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Minutes

Bungay Town Council - Council Minutes

Minutes of the December meeting of this Council held at the Riverside Centre Bungay Staithe on Monday 17th December 2007 at 8pm.

Present were Clls Groom (in the chair), Fisher, Bedingfield, Blowers O’Neill, Brook, Cloke, Evans, Jervis, O’Neill, Palin, Shepherd, Thompson, Ward, Warnes and Woods Also present were Cll Rose, PC C Sadler of the Suffolk Constabulary, the Press and 1 member of the public.

1. Apologies
All members were present.

2. Interests
No interests were declared.

3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th November were approved and duly signed..

4. Matters arising
p1379; the Clerk reported that he had been advised that the Flixton Rd Post Office would be closed.Capacity at the Earsham Street Post Office was to be increased to cope with the expected extra demand. p1383; Cll Woods said that hoped that WDC had alleviated residents fears about the future of the Honeypot. The police report was dealt with at this point – see 10 below.

5. Correspondence
The following correspondence was received:-

Waveney Community Forum re bus shelter In St Mary’s Street. Requested modification to improve the level of cover provided to those using shelter. It was agreed to see if the panels at the back could be blocked up and to gauge the effectiveness of this in overcoming the problem.
The Clerk reported on a request for funding to support the launch of the Bungay Partnership and Cll Ward reported on the work done by the Partnership to date. It was agreed to refer this to the Finance & General Purposes Committee who were authorised to approve expenditure on this.
Letter from Mr & Mrs Garrod of 11 Rose Hall Gardens and other residents about the need for parking restrictions at the junction of Rose Hall Gardens with Upper Olland Street. It was noted that proposals for this area were included in the current SCC review.
Notice that the next meeting of the Bungay Joint Tourist Committee would be held at the Fisher Theatre on 23 January 2008 for a screening of an anti-plastic bag film at 6.30pm to be followed by the main meeting at 8pm.
WDC re development workshop for the Bungay and the Saints Area Forum to be held at the Community Centre 7 February 2008 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Latest Section 106 report from WDC.
Cll Rose advising that he intended to give the Guide hut project £4000 from the Locality Budget with £805 going to the 1st Bungay Sea Scouts for equipment replacement, and £500 to the Bungay First Responders to help towards the purchase of a defibricator.
Wish upon a Star thanking Council for donation. Councillors expressed their appreciation of the work of this group.
WDC advising numbering of new property at 20-26 Dukes Rd.
Nex Communications re public exhibition about the proposed redevelopment of Three Willows Garden Centre on 29th November 2007. It was noted that councillors had received invitations to this and that concerns expressed by the Council about access and traffic movements were to be addressed.
Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk Joint Core Strategy document.

6. To consider plans received, receive a report from the Planning Committee and receive planning decisions from WDC
The following plans were considered:-

DC/07/203/2040/FUL, Benjamin Cloke Estates Ltd, change of use and listed building consent, first floor office to maisonette and conversion of old stables to one bedroomed flat, 7a Market Place. Approved.
DC/07/1999/2000/FUL, Gen & Mrs J D G Pank, listed building and consent, replacement of a single storey rear extension, 21 Upper Olland St. Approved.
DC/07/1931/FUL, Mr D Patient, construction of rear garage and boundary wall, 1 Hillside Road East. Refusal recommended on the grounds that access was considered inadequate and that implementation of the proposal may result in obstruction of the loke adjoining the property.

It was reported that the Planning Committee met on 3.12.07. Present were Clls Fisher, Brook, Cloke, Evans, Palin, Ward, Warnes and Woods. Apologies were received from Clls Groom, Bedingfield and Thompson. Cll Evans declared an interest in plan DC/07/1947/Ful and withdrew when this was discussed.

DC/07/1947/FUL, Mr M Evans, provision of new drive to property, Waveney Cottage, 7 Outney Rd. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1955/LBC, Mrs B Stringer, listed building consent, internal alterations to create WC and erection of stud wall, 50 Upper Olland St Approval recommended.
DC/07/1941/FUL, Mr & Mrs L Moller, construction of 2 dormers to rear and alteration of existing dormer to match, Orchard House, Upland Hall Farm Rd. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1886/1888/FUL, Mr & Mrs P Nangle, listed building consent, erection of cart lodge to replace existing garden store, The Tower Mill, Tower Mill Rd. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1918/AND, The Original Factory Shop Ltd, non illuminated advertisement consent, provision of 1 fascia sign, 1 projecting sign and window decals, 40 St Mary’s Street. Approval recommended. Unauthorised signs were reported at the kebab shop in St Mary’s Street and at Wightman’s in the Market Place.

The following planning decisions were received from WDC:-

DC/ 07/1745/LBC, Mr & Mrs D Bonner, listed building consent for internal alterations, 16 Earsham St. Approved.
DC/07/1823/LBC, Ms M Bol-Clarke, listed building consent, installation of lift for wheelchair user, 5 Trinity Street. Approved.
DC/07/1842/COU, Shirley Lady Beecham, change of use from residential to shop, 17 Earsham St. Approved.
DC/07/1748/FUL, Ms L Balian, demolition of rear additions and construction of single storey rear extension and railings to front of property, 11 St John’s Rd. Approved. .

