Pre-meeting
Reports
3 March 2020
The Chairman sadly announced that Bob Cassidy,
a former town councillor had recently passed away.
191. Andy Osman – Head of Emergency Planning at Suffolk
County Council
The Chairman introduced Andy Osman who briefed the meeting on the changes
being made to the Emergency Plan for the Sizewell Power Stations which had been
required by new legislation. He
explained a new inner area 1.35km zone would ensure permanent residents receive
iodine tablets and further safety tiered zones of 15km and 30km have been put
in place. An emergency planning exercise
is scheduled for 8 July to ensure all parties are fully equipped and able to
manage any emergency event. Cllr Betson
asked who delivers the iodine tablets and Cllr O’Reilly queried how residents
will get the information. Mr Osman
confirmed NHS England arrange distribution points for iodine tablets mainly at
GP surgeries and pharmacies. Information
on procedures will be given to residents and in the event of an emergency a
helpline will be activated. Rest centres
will be opened in a safe location for people to go to and bus transport will be
provided. A resident felt strongly a
public enquiry should be held on Sizewell and was very concerned on transport
issues for evacuating residents, especially in the middle of the night. Mr Osman confirmed containment of the site
from any nuclear spill gives 10-12 hours and plans are in place for evacuating
people. Another resident raised concerns
regarding the evacuation plan with all the potential energy projects on the horizon,
there is only one road in and out of Sizewell.
Mr Osman confirmed once Sizewell C has submitted the DCO (Development
Consent Order) he will then be able review the plans to incorporate this new
station.
During the
above item, the time reached 7.30pm, it was proposed by Cllr Ginger and seconded
by Cllr Harle and agreed that Standing Orders be suspended to allow the public
session to complete.
192. County
Councillor
The Chairman welcomed County Cllr Rainger who gave an update on recent
activities. He advised SALC had met with
the Norfolk branch (NALC) and were putting similar motions together to lobby
the government against the energy projects covering both areas. County Cllr Rainger confirmed street lighting
would be improved with LED lights which is being rolled out over a 3 year period. He
advised work had started at Aldringham Parrot to resolve the recent flooding
issues which would include a road closure and is also pushing for the flooding problems
on the Leiston to Knodishall road and the Leiston to Saxmundham road to be
addressed. County Cllr Rainger confirmed
SCC has committed to provide continued financial support to the Citizens Advice
over the next 3 years with a review of the Eastern operation (Lowestoft, Felixstowe
and Leiston) to become more economic. Cllr O’Reilly queried if savings in other
areas meant staff would be affected and County Cllr Rainger advised there would
be no change in the service for Leiston.
Cllr Last asked if SCC were issuing guidance regarding the Coronavirus and
County Cllr Rainger advised Public Health England were issuing advice and
guidance. Questions were asked regarding
potholes in Park Hill and Waterloo Avenue and County Cllr Rainger will chase
those up.
193. District Councillor
A report was tabled
and Cllr Jocelyn Bond and Cllr Cooper were in attendance. Cllr Geater advised the footpath from
Aldeburgh Road to Southfield Drive was full of dog waste and the Clerk will ask
for this to be cleared. Cllr Levermore
raised concerns regarding various issues at the leisure centre with the roof leaking
and a fire exit chained up. Cllr Cooper will
speak to Tim Snook, Leisure Contract Manager at ESC. Cllr Harle commented that the Ashfield Drive
sign still has not been put up. Cllr Cooper
will chase this up with Norse.
194. Public Forum
No questions were raised.
At a meeting of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
held in
the COMMUNITY CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on
TUESDAY 3
MARCH 2020 at 8.02pm
Councillor Mrs L Hill (in the Chair)
Councillor D Bailey
Councillor Mrs S Betson
Councillor D Boast
Councillor A M Cooper
Councillor D Dix
Councillor Mrs S M Geater
Councillor C Ginger
Councillor P Harle
Councillor T Hawkins
Councillor J N Last BEM
Councillor S Levermore
Councillor D Morsley
Councillor S O’Reilly
195. Minutes
It
was proposed by Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that the minutes
for the meeting of 4 February 2020 be signed as a true record.
196. Apologies
Apologies
were received from Cllr Woolf.
197. Chairman’s Communications
Cllr Hill reported
as follows:
I
attended, with the Town Clerk, a meeting with the Environment Agency and the
Office of Nuclear Regulation which will be reported on under agenda item 12
(d). I also attended, with the Deputy Town Clerk, a training session on the
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
Due
to the planned visit to Hinkley, neither I or the Vice Chairman are able to
attend the Inspire Suffolk Staff and Students Awards event on 10 March. Cllr
Cooper has kindly agreed to attend and will present the award, sponsored by the
Town Council, to the winners of the Student Award for Community Engagement.
