Pre-meeting Reports
01 March 2022
253. Chiara Saunders and
Nick Mayo from
Leiston Citizens Advice gave a short presentation about the upcoming merger of Leiston
Citizens Advice with Felixstowe and North East Suffolk to form Citizens Advice
East Suffolk. They informed Councillors
the merger will take place on 1 April 2022.
It is hoped by merging the services they will be able to provide a
better service as they will have access to more advisors with expertise in
specialist areas.
Cllr Woolf asked if
there would be as much face to face advice available. It was confirmed that Citizens Advice East
Suffolk will offer a dual approach as some of their clients have preferred the
email/phone service but confirmed that face to face would be available through
drop-in centres.
District
Cllr Daly asked if they receive any funding direct from DWP. Mrs Saunders confirmed that they receive no
direct funding from DWP.
Cllr
Hill asked Citizens Advice East Suffolk if that meant anyone from outside the
normal area can still contact you. It
was confirmed yes they will as no-one is ever turned away anyone that needs
advice will get it regardless of their area.
Cllr
Cooper asked about funding and if they still expect to receive the same amount
of funding from smaller parishes. Mrs
Saunders confirmed that she hoped parishes would still be willing to support as
they will still be offering the same level of support to people within the
local areas.
County
Cllr Haworth-Culf thanked the team for all the hard work they have put in over
the last year to make the merger happen.
254. County Councillor
County Cllr
Haworth-Culf was in attendance and a report had been previously circulated. County Cllr Haworth-Culf informed councillors
that SCC are in the process of exiting their gas supply contracts with Russia
in light of current events between Russia and Ukraine. The Red Cross are doing
all they can to support Ukraine and the Butchers Arms in Knodishall
have offered to be a local collection point for any items people wish to donate
up until Friday 4 March. She advised
councillors to be extra vigilant as cyber attacks are on the increase. She spoke of COVID-19 and asked that although
all restrictions have now been removed by the Government that we are still
mindful of COVID-19 and act sensibly.
She informed councillors Dentaid are looking
to hold another session in Leiston later in the year, she is unable to offer
funding for this as she cannot do repeat funding but is advising them on other
funding sources that may be available.
Cllr Woolf asked if
there was any update on a permanent dentist coming to Leiston. District Cllr Rainger advised that they are
trying very hard to find a permanent dentist for Leiston and is optimistic
progress is being made.
255. District Councillor
District Cllr Rainger,
District Cllr Daly and Cllr Cooper were all in attendance. Cllr Rainger informed councillors that East
Suffolk Council have now approved their budget for 2022/2023 focused heavily on
delivering essential services, housing, economic development and the green
agenda. He informed councillors that all
refuse collections should have now returned to normal and green waste
collections resumed this week. The Gull Wing
Bridge for Lowestoft has now been delivered to the UK and once the concrete has
been applied it will be installed over a weekend.
It was proposed by Cllr
Hill, seconded by Cllr Cooper and agreed that the time being 7.30pm, Standing
Orders be suspended to allow the public part of the meeting to be completed.
District Cllr Daly
informed councillors that ESC and SCC welcomed the renewed effort from the
Government Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy to try and
ensure Suffolk benefit from greater coordination of connections etc for
offshore wind farms. He informed
councillors Suffolk has been selected as one of the first areas to benefit from
levelling up funding. He advised
councillors that ESC had funded 200 trees as part of the Jubilee Treebilee, and Cllr Levermore confirmed Leiston had
received their tree and it is being planted on 5 March.
Nothing raised.
At a meeting of the
LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
held in the COMMUNITY
CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on
TUESDAY 01 March 2022
at 7.37pm
Councillor J N Last BEM (in the Chair)
Councillor D Bailey
Councillor D Boast
Councillor T Cooper
Councillor N Corbett
Councillor D Dix
Councillor Mrs L Hill
Councillor P Kyle
Councillor Mrs S Levermore
Councillor D Morsley
Councillor M Woolf
257. Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded
by Cllr Levermore and agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 01 February
2022 be signed as a true record.
258. Apologies
Apologies
were received from Cllr Hawkins, Cllr Geater, Cllr Harle and Cllr Ginger.
259. Chairman’s Communications
I was sorry to hear of the passing of Peggy Howard, one of
Leiston’s oldest residents aged 102 years.
