| Bungay
Town Council - Council Minutes
Minutes of the March meeting of this Council held at the Council Chamber, Broad Street, Bungay on Monday 17th March 2008 at 8pm.
Present were Clls Fisher, Bedingfield, Blowers O’Neill, Brook, Cloke, Evans, Jervis, O’Neill, Ward, Warnes and Woods.
Also present were Cll Rose, PC Skuse of the Suffolk Constabulary and the Press.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cll Groom, Palin, Shepherd and Thompson.
2. Interests
Clls Jervis and Woods declared an interest in item 11.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2008 were approved and duly signed.
4. Matters arising
Noted that the Council team had lost in the quarter finals of the Brains of Bungay Quiz. Some £1000 had been raised for the benefiting charities..
5. Correspondence
The following correspondence was received:-
NATS, proposed changes to airspace. A leaflet was distributed to members.
Bungay Joint Tourism Committee with notice of next meeting on 16th April 2008 at the Council Chamber, 7.30pm.
Bungay in Bloom requesting £50 to sponsor the Business Front Premises competition. This was agreed.
WDC advising street closures for Bungay Chamber of Trade for street fairs on 18th May, 13 July and 7 December 2008.
Messrs Durrants enquiring about the Council’s view on change of use to convert auction rooms in Trinity Street back to church/chapel. Decided not to comment until further details were available following formal submission of a planning application.
WDC with minutes of the Area Forum planning workshop meeting held on 7th February 2008.
SCC with notice of temporary closure of B1062 Hillside Road East for resurfacing on 25 – 29 March.
Suffolk Preservation Society with notice of Planning Training Workshops on 5th and 19th November 2008. It agreed that the Council would send a councillor(s) to attend.
SCC re school re-organisation review.
WDC ROSPA report on Bungay Common Playground. This was referred to the Environment Committee.
6. To receive planning decisions from WDC
The following plans were considered:-
DC/08/0236/0237FUL, Mr & Mrs Baker, listed building consent for construction of a 2 storey side extension and single storey infill extension, The Red House, 14 Flixton Rd, Bungay. Approve subject to filling in redundant gate.
It was reported that the Planning Committee met on 3.3.08. Present were Clls Groom, Bedingfield, Cloke, Evans, Shepherd, Ward and Warnes. Apologies were received from Cll Fisher and Thompson.
The following plan was considered:-
DC/08/0189/FUL, Mr B Williams, construction of a single storey side extension and attached garage to side, 2 Tower Mill. Approval recommended.
Planning enforcements matters relating to 44 Earsham St, Wightmans, Swansons and the Kebab Shop were reported.
7.To receive a report from the Finance & General Purposes Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.3.08. Present were Clls Groom, Brook, Jervis, O’Neill and Shepherd. Apologies were received from Clls Fisher, Blowers ONeill and Woods.
Donations of £200 was recommended and approved for All Hallows Hospital to support training costs.
The Committee recommended and it was agreed that a registration fee of £70 be paid for the Clerks qualification and £250 for him to attend a SALC training course.
The Clerk reported on the current financial controls and it was agreed that Cll Warnes be asked to check the monthly balance figures against the bank records. It was considered that the checks in place were sufficient to reduce the risk of misuse of the Council’s financial resources to a very low level. It was agreed however that the Clerk enquire about the cost of increasing the levels of fidelity guarantee insurance. The Clerk reported that he had done this and increased it to £50,000 to renewal in June at no additional cost.
The Clerk presented a risk assessment reported which was approved. It was noted that the Council were at risk if the Clerk was for any reason unavailable to carry out his duties for an extended period. In this event it was agreed that locum cover could probably be provided.
Proposals for a more positive local recognition of St Georges Day were referred to the Chamber of Trade. As a result of this Cll Shepherd reported that the Chamber were organising themed shop window displays.
It was agreed to recommend to WDC that advisory signs should be put in place at the Riverside car park in an attempt to discourage those playing ball near the parking areas.
It was agreed that it was reasonable for BACT to pay half the WDC refuse collection costs because they occupied the building more than any other group. They had asked to pay one third.
An update was received on the work of the Bungay Partnership.
The following balances were reported:-
Lloyds TSB, £5186.60 and £48.23.
Scottish Widows, £19209.21(call a/c) and £89456.62(60 day a/c)
The following payments were approved and cheques duly signed:-
H M Revenue & Customs, PAYE, £660.07; Suffolk Accident Rescue, donation (section 137), £250.00; Bungay Community Responders, donation (section 137); £250.00; Bungay Black Dog Marathon, donation (section 137), £60.00; Mr A Newberry, litter pick and Riverside, £133.57; Mr F Morrow (ODS), printing Civic Service invitations, £39.50; Lubbock Fine, 2007 audit fee, £334.88.