As
you will be aware plans are well in hand for Leiston’s Big Weekend which includes
the 75th VE Day Anniversary event on 8 May and the ‘At the Movies’
themed day with Cinema in the Park and Fireworks on the 9 May. The organisers are
seeking volunteers to help set up and clear away at various times from Thursday
evening to the Sunday afternoon. If you are able to offer some time please let Cllr
Levermore, Cllr Last or myself know. Your support would be much appreciated.
198. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Cooper for item 12
and item 15 letter 4, Cllr Hill for Leiston
Film Theatre, Cllr Geater for item 8, Cllr Last for item 15 letter 2, Cllr O’Reilly
for item 15 letter 3.
199. Leiston
Together Update
The Clerk briefed members on the
recent Leiston Together meeting and the presentation they received from EDF at
the meeting on the emerging Net Zero Leiston project. This was an exciting initiative that was
looking at the possibility of making Leiston one of the first net zero towns in
the country. EDF had drawn together a number of local, national
and international partners and contractors to produce a roadmap of how the aim
can be achieved. The paper the Clerk had produced for councillors explained
that the project was not dependent on Sizewell C getting consent in any way and
would proceed whatever. The project did need the full support of Leiston
residents and, of course, the Town Council. It was not something that was going
to “done to Leiston” rather with the Council’s support, “would be done with
Leiston”. After a short discussion, it was proposed by
Cllr O’Reilly, seconded by Cllr Betson and agreed to fully
support the Net Zero Leiston project. The Clerk was asked to thank EDF for choosing
Leiston for this initiative.
200. CLT Trustee Board
Cllr Hill updated the
meeting on this item thus:
The United Church
project has moved on with the removal of the ivy on both sides of the wall that
divides the Co-op car park from the United Church garden. The Co-op organised for
the work to be done on their side and CLT Trustees undertook the work on the
Church side. The CLT are grateful to the Town Council for funding a
topographical study for the area which has been completed. The CLT also wish to
thank our District Councillors for the grant of £4,200 from their Enabling
Communities Budgets which will allow us to engage Gladwells
Landscape Designers to undertake the initial design and plan for the garden
project. The plans will be shared with the community and once costings are
known will allow the CLT to seek further funding to complete the project. It is
the CLT’s intention to encourage wildlife in the garden with a range of plants
and to provide insect hotels and bird boxes. We are keen to get the young
people from CYDS involved with the garden project and a meeting will be set up
with them and Zoe Botten from ESC.
The CLT have not been
successful, on this occasion, in getting through the first stage of the funding
process for the National Lottery which would have allowed us to employ a
project manager. We were, however, advised that we could come back and apply
again. We will learn this month if we have been successful with the grant
application to The Fore which will allow us to employ an architect for
preliminary work on the main town centre project.
A further meeting has
been arranged with Alan Collard the advisor we have through our successful bid
with Bright Ideas. The meeting will cover various financial aspects including
drafting a set of financial regulations for the CLT, drafting financial projections and looking at possible capital funding sources.
Interest in the plans for
the town continues to grow and membership, as of this morning, is 290 (248 full
members and 42 associate members) an increase of 61 since my last report. Following
a request from Trustees of the Leiston Works Railway two Trustees went along to
their meeting to give a presentation on the proposals for the town. As of
yesterday, there are display boards at the Leiston Leisure Centre regarding the
town centre proposals which will be there for all of March and we thank the
Leisure Centre for their support. There will also be presentations at two Alde
Valley Academy assemblies to inform the students of the plans. Although they are not yet old enough to
become members it is hoped that they will be interested in the future of their
community and that information will be fed back to their parents and carers. Further
sessions will be held in the Co-op and the CLT will have a stand at Leiston’s
Big Weekend. I am also advised that people are regularly going into No. 22 on a
Tuesday morning interested to hear about the proposals.
201. Highways
Committee Meeting – 11 February 2020
Cllr Last
referred to the report and recommendations from the Highways Committee meeting. Firstly, regarding the entrance to the new
housing development on Carr Avenue it was proposed by
Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr Morsley and agreed for a letter to be sent to ESC
Planning and SCC asking for the developer to honour their obligations with
regards to the visibility splay and vegetation issues. With regards to the pedestrian crossing on Aldeburgh
Road, it was proposed by Cllr Ginger, seconded by Cllr Bailey
and agreed to proceed, in principle, with the pedestrian crossing on Aldeburgh
Road and obtain a design estimate quote from Highways.
202. Waterloo
Centre Steering Group – 13 February 2020
Councillors
noted the report and recommendations. It
was proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded by Cllr Ginger
and agreed to engage Coastal Glazing at a cost of £360 to investigate the water
ingress and provide a report. It was
proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded by Cllr Last and agreed to engage Mr Parker
to redecorate the gymnasium as quoted at £2,740. It was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded by
Cllr Betson and agreed to commission Mr Parker and Mr
Knights to replace the remaining florescent lights with LED units for
£530. The total cost of the work £3,630
to come from the Waterloo Centre Reserve.
