WBPC Minutes

Councillors present: Jacky Bradley, Jenny Piper, Esta Piper, Susan Wright, Liz Leeds, Alain Judd, Stephen Beckett-Doyle, Chris Williams
In attendance: 1 member of the public

1. Chair’s Welcome and to Consider and Approve Apologies for Absence

Cllr Bradley welcomed everyone to the meeting, and apologies received from Cllr Castle and Cllr Baker were approved unanimously.

2. To Approve the Draft Minutes of the Previous Parish Council Meetings

Parish Council Meeting held on 15^th October 2024 – deferred.

7:40pm Cllr Williams arrived.

3. To Record Declarations of Interest from Members in Any Item to Be Discussed

Cllr Beckett-Doyle declared a pecuniary interest against agenda item 11; to discuss reinstating the ditch along Long Green.

4. To Consider Dispensations from Members in Any Item to Be Discussed

It was agreed for Cllr Beckett-Doyle to partake in the discussion against agenda item 11, but to refrain from voting. Approved unanimously with 1 abstention (Cllr Beckett-Doyle).

5. To Adjourn the Meeting for Public Participation - 7:43pm

To receive residents’ questions or comments – None.
To receive reports from District & County Councillors –
- DC Cllr Warboy’s report can be found at the end of the minutes; Appendix 1.
- CC Cllr Fleming’s report can be found at the end of the minutes; Appendix 2.

6. To Reconvene the Meeting – 7:44pm

7. To Receive the Chair’s Report

Cllr Bradley apologised that the remembrance wreaths had not been laid. The Clerk also expressed apologies and advised that a donation would be made to the Royal British Legion on behalf of both parishes. A wreath will be still be laid if they are still available.

8. To Receive the Clerk’s Report & O/S Actions from the Last Meeting (For Information Only)

MSDC are encouraging applications for their ‘Tree for Life Scheme’ which is open until 10th January 2025: Tree for life - Mid Suffolk District Council - babergh.gov.uk / midsuffolk.gov.uk. The details are also on the Parish Council Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556497889695.
Suffolk County Council are reminding residents that properties reported as internally flooded as a result of Storm Babet, are eligible to apply to the DEFRA £5,000.00 Property Flood Resilience grant fund. The deadline for applications is the end of April 2025: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/property-flood-resilience-grant-scheme.
A resident has reported continued issues with the drain outside Willow Corner which is still flooding. The resident says that the flooding is causing erosion to their driveway, and subsequent damage to their vehicles. This has been reported to SCC Highways by both the resident and the Clerk. Highways have advised that it is on their list of works but that they cannot provide a date. They have provided details as to how the resident can make a complaint.
The Clerk has requested an update regarding the 30mph extension on Mellis Road. SCC Highways are yet to reply.
A public consultation is being held on 5^th December 2-7pm, in Mellis Memorial Hall, for ‘Field Yaxley’, which is a proposal for a battery energy storage system (Field Yaxley) on land to the south-east of the Yaxley Substation.
The pavilion locks have now all been changed.

9. To Consider, Agree and/or Note New Planning Applications

To receive an update - DC/24/04449 – Application under S73a for removal or variation of a condition following grant of Planning Permission DC/18/01083 dated 07/07/2018 Town & County Planning Act 1990 (As amended conversion of outbuilding and erection of extension to create annexed accommodation. To vary Condition 4 (Occupation Restriction) See attached planning statement – to allow use of the residential annexe as a holiday let when not required as an annexe. New Waters Farm, Bury Road, Wortham, Diss, Suffolk, IP22 1QH – AWAITING DECISION.
To consider – DC/24/04294 – Application for Reserved Matters following outline approval of DC/23/01538 Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (as amended). Submission of details for Appearance, Layout and Landscaping for the erection of 1No. agricultural workers dwelling. Land East of Gibsons Farm, Furze Way, Burgate, IP22 1QG – GRANTED.
To receive an update - DC/23/05426 – Cross Boundary Application – Installation of a solar farm comprising: ground mounted fixed tilt bifacial solar panels: access tracks; string inverters; transformers; electrical connection compound, storage containers; underground cables and conduits; perimeter fence; temporary construction compound and associated infrastructure and planting scheme. (EIA Development). Land North Of, Lion Road, Palgrave, Part in The Parishes of Wortham and Diss – No update.
To receive an update on Oak Trees Burgate – No update.

