MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
SAXMUNDHAM TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
MONDAY 10th DECEMBER 2007
IN THE MARKET HALL AT 7:15pm

Present:

Cllr. J. Fisher, Chairman
Cllr. Mrs. M. Andrews
Cllr. Sir P. Batho
Cllr. Ms. V. Burdett
Cllr. Mrs. R. Damiral-White
Cllr. K. Howe

Cllr. B. Jones
Cllr. G. E. Moye
Cllr. M. Palman
Cllr. Mrs D Sculley
Cllr. Ms C. Trotter-Langlois
Cllr. Col. R.E. Warren

In attendance:
Mrs M. Gallop Clerk to the Council
County Cllr R. Leighton
PCSO Thora Taylor
3 members of the public




PUBLIC FORUM The public were invited to raise any matters necessary:

Previous matters raised at Public Forum :
* Cellar doors outside the Bell Hotel have been repaired

Current enquiries
* Problems with dangerous driving especially past junctions at the North and South ends of Market Place. Could a 20mph limitation be considered?
* Problems with speed at South Entrance -The bollards at Fromus Square are not padlocked any more
* Problems with a noisy neighbour in Mayflower Avenue. This has already been reported to the Police by the Clerk
* The tree that the Town Council had replaced near the former office of Certax has again been vandalised


REPORT FROM THE LOCAL POLICE: As the PCSO Thora Taylor had to leave suddenly the Clerk read out the report (attached) having liaised with her over speeding concerns in the Town

REPORT FROM THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR: Cllr R Leighton reported.
* The subject raised by the Town Council at a previous meeting concerning ring fencing the proceeds of property sales in Saxmundham areas belonging to the SCC was discussed. A survey of County Council property in Saxmundham stated that the proceeds from the sale proceeds would be used for the Saxmundham community. However the wording was extremely 'loose' and was deliberately drafted in that way. Any monies will be used for regeneration in the town e.g. Street Farm Road - the building needs replacing and a new library on a scale similar to Halesworth could be built. The Town Council will be consulted on the development of Saxmundham.
* The proposed Ipswich unitary authority has been turned down for the foreseeable future. A vast amount of work had already been completed at great cost and proving to be a fruitless exercise and the work will now have to be reversed. The County Council are holding a meeting to discuss this subject this coming Thursday. It has cost both the Suffolk Coastal District Council and the County Council considerable amounts of money but the decision has been mooted by Central Government. Ipswich will be looking at extending their area and that could result in a detrimental effect on a number of parishes.

Cllr Leighton was thanked for his report.

REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS:

Cllr Andrews reported that designation of alcohol free zones was approved by the cabinet last Tuesday and should go for public consultation in early January with fruition hopefully by late spring / early summer.


On the 17th December at 9.30am at SCDC the licensing of the Railway Inn will be under review due to previous excess noise and disorderly behaviour. At 2.00pm there is a hearing for the extension of the licence for Coopers Dip to include the beer garden.
Cllr Batho had nothing further to add to the above.

AGENDA

3173. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Members are invited to make any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on the agenda and are reminded to make any declarations at any stage during the meeting if it becomes apparent that this may be required when a particular item or issue is considered. None declared

3174. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr G Cooke, previous appointment - Cllr S.Trotter-Langlois work commitments.

3175. MATTERS TO BE RAISED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 15:
3175.1 Closure of Rendham Road for road surfacing - Cllr Palman
3175.2 Restriction of parking in Market Place January - May 2008 - Cllr Andrews

3176. TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE 12th NOVEMBER 2007 MEETING previously circulated: Unanimously agreed. Motion carried

3177. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM NOT COVERED ON THE AGENDA:
* Cllr Damiral-White requested that the subject of the disposal of County Buildings should be minuted under the County Councillors report.
* 3166 - Mr P Ridley Head of Planning will meet with the Councillors on 4th February before the P & R Meeting


3178. TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:

A - CORRESPONDENCE TO BE NOTED AND CIRCULATED:

104 SALC - Congratulations for Quality Council Award
105 SCDC Chairman - Congratulations for Quality Council Award
106 SCDC Chief Executive - Congratulations for Quality Council Award
107 Copy letter from Sax Sports Club regarding poor state of potential site for One Stop Shop
108 Suffolk Acre - Recognition for any tireless volunteer within our community
109 Email from Guy Richardson SCDC - Cabinet Report regarding Alcohol Designation Orders
110 email Suffolk Acre - funding scheme for highway issues
111 SCDC Agenda for November meeting
112 Optua News and Views plus request for donation
113 Richard Smith - Congratulations for Quality Council Award
114 SCDC Coastline

B - CORRESPONDENCE TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE REPLY:

12 SCDC Coastal Potato Event Ideas and activities for Children & Young People up to the age of 19 Friday 18th January 2008 - Cllr C Trotter-Langlois
13 Email from Robin Potter - Invitation to attend a workshop on Tuesday 11 December at our Market Hall from 11am until 4pm regarding Saxmundham & District Community Development Partnership - Councillors urged to attend
14 Email from David Malpass SCC regarding damage to street light adjacent to 49 South Entrance - lorry caught the arm of our hanging basket. Clerk to write to SCC challenging their claim that this is our responsibility





C - OTHER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED TO DATE:

C019
Simon Burridge SCDC
Latest info regarding Fromus Square
Slow progress is being made
C020
Email Michael @ Thats Entertainment
Invite to Councillors to open performance of Dick Whittington 13th December
Clerk to inform Leiston of non attendance
C021
SCDC Licensing
Agreement needed for Licence to get approval
Cllr Moye proposed agreement to the conditions, seconded by Cllr Damiral-White. Unanimously agreed. Motion carried
C022
BFRA
Newsletter
Circulation
C023
Adventure Playground
Notification of their success in obtaining funding for new equipment
Clerk sent letter of congratulations
C024
SCC
Double yellow lines outside Prince of Bengal, High Street
SCC have no plans for change at the moment. Cllr Leighton was requested to review the situation.
C025
Don Tricker
Agenda and final details for workshop Dec 11th
Circulation


3179. TO CONFIRM THE DATE OF MONDAY 21st APRIL 2008 FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING:
Unanimously agreed.

