At a virtual meeting of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN
COUNCIL
held, via
Zoom, on TUESDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2021 at 7.30pm
Councillor J N Last BEM
(in the Chair)
Councillor D Bailey
Councillor D Boast
Councillor T Cooper
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 D Morsley
Councillor Ms M Woolf
156. Minutes
It
was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that the minutes
for the meeting of 12 January 2021 be signed as a true record.
157. Apologies
No
apologies were received.
158. Chairman’s Communications
The Chairman updated the meeting thus:
I want to open my Chairman’s
communications this month by saying how proud I feel of our community in the
way that the Covid-19 vaccination programme has been rolled out in Leiston so
far. The organisation and logistics of such an enormous task has been delivered
extremely well and that of course has been down to Leiston Surgery staff and
their band of volunteers. I will in due
course, on behalf of the Town Council write a letter to Leiston Surgery to
convey our gratitude for the professional manner and efficiency in which this
has been delivered.
Council business has continued during
Lockdown 3 and the restrictions imposed. There has been a number of sub-committee
meetings taking place since the last meeting, of which you have the reports in
your packs and I thank councillors for their valuable input.
On 27
January, I met with our Leiston Change Manager, Jo Thain
and Cllr Hill to revisit the work we had been doing on the Leiston Together
Project-Visitors Information. You will
recall the VIP was installed in the Film Theatre and pocket sized street maps
were printed showing various places of interest on routes around the town. The
next step was to produce street plans on boards to be mounted at locations
around the town. This did not happen because of a pause in the project
including Covid-19.
This
has now been reignited, but with a different approach, looking at future
potential initiatives such as Smart Towns, People and Places, digitalising town
centres and even CLT vision for the town centre. This is something I would like
to encourage councillors to support and be involved in. Jo Thain,
our Change Manager, I am sure will mention and this was also discussed at last week’s
Leiston Together Partnership Board meeting which I chaired.
And
finally, just a heads up for councillors, that the Clerk, myself and John Rayner
will be meeting with EDF on 4 February as part of the process of the Relevant Representation
response to the DCO submitted by EDF.
159. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Hill for CLT, Leiston Film
Theatre and Alde Valley Academy, Cllr Levermore for CLT, Cllr Geater for
Accounts, Cllr Boast for CLT, Cllr Ginger for Leiston Film Theatre and Cllr
Cooper for Leiston Football Club, Planning, and Leiston Primary School.
160. Public Forum
David
Williams, Head of Youth Football at Leiston Football Club gave a presentation
on their future plans and aspirations, which included a new 3G pitch and
changing facilities.
Cllr
Geater asked about the lifespan of the 3G pitch and the maintenance
requirements. Mr Williams said that the
lifespan of the pitch is 10-15 years depending on usage and that it would only
be the top layer of grass that would need replacing keeping costs much
lower. Maintenance would be low but the
rubber would need to be replaced every 3-5 years.
Cllr
Ginger asked if the pitch would be suitable for cricket. Mr Williams said that due to the thickness of
the grass the pitch would not be suited to cricket but could be used for other
sports such as netball.
Cllr
Morsley asked about the timescales of the project. Mr Williams confirmed that it would be a two
year split project focusing firstly on the 3G pitch to start and then the new buildings
which will incorporate changing facilities and a classroom.
Cllr
Last wished Leiston Football Club every success with their future plans and
aspirations.
SCC
County
Cllr Rainger sent apologies. Cllr Ginger
asked for an update on the primary school pathway, the Town Clerk confirmed
this is on the agenda for the Highways meeting on 9 February.
ESC
District
Cllr Bond and Cllr Haworth-Culf were in attendance
and gave a brief update to councillors on District matters. A full report will
be circulated tomorrow.
Cllr
Cooper reported back that there had been 44 parking enforcements issued for
Leiston, he reminded people that there is a reporting tool for illegal parking
on the ESC website and encouraged people to use it.
Cllr Harle asked about having some paper recycling bins in the town,
District Cllr Haworth-Culf said she would take this request forward to the
District.
161. EDF Transport Group
Cllr Last reported that there was no further feedback and the next
meeting is 15 February 2021. Cllr Ginger
requested a written report to be produced after each meeting. Cllr Last confirmed
he would give a brief report on the salient points.
162. Leiston Together update
Jo Thain sent apologies and a report had been
previously circulated. No questions were
raised.
163. Net Zero update
The Clerk reported thus:
The three pilot projects are progressing
well, with considerable interest in the Better Together tariff exclusive to
Leiston residents and it is hoped further funding for 10 more eligible homes
will be secured to install energy efficiency measures.
The final version to summarise the
Net Zero Route map has been completed and it is hoped the document will be
publicly available online shortly.
Cllr Last reported that a resident
had received a cold call regarding Net Zero.
The Clerk advised this should be done by appointment and will
investigate.
Cllr Dix and Cllr Hill
reported that they have both been unable to sign up to the Better Together tariff
and had have been told it is no longer available. The Clerk will follow up.
164. CLT
Trustee Board Update
Cllr Boast updated thus:
Community
Land Trust continues to grow.
With Russ Rainger now
Chairman the decision was taken to separate the Board responsibilities. The Board will meet bi-monthly and the Project
Team fortnightly supporting the present Church square progress. The Board also agreed to the new financial
year being 1 April – 31 March with the AGM in May/June each year.
The business plan is
nearing final stages, this will set the tone for future investors, next step is
agreement with our partners East Suffolk Council who we meet 6 weekly. The next meeting is 8 February.
