Pre-meeting
Reports
3 December 2019
The Chairman conveyed apologies from Andy
Osman, Head of Emergency Planning at Suffolk County Council who was not able to
update everyone at this time. He will be
invited to the February Council meeting.
124. County Councillor
Cllr Rainger sent his apologies and no questions were raised.
125. District Councillor
A report had been previously
circulated. Cllr Cooper updated councillors
on the Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and villages Community Partnership event
which was held on 28 November. Cllr
Cooper explained there was a large pot of money to fund the top three priorities,
which following a simple voting process were ‘transport links and access to
services’, ‘economic regeneration/high street’ and ‘housing to meet local needs’. These will be discussed at the next meeting
in January.
126. 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
DECEMBER 2019 at 7.30pm
Councillor Mrs L Hill (in the Chair)
Councillor D Bailey
Councillor D Boast
Councillor T Cooper
Councillor D Dix
Councillor C Ginger
Councillor P Harle
Councillor T Hawkins
Councillor J N Last
Councillor S Levermore
Councillor Ms M A Woolf
127. Minutes
It
was proposed by Cllr Hawkins, seconded by Cllr Last and agreed that the minutes
for the meeting of 5 November 2019 be signed as a true record.
128. Apologies
Apologies
were received from Cllr Betson, Cllr Geater, Cllr Morsley and Cllr O’Reilly.
129. Chairman’s Communications
Cllr Hill
reported as follows:
I attended the Festival of Remembrance on 6
November at the Leiston Film Theatre. The entertainment was provided by the Band
of the Royal British Legion Leiston with local army & air cadets and
various military groups taking part in the remembrance service. At the end of
the evening I was pleased to have the opportunity to thank the cadets, their officers and the standard bearers for taking part in this
occasion.
The Remembrance
Service on Sunday 10 November was attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant. Tim
Rowan-Robinson, County, District & local councillors together with representatives
from local organisations and schools in our community. The Band of the Royal
British Legion led the parade to and from the church and I would like to thank
them for their continued support of this important event in Leiston’s and the
nations calendar.
There
was also an act of remembrance on Victory Road Recreation Ground to mark the
silent observance at 11am on 11 November.
The
Town Clerk and I attended the East Suffolk Partnership’s Annual Forum entitled Shaping
our Future at Trinity Park on 15 November. The guest speaker was Dominic
Campbell, CEO of FutureGov who gave an inspiring presentation on Designing
Public Services for the 21st Century. My chosen workshops were Young
People’s Voices: Shaping our Own Future and How can Communities Work Together
to Support Our Town Centres to Thrive? It was also an opportunity to visit
stands and talk to representatives from a number of different organisations.
As
the Council’s representative on the Leiston Surgery Patient Participation Group
I am very pleased to report that following a recent inspection by the Care
Quality Commission the practice has been rated as GOOD overall. A copy of the
report can be viewed on the Leiston Surgery website.
A
focus of the PPG over some months has been to provide an opportunity for
members of our community to undertake CPR training. With the kind support of
the British Heart Foundation, Leiston Leisure Centre, Places Leisure and
Leiston First Responders I am pleased to report that CPR training will take place
on Saturday 25 January. The training consists of a FREE one-hour session and information
on how to book a place at one of the four sessions will be available shortly.
On 28
November I was invited to attend the opening of the YES (Youth Employment
Service) Careers Hub, formerly the Flagship offices, at 46 High Street. Inspire
Suffolk, Access Community Trust and Sizewell C have come together to support
this service which will enable young people between the ages of 16 and 25 to
have help and support in preparing them for the world of work. I am extremely
pleased that young people in our community are to be supported by this joint
initiative.
Later
that evening I attended the Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and villages
Community Partnership workshop. This workshop was attended by councillors and
representatives from various organisations in the partnership area. Steve
Gallant, Leader of ESC and Letitia Smith, Cabinet Members for Communities
introduced the event. Councillor Cooper is our Community Partnership Chair. ESC
officers gave an overview of the workshop and a data presentation on our partnership’s
profile. Using the data provided groups
took part in discussions regarding their views on priorities and following a
simple voting process. Three priorities were arrived at: transport links and access
to services, economic regeneration / High Street and housing that meets local
needs. Social isolation was fourth and had rated high on the list in other
workshops. A report on the meeting and the priorities is to be circulated.
