Pre-meeting Reports
01 August 2023
64. County Councillor
County Cllr Haworth-Culf sent apologies.
A report had been previously circulated.
65. District Councillor
District Cllr Whitelock
was in attendance and a report will be circulated in due course. Cllr Whitelock gave a brief overview of the
meetings/training she has attended over the last month including a briefing on
the town masterplan. She confirmed that
District Cllr Daly is the portfolio holder for Energy Projects, she is his
deputy and District Cllr Graham is the portfolio holder for Communities,
Leisure and Tourism.
Cllrs voiced their
concerns to District Cllr Whitelock regarding the Leiston Masterplan and the timescales. Councillors are concerned that time is of the
essence and the plan needs to be progressed.
Nothing has happened since Richard Best left his post in December. The Town Council were promised that a Town
Centre Regeneration Place Board would be put in place, but this has not happened. Councillors are concerned that if progression
is not made soon, we will not be able to apply for SZC mitigation funding when
it becomes available. District Cllr
Whitelock will follow up the Town Councils concerns with East Suffolk Council.
Cllr Cooper raised that
District Cllr Daly stated at a Strategic Planning Meeting he was against SZC,
and if this was the case how can we work together on this project. District Cllr Whitelock confirmed that they
are a Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent Coalition who do not want SZC
however they recognise that it has been given planning consent by the Government.
They will therefore be working in partnership with local Town and Parish
Councils to achieve the best mitigation outcomes for their ward.
Councillors expressed
their concerns that no money has been ringfenced for Leiston, yet we are the
closest town to SZC, and they feel we should receive as much mitigation as
possible and there must be a legacy for Leiston. District Cllr Whitelock confirmed that she
will work with the Town Council to help us receive the best mitigation possible
and suggested a meeting to discuss what we would like to see for the town.
Cllr Hill commented
that she is happy with the support the Town Council receive from SZC. She
stressed it was imperative that District Councillors are up to speed with the SZC
project and reiterated the Town Council will need their support.
Cllr Last questioned ESC’s
‘No Mow May’ Policy. District Cllr
Whitelock suggested the Town Council email her with their areas of concern and
she will follow these up. Action: Office
Cllr Corbett commented
that we were unsuccessful in our bid for daffodil bulbs. District Cllr Whitelock advised the Town
Council to apply for a grant from her locality budget.
During the above item,
the time reached 7.30pm. It was proposed by Cllr Corbett, seconded by Cllr
Cooper, and agreed, Standing Orders be suspended to allow the public part of
the meeting to be completed.
Resident asked for
clarification on the works on Sizewell Road, which was confirmed as being on
King Georges Avenue.
Resident thanked
District Cllr Whitelock for the grant from their locality fund for new picnic
tables at the Long Shop Museum.
Resident echoed the
concerns raised by the Town Council regarding the Leiston Masterplan. We are losing time and the Community Land
Trust and Town Council are losing ground.
SZC project is moving forward and at present our plans are not. We will not be able to access funding from
the Deed of Obligation without the Leiston Masterplan and Transport Strategy
plans in place. District Cllr Whitelock
reiterated that she will be following up all these concerns with East Suffolk
Council.
Resident questioned a
spend of £2,500 from locality fund for Halesworth. County Cllr Whitelock
confirmed no monies from their locality fund has been given to Halesworth.
66. Public Forum
Resident extended an
invitation to all to attend the Community Land Trust, AGM at Leiston Community
Centre on Wednesday 9 August, 7pm. This
will include a Leiston Masterplan presentation by East Suffolk Council.
Resident asked for the
Boules Piste to be advertised as feature of Victory
Road Recreation Ground. Action:
Office
At a meeting of the
LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
held in the COMMUNITY CENTRE,
King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on
TUESDAY 01 August 2023
at 7.30pm
Councillor Lesley Hill
(in the Chair)
Councillor David Boast
Councillor Tony Cooper
Councillor Nicky
Corbett
Councillor David Dix
Councillor Susan Geater
Councillor John Last
Councillor David Morsley
Councillor Paul Motion
Councillor Adrian Swift
Councillor Tyler Wythe
67. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Hawkins.
68. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Boast for Community Land Trust, Cllr Wythe for item 8b, Cllr Dix
for Leiston Events Group, Cllr Geater for Personnel, Finance, and planning
DC/23/2198/FUL and Cllr Hill for CLT.
69. Minutes of the Meeting held 04 July 2023
It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded
by Cllr Boast and agreed the minutes for the Meeting held 04 July 2023 be
signed as a true record.
The Town Clerk will seek further
clarification on the Haul Road from SZC.
Action: Town Clerk
70. Chair’s Communications
I was delighted to be invited by the Leiston
Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association to present the Best Kept Chair’s
Communication Allotment award sponsored by the Town Council. On 5th
July I presented the award for 2023 to Irene Lucas at her allotment.
I represented the Council at the Aldeburgh
Mayor’s Sunday Civic Service on 9th July. This included a parade
from the Moot Hall to St. Peter and St Paul Church led by the Band of the Royal
British Legion, Leiston. Following the service there was an opportunity to meet
other Mayors and Chairs from other Councils in the Church Hall.
