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

7.30pm on Monday 12 May 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 I Jowers and Mr P Bellfield for parts of the meeting

In attendance: Mrs C Ramsden, Clerk to the Council

		Actions by Councillors
1	Apologies and Declarations of Interest There were no apologies or declarations of interest.
2	Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman Mrs Evans (as current Chairman of the Council) asked for nominations. Mrs Evans was proposed by Miss Williams and seconded by Mr Carr. It was RESOLVED: · that Mrs Evans be elected Chairman of the Parish Council. Mrs Evans signed the declaration of acceptance of office. Mrs Evans asked for nominations for Vice Chairman. Mrs Shaw was proposed by Mr Beaumont and seconded by Mrs Wilson. It was RESOLVED: · that Mrs Shaw be elected Vice Chairman of the Parish Council.
It was RESOLVED: that the order of the Agenda be amended in respect of Appointments, the Future Structure of Local Government in Suffolk, Highways, Police, Finance and Planning items.
3	Adoption of Standing Orders It was noted that there was no requirement for the Council to adopt Standing Orders annually as had been previous practice. It was therefore RESOLVED: that the National Association of Local Councils Standing Orders (July 2003) be adopted with the addition of the current arrangements for public speaking at Council meetings until the next local government elections.
4 5 6 7 8	Minutes of the Meetings held on 10 March and 16 April 2008 These were signed as a true record. Matters arising from the Minutes Walks Leaflet It was noted that the Leaflet had been completed and copies handed out at the opening of the Playing Field on 5 May. Mr P Holmes had undertaken the layout, printing and creation of an on-line version at a cost of £100 and the total cost had been £131.99p for 500 colour A4 leaflets. Councillor Bellfield had agreed to contribute £100 from his County Council locality budget. The Leaflet was available at the Village Hall, the Admiral’s Head pub and on the Council’s website. Noticeboard Mr Beaumont would liaise with Mr Ball over the erection of the new noticeboard in Playford Road and the removal of the one at the Hall Road crossroads. SCDC Parish Liaison Meeting This had been attended by Mrs Wilson and the minutes distributed by email. Planning Applications C08/0889: Marydene - Demolition and re-erection of certain ground floor walls. Ground and first floor extensions and internal alterations to form increased kitchen, rear lobby with WC and study off. First floor bathroom on landing and second bedroom over ground floor extension. It was noted that the extensions were smaller than those previously applied for and refused by SCDC. It was RESOLVED: · Not to object to the application but to express concern about the loss of light to the adjoining property. It was noted that SCDC had approved the following planning applications: C08/0412: The White House – Erection of cartlodge C08/0685: Bealings School - Erection of transmission dish C08/0387: Grove Farm, The Street – Use of land for the construction of B1 industrial and commercial units. In respect of C08/0387 it was noted that: · approval had been given at the SCDC Development Control Committee meeting on 1 May by the Chairman’s casting vote, despite strong representations by Councillor Bellfield, Mrs Shaw and a local resident at the meeting. · the developers had advised the Chairman that they did not intend to carry out the approved development, but would await the outcome of the Parish Plan in respect of the need and support for housing in the parish and the LDF. It was RESOLVED: · to complain formally to SCDC about the way in which the application had been dealt with, specifically: · that the report did not adequately or accurately reflect the highways situation or the views of the highway authority on this application or on the previous application for the site · that the previous application for the site was not determined by SCDC · that the report was disingenuous in stating that the development would create local employment opportunities when other similar sites nearby remain untenanted. Future Structure of Local Government in Suffolk The Council received paper 08.02 by Mrs Wilson. It was noted that, following IBC’s failed bid for unitary status, the Boundary Committee was to report to the Secretary of State on a new local government structure for Suffolk by 31 December 2008. The status quo was not an option but alternatives had to be affordable, have a broad cross section of support, deliver strong effective leadership, devolve power to neighbourhoods and give value for money. Five different options had been put forward by Councils in Suffolk. While parish council views were not invited until 7 July, at which time draft proposals would be published, it was possible to comment sooner. A letter from two parishioners expressing dismay at the possibility of urban expansion by IBC into the area was noted. It was also noted that the Ipswich Fringe Parishes Group had written to the Committee, expressing concern at the implication that adjacent parish councils supported IBC’s and SCC’s unitary proposals when no consultation had taken place, and also raising issues of concern about any expansion of Ipswich into rural areas. It was RESOLVED: · to write to the Boundary Committee now stressing the rural nature of the community and that this was best served by a council which understood rural issues, not by an urban council seeking to expand and acquire land for new housing and industrial development · to support the creation of three unitary Councils in Suffolk: West Suffolk, East Suffolk and an Ipswich with its existing boundary · to consider making further representations to the Commission after the publication of its draft proposals in July. Appointments It was RESOLVED: · that the following appointments be made for 2008/09: Village Hall Management Committee representative: Mrs Evans SALC representative: Mrs Evans Footpath and Tree Warden: Mrs Jennifer Cook SORR representative: Mr Carr Webmaster: Mrs Shaw