8:20pm Cllr Judd left the meeting

10. To Discuss Reinstating the Ditch Along Long Green

At the January 2024 meeting it was agreed to look at reinstating the ditch alongside Wash Lane, to the culvert which leads to the playing field ditch. After discussing, Cllr Williams proposed the council requests quotations for the work. Seconded by Cllr Wright, and approved unanimously with 1 abstention (Cllr Beckett-Doyle). The proposed reinstatement is partly on land owned by the PC, and partly on land which is privately owned. Permission will be sought for the owner prior to any works being agreed and carried out.

Action: Clerk/Cllr Beckett-Doyle to look at quotations. Clerk to contact landowner as above.

11. Common Land Outside Wortham Primary School; School Parking and Access Track

Simon Furlong, Chair of the school Governors has proposed the 5^th December for the first meeting of the Working Group. Councillors asked the Clerk to request a date in January instead. It was agreed for Cllr E Piper and Cllr Castle to be the Working Group’s Parish Council representatives. Cllr Wright and Cllr Leeds will join the Working Group as resident representatives.

Action: Clerk to feed back to Simon Furlong as above.

12. Village Maintenance Update

Cllr Wright reported that the flint work to the village sign has started. An advert will be put together in the new year to find someone to carry out the ongoing village maintenance; ground works, clearing pathways, sweeping out of the bus shelters etc. Quotations are being sought for repair work to the village information boards and bus shelters. The Clerk will look at an application for a Pride in Your Place grant. There was a discussion on whether to remove the bus shelter on Mellis Road, but Cllr J. Piper said she thinks it is being used. It was agreed to hold a meeting of the committee on 9^th December 2024 at 2pm in the pavilion.

13. Redevelopment of the Pavilion Working Group Update

No updates.

14. Accounts

14.1 Account Balances as of 26^th November 2024

14.1.1 Current Account: £69,413.26
14.1.2 Reserves Account: £74,247.54
14.1.3 Commons Account: £10,087.94

14.2 Account Payments

Magpie Tree & Fencing inv. 1147 Clearance work by Mellis Road junction £1,200.00
Safe & Sound inv. 10498 Mole control October £60.00
Niki Hinton November salary £111.54
Jane Challis November salary including LGA pay increase £680.40
HMRC November NIC payment £170.10
Jane Challis – expenses Royal British Legion £24.49
Niki Hinton December salary £111.54
Jane Challis December salary £544.32
HMRC December NIC payment £136.08

14.3 Direct Debit Payments

HSBC Bank charges £8.00

Additional payments/receipts received prior to the meeting:

Jane Challis – expenses Leaflet dispensers (W&B footpath leaflets) £24.40
South Norfolk Locksmiths Pavilion locks £258.00
Niki Hinton November salary £111.54
Jane Challis – expenses Royal British Legion (additional wreath) £24.49

Approval of all payments en bloc was proposed by Cllr Wright; seconded by Cllr J. Piper, and approved unanimously.

15. To Receive and Discuss Items from Committees / Working Groups

Playing Field Committee – Meeting to be arranged.
Commons Committee – nothing to report.
Finance Representative – meeting to be arranged with Clerk to review accounts.
Employment Committee – annual reviews due in the new year.
Planning Committee – nothing to report.
New Village Hall Working Group – nothing further to report.
Village Maintenance Committee – nothing further to report.
VHMC – nothing to report.
Rights of Way – Cllr Leeds and Cllr Williams will arrange a meeting to review the updated footpath maps.
Councillors – Cllr Leeds reported that the recycling bins outside the village hall need to be emptied. Cllr Williams reported 3 bags of rubbish dumped in Buggs Lane, and asked when the next litter pick was due. Cllr Bradley will arrange a litter pick in March 2025.

16. Correspondence Received

All covered on the agenda.

17. To Receive Items for the Next Agenda

No new items.

18. The Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 21^st January 2024, at 7:30pm in Wortham Village Hall.

Meeting Close – 9:04pm