Haughley and Wetherden Parish News MAKE A CHANGE BECOME A HAUGHLEY PARISH COUNCILLOR IF YOU CARE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED YOU JOIN US AND MAKE A LOCAL CHANGE CONTACT [email protected] FEBRUARY 2021 ~1869 to 2019~ PALMERS BAKERY TRADITIONAL HIGH CLASS FAMILY BAKERS & CONFECTIONERS Fred Bullet delivering bread by Horse & Cart 1910 ”© Palmers (Haughley) Limited FRESH BREAD & CONFECTIONERY BAKED DAILY BY CRAFTSMEN USING LOCAL INGREDIENTS & BAKED IN ANCIENT BRICK OVENS 01449 673286 The Village Green~ Haughley Largest Stockist of Tiptree Jams & Marmalades in East Anglia. Suffolk Honey, Free Range Eggs, Groceries & Local Produce. Freshly Made Sandwiches & Filled Rolls - Hot Drinks & Bacon Rolls Also at Stowmarket, Woolpit, Stanton, Ipswich and Brett’s Bakery Needham Market & Freshfills of Claydon Six Generations of Baking, Tradition & Service for Over 150 years 2 NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the February issue of the Parish News. This month we get to toss pancakes and remember our special Valentine. When out and about walking my dog I have been noticing how many bulbs are bursting out of the ground, and with the days slowly getting longer, Spring is not far away. As the days get warmer (hopefully) we can start getting out and tidying up our gardens. Whatever you decide to do please keep safe and well. Until the next time …… DATES FOR THE DIARY … 2021 Feb Wed 17th - Wetherden Bible Club - on-line see advert Friday 19th April Wed 28th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust, “Hedgerows, Herbs and Medicines”, Martin Sanford 7.30pm Village Hall, Stowupland May Sat 15th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust, “Tales of the River Bank” - Stowmarket river walk. To be confirmed June Wed 30th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust, “Wasps - Hawk Honey” 7.30pm Village Hall, Stowupland Sept Wed 22th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust, “Celebration 15”, 7.30pm Village Hall, Stowupland Oct Wed 27th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust “Bugs on the Move “- Ian Bedford 7. 30pm Village Hall, Stowupland Nov Wed 24th - Suffolk Wildlife Trust “British Owls” - Zoe Smith 7.30pm Village Hall Stowupland Please note all Suffolk Wildlife Trust meeting dates are subject to change and cancelling. Please check their website 3 District Councillors’ Report for Haughley and Wetherden News – February 2021 Covid 19 Support payments are available for those on low incomes who need to self-isolate. There has been no confirmation yet of any support grants for businesses for this na- tional lockdown. Mid Suffolk’s leisure centre and outdoor sports facilities remain closed. 2021/2022 Council Members have received an initial briefing on the draft budget for 2021/22. Budget Once again, the Council is planning for a surplus at the end of next year following a likely underspend during the current year. It is proposed that Council Tax be in- creased by 1.66%, which is equivalent to 23p per month for a Band D property. We continue to have concerns that inadequate staff resources are resulting in failure to deliver capital projects on time and delays in other work. This is despite plans to increase Council Tax and build up financial reserves. The budget will be debated by Council on 23 February. Council House MSDC propose to increase rents by 1.5%, equivalent to an average increase of £1.25 Rents per week. There will be no increase in garage rents. Sheltered housing service charges are set to increase by £1 per week. Council Tax The impacts of the Covid pandemic have meant that many more households have reductions applied for a Council Tax Reduction. This means that the Council Taxbase has fallen across the district and therefore, to maintain the same precept as 2020/21 for exam- ple, most parishes will need to increase Council Tax. Those in receipt of working age local council tax support are also eligible for a £150 hardship payment. Independent Each year the Council is allocated approximately £300,000 as a Disabled Facilities Living Service Grant for adaptations in people’s homes to help them live independently. The man- agement of this grant has been brought in-house due to performance issues with the external contractor. Every year we raise the underspend of this grant as an issue so hope the new approach will mean this money gets used where it is needed. Council’s low It has been agreed that the Council’s vehicle fleet (35 waste lorries and some hous- carbon vehicle ing vans) will be transferred from fossil fuel diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fleet (HVO) diesel, which is produced mainly from waste cooking oil. It is estimated that the councils’ fleet of vehicles currently emits nearly 900 tonnes of carbon diox- ide each year. This could be cut by up to 90% and will be completed in Summer 2021. Brown bins Due to staff needing to