7.To receive a report from the Finance & General Purposes Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.12.07. Present were Clls , Fisher, Brook, Blowers O’Neill, Cloke, Jervis, O’Neill, and Woods. Apologies were received from Clls Groom and Shepherd. The Committee considered the following matters:-

Grants of £300 to Black Dog Arts and £75 to Optua were recommended and approved.
It was recommended and agreed that e mail be used for all future communications where practical and that steps be taken to have a Council website.
The following balances were reported:- Lloyds TSB, £7065.04 and £48.23. Scottish Widows, £23474.29(call a/c) and £86676.93(60 day a/c)

The following payments were approved and cheques duly signed:- Mr A Newberry, litterpick and Riverside, £110.50. It was recommended and agreed that a total of £167 be spent on renewing the Bigod Way map on the plinth by the Castle.

It was agreed that Cll O’Neill could write to the Patient Care Trust on behalf of the Emergency Planning Committee. It was reported that a garage was for sale in the town and that it may benefit the Council to acquire it. It was decided not to pursue this. .

8. Environment Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.12.07. Present were Clls , Fisher, Cloke, Evans, O’Neill, Ward and Thompson. Apologies were received from Cll Groom, Bedingfield and Shepherd.

It was recommended and agreed that the Carbon Footprint Group be supported in their efforts to facilitiate the reduction of carbon omissions.
It was agreed that Clls Cloke and Ward represent the Council on this group.
Cll Thompson said that he would like the Council to support a ‘plastic bag free Bungay’ initiative and gave a presentation to the full Council about this. There was general support for the principle. It was recommended and agreed that the Council join the SCC Countryside Access scheme.

9. Traffic Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.12.07. Present were Clls, Groom, Fisher, Evans, Jervis, O’Neill, Thompson and Woods. Apologies were received from Cll Shepherd.

t was agreed that a meeting be held with SCC members and officers and representatives of other interest groups to discuss matters relating to a A144 Bungay Bypass.
Cll O’Neill reported that SCC had largely incorporated the changes recommended by the Council in their revised waiting restriction proposals; some minor changes were included for Broad St and Cross St. Cll O’Neill suggested that a disabled parking bay be provided close to the dentist in Trinity St and that shorter waiting times be permitted in Cross St to allow for loading and to discourage long term parking. At the request of SCC consideration would be given to additional residents parking schemes.
Information was received about the Suffolk Roadsafe and Community Speed Watch schemes. It was decided not to participate on the grounds that these matters were best dealt with by the police and not by members of the public.
Safety concerns were expressed about the positioning of the pedestrian crossing at the south end of St Mary’s St. In some circumstances this could not be seen by drivers approaching from the south. It was suggested that a traffic light control would be safer. It was also noted that the poster on the railings by St Edmunds School was a distraction to drivers and should be removed.
It was agreed that Cll Brook be appointed to this committee.

10. Report on local policing matters 
A report was received and distributed to members. In response to a question from Cll O’Neill it was reported that no recent prosecutions of HGVs drivers in breach of the one way ban had taken place. Cll ONeill asked that the problem of vehicles parking on the pavement be addressed. Cll Brook and Shepherd requested that the police keep a record of all traffic accidents in the town. They were advised that there was no mechanism for doing this.Cll Warnes requested that breaches of the waiting restrictions in Bridge St be dealt with.

11. Riverside Centre Report
The Clerk reported on matters relating to the bridge. A meeting of users was to be convened to agree future access and maintenance matters. In response to a question from Cll Bedingfield, the Clerk reported that he had met with a Canoe Club representative fairly recently and various matters of mutual interest had been discussed. The Clerk reported that he had received a letter from a solicitor acting for the Club in relation to their lease and had subsequently contacted both the solicitor and WDC. He proposed to report fully on this matter at the next meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee.

12. Appointment of Representatives to the Rural Partnership
Clls Evans, Fisher and O’Neill were appointed

13. Appointment of a quality council working party
Clls Blowers O’Neill, Brook, Cloke, O’Neill, Shepherd, Thompson, Ward and Woods were appointed.

14. Council Representatives 
Cll Palin reported that the All Hallows Hospital Advisory Group were reviewing their constitution and would be in contact with the Council when this had been completed.
Cll Bedingfield reported that he had attended the Citizens Advice Bureau AGM. Officers had been appointed. It is possible that the Bungay CAB office may open on more days per week
Cll Thompson asked about use of the bus shelter notice board. The Clerk said that he had not yet got the keys for it.
Cll Evans reported on Foundation East and funding possibilities for a new community centre.
Cll Jervis reported on the programme for the next Tourist Meeting on 23rd January 2008.
Cll Brook reported on parking problems in Earsham St.
The Clerk reported on the Town Dinner, the annual meeting of the Town Trust (the Town Meeting) and the appointment of Cll Martin Evans as Town Reeve.
Cll Palin spoke of the many donations made by the Town Trust in the last year.

15. County Councillor’s Report 

16. District Councillors Report
Cll Woods said that he would be attending the Area Forum workshop and hoped the Council would send 2 representatives.

17. Cheques for payment
WDC, refuse collection Riverside, £70.50; Bungay Youth Association, donation re insurance £721(Section 137); Suffolk Association of Local Council, subscription 2007/2008, £225.00; EAC Document Solutions Ltd, photo-copy service charge, £28.20; Mr A Newberry, Riverside and litterpick, £115.20.

20. Other business 
Cll Palin reported a large hole in the road on the approach to the Rainbow Store in Hillside Rd East.
Cll O’Neill alterations were needed to the road levels at the Market Place/Bridge St/Trinity St to alleviate drainage problems.

The meeting closed at 10.20pm.

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