Parish Council

MINUTES BRANTHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday 04 October 2017, 7.30pm held at Brantham Village Hall

PRESENT: Cllrs M Aherne (MA), R Candy (RC), C Elliot (CE), J Heywood (JH), L Laws (LL), A McCraw (AM), J Pearce (JP), C Phillips (CP), J Van Der Toorn (JVDT)

CHAIRPERSON: Cllr L Dunnett (LD)

IN ATTENDANCE: S Keys (Clerk), County Cllr D Wood, and 6 members of the public.

PC 10.17.01 OPENING The Chair declared the meeting open at 7.30 pm and thanked all for attending. A statement was read out by the Chair indicating that, in accordance with legislation, the public and councillors were permitted to film, record, photograph or use social media in order to report on the proceedings of the meeting. A full transcript is available from the Clerk.

LD reminded the public that a Council meeting is not a public meeting, it is a meeting conducted in public. As the Council meets and makes its decisions in public and is committed to community engagement, members of the public, the press, and District, Borough or County Councillors are invited to attend our meetings and contribute during the public forum. Comments from the public during the remainder of the meeting should be by invitation from the Chair only.

PC 10.17.02 APOLOGIES Council noted that apologies for absence had been received from District Councillor H Steer and Cllr P Saward (PS).

PC 10.17.03 DECLARATION OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NON-PECUNIARY INTERESTS There were no local non-pecuniary interests declared for the Agenda under discussion. There were no gifts of hospitality exceeding £25 declared. There were no requests for dispensations for the Agenda under discussion

PC 10.17.04 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the Parish Council meeting on 06 September 2017 were approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.

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PC 10.17.05 ACTION POINTS FROM THE PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTE NO. ACTION DISMISSED/ ONGOING PC 07.17.08 (1) Proceed with the purchase and installation of a SID Ongoing The document is currently being completed before submission to SCC PC 09.17.06 Respond to consultation on home-to-school transport Dismissed This has not been available to complete PC 09.17.06 Inform public about the Joint Local Plan via social media Dismissed Completed PC 09.17.06 Discuss the possibility of a bypass for Brantham at SCC and Dismissed feedback at next PC meeting DW confirmed that there would not be a possibility for a bypass around Brantham PC 09.17.13 A letter from the Parish Council should be sent to all interested Dismissed parties A template letter to be created for use by local residents to lobby the Co-op personally A Working Group would be formed to lead on the process and to work with the press A section of the village website should be created for this issue Completed PC 09.17.08 (1) Committee chairs to consider possible projects for the next Dismissed financial year and inform the Clerk. No projects received PC 09.17.08 (3) Write to BDC outlining disappointment re: changes to development Ongoing at Poppy Field To be completed PC 09.17.08 (4) send letter to landowner/SCC asking them to get Jimmy’s Lane – Dismissed Railway line footpath re-instated Completed, footpath now re-instated PC 09.17.09 Write a letter to the Co-op and DW to investigate options for Ongoing double yellow lines with SCC. Clerk to write to EofE Co-op about this issues PC 09.17.12 Investigate the purchase of wheelie bin stickers and discuss the Dismissed proposal with SCC Completed.

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PC 10.17.06 PUBLIC SESSION The public session included:  A report from County Councillor DWood on the following issues: o School transport policy changes o The search for a new Chief Executive o New Observatory Website o Future plans for the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service o Consultation for A12 four village bypass o Highway fault reporting. A copy of DW’s full report can be found on the Brantham Website at www.brantham.onesuffolk.net.  A report from District Councillor AMcCraw on the following issues: o BDC’s move to Endeavour House o The draft recommendations for the BDC wards. AM outlined his thoughts and the response he will be submitting o The next Town and Parish Liaison meetings due to be held in and  Comments from the public: o A query was raised about the fence between the LPF and BLC. The Chair confirmed that this would be discussed later in the meeting.

PC 10.17.07 FINANCE REPORT (for financial details see Appendix A at the end of the minutes) The Clerk reported the following balances as at 30 September 2017:  Current Account - £5000.00  Deposit Account - £117,912.04 The Chair asked the Council to note and approve Appendix A to the agenda which included:  The schedule of accounts awaiting payment  The accounts paid since the last meeting  Details of income received since the last meeting The Council also reviewed the Quarterly report for July – September 2017 which showed that expenditure is currently in line with the budget. AM proposed that the financial received should be approved by the Council, this was seconded LL and unanimously agreed by the Council.

