider improvements to Footpath No 18 where it was often very wet near Grove Farm. Maintenance There was no further information from SCC about the flooding on Martlesham Road. There were potholes on the north side of Martlesham Road. Mr Bellfield advised that they would be dealt with by SCC in the spring.	JS, PC FE JS
5	Planning Applications C07/1195/OUT: Grove Farm, The Street – Construction of Industrial and Commercial Units There had not been a decision by SCDC on this application. The developer wished to speak to the Council about the proposal. It was RESOLVED that: The developer was welcome attend a future meeting and speak to the Council. SCDC be asked to give their view on the application. C07/1932: Beacon House, Playford Road: Erection of extension to garage and alterations to vehicular access It was noted that this application had been withdrawn. Policy It was noted that the minutes of SCDC’s Local Development Framework Task Group could be found on its website, including the implication of Little Bealings’ proposed designation as a Service Centre village. It was also included in the policy area for Ipswich. It was important for the Council to have its own ideas on development and it was considered that the Parish Plan may not be finished in time to provide sufficient input to the LDF. It was RESOLVED that: the Agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting include an item ‘Views on Planning’ and that Mrs Shaw would prepare questions to lead discussion on this item.	JS
6	Police The Chairman read out the police report. There had been one reported crime since the last meeting, theft from an insecure vehicle in the village hall car park. Shed alarms and Dawn to Dusk lighting were recommended. It was noted that the mobile police station would visit on 30 January (3.15pm-4.00.pm) and 6 February (10.00am-11.30am)
7	Finance Income and Expenditure The agreed extra P3 funding of £96.31p had been received from SCC. SCDC had been paid £7 for the Council’s contribution to trees for the Playing Field Cheques were signed as follows: SCDC: Election expenses: £83.20 Mrs F Evans: Christmas Card and Message: £44.50p Hire of Angela Cobbold Hall for Annual Parish Meeting: £15 Clerk: Salary and Expenses £767.94p It was RESOLVED that: £150 be transferred from the National Savings Account to the Barclays Bank Account to meet expenditure.
8	Walks Leaflet Miss Williams and the Clerk had walked two of the routes in the leaflet and found the text difficult to follow. They hoped to walk the other two routes by the end of the month and finish revising the text. The map and/or illustrations remained to be resolved, as did funding for printing.	DW
9	Annual Parish Meeting Arrangements It was RESOLVED that: · the Benefice Magazine and Grove Farm Residents’ Association would be added to the list of invitees · each group would be advised that their report should not exceed three minutes · tea/coffee and biscuits would be provided, arranged by Mr Carr · the Clerk would circulate draft words by the Chairman for inclusion in the Benefice Magazine for comment by Councillors	PC All
10	Communication Noticeboards It was noted that SCC had granted a licence for the noticeboard to be installed in the highway verge opposite Ascalon, Playford Road. SCDC had confirmed that so long as the board did not exceed 4 metres in height planning permission was not required. The adjoining landowner had been informed by the Clerk. It was noted that telecom cable was likely to run along the verge and RESOLVED that: · the Clerk would write to those likely to have apparatus along the verge · in due course Mr Beaumont would install the new notice board and remove the one at the Hall Road crossroads. Christmas Card Before leaving Mr Bellfield had commented that he thought the Christmas Card and Message were very good. Mrs Shaw reported that one parishioner had thanked her very much for the card. Website Mrs Shaw reported that she had added a useful link to bus timetables. She had received emails giving positive feedback on the site and also a request from Grove Farm Residents’ Association for a page on the site for their minutes. It was RESOLVED that: · Grove Farm Residents Association be given a page on the site and that this facility would also be made available to other equivalent local groups. Mrs Shaw would ensure that an appropriate disclaimer was displayed. Welcome Leaflet Distribution It was noted that there was no one responsible for ensuring distribution to new residents. It was RESOLVED that: · Mrs Shaw would check that the personal data was still correct and that there was no objection from individuals to the information being on the website · All Councillors would then be responsible for downloading the leaflet from the website and delivering to new residents of whom they became aware	KB JS JS All
11	Matters Arising from Circulated Items Circulation 2007/10 had been returned to the Clerk. Dr Rowe enquired about the state of the parish’s three sand bins. It was RESOLVED that: · the Clerk would check to see if there were adequate supplies of sand in the bins · when the bins next needed replacing plastic bins would be purchased.
12	Correspondence It was noted that the following had been received: · Councillor Training information from SALC · Notice of closure of The Street overnight on 24 January by Network Rail · A copy of the full Electoral Register for the parish as at 1 December 2007 · Christmas Cards from Suffolk Coastal Services and Suffolk Police and a calendar from the East of England Biodiversity Forum It was RESOLVED that: the following correspondence be circulated to Councillors: · Councillor Bellfield’s report · Police report · information on a Youth Shelter · SCC Avian Influenza information · Suffolk Wildlife Trust Autumn/Winter 2007 newsletter · SCDC Coastal Potato Event · SALC mailing · Suffolk Preservation Society Magazine Winter 2007 · SCC Suffolk Bus and Rail Strategies · SCDC Parish Bulletin Winter 2007 and Annual Report · Ipswich Fringe Parishes: Proposed meeting (which the Chairman would attend, if convened) · Clerks & Councils Direct for January 2008	FE
13	Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Council would be on 10 March, following the Annual Parish Meeting in the Angela Cobbold Hall.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 9.30pm.