MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
SAXMUNDHAM TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
MONDAY 11th JANUARY 2010
IN THE MARKET HALL AT 7:15pm

Present:

Cllr. B. Jones, Chairman
Cllr. Mrs. M. Andrews
Cllr. Sir P Batho
Cllr. G. Cooke
Cllr. Mrs. R. Damiral-White
Cllr. J. Fisher
Cllr. K. Howe
Cllr. G. Moye
Cllr. M. Palman
Cllr. Miss B. Peall
Cllr. Mrs. D. Sculley
Cllr. Ms C. Trotter-Langlois
Cllr. D. Willett



In attendance: Mrs M. Gallop, Clerk to the Council
Sgt. D. Goddard
County Cllr Rae Leighton
1 member of the public



PUBLIC FORUM: - No comments

REPORT FROM THE LOCAL POLICE: The Clerk read out the Police Report. Sgt Goddard reassured Councillors about Police use of lights in bad weather.

REPORT FROM THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR: County Cllr R Leighton reported on the following:
* The weather had not caused a great crisis for SCC as most roads were kept open although there has been a shortage of salt. Apparently a ship docked in Ipswich last night so salt supplies will be replenished. There have been problems with slippery pavements and the County Council are looking for improved ways of dealing with this. The gritters have been out working long hours to ensure the County kept moving.
* SCC are in the process of doing their budget which they are attempting to keep under a 3% increase.
* The local Police were shocked by the poor grade received in an inspection recently carried out in relation to some parts of the Police Pledge. The SNT are working hard to improve this and Cllr Leighton urged Councillors and the public to give the SNT their full support. There will be a further inspection in mid January.

REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: Cllrs Mrs Andrews and Sir Peter had nothing to report on.

AGENDA



3579. 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.

3580. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Col R Warren, personal

3581. MATTERS TO BE RAISED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 19:
3581.1 Response to the Boundary Committee – Cllr M Palman

3582. TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE 14th DECEMBER 2009 MEETING previously circulated: Unanimously agreed and signed. Motion carried.




3583. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM NOT COVERED ON THE AGENDA:
Page 3 3469 – Clerk had written to Hopkins Homes but has yet to receive a reply.

3584. TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:

A – CORRESPONDENCE TO BE NOTED AND CIRCULATED:
415 Town Telegraph
416 Land Registry application completion
417 SCC Access Suffolk Linking communities to nature
418 Email Guy Ackers Suffolk Hedgerow Survey
419 Suffolk View – Suffolk Preservation Society publication
420 Suffolk Coastal Resource Network SAVO
421 ESTA Members’ Bulletin

B – CORRESPONDENCE TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE REPLY:

106 HT Argent & Son – acceptance of their terms of business – Clerk to seek clarification with Argents regarding maintenance of the driveway of the Memorial Field.
107 Suffolk Acre – Views on the current financial/banking services offered by the Post Office – it was decided that we had no views to offer.

C – OTHER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED TO DATE:

C166 War Memorials Trust Conference 4th December 2010 Circulation
C167 Copy letter from Col Tim Trotman SSAFA/Forces Help Flag Day 13th Feb 2010 Circulation
C168 SALC - Article in The Sunday Telegraph Why the villagers may have to dance in silence – abolishment an exemption for charities from licensing rules
Circulation
C169 Suffolk Coastal Business Forum Meeting at SCDC Council Chambers Monday 18 Jan at 6.30pm Who would like to attend? – No Councillors wished to attend

3586. CHAIRMAN’S/ TOWN CLERK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

3587. FINANCE REPORT:
* To approve the monthly finance report to end of December 2009 –Cllr Mrs Damiral-White proposed this as correct, seconded by Cllr Moye. Unanimously agreed and signed. Motion carried.

3588. TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR ESTA: Cllr Moye proposed that we decline to offer funding, seconded Cllr Willett. 9 votes for, 1 against, and 4 abstentions. Motion carried

3589. TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR SAXMUNDHAM FOOTBALL CLUB: Sir Peter declared an interest. This was deferred to the allocation of funds of the recycling credits and market income in May.

3590. TO CONSIDER A DONATION OF £50.00 TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE TOWN GUIDE: Cllr Mrs Andrews informed the Council that Mr Derek Chambers had designed the front cover of the new Town Guide and supplied a good quality photograph of the Town. Cllr Cooke proposed that Mr Chambers be given a £50.00 voucher for use with a local retailer as a token of the Council’s thanks. Seconded Cllr Mrs Damiral-White. 11 votes for and 2 abstentions. Motion carried.