PC 10.17.08 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES 1. Finance Committee LD gave the following report: The Finance Committee met on Wednesday 27 September 2017. LD gave an update from the Committee on the following items: o The Clerk has informed SCC about the changes to the lighting in Slough Road. As the bills are paid in arrears the benefits will not be seen until the following year. Page 3 of 8 Initial…….Date……..

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o Confirmation that the Clerk has set up a NEST pension o A request had been received from BLC for a contribution to the costs of the fence between the LPF and BLC. The Clerk had reviewed the insurance documents and it is possible that a claim can be made for a replacement fence via the insurers. This will be investigated before a contribution is considered. o The Committee had reviewed the cost of Wheelie Bin Speed awareness stickers for houses along the A137. A bulk pack of 500 stickers will cost £220.00 and the Committee had agreed to this purchase. LD highlighted that following recommendations from the BPC’s Internal Audit for 2016- 17 the Standing Orders had been updated in section 18. The Council were asked to review the Insurance renewal document for 2017-18 received from CAS. Following discussion AM proposed that the Council approved the 5 year insurance schedule with an annual cost of £1075.01 for payment this month. This was seconded by LL and unanimously agreed by the Council. ACTION: Clerk to accept the insurance quote. LD outlined proposals from the Finance Committee aimed at making salary payments more accurate and efficient. This would result in the set-up of a new bank account to which sufficient money for salaries would be transferred. The Clerk would then be given access to this account to make payments. AM proposed that this account should be set up, this was seconded by JVDT and unanimously agreed by the Council. ACTION: Clerk to work with the Finance Committee to set up the account. 2. Recreation Sub Committee CP informed the Council that the Recreation Sub Committee had met on 25 September 2017 and reviewed information received from BDC about S.106 funding and the requirements for accessing the fund. The Sub-Committee had agreed that any available funding would be used to update the equipment at the Lower Playing Field. As a first step a consultation process to find out what the community would like would begin with an article in the Bugle. 3. Planning Committee The Clerk confirmed that the BPC Planning Committee met on 27 September 2017 and provided an overview of the meeting. The full minutes of the meeting can be found on the village website at www.brantham.onesuffolk.net. 4. Village Hall Management Committee JH confirmed that the recent film night hosted by Brantham Box Office had been well attended. The next film showing of “Their Finest” would be on Wednesday 18 October, 7.30pm at Brantham Village Hall. JH confirmed that the forthcoming Barn Dance had been cancelled as there was not enough availability from the Committee to run the event on the night. 5. Footpaths Sub Committee CP circulated a map of Brantham highlighting permissive paths in the village. CP informed the Council that Richard Keeble had confirmed at a meeting with CP and the Page 4 of 8 Initial…….Date……..

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Clerk that the current scheme of Environmental Stewardship runs out in 1 year and arrangements for permissive paths in the village will change. RKeeble had confirmed that the majority of the permissive footpaths will remain open but it is unlikely that they will be as wide. RKeeble also stated that following some issues with trespassers some new signs highlighting private roads/paths will be put up in the village. The meeting had also discussed the proposed closure of the level crossing on the Sea Wall, and CP queried whether this could be re-considered by Network Rail. ACTION: AM to work with RK and Network Rail to see if there are any other options available. CP highlighted that the footpaths on the other side of the A137 had not yet been re- instated. ACTION: Clerk to write to the landowners about this. CP confirmed that she would be writing a footpath article for inclusion in the Bugle in future. 6. Legal Sub Committee The Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting between BML and the Legal Sub- Committee. JP proposed that the BML rent should be increased by 10% (from £1500.00 per annum to £1650.00 per annum) to reflect a cost of living increase. This was seconded by CE and Unanimously agreed by the Council. ACTION: Clerk to write to BML confirming this decision. 7. CEP Representative – CE informed the Council his details had now been updated in the Bugle and some updates to the CEP have been made. 8. BLC Representative – Nothing to report 9. Babergh Parish and Town Council Alliance Representative JVDT informed the Council that the meeting between the Alliance and BDC CEO had been positive. At the next meeting of the Alliance a revised Constitution will be considered. 10. Public Transport Representative - nothing to report 11. SALC Representative – nothing to report 12. SNT Representative – LD confirmed that the issues at Acacia Court should be included in the discussion at the next meeting.

