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Bungay Town Council - Council Minutes

Minutes of the April meeting of this Council held at the Council Chamber Broad Street on Monday 21 May 2007 at 8pm.

Present were Clls Evans (in the chair), Bedingfield, Blowers O'Neill, Cloke, Fisher, Groom, Jervis, O'Neill, Palin, Shepherd, Thompson, Ward, J Warnes and Woods Also present were the Press and 2 members of the public

1. Election of Town Mayor for 2007/2008
Cll Groom was proposed by Cll Eavns and seconded by Cll Palin and duly elected. On accepting office Cll Groom said that his aim was to take a non political approach to Bungay issues including provision of new premises for the Guides and the community centre and to continue to press for a bypass.

2. Election of Deputy Town Mayor for 2007/2008
Cll Fisher was proposed by Cll Woods and seconded by Cll Jervis and duly elected

3. Declarations of Office
Declarations were received from the Town Mayor and all those councillors present. It was agreed that Cll Jermy could present his declaration prior to the first meeting he attended.

4. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cll Jermy.

5. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2007 were approved and duly signed.

6. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.

7. Correspondence
Standards Board for England with new Code of Conduct for members. This will be considered at the June or July meeting.
Waveney District Council(WDC) best value focus meeting to be held on 4 June. Cll Evans agreed to attend subject to other commitments
Suffolk County Council(SCC) advising that there was time for the new Council to review the waiting restriction proposals and possible resident parking areas.
Suffolk Preservation Society paper on affordable housing.
Bungay Black Dog Marathon thanking Council for their donation.
Ipswich Borough Council for WDC advising agreement to street closure proposals for Bungay Chamber of Trade on 20 May, 15 July and 2 December 2007.
WDC corporate plan for 2007/2010.
WDC naming of new properties, 6 St Johns Rd. and 9a and 9b Pennyfields.
SCC leaflet preparing for stage two of the School Organisation Review.
Notice of next meeting of the Bungay Joint Tourism Committee at the Castle Visitor Centre on 23 May.
WDC Local Development Scheme Second Review.
Norfolk County Council minerals and waste development framework.
Bungay Summer Festival and Bungay in Bloom requesting donations. To be considered by the Finance & General Purposes Committee(F&G PC)
Suffolk Acre with details of the Probert Community Initiative Award.( to F&GPC).
Waveney Prospectus Draft Final Plan(to F&GPC).
SCC opposing unitary authority proposals for Ipswich (to F&GPC).
South Norfolk District Council Gypsy & Traveller Local Development Document (to Planning Committee(PC).
Broad Authority Statement of Community Involvement changes (to PC).

8. To consider plans received, receive and receive planning decisions from WDC
The following plans were considered:-
DC/07/0934/FUL, Mr & Mrs P James, construction of rear kitchen extension and side porch, 26 Fairfield Rd. Approval recommended subject to no adverse impact on neighbouring property.
DC/07/0993/FUL, Mr & Mrs C G Mann, erection of a replacement conservatory, 10 Woodland Drive. Approval recommended.
DC/07/0890/OUT, MR P Watts, outline application for 14 residential units, Three Willows Garden Centre, St Johns Rd. No objection in principle but noted that there are problems relating to the proposed access on to Southend Rd which will need to be resolved. Traffic leaving the site should not be permitted to travel west up Southend Rd as this road is unsuitable for through traffic.
DC/07/0920/FUL, Mr P Marshall, conversion of garage to study and store and replacement of flat roofed extension with a pitched roof. Approval recommended.

The following planning decisions were received from WDC:-
DC/07/0687/FUL, Mr S Avery, construction of two 2 storey detached dwelling, corner of Old Grammar Lane and Hillside Rd West. Approved.
DC/07/0648/FUL, Mr & Mrs D Masterson, 2 storey rear extension, 44 Kings Rd. Approved.
DC/07/0717/FUL, Mr & Mrs L Moller, construction of single storey rear extension, Orchard House, Upland Hall Farm Rd. Approved.
DC07/0728/FUL, Mr D Robinson, 2 storey side extension, side extension and single storey rear extension, 132 Hillside Rd West. Approved. A Broads Authority plan,
WDC/07/0407, J Uttings and Sons, for 2 dwellings land adjacent to 133 Beccles Rd was refused.