8. Environment Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.3.08. Present were Clls Groom, Bedingfield, Evans, O’Neill, Shepherd, and Ward. Apologies were received from Fisher and Thompson.
It was recommended and agreed that the Council oppose the Earsham proposals in the Norfolk Mineral & Waste Local Development Framework due to impact on valley landscape and increased traffic the proposal would generate.
A report was received from the Sustainable Bungay Group on the concept of transition towns.
It was noted that rubbish bins needed to be put back in place following the pavement works in Earsham Street.
9. Report on local policing matters
A written report was presented by PC Skuse and distributed to members. PC Skuse requested that comments be sent to him by e mail so that he could respond at the next meeting.
10. Riverside Centre Report
It was agreed that reflective stickers be put on car park boundary posts that may otherwise not be visible to drivers. The Clerk said that he would report on matters relating to the proposed Waveney Valley Canoe Club sub lease at the end of the meeting.
11. To consider a grant application form Bungay Joint Tourism Committee
It was agreed to give a grant of £110 to support the re-printing of the Bigod Way leaflet.
12. Waveney Valley leader Bid
It was agreed to support in principle the funding bid being made.
13. RivWDC document The Approach to Future Development in Waveney to 2021
This document was considered by members and received.
14. To consider the motion: That this Council opposes the introduction of a unitary council between Waveney and Great Yarmouth and would prefer to see the maintenance of the current district boundary.
The Clerk reported that he had been asked to lay this motion before the Council by Cll M Bee of WDC. The Council decided to postpone consideration of this until they were able to consider all matters relating the current round of local government reorganisation.
15. Civic Evening
It was reported that Cll Groom wanted to hold the Civic Evening on 2.5.08. This was agreed and it was also agreed to hold the Bezant Cup, Civic Award and the Trevor Collyer Cup all of which would be presented at the Civic Evening.
16. Council Representatives
Cll O’Neill reported on a meeting that Town Councillors held with a WDC officer. Various issues were raised for WDC to address.
Cll Woods thanked the Council for their financial support of the Bigod Way reprint.
Cll Brook asked that the Earsham Street bus shelter be checked to ensure that it was safe.
Cll Shepherd reported that the prosecution of a HGV driver was pending following a photograph showing his vehicle travelling the wrong way.
Cll Jervis reported that the next meeting of the Tourist Committee would take place on 16.4.08.
17. County Councillor’s Report
Cll Rose noted that a tree had been knocked down at the roundabout on the bypass and said that he would contact SCC about this.
He said that SCC are concerned about the local government changes; he favoured an East & West Suffolk solution.
In response to a question from Cll Brook about the St Mary’s Street crossing the Clerk reported that a site visit was to be arranged with SCC officers.
18. District Councillors Report
Cll Woods reported that WDC were finalising budgets for the forthcoming financial year. Appointment of a new Chief Executive had been confirmed. The next main meeting, and the final one of the WDC term, would take place on 26.3.08.
In response to a question from Cll O’Neill, Cll Woods said that he find out about WDC losses.
19. Cheques for payment
The following payments were approved and cheques signed:-
Bungay Friends of Guiding, locality grant including accrued interest of £667, total £6017; Bungay Youth Association, locality grant including accrued interest of £156, total £1406; East of England Ambulance Service, in place of the cheque paid to Bungay Community Responders drawn on 3.3.08 and subsequently cancelled, £250.00; Waveney District Council, ROSPA inspection Common Playground, £64.63; EAC Document Solutions Ltd, photo-copy service charge, £28.20; Essex & Suffolk Water, Riverside centre, £28.88, allotments £75.51, total £104.39; Lees of Bungay, tourist kiosk, £145.66; Mr A Newberry, Riverside and litter pick, £122.77; SLCC CiLCA Management, registration fee, £70.00.
20. Other business
Cll Cloke asked if the Headmaster of Bungay High could make a report to the Council. It was agreed that he be offered a 15 minute slot in advance of a main meeting. It was suggested that in due course the headteachers of the other Bungay schools be offered the same opportunity.
Cll Woods said that he hoped to make a report to the Finance & General Purposes Committee on Section 106 matters.
Cll Warnes reported on the distribution in Bungay of a leaflet for the farm shop at Pineview Farm for which planning permission had recently been sought. The Clerk reported that he had brought this to the attention of WDC to this.
Cll Fisher reminded members about the Civic Service to be held at Holy Trinity Church on 11.4.08 starting at 2pm.
In the absence of the public the Clerk reported on further correspondence with the Waveney Valley Canoe Club solicitors about their proposed lease.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm.
www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk |
