Bungay Town Council Minutes

Bungay Town Council - Council Minutes

(These minutes are as up to date as information received)

Minutes of the September meeting of this Council held at the Council Chamber Broad Street on Monday 17th September 2007 at 8pm.

Present were Clls Groom (in the chair),Fisher, Bedingfield, Cloke, Evans, Jermy, Jervis, O’Neill, Palin, Shepherd, Thompson, Ward, J Warnes and Woods Also present were the Press, Sgt Goodfellow and 10 member of the public.

1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cll Blowers O’Neill.

2. Interests
Cll Warnes declared an interest in item 10.

3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 16th July 2007 were approved and duly signed.

4. Matters arising
In response to a question from Cll Palin the Clerk said that the Town Sign had been recovered by the police and was awaiting collection.

5. Correspondence
The following correspondence was received:-

Waveney District Council(WDC) re proposed street closure (Chaucer Street from Popson Street and of Earsham Street from Market Place to Outney Road) for Waveney Harriers Boxing Day Meet on 26th December 2007, 9am to 12 noon. Approved subject to standard conditions.
WDC review of licensing policy in accordance with the 2003 Act.
WDC adoption of conservation area appraisals for Halesworth, Holton, Bungay, Homersfield and Wissett.
Suffolk County Council(SCC) August edition of School Organisation Review.
Supporting People leaflets.
Suffolk Acre Awards commended certificate for Mrs T Fenn. This will be sent to her.
Notice of Suffolk Acre AGM on 27th September 2007.
Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust local leaders event on 21st September. Noted that Cll Fisher may be able to attend.
Proposed Bungay Art Project was supported in principle.
Mr W J Farrow of 3 The Watermill, Bungay Staithe requesting information about the building of the Riverside Centre under the Freedom of Information Act. This had been supplied.
Bungay Community Responders requesting permission to use the Town Coats of Arms for their letterheads. The Clerk reported that the whole crest can only be used by the Council. With the Council’s consent permission can be granted to use part of the crest. It was agreed that this group could use the shield on the crest.
Mr and Mrs S Woodcock supporting the claims of residents of Trinity Street for residents parking. Noted that this was one of the recommendations made to SCC.
SCC advising delay in completing refurbishment of Falcon Bridge. Completion date of late November was anticipated.
Mrs J C Bonner : copy letter re parking matters relating to Chaucer St car park.
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health advising of the formation local forums to work to improve local NHS services.
WDC advising of annual canvass for the register of electors.
Bungay Summer Festival thanking Council for donation.
Bungay Black Dog Marathon with thanks for donation.
Proposed Broads Authority Workshop. Clls O’Neill and Warnes expressed an interest in attending.
Broads Authority best value summary for 2007-2008.
WDC and SCC re review of sheltered housing provision. To be considered by Finance & General Purposes Committee.
WDC re Town Council response to the Waveney Prospectus Draft Final Report. Reported that a Bungay Bypass would not be included in the action plan because of concerns about the severe environmental impact of the scheme.
Copy of letter from WDC Chief Executive to Partnerships Manager at SCC re Shaping the Future.
WDC re street naming of 72a and 72b Nethergate Street.
WDC re Suffolk Hedgerow Survey.
SCC with response to Town Council’s request that SCC re-consider the priority given to a Bungay north-south bypass. To be considered by the Traffic Committee. (Copy of this letter is enclosed).
WDC giving notice of an appeal by Mr J Hartcup against planning authority refusal to grant consent to a proposal relating to Crown Court, Cross Street(DC/07/0823/ful and DC/07/0824/LBC.
SCC re changes arising from the recent mobile library review.

6. Report on local policing matters
Sgt Goodfellow reported on a 6.9% reduction in crime and 27.1% increase in detection rates in the Beccles policing area in the year to date. Recent local crimes included a distraction burglary, thefts of lead, garage break-ins and the growing of cannabis. The single biggest local problem related to criminal damage to vehicles. Shop Watch arrangements were being update and he gave details of the new crime prevention scheme. In response to a member’s question about the designation of no drinking areas, Sgt Goodfellow said that he did not consider that on-street drinking was a problem in Bungay.

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

DC/07/1666/FUL, Mr & Mrs P Scott, conversion of existing garage and single storey rear extension for dependent relative accommodation, 11 Kerrison Rd. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1655/FUL, BT PLC, provision of a combined payphone and ATM, outside 2 St Marys St (immediately adjacent to new bus shelter). Refusal recommended as wholly inappropriate at this conservation area location.
DC/07/1636/FUL, The Trustees of Emmanual URC, provision of access ramp and disabled parking facilities to existing church hall, Emmanual Methodist Church, Upper Olland St. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1533/FUL, Mr & Mrs Joyce, rear extension and a front entrance extension, Hillside House, Mountbatten Rd. Deferred for clarification about precise location.
DC/07/1606/FUL, Mrs C Smith, construction of a single storey side extension, 29 Southend Rd. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1611/LBC, Mr P Lau, listed building consent, replacement windows to rear, 49 Earsham St. Clarification to be sought from conservation officer to establish whether this related to recent changes or changes carried out a considerable time ago.
DC/07/1575/FUL, Mr & Mrs R J Machon, single storey front and rear extensions, 42 Kings Rd. Approval recommended.