203. Community
Centre Replacement Windows
Councillors
noted the report and quotes previously circulated. The Deputy Clerk explained
the windows at the back of the building were rotten and needed replacing. It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by
Cllr Levermore and agreed to engage Coastal Glazing to
replace 5 windows as quoted at £1,680 (inc VAT),
which will come from the Community Centre Reserve.
204. VE
Day Preparations
Cllr
Last updated councillors on the preparations for VE Day (8 May) starting with a
small service at 11am at the War Memorial, a parade through the town to Victory
Road park with afternoon tea for the over 75’s and war veterans. So far 50 residents had applied for the
afternoon tea. Cllr Last and Cllr Bailey
were working on contingency plans for inclement weather. Cllr Levermore said on the Saturday there will
be a parade to kick things off, 105 stalls, craft fair, dog show, children’s activities,
RBL band, local musicians and lots more with the finale being the cinema in the
park in the evening. The public vote had
closed and The Greatest Showman film had been chosen.
205. Finance
and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr O’Reilly
and agreed that accounts presented in the sum of £20,538.63 along with £38,042.20
paid since the last meeting, be approved for payment.
206. Planning Matters
The Clerk will request a condition for a maximum 8 week occupation or similar condition to ensure they do not
become long term lets.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
b)
DC/20/0435/DEM – Deplant and remove
the purge air compressor house (building number 52); deplant
cochran boiler house and fuel oil tank removal (building
number 95 and 96); remove 6 x redundant ISO containers (numbers 1, 6, 7, 11,
14, 15); remove 2 x diesel tanks and bunds (building number 19 x 2) at Sizewell
A Power Station, Sizewell
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL
c)
DC/20/0566/FUL – Single storey extension, near rear entrance
porch at 126 High Street, Leiston
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
d)
Verbal Debrief – Meeting with Environment Agency and Office
of Nuclear Regulation
The Clerk briefed members on the recent meeting that he and
the Chairman had attended where the ONR and the EA had explained how the permit
system would work for Sizewell C. The main point (and concern) was that the
applications from EDF for the necessary permits to build and operate the
proposed station was a completely separate process to the planning process (ie the DCO). It would have been helpful if they were linked.
e)
DC/20/0819/TCA – T1 Holm Oak – reduce to pollard. Tree is covering the street light and the
traffic light cluster at Quakers Meeting House, Waterloo Avenue, Leiston
REFER TO TREE WARDEN
f)
DC/20/0849/VOC – Variation of Conditions 2, 4 and 5 off
DC/17/1934/VOC – Two single storey dwellings and associated garages at part of
rear gardens, 37A-39 Waterloo Avenue, Leiston
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
207. County Matters
Cllr Harle raised concerns from a resident
in Prospect Place of speeding cars in that road. He will forward the email to Cllr Cooper who will
investigate further.
208. District Matters
No questions were raised.
209. Correspondence
Funding Request from Mollie
Shaw
Councillors
noted the request from Mollie Shaw, who is an A-Level student from Leiston, asking
for a donation towards her Borneo Trek with Camps International volunteering to
help people in rural and deprived areas and deforestation. It was proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded by
Cllr Bailey and agreed to grant £200 and to request
feedback to Council from her expedition.
Funding
Request from the Fire Fighters Charity
Councillors
noted the request from the Fire Fighters Charity and as we had already given
them a grant of £250 in June 2019, it was proposed by Cllr Betson, seconded by
Cllr Morsley and agreed to hold this over to the next financial year.
Funding
Request from the Disability Advice Service
Councillors
noted the request from the Disability Advice Service asking for a grant towards
their running costs. It was proposed by Cllr
Boast, seconded by Cllr Cooper and agreed to grant
£500.
Funding
Request from Suffolk Coast Against Retreat
Councillors
noted the request from SCAR asking for a donation towards their running
costs. It was proposed by Cllr Betson,
seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed to grant
£30.00. Cllr Ginger and Cllr Geater
against.
Civil
Parking Enforcement
Councillors
noted the report. Cllr Bailey was
concerned that Leiston would not be patrolled as much as the bigger towns. After a short discussion it was agreed to invite
Lewis Boudville, Parking Manager at ESC to a future Town Council meeting.
210. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr
Betson queried the pavement area by the new housing development in the High Street,
Manor Place. Cllr Hill confirmed it had
been reported to Highways but unfortunately it did not meet the criteria for
repair and there was no supportive evidence that the damage was caused by the developer.
The meeting finished at 9.05pm.
Chair ---------------------------------------------
Dated ---------------------------------------------