MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
SAXMUNDHAM TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2008
IN THE MARKET HALL AT 7:15pm
Present: Cllr.
J. Fisher, Chairman
Cllr. Mrs. M. Andrews
Cllr. Sir P. Batho
Cllr. Mrs. R. Damiral-White
Cllr. K. Howe
Cllr B. Jones, Vice Chairman
Cllr. G. Moye
Cllr. M. Palman
Cllr. Miss B. Peall
Cllr. Mrs D Sculley
Cllr. Ms C. Trotter-Langlois
Cllr. Col R. Warren
Cllr. D. Willett co-opted during the meeting
In attendance:
Mrs M. Gallop Clerk to the Council
Sergeant Daye Goddard
PCSO Thora Taylor
Mr L Smith SCC
14 members of the public
3308. 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
3309. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr G Cooke, holiday
3310. MATTERS TO BE RAISED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 18:
3310.1 Recycling - rubbish - Cllr Mrs Damiral-White
3310.2 Flower beds adjacent to Somerfield/Fromus Square - Cllr Mrs Damiral-White
3311. TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE 14th JULY
2008 MEETING previously circulated: Unanimously approved and signed.
Motion carried
3312. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM NOT COVERED ON THE AGENDA:
3298 Bloomfield Amusements welded the gate at the entrance to the Memorial Field
and did an excellent job. They hope to come back and use the field for their
fun fair again next year.
3313. TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION OF A COUNCILLOR FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION
OF CLLR
MS VICTORIA BURDETT:
Four candidates had put their names forward for this vacancy and three had sent
in a synopsis on their interest in becoming a Councillor. One candidate withdrew
and the three remaining were voted on in a secret ballot.
Mr Jason Avery
Mrs Jane Canelle
Mr David Willett
Mr David Willett was voted in as Councillor, by majority vote, (7 votes) signed
the Declaration of Acceptance and joined the Councillors at the table.
PUBLIC FORUM
* Mr Robin Potter gave a brief resume on the Saxmundham & District Community
Interest Company. They had circulated 5500 brochures to the town and surrounding
parishes and received 1000 responses plus 300 replies from a separate Youth
survey. They are holding a workshop in November and wish to meet some of the
Councillors informally before that to ascertain the level of involvement the
Council would like to take. Cllr Warren expressed his keenness for Councillors
to take an interest in this project. Mr Potter will attend the October meeting
to give a ten minute presentation and ten minute talk.
* A complaint was made regarding the odour permeating from the new fish and
chip shop but they are already implementing a new system and are in contact
and full co-operation with Cllr Mrs Damiral -White regarding this.
* Mrs Canelle expressed her concern regarding her being the victim of gossip
in the town. She and four friends made an offer to purchase the St Johns Ambulance
building with the intention of providing a drop in Arts Centre for everyone
in the town. However it was sold for a lower figure than she had offered. Cllr
Warren said that he was absolutely dumbfounded to hear all this as were other
Councillors.
REPORT FROM THE LOCAL POLICE: PCSO Thora Taylor had previously
circulated a report on crime statistics (enclosed). Sergeant Daye Goddard reported
that 17 offences occurred last month of which six had been detected with eight
remaining undetected. She advised that the recent car crime initiative 'Pack
It and Back It' proved a great success and they are awaiting the results of
the returned papers from the police survey. The PCSO's have been trained in
the use of the speed gun device and will be targeting areas in the surrounding
villages.
Inspector Chris Lucas has left the Leiston Sector to take up an appointment
of Support Inspector at Eastern Area Headquarters in Halesworth and his replacement
is Inspector Neil Reid who started work today. Inspector Reid lives locally
and has previously worked in the Saxmundham area.
The fire on the field of wheat near South Entrance was arson.
Cllr Andrews read out a letter from a resident complaining about the frequent
bad parking in the High Street particularly on the zig zags. Sergeant Goddard
replied that this is a priority for Officers and the PCSO's who have been monitoring
the situation during the last month. The Police have also been monitoring the
number of tickets issued as well. The Town Council asked if they could be informed
about the number of tickets issued during the next month at the October meeting.