This
afternoon I was pleased to attend the Rose & Sweet William Club’s Christmas
Party. A lunch with soup and a dessert was provided and for entertainment a
Christmas Quiz and children from Leiston Primary School sang carols. On behalf
of the guests I thanked the organisers for making the afternoon so enjoyable and
wished everyone a Happy Christmas.
Finally,
I would like to thank Cllr Last for attending, as the Town Council’s
representative, the funeral of John Geater which was held earlier today. I was
attending a Leiston Together meeting and a CLT meeting with East Suffolk
Council officers and had spoken to his daughter Susan Geater.
130. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Woolf item 14(a)
cheque 314283, Cllr Cooper item 15 and item 18 letter 1, Cllr Hill for Leiston Film Theatre, Cllr
Hawkins item 14(a) cheque 314277 and item 15(a) and Cllr Boast for CLT.
131. Leiston
Together Update
Mrs Gibson sent her apologies and the
Clerk updated members on the recent meeting held earlier today. He reported a presentation by Paul Warmington
from SCC on young people training and skills on energy projects was well
received. The Board also agreed to
support the submitted report that asked them to have common purpose on the mitigation
and compensation requests that the Town Council had identified as necessary to
alleviate some of the detrimental effects of Sizewell C.
132. CLT Trustee Board
Cllr Hill updated the
meeting on this item thus:
Today the CLT met with
the ESC officers and in the discussions gave them a report on progress.
I am pleased to report
that the United Church have given their written support to the plans to enhance
the garden and area around the Church. This is Phase 1 of the main regeneration
of the town centre project and Simon Merrett has met with three landscape
architects regarding designs and costings. Jim Florance and Simon will be
progressing the project as one of the CLT’s newly formed focus teams and will
also invite a representative from the United Church to be a part of the process.
Although CYDS were not successful in obtaining a grant it is still intended to
involve this group of young people in the project. The support from the Church is
a very positive step and will enable the CLT to demonstrate to the community
that something is happening with regard the plans for the town.
Trustees will also be serving
on other focus teams which includes marketing strategy, branding and a website
for which we have already received a grant of £14,400 and also a funding team
to gain additional funds initially relating to the United Church project but
also for larger amounts that will be needed to secure a Project Manager. The
Co-op have a community fund and there are various green projects with funding
which could be used for the Church project. The ESC funding team would also be
able to help with signposting funds. With the increase in funds we intend to
secure it has become obvious that we needed to have the services of someone
with a business/finance background and I am very pleased to report that,
subject to them being appointed as a Trustee at the AGM, we have found a volunteer
who could be our Finance Director.
Sean Hays the ESC
Interim Housing Officer also attended the meeting and reported he was very
impressed following his site visit to Leiston to discuss the CLT’s plans.
The ESC officers have
also agreed to look into the possibility of the CLT either having an interim
intern or mature apprentice to help with progressing the project.
Tomorrow the Trustees
are meeting with Alan Collard our Plunkett Foundation adviser to formulate a
business plan. A skeleton business plan has already been produced and further
information has been provided and will be updated and added to at the meeting.
It is intended that this will be presented at the next meeting of the CLT with
ESC officers in February.
In order to engage young
people in the town centre regeneration project the Headteacher at Alde Valley
Academy has agreed that at the end of January the CLT can give a presentation
at school assemblies. Information on membership could also be sent home to
parents. We would very much like to involve the young people in our plans but
people under 16 are not able to be members. We are therefore looking into the
possibility of creating a Friends of Leiston CLT and having support from Zoe Botten
with an intergenerational project.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the Councillors and officers of ESC for their support and
work with the CLT over the past months and our next meeting is on 4 February.
Lastly, the Leiston CLT
AGM is on Tuesday 10 December at 6pm at the Community Centre and with the good
news on Phase 1 of the Town Centre project it is an ideal opportunity to further
engage our community in becoming members and supporting the work being undertaken.
133. Highways
Committee Meeting – 19 November 2019
Councillors
noted the report. Cllr Last was very disappointed
in regard to our CIL application for a pedestrian crossing not meeting the new
criteria and being classed as desirable, not critical
or essential infrastructure. Cllr Cooper
also reported that parking inspectors would be employed early in 2020 all being
well with SCC and ESC just waiting for a Statutory Instrument to be laid before
Parliament before they are able to officially take on policing of no waiting on
double yellow lines.