3180. CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

3181. FINANCE REPORT:
* To approve the monthly finance report to end of November 2007 (as attached) - minor amendment to surname. Cllr Fisher proposed these as correct, seconded by Cllr Moye. Unanimously agreed. Motion carried

3182. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

C07 2189
D. Ward
Saxmundham Angling Centre
Back of Market Place, Saxmundham
Erection of extension to shop
The committee supported this

Correspondence received:
SCDC advised that C07 2027 Fairfield Road erection of 10 flats and two cottages will be discussed by their North Sub-Committee on 12 December 2007 at 9.00am
C07 0309 Bay House conversion of outbuilding - SCDC permission granted
C07 1886 18-22 Market Place, Change of use to offices - SCDC permission granted

3183. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE: (copy of minutes attached)
* The next meeting of Felixstowe Youth Council will be held on January 16th at 3.45pm at Felixstowe Town Hall, Cllrs Burdett, Moye, and C.Trotter-Langlois to attend
* Cllr Fisher proposed that we adopt the revised standing orders with the inclusion of a finish time of 10pm. Cllr Moye seconded this. Unanimously agreed. Motion carried.
* A draft budget has been circulated to all Councillors and this will be reviewed at the January P & R meeting for preparation for a final decision at the next Town Council meeting.
* Cllr Jones will review the Clerk's Contract of Employment for the next P & R meeting.

3184. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE MARKET HALL COMMITTEE:
* Cllr Moye confirmed that the Christmas decorations had been erected. He confirmed that bookings for the Hall had increased thanks to the Clerk's efforts. The Market Hall committee will meet in early January to discuss the project for refurbishment of the Hall.

3185. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAXMUNDHAM NEWS AND THE WEBSITE:
Cllr Andrews confirmed that copy for the next issue needs to be with Leiston Press by the 3rd January for distribution by Coastal Advertiser on the 18th January. The deadline for the following issue will be on Monday 3rd March for distribution on the 27th March. The Clerk will write a letter to Gerry Wright for all his hard work on type setting the newsletter the last few years. Cllr Andrews proposed that the Town Council give him a voucher of £100 in appreciation, seconded by Cllr Moye. Unanimously agreed. Motion agreed.
The subject of discounts for advertising rates for a whole years booking was discussed but it was decided not to embark on this at the present time.

3186. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES including working parties:
Cllr Howe attended an ESTA meeting on the 28th November. They will be celebrating their 150th anniversary of the East Suffolk Railway Line in 2009 and preparations for this occasion are in hand.
Cllr Howe advised a small profit was made for Saxmundham in Bloom at the Horticultural Show. Their Chairman has kindly offered to sponsor bulbs for the South Entrance and will also plant them.
Cllr Warren will attend a meeting of the Saxmundham & District Community Development Partnership on the 23rd February and their workshop will take place tomorrow, 11th December.
Cllr Andrews went to the Businesses (BOS) meeting and the subject of a combined effort for Christmas lights was raised and further discussions will follow.
Cllr Moye advised that only residents in hospital will receive gifts from Saxmundham Welfare Charity.
Cllr Moye attended the Sizewell Stakeholders Group meeting on behalf of Cllr Warren. Sizewell will not be prosecuted for the leak in January as monies will be spent on improvements rather than a fine. Sizewell residents had expressed concern about the involvement of the Nuclear Constabulary outside the Power Station and Inspector Lucas advised that they were duty bound to take action if crimes are committed but assured us that they worked closely together. The defuelling has been delayed until 2009 because of insufficient capacity at Sellafield. There will be a Public Meeting of the SSG on the 28th April next year with Bill Cowley attending. Richard Smith has been appointed Vice Chairman of the National Stakeholders Group.
Cllr Sculley attended a SALC meeting on the 19th November.
Cllr C Trotter-Langlois attended the 10th anniversary celebrations of CYD on the 6th December with Cllr Fisher but expressed her disappointment over the lack of attendance of other Councillors. (Cllr Warren and Town Clerk had sent their apologies)


3187. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE CHAIRMAN'S DISCRETION as notified under Agenda item 3:
3175.1 Closure of Rendham Road for road surfacing - Cllr Palman advised that the access road to the Middle
School was blocked in both directions during the resurfacing. Clerk to write to Highways.
3175.2 Restriction of parking in Market Place January - May 2008 - Cllr Andrews advised that work will take
place on the railway embankment resulting a loss of 20 car parking spaces in the Market Place car
park from January to May 2008. Somerfield had opposed attempts to lift the two hour restriction in
their car park. Clerk to write to Caroline Barnes at SCDC to suggest resiting of the recycling facilities.
Clerk to also write to Somerfields requesting use of their car park for recycling facilities.

3188. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 14th January 2008

Meeting closed at 9.00pm.
* Page 4 of 4 Town Council Minutes 10th December 2007