Minutes of the Meeting of Great Cornard Parish Council held

in the Stevenson Centre on Monday 11^th December 2006.

PRESENT     Councillors                  P.K.Beer                                 Chairman     

                                                            Mrs.C.J.Baker

                                                            M.Fryer

                                                            Mrs.F.A.Jackson

                                                            N.MacMaster

                                                            N.H.T.Proctor

                                                            J.R.A. Sayers

                                                            R.R.Simms

                                                            D.R.G.Thomas

                                                            H.N.Todd

                                                            Mrs.P.White

                        Council Manager       Mr.M.J.Fitt                                                     

                        Clerical Assistant      Mrs.N.C.Tamlyn

1.   Apologies for Absence

      Apologies were received from Cllrs D.C.Allen, A.C.Bavington, Mrs.C.A.Beer-Todd.

2.  Declaration of Interests, Gifts and Hospitality

     Cllr.J.R.A.Sayers declared a personal interest with regards to his

     membership of Sudbury Town Council and Babergh District Council.

     Cllr.P.K.Beer declared a personal interest with regards to his

     membership of Sudbury Town Council, Babergh District Council and

     Suffolk County Council.

     Cllr.H.N.Todd declared a personal interest with regards to his

     membership of Babergh District Council.

     Cllr.Mrs.F.A.Jackson declared a personal interest in Item 6, as

     Cllr.Mrs.Jackson is a patient at the Walnuttree Hospital. 

3. Chairman’s Address

      The Revd J Allen has invited the Chairman to join a Committee with the aim to create a welcome pack for people moving into Great Cornard. The Council has been asked to supply maps and information at the moment and another meeting will be held in January.

      The Chairman and his wife had attended the Christmas Carol Concert for schools in the area, which had been a great success.

      The Chairman asked the Chair of Development & Planning to consider adding Mr.Spicer’s name to the list for Street names. It was AGREED that his name be put forward for the Guildford site. 

      The Chairman presented the Council Manager with a £1,000 cheque from the County Councillor’s Locality Budget to go towards the cost of the new Youth Shelter.

      The Parish Council’s Tea Party for the over 60’s will take place on the 12^th December. The Chairman invited all members to attend and thanked everybody for their help in organising the event.

      SCC have located an amplifier for the sound system at a cost of approx. £100. This will enable the system to be used for public meetings.

      It was with regret that the Chairman announced the death of

     Russell Rowland. For many years Mr.Rowland had flown the flags at the Church for the Council. AGREED a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs.Rowland.  

7.16pm Councillor D.R.G.Thomas arrived at the meeting.

4.  Minutes of the Meeting held on 13^th November 2006

     RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on

     13^th November 2006 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

5.  Police Beat Officers Report 

The report covers the period from the 8^th November through to the

7^th December 2006. NOTED 

     Cllr Sayers advised that on Saturday 9^th December, he had accompanied

     a police patrol between 7pm through to 3am.   

6. Items Brought Forward

    Walnuttree Hospital: threatened closure

    Cllr.Mrs.F.A.Jackson advised that the Suffolk PCT had announced that

    they were withdrawing their plans. However, it is unclear as to the actual

    consequences of this action as certain legalities still have to be adhered

    to.

    Stevenson Centre: New Doors

    The new doors have now been installed and it was generally felt that they

    are a great improvement.

7. Fifteen-Minutes Adjournment for the Public To Ask Questions

8. Correspondence

a)     Suffolk County Council: Review of Sponsored Bus Service

         RESOLVED that the Council Manager respond to SCC stating that the

         Council would support the continuation of the service as this is a link

         to the major Hospitals used in the area.

         The Chairman advised that the Strategic Rail Package had been

          presented to SCC Full Council. The matter of the Great Cornard Halt

          was discussed and it was agreed that pressure should be placed on

         ONE Rail to push this project forward. Members were reminded that

         £100k from the 106 Agreement had been allocated to this project.

9.  Development and Planning Committee

     a)  Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

          The Minutes of the Meetings of the Development & Planning

Committee held on 13^th November were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Adoption of Minutes 

           RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted. 

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Development & Planning Committee held on 27th November were accepted as a true record of the meeting, subject to the following changes

Item 3) Shawlands Avenue: Parking on Verges

Delete  

The Council’s request, should refer to SCC Highways response to the

parking problem along Shawlands Avenue by introducing a Clearway

order and request that the two Councils liaise with each other on the

matter 

Add

And request that BDC and SCC liaise with each other on the matter.

Item 4) Planning Applications

iv) Phase 1 Cornard Mills, Bures Road

Delete

Cllr.Mrs.C.J.Baker declared a prejudicial interest and took no part in

the discussion on this item only.   

Change

Cllr.Mrs.C.J.Baker declared a personal interest.  

Adoption of Minutes 

           RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted.  

b) Questions to Committee Chairman

            13^th November 2006          

            Item 4 New Planning Applications

            Planning Applications contrary to the Council’s decision.

            Cllr.M.Fryer declared a personal interest

            Cllr.P.K.Beer and Members on the North Cornard Regeneration

           Group dismissed rumours that this project was no longer going ahead

           and confirmed their understanding that the building work at

           Clibbon House was due to start in January 2007.   

10.   Recreation & Leisure Committee

        a) Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

              The Minutes of the Meeting of the Recreation & Leisure

Committee held on 27^th November 2006 were accepted as a true record of the meeting. 

             Adoption of Minutes 

            RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted

  b) Questions to Committee Chairman

       None      

  11.  Policies and Finance Committee

        a) Confirmation & Adoption of Minutes

            The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policies and Finance Committee

            held on 27^th November 2006 were accepted as a true record of the

            meeting.

            Adoption of Minutes 

            RESOLVED that the Minutes be adopted. 

   b)Questions to Committee Chairman

     Item 5) Financial Matters b) Expenditure to date

     The Council Manager responded to the questions raised

i)                    The Recreation Grounds expenditure covers all the ‘Grounds’

            including the Hedgerows area, play equipment, litter/dog bins,

            bus shelters etc.  

ii)                  There is no Section 137 Grant money unallocated.

iii)                The Twinning Society money is listed in the Council’s Annual Accounts as a separate item.

Streetlights – Energy Savings

The Council Manager confirmed that in the past twelve months all the Council’s Streetlights had been fitted with Photo Electric Cells and that many of the bulbs had been upgraded to improve efficiency.

AGREED that the Council Manager explore the matter of energy efficiency with SCC, BDC and the Energy companies and prepare a report for the February Council meeting.

12.  Financial Matters

Meeting closed at 8.30pm

                                                                        Signed                                              

                                                                                                P.K.Beer  : Chairman