REPORT FROM THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR: Cllr Rae Leighton had sent
his apologies as he was attending two other meetings this evening.
REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: Cllr Mrs Andrews reported
that she and nine other District Councillors had visited the Waste Disposal
site at Great Blackenham and encouraged Councillors to also go. She advised
that it was run incredibly efficiently and at great speed and emphasised the
importance of putting the correct waste in the correct bin. Saxmundham is in
the process of having the three bin system. Cllr Sir Peter and Cllr Fisher had
also visited the site. Cllr Sir Peter re-affirmed the need to separate the waste
correctly.
AGENDA CONTINUED
3314. TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:
A - CORRESPONDENCE TO BE NOTED AND CIRCULATED:
210 Rural Housing Trust Round-Up
211 SCDC LSP Consultation & Greenprint Forum Meetings
212 St Elizabeth Hospice Open Event on Wednesday 17th September 13.30-16.30
and 17.30-20.00
213 Travel Cannon Ltd - list of ideas regarding Saxmundham Market
214 email Suffolk Police Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch Association Newsletter
215 The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust launching a campaign for members
216 Suffolk View
217 CARA - Leaflets
218 Suffolk Constabulary Review of Safer Neighbourhood Teams
219 SCC Minerals Specific Site Allocations Submission Documents
220 Suffolk Coastal Resource Network
221 email Suffolk ACRE Annual General Meeting 2nd October
222 SCC Play Your Part pack in making your community a safer place
223 Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership
224 Suffolk's Voluntary & Community Sector Infrastructure promoting
225 SCC Waste Core Strategy Issues & Options
226 East of England Review of the Plan
227 Suffolk Constabulary Press Release Pack It & Back It
228 SCDC Agenda & Minutes of meeting
229 ESTA Members' Bulletin
230 SCC Olympics Briefing Sheet
231 SALC announcement - Jayne Cole new Deputy Chief Executive Officer replacing
Lynne Lodge
B - CORRESPONDENCE TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE REPLY:
43 SCC Highways regarding 'H' marking in Heron Road.
This ongoing issue was brought to the attention of the Town Council because
Suffolk County Council had received a request from both the Police and the District
Council to apply a white 'H' marking to the end of the west turning area in
Heron Road, Saxmundham. The meeting was closed to enable Mr Lee Smith of Suffolk
County Council to explain the situation, the Police to give details of the numerous
problems they are experiencing and two neighbours from Heron Road to explain
the difficulties they have due to one particular resident parking her car in
the road causing an obstruction. The Police have been continuously called out
since April to deal with varying incidents resulting from this including the
inability of the Refuse vehicle to obtain access in that area when emptying
the bins. Suffolk Coastal District Council anti-social group together with Suffolk
County Council recommended the use of 'H' marking in Heron Road. After a lengthy
discussion the meeting was re-opened. As the Town Council decided that this
was a neighbour dispute, Cllr Moye proposed that the Town Council do not approve
the 'H' marking but for clearly illegal behaviour the Police should enforce
a ticketing campaign. Cllr Jones seconded this. 8 votes for. 3 against and 1
abstention. Motion carried on majority.
44 Suffolk Coastal Services - Changes to Refuse collection services + residents
complaint. This was considered to be a District Council matter and not one for
the Town Council. Cllr Damiral-White enquired about the amount of recycling
credits the Town Council received as she wondered if the use of the bins would
have a detrimental effect on this.
45 CANE - Town Water Quality & Supply Problems - should we write to Essex
& Suffolk Water? The Councillors decided not to write as they thought it
was an anti nuclear campaign.
C - OTHER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED TO DATE:
C075
Saxmundham Police Saxmundham & Framlingham Safer Neighbourhood Team Partnership
mtg meeting 24th Sept from 10am-12 noon SNT Councillors to inform the Clerk
if they wish to attend.
3315. CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cllr Fisher encouraged the
Councillors to reply to his invitation to the Chairman's Reception on the 17th
October.
