Cty.
Cllr. P Bellfield
Chairman
of SCDC Cllr C Cocker (part time)
Parishioners Mr N Hayward, Mr D Morgan, Ms
A Law and Mr R Reade, Mr P Smyth, Mr D Evans (these latter three – part time)
Parish Historical Recorder Mrs W Woodland
1-0708/6 – Presentation of award for
runner-up in the SCDC Village of the Year Competition by Chairman of SCDC,
Councillor Cliff Cocker
Cllr Cocker remarked that the competition
had been known as the Best Kept Village from 1974 but was now held for villages
of less than 500 residents. He said that there were three judges from outside
the “small villages” and that this year the entries were of a very high
quality. Judging standards included the “look” of the village and consideration
was given to communication with parishioners. All villages had made a big
impact on the judges and choosing prizewinners had been a difficult decision.
First prize had been awarded to Levington with Brandeston second and Friston
third. Cllr Cocker then presented the award of the second-place certificate and
a cheque for ₤125 to Brandeston Parish Council Chairman, David Risk.
In response the Chairman thanked Cllr.
Cocker for the presentation and said that Brandeston has a very high community
spirit due in large part to the new village hall – firstly raising the funds
for building and equipping and now for its use by the community. The Chairman stated
that the Council had a renewed vigour with some new members and mentioned that the
competition was previously known as the Best Kept Village Competition until
1974 but was now held in alternate years for villages over and under 500
residents. Brandeston had been a previous winner of this competition in either
1958 or 1959 (the Chairman was not quite sure which as he had been away in the
Army).
2-0708/6 - Open discussion with members of
the public who may be present
Mr Hayward asked if the planning
application for Red House Farm (stated to be a replica of the previously
approved barn conversion) was indeed a COMPLETE replica with EVERYTHING
unchanged. PS advised that the Council were treating it as a NEW application
meaning that there could be changes from the layout and other details of the
previous approval.
HS raised the problem of proliferation of
event posters around the village - whoever puts them up does not always take
them down. The Chairman questioned if this was a Parish Council matter. Cty.
Cllr. Bellfield undertook to enquire of the legal position.
3-0708/6 – Report of Cty. Cllr. Peter
Bellfield
Cty. Cllr. Bellfield said that the SCC budget
for 2008-09 was the major concern at present. He advised that he is chair of the
Scrutiny Committee and leads through this process. The County Council are looking
for savings ₤16 million without inclusion of savings now necessary since
Ipswich is to become a unitary authority. Among the items likely to be
introduced were bus charges for over 16’s in education and charges for care in
the home (but the latter will continue to be met by the County Council subject
to means testing). He said these changes wee unfortunate but necessary if the
County Council were to continue living within its financial constraints.
Waste incineration is to be introduced to
produce electricity but from one site only at a location not yet decided. There
was no choice – the County Council cannot continue with landfill due to lack of
space and to government dictat.
[Note – there was no report on SCDC in the
absence of Dist.Cllr. R Snell from whom apologies had been received]
4-0708/6 – Formal Meeting Opening, Chairman’s
Welcome and Apologies for Absence
The Chairman welcomed Councillors and
visitors to the meeting and advised that there were apologies for absence from Dist.
Cllr. R. Snell.
5-0708/6 – To Receive Councillors’
Declaration of Interest in Agenda Items
ST declared interest in agenda item 10 (i)
6-0708/6 – Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of the meetings of 11 July
2007, 22 August 2007 and 26 September 2007 were signed as a true record.
7-0708/6 – Matters arising from previous
minutes
(i)
Councillors’ Register of Interests (previous minute 4-0708/5 (i))
The Clerk confirmed that he
had now received Register of Interests forms from all Councillors.
(ii)
Audit of Village Hall Accounts (previous minute 4-0708/5
(ii))
ST reported this
could now be closed – accounts had been accepted by the Lottery who had also
confirmed that there would be no future need for accounts or Lottery monitoring
of the hall and its functioning.
(iii) Planning Application C04/0438 – Red
House Farm, Conversion of barn to residential dwelling (previous minute 4-0707/5
(iii))
The Clerk confirmed
that he had written to SCDC as instructed by the council at the meeting of 26 September
2007 and included a request to be kept fully advised of the status of this
development. No reply had been received by 13 October 2007, so a reminder was
sent on that date. A response dated 15 October 2007 indicated that the SCDC
Development Control Sub-committee would consider this subject at their meeting
of 17 October 2007 (although no indication was given as to the recommendation
to be made by the Planning Officers). At their meeting, the Sub-committee agreed
with the revised recommendation of Planning Officers that what was now proposed was beyond a
conversion and that therefore a new planning application plus an application
for demolition consent was required. This new application has been presented
and is referenced as C07/1987.