3591. TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET FOR 2010: Cllr Palman advised that the P & R committee had changed the way in which they looked at the budget proposals. It was felt that an increase of 24% was too high and should be set at around 10%. After much discussion the proposed budget was looked at line by line by the full Council and the precept was set at £67,000 for 2010/2011.
There followed some discussion as to whether the Council should make an additional allocation to replace and maintain reserve funds. Cllr Moye proposed that an additional £2000 should be added to the Precept to replace the overspend on the current financial year, seconded by Cllr Mrs Damiral-White. 10 votes for, 3 against. Motion carried.
Cllr Mrs Andrews suggested the Council should consider that at some point the Council may have an obligation to provide its employees with a Pension. Current legislation does not require this so no decision was taken.
Cllr Jones proposed that the Council accept a Precept of £69,000, seconded by Cllr Moye. 11 votes for, 2 against. Motion carried.

3592. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAVVY: Cllr Ms Trotter-Langlois advised there had not been a meeting since she had last reported. She informed the Council that a clearance of Seaman Avenue was planned and she intended to ask Hollesley Bay for assistance.

3593. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE: Cllr Mrs Damiral-White reported.

The following were agreed at the last Planning meeting:-

C09 1821 Mr M Newson The Gannon Rooms, Station Approach
Saxmundham
Erection of single storey rear extension to provide improved kitchen facilities
The committee strongly supported this community amenity.
C09 1890 M & Mrs C Lucas Clock House, Church Street, Saxmundham
Erection of single storey rear extension
The committee support this application

SCDC Planning permission granted:
C09 1667 56 Brook Farm Road, Saxmundham
Erection of single storey rear extension
C09 1474 36 High Street, Saxmundham
Renovation & repair of existing commercial building
C09 00158 tree work -The Chestnuts Church Street, Saxmundham, SCDC gave no objection to felling Horse Chestnut tree.
C09 0110 36 High Street, Saxmundham re-submission of barn to be demolished – Appeal lodged - to be heard on the 9th February at SCDC.
Cllr Mrs Damiral- White had received a complaint about the design and nature of a fence erected in Brook Farm Road, unpainted boarded fencing – advice given to contact SCDC


3594. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Cllr Palman reported.
* Recommended a proposal for the budget
* Deferred funding requests
* Deferred date of the Chairman’s Reception to the Annual Meeting

3595. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE MARKET HALL COMMITTEE: Cllr Mrs Sculley advised nothing to report at present

3596. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAXMUNDHAM NEWS AND THE WEBSITE: Cllr Mrs Andrews advised that Saxmundham News was due to be delivered this coming Friday. She requested reports back on the new door to door delivery. The Clerk did not have anything to report on the website.

3597. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES including working parties:
ESTA – Cllr Howe - Proposal to increase the Lowestoft to London service to an hourly service instead of a two hourly service but that would require the building of a Beccles Loop.
Christmas Grotto Cllr Howe gave thanks to those who had helped with this successful evening. He urged Councillors to support more events as he explained they should ‘lead from the front’ and not from behind.
Saxmundham in Bloom – Cllr Howe – Fund raising events -Wine tasting evening with champagne reception in the Market Hall, Friday 12th February at 7.30pm. Tickets at £7.50 will be available from HG Crisp or the Town Clerk. Dance on Saturday 6th March – tickets £3.00. Cllr Howe encouraged fellow Councillors to attend these events to assist with much needed funding to continue with Saxmundham in Bloom.
SART’s – Cllr Moye- War time dinner dance– February 13th Market Hall, optional fancy dress, £10.00 per ticket
SAVVY – a reminder that the table top sale has been rescheduled to Friday 12th February from 10am to 4pm.

3598. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE CHAIRMAN’S DISCRETION as notified under Agenda item 3:

3598.1 Response to the Boundary Committee – Cllr M Palman had circulated a draft response advising that
he thought the single unitary was the better option although he felt there had not been enough
consideration given to the proposed 22 Community Boards. He felt we could not support any proposal which empowers non elected bodies to make decisions on behalf of the citizens of Suffolk. Cllr Palman proposed that we accept this as the Council’s response to the consultation, seconded by Cllr Mrs Damiral-White. Unanimously agreed. Motion carried.


3599. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 8th FEBRUARY 2010 at 7.15pm



The meeting closed at 10.07pm



Signed…………………………………………………… Dated…………………………………..








* Page 4 of 4 Town Council Minutes 11th January 2010