9. To receive a report from the meeting held on the 1 May 2007.
A special meeting of the Council was held on this day. Present were Clls Evans, Fisher, Groom, Palin, B Warnes, R Went, Wolfenden and Woods. Cll Fisher declared an interest in the Middle School plan.

The following plans were considered:-
DC/07/0877/LBC, Mr & Mrs H Massie, listed building consent, installation of a bathroom, 20 Upper Olland St was recommended for approval.
DC/07/0876/FUL, The Factory Shop Group, enclosure of existing lobby area, 40 St Mary St. Approval recommended.
DC/07/0905/CCC, SCC, construction of front extension, Bungay Middle School, Hillside Rd East. Approval recommended.
DC/07/0890/OUT, Mr P Watts, see 6 above, deferred for consideration by full Council.

The SCC proposals for amendments to waiting restrictions were considered but deferred for consideration by the full Council. It was noted that recommendations about resident parking areas could be made when responding to the waiting restriction proposals.

The accounts for the year to 31 March 2007 were considered and approved subject to introducing an accrual for arrears of golf club rent and an amendment to the list of assets to show 6 town signs at £500 each.

The following cheques were approved and cheques duly signed:-
Mr B Lines, work on Common Playground, £479.00; British Telecommunications PLC, phone accounts, £197.55; P Morrow, reimbursements re repair to seats on Common £175.00, VAT payment, £378.80 and Civic Evening £98.80, total £652.60; EAC Doc Solutions Ltd, photo-copy service charge, £56.75; Plantscape Ltd, watering machine, £586.33; Gartec Ltd, service charge, lift at Riverside, £188.00.

Notice was given that the Town Meeting would be held at the Riverside Centre on 15 May at 7.30pm. It was reported that the national salary review for Clerks was not yet concluded and review of the Clerk's salary with effect from 1 April 2007 was deferred pending the outcome of this.

10. Town Meeting
It was reported that total attendance at the Town Meeting held at the Riverside Centre on 1 May 2007 was 20. The Town Mayor reported on the year's activities and the Clerk on the Council's income and expenditure for the year to 31 March 2007. The following matters were raised:- Town Twinning, need to review plans carefully, danger presented by the narrow pavement outside St Edmunds Primary School in St Mary's Street and the implication for the decision making process where Suffolk County Council entered into consultation.

11. Appointment of a Planning Committee for 2007/2008
Clls Groom, Fisher, Bedingfield, Cloke, Evans, Palin, Thompson, Ward, and Warnes were duly appointed.

12. Appointment of a Finance & General Purposes Committee for 2007/2008
Clls Groom, Fisher, Blowers O'Neill, Jermy, Jervis, Shepherd, O'Neill and Woods were duly appointed.

13. Appointment of a Traffic Committee for 2007/2008
Clls Groom, Fisher, Evans, Jervis, O'Neill, Palin, Shepherd, Thompson and Woods were duly appointed.

14. Annual Appointments
The following appointments were made:-
Crime Prevention Panel & Safe Neighbourhood, Cll Evans;
Emergency Planning, Clls Fisher, Groom, O'Neill, Shepherd;
Bungay Honeypot Centre, Cll Fisher;
CAB, Cll Bedingfield;
Joint Tourist Committee, Cll Cloke, Evans, Fisher, Jervis, Palin, Shepherd and Ward;
Bungay in Bloom, Clls Fisher, Groom, Jervis, Palin;
Outney Common Owners, Cll Jervis;
Bungay Christmas Lights Committee, Cll Fisher, O'Neill and Warnes;
Community Education Support Group, Cll Thompson;
Bungay Youth Association; Cll Bedingfield, Cloke, Thompson;
WDC Liaison Group, Cll Evans, Groom, O'Neill, Palin and Mrs R Went;

15. Town Mayor's Allowance
Cll Groom withdrew and an allowance of £850 was fixed for the year. .

16. Casual Wage Rates
Rates of £7.62 and £6.53 per hour were fixed respectively for those supplying their own tools and those who did not.

