Minutes of the Meeting of Great Cornard Parish Council

held in the Stevenson Centre on Monday 11 February 2008

PRESENT             Councillors        P.K.Beer                              Chairman   

                                                            Mrs.A.Harper-Clark

                                                            Mrs F.A. Jackson 

                                                            J.F.Millins 

                                                            M.D.Newman

                                                            N.H.T.Proctor

                                                            J.R.A.Sayers

                                                            D.R.G.Thomas

                                                            Mrs.C.A.Todd                      

                                                            H.N.Todd

                                                            R.I.Wade

                                                            D.M.Walton

                        Council Manager      M.J.Fitt

1.      Apologies for Absence

      Apologies were received from Cllr R.R. Sims.   

2.  Declaration of Interests, Gifts and Hospitality

     Cllr Beer declared that he is a Suffolk County Councillor, Babergh District Councillor and Sudbury Town Councillor. Cllrs Sayers and Walton declared that they are Babergh District Councillors and a Sudbury Town Councillors. Cllrs H Todd, Mrs C Todd and M. Newman declared that they are Babergh District Councillors. These members also asked that it be noted that their views expressed at this meeting would be based on information available at the time and might not be the same as those expressed at meetings involving other councils.

      Cllr.Mrs.F.A.Jackson declared a personal interest in item 7, being a patient at the Walnuttree Hospital, and a member of WATCH

      Cllr D. Thomas declared a personal interest in item 7. as a relative is employed at Walnuttree Hospital.

      Cllr. Newman declared a prejudicial interest in respect of Recommended item 6 in the Policies and Finance Committee minutes, as relatives are taking part in the Off Shoot Films sessions.

3. Chairman’s Address

The Chairman had attended the St Andrews Church concert of ‘songs from the musicals’ which he described as an excellent afternoon.

The Chairman also welcomed Bradley Smith, Sudbury’s new Community Warden and invited him also to attend the next meeting of the recreation & Leisure Committee.

4.  To Confirm Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on

7^th January 2008 and 14^th January 2008

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 7^th January 2008 are confirmed and are to be signed as a true record.

RESOLVED that subject to the following alterations the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 14^th January 2008 are confirmed and are to be signed as a true record.

i)                    Page S.43 Item 7a, insert “risks regarding” between “due to” and “healthcare” in paragraph 4, delete the words “however, some have now been re-instated”. Replace “incident” with “matter”.

ii)                  Page S.44 Item 10, add “CCTV” to the list.

5. Police Beat Officers Report

The report covers the period from 15^th January 2008 until 4^th February 2008

NOTED

6. St Andrews Church Report

The newsletter from St Andrews was circulated by the Chairman

Attention was drawn to the service to be held at 6.30pm on 16^th March for all those who had bought tiles for the roof.

Also to the 24hour Organ marathon which had raised £2,894

NOTED

7. Items Brought Forward

a)            Walnuttree Hospital: threatened closure

The Independent Review Panel had now reported, setting out a list of recommendations. All services should be kept in Sudbury, except for audiology, which would be in Bury St Edmunds. There is now some discussion as what exactly these recommendations will mean and to the interpretation of the expressions “provision” and “access”.

WATCH broadly welcomed the report which was viewed as a basis for further work.

In response to reports that the X-ray unit would only be a mobile facility, Cllr. Jackson advised that she understood that there would be a purpose built x-ray facility and that any mobile unit would only be temporary.

8. Fifteen Minute Adjournment for the Public to Ask Questions

The Council meeting was adjourned at 7.35pm for public questions.

There were no questions from the floor, however a letter received from a resident of Pot Kiln Road was read out to the Council in which they suggested the name of “Shawlands Wood” for the Council’s woodland along Shawlands Avenue.

The Council meeting resumed at 7.40pm

9. To discuss arrangements for the use of the Council’s van by Sudbury Town Council.

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda by the Chairman and will be referred to the next meeting of the Policies and Finance Committee

10. Development & Planning Committee

a)     Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

      The Minutes of the meeting of the Development & Planning Committee held on 14^th January 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meetings.

            Adoption of Minutes 

            RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted. 

            The Minutes of the meeting of the Development & Planning Committee held on 28^th January 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

            Adoption of Minutes 

            RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted. 

       b) Questions to Committee Chairman

            None

c)  Ratification of Recommended Items

None

11.  Recreation & Leisure Committee

        a) Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

             The Minutes of the meeting of the Recreation & Leisure Committee held on

28^th January 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

              Adoption of Minutes 

             RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted

   b) Questions to Committee Chairman

None

c)  Ratification of Recommended items

RESOLVED to purchase and install a gate at the entrance to the Allotment Field at an approximate price of £1,000, to include the suggested adjustment to the design.

RESOLVED to install, at the picnic area in the Country Park, up to 5 concrete pads, with fixings, together with wooden picnic tables, within an overall budget of £1,500

RESOLVED to request the installation of a bottle bank and clothing bank at The Stevenson Centre, and a bottle bank at the Blackhouse lane car park.

12.  Policies and Finance Committee

        a) Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

           The Minutes of the meeting of the Policies and Finance Committee held on 26^th November, excluding Item 8 (the minute of which was described as wrong, by the Committee Chairman) were accepted as a true record of the meeting

            Adoption of Minutes 

            RESOLVED that the Minutes, excluding Item 8 be adopted. 

b) Questions to Committee Chairman

            None

c)  Ratification of Recommended items

Cllr Newman having declared a prejudicial interest, left the room.

RESOLVED to grant aid the full cost of hire of the Stevenson Centre by Off Shoot Films on Sundays throughout February and March

d)  Notice of the Appointment of an External Auditor

Council were advised that the Audit Commission had appointed the accountants BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as auditor for Great Cornard parish Council. The appointment will be for a five year period, commencing with the 2007/08 accounts.

No questions nor objections were raised by Councillors and it was RESOLVED to accept the appointment.

e) Cheques Issued, Credits received

The Council meeting was adjourned at 8pm in order to hold the meeting of the Burial Authority

The Council meeting resumed at 8.08pm

13.  Proposal to Exclude Press and Public

RESOLVED to exclude the Press and Public for the discussion of item 14.

14.  Council Manager’s Annual Appraisal

Cllr Beer introduced the item by reporting that 9 councillors had completed the Appraisal forms which had been prepared.  From this it had been possible to complete a list of good points in the appraisal, and another list where the performance could be improved.  These had been discussed with the Council Manager on the 1^st. February, and Cllr Beer was confident that improvements would follow from this process.

Various detailed suggestions for improved efficiency were discussed, including the experiment to cover Council and Committee meetings with one member of staff rather than two, and it was agreed that days in lieu would be taken in the month they had been incurred.

 Other adjustments would be brought back to Council in due course.

Cllr Beer reported that he had sought the views of each Councillor on the size of the bonus, and that a clear majority had favoured a 5% bonus.  Cllr Beer reported the Council decision to the Council Manager on his return.

Meeting closed at 8.28pm

                                                                        Signed                                             

                                                                                                P.K.Beer  : Chairman