Pre-meeting Reports
05 April 2022
278. Tom McGarry, Head of Regional
External Affairs and Development and Andrew Mower, Senior Community Relations
Manager, at EDF gave an update on the Sizewell C Project and Deed of
Obligation. Various questions were asked
on HGV’s, commuter traffic, timescale of transport infrastructures, proposed
changes to the A12 and funding.
Cllr
Levermore asked about commuter traffic and workers parking. Mr McGarry confirmed that workers will have
security passes allocated with specific parking areas, primarily park and ride
sites.
A
member of the public questioned why the transport infrastructures are not being
put in place before any construction starts.
Mr McGarry confirmed that no works can be started yet as permission has
not been granted. The transport
infrastructure will be part of the first phase of construction so it is in use
for peak construction years.
Another
member of the public questioned if anything will be done to support residents
of Sizewell during the first two years before the transport infrastructure
works are in place. Mr McGarry confirmed
that they will be meeting with Sizewell residents and they are looking at all
junctions and aspects with Suffolk Highways.
Cllr Morsley questioned if the transport infrastructure
contracts are in place ready to go if permission is granted. Mr McGarry confirmed that these are currently
being worked up ready to go to tender should permission be granted.
During the above item, the
time reached 7.30pm. It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Hawkins and
agreed, Standing Orders be suspended to allow the public part of the meeting to
be completed.
279. County Councillor
County Cllr
Haworth-Culf sent her apologies and a report will be circulated in due course.
Cllr Geater raised
concerns regarding white lining at the White Horse junction which are faded and
other roads in the town which need relining.
The Clerk will follow this up with County Councillor Haworth-Culf and
also advised Cllr Geater to report this issue using the SCC Highways online
reporting tool.
280. District Councillor
District Cllr Rainger
and Cllr Cooper sent their apologies. District Cllr Daly was in attendance and gave
a brief update on various projects including the recently launched glass
recycling campaign, housing landlords survey and possible overcharge of rents,
approval of ESC budgets and the statement that has been released on Ukraine.
Cllr Morsley raised concerns regarding haphazard parking in the
town and questioned parking enforcement.
He feels the reporting tool doesn’t work efficiently. Cllr Hill asked if we could ask for a purge
in the town to target specific areas. Cllr
Daly confirmed he will take forward our concerns regarding parking enforcement
to the Parking Services Manager.
No questions were raised.
At a meeting of the
LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
held in the COMMUNITY
CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on
TUESDAY 05 April 2022
at 8.10pm
Councillor J N Last BEM (in the Chair)
Councillor D Boast
Councillor Mrs N Corbett
Councillor T Hawkins
Councillor Mrs S Geater
Councillor Mrs L Hill
Councillor Mrs S Levermore
Councillor D Morsley
Councillor Ms M Woolf
282. Minutes
Cllr Hill raised that minute 276 paragraph
4 had an incomplete sentence the sentence should read ‘Cllr Morsley
suggested a financial donation be made by the Town Council but the Clerk
advised the regulations did not allow this’. It was proposed by Cllr Corbett, seconded
by Cllr Hill and agreed that with this amendment the minutes for the meeting of
01 March 2022 be signed as a true record.
283. Apologies
Apologies
were received from Cllr Harle, Cllr Ginger, Cllr Bailey, Cllr Dix, Cllr Kyle
and Cllr Cooper.
284. Chairman’s Communications
Cllr Last reported as follows:
It’s been
a very busy few weeks since our last Council Meeting.
It has been good to
see the level of support members of our community have given to in the last few
weeks in various ways to the situation in Ukraine. Well done to everyone
involved.
Once again, I
congratulate Hannah and the Newsletter Team on another colourful,
bright and informative Town Council newsletter which is being distributed this
week.
The Community
Orchard has looked splendid this Spring and I hope it has brought much pleasure
to our community. We have had two Jubilee
tree planting sessions and I am glad that students and staff from Alde Valley
and Leiston Primary School came along and helped with the planting. Leiston
Scouts assisted in the planting at Victory Road after which it was good to see
this was added to the Queens Green Canopy map as displayed on the Town Council
Facebook page.
On 11 March along
with other Partnership Board members I attended a Leiston
Together meeting to
discuss the composition of the board and terms of reference.
On 14 March I sat in
on a virtual meeting with other Councillors to hear and ask questions of the proposed energy project put
forward by Sea Link.
On 15 March Cllr
Boast and myself attended the Police Locality meeting and it was good to get
back to a face to face meeting to discuss community safety.
On 15 March I also
attended the virtual meeting of the Office of Nuclear Regulation, hosted by the
Sizewell C Team Environment Agency.
On 17 March I
attended ESC’s Anti-Social Behaviour meeting for this
area.
