1. Apologies for Absence
The Parish Council accepted apologies from Sue Wright due to being unwell and David Ling for work/family commitments.
2. Approval of Minutes
- December Parish Council Meeting - Unanimously approved.
3. Declarations of Interest
Councillor Bradley item 19.7 - Personal and prejudicial - to leave the meeting whilst item is discussed. Councillor Weaver item 9.3 - Neighbour - to stay online during update.
4. Dispensations
None
5. Public Participation
7.33pm
- No members of the public attended.
- Reports from District & County Councillors - See Appendix 1. Councillor Fleming gave a resume of her report and updated the Parish Council on the Covid-19 vaccination programme due to take place within the next 1-2 weeks. There was an update on the travellers that are currently residing on The Ling. One of the travellers is pregnant, making the situation of moving them on more of an issue. Concerns can be forwarded to Councillor Fleming. Residents can also report concerns anonymously to the Police or via Crimestoppers.
6. Reconvene Meeting
7.51pm
7. Chairman’s Report
Councillor Cole had nothing to report.
8. Clerk’s Report
Planings have been ordered for the track outside the Village Hall. Councillor Thornton will liaise with the driver for delivery. The Clerk suggested that the monies from the Commons Account be kept in a separate account as per the Terms of Reference. A sum of £35,850 would be transferred from the Projects account to the Savings account. The Projects account will be renamed the Commons account and receive the payments due from the Rural Agency. The Savings account will be renamed Reserves account and hold all Reserves including ring-fenced CIL monies. It was agreed unanimously for the Clerk to go ahead with these changes.
9. Planning Applications
- DC/20/04490 Householder application - Erection of first floor extension. Location: Flint Barn, Church Road, Wortham, IP22 1PT - GRANTED
- DC/20/04729 Planning Application - Erection of 2no dwellings, garages, associated works, provision of access road, parking/turning areas and associated landscaping - Land on the East Side of Church Road, Wortham - NO UPDATE
- DC/20/04953 Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval - Town and Country Planning (Development, Management and Procedure) (England) Order 2015 - Appearance, Landscaping, Layout, Scale and Access relating to DC/18/03677 - Erection of 1no dwelling - White House, Rectory Road, Wortham - NO UPDATE
- DC/20/04645 - Erection of an Agricultural Building. Location - The Rookery, Bury Road, Wortham, Diss, Suffolk IP22 1RB - NO UPDATE
- DC/20/05753 - Proposal: Application under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act - Variation of Condition 1 (Approved Plans and Documents) of reserved matters approval DC/19/05948 dated 26/02/2020 (Application for approval of reserved matters following grant of Outline Application DC/18/05622 dated 19/02/2019 - Appearance, Landscaping, Layout, Scale Erection of 3No dwellings and new access.) Location: The Croft, Mellis Road, Wortham, Diss Suffolk IP22 1PY - After discussion it was unanimously agreed to support this application.
10. Modification of Planning Obligation
DC/19/01020 relating to 280/16 - erection of 12 new dwellings (to remove option of 4no affordable dwellings) - Councillor Warboys had agreed to look into this matter further on behalf of the Parish Council. Councillor Warboys was not in attendance so this item will be deferred to the next meeting.
11. Budget for 2021/2022
After discussion it was agreed to amend the heading of Miscellaneous to Contingency. It was unanimously agreed to adopt the Budget for 2021/2022.
12. Precept for 2021
The Precept was unanimously agreed. Due to Lockdown restrictions, the Precept Upon Charging Authority Form was signed by the Clerk and forwarded by email to the Chairman for completion.
13. Speeding on Church Road, Wortham
Concerned residents have contacted the Parish Council regarding the speed limit on Church Road. Councillor Fleming will request any speed data which may have been collected, but it is possible that a new speed survey will be needed to assess the situation. A discussion can then start to justify an extension to 30mph along Church Road. The Parish Council was advised that this is not a fast process. Clerk to advise Councillor Fleming where the current 60mph signs are placed.
14. Footpath at Wortham Lawn Tennis Club
Councillors Odams and Ling were to contact WLTC, but as neither were in attendance, this item will be deferred. Clerk to contact WLTC.
15. Allotments
At the present time there have been no formal requests for allotments and agreed to drop the idea.
