At a virtual meeting of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN
COUNCIL
held, via
Zoom, on TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2020 at 7.30pm
Councillor J N Last BEM (in the Chair)
Councillor D Bailey
Councillor D Boast
Councillor Mrs N Corbett
Councillor D Dix
Councillor Mrs S M Geater
Councillor C Ginger
Councillor P Harle
Councillor T Hawkins
Councillor Mrs L Hill
Councillor S Levermore
Councillor Ms M Woolf
99. Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded by Cllr Hill and agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 6
October 2020 be signed as a true record.
100. Apologies
Apologies
were received from Cllr O’Reilly, Cllr Cooper and Cllr
Morsley.
101. Chairman’s Communications
The Chairman updated the meeting thus:
As
we approach another Lockdown this week, I am sure councillors will join with me
in trying to support our community in the best way we can during these
difficult times. Of course not forgetting our councillors
and families who may need some assistance.
As well as various
committee meetings, this month on 12 October, along with other members of the
Transport Group I sat in on a virtual meeting with EDF and Suffolk County
Council Highways to further discuss the Town Centre road systems and cycle routes.
On 20 October, I
represented councillors at the Beach Management meeting held on a very pleasant
evening on Sizewell Beach. The report of that meeting is on the agenda later. Last
Saturday I helped Cllr Levermore and Cllr Woolf at the Community Orchard with
some more bulb planting. Thank you to Cllr Woolf for donating the bulbs.
Yesterday along with
Cllr Hill, I sat in on the East Suffolk Community Partnerships Annual Forum
Launch Meeting, ‘Bringing Ideas to Life’
I also met with the
Princes Trust Project Group at the Memorial Garden at the Waterloo Centre and
spoke to them about the project they were undertaking in the Memorial Garden.
It was good to talk to their leader Carly Churchman and the young people
involved.
102. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Hill for CLT, Alde
Valley and Leiston Film Theatre, Cllr Boast for CLT, Cllr Levermore for CLT,
Cllr Ginger for Film Theatre and item 16d (Personnel).
103. Public Forum
County
Cllr Rainger briefed the meeting on the re-launch of the support programmes
that SCC and ESC ran during the first lockdown. He pointed out that the CAB
would be available by telephone throughout this new lockdown too. He gave a
short update on the current situation with the SZC DCO and the SPR Open
Hearings etc. In response to a question from Cllr Ginger, Cllr Rainger
explained that he too had had the same response regards the track beside the
Primary School in that it was not at intervention level so would not have any
work done but he would continue to pursue that.
District
Cllr Haworth-Culf emphasised the support being offered by the principal councils
during Covid19 with the Home but Not Alone initiative and the other measures
for people shielding etc. She also hoped that the public would continue to get
in touch should they require support in their responses to planning
applications or for any other information regarding planning.
104. Film Theatre Update
Mr Burns expanded on the report that he had included in the agenda pack
for members which had given a thorough overview of the difficulties currently
faced by the Film Theatre. These will undoubtedly be exacerbated by the newly
announced second lockdown but there had been many positives from the limited
re-opening of the venue over the summer. Mr Burns was very positive and pointed out
that the monthly average of 550 people who had come through the door since reopening
had all enjoyed the experience and many had commented on how important the
venue is for their mental health.
Members
thanked Mr Burns very much for what he had done to make the venue safe and
keeping it running as best as circumstances allowed and asked him to thank all
his staff for their hard work too.
105. EDF
Transport Group
The last meeting of the Transport
Group was the on 12 October. The plans for cycle routes and town centre traffic
improvements were received positively by EDF and will be discussed further on 9
November
106. Leiston Together update
Joanne Thain
introduced herself as the new Leiston Together Change Manager and explained to
the meeting how her hours were now split between Leiston Together and Leiston
CLT. Joanne gave an overview of her activities since coming into post which
included reinvigorating the town signage project and helping with the business
plan for the Film Theatre’s Grant application. Cllr Harle asked whether she
would still be looking at helping the school get a library but Joanne said
that, early days, she had not heard them mention that as the school had a clear
priority to refurbish the science block for STEM classes and as they also
needed more room.
