Minutes of the Marlesford Parish Council Meeting Held in the Marlesford Community Centre

Minutes of the Marlesford Parish Council meeting, held on
Thursday 16th February 2023, 7.00pm, in the Marlesford Community Centre.

Present: Chairman Roger Waterfall, Vice Chairman Richard Cooper, Cllr Diana Howard, Cllr Lesley Bensley, Cllr Sam Catling.
In Attendance: The Clerk.

1. Apologies for Absence

Cllr Heather McConville – work commitment. Lord Marlesford – medical reason. SCC Stephen Burroughes, ESC Carol Poulter. The apologies were approved by the Parish Council.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting Held on Friday 17th November 2022

To consider the approval. The Chairman asked for an amendment to be made to item 10 Environmental Policies of all other Policies and to take out the word dangerous and to say “Dogs must be kept on a lead”. The minutes were then approved correct by the council and signed by the Chairman, proposed Cllr Bensley, seconded Cllr Cooper. The Chairman will look into the cost of a “Dogs must be kept on a lead” sign.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes

CIL Money – To receive suggestions on how to spend the CIL money received to date. Cllr Bensley has compiled a list of suggestions for which the CIL money could be spent in the village. The list will be delivered to all residents, who will be invited to give priorities to help the PC consider at the next PC meeting. PC to pay for printing costs, list will also be put on the website. Cllr Howard to speak to Highways about new road markings.
Climate Change Awareness Strategy. Cllr Bensley handed out the draft which she has compiled, she encouraged all to consider so that a decision could be made at the next PC meeting. This would be good to involve some younger people of the village. Cllr Cooper suggests that this could be incorporated into a neighbourhood plan.
Article 4 Direction, Marlesford Conservation Area. The Chairman informed that the ESC Conservation Officer, Robert Scrimegour, is hoping to be able to report back to the PC in early April. He will know more about the result of an internal financial request that is being put together to undertake a full review of all existing Article 4 Directions in the district where they pertain to Conservation Areas. Also to undertake fieldwork for two Conservation Areas where such a Direction could be applied one of these being Marlesford. Once the green light is given consultants will need to be commissioned and set out a timetable, which the parish council will be consulted upon.

5. To Review the Standing and Financial Orders Ahead of the Annual Review in August

The Chairman, Cllr Cooper and the Clerk will meet to review the above and the present to the PC at the next meeting.

6. To Review the Risk Assessments – Risk Management, Financial & GDPR

The PC considered all of the documents ahead of the meeting. Cllr Bensley recommends that the GDPR Risk Assessment is changed to Data Protection Assessment. All 3 documents were then approved. Proposed Cllr Bensley seconded Cllr Cooper.

7. To Consider a Marlesford Neighbourhood Plan

The Chairman informed that Campsea Ashe & Wickham Market Councils are both in the process of carrying out a neighbourhood plan. Campsea Ashe have advised that they are quite some time away regarding a proposal as they still need to create a steering group and also need to hold meetings with residents, before anything substantial can be progressed. A neighbourhood plan does help to stop large housing developments being built in a village and other planning related issues. Although the Local Plan has some policies for Marlesford, it just defines where development can take place. The Marlesford Parish Plan was carried out in 2008/2009, funded with a grant of £2,000 from Suffolk ACRE. The grant covered data analysis, printing and various incidental costs. Clerk to contact Campsea Ashe PC to find out if they have applied for funding to carry out a Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr Cooper will also ask at ESC regarding costs. To be discussed and put on the agenda for the next PC meeting.

8. Finance

Statement of Accounts. Bank balances as at 16/02/23, Barclays Community Account £10,736.47 inc. £5319.81 CIL money, Business Premium Account £840.44. The statement of accounts was approved by all and was signed by the Cllr Howard. The Chairman informed that he is proceeding with the WIFI grant for the community centre.
Clerks Pay & Expenses – Invoices to pay. £506.83 Clerks pay & £147.79 expenses (includes half year working from home pay to January)
SALC – Training Invoice to pay. Cllr Cooper training (however unable to attend due to being unwell) £31.20.
Suffolk County Council – Quiet Lanes, Invoice to pay. The Chairman informed that the PC had budgeted £600 for this, however this charge would have been much higher than other villages had paid. Therefore SCC had agreed to change the fee to £350. However the PC has received an invoice for £600, therefore the Chairman is currently in communication with SCC to negotiate the fee. Cllr Howard informed that the jaggered sign post has still not been removed from the triangle and also the post opposite the Marlesford village sign. The Chairman will investigate. The above payments were all approved, proposed Cllr Catling seconded Cllr Howard.