17. Proposed changes to waiting restrictions in Bungay
Details of these were received from SCC. It was agreed to defer these and the question of residents parking areas to the June meeting of the Traffic Committee.

18. Police Report
A report on local policing matters was received from PC Christopher Sadler - copy appended to the signed minutes.

19. Riverside Centre Report
The Clerk reported on a meeting with the Chairman of the Waveney Valley Canoe Club to discuss matters of mutual interest including use of that part of the Riverside Centre occupied by the Club. The Club continued to oppose use by Kids Klub which the Council viewed as appropriate. The Clerk had attempted, and considered that he had succeeded, in addressing all the concerns expressed by the Club Committee about this use and was forced to conclude that the Club Committee objected to any use by a commercial organisation albeit that the organisation were providing services to schools. The Clerk had reiterated at the meeting that the Council agreed that the Club and its affiliates had first call on the Club facilities and there was no suggestion that others using the premises would have use of any of the Club equipment. The Council were not happy to exclude other suitable users if the facilities were not being used by the Club or its affiliates nor should the facilities be left unused on the off change that some Club use may occur. At the conclusion of the meeting the Clerk had asked that he be provided with details of planned Club and affiliate use over the summer. The Clerk had subsequently been told planned Club and affiliate use would leave only 2 half days free per week. This was insufficient to meet the Kids Klub requirement so they would not be able to use the Centre this year. It was recommended that for future years the Club advise the Council of their planned requirements so future use by other suitable groups can be considered in the light of these requirements. Cll Shepherd commented on the occasional lack of co-operation afforded to members of the public by canoeists when using the Staithe area.
Clls Bedingfield, Groom, Palin and Shepherd were appointed to the Riverside Centre Supervisory Group.

20. Council Representatives
Cll Fisher reported that the Christmas Lights Committee were planning to extend the Hisniav this
Cll Evans reported that 3000/4000 questionnaires was to be issued to gauge local support for a new community centre.
Cll Ward reported that it was anticipated that 100 hanging baskets would be put up in the town. Watering had started. Dinky's Garden had been cleared up and new planting was underway.
Cll Palin reported that the next meeting of the WDC Liaison Group would be held in the Council Chamber at 9am on 25 June.

21. County Councillors Report
No report was received.

22. District Councillors Report
Cll Woods reported that the annual meeting of the Council had been held and committees for the year set up.

23. Cheques for payment
The following payments were approved and cheques signed:-
B Lines, repair work at Riverside(£35.87), refurbishment and relocation of seat(£229.39), work at Common Playground(£374.45), total £639.71; Suffolk Acre, subscription, £20.00; John Groom Catering & Carriages, Civic Evening, £440.00; A Newberry, work at Riverside and litter pick, £204.63; Graham Johnson Builders, retention payment, Riverside project, £580.65; Howard Birch Associates Ltd, professional fee, Riverside project, £162.50; Waveney District Council, waste collection Riverside, £70.50; Bungay Honeypot Centre, hall hire, civic evening, £45.00.

24. Other business
Cll Bedingfield reported various drain problems in the town. Cll Groom agreed to take up with WDC.
Cll Cloke asked about distribution of questionnaires for community centre. Cll Evans responded.
Cll Shepherd reported that work preparatory to the main Falcon Bridge work was underway.
Cll Ward suggested that a further open meeting of the Council should take place. This would be considered at the next meeting.
Cll Ward reported that the Bungay Bridal Fair would be taking place shortly.
Cll Evans reported that installation of the new bus shelter outside Swansons had been delayed because display cases supplied were of an incorrect size. In response to a question from Cll O'Neill, the Clerk said that he did not yet have any information about courses for new councillors.

The meeting concluded at 10.15pm.

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