On Friday 4 February,
Cllr Woolf and myself attended the meeting at Snape Maltings with Declan Burke,
Director of Nuclear Projects and other town and parish representatives. A
report of this is included in councillor’s packs and covered
by item 9 of tonight’s agenda.
Work continues and
good progress is being made on the planning of the enhancement of the Skate
Park and it was good to join the Skate Park Working Group on 8 February and
hear the users comments and views and discuss how the town council will support
this project. That is also on tonight’s agenda.
With the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee fast approaching, and that will be covered on the agenda this
evening, it’s good to see Leiston is included in the Lord Lieutenant’s Festival
of Suffolk Torch Relay on 29 May. The task is now to find a torch bearer.
Finally, this
afternoon, I attended along with the Transport Group and SCC the Traffic and
Transport Group meeting.
260. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Hill for CLT, Leiston
Film Theatre, Alde Valley Academy and item 14, Cllr Boast for CLT, Cllr
Levermore for CLT and item 14, Cllr Morsley for item 14, Cllr Cooper for item
17 and Cllr Dix for item 14.
261. Leiston
Together Update
Mrs
Greengrass, Leiston Change Manager was in attendance and a report had been
previously circulated. Mrs Greengrass gave a
brief update of items in the report. She
informed councillors East Suffolk Council have now appointed Richard Best as the
Regeneration Manager for Leiston. As of today Visit-Leiston website now has an
Instagram page. Work is progressing for
the Discover Leiston Spring Celebration on 26 March and a draft schedule is now
available.
262. Net Zero Update
The clerk reported thus:
The
Net Zero Leiston technical manual has now been published with considerable
media attention in the EADT and ITV Anglia came to Leiston and interviewed Cllr
Rainger as well as students from Alde Valley Academy and other businesses in
the town.
The
community calendar of activities is progressing well and will be promoted in
our Spring newsletter with ‘net zero pledges’ idea to engage the community to
pledge to reduce their carbon footprint, ie
walking/cycling to school or using energy efficient light bulbs, car sharing
with colleagues, reducing water use etc.
Various
ideas have been suggested for half-term and Easter activities which are being
progressed, ie build a nest box, build your own pond
in a bucket and LMSFW planting of flower seeds.
This
could form part of community events during the year in the new Church
Square. Funding streams being
investigated.
263. CLT Trustee Board Report
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. Cllr Boast added that
the Church Square will be used for the Discover Leiston event on 26 March but
the official opening of the Church Square will happen later in the year.
264. EDF
Transport Group Minutes of 31 January 2022
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. Cllr Last gave a
brief update on the Transport Group meeting held today, the minutes of this
meeting will be circulated in due course.
265. Meeting of 4 February with Declan Burke,
Director of Nuclear Projects and Development
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report. Cllr Last
commented that Leiston didn’t get to speak at this event due to an
administrative error by the organisers.
However Cllr Woolf and the Clerk confirmed that the Council’s comments have
been forwarded to Declan Burke.
266. Library
Steering Group of 27 January 2022
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report.
267. Film
Theatre Working Party Meeting of 3 February 2022
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report. The Clerk informed
councillors that Mr Burns, Film Theatre Manager had received a quote of £4,650.00
from local builder Gordon Read for the auditorium repair works. The quote includes the supply and fixing of
the new moulded cornice to match existing, outside repairs, repointing, all
materials, labour and scaffolding. After
a brief discussion it was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded by Cllr Morsley and
agreed to accept the quote of £4,650.00.
268. Skate Park Working Party of 8 February 2022
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. After a brief
discussion about the area for upgrade it was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded
by Cllr Hill and agreed to go for position one by the large oak tree. Cllr Levermore raised concerns regarding the
trees, it was confirmed that the trees will remain.
269. Highways
Committee of 15 February 2022
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report.
270. Leiston Events
Group Report
A report had been previously
circulated. Councillors noted the
funding request from the Events Group for £1,000 towards the Queens Afternoon
Tea Party. The funding will be used to
provide 70 complimentary tickets for residents of Leiston aged 70 and
over. It was proposed by Cllr Bailey,
seconded by Cllr Woolf and agreed to fund £1,000 towards the Queens Afternoon
Tea Party. Cllr Cooper also encouraged
Cllr Levermore to apply for funding from his ESC locality budget.