It was reported that the Planning Committee met on 6.8.07.
Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Bedingfield, Cloke, Evans, Jervis, Palin, and Warnes. Andrew Wilson-Sutter of WDC and Mrs Y Baynes of Bungay Chamber of Trade were also present.

Mr Wilson-Sutter reported about the proposals to hire space on the Chaucer Street car park to Clays for use by their employees during re-development works on the printing work site. He apologised for not consulting the Council about this earlier. A compromise was agreed which would reduce the impact on casual users of this car park.

The following plans were considered:-
DC/07/1306/AND, Martin McColls Ltd, non illuminated advert consent and listed building consent for 1 fascia sign, 14 Market Place. Approval recommended.
DC/07/1109/FUL, Clays Ltd, provision of protective barrier to chiller unit, Clays Ltd. Residents letters relating to this plan were reported. Approval recommended only if noise and vibration problems associated with the chiller unit are rectified. Cll Groom advised that WDC were taking enforcement action in relation to unauthorised large sheds in Hillside Road East and Upper Olland Street.

The following payments were approved and cheques duly signed:- Nigel Purdy, display material for Castle Visitors Centre, Riverside Project, £1400.00; BT PLC, telephone accounts, £193.51; Waveney District Council, business rates, Riverside Centre, £552.60; C M Stanforth, window cleaning, £75.20; P Morrow, reimbursement, VAT payment, £355.20.

A further meeting of the Planning Committee was held on 3.9.07.
Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Bedingfield, Cloke, Evans, Palin, Ward and Warnes. Apologies were received from Cll Thompson. Cll Warnes declared an interest in plan DC/07/1468/FUL.

The following plans were considered:-
DC/07/1446/FUL, Mr D Patient, construction of a detached garage and provision of a boundary wall, 1 Hillside Rd East. It was recommended that application be deferred pending clarification of the status of the lane between the subject property and Bungay Middle School.
DC/07/1454/FUL, Miss P J Plews, construction of a 2 storey side extension, 44 Staithe Rd. Approval recommended subject to this plan addressing the objections which led to refusal of the earlier plan for this site.
DC/07/1358/OUT, Mr R Taylor, outline application for 1 dwelling, site adjacent to 41 Upper Olland Street. Refusal recommended. Considered that the proposed bungalow would not fit in at this location and the design of the bungalow was inappropriate for the setting.
DC/07/1468/FUL, Y J Packe, construction of first floor extension, 17 Boyscott Lane. Cll Warnes withdrew while this plan was considered. Approval was recommended.
DC/07/1442/AGO, prior notification under General Permitted Development Order 1995, erection of 2 polytunnels, P Watts, land at Flixton Rd. There were no objection to this proposal.

The following planning decisions were received from WDC:-
W15028/9, J W Munnings Ltd, construction of 3 houses and garages, plots 2, 3 & 4. Land adjacent to the Watch House, Beccles Rd. Approved.
DC/07/1112/FUL, Mr D Harford, erection of a side conservatory, 17 Ethel Mann Rd. Approved.
DC/07/1189/92/FUL, Mr O Bennett & Ms H Healy, listed building consent for internal and external alterations, 6-8 Broad Street. Approved.
DC/07/1169/FUL, Mr M J Woods, construction of a single storey front extension and rear garage extension, 33 Beccles Rd. Approved.
DC/07/1031/VOC, Clays Ltd, variation of conditions 3 and 6 of W12996/3, Clays Ltd, Popson Street.
DC07/1050/LBC, J & L Champeney, listed building consent of various internal and external alterations, Stow Park, Flixton Rd. Approved.
DC/07/1062/COU, Rentwell, change of use to property management office, 17 Market Place. Approved.
DC/07/1087/FUL, Mr D Baxter, provision of a dropped kerb, 53 Flixton Rd. Approved. DC/07/1262/COU, Moore Civil Engineering Ltd, change of use to engineering storage and office, 70 Nethergate St. Approved.
DC/07/1099/FUL, Bungay Town Council, provision of 10 sheds, allotments, Flixton Rd. Approved.
DC/07/1109/FUL, Clays Ltd, retain external chiller unit and protective barrier. Clays Ltd. Popson St. Approved.
DC/07/1250/FUL, Mr R Whall, erection of gates, 57 Earsham St. Refused.
DC/07/1306/AND, Martin McColls Ltd, non illuminated advert consent, provision of 1 fascia, 14 Market Place. Refused.
DC/07/1089/OUT, Ms J Ridgwell, outline application for 1 house, land north of 5 Flixton Rd. Refused.
DC/07/1160/61/CAC, Mr & Mrs D Trafford, construction of 2 houses, 14 Wharton St. Refused.
DC/07/1118/FUL, Punch Taverns, provision of free standing pergola to existing patio with replacement railings. Swansons, 16 Market Place. Refused.

