Pre-meeting Reports

5 November 2019

 

103.    County Councillor

 

Cllr Rainger sent his apologies and submitted a report.  Cllr O’Reilly commented that the money spent on naming the gritting fleet would have been better spent on bus timetables.  Cllr Harle queried if Stocks Fair owned the land they had moved onto as they had moved their fencing and cut trees down.  The Clerk confirmed he had spoken to Rights of Way who advised they had checked and that the footpath is on the correct route and follows the definitive map. 

 

104.    District Councillor

 

          Cllr Cooper sent his apologies. Cllr Haworth-Culf and Cllr Bond also sent their apologies and tabled a report.  Cllr Harle asked who to contact if a dog attacks a person or another dog to which the Clerk suggested reporting to the Police in the first instance, as well as the District Council for both.  Cllr Betson raised concerns regarding the boardwalk at Sizewell beach, which is quite slippery and suggested some chicken wire be put on it or, at the very least, signage be displayed to advise the public of this danger. 

 

105.    Public Forum

 

          A resident raised the issue of the Grenfell Tower disaster and the implication that the fire service was at fault.  He asked that the Town Council send a letter in support of the Suffolk Fire Service and their London colleagues.

 

 

At a meeting of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL

held in the COMMUNITY CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on

TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2019 at 7.30pm

 

PRESENT

 

Councillor Mrs L Hill (in the Chair)

Councillor D Bailey

Councillor D Boast

Councillor Mrs S Betson

Councillor D Dix

Councillor Mrs S M Geater

Councillor C Ginger

Councillor P Harle

Councillor T Hawkins (from 7.35pm)

Councillor J N Last

Councillor S Levermore

Councillor D Morsley

Councillor S O’Reilly

Councillor Ms M A Woolf

 

 

106.    Minutes

 

          It was proposed by Cllr Betson, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 1 October 2019 be signed as a true record.

 

107.    Apologies

 

          Apologies were received from Cllr Cooper.  The Clerk passed on his thanks to councillors for their condolence messages and attendance at his wife’s funeral.

 

108.   Co-option

 

          Members were pleased to see applications from two residents to fill the outstanding casual vacancy and thanked them very much for their interest. As both candidates were extremely suitable it therefore had to go to a vote. The outcome of this ballot was that Mr Trevor Hawkins was elected to join the Council for the remainder of this term and, on signing a declaration of office, joined the meeting as councillor.

 

109.   Chairman’s Communications

 

          Councillor Mrs Hill reported as follows:

 

          I was delighted to be invited to the ‘Light Up the Drill Tower’ event at Leiston Fire Station on 3 November to help judge the pumpkin carving competition. There were a large number of entries and they were lit and displayed on the drill tower which was a great spectacle.  With so many, judging involved using binoculars and the use of radio communications to work out which pumpkins had been chosen. This was also an Open Evening and the Fire Service, Police and First Responders provided an abundance of information leaflets and advice whilst funds were raised for the Fire Fighters Charity with various stalls and a draw. This event was well supported with many coming in family groups and I would like to thank everyone involved in putting on this event for our community. I am advised that the event made £981 and with a Coffee Morning the total amount raised is a very impressive £1,263.

 

          I was pleased to accept an invitation to attend the Rose & Sweet William Club’s 70th Anniversary party held earlier today. Some representatives from the community who had given financially assistance during the year towards the Club’s mini-bus also attended. This was an enjoyable occasion with a buffet lunch, a special anniversary cake and entertainment. The Club provides the opportunity for the over 60’s in Leiston to come together socially and I trust it will continue for many more years to come.

 

          The Band of the Royal British Legion Leiston are holding their annual Festival of Remembrance tomorrow evening at the Film Theatre in aid of the 2019 Poppy Appeal. I was pleased to receive an invitation and will be there representing the Town Council.

 

          On Sunday 10 November, I will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Town Council at the Act of Remembrance which will take place at 11am at the War Memorial. As in previous years there will be a parade led by the Band of the Royal British Legion Leiston from Victory Road to St Margaret’s Church for the wreath laying ceremony, followed by a church service and then a march back to Victory Road. I hope many of you will be able to come along to support the occasion.

 

          To mark Armistice Day there will be an Act of Remembrance on the Victory Road Recreation Ground at 11am on Monday 11 November. All are welcome to attend.

                             

110.   Declarations of Interest

 

          Cllr Hill for Leiston Film Theatre and Cllr Hawkins for the letter regarding crocuses.

 

111.    Leiston Together Update

 

          Mrs Gibson sent her apologies and the Clerk updated members on the recent meeting held on 25 October.  He confirmed funding for a further two years had been granted which is very good news.