9. To Receive Reports from East Suffolk District Councillor Carol Poulter & County Councillor Stephen Burroughes

Disappointing that the reports have only been received today, this does not give enough time for the Parish Council to read in time for the evening meeting! The Chairman to write to both councillors to express the importance of receiving reports well in advance of Parish Council meetings and that their attendance would also be appreciated. Cllr Cooper informed that further to the reference of The Katch Bus being withdrawn by SCC, £88,000 has been made available through East Suffolk Council to relaunch it in April of this year.

10. Energy Projects

Cllr Cooper informed that he has nothing major to report on Sizewell. An update has recently been received on archeology and ecology. Funding is still to be settled. Basic site preparation works have started but nothing major will happen until the funding is sorted. Still awaiting a meeting with EDF and Mr and Mrs Cousins regarding the vibration and impact of HGVs travelling along the A12 through Marlesford and how they affect the adjacent residential properties. An appeal has been won to look at the judicial review regarding the applications for East Anglia 1 & 2 substations at Friston. Revised plans could well be submitted.

11. Reports from Parish Representatives

SALC – Cllr Bensley has nothing to report. The SALC bulletin is circulated weekly by the Clerk. Useful forums are available online to watch.
Planning - DC/23/0471/TCA 1 Cedar to fell - Land Opposite Oremead, Ford Road, Marlesford, Suffolk. No objection by the PC.
Firs Bowling Green – The Chairman advised that once the land has been registered, the Parish Council (as a statutory body) will be proposed as the trustee. Still awaiting confirmation from the bank, that Cllr Cooper has been accepted as an alternative cheque signatory.
Footpaths & Access – Cllr Catling advised that he has recently reported fly tipping at the top end of the A12 by the dual carriageway, this has now been cleared. The deer carcass which has been lying by the side of the A12 before the dual carriage has been there since December and it is extremely unpleasant to pass by on the footpath. Clerk to report on the Highways reporting tool.
Highways - Cllr Howard suggests that the PC could again consider purchasing a Speed Indicator Device - SID. Wait to see if anyone has an opinion on the village CIL questionnaire.
Website – Cllr Howard all is ok.
Environmental Dimension of all other Policies – Cllr Catling has nothing to report.
Cllr Bensley informed that the Marlesford village litter pick/spring clean will take place on 25th March and she will advertise it in the newsletter. Appreciates all the people in the village who litter pick all year round.
Framlingham and Wickham Market Community Partnership – Cllr Richard Cooper informed that it should be noted that the Rural Transport Partnership are giving funding projects.

12. Correspondence

Voter ID National Campaign. Posters will be put onto the website and noticeboard to make people aware that photo ID will be needed when voting at the forthcoming elections in May. The Chairman has spare copies of election nomination papers should anyone wish to stand for election in the Parish Council elections in May. If there are not enough candidates then it will be an un-contested election. Advertise the elections on the website and noticeboard.

13. Any Other Business

Proposed Solar Farm. The Chairman advised that he had heard nothing regarding a meeting, neither if the compensation money has been agreed. A proposal of £3,000 a year or £10,000 to share between Parham, Glemham and Marlesford parish councils had initially been made.
Woodland Preservation Marlesford. Cllr Bensley reported that 2 trees on the protected land have recently been felled. The district council tree officer came out to have a look, but does not have a list of all the protected trees in the village. The last tree survey was carried out in 2003. Cllr Bensley is happy to arrange for an up to date tree survey to be carried out in the village.

14. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting

To enable the district and county councillors to be available to attend parish council meetings it was decided to have 2 meetings a year on a Friday evening and 2 on a Thursday evening. Date of the next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting on Friday 12th May 2023.

Meeting ended at 8.40pm.

Chairman signature………………………………………………… Date……………………….