Minutes of the Meeting of Great Cornard Parish Council

held in the Stevenson Centre on Monday 14 January 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

                                                            Mrs.C.Webb

                  Council Manager             M.J.Fitt

                  Clerical Assistant            Mrs.N.C.Tamlyn

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 & 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 Jackson declared a personal interest with regards to Agenda Item 7, as Cllr Mrs Jackson is a patient at Walnuttree Hospital and a member of Sudbury WATCH.

3. Chairman’s Address

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Mrs Webb to her first full Council meeting.

The Car Boot Sales will resume in June and run throughout the Summer.

Next years Christmas Tea Party will take place on Wednesday 10^th December 2008.

The Chairman announced with great sadness the death of Roy Cole. Mr Cole had worked for the council for 25years as the Grounds man.

The Chairman stated that he had requested that the Council flag be flown at half mast, but it was only flown at half mast at the Stevenson Centre and not at the Church.

The Notice Boards have not been kept up to date recently and the Chairman requested that this be rectified.

The Chairman requested that the Community Wardens be added to the

list of persons to receive copies of the minutes.

Students from Great Cornard & Sudbury Upper Schools will be giving a presentation on the Environment to the Recreation & Leisure Committee on the 28 January 2008.         

4.  To Confirm Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10 December 2007

     RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 December 2007 are confirmed and signed as a true record.

5. Police Beat Officers Report

The report covers the period from 11 December 2007 through to 14 January 2008 - NOTED

6. St Andrews Church Report

    The Minutes of the last Church meeting will be circulated with the next

    agendas. Cllr Beer advised of a forthcoming activities weekend,

    this will include a cooked breakfast and a 24hr Organ Marathon.    

7. Items Brought Forward

a)            Walnuttree Hospital: threatened closure

Cllr D. Thomas declared a personal interest as he has relatives working at the Hospital.

Cllr Mrs Jackson reported that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel has reported to the Secretary of State for Health and that it will be at least one month before the outcome is known.

Cllr Jackson also advised that transport for Physiotherapy services had recently been withdrawn, but had subsequently been re-instated and that physio services in general had been interrupted due to staff shortages.

Eight beds had recently been withdrawn due to healthcare infections

however, some have now been re-instated.

Cllr Mrs Jackson declared a prejudicial interest with regards to this incident.  

b)     Membership of the River Stour Trust

AGREED to arrange an early evening meeting in March, once the clocks have changed.

8. Fifteen Minute Adjournment for the Public to Ask Questions

9. To consider a proposal to hold a concert in the Country Park

     Mark Jones, Music teacher at Great Cornard Upper School, has

     approached the Council Manager about the possibility of a group

     of sixth formers organising a Concert for school bands, to be held at

     the Country Park.

     In general, it was felt that this was a good idea and that as long as

     issues such as crowd control, policing, impact on wildlife were addressed

     and resolved, the Council would be willing to support the project.

     Cllr Wade also suggested that Sudbury Upper School be approached

     to take part.

    RESOLVED to support the project with the Council Manager, Cllrs Wade,

    Thomas and either Cllrs Beer or H.Todd (depending on availability) to

     join the sixth formers on their organisation committee.

10. To consider an expenditure ‘wish list’ to propose to the District

      Council for the disbursement of Section 106 monies 

      The Council Manager proposed the following list be submitted to

      Babergh District Council.

·        Drainage and Surfacing on the Country Park/Allotment Car Park

·        Circular path through the Country Park suitable for wheelchairs

·        Cornard/Chilton/Sudbury long distance path/bio-diversity trail

·        Purchase of the Donkey Field (Moors Farm Mere)

      RESOLVED to add the Village Hall to the list as well as inviting Babergh

       District Council to speak to the Council on the subject.

 11.  Financial Matters:

a. Cheques Issued, Credits received

Meeting closed at 8.30pm

                                                                        Signed                                             

                                                                                                P.K.Beer  : Chairman