9 10	Police The Chairman read out a report from the SNT which recorded three crimes in the village since the meeting in March: a burglary of a metal container and thefts of plant and garden equipment, scrap metal and a garden ornament. A Community Engagement Plan from Wickham Market SNT would be circulated to Councillors. Miss Williams would attend the SNT meeting on 4 June 2008. Finance Adoption of Accounts for 2007/08 The accounts for 2007/08 were received and the effectiveness of the internal audit arrangements considered. It was RESOLVED: · that the current arrangements for the internal audit were effective and appropriate · that the council’s assets should be depreciated at 20% per year · that the accounts for 2007/08 be approved · that the return to the external auditor for 2007/08 be approved Income and Expenditure The Chairman reported the following income and expenditure: Income: · First half of the precept from SCDC: £2,575 Expenditure: Cheques were signed as follows: · Mr P Holmes: Production of Walks Leaflet: £100 · SALC membership for 2007/08: £180 · Bealings Village Hall donation: £250 · John Belstead Playing Field donation: £250 · Benefice Newletter donation: £100 · Grundisburgh News donation: £10 · Mrs J Gosling for internal audit: £20 · Clerk’s salary and expenses, including annual allowance: £965.79 It was RESOLVED: · to establish whether CATS still operated in the parish before deciding whether to make a donation for 2008/09 Clerk’s Salary It was RESOLVED: · that the Clerk’s salary progress from SCP22 to SCP23 with effect from 1 April 2008	DW
11	Highways Traffic Management in the Area: It was noted that Mr Carr would attend the meeting of SCC, the Police and local parishes on 14 May, when the outcome of the trial turning off of the traffic lights at St Michael’s roundabout on the A1214 would be considered. Footpaths and Trees The Chairman read out reports for 2007/08 from the Footpath and Tree Warden. Despite rapid surface growth the footpaths had been kept clear by Mr Ball, with the exception of Footpath No 10a which required heavy equipment to tackle thistles. Other problem areas were Footpath No 18, by Grove Farm which could be very wet, and the growth of nettles and Alexanders. Most of the footpaths were well walked, in particular the Fynn Valley and Bealings, Playford and Lux Farm circular walks. There were few sites requiring new tree planting, although there were over mature trees in the parish. The stakes and ties for the trees planted at the Playing Field were regularly checked. Hedge cutting and large lorries had caused some damage. Hedging along the eastern edge of the Playing Field was being considered. P3 The Council had joined this scheme again for 2008/09, with the Council’s part time handyman, Mr Ball, carrying out the cutting. It was noted that as an employee Mr Ball was covered by the Council’s insurance policies, with the exception of the age restriction which precluded cover under the personal accident policy. Maintenance SCC was considering a section of boardwalk on a boggy section of Footpaths Nos 20/21 Playford, and some hoggin on FP No 2, both of which were included in the new Walks Leaflet. It had advised the PCC that the surface of FP No 1A through the Churchyard was acceptable. A possible obstruction of FP No 3 had been reported. Permissive Footpath to Great Bealings SCC had improved the surface of this route and it had been officially opened by the landowner on 5 May.	PC
12	Circulated Items Matters Arising from Circulated Items Circulations 2008/03 and 2008/04 had been returned to the Clerk. It was RESOLVED: · Foxhall Stadium: Consultation on New Operating Formula – to advise SCDC that the Council wishes to see a reduction in the number of events in view of the adverse impact on the quality of life of local residents caused by noise from the Stadium · Clerks and Councils Direct – March 2008 – to provide copies of the Legal Matters article by Paul Clayden “Danger Zones for Councillors” to all Councillors and to give consideration to subscribing to Local Council Updates from the Training budget at the next meeting · Crime Reduction Partnership News emails – to unsubscribe to this service
13	Correspondence It was RESOLVED: · that the following correspondence would be circulated to Councillors: · SALC: mailing, including Boundary Commission information · Clerks and Councils Direct May 2008 · SWT: Information on the Turtle Dove · SPS: Suffolk View: spring 2008 · SPS: Information on Planning Training Workshops in November 2008 It was noted that: · the Village Hall Management Committee would be considering a request for hedging along the east side of the Playing Field and, if it decided to proceed, the Council would consider making application to SCDC for hedge plants at its next meeting · SCDC was giving a free talk on the care and repair of period properties on 29 May. · InspireEast was running a Community Empowerment roadshow in Colchester on 22 May.
14	Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Council would be on 7July 2008.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 9.45pm.