8. To receive a report from the Finance & General Purposes Committee

A meeting of this Committee was held on 3.9.07. Present were Clls Groom, Fisher, Blowers O’Neill, Jervis, O’Neill, Shepherd and Woods. Clls O’Neill and Shepherd declared an interest in matters relating to the Christmas Lights.

The Committee considered the following matters:-
Locality Budget allocation. It was recommended that a contribution of £5000 be made for provision of a replacement guide hut.
Section 106 funds. A schedule of funds was made available to members. It was recommended and agreed that consideration be given to spending this money on new allotments on the former allotment site off St Johns Rd if the opportunity arose.
Financial regulations review. It was noted that an increase in expenditure limits may be appropriate in relation to 3.6 and 3.7 and that consideration should be given to delegating a budget to committees.
Funding requests. It was proposed and agreed that the Council provide funding of £5500pa for the employment of a community project officer for three years subject to an annual performance review.
Grants of £2000 and £100 were recommended and agreed for Bungay Christmas Lights and Bungay Area Neighbourhood Watch respectively.
The following balances were reported:- Lloyds TSB, £8091.10 and £48.23. Scottish Widows, £30474.29(call a/c) and £71676.93(60 day a/c) The following payments were approved and cheques duly signed:- Mr A Newberry, litterpick and Riverside, £212.00; Essex and Suffolk Water Co, Riverside £8.41, allotments £115.26, total £123.67.

A request had been made to use the Riverside for a party with a finishing time of 2am. It was decided that the latest permitted time would be 11.30pm with the site vacated by 12 midnight. It was reported that the Bungay Playing Field Association were making a funding request to COMMA to renovate changing rooms on the site. Support in principle was requested from the Council. This was agreed.

9. Riverside Centre Report

The Clerk reported in camera at the end of the meeting on matters relating to the bridge adjacent to the old Mill building at Bungay Staithe. It was agreed that the Clerk report further when a survey report had been reviewed.

10. Consideration of further WDC Site Specific Allocations and Development Management Issues
The Council decided to respond as follows:-
1. The Council are against development of site 161(Bungay). This site is prone to flooding and is a green field area used for public recreation and should be retained
2. The Council are against development of site 167(Bungay). This land is in the flood plane close to Tin River and road access is poor.
3. Burial land. The Council considered the additional land identified should be allocated for this purpose.
4. Special landscape areas. The Council support option 1.
5. Housing density. The Council favour 30 dwellings or less per hectare for land in Bungay land

11. Council Representatives
Cll Fisher reported that an Emergency Planning meeting had been held. It was intended that a working group comprising all interested parties would prepare a plan for Town Council consideration. Cll Fisher and Cll Groom had been elected chair and vice chair of this group.

The next meeting would be held at the Council Chamber on 26.11.07.
Cll Ward reported on consultation with Halesworth Town Council about the planned vision day. It was hoped that this would be a first step towards the formulation of a Town Plan. The next meeting of the working group dealing with this would be held on 27.9.07.
Cll Bedingfield thanked the Council for sending him on the new councillors course. He said that new premises for the Beccles CAB had been identified.
Cll Jervis reported that the next Tourist Meeting would be held at the Council Chamber on 31.10.07. A Godric Way Guide reprint was being considered and the Godric Cycling Club were assisting with provision of new Godric Way markers.
Cll Warnes reported on work of the Christmas Lights Committee. He had been testing bulbs for the Committee.

12. County Councillor’s Report
No report was received.

13. District Councillors Report
Cll Woods reported on behalf of both District Councillors on the work of the sheltered housing working group. All sites in the District had been visited and it was proposed that housing associations be asked to look at current provision and proposals. There would be full consultation with residents and the Town Council in relation to Bungay provision.

14. Cheques for payment
Mr A Newberry, Riverside and litterpick, £105.01; Three Willows Garden Centre, garden competition prizes, £70.00; B Lines, repair to lead on bus shelter, £25.00; EAC Document Solutions Ltd, photo-copy service charge, £28.20; Suffolk Association of Local Councils, training course fees, £846.00.

15. Other business
t was agreed that Cll Ward could make a presentation about quality council status at the October meeting.
Cll Jermy announced his resignation from the Council due to work commitments. He said that he felt privileged to have served Bungay both as district and town councillor. He considered that the Town Council played a most important role and he wished them well for the future.
Cll Groom thanked Cll Jervis for his 15 years work as an elected member and Cll Palin also thanked him for his service to the town.
Cll Evans reported that Ms Archer of WDC would be taking to councillors about a Town Plan. The Clerk reported than it was intended to ask Mr Bell of Suffolk Acre to speak to councillors about possible Suffolk Acre input at the October meeting.
Cll Shepherd congratulated those responsible for the new bus shelter. It was noted that a system would have to be put in place to manage the display of notices etc.
Cll O’Neill requested that the Finance & General Purposes Committee consider membership of Suffolk Association of Local Councils. This was agreed.

The meeting concluded at 10.20 pm.

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