107. Net Zero update
The Clerk briefly updated the
meeting on Net Zero Leiston. Surveys of the first 10 houses, looking to be part
of the pilot project to reduce their energy, will be starting soon.
108. CLT Trustee Board Update
A report had been previously
circulated. Cllr Boast advised thus:
Our new Project
Manager, Joanne Thain is settling into her role and
has three objectives that link to wider Leiston Together tasks that she is also
working on.
a)
to
develop the LCLT Business Plan;
b)
to
build a dialogue with the Coop around arrangements to remove the wall;
c)
to
work with our funding officer in raising grant support.
We are pleased that
Steve Milligan at ESC has approved the planning application for the work at the
United Church. The United Church Property Manager is progressing the legal
agreement needed to give permissive rights access on the land.
Simon has provided some
design drawings on the bandstand and gateway arches, which will reflect the
town's industrial history keeping it in line with the Garrett Works theme,
already in the old post office square. Selena Levermore is investigating
possible working with Sizewell apprentices to see if they could use some of
their skills in the construction and build of the bandstand and arches.
Our Funding Officer
continues to work quietly behind the scenes with the funding officers of both
the County and District Councils as we search for grant support to deliver the
church square project.
On a sad note Sammy's
leaving us becomes ever nearer, we wish to put on record how the LCLT are
indebted to her for her work, commitment, drive which has played a major part
in getting us to where we are, no longer a dream, Leiston Town now has a new
beginning.
Interviews had been
held from which 2 new trustees had been selected for co-option at the November
meeting and to be approved at the AGM on 8 December.
109. Grounds Maintenance Meeting - 14 October
2020
Members noted the report and ongoing
actions with the Council agreeing in principle for Mr Tynan to replace the tree
planted by the Scouts, should he think it was necessary and, on a proposition
from Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Woolf, the Council agreed to cover the cost.
110. Sizewell
Beach Management Meeting - 20 October 2020
Members noted the report and ongoing actions.
111. Remembrance
Sunday and Armistice Day 2020
The
Clerk briefed members on the proposed schedule for Remembrance Sunday which
would, within Government guidelines, be a limited parade and a private outside
service and wreath laying event. Armistice Day would see the usual social
distanced gathering on Victory Park to observe the two minute silence.
112. Calendar
of Meetings for 2021
It was proposed by Cllr Hill,
seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed to adopt the Calendar of Meetings presented
with Tuesday 11 August corrected to Tuesday 10 August.
113. January Council Meeting
Members noted the requirement to set
the precept a bit later next year to ensure they had the best data available on
the reducing Tax Base. It was proposed by Cllr Bailey seconded by Cllr Geater
and agreed to hold the January meeting on 12 January 2021.
114. Finance
and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Woolf
and agreed that accounts paid since the last meeting of £31,524.22 be approved
for payment.
b) Financial Review
Councillors were pleased with the report from the RFO which reviewed the
budget and reserves for the first half of the year. Members were content with
the current situation but noted the pressures Covid19 was having on financial
planning at the moment. It was proposed by Cllr
Hawkins, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed to accept the report.
c) External Auditors Report 2019/2020
Members were pleased to see that the annual accounts
had been signed off by the external auditors with no matters being brought to
their attention at all. It was proposed by Cllr Levermore, seconded by Cllr Corbett and agreed that the Town Council accept the auditor’s
report for 2019/2020 and note that there were no actions to consider.
d) Personnel Committee Report
Members noted the recommendations of the Personnel
Committee from their meeting of 21 October regarding the wages and salaries
review. It was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded by Cllr Bailey
and agreed that those recommendations be approved and implemented to date 1
November 2020.
e) Dementia Project Funding
Members noted that Ms Cuthbert was continuing her work with the Dementia Project
and the Good Neighbours Scheme as a volunteer whilst grant funding is sought to
extend the project. They thanked her very much for what she was doing in these
trying times and, on a proposition from Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Levermore
it was agreed to fund the project whilst the outcome of the grant application
is awaited. This would be with £1,000 from the Parochial Charities and £1,000
from the grants budget. The Clerk was asked to write and thank Ms Cuthbert.