On 23 March I sat on
the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel and am pleased to say we were able award
funding to 5 organisations in the Leiston-cum-
Sizewell area to support their projects.
On 23 March I
represented the Allotment Committee on the regular walk about along with 2
representatives from the Allotment Holders Association and ably assisted by Bev
Kemp.
On 25 March I
attended the East Suffolk Community Partnership Forum-Bright Ideas for Life, at
Trinity Park Ipswich. It was pleasing to see Leiston received a very high
profile at the market stalls from Leiston Together, Net Zero Leiston and the
Leiston Pastors stands. I received several
comments from some of the attendees about Leiston’s forward thinking. Cllr Hill was also due to attend, but
unfortunately was unable to, but hope she is feeling a bit better now and good
to see her with us this evening.
On 25 March in the
evening, I attended 1379 Corps of the ATC 80th Anniversary of the founding of
the group which was held at the Wentworth Hotel in Aldeburgh and I was invited
to present the “Chris Jones Memorial
Trophy” for work in the community.
The 26 March was
Discover Leiston Day and what a day it was for the community. Although I was only able to attend this event
for part of the time, by all accounts it was a very successful day and I
congratulate all those involved, which included Toby from Creative Leiston, who
did an amazing job, Frazer from the Long Shop Museum, Jess Brown First Light
CIC, Russ Rainger and Andy Crisp CLT, Sarah Driver, Marian from Tribune Gang,
Wayne Burns at the Film Theatre and Cllr Levermore. I have arranged a letter on
behalf of the Town Council to go out to the organisers.
On 28 March along
with the Town Clerk, Cllr Corbett and Cllr Hill, I attended the virtual meeting
of the Leiston Together Partnership Board.
On 29 March was
SCC/EDF Traffic and Transport meeting, which along with the Transport Group I
attended.
285. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Hill for CLT and Leiston
Film Theatre, Cllr Boast for CLT, Cllr Levermore for CLT and Leiston Film
Theatre, Cllr Geater for item 20a and Cllr Corbett for item 8.
286. Leiston
Together Update
287. Net Zero Update
Councillors noted the previously circulated report.
288. CLT Trustee Board Report
Cllr Boast updated thus:
The Church square project moves on at
a pace. After months of hesitation,
COVID among staff, costs rising fast the town began to wonder if, not when, the
square would be complete.
Phase One
In the last month the arches are up
and painted, the tables and seating have been installed, the electrics and CCTV
completed, swift and bird boxes together with insect hotels installed and in
view, the landscaped gardens planted and enhancing the whole area, the square
walk-through for residents for first time on Discover Leiston Day, Leiston’s
own British Legion Band played to residents delight on the patio overlooking
the car park, the first of many music events.
All made possible with local business support, Jewsons,
Jonathan Lear, Bayfield Electrics, Andrew Hawes and Galloper Wind Farms.
The Community Land Trust are
delighted at all the positive comments coming from local residents, March
really demonstrated the high specification of the square was a welcome boost to
Leiston. Proposed official open event is
11 June, if all complete by then.
Phase Two
Phase two will now take centre
stage, the new exciting Town Centre project, local housing for local people,
new retail outlets, new library, council offices, communal space and
entertainment square.
East Suffolk Council showing their
commitment and full support by the appointment of a Regeneration Manager for
three days a week, to develop the master plan for the new Town Centre.
Feasibility studies on the old
Sizewell Road shops, looking at possible additional land that may become
available to enlarge the Town Centre project.
Leiston is well on its way to being
the envy of Suffolk Coastal Towns.
289. Transport
Group Update and Minutes of Meeting 01 March 2022
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report. Cllr Last
reported a further meeting had taken place with SCC Highways, EDF
and the Design Consultants on 29 March with the Consultants reporting back on
revisions to the drawings and comments following the Town Council’s Transport
Strategy submissions.
The main points discussed included:
Seaward Avenue - Provisions of parking spaces
at 3 locations and yellow lining parking restrictions.
Sylvester Road - The SCC Highways
officer had now inspected the road surface and was comfortable with that.
Yellow lining provisions were discussed along with further surveying and
exploring of re-configuring the KGA junction.
High Street - the location of loading
bays were discussed. It was also recommended by the Design Consultants and SCC
that there should be no right turn from High Street into Cross Street due to
path widening and cycling considerations.
Bus Routes - The Design Consultants
have had further dialogue with the bus companies and the operators have put
forward their preferred locations for bus stops which does not include one in
Cross Street, but does include one in Seaward Ave. Further discussion will take place.
Gate Ways - The exact locations of
the Gate Ways into Leiston were discussed but not as yet agreed.