The plans for the
Church square continue to move forward, to the time we can take down the
ghastly wall.
With a project target
nearing £300,000 fund raising opportunities continue to be sort, promises
nearing £80,000 have already been given, anything from £1,000 upwards as we
receive individual promises, others are quick to match fund. Only this morning a promise of £2,000 plus
grant was received from Adnams Brewery Community
Fund.
Other developments
include local people and businesses getting involved. Sizewell C apprentices have agreed to design
and produce the arches for each end of the walkway depicting Garrett history in
their design. A local structural
engineering company has volunteered to design the band stand as their contribution
to the town regeneration. Opportunities
for other local business to get involved are being pursued.
Work on phase 2 the
development of the town centre on the south side of Sizewell Road progresses
well using the Community Land Trust concept design images as a basic guide, the
increase need now is to appoint architects to create more dynamic real designs.
Local housing for local
people, community accommodation for Town Council offices, new larger modern
library, provision for CAB, CATS designed around a cultural event square. A town centre with mixed retail, housing,
community space which will attract visitors, shoppers, tourists from across the
county and further afield. A town centre
for Leiston to be proud of.
165. Grounds
Maintenance Meeting Notes 13 January 2021
Councillors noted the report from the
meeting.
166. Film Theatre Party Working Notes – 14
January 2021
Councillors noted the report from the
meeting.
167. Open Spaces Committee – consider new member
to the Committee
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded
by Cllr Morsley and agreed that Cllr Corbett be elected on to the Open Spaces Committee.
168. Open
Spaces Committee Meeting - 21 January 2021
Members noted the report and discussed
the recommendations contained in them. Councillors
discussed the new proposed strategy ‘Leiston makes space for wildlife 2022’. Cllr Ginger voiced his concerns about verges
being left uncut and asked that the proposed strategy be re-worded to ensure
verges are maintained, Cllr Corbett agreed to amend the wording. It was therefore proposed by Cllr Morsely, seconded by Cllr Cooper and agreed that the draft
strategy ‘Leiston makes space for wildlife 2022’ is adopted.
169. ALS Community Partnership Update – 11
January 2021
The clerk updated thus:
The Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and villages Community Partnership met on 11
January 2021 with myself and Cllr Hill in attendance.
As previously mentioned, the Grants
Scheme opened on 11 January for the voluntary sector organisations and
community groups to apply for funding with the deadline for applications being
10 February. Several members of this
Community Partnership volunteered to be on the panel to appraise the
applications, this will be held on 24 February.
The Education, Opportunities and
Aspirations Task and Finish Group submitted a funding proposal titled Rural
East Suffolk Locality NEET Project. This
would support young people who are not in education, work or training and offer
a variety of activities to encourage them to be more confident, aspirational,
nearer to employment and social inclusion.
The long-term outcome would involve young people embarking on their own
employability journey after participating in the project. This application was approved to be put
forward as a funding request to the multi-agency Funding Panel for
recommendation.
Sharon Cuthbert gave an update on
progress with the art project, now titled Art in a Bag. The funding has been received and 30 bags
have been distributed which include making a pot and planting a bulb; cut up
poetry book making and letter exchange with children at Saxmundham
Primary School. These bags are being
distributed across the whole of the partnership area. The Dementia Project has also received
funding and Sharon is working on extra support for some people and 3 grandpads have been handed out.
A new radio station is being
launched called the Alde and Blyth Community Radio (ABC Radio). Jo Thain confirmed
premises are currently being identified and funding sought. It is hoped the station with be up and
running by the Spring.
The next meeting is scheduled to be
held on Wednesday 17 March.
170. Finance and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Cooper and agreed that
accounts paid since the last meeting of £30,118.21 be approved for payment.
171. Planning Matters
a) DC/21/0063/FUL
- Conversion of barns into 3no. holiday lets and removal of
2no. barns (opposite) to form landscaped communal area. - Aldhurst
Farm Cottage Aldhurst Farm Road Leiston IP16 4TB
Councillors asked that consideration be
given to eco-friendly attributes, sustainability and that the contamination
issues are resolved.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
172. County
Matters
Nothing raised.
173. District Matters
Nothing raised.
174. Correspondence
a)
ABC Radio
Councillors
noted the grant application from ABC Radio and fully supported this new venture. It was proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded by
Cllr Boast and agreed to grant £500.00 towards their set-up costs.
b)
Leiston Primary School
Councillors
noted the grant application from Leiston Primary School requesting a grant to build
an outside shelter where children can be outside in their bubbles and learn to
play again after being isolated due to the pandemic. Councillors agreed this would be a good asset
for the school. It was therefore
proposed by Cllr Ginger, seconded by Cllr Harle and agreed to grant £500.00.
c)
Letter from Joan Girling
Councillors noted the
letter from Joan Girling regarding increased traffic should Sizewell C be
approved to which the Clerk had already responded.
175. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr Ginger asked for
EDF and SCC to be contacted regarding concerns over the crown farm junction
should Sizewell C go ahead. Cllr Last
said he will take this forward to the EDF transport group.
Cllr Boast raised
concerns about cars using Lovers Lane as a race track and the speed of traffic
from crown point towards the recycling centre.
The Clerk confirmed these issues are on the agenda for the Highways
meeting next week.
The Clerk will contact
Sizewell Power Stations asking them to remind their staff to drive safely along
these routes.
The meeting finished at
9.38pm
Chair
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Dated ---------------------------------------------