WBPC Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Concerns about school drop-off congestion and public footpath maintenance were raised during public participation. A protest meeting about the National Grid project drew around 250 attendees. Additionally, the council reviewed a planning appeal for new dwellings on Church Road but decided not to make further representations.
Councillors present
Jacky Bradley, Susan Wright, Richard Thornton, Chris Williams, Chris Grocott, Nick Castle, Esta Piper.
In attendance
DC Cllr Warboys, 3 members of the public

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

Vice Chair Cllr Bradley chaired the meeting due to Cllr Cole’s absence. Cllr Bradley welcomed everyone to the meeting, and apologies received from Cllr Cole, Cllr Baker, Cllr J. Piper and the Clerk were approved unanimously. Cllr Wright agreed to take notes of the meeting in the absence of the Clerk.

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

  1. Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 5th September 2023 – deferred.

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

None.

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

None.

5. To Adjourn the Meeting for Public Participation

  1. To receive residents' questions or comments – issues were raised concerning the congestion caused by parents and carers parking inconsiderately when children are dropped off and picked up from the primary school; the signage and maintenance of some of the public footpaths around the parish; the lack of replacement road signage when it falls down.
  2. To receive reports from District & County Councillors – DC Cllr Warboys report was shared with councillors prior to the meeting, and can be found as an addendum at the end of the minutes; Appendix 1. DC Cllr Warboys highlighted the paragraph relating to the refresh of the Corporate Plan by the District Council, and asked the council to feedback their thoughts on the link provided. He also asked if this could be promoted on the Parish Council website to widen public engagement. CC Cllr Fleming’s report can be found as an addendum at the end of the minutes; Appendix 2.

6. To Reconvene the Meeting

7. In Camera

This item was moved to the end of the meeting.

8. New Parish Councillor Co-option

This item was moved to the end of the meeting.

9. To Receive the Chairman’s Report

No report.

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

No report.

11. Aura Solar Farm

No update.

12. National Grid Norwich to Tilbury Update

A protest meeting was held on Wortham Ling 30th September 2023, and attended by approximately 250 people.

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

  1. To consider – PLANNING APPEAL APP/W3520/W/23/3322783 – full Planning Application – Erection of 3No dwellings including new vehicular access, with associated garages and parking, as amended by revised plans and reports received 20th July 2022. Land North of Willow Corner, Church Road, Wortham, Suffolk. All papers were reviewed including those from a consultant acting on behalf a resident with an objection to the application. As there is no additional planning information relating to the original application, it was agreed, and appropriate, to make no further representations.
  2. To receive an update on Oak Trees Burgate – no update.
  3. To receive an update PLANNING APPEAL APP/W3520/W/22/3303880 – Full Planning Application – Use of land for stationing of 23No holiday lodges and 1 lodge for site manager (renewal of planning permission DC/18/04377) Location: Honey Pot Farm Caravan Park, Bury Road, Wortham, Suffolk, IP22 1PW – no update.
  4. To receive an update – DC/23/01492 – Planning Application – Erection of replacement dwelling (following demolition of existing dwelling) (resubmission of withdrawn application DC/22/06381). Marsh Cottage, The Marsh, Wortham, IP22 1PN – AWAITING DECISION
  5. To receive an update – DC/23/01538 – Application for Outline Planning Permission (Access, Layout and Scale to be considered, Appearance and Landscaping to be reserved) Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) – Erection of 1No agricultural workers dwelling. Land East of Gibsons Farm, Furze Way, Burgate, IP22 1QG – AWAITING DECISION

14. Redevelopment of the Pavilion

  • The survey had a response rate of 42%.
  • The majority of responders were interested in the social development of the Pavilion rather than a sports related offering. The key points were the provision of a warm welcoming space that offers facilities such as coffee, food and a bar.
  • Seventeen people expressed an interest in joining the Working Group.
  • It was agreed that the results of the survey should be displayed on the Parish Council website.
  • It was also agreed that as there was support to do something the Working Group would continue and begin scoping the community’s requirements. Cllr Castle will organise a Working Group meeting in November 2023.

15. Common Land Outside Wortham Primary School; School Parking and Quotations for Work to the Access Track

Cllr Bradley circulated the estimate and associated plan from A. Waterfield and Sons Ltd to provide a tarmacadam surface to the existing perimeter track of £29,890.00 plus VAT. The proposal was found to be acceptable in principle, so additional quotations for the same specification will be sought.

Concerns were raised about the potential congestion that would be caused by removing the common land as an area for car parking. It was agreed to trial the exclusion of the area for parking for a period of 3-5 days in the early part of November. Cllr Bradley will notify the school of the PC’s intended action once a date has been set, and Cllr Wright will do the same with residents.

16. Electricity Supply Contract Renewal

Deferred.

17. Accounts

  1. Account Balances as of 12th October 2023
    • Current Account £50,832.19
    • Reserves Account £72,699.96
    • Commons Account £9,877.67
  2. Account Payments
    • Jane Challis October Salary £477.46
    • HMRC October NIC payment £119.36
    • Niki Hinton October Salary £101.60
    • Safe & Sound 9525 Mole control £60.00
    • St. Mary’s Church Hall Burgate Hall hire September meeting £25.00
    • PKF Littlejohn LLP External Audit Fee £378.00
  3. Direct Debit Payments
    • HSBC Bank charges Sept £8.00
  4. Receipts
    • MSDC Precept £9,649.99

Approval of the payment of suppliers deferred due to absence of the Clerk.

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

  1. Playing Field Committee – no update.
  2. Commons Committee – no update.
  3. Finance Representative - no update.
  4. Employment Committee – Nothing to report.
  5. Planning Committee – Nothing further to report.
  6. New Village Hall Working Group, including confirmation of acting councillor – Nothing further to report.
  7. VHMC – no update.
  8. Rights of Way – no update.
  9. Councillors: Cllr Castle raised the issue of the rotting frame around the village map located on the verge in front of Burgate Church. Cllr Williams advised that this matter is being dealt with by the Burgate Church Warden who has written to Suffolk County Council to ask them to replace it.

19. Correspondence Received

None.

20. To Receive Items for the Next Agenda

None.

21. The Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 28th November 2023 at 7:30pm in Wortham Village Hall.

Meeting Close – 9:00pm

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