self-isolate, the brown bin collections have been suspended from 11 January until further notice. Other waste services will continue as normal. Emergency Ser- £431,740 of CIL funding has been provided by Mid Suffolk to the planned Emergency vices Hub Services Hub in Stowmarket. New Council Mid Suffolk are planning to purchase 22 affordable homes on the Fishponds Road, Homes Haughley site which is being developed by Bellway Homes. We hope to be able to provide more details in the near future. Councillor Keith Welham Councillor Rachel Eburne [email protected] [email protected] Telephone: 01449 673185 Telephone: 01449 673311 4 THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY In this most difficult of years I would like to thank all those who have given so generously to the various activities of the Children’s Society. The needs of all children during this pandemic have been demanding but especially those who are already vulnerable or suffering hardship and homelessness. The total raised this year is the fantastic sum of £1,218.00 which will be used to support distressed children and their families and to help them face their future with confidence. The details of the money raised are: Collections from Home Boxes £680.00 Sale of Christmas cards £107.25 One- off donations £84.75 Haughley Church’s School Christingle Event £ 96.00 Wetherden Church In lieu of the Christingle service collection £250.00 On behalf of the Society and especially all those children who will benefit, I pass on a very sincere “Thank You”! I wish you all a safe and healthy 2021. Elizabeth Elbourne, Hon Local Secretary of the Children’s Society. 5 DRAFT UNTIL SIGNED WETHERDEN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held virtually on 18th January 2021 Present: Cllr Chris Harcourt, Cllr Duncan Perry, Cllr Stephanie Hensley, Cllr Andy Lewis, Christine Mason: Clerk District Cllrs: Keith Welham, Rachel Eburn, County Cllr Andrew Stringer. 2020/181 Apologies for absence – Cllr Sonia Jewers 2020/182 Declarations of interest – None declared. 2020/183 Minutes of the Parish Council meeting The minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 16th November 2020 were approved as a true record and will be signed by the Chairman at a later date. 2020/184 District Councillors Rachel Eburne, Keith Welham Report Following a likely underspend during the current year, the Council is planning for a surplus at the end of next year. It is proposed Council Tax will be increased by 1.66%, which is equivalent to 23p per month for a Band D property. Owing to more households applying for a Council Tax reduction, the Council Tax base has fallen and to maintain the same precept as 2020/21 most parishes will have to increase their precept request. Due to staff needing to self-isolate, brown bin collections have been suspended from 11 January until further notice. Other waste services to be continued as normal. 2020/185 County Councillor Andrew Stringer’s report Investigation into the recent flooding under the bridge at Upper Town is being carried out. Haughley Park planning appeal is due to be heard on 26 November. SCC to develop a biodiversity strategy. Wild East Project that encourages parishes and local authorities to give over one third of their land to wildlife has been documented and promoted. An extension to the deadline for grant applications from the Local Highways Budgets has been requested by the LDGI Group. Numerous phone calls concerning the inability to access the Covid website/hotline. Contact Cllr Stringer if help is required. 2020/186 Public Participation No members of the public were present. Cllr Rachel Eburne asked if any parish councillors were intending to be present at the Haughley Park appeal hearing - Cllrs Harcourt and Hensley to attend. A revised script to be circulated to councillors. 6 2020/187 Clerk’s Report Substantial amount of litter collected in the village/ditches – an agenda Item. 2020/188 To receive finance reports and authorise payments st The Clerk’s finance reports up to 31 December 2020 were unanimously approved. 2020/189 To set the precept for the financial year 2021/22 The final precept figure was deferred pending amendments to specific expenditure for 2021/22. 2020/190 Litter Further discussion on an increase of paid hours was deferred until the budget has been finalised. With Community litter picks not presently an option, it was suggested litter picker equipment be purchased for those interested in helping. To be advertised on Facebook. 2020/191 To consider common/playing field/projects and concerns Update on top field: Breach of planning conditions currently being checked out by MSDC Enforcement. Ownership of the land in question remains a problem. With regard to the abandoned vehicles, an initial letter from the Parish Council to be sent to Matt Deal, Babergh/MSDC. 2020/192 Planning Planning application DC/21/00288 Land East of Windmill Road, Wetherden.