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Minutes

Bungay Town Council - Council Minutes.

Minutes of the February meeting of this Council held at the Council Chamber, Broad Street, Bungay on Monday 18th February 2008 at 8pm.

Present were Clls Groom (in the chair), Fisher, Bedingfield, Blowers O’Neill, Brook, Cloke, Evans, Jervis, O’Neill, Palin, Thompson, Shepherd, Ward, Warnes and Woods

Also present were PC Sadler of the Suffolk Constabulary, the Press and 1 member of the public..

1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cll Rose.

2. Interests
No interests were declared.

3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st January 2008 were approved and duly signed subject to it being noted that extended hours at the Bungay CAB were subject to funding and the availability of volunteers.

4. Matters arising
noted that the quiz team had won through to the quarter finals.
Mark Kerridge of SCC was considering whether funding was available to improve the pavements on the east side of St Mary’s Street.
Cll Palin reported that Cll Rose had alleviated immediate concerns about the lighting review.

5. Correspondence
The following correspondence was received:-

Miss P Plews about continuing damage being caused to the grass triangle at Staithe/Beccles Rd by parked vehicles.
SCC had been requested to install bollards on 2 sides to prevent this.
Mr & Mrs T Page about problems caused by cars parking in Nethergate Street. This matter was being considered in the current waiting restriction review.
WDC report from the section 106 working party for 14/2/08 and a WDC guide to section 106 agreements.
WDC with notice of appeal against refusal to grant planning consent for DC/07/1533/FUL. This will be determined by written representations to the Inspector.
Audit Commission advising appointment of BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as auditor to the Council.
Optua thanking Council for donation.
BT re benefits of paying phone account by direct debit. It was agreed to pay by this method in future.
Waveney Harriers thanking the Council for supporting the road closure for the Boxing Day meet.
WDC with copies of Waveney Local Development Framework leaflet. This was distributed.
WDC with street naming of new property at 1 & 2 Old Grammar Lane.
SALC newsletter. This was distributed.
Funding request from All Hallows Hospital. Referred to F & GPC.
Report of Lubbock Fine, the Council’s external auditor for 2006/2007. Noted the need to update statutory reference in the Council’s Financial Regulations and to consider the levels of fidelity guarantee cover. This latter matter to be considered by F & GPC.
Norfolk CC Mineral & Waste Local Development Framework document. To be considered by Environment Committee.

6. To receive planning decisions from WDC
The following plans were considered:-

DC/08/0119/COU, H & J Rice, change of use of portacabin to farm shop, Pineview Farm, Flixton Rd. Refusal recommended. Considered that vehicle movements would be higher than anticipated and would include commercial vehicles to service the business which is likely to have all the characteristics of a normal retail business. Access not considered suitable for likely traffic volume.
DC/08/0147/FUL, McCarthy and Stone Developments Ltd, redevelopment to form 34 sheltered apartments, communal facilities, associated car parking and landscaping, Three Willow Garden & Plant Centre, St Johns Rd. Plan should only be approved if car park provision on the site is increased and if drainage problems at this location are comprehensively addressed as part of this development.

It was reported that the Planning Committee met on 4th February 2008. Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Bedingfield, O’Neill and Shepherd. Apologies were received from Cll Cloke. The Clerk declared an interest in the plan below and withdrew from the meeting while this was being discussed.

The following plan was considered:-

DC/08/0082/FUL, Mr & Mrs D Trafford, construction of 1 house with detached garage, alteration to existing access and creation of additional vehicular access, 14 Wharton St. Approve subject to proposed footpath being constructed. Target enforcement response times were considered and recommended to WDC and members were nominated to attend a WDC World of Planning event.

The following planning decisions were received from WDC:-

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. Approved.
DC/07/1955/LBC, Mrs B Stringer, listed building consent, internal alterations to create WC and erection of stud wall, 50 Upper Olland St. Approved.
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. Refused on grounds of insufficient detail to assess impact of required modifications of Grade II Listed Building.

7.To receive a report from the Finance & General Purposes Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 4.2.08. Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Blowers O’Neill, Brook, Jervis, O’Neill, Shepherd and Woods.

Cll Jervis declared an interest in the Bungay Black Marathon funding request.