(Cllr Woolf and Cllr Harle declared a non-pecuniary interest).
f) Parochial Charity Change of Mandate
It was proposed by Cllr Corbett, seconded by Cllr Geater and agreed that Mrs Rinder replace Mr Rayner as a
signatory for the Parochial Charities account.
115. Planning Matters
a)
DC/20/3958/OUT - Outline Application (Some Matters Reserved) - Use of land for the
erection of a single-storey dwelling - 35 King Georges Avenue Leiston IP16 4JX
The poor access and the very nature of this back garden
development cannot be supported. It not only severely reduces the amenity and
parking of 35 KGA (which is a substantial property that will require good
parking facilities) it is a clear opportunistic overdevelopment that has no
merit whatsoever. Highways cannot comment on the actual entrance onto King
George Avenue from the access road but, with the parking so close to this
entrance, it has the worst visibility of any in Leiston.
RECOMMEND REFUSAL
b)
DC/20/4043/FUL -
Removal of existing felt sloping mono-pitched roof, extensions and
alterations to existing property, provision of new flat roof together with
various cladding to external walls to modernise the appearance of the property
- 68 Waterloo Avenue Leiston Suffolk IP16 4HE
(Cllr Ginger abstained)
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
c)
DC/20/4006/VOC – Variation of Conditions on C/11/1289 -
Application for Hazardous Substances Consent - Sizewell B Sizewell Power
Station Sizewell Power Station Road Sizewell Leiston Suffolk IP16 4EU
Members were concerned that there needed to be safety
advice provided from the relevant bodies to allow ESC to make an informed
decision on this. It appeared that this might not be forthcoming for some weeks
so members wanted the decision deferred until this could be provided.
RECOMMEND DEFERRAL
RECOMMEND
REFUSAL
116. County Matters
Nothing raised.
117. District Matters
Nothing raised.
118. Correspondence
a)
The Royal British Legion Band, Leiston
A
letter was received from the band of the Royal British Legion, Leiston giving
details of some of their ideas for reduced performances around yuletide etc.
They also explained their new circumstances having taken over the lease of the
Ex Service Club where their band room is situated. Members noted their need to
raise funds and, wishing to support such an important organisation in the town
it was agreed, on a proposition from Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Ginger to
grant £500 to the band to help with their finances. (Cllr Ginger declared a
non-pecuniary interest)
b)
Headway Suffolk
A
letter from Headway Suffolk explained how they continued their excellent work
in the area which councillors recognised and applauded. It was proposed by Cllr
Boast, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed that £200
be granted to Headway for this year.
c)
Service by Emergency Response Volunteers Suffolk
A
letter was received from SERV who provide a free essential service to the NHS
in the area. The service was known to members and there was a discussion on a
suitable level of contribution. It was finally agreed and proposed by Cllr
Hill, seconded by Cllr Corbett that £200 be granted this year.
d)
Leiston Citizens Advice
Members
noted the letter from the Leiston, Saxmundham and
District Citizens Advice highlighting their annual report and the work they
were doing through Covid19. It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Geater and agreed that £2,700 be awarded again this year to
recognise the service they provide to our residents. (Cllr Boast abstained).
e)
Car Parking
Members
noted the correspondence from a resident detailing the disappointment and
concern everyone who uses the Sizewell Car Park had expressed at the new
charging regime and the massive rise in the cost of a season ticket. Members
had all heard excessive disquiet at the heavy handed, arbitrary and clumsy way
the new charges had been introduced across the district and wanted the Clerk to
express their dismay and to register their feelings in a letter to the Leader
of ESC.
119. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr
Woolf asked the Chairman whether a resident she had met would be allowed to
plant a red oak in the Community Orchard. After a small discussion there were
doubts about planting non native trees in the orchard
and felt that there needed to be a co-ordinated response to all requests like
this which was entrusted to Cllr Levermore. Cllr Levermore would liaise
directly with the applicant. Cllr Harle was pleased that the undergrowth along
the footpath from Southfield Drive to Aldeburgh Road had been cut back but was
still dismayed at the dog fouling. Members wondered whether some polite signage
would help. The Clerk commented that it never had in the past 20 years and
offenders just needed to be reported if they were spotted.
The meeting finished at 9.47pm.
Chair
---------------------------------------------
Dated ---------------------------------------------