BARKING PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT: Cllr M Smith (Chair) Cllr S Butler Cllr M Bailey Cllr A Smith Cllr P Hollocks Cllr D Hoyland Cllr A Ross BARKING PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES of the Meeting held at Barking Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 17 th November 2011 IN ATTENDENCE: Mrs R J Cochrane County Councillor Julia Truelove District Councillor Stephen Wright PC Tina Fairness PCSO Vince Whitrow 10 residents from Darmsden: Susan Watkins, Mike & Pamela Hardman, Steve, Jenny and Samantha Reeve, Nick and Zoe Bullen, Lynn Bailey, Melanie Berry APOLOGIES: n/a BPC119/11 APOLOGIES No apologies were received. BPC120/11 PUBIC FORUM 10 members of the public were present, all residents of Darmsden. Lynne Bailey addressed the meeting and stated that several residents of Darmsden had been unhappy at not having value for money. She read out a prepared statement, and asked that the Parish Council support the request for a Community Governance Review. Another resident Mr Steve Reeve, addressed the meeting and stated that a meeting of residents had been held at Darmsden Hall two days previously, which had been attended by 82% of residents. 6 residents did not attend. 100% of those who attended voted in favour of supporting the request for a Community Governance Review. He also stated that the residents fully supported their representative, Cllr Denys Hoyland. At this point, Cllr Hoyland proposed that the item relating to the Community Governance Review be moved forward to enable the visiting members of the public to leave immediately afterwards. This was agreed to by the Chair. BPC121/11 POLICE REPORT PC Tina Fairness (see attached report) There were two reported crimes in the Barking area since the previous meeting theft of scrap metal from barking service Station and the theft of farm machinery from Moat Farm. All are encouraged be on alert against theft of wallets/purses while out Christmas shopping. BPC122/11 COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT Cllr Julia Truelove (see attached 1

report) County Cllr Truelove s reported on the Somersham Community Shop it is hopeful that it will be open by March 2012; 20 large sacks of poultry food were stolen from the farm shop in Ringshall; new CEO at SCC appointed Deborah Cadman; the creation of a new heritage organisation, the creation of an Industrial and Provident Society to run Library Services; the procurement of Highways Services; the development of an investment fund in collaboration with the Suffolk Foundation; the new 101 non-emergency telephone number for the Police; Wattisham Flying Station and Electric Blanket testing all are encouraged to attend this extra session which has been funded from Cllr Truelove s Locality Budget. The has already advertised the event, but will put up additional posters. BPC123/11 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT Cllr Stephen Wright Cllr Wright reported on the merger of MSDC/Babergh savings being made; Enforcement Team now down to one person; Parish Councils may need to take on the role of removing signs which have been left out too long (fete advertising etc); Wind Farms there may be up to 1000 turbines producing 5 times the amount of energy produced by Sizewell B, the main converter may be placed near to the Bramford sub-station, a large trench will need to be dug to take the cables to be completed by 2015; first sod of earth dug by County Cllr Truelove for the Somersham Community Shop. Cllr Wright agreed to send his written report to the. Cllr S. Wright The meeting was convened at this point. BPC124/11 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 th SEPTEMBER 2011 The minutes of the meeting held on 15 th September 2011 were slightly amended as proposed by Cllr Hoyland and subsequently approved as a true record and were duly signed by the Chair. BPC125/11 - DECLARATION OF INTERESTS No interests were declared. BPC126/11 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES - CLERK S REPORT The reported on actions taken. i) Removal of Trees Quote received to removed four horse chestnut trees from Hart Tree Surgery @ 140. Decision approved. to action. ii) Fritillary Bulbs met with Jane Simmonds to identify a suitable area. Bulbs now planted on the Tye, adjacent to the play area/wild flower meadow. iii) Solar powered signs It was reported that SCC Highways have confirmed both sites suitable for VAS. Costs - 3995 for a 30mph roundel, plus 1000 for slow down sign. County Cllr Truelove reported she is obtaining statistics form PCSO Matt Brown. Speed measurements were taken a long time ago, so some up-to-date data is needed. BPC127/11 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW Cllr Hoyland spoke in support of the proposal. Darmsden and Barking are two very different communities, one with low overheads, low costs, one with high overheads, high costs. He urged the meeting to recommend a Review to enable the Council to act with dignity. There was a lengthy and forthright discussion during which views were expressed by some Councillors that they were taken aback that Darmsden residents felt this way as these views have not been expressed before. Cllr Hoyland stated that these views have been felt for some 2