3316. FINANCE REPORT:
* To approve the monthly finance report to end of July 2008 (circulated) and
August 2008. Cllr Moye proposed these as correct, seconded by Cllr Howe. All
in favour. Motion carried.
3317. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE FUTURE OF THE SKATEPARK:
Cllr Fisher advised that he was meeting with Suffolk Coastal District Council
Officers tomorrow and would report the outcome at the next meeting.
3318. TO CONSIDER REPAIRING/REPLACING COMMEMORATIVE BOARD ON THE MEMORIAL
FIELD:
Cllr Mrs Damiral-White proposed the Town Clerk obtain quotations for replacing
the Commemorative Board and seek funding for this. Cllr Howe offered to pressure
hose the concrete stone and he will liaise with Cllr Mrs Damiral-White. Cllr
Sir Peter seconded - all in favour. Motion carried.
3319. TO CONSIDER A RESPONSE REGARDING THE BOUNDARY COMMITTEE:
Cllr Palman advised he had attended a meeting with over 200 people regarding
this but learnt nothing new. Apparently although the Committee have produced
these proposals, set up numerous meetings to gauge opinion on them, they will
not receive detailed costings for each plan until the 12th September, just two
weeks before the end of the consultation period. The Town Council agreed to
hold an Extraordinary Meeting on this subject on Monday 15th September at 7.15pm
in the Market Hall.
3320. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE: Cllr
Mrs Damiral-White reported
C08 1350
Keith Webber 17 Felsham Rise, Saxmundham
Erection of shed & conversion of existing garage into room
Committee agreed no objections to the conversion or erection of shed
* Apparently a post and rails near the pump outside Zorbas has been removed
to allow parking on the pavement. Clerk to investigate.
* The archway at 32 High Street appears to be in a dangerous state. Clerk to
contact SCDC regarding a dangerous building.
3321. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE:
Cllr Jones reported that the Personnel Committee will meet with the
Clerk for an Appraisal before considering the yearly salary increase.
Cllr Fisher proposed Cllr Palman fill the vacancy on the P & R committee,
seconded by Cllr Jones. All in favour. Motion carried.
Cllr Jones will liaise with the Town Clerk in the Webster Room regarding the
purchase of her new computer.
3322. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE MARKET HALL COMMITTEE: Cllr
Moye reported;
* It was agreed that the Caretaker will receive an annual increase in his wages.
* Cllr Moye completed a stock take and ordered replacements of crockery and
cutlery which had arrived today. He has re-organised the Market Hall kitchen.
* A problem has arisen due to leaking guttering and broken lead flashing. Clerk
to obtain three quotations.
3323. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAXMUNDHAM NEWS AND THE WEBSITE:
Cllr Andrews advised that the next issue of Saxmundham News will be sent to
the printers this week with distribution planned for the first weekend in October.
3324. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES including
working parties:
Cllr Andrews advised that as an alternative to the use of plastic bags BOS had
ordered 500 cloth bags - Sacks for SAX would be printed on one side with SAX
for Sacks on the other and these would be on sale soon.
Cllr Fisher attended a Citizens Advice Bureau AGM and confirmed they were doing
an excellent job.
Cllr Howe attended an ESTA meeting where they are discussing various ways to
celebrate 150 years of the East Coast Line. Cllr Mrs Andrews asked Cllr Howe
to request ESTA support the installation of a lift at Ipswich Station for passengers
to use when they change trains.
Cllr Howe confirmed he would be attending a presentation and dinner tomorrow
where the results of the Anglia in Bloom competition will be announced. The
local Saxmundham in Bloom awards will be presented at the October Town Council
meeting.
3325. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE CHAIRMAN'S DISCRETION
as notified under Agenda item 3:
3310.1 Already covered.
3310.2 Flower beds adjacent to Somerfield/Fromus Square - Cllr Mrs Damiral-White
had received complaints about the shrubs overhanging the Notice Board opposite
the Somerfield Entrance in Fromus Square.
3326. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: MONDAY 13th OCTOBER at 7.15pm
Meeting closed at 9.35pm
Signed................................................. Dated..........................................
* Page 5 of 5 Town Council Minutes 8th September 2008