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Town Council - Council Minutes
Minutes of the February meeting of this Council held at the Council Chamber Broad Street on Monday 19 February 2007 at 8pm.
Present were Present were Clls Evans (in the chair), Curtis, Fisher, Groom, Jermy, Jervis, Palin, Warnes, R Went, Wolfenden and Woods. Also present were Cll Rose(SCC), PC Skuse, the Press and 1 member of the public.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Clls Caswell, Derges, and S Went.
2. Interests
No Interests were declared.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2007 were approved and duly signed.
4. Matters arising
Cll Evans reported that Mr K Sampson of Suffolk County Council(SCC)
would be sending a draft traffic order report relating to traffic management matters.
Cll Groom reported that he had asked Mr Sampson to meet with Bungay Town
Council to discuss the draft report before it was issued to others.
Cll Evans noted that the Waveney Prospectus exercise had suggested the need
for a town plan. He proposed to talk to Suffolk Acre about this with a view to inviting
one of their officers to address the Council on this subject.
Cll Evans reported that a meeting of interested parties interested in the
Honeypot Project would meet on 5/3/07.
5. Correspondence
The following correspondence was received:-
Copy e mail correspondence between Cll Rose of SCC and SCC Highways.
WPS Insurance Brokers. Alternative insurance quote to be obtained for June renewal. Waveney District Council(WDC) giving notice of hearing of an appeal by Saliscrown Ltd against refusal to grant planning consent for internal and external alterations at 42 St Mary's St and 1A Priory Lane, Bungay which was heard on 8th February 2007 and
notice that the Planning Inspectorate would consider an appeal by Mr Francis relating
to refusal by WDC to grant planning consent relating to external works on 6 Broad
Street.
Suffolk Accident Rescue seeking donation. To be considered by the Finance &
General Purposes Committee when accounts are available.
Mr P Peggs of 1st Bungay Scout Group thanking Council for the proposed donation
towards repair works.
WDC re joint pathfinder bid.
A copy letter sent by Reverend R Robinson on behalf of Emmanuel Church relating to
road safety issues in Boyscott Lane area. Noted that this issue had originally been
raised by the Town Council and SCC had agreed to review the situation and put
forward proposals. SCC to be contacted further.
SCC with information about the outbreak of Avian Influenza.
Suffolk Waste Partnership Annual Report for 2005/2006.
SCC with details of proposed changes to the mobile library services.
Mr C Reeve with Waveney Community Forum report dated 14 February 2007. A
copy was made available to members.
WDC further consultation relating to a proposed extension of the Bungay
Conservation Area so as to include the Ollands. This was approved.
SCC giving notice of work to refurbish Falcon Bridge, Bridge Street.
WDC advising new property on the Old Co-op store site at Annis Hill Lane to be
numbered 12 Hillside Rd East and 4 Annis Hill Lane.
Bungay Joint Tourism Committee giving notice of the next meeting to be held at the
Castle Visitors Centre on 21 March 2007.
Mr & Mrs Weight requesting removal of seat and rubbish bin from its current position
which was now adjacent to the new residential property at 12 Hillside Rd East and 4
Annis Hill Lane. This was agreed and an alternative site was to be identified.
National Probation Service giving notice of the Community Payback Scheme. It was
noted that work of this sort was already being carried out in the town.
6. To receive a report from the planning committee, to consider plans received and receive planning decisions from WDC
The Planning Committee met on 5 February 2007. Present were Clls Evans, Dergess, Groom, Caswell, Fisher, Palin, Warnes and Wolfenden. Apologies were received from Cll Curtis.
The following plans were considered:-
DC /07/0210/OUT, Mr N Feek, construction of a house, land west of 77 Mountbatten Rd. Refusal recommended. Space provided does not allow for the construction of a dwelling of satisfactory size which will match neighbouring property. Proposal will turn a balanced pair of semi-detached houses into an unbalanced terrace.
DC/07/0317/LBC & DC/06/133 8/ADI, Lloyds TSB, replacement of illuminated fascia board and lettering and provision of a hanging sign, 11 Market Place. Approval recommended.
The Committee considered suggested boundary changes to the Bungay Conservation Area. The proposed changes were approved. It was however noted that the consultation period of 2 working weeks allowed for considering these proposals was totally inadequate given the extent of the document, the time taken in its preparation and the cost of this exercise. It was doubted whether the extent and cost of the exercise was the best use of scarce resources. It was further noted that some of the owners of the property where remedial action was recommended to counter alleged intrusion or damage to land and property had not been consulted during the preparation of the document or subsequently.
The Clerk reported that he had received a number of letters from residents objecting to some of the future land use proposals for Bungay. He intended to reply to them outlining the Council's reasoned response to these proposals.
