At a virtual meeting of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN
COUNCIL
held, via
Zoom, on TUESDAY 2 March 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
176. Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Hill and
agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 2 February 2021 be signed as a true
record.
177. Apologies
No apologies were received.
178. Chairman’s Communications
First of all, as Chairman I wish to report that a Councillor has
recently been disqualified to continue to serve as a Councillor and that East
Suffolk Council will be notified to start the casual vacancy process.
This
year, due to the severe weather conditions experienced in Leiston, we had to
call upon our winter contingency arrangements put in place with Norse, by the
Grounds Maintenance Group. I have to
report, that following the Clerk making the request to Norse the arrangements
were implemented the same morning (which was the first working day) and a team
was despatched to Leiston immediately. I
understand through social media that residents had commented favourably on how
the pavements had been dealt with, giving a safer passage around the town. Our
thanks go out to Norse for their support.
On 4 February, the Town Clerk, myself and John Rayner met with EDF to
discuss further the Town Council’s Relevant Representation submission and to
give EDF further details on the key issues of the submission. A report of this
meeting is included in Councillors information packs and will be covered by agenda
item 8.
On
9 February, the Town Clerk, myself and John Rayner, met with Simon Barnett of
Suffolk County Council and Paul Martin of First Bus Company, to obtain an
appreciation of the bus operators views and considerations, so as to use this
knowledge as further progress is made by the Transport Group in arriving at a town
street plan.
On 11 February, I attended the ASB
meeting chaired by Zoe Botton from ESC.
On 24 February, there was an extra Leiston Together meeting, which the
Clerk, Cllrs Cooper, Hill and myself attended to discuss the strategy on projects
that may be coming along.
Yesterday, 1 March, myself and members of the Transport Group met with
Suffolk County Council and EDF. As the meeting was only yesterday, as mentioned
at last month’s Council meeting, I have prior to the meeting circulated salient
bullet points of the meeting. This meeting, as previous meetings, is minuted by EDF and available to Councillors. A copy can be
obtained via the Town Clerk.
Also yesterday morning, I was interviewed on the Mark Murphy programme
on Radio Suffolk on the announcement of the closure of the town’s only Dental Surgery.
I also gave an update to listeners on the Net Zero Leiston project. Just to inform Councillors on the dentist
closure, the Clerk has written to our MP, District Councillors, County
Councillor and the NHS Commissioning Board.
I
congratulate the town Newsletter Team on the great Spring edition of the
publication and how colourful it is. I thank contributors and appreciate all
the efforts required to bring the articles together.
Finally,
it was a pleasure to send from the Town Council, a birthday card to Leiston
resident Wilf Goddard on the occasion of his 103rd birthday. I think
you will agree, it was nice to do this in view of the current visiting
restrictions in place at care and residential homes due to the pandemic.
179. Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Hill, Boast for item
10, Cllr Levermore for item 10 and 17a, Cllr Cooper
for item 17 and item 20 letter 2.
180. Public Forum
SCC
County Cllr Rainger gave a
brief update on the works planned for the flooding on the Saxmundham
Road by the level crossing. He spoke
about the recent announcement of the closure of Leiston Dental Surgery and acknowledged
residents concerns.
He has contacted all the relevant bodies and informed Councillors that a
new NHS dental strategy for the East of England is being developed. In the meantime additional contractive
services will be offered to existing NHS dentists in the area and residents can
contact 111 if they need urgent dental treatment. County Cllr Rainger
informed Councillors he will not be standing for election in May and thanked
Councillors for all their support during his time as County Councillor and said
that it had been an enjoyable experience.
The SCC February Newsletter had been previously circulated.
Cllr Ginger
raised concerns about the condition of the road following the trimming of
hedges on Kemps Hill, County Cllr Rainger will follow
this up. Cllr Geater reported that the traffic lights south side of Park
Hill are pointing into the surgery car park and not towards the road, County
Cllr Rainger will report this.
Cllr
Last on behalf of Leiston Town Council and Councillors thanked County Cllr Rainger for all his help and support over the past four
years and wished him well for the future.
ESC
District Cllr
Bond and Cllr Haworth-Culf were in attendance, a report had been circulated
prior to the meeting. Cllr Haworth-Culf
reported that she had received a letter from a resident in Red House Lane
regarding speeding vehicles. County Cllr
Rainger was aware of this issue and advised a speed
survey has already been carried out at this site with the results showing over 85%
of traffic travelling at 32mph or less with an average speed of 26mph. These results have been shared with the
resident. Cllr Haworth-Culf gave a
heartfelt thank you to the Leiston Doctors Surgery and hears daily positive
comments about their COVID-19 clinics.
Cllr Harle mentioned he had been approached by a resident of
Seward Avenue with concerns over the development of the old garages at South
Close. The Clerk informed Cllr Harle that she has been in contact with the resident and
this query has been resolved.
181. EDF
Transport Group
Salient bullet points of the meeting held 1 March had been previously
circulated and no questions were raised.
182. Leiston Together Update
Joanne Thain gave an overview of
all the projects she is involved with, including Leiston CLT, Net Zero and ABC
radio. She informed Councillors about
the Disadvantage Families Project which involves working alongside the local
schools and Citizens Advice Bureau to identify and support families in
need. Magnox have given a grant of £5,000
to the CAB which can be used for this project and a grant of £1,500 to the Long
Shop Museum to help with social prescribing.
183. Sizewell
C Relevant Representations Meeting Update
A report had been
previously circulated and no questions were raised.
184. Net Zero update
The Clerk reported thus:
The problems with the Better Together
tariff have been resolved and Leiston residents can now apply for the exclusive
tariff. Further funding for 10 more
eligible homes in Leiston to install energy efficient measures has now been
secured from the Government Green Homes Grants through West Suffolk
Council.