In considering the
new application, the Council noted that the Design and Access statement asserts
that the original permission cannot be implemented. Accordingly, the Council agreed to view Application
CO7/1987 as an application for the construction of a new dwelling house and
consideration should be given to the context of the site (insofar as part only
is contained within the village envelope), the site falls within a designated
Conservation Area and within an AONB. The site commands a prominent position on
entry to the village with distant views from the Deben Valley. Therefore, the Council
agreed to seek refusal on the following grounds :-
The Council further suggested that the
District Council should indicate to the Applicant that more favourable
consideration may be given to a revised application for a far smaller building
to the size of the plot within the Physical Limits of the village and
replicating the style of the original barn along with inclusion of the changes
set-out above (points 1 – 7) and utilising materials and of an appearance
consistent with an older barn. The Council consider that the sensitivity of the site demands that such
an application be a Full Application (i.e. not an Outline Application). Approval of any such application should be
made subject to additional conditions:-
A.
the existing agricultural buildings abutting the site should be
demolished (including excavation and removal of foundations) prior to
commencement of occupation of the dwelling (residential development alongside
existing agricultural livestock buildings being inappropriate).
B.
a full landscaping plan should be provided and approved (
including retention of existing trees and hedges within the application site
and a scheme of planting on adjoining
land where agricultural buildings have been removed to screen views of the new
dwelling from the Deben Valley)
C.
the new dwelling be restricted to a single residential dwelling
only
D.
general permitted development rights be withdrawn
E.
contribution to outdoor playspace should be required. This
application (and any revision thereof) is an application for new residential
development.
The Clerk was
instructed to write to SCDC, Planning Dept. setting out the Council’s views as
stated above.
(iv) Routing
of FP14 (previous minute 4-0708/5 (iv))
The Clerk
confirmed that he had received the anticipated letter from SCC confirming that
they would undertake the necessary actions to revise the routing of this
footpath without cost to Brandeston Parish Council. However, due to their heavy
workload there may be some delay.
(v) Planning application C07/1491/FUL –
Rose Farm Cottage, Mutton Lane, Change of use from agricultural to garden
(previous minute 4-0708/4)
The Clerk advised
that revised drawings had been received correcting the previous error in the
land area. The Clerk also advised that he had written to SCDC reconfirming the
Council’s previous comments on this application.
8-0708/6 - Planning
(i) The Clerk advised that application C07/1513/FUL
(Sorell Cottage, Friday St., Erection of Side and rear extensions) had been approved
but that no requirement was made to consider alternative colours for the
weatherboarding.
(ii) The Chairman advised that he had received
a letter from Mr N Hayward regarding his intention to construct a lean-to style
boatstore at Millstones, Mill Lane. It was noted that there were no objections
from neighbours and that such construction does not require planning consent.
The receipt of the letter was acknowledged and the Council thanked Mr Hayward
(present at the meeting) for his courtesy in advising the Council of his
intentions.
9-0708/6 – Financial Report by RFO (The
Clerk)
The Clerk confirmed that the Council’s
accounts for 2006-07 had been approved by the external auditors. He advised
receipt of the second precept instalment of ₤1,025, of recycling credit
of ₤5.51and of the first prize of ₤100 for the Suffolk Village
Newsletter of the Year Competition. The Clerk then circulated the current
cashbook statement and advised that the main account has a current balance of £2,667.58
and the 100+ account a balance of £179.18 (both after allowing accruals for
cheques raised and for latest receipts). The Clerk pointed out the there were
various future expenses to be met (such as room hire and election costs). He confirmed
that the Council’s finances continued to be satisfactory
10-0708/6 – Financial Matters
(i) The Council agreed payment to
BVH&RG of £8.00 for room hire for the next meeting at the village hall on a
date to be agreed.
(ii) The Councillors again confirmed that
they had read and agreed to the terms required by Barclays Bank for amendment
to the signatories of the council’s accounts. The clerk advised that Barclays
required re-submission of the Appointment of Bankers form for the community
account.
KC confirmed that the
changes in her banking arrangements were underway. Accordingly, submission of
the new, previously agreed signatories for the 100+ club account could now be
progressed and the Clerk was requested to arrange. The Council then repeated
its previous resolution accepting the Barclays terms for both accounts (refer
to minute no. 7-0708/5 (ii) of meeting of 26 September 2007)
(iii) Budget
for Parish Plan project
The Clerk advised
that the budget for the Parish Plan Steering Group was to have further minor
modification. Nevertheless, the Council agreed expenditure up to a maximum of ₤1,333.23
by the Group, provided that a grant totalling 95% of the sum expended was
received through Suffolk ACRE.
(iv) The Council approved payment of the
audit fee, amounting to ₤141.00 (including VAT), to Lubbock Fine
(v) The Clerk advised the Council of
changes to lottery regulations following the coming-into-effect on 01 September
2007 of the Gaming Act 2005. The fee now payable is ₤20 and the Council
approved payment for the 100+ Club. Further, a return indicating income and
expenditure is now required, signed by two appointees. The Council agreed the
Chairman (D I Risk) and the Clerk (A M Hounsell) should be these appointees.
11-0708/6 – Correspondence
The Council noted correspondence
concerning the Countryside Access Community Scheme but agreed no action was
required at present except for the Council to register its interest.
12-0708/6 - Any other business as may be
raised and accepted as appropriate by the Chairman
There were no items under this heading.
Date of Next Meeting
Date of the next meeting was confirmed as 16
January 2008 at 8.00 pm at the village hall with the agenda to include the
precept budget for 2008-09. The next meeting to be 12 March 2008, subject to
confirmation.
The meeting closed at 10.20 pm