The following planning decisions were received from WDC:-
DC/06/1244/FUL, Mrs C Sampson, rear extension to allow formation of a residential
annexe, 23 Beccles Rd. Approved.
7. To receive a report from the Finance & General Purposes Committee
The meeting was held on 5 February 2007. Present were Clls Evans, Groom, Palin,
R Went and S Woods. Apologies were received from Cll S Went.
A donation of £60 was proposed and agreed for trophies for the Bungay Black Dog
Marathon.
The Clerk reported that an organisation who ran outdoor activities courses wished to
hire the canoe club changing facilities at the Riverside Centre on certain weekday
afternoons in the summer months. The canoe club had declined to permit this use. The
Council considered that the proposed use was appropriate although use by the canoe
club and its affiliates should take priority. It was agreed to discuss matters further
with the canoe club to see whether this proposed additional use could be
accommodated.
The following payments were approved and cheques duly drawn:-Mr A Newberry, Riverside & litterpick, £163.20; British Telecommunications PLC, phone accounts, £181.42; H M Revenue & Customs, PAYE & NIC, £702.97; P Morrow, reimbursement VAT payment, £137.57.
Cll Woods reported with regret that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had
refused WDC's proposed electoral changes so the existing system will continue.
Cll Evans reported that a school group would be received by the Town Mayor and the
Town Reeve on the 21/2/07.
The Clerk reported on a proposal received for the publication of an indexed town map
which would be supplied to the Council free of charge having been paid for by
advertisements. It was agreed that a copy of the contract be obtained and the matter
considered further. If it was decided to go ahead the Chamber of Trade would be advised as their members would be approached by the publishers to take advertising space.
8. Riverside Centre Report
Cll Evans reported that a meeting of the supervising councillors and the Clerk would take place at the Centre on the 21/2/07.
The Clerk reported that the new key pad was defective and would have to be replaced. Cll Palin said that a bell should be provided. Cll Evans suggested that a wireless system be installed.
9. Police Report
PC Skuse reported that a number of cycle thefts and car break-ins had taken place over the last month. Charity boxes had been stolen from 4 commercial premises. Overall reported crime had reduced by 13% and detection rates increased by 48%. The launch of Bungay Safer Neighbourhood Team was to take place. A system of Police Direct was to be put in place which would allow the despatch of e mail, text or phone messages to interested parties to help reduce local crime. Cll Fisher noted that emergency plans would involve the police.
10. Proposal to erect an allotment store on part of the allotment land at Flixton Road.
This proposal had come to the Council as owners of the land from the Allotment Association. A copy of the proposal was shown to members and this was approved subject to planning consent and a legal agreement relating to the land on which the stores will stand.
11. Proposed schools re-organisation in Suffolk
The Clerk reported that SCC were consulting on proposals to move from a three school to a two school system for the whole of Suffolk. A SCC publication giving the arguments for making this change had been distributed to members with the papers for the meeting. Generally members spoke in favour of continuing the three school system and disavowed the factors highlighted in the SCC leaflet but Clls Warnes and R Went spoke and proposed to vote in favour of the proposed change on the basis that it would improve standards. The Council voted against the change.
.
12. Council Representatives
Cll R Went spoke of a well supported Bungay in Bloom meeting. A tree was to be
planted on 21/3/07.
Cll Jervis reported from the Tourist Committee Meeting on the 14/2/07 where
arrangements to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bigod Way in October were
agreed.
13. County Councillors Report
Cll Rose noted that the traffic management report from SCC was still awaited. He will
check progress with Mr Sampson.
Capital and maintenance issues relating to the Belisha crossing in St Johns Rd and the
speed warning sign in Hillside Road East had still not been resolved.
Road marking at Bardolph Rd junction had apparently been renewed.
Cll R Went thanked Cll Rose for supporting the funding application for a new
watering machine.
14. District Councillors Report
Cll Groom was pleased to note the proposed extension to the conservation area. He noted that the neglected property at the town end of Broad Street had been sold and would hopefully be improved. WDC are addressing problems relating to derelict property in Priory Lane.
Cll Woods reported that he and Cll Groom would be meeting Mr S Archer of WDC on 6/3/07.
15. Cheques for payment
The following payments were approved and cheques signed:-
Holy Trinity Church, donation re quiz entry, £8.00(section 137 payment); Essex & Suffolk Water, water charge, allotments, £22.75; Bungay Area Community Transport, donation, chair purchase, £350.00(section 137 payment); Mr A Newberry, Riverside &litterpick, £81.60.
16. Other business
Cll Groom gave notice of a Guide fund raising event at the Chaucer Club on 22/2/07.
Cll Evans gave notice that the Civic Evening and award presentation would be held on 20/4/07.
Cll R Went noted that the conservation area document gave the wrong numbering for houses in Wingfield Street.
The meeting closed at 9.40pm
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