Donations of £60, £250 and £250 were recommended and approved for Bungay Black Marathon prize cups, Bungay First Responders and Suffolk Accident Rescue respectively.
The Committee recommended and it was agreed that the Council take advantage of the free website facilities offered by oneSuffolk who were publicly funded. It was further recommended that use be made of the appropriate ‘dot.gov’ e mail addresses for Council use.
The Committee reviewed the consultation document Regulations relating to Local Authority members in England.
An update was received on the work of the Bungay Partnership.
The following balances were reported:-
Lloyds TSB, £2411.91 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, litter pick and Riverside, £113.50; Mr B Lines, repair, refurbishment and re-positioning of Town sign, £383.98; PDQ Digital Media, Bigod Way sign, £175.66; BT PLC, phone accounts, £169.25; Bungay Printers, partnership print costs, £30; D Ward, partnership post costs, £20.00.

8. Environment Committee
A meeting of this Committee was held on 4.2.08. Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Bedingfield, Evans, O’Neill, Shepherd, Thompson and Ward. Apologies were received from Cll Cloke.

The possibilities of reducing conventionally produced energy consumption at the Riverside Centre were considered.
It was agreed that members of the Sustainable Bungay Group (previously known as the Carbon Footprint Group) who had knowledge of these matters be asked to speak to the Committee.
It was recommended and agreed that a grant of £373 be made to cover the costs of printing and distributing a leaflet about the need to dispense with the use of single-use plastic bags. Cll Thompson will be discussing with the Chamber of Trade the question of provision of alternative cloth ‘multi-use’ bags.

9. Report on local policing matters 
A written report was presented by PC Sadler and distributed to members and their comments noted.

10. Riverside Centre Report
The Clerk reported on current levels of letting activity. Cll O’Neill noted that some of the car park posts were difficult for drivers to see when parking and that the contact phone number was missing from the letting information notice at the site.

11. Quality Council Working Party Report
Cll Brook reported on the first meeting held on 26/1/08 and announced that the next meeting would be held at the Fisher Theatre on 25/2/08. This would consider in detail the quality council criteria. In her view 75% of the criteria were already being achieved but some of these needed to be recorded in the required way and communications issues needed to be addressed. It was noted that the Clerk would need to register for the qualifying certificate. Minutes of the Working Party would be distributed to members of the party.

12. Appointments to the Town Trust
Clls Warnes and Bedingfield were appointed to fill the current vacancies. They would serve to November 2008 when they would be eligible for re-appointment.

13. Council Representatives 
Cll Fisher advised that the Festival Committee would meet at the Council Chamber on 27/2/08. More committee members were needed.
Cll O’Neill reported as temporary secretary that items were needed for the programme.
Cll Fisher reported that the BACT AGM would take place at the Riverside Centre on 20/3/08.
Cll Palin reported that the next meeting of Bungay in Bloom would take place on 26/2/08 and that a vacancy for the Dryers Homes had been advertised.
Cll Jervis reported that the next meeting of the Tourist Committee would take place on 5/3/08.
Cll Cloke reported that the Youth Association were planning to stage an event in the Festival.
Cll Warnes reported attendance at the Chamber of Trade AGM at which officers had been appointed.

14. County Councillor’s Report 

15. District Councillors Report
Cll Woods reported that the Area Forums were to continue although the level of grants available for distribution had reduced and these grants would now be distributed through the mechanism of the Forum Steering Group rather than at the meetings themselves. Cll Groom said that he regretted the reduction in funding.

Cll Woods reported that WDC had launched a web–based petition against the ‘Yartoft’ option.

16. Cheques for payment
P Morrow, arrears of salary and reimbursed expenses, £3286.12; Mr A Newberry, litterpick and Riverside, £502.14. It was noted that this sum included an accumulation of holiday pay entitlement. It was agreed that in future the hourly rate would reflect this element as was common with part time staff.
Mr B Lines, refurbishing and refitting Black Dog brackets to the refurbished Town Sign, £35.00.
Cll Groom said that he had inspected this work and wished to thank Mr Lines for the high standard of the work done.

17. Other business 
Cll Groom congratulated the Black Dog Running Club on their successful recent staging of the Great East Run.
In response to a question from Cll Brook, the Clerk reported that damage to the bus shelter had been reported to the insurers and consent had been sought from them to have the damaged shelter inspected by the manufacturer as local repair did not seem to be an option.
Cll Palin noted that traffic light control was needed at the crossing at the junction of Hillside Road East and Kents Lane.
Cll Groom noted that dog fouling was a problem in certain areas of the Town and said that he would ask WDC to put up appropriate notices.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm. .

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