Councillors are invited by the Leiston Branch
of the Royal British Legion and Friends of the Suffolk Regiment to the VJ Day
Commemoration at the memorial flag at the Long Shop Museum on Saturday 12th
August at 10.45 a.m. I will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Town Council.
71. Assets
a)
1-7 Ashfield Drive Garages, Proposed Lease
Councillors
noted the previously circulated report regarding access to Hayling’s Allotments. It was proposed by Cllr Levermore, seconded
by Cllr Morsley, and agreed to enter into a formal
deed that will transfer ownership of the land between 1 Ashfield Drive and the garages
to the Town Council so that we retain footpath access to the allotments from Ashfield
Drive.
ACTION:
Cllr Cooper
72. Infrastructure Working Groups
a)
Visit to Hinkley Point
Cllr Corbett reported
that SZC have today confirmed they have been in contact with the Communications
Team at Hinkley Point C and a bespoke tour for the Town Council is being put
together to include Park and Ride, Caravan Park, and the Accommodation
Campus. Dates of which are to be confirmed.
Cllr Corbett has stressed it needs to be as soon as possible.
ACTION: Cllr
Corbett/SZC
Cllr Corbett also informed
Councillors Dr Mannings, SZC Environment Expert is organising a trip to Aldhurst Farm for Councillors hopefully before end of
August, she will circulate date once confirmed.
ACTION: Cllr Corbett
73. Finance
a)
Finance Committee, Minutes of Meeting held 20 July 2023
Councillors noted the
previously circulated minutes. After a brief discussion it was proposed by Cllr Cooper,
seconded by Cllr Last and agreed to fund £25,000 from EMR 410 Open Spaces and EMR
405 Playground Equipment to fund essential repairs at both Recreation Grounds
and new swings at Victory Road Recreation Ground.
ACTION:
Admin Assistant
The Clerk
is still awaiting a response from East Suffolk Council regarding CIL to confirm
if we can pay the Long Shop £10k per annum for 3 years or if it has to be a one
off payment of £30k. Action: Agenda
for September.
b)
Accounts Paid July 2023
Councillors
approved the monthly income and expenditure sheet from Rialtus.
|
DC/23/2370/FUL |
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL |
|
DC/23/2810/FUL |
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL |
|
DC/23/2794/FUL |
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL (4 abstentions) |
|
DC/23/1926/AME |
RECOMMEND
APPROVAL (1 abstention) |
|
DC/23/2810/FUL |
Single storey pitched roof
extension to side of dwelling - The Manor The Common Leiston Suffolk IP16 4UL RECOMMEND
APPROVAL (1 abstention) |
Clarification
of East Suffolk Council engagement with Town Council over Sizewell C Planning
Matters
Cllr
Last asked Councillors to consider the amount of support the Town Council are
getting from East Suffolk Council in support of SZC planning applications and
works.
After
a brief discussion it was proposed by Cllr Cooper to write to Philip Ridley,
Head of Planning at East Suffolk Council requesting further support with SZC
applications. Cllr Last requested an amendment to the proposal asking for Naomi
Gould, Energy Projects Manager to be copied in.
Cllr Swift asked for a further amendment that we request a reply before
our next Energy Projects Meeting on 15 August.
Cllr Cooper accepted both amendments, the proposal was seconded by Cllr
Last and agreed.
ACTION:
Town Clerk to compose a letter
75. Correspondence
None
76. Questions to the Chair
Cllr Dix confirmed he had contacted Ann
Nunn Chairman of the Leiston Fairtrade Group who confirmed their application
has been submitted.
Cllr Dix confirmed Leiston Events
Group are happy to put up Christmas lights outside the Community Centre, but that
we would need to provide an outside socket.
Action: Cllr Cooper to obtain a quote
Cllr Dix confirmed Leiston Events Group
have no plans to host a D-Day Event for the town as they felt its more of a
commemoration than celebration. They are
proposing a Music Festival on the park next year.
Action: Agenda item for September
Cllr Levermore questioned if we have
received a copy of the Risk Assessment for Aldhurst
Farm. Cllr Last confirmed not yet. Cllr Dix voiced concerns regarding emergency
vehicle access from Carr Avenue.
Cllr Last questioned if the residents group has been formed.
Action: Cllr Corbett to speak with Steve Mannings,
Environmental Expert, SZC to clarify these points
Cllr Last commented that he is still
receiving complaints from residents regarding the grass at Leiston
Cemetery. Cllr Hill confirmed she has
reported this. Mrs Kemp will chase.
Action: Mrs Kemp to contact ESC
regarding Cemetery.
Cllr Levermore commented again on
the blights of signage in the town centre outside Leiston Local.
Action: Town Clerk to contact ESC enforcement team
for an update
It was proposed by Cllr Corbett, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that,
under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be
excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to
public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be
transacted.
77.
Personnel
It was proposed by Cllr Boast, seconded
by Cllr Last and agreed to accept the Personnel Committees recommendation to
recruit for a Deputy Clerk with responsibility for Assets.
Action: Town Clerk to circulate job
description/advert and arrange advertisement
The Clerk confirmed a Co-ordinator
for the Live Well Centre has now been recruited.
The meeting finished at 9pm
Chair
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Dated ---------------------------------------------