time, but were felt ignored. Another Councillor expressed the view that this is the first time Darmsden residents have ever attended a Parish Council meeting and had not made contact with the Council, and that if the Council is unaware of any issues, it can t take action to address them. It was also asked, what actions have been requested that haven t been granted. Cllr Hoyland made the point that there is no public land in Darmsden, only a privately owned lane, which heavy lorries carrying sugar beet are breaking up. Tarmac had been requested, but this request had been turned down. The point was made that Barking Parish Council does think about Darmsden, it purposefully tries to include everyone. Cllr Truelove indicated that she wished to speak and was invited to do so by the Chair. She reported that money from her Locality Budget had been allocated for a grit bin for the parish, and the Parish Council decided that Darmsden should have one. Another Councillor stated that had the issue of a Community Governance Review been mentioned before, it would have been considered, and was upset at the way the issue had now been raised. Cllr Hoyland remarked that the questions in the Parish Plan were not relevant to Darmsden. The asked to speak as a member of the Parish Plan Steering Group and was invited to by the Chair. She made the point that Cllr Hoyland had been invited to join the Steering Group, had attended one meeting and didn t attend any more, despite numerous requests, so the Steering Group had done its best to ensure the questions were relevant to all parishioners. Members of the public wished to join the discussion and were allowed to by the Chair. The Chair drew the discussion to a conclusion and proposed that the meeting vote on Cllr Hoyland s proposal that the Council supports the request for a Community Governance Review. Decision unanimously resolved to support the request. to inform MSDC accordingly. BPC128/11 PLANNING APPLICATIONS ) 3204/11 Mulletts Farm. Decision Support. to relay decision to MSDC Planning before the deadline. BPC129/11 FINANCE v) i) CLERK S REPORT (attached to these minutes) The reported on the financial movements since the previous meeting. Balance @ 17 th November 2011 was 25,592.29 It was suggested by County Cllr Truelove that the Council considers applying to the Suffolk Foundation for a grant for the Tye. ii) AUTHORISATION OF PAYMENTS Payments totalling 1891.67 were authorised. iii) RECEIPT OF EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT Report received no action necessary. BPC130/11 BUDGET 2012/2013 The draft budget was presented for consideration. There will be changes, but all to consider and pass comments to well before the next meeting in January, as the Budget must be signed off at that meeting. It was proposed that the Council endeavours to keep the Precept at 8,362 for a fourth consecutive year. i) Hay crop- It was reported that Mr R Holder has offered 500 for the hay crop this year. Decision - to invoice Mr Holder for the 500. ii) Street Lighting It was suggested that Energy Saving Bulbs be used in the street lights owned by the Parish Council. Item to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. iii) Mole Traps It was suggested that the Council purchases mole traps to avoid the high cost of employing an external contractor. Cllr Butler to buy some traps he will set them. All Cllr Butler 3

iv) Car Parking on the Tye Item to be added to the agenda for the next meeting. v) Trees on the Tye outside Sunset Cottage It was reported that a letter had been sent to the residents of Sunset Cottage who had made contact with the, but no action has yet been taken. BPB131/11 PLAY AREA SAFETY REPORT 2011 It was reported that both play areas have now been inspected by David Bracey. ROSPA had not been instructed by MSDC as it usually is, due to an administrative error. The cost is therefore slightly more @ 130 + vat. Very minor work needs to be undertaken replacement of some missing bolt covers and contact details on the signage to the rear of the village hall needs attention. Decision to action BPC132/11 HEDGE AT TYE GREEN i) 1 TYE GREEN I t was reported that correspondence had been received from Mr & Mrs Howlett of 1 Tye Green advising the Council that they had taken the decision to cut back and reduce the height of the hedge between the Tye and his property. They had taken this decision as they had been advised that the hedge was depriving their lawn of moisture and that drastic cutting of the hedge was recommended. Mr & Mrs Howlett also stated that they would be happy to maintain the hedge at its current height of 8 10 feet, at their own expense. Decision It was decided that the Council approved of the action taken by Mr & Mrs Howlett. to respond to Mr & Mrs Howlett accordingly. ii)tye GREEN HEDGE It was reported that a revised tender has been received to cut the hedge @ 730 from Hart Tree Surgery. The had spoken with Jason Roberts who said he was interested and would send in a tender, but no tender has been received to date. Cllr Butler offered to remind Jason Roberts but proposed that, if nothing is heard within a week, to instruct Hart Tree Surgery. Decision agreed. to action. BPC133/11 PARISH PLAN ACTION PLAN It was reported by the (also Parish Plan Steering Group member) that the Action Plan has now been printed and a copy passed to the Parish Council to address any actions identified as being the responsibility of the Parish Council. All to review the Action Plan and to consider what actions needed to be taken. It was agreed to review the Action Plan again in March 2012. All BPC134/11 VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE CLLR BAILEY Cllr Bailey reported that the Needham Market & Barking Welfare Charities had not approved a grant application for photovoltaic panels. Some VHMC members attended a Charities Trust seminar and as a result the VHMC is considering reviewing the Trust deeds. The purchase of a cinema screen for Film Night is being considered. There is likely to be a reduction in the number of users of the Village Hall, as the Chestnut Club may not continue and the Zumba group has given notice that it is not going to renew its use of the hall. The Committee feels it needs to ensure it is pitching the level of charges correctly. Finally, there was a visit from Environmental Health, who was happy with the kitchen, but there is a need to maintain an Environmental Health Record. BPC135/11 CLERK S REPORT ON URGENT DECISIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING i) BARKING FOX It was reported that 5 A boards had appeared on the Tye outside the Fox. This had also been brought to the attention of the by a member of the Public. The had written to Mr 4

Koon-ching Hui reminding him that permission had been granted for only one A Board, but if additional signage was wanted, permission should be sought from the Parish Council, or, the additional boards would have to be removed. The additional boards have been removed from the Tye, leaving just one A board. BPC136/11 CORRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION Correspondence pack was presented for circulation. BPB137/11 MATTERS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL i) WOODLAND TRUST OFFER It was reported that the Woodland Trust is offering free tree bundles to community groups to be planted on land that people can enjoy and benefit from. Cllr Butler proposed an area nr Barking Hall Nursing Home/opposite Ashburnham Farm. to speak with SCC Highways to see if this proposal is feasible. Meeting closed at 10.10pm Chairman.. Date. 5