Minutes of the Meeting of Great Cornard Parish Council held

 in the Stevenson Centre on Monday 8 December 2008

PRESENT     Councillors     P.K. Beer       Chairman     

                                                H.N.Todd

                                                J.R.A.Sayers

                                                Mrs.A.Harper-Clark

                                                R.R. Sims

                                                Mrs F.A. Jackson

                                                D.R.G.Thomas 

                                                J.F.Millins

                                                Mrs.C.A.Todd

                                                M.D.Newman

                                                R.I.Wade

                                                N.H.T.Proctor

                                                Mrs C.J. Webb

           Council Manager       M.J.Fitt

1.   Apologies for Absence

      Apologies were received from Cllr. D.M.Walton

2.  Declarations of Interest, Gifts or Hospitality

Cllrs P.K.Beer, H.Todd, Mrs C.A. Todd, M. Newman and JRA Sayers declared that they are members of Babergh District Council. Cllrs P.K.Beer and JRA Sayers declared that they are members of Sudbury Town Council. Cllr P.K.Beer declared that he is a member of Suffolk County Council.

These members declared 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.

3.  Chairman’s Address

The Chairman and his wife had attended the opening of a newly refurbished wing at the Hillside Nursing Home, to be known as Cornfields, reflecting the ancient cornfield around Great Cornard.

The Chairman and other Councillors had attended a service at St Andrews church during which the Chairman presented a cheque from his County Council locality budget and a cheque from the Parish Council.

The Chairman expressed his thanks to Daniel Newman for providing the photo’ for this year’s Council Christmas card.

The deadline for submissions to the Boundary Committee had been extended to 13^th February 2009

The Chairman had received a letter from Tim Yeo MP following a complaint to the MP by a member of public. The Chairman had replied to the letter at length, explaining the Council’s position.

4.  To Confirm Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10^th November 2008

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 10^th November 2008 are confirmed and are to be signed as a true record.

5.  Police Beat Officers Report

The Police report had been tabled and having been discussed by the council was duly NOTED

6. Fifteen Minute Adjournment for the Public to Ask Questions

7. Items Brought Forward

a)     Section 106 Agreements

A reply had been received from Babergh DC, which was NOTED

b) Walnuttree Hospital

Nothing further to report

8. Council Report T3: Freedom of Information Act 2000, Model Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 made it the duty of every public authority to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

Although this Council had previously adopted a scheme on 11^th November 2002, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) was changing the approval and operation of the Scheme and a new Publication Scheme must be adopted and operated by all local councils by 1^st January 2009.

RESOLVED: With effect from 31^st December 2008, this Council adopts the revised Model Publication Scheme, shown as Appendix A to Council Report T3, in order to meet its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

9. Council Report T4:- Government Consultation, Codes of Conduct for Local authority

members and employees

Members had received a set of suggested responses to the questions posed in the

Governments consultation document. Following discussion by the Council it was decided to

adopt the responses as set out in Report T4.

RESOLVED That this Council’s responses to the questions asked in their consultation

document, Codes of Conduct for Local authority members and employees should be as set out

in Council Report T4.

10.  Development & Planning Committee

      a.  Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes of Meetings 10^th & 24^th November 2008

     The Minutes of the meeting of the Development & Planning Committee held on 10^th November 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

     The Minutes of the meeting of the Development & Planning Committee held on 24^th November 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

a.      Questions to Committee Chairman

None

c.  Ratification of Recommended Items

Item 6 of 24^th November:-

1)         The purchase & installation in the current financial year of a new Notice Board

           with perspex doors at the Cemetery.

2)         The remaining boards in a ‘tatty’ condition to be painted and repaired asap.

3)         New Notice Boards for Stannard Way and the Village Hall be budgeted for

            in FY09/10.

4)         That the matter of the replacement/installation of the remaining boards be

                      brought back to this committee in November 2009.            

RESOLVED to accept the recommendations

11.  Recreation & Leisure Committee

a.  Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes of Meeting 24^th November 2008

The Minutes of the meeting of the Recreation & Leisure Committee held on 24^th November 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

b.  Questions to Committee Chairman

Re: Item 6a. The Chairman together with Cllr Proctor had met with Mr Rout.and advised him that the Parish Council would not fund the installation and emptying of dog waste bins sited on school property. He had suggested that the school approach the County Council (who own the site).

b.     Ratification of Recommended Items

Item 5:- the purchase of an oak sign for Shawlands Wood at a cost of £135.00. The sign to read

SHAWLANDS WOOD

Owned & Managed by

Great Cornard Parish Council

The Chairman thanked Mrs Tamlyn for her work in obtaining such a good quote for such a sign

RESOLVED to accept the recommendation

Item 6:- that a report be prepared by the Council Manager, detailing the schedule of works carried out by SCC and the Sudbury Common Land Charity, as well as alternative options which could present cost savings.  

RESOLVED to accept the recommendation

12.  Policies & Finance Committee

a.  Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes of the Meeting on 24^th November 2008

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policies & Finance Committee held on 24^th November 2008 were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

b.  Questions to Committee Chairman

The Chairman reported that he and two other members of his committee had met with the Council Manager to start preparing the 2009/10 budget on 4^th December.

c. Ratification of Recommended Items

Item 6:- that the outstanding amount of £600 section 106 monies go towards the provision of a disabled ramp at the Blackhouse Lane pavilion. 

RESOLVED to accept the recommendation.

13.  Financial Matters

a.   Cheques Issued / Credits received 

Meeting closed 8.00pm

Signed                                              

P.K. Beer  : Chairman