16. County Broadband Presentation
It was unanimously agreed to invite County Broadband to give a 10 minute presentation at the next meeting. Clerk to contact and request any supporting information.
17. Terms of Reference
- Playing Fields Committee
- Commons Committee
- Employment Committee
- Planning Committee
It was agreed to form a working group to review all the Terms of Reference. Councillors Hovey, Weaver and Grocott will carry out a review and report back to the Parish Council at the next meeting. The Data Protection Office & the Pensions office should be included in the list of bodies to whom we are accountable on the Employment Terms of Reference. Clerk to contact Councillor Wright to enquire if she would like to join the working group.
18. Planning Committee Nomination
This item is to be deferred to the February meeting to allow for the working group to review the Terms of Reference.
19. Reports from Committees and Working Groups
- Playing Fields Committee - NGF have agreed to honour the pricing for the new play equipment as the quote had expired.
- Commons Committee - 3 quotes have been sourced for the Scrub Clearance work, but at present only 1 has been received. Clerk to contact contractors.
- Planning Committee - Nothing to report
- Finance Representative - Nothing to report
- Employment Committee - Annual staff reviews that normally take place in January, will be deferred until after Lockdown restrictions have been lifted.
- New Village Hall Working Group - Nothing to report
- Possessory Insurance/Title Working Group - Nothing to report
20. Accounts
- Account balances as at 29th December 2020
- Current Account 16592.39
- Reserves Account 11506.89
- Projects Account 41895.75
- Account Payments
- Donation Waveney Foodbank 100.00
- Donation EAAA 100.00
- Donation Burgate PCC - Churchyard 400.00
- Donation Wortham PCC - Churchyard 400.00
- Defibrillator Supplies Community Heartbeat 300.00
- Expenses (Dec 2020) Jane Wright 87.69
- Salary(January 2021) Niki Hinton 92.63
- Salary(January 2021) Jane Wright 387.80
- Direct Debit Payments
- EDF Energy Electricity 200.00
- O2 Mobile Phone 27.11
- Account Receipts
- MSDC Local Restrictions Business Support Grant 1334.00
- Rural Payments HLS Payment 2381.00
- SCC Locality Award (leaflets) 362.42
- MSDC Locality Award - Play Equipment (RW) 1500.00
It was unanimously agreed to approve all payments.
21. Reports from Committees, Groups and Councillors
- VHMC - Nothing to report
- Rights of Way - Nothing to report
- Councillors - Lanes in Wortham & Burgate have been nominated as Quiet Lanes, but it is likely to involve a lot of work and funding. Councillor Grocott suggested that the Parish Council withdraw the proposed lanes from the scheme. Clerk to check the lanes that join the Parishes of Redgrave and Palgrave are still being considered, but there will be no further action on Quiet Lanes.
22. Correspondence
A letter of thanks had been received from Wortham Stores and circulated to all Councillors.
23. Items for the Next Agenda
Affordable Houses, Terms of Reference, Planning Committee member, WLTC Footpath
24. Date, Time and Venue for Next Meeting
February 16th 2021 at 7.30pm via Zoom
25. Meeting Close
8.53pm
Appendix 1: County Councillor Report
January 2021
Wortham & Burgate Parish Council - Happy New Year to All!
Councillor Jessica Fleming, Hartismere Division, Suffolk
Jessica.fleming@suffolk.gov.uk Tel: 07714-597980 Twitter: @jesstfleming
From Tier 4 to Tier 5 Alert Level – National Lockdown, refer to the Government website for guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
NHS 111 Expanded Helpline Service – reminder to please phone the Helpline before going to A&E.
COVID Support Reminder - The Home But Not Alone freephone 0800 876 6926 is active and staffed from 9am to 5pm Mon. to Fri., as is the Suffolk Advice and Support Service phone 0800 068 3131.
Schools - Special schools and those supporting key workers will remain open during the new lockdown period (estimated to February ½ term), others are to close but please check individual schools for current details: https://schoolclosures.suffolk.gov.uk/schools?qorder=time
Primary School application deadline Friday 15 January 2021 for Primary, Infant, Junior or Middle school for September 2021 entry. Applies to children born between 1 Sept. 2016 and 31 Aug. 2017. Go to www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions, or call 0345 600 0981.
Recycling – The online booking system is operating for recycling centres. Also refer to the Suffolk Recycling Xmas page - www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk/green-christmas