PC 10.17.09 CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE/ACTION The Clerk reviewed the correspondence that had been received in September 2017 (copies had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting), Councillors noted the following: 1. An email from local residents about issues of anti-social behaviour at Acacia Court 2. An email the East of Co-op providing a statement about the proposed closure of the Brantham Post Office 3. An email from a local resident about the proposed closure of the Brantham Post Office Page 5 of 8 Initial…….Date……..

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4. An email from Julie Price, Chairman of the Brantham Scout and Guide Group providing information about the Launch of Project 2017 (plans for the new hut) 5. A letter from the Co-op about the proposed closure of Brantham Post Office 6. An email from local residents about issues of anti-social behaviour at Acacia Court 7. A letter from the Post Office about the proposed closure of the Brantham Post Office

PC 10.17.10 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE All miscellaneous correspondence by email had been forwarded to Councillors during the month.

PC 10.17.11 INDUSTRIAL SITE UPDATE AM informed the Council that the low fences on the Brantham Regeneration Area land are for reptile collection.

PC 10.17.12 SPEED CONTROL MEASURES ON A137 The Clerk informed the Council that the required forms for a SID are currently being completed ready for submission to SCC in the near future.

PC 10.17.13 CLOSURE OF BRANTHAM POST OFFICE The Council reviewed the activity taken and the information received to date. The Council agreed that the Post Office and the East of England Co-op should continue to be lobbied. The Council discussed the possibility of a mobile Post Office should the closure happen. ACTION: Clerk to look into the possibility of using the mobile Post Office

PC 10.17.14 JOINT LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION AM informed the Council that the Working Party were continuing to meet to review the information in the document and would report back to the Council at the next meeting. All views would be shared with neighbouring parishes.

PC 10.17.15 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Wednesday 01 November 2017, 7.30pm at Brantham Village Hall.

The meeting closed to the public at 8.46pm

SIGNED…………………………………………DATED……………………

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ACTIONS

MINUTE NO. ACTION DISMISSED/ ONGOING PC 07.17.08 (1) Proceed with the purchase and installation of a SID Clerk/Speed Control wkg gp PC 09.17.08 (3) Write to BDC outlining disappointment re: changes to development Clerk at Poppy Field PC 09.17.09 Write a letter to the Co-op and DW to investigate options for Clerk double yellow lines with SCC. PC 10.17.08 (1) Formally accept the 5-year insurance quote received from CAS Clerk PC 10.17.08 (1) Set up new bank accounts to make salary payments Clerk PC 10.17.08 (5) Work with RK and Network Rail to see if there are any other AM options for the Sea Wall level Crossing available. PC 10.17.08 (5) Write to landowner about re-instatement of footpath on other side Clerk of A137` PC 10.17.08 (6) Write to BML confirming annual rent increase of 10% Clerk PC 10.17.13 Look into the possibility of a mobile Post Office for the village Clerk

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APPENDIX A

ACCOUNTS AGREED FOR PAYMENT Chq/Debit NET VAT TOTAL Powers Used Card/SO Parish Clerk – Salary SO £928.07 £928.07 LGA 1972, s.112 Parish Clerk – Office SO £20.00 £20.00 LGA 1972, s. 112 Phil Wainwright – Litter Picker SO £175.76 £175.76 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10 Tina Bird – Litter Picker SO £211.25 £211.25 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10 B.M.L Maintenance Payment SO £332.00 £332.00 Local Government (miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s.19 Paul Brackley 003225 £840.00 £840.00 LGA 1972, s.111 (Grounds Maintenance Sept 2017) Brantham Village Hall 003226 £36.00 £36.00 LGA 1972 (Hire of VH – August 2017) Business Services at CAS 003227 £1075.01 £1075.01 LGA 1972 (Parish Council insurance 2017-18)

ACCOUNTS PAID SINCE THE LAST Chq/Debit NET VAT TOTAL Powers Used MEETING Card/SO Amazon Debit card £15.99 £7.99 £23.98 LGA 1972 (Paper) O2 Direct Debit £22.05 4.41 £26.46 LGA 1972 (Phone)

RECEIPTS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING TOTAL Brantham Good Neighbour Scheme £596.00 (Contribution to defibrillator) Brantham Garage Sale £596.00 (Contribution to Defibrilator) Highcliff Veterinary Practice £11250.00 (Quarterly Rent) Council £22,242.50 (2nd Precept Payment) Bank Interest Payment £4.38

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