The Net Zero Route map launched last
week and is available on the Net Zero Leiston website. An engagement survey has also been launched,
conducted by the University of Suffolk, to capture the views of Leiston
residents and also ask for volunteers for focus groups where NZL will work more
closely with residents to understand how to shape the future of NZL. The survey closes this week and it is hoped
to get a good cross section of the population.
185. CLT Trustee Board Update
Cllr Boast updated thus:
Progression continues with both phase 1 and
2.
Phase One:
The
Church Square progress continues, activity very much about funding, we are very
close to an important milestone, getting pledges for a third of the total cost.
Once we have pledges
for a third, other pledges and grants hopefully will follow, and plans put in
place to take the wall down and begin the planned exciting Church Square should
begin. The spring target date is still
very much our aim, with an important need to clear the ivy before bird nesting
starts.
Further plans for fund raising initiatives
and the possibility of crowd funding where local businesses can become involved
with the Town Regeneration programme are being investigated.
Big meeting last week with the
leaders of United Reform Church including the new priest, Reverend David Smith,
was very successful, reaffirming their full commitment to the square project and
looking at the funds they are able to access to support the bi-fold doors,
disabled ramp to the church and church square security.
Phase Two:
Planning with East Suffolk continues
with the need now to turn the CLT’s concept designs for the new town centre
into more realistic planning design.
Local housing for local people being
the central feature, alongside the community provision, council offices, new library,
culture square for music, dance, craft, entertainment and small retail
provision. The need to appoint
professional architects who have experience of large town centre development
very much the discussion point with East Suffolk Council.
The overriding need now is to
complete our business plan, vast levels of work has gone into our business
plan, a comprehensive document covering around thirty pages, this is nearing
completion and adoption. The CLT is active in its support for the
proposed new town traffic scheme so that the two will complement each other. The CLT is also supportive of the Net Zero
Leiston Project. All these illustrate to
all potential investors, our commitment, viability, passion & ability to
deliver on our exciting, dynamic regeneration of our town centre.
186. Waterloo Centre Update
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report.
187. Highways
Committee of 9 February 2021
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper,
seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that a new portable speed sign be purchased
at a maximum cost of £2,500.
188. Our
Heritage 2040
Cllr Corbett volunteered to be the
Council representative for ‘Our Heritage 2040’.
It was proposed by Cllr Levermore, seconded by
Cllr Cooper and agreed that Cllr Corbett be the Council representative for ‘Our
Heritage 2040’.
189. Leiston
Makes Space for Wildlife
Cllr Corbett confirmed
that County Cllr Rainger had put forward the
application for £1,370 to be granted from his locality budget for this project.
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded
by Cllr Cooper and agreed that £1,000 could be used from the Council’s
Landscaping Reserve should the full amount not be granted.
190. Date
for AGM 4 May 2021 and May Council meeting 18 May 2021
Councillors noted the
date of the AGM/Town Meeting and date for the May Council meeting.
191. Finance and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Hill and agreed that
accounts paid since the last meeting of £18,662.15 be approved for payment.
b) New Bank Signatory
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Morsley and agreed to add Mrs Everett-Spearing as a new
bank signatory.
192. Planning Matters
It was agreed
to use a standard format for planning applications as follows:
Leiston Town Council
is fully committed to Leiston Net Zero.
All building and renovations should be constructed to standards that
exceed the minimum building regulation requirements achieving sustainable
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). On this basis Leiston Town Council recommends
approval.
a)
DC/21/0351/FUL - Removal of existing rear conservatory and erection
of purpose built single storey rear extension on same footprint. - 2 Haylings Grove Leiston Suffolk IP16 4DU
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Even though this application had been withdrawn, councillors asked for
comments to be submitted that there is no demand for this particular venue due
to the location and lack of parking facility.
There are other venues in the town, ie
Waterloo Centre, Community Centre, SS&SC, St Margarets
Hall, LTAA, Guide Hut etc which offer venue hire in more suitable locations. A more detailed explanation will be submitted
to planning.
APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
f)
DC/21/0846/TPO - Lime tree, removal to make way for double garage - 161 Carr Avenue Leiston Suffolk IP16 4AT
RECOMMEND REFUSAL
Refusal on the
grounds of ‘effect on trees and wildlife/nature conservation’.
193. County Matters
Cllr Harle
asked for an update regarding footpath 8 (behind stocks funfair). County Cllr Rainger
confirmed this is still with the Rights of Way team and we will be updated in
due course.
194. District Matters
Cllr Harle asked
for an update regarding paper recycling bins in the town. Cllr Cooper reported that East Suffolk
Council are currently looking at all green waste collections within the region. County Cllr Rainger
reported that small appliance recycling within the town is being looked at as
part of Leiston Together’s projects.
195. Correspondence
a)
Leiston Youth Club Accounts and Report
Councillors
noted the previously circulated accounts sheet and report. Councillors expressed their thanks to the
Youth Club for continuing to support the youth in the town the throughout the
pandemic whilst adhering to COVID-19 rulings.
b)
Letter from Leiston Football Club
Councillors
noted the letter from Leiston Football Club requesting the Council's approval
to seek funding from the Sizewell C Project Community Fund for a 3G pitch. After a lengthy discussion it was proposed by
Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Ginger and agreed that the Council are unable to
make a decision until further information is released on exactly what funding
will be available.
196. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr Hill commented that the Leiston
Surgery Patient Participation Scheme a ‘Thank You’ to Leiston Surgery plan is
now up and running. She thanked Platts, East of England Coop,
Nichols Butchers for their support with this.
Cllr Corbett and Cllr Harle commented that they had attended the Nautilus Project
webinar and raised concerns regarding this project.
The meeting finished at
10pm
Chair
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Dated ---------------------------------------------