134. Report
from the Anglian Energy Planning Alliance Event at Snape – 11 November 2019
Councillors
noted the report. A letter to Andrea
Leadsom MP had also been circulated asking if the Town Council would agree to support
it. It was therefore proposed by Cllr Woolf,
seconded by Cllr Harle and agreed to add the town
council’s name.
135. Briefing
on Nautilus Interconnector Presentation – 11 November 2019
Councillors
attended a briefing by National Grid Interconnector Holdings on another energy
project with a consultation phase in around 18 months time. A booklet with further information is
available at the office.
136. Chairman’s
Reception – Friday 24 April 2020
Councillors
noted the date.
137. Personnel Committee Date
Councillors
noted the date of 27 April 2020 at 2.15pm.
Cllr Hawkins asked to be a member of the committee and on a proposal
from Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Levermore this was agreed.
138. Haylings
Pond - Permission for a Portaloo and Staging
Councillors noted the report. It
was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Ginger and
agreed to grant permission for a portaloo as long as it is well managed by the
Fishing Club. It was further proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed to pay the material costs of up to £400
for the new staging at the pond.
139. Visit to Hinkley
Councillors
noted the quote for a minibus and driver.
After a short discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr
Boast and agreed to accept the quote and suggested week commencing either 17
February or 9 March as possible dates to go.
The Clerk will liaise with the local council on a programme.
140. Finance
and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that accounts
presented in the sum of £14,637.63 along with £29,921.63 paid since the last meeting,
be approved for payment.
b) Accept Internal Auditors Mid-Term Report for 2019/20
Report previously circulated. It
was proposed by Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr Cooper and agreed to accept the Internal
Auditor’s report and to accept all the recommendations. The Deputy Clerk advised
that our GDPR compliance would be included in the Financial Risk Assessment as
recommended in the report.
c) Setting the Precept for 2020/21
The Deputy Clerk asked that any requests for consideration for the
precept be submitted to her by 11 December.
d) Parochial Charities Update
The Clerk updated members on the charities we hold to help people in
hardship. The funds were held in a redundant
account at Barclays and have now been transferred to our town council account and
put in an earmarked reserve, approx. £8,000.
The Clerk explained that all councillors are trustees
but Cllr Cooper and Cllr Harle are the managing trustees along with the incumbent
at St Margaret’s to grant funds to those in need, referred mainly from the
Citizens Advice.
141. Planning Matters
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
b)
DC/19/4515/FUL – Extension and garden shelter at 43 Waterloo
Avenue, Leiston
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
c)
DC/19/4519/FUL – Conversion of redundant buildings to form
a single family home and garden – further to approved scheme
DC/18/4645/OUT at The Mill, 22 Carr Avenue, Leiston
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
d)
The
Clerk advised members that further information on the SPR Windfarm had been
received and encouraged everyone to get involved and register as an interested
party, the deadline being 27 January 2020.
142. County Matters
Cllr Harle queried if
Stocks Fair were doing anymore to the footpath around their new fence line in
Donkey Lane. Cllr Last commented that
the temporary traffic lights at the White Horse keep failing and it would be
better to co-ordinate road closures and diversions. This will be raised at the next Highways
Committee.
143. District Matters
Cllr Ginger updated members that one of
the abandoned cars in Long Row had been removed but one car still remains. Further investigation is ongoing regarding ownership
of the land.
144. Correspondence
Funding Request from
CAB
Councillors
noted the funding request from the Citizens Advice towards running costs. It was proposed by Cllr Ginger, seconded by
Cllr Woolf and agreed to grant £2,700.00.
Grass
Cutting in Cemeteries
Councillors
noted the letter from ESC regarding a new scheme to help support wildlife,
whereby leaving the grasses in older sections to grow during the summer
months. After some discussion Cllr Ginger
proposed we do not support this venture and keep the status quo, seconded by
Cllr Boast and agreed.
145. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr Bailey
advised the SSG meeting had been rearranged to 9 January and he would be unable
to attend. Cllr Levermore reminded
councillors the ‘Big Dig’ was on Saturday at 10am to plant more bulbs, hedging
plants and trees at the Community Orchard.
Volunteers would be very welcome!
Cllr Ginger queried the updated allotment regulations. The Deputy Clerk explained these had been
reformatted and tidied up, not changed.
The meeting finished at 8.35pm.
Chair ---------------------------------------------
Dated ---------------------------------------------