 

112.    CLT Trustee Board

         

Cllr Hill updated the meeting on this item thus:

 

The CLT held an Open Day on 5 October at No.22 Sizewell Road which marked the first anniversary of when the CLT was incorporated as a Community Benefit Society. Trustees manned the office on a rota basis and were pleased to advise members of the public of the plans for the town. Around 35 people came and there was a positive feedback to the proposals and a number took away membership forms. The CLT currently has a total membership of 189.

 

On 15 October, the Chairman and I attended a funding surgery in Ipswich, arranged and supported by Community Action Suffolk, with the Norfolk and Suffolk Lottery Funding Manager. They were taken aback at the scale of our project and initially it looked as if they would not be in a position to assist us. However, towards the end of the meeting it transpired that we could be eligible to make an application to the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund for a Project Manager. This post is essential and becoming more pressing in order that the project can move forward. The CLT have been asked to provide further information to support an application and to go on their website to further check our eligibility and read guidelines regarding the wider aims of the fund.

 

I am pleased to report that the CLT were successful in their application for £14,400 from the Bright Ideas programme, funded by Power to Change, which is for a marketing strategy and website design together with the production of a video to support increased community engagement and funding. We are still awaiting dates to meet with our adviser from the Plunkett Foundation regarding our business plan and have been asked to provide the draft plan we produced earlier this year together with our SWOT analysis and to work on an executive summary. It is understood that we will be able to meet up with our adviser very soon.

 

On the proposed Stage 1 of the town centre proposals we are awaiting a response from the United Church as to whether they support the plans to enhance the area round the Church. A second presentation on the proposals was given to members of the congregation at their usual coffee morning on Saturday 26 October. It is hoped that we will have their decision shortly. Unfortunately, the application for funding made by CYDS to assist with this project was unsuccessful but it is understood they still wish to support the project. We are very keen to engage with young people and are looking to give presentations on the town centre proposals to the School Council at Alde Valley Academy and to the Youth Club.

 

The next meeting of the CLT with ESC officers is on 3 December and dates have been agreed for meetings to continue in 2020.

 

The Annual General Meeting of the CLT has been arranged for Tuesday 10 December at 6pm at the Community Centre. One of the items on the agenda is the Election of Trustees and in accordance with our constitution two trustees have to stand down. If they wish to continue as a Trustee they have to seek re-election. The current Trustees are wishing to seek others to put their names forward for election to join them and help with the work of the CLT in progressing the town centre proposals. If you have a particular expertise which would assist this project your input would be greatly appreciated. The AGM is also an opportunity to inform our members and the public of progress made during the year and of our plans going forward. Further information on the AGM and nomination forms will be available shortly.

 

Cllr Betson asked that the title be amended to CLT Trustee Board.

 

113.    Proposed Visit to Hinkley by Councillors

         

          Cllr Last thanked councillors who had responded regarding the visit and had 8 councillors who would like to go.  The Town Council would fund it and would ask EDF to facilitate the visit onsite. After some discussion it was proposed by Cllr Betson, seconded by Cllr O’Reilly and agreed to look into the cost of hiring a minibus and to arrange with our counterparts a suitable date, possibly January, to visit over 2 or 3 days.

 

114.    Grounds Maintenance Meeting of 9 October

 

          Councillors noted the report.  Cllr Levermore highlighted the ‘Big Dig’ on 7 December to plant daffodil bulbs.  Cllr Last was hopeful following Mr Forster’s comments regarding improvements in the grass cutting schedule.

 

115.    Film Theatre Working Party of 24 October

 

Councillors noted the report.

 

116.    Calendar of Meetings

 

          Cllr Last encouraged councillors to put their names forward for some of the committees and working parties as numbers had dwindled.  Cllr Hill advised councillors to note the Council AGM would be held on 5 May with a full Council meeting on 19 May.

 

117.    Finance and Personnel

 

a)    Accounts for Payment

 

It was proposed by Cllr Last, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed that accounts presented in the sum of £29,251.15 along with £31,492.17 paid since the last meeting, be approved for payment.

 

b)    Financial Review

 

Councillors were pleased with the report from the RFO and on reviewing the budget and reserves all members were content with the current situation.  It was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed to accept the report.

 

118.    Planning Matters

 

a)     DC/19/3545/FUL – Change of use of former police station into 6 flats and construction of 7 new-build dwellings, all of which will be ‘affordable’ homes and associated parking/landscaping - Former Police Station, Kings Road, Leiston. The Clerk explained his holding letter to the Planning Authority which outlined concerns regarding the lack of parking relevant to the number of bedrooms. Members confirmed that this was an issue they would endorse and also asked the Clerk to support the County Council request for cycle storage etc. Post meeting note: It is confirmed that the whole development will be social rented accommodation and the application itself is from Orwell Housing who administer the other housing down Orchard Road.

RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

 

b)     DC/19/3727/DRC – Discharge of condition 25 of DC/14/4224/FUL – Creation of approximately 6ha of wetland habitat, including wet reedbed, open water and perimeter ditches within 4 ground water basins together with marginal drier reed habitat.  Soils excavated to create the basins, would be used across the wider site to establish a landscape including grassland, heathland, scrub and scattered trees.  Other associated works include realignment of the existing watercourse, the relocation of groundwater abstraction boreholes, a new pump house and fencing – access arrangements - Land south and west of Lovers Lane, Leiston   Members noted the Clerks draft response to this and added stronger sections with regard to the need for a risk assessment to address the changed risk profile. It was also requested that an entrance to the site for emergency vehicles be put in Carr Avenue.

RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

c)     DC/19/1883/ARM – Approval of Reserved Matters – DC/16/1961/OUT – An outline planning application for up to 187 dwellings to include car parking, open space provision with associated infrastructure and access - Johnsons Farm, Land north of B1119, Saxmundham Road, Leiston

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

d)     DC19/4023/FUL – Vehicular hardstanding and dropped kerb at 17 St Margaret’s Crescent, Leiston

RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

e)     Using East Suffolk Council Public Access facility to view planning applications and to get alerts. The Clerk briefed members on the advantages for them to sign up to this service and was pleased that many had successfully been able to do so.

 

119.    County Matters

 

Nothing was raised.  

 

120.    District Matters

 

          Cllr Geater commented on the abandoned cars in Long Row and an ambulance could not get through to tend a sick child, as the siting of the cars appears to be vexatious.  It was noted this is an ongoing issue which the Police have been involved in.

         

121.    Correspondence

 

          Invitation to Attend Anglian Energy Planning Alliance Event

          Members noted the above event planned for 11 November at Snape Maltings.  Cllrs Betson, Harle and Woolf put their names forward to attend.

 

          SALC AGM – 26 November 2019

          Cllr Boast, as the Council’s representative, will be attending.

 

          Offer of 1,000 Crocuses

          Councillors noted the Clerk’s brief from the Rotary Club, offering 1,000 crocus bulbs for a donation towards the Polio Plus Charity.  It was proposed by Cllr Betson, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed to donate £150.00 for the bulbs and request Norse plant them for £250.00.  It was suggested planting some on the skatepark mound, at the Community Orchard and at Haylings Pond.  The decision would be left with the Open Spaces Committee.

 

          Removal of BT Payphone – Opp Timber Top, Sizewell Gap

          Councillors noted the letter from East Suffolk Council regarding the consultation process for proposed payphone removals.  Cllr Bailey felt even though only 4 calls were made in the past year from this payphone it was still an important asset in an emergency and some mobile phones do not get a signal at Sizewell.  It was proposed by Cllr Harle, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed to object against the removal of this payphone.

 

122.    Questions to the Chairman

 

          Cllr Betson reiterated the earlier request for the Town Council to write a letter of support to the Suffolk Fire Service in the wake of the Grenfell Tower accusations.  Cllr Last declared an interest.  Cllr Betson mentioned that the 507 Specialist Team Royal Engineers recently helped the Leiston Works Railway lay 120’ of track which gave them a chance to support LWR as well as a good training exercise for them.  Cllr Harle raised the issue of the Ashfield Drive sign and bin and the Clerk advised the bin has been moved a little further into the estate and discussions are ongoing between ESC and Flagship regarding the sign.  Cllr Geater commented that the skatepark lights are still on at 2am.  The Clerk will contact SCC to rectify this as they should be on a timer.

         

It was proposed by Cllr Ginger, seconded by Cllr Harle and agreed that, under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

 

123.    Personnel

 

          Cllr Ginger declared an interest.  Members noted the recommendations of the Personnel Committee from their meeting of 14 October regarding the wages and salaries review. It was proposed by Cllr Ginger, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that those recommendations, a 2.5% increase across the board, be approved and implemented to date 1 November 2019. The recommendations reached regarding the plans for supersession of the Clerk pending December 2020 were also noted and supported. It was proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded by Cllr Boast, and agreed that those recommendations be progressed with a further meeting next April.

 

 

 

The meeting finished at 9.05pm.

 

 

Chair                                                                    ---------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Dated                                                                  ---------------------------------------------