Cllr Corbett questioned if there were still plans for a 20mph zone in
Kings Road as mentioned previously as she feels this will be necessary to
maintain residents safety. Cllr Last
confirmed that SCC Highways are now looking at roads in the town that may be
suitable for a 20mph zone, and he will raise Kings Road again as a concern.
290. Panto Finance Report
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report.
291. Flagpole
Update in Post Office Square
The Clerk informed
councillors that the base for the flagpole has been laid and awaiting a date
for the flagpole to be installed. Cllr
Cooper has paid for the flagpole from his locality budget and it will be gifted
to the Town Council. She confirmed the
old flagpole located on the council office building will be removed.
292. ALS
Community Partnership Meeting of 9 March 2022
Councillors noted the
previously circulated report.
293. Quarterly Police Locality Meeting of 9 March
2022
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report.
294. Waterloo
Steering Group Meeting of 17 March 2022
After a
short discussion regarding the top line fencing around the Waterloo Centre
field it was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Morsley
and agreed to accept the quote from Clive Fuller of £10,617.30 to get the
fencing replaced.
295. Allotments
Walkaround of 23 March 2022
Mrs Kemp reported the allotments were generally
looking good and councillors noted that just a few plots needed an action
letter. There is still a significant waiting list at the moment.
296. Leiston Film Theatre
Balcony Report
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. A report was tabled
from the engineer which confirmed the balcony project should be feasible. After a short discussion it was proposed by Cllr
Morsley, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed to
progress to the next stage and get plans drawn up.
297. Hinkley Point
Visit
Councillors noted the previously
circulated report. Cllr Corbett informed
councillors of some publications available on the Hinkley Point C website that
they may find of interest, please find the links below:
https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/p3946_pluggedin_winter_2021.pdf
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/63754275/hpccf-2020-annual-report
https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/2021_hpc_socio_economic_brochure_-_web.pdf
298. SZC Deed of
Obligation Working Party
The Clerk suggested that a small
working party is formulated to look at the SZC Deed of Obligation to identify
possible projects and funding opportunities.
The working party will report to full council each month. The following councillors volunteered to form
the working party Cllr Corbett, Cllr Woolf, Cllr Last, Cllr Cooper, Cllr
Levermore and Cllr Hill. The Clerk will
liaise with these councillors to arrange their first meeting.
299. Aldeburgh Road
Pedestrian Crossing
After a brief discussion it was
proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Morsley and
agreed to approve the design fee estimate of £11,748.87.
300. Two Council
Representatives for Leiston Events Group
After a short discussion it was
decided to defer this item to the next meeting.
301. Finance and Personnel
a) Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that
accounts paid since the last meeting of £49,180.05 be approved for payment.
b) Personnel Committee Report of 02 February 2022
Councillors noted the previously circulated report.
302. Planning Matters
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
REFER
TO TREE OFFICER
303. County Matters
Nothing raised.
304. District Matters
Cllr Last raised on
behalf of Cllr Bailey concerns regarding the large soakaway located at the new
development near Highbury Cottages.
There are two life belts located at the site which indicates a safety risk
however there is only a two bar fence surrounding the site which seems
inadequate. The Clerk will follow this
up with Cllr Cooper to see if planning identified this as a risk.
305. Funding Requests
Leiston Youth Community Angling Society
Councillors noted the request from LYCAS for a
defibrillator. After a brief discussion
it was proposed by Cllr Woolf, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed to grant
£1000 but ask that they explore the option of installing a community
defibrillator.
Dentaid
Councillors noted the funding request
from Toothless in Suffolk for funding towards Dentaid,
coming back to Leiston for a day to provide dental care for residents of
Leiston and the surrounding areas. It was noted what a success the last
visit was and proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Hawkins and agreed to
grant £400.00 and let them use the Waterloo Centre free of charge.
Rose and Sweet William
Councillors noted the
funding request from Rose and Sweet William towards the cost of a minibus driver. After a short discussion it was proposed by
Cllr Levermore, seconded by Cllr Hill and agreed to grant £1,500 for this
purpose.
Cllr Boast was against.
Britten Pears Arts
Councillors noted the
request from Britten Pears Arts to continue to use the Waterloo Centre free of
charge to run their Participate Group which aims to increase the health and
wellbeing of older people in Leiston who are at risk of isolation, once weekly from
26 April – 05 July. It was proposed by Cllr Morsley,
seconded by Cllr Hill and agreed to let them use the centre for free up
until 05 July then Council will review again.
306. Questions to the Chairman
Cllr Boast asked about the portable speed
cameras. Mrs Kemp confirmed that one is
due to be moved to Hayling’s Road, the older one is not working and needs to be
sent away for repair.
The meeting finished at
10.00pm
Chair
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Dated ---------------------------------------------