Cllr Levermore mentioned about
the torch relay and asking for nominations for a torch bearer for Leiston it
was agreed to advertise for nominations via Facebook and our website.
271. Viking Link
Interconnector Report
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. District Cllr Rainger
shared his knowledge on the project and gave councillors a more detailed
overview. He also informed councillors
that other areas of Suffolk are now showing a more generalised interest in the
project and putting up resistance as the energy distribution routes will impact
on other areas as further pylons will be required across Suffolk.
Cllr Boast asked what percentage
of works would be underground and would more pylons be required. Cllr Rainger confirmed only the cabling would
be underground and yes more pylons would be required.
Cllr Cooper confirmed that the
site would be managed remotely providing no local jobs and Cllr Rainger there
would be no economic benefit to the area.
272. 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 £58,665.16 be approved for payment.
b) Personnel Committee Report of 03 February 2022
Councillors noted the previously circulated report.
273. Planning Matters
a) DC/22/0157/FUL –Construction of single detached dwellinghouse. - Abbey
View Lodges At Former Orchard House 105 Abbey Road Leiston IP16 4TA
Councillors asked that adequate provision for bin
storage is addressed within this application.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
b) DC/22/0158/FUL
- Construction of detached dwelling (following demolition
of previous dwelling) - Abbey View Lodges At Former Orchard House 105 Abbey
Road Leiston IP16 4TA
Councillors
were concerned that this 2-storey dwelling was incongruous with the street
scene and the surrounding dwellings with the 2-storey structure far too
overbearing. It also overlooks the immediate neighbouring property in a very
imposing manner and is completely out of context and will not complement the
area.
RECOMMEND REFUSAL
c)
DC/22/0560/FUL - Internal alterations
incorporating a new two storey side extension, which will incorporate a new
door facing the street at 5 Upton Place, Leiston, IP16 4DE
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL
d)
DC/22/0351/FUL - Move the boundary fence
to the border at 128 Carr Avenue, Leiston, IP16 4AT
Councillors felt they
needed more information as to why the fence line wasn't placed on the supposed
boundary line of this property and suggested referral back to the developer would
be appropriate.
RECOMMEND
REFUSAL
REFER
TO TREE OFFICER
f)
DC/22/0216/FUL - Trees installed above
the rear garden fence line
Councillors were
concerned regarding the scale and dominance of the hedging 1.5m above the fence
line, along with the materials used make this unsupportable. It has an unacceptable impact on the
appearance of the area and could possibly reduce light to the neighbouring
properties.
RECOMMEND
REFUSAL
g)
DC/22/0508/FUL - Proposed detached
dwelling house approved under planning permission ref DC/18/3868/FUL – 53 King
Georges Avenue, Leiston IP16 4JX
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL
274. County Matters
Nothing raised.
275. District Matters
Cllr Levermore asked
about planning permissions for gas boiler applications. Cllr Cooper confirmed that there is a white
paper out in Government at the moment in relation to these.
276. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr Cooper commented that he had seen
groups of youths utilising the sports field by the Primary School during the
half-term holidays to play football.
Cllr Boast asked if there was any
further update on the Crown Public House.
Cllr Cooper confirmed that the initial planning application to convert
it to a House of Multiple Occupancy had been withdrawn but a revised
application had been submitted and this is still going through the planning
process.
Cllr Levermore informed councillors
that our tree donated by ESC as part of the Treebilee
initiative is being planted on 5 March by the Scouts at Victory Road Recreation
Ground.
Cllr Kyle suggested the Town Council
should show support for the people of Ukraine and said a resident had asked
about flying flags. The Clerk advised
the flagpoles which attach to the businesses in the town belonged to the
Business Association which no longer existed, the Town Council have no
authority for them. After some debate it
was concluded that protocol deems the Council has to be neutral. Cllr Morsley suggested a financial donation
be made by the Town Council but the Clerk advised the regulations did not allow
for this. After further discussion it
was agreed a statement would be released on the Council’s Facebook page and
website stating councillors were very sympathetic to the Ukrainian people and were
supportive of all the national and local organisations to help refugees and
understood the pressure put on those neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe.
The meeting finished at
9.22pm
Chair
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Dated ---------------------------------------------