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

Minutes of the Marlesford Parish Council meeting, held on
Thursday 17th November 2022, 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: ESC Carol Poulter and the Clerk.

1. Apologies for Absence

Cllr Heather McConville – work commitments. Lord Marlesford work commitments. SCC Stephen Burroughes. The apologies were approved by the Parish Council.

2. Declaration of Interests

Cllr Catling item 6e.

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting Held on Friday 19th August 2022

To consider the approval. The Chairman asked for an amendment to be made to item 9. As follows “The alternative option is opposed by Port of Felixstowe”. The minutes were then approved correct by the council and signed by the Chairman, proposed Cllr Howard, seconded Cllr Cooper.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes

Wi-fi at the Community Centre. Cllr Howard informed that once the Chairman has completed the application form, then it can be sent to ESC to make the application for Locality Budget. ESC Cllr Poulter is ready to give her approval and to release the funds.
CIL Money – To receive suggestions on how to spend the CIL money received to date. Cllr Bensley informed that she is working on this and will report back at the next meeting.
Quiet Lanes Signs. The Chairman reported that most of the new posts have been erected, just awaiting 1 on the west end of Keepers Lane. The posts are now the correct size and in the preferred locations. Cllr Howard informed that the post on the triangle has been cut off above the ground and is a dangerous hazard. The Chairman to inspect and report to Highways. The Chairman will also chase up Highways regarding the new Ford sign which has not yet been installed.
Climate Change Awareness – Cllr Bensley informed that the SALC Climate Forum has recently taken place however she was unable to attend. It focused on two environment projects Net Zero Leiston project and Hadleigh Town Council who are creating an environmental policy, a climate change action plan and planning application assessment guidance. Also referred to Haverhill and Holme Valley who are doing similar. The main objective of them all is to be Net Zero as a Council by 2030 and as a town/village by 2050.

Cllr Bensley suggests that the minimum we should be achieving as a Parish Council is to produce and publicise an Environmental Policy and work with organisations in the village, for example the Community Centre and the Church to do the same. The PC could consider producing an environmental policy, she is happy to work on a draft.

ESC Cllr Poulter suggests that the PC take a look at what other Parish Councils have done. The Chairman suggests that more affordable housing within the village should be a priority, so that young families can remain.

ESC Cllr Poulter advised that it may be worth the PC doing a Parish Plan, as this would give protection towards unwanted developments. Suggest looking at what Ufford Parish Council has done.

6. Finance

Statement of Accounts. Bank balances as at 17th November 2022, Barclays Community Account £10,834.17 inc. £5319.81 CIL money, Business Premium Account £839.97. The statement of accounts was approved by all and was signed by the Chairman.
6 Monthly Internal Audit carried out by Cllr McConville. This has been carried out and the Clerk informed that Cllr McConville has queried 2 outstanding cheques 0482 and 0481, however they have now been cashed and reconciled.
Clerks Expenses – Invoice to pay. £54.90
Clerks Annual Pay Increase & Working from Home Payment. NALC has agreed the new national pay scale for local government workers, this includes Clerks of town & parish councils. A 9.7% increase has been awarded to be back dated to April 2022. The Clerks salary is currently £1678.87, it was agreed to increase the Clerks pay by 10% to £1846.76. The Clerk is also currently paid an additional £250.00 a year to help with the cost of heating, telephone, internet and the purchase of a new laptop (which she bought this year). It was agreed to increase this to £275.00 a year. The payments were approved by all proposed Cllr Bensley seconded Cllr Howard. The Clerk thanked the Parish Council for the generous increase.
To Consider a Gesture of Good Will to the Village Resident who Kindly Carries out Voluntary Grass & Hedge Cutting and General Tidiness of the Village. The Chairman would like the PC to consider a gesture of good will again this year. The resident does a great job in keeping the village looking tidy and well kept. All agreed to make a gift of a £100 Amazon voucher, (Cllr Catling was not included in the vote). The Chairman advised that he has £80.00 cash from the sale of the left over Jubilee mugs. Therefore he paid £20.00 cash for the RBL wreath. He will give the remaining £60.00 cash to the Clerk to pay into the current account.
SALC – Invoice to pay, 6 month payroll service. £22.80
Royal British Legion – Payment for poppy wreath. £20.00 paid out of the sale of the leftover Jubilee mugs. The above payments were approved proposed Cllr Cooper seconded Cllr Bensley.
To consider the Precept Budget for April 2023 to March 2024. The Clerk had forward a draft to all prior to the meeting for consideration. The PC has adequate general reserves of £2,795.00 which includes £1007.00 outstanding to be paid out of the current financial year. There is £3559.00 earmarked reserves (carried over from last year) which will be saved for improvement works at the Community Centre. Reserves also of £5320.00 CIL money. The Chairman suggests to bear in mind elections will take place next year, also still need to budget for the Quiet Lanes, therefore the precept should be increased from £4700.00 to £5000.00. This was agreed by all, proposed Cllr Catling seconded Cllr Howard.

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

ESC Cllr Carol Poulter reported that all households will be receiving a copy of the East Suffolk Council Magazine, which will give information of the councils journey to Net Zero and how they are taking steps to achieve this. Wickham Market are currently carrying out a Local Plan, important that all Parish Councils consider doing one as planning laws are changing. To have a plan in place helps to safe guard against new housing being built.

Cllr Bensely asked what help and support is on offer to those suffering from the cost of living crisis? Cllr Poulter advised that there is a lot of information on the ESC website “Ease the Squeeze Campaign” and also in the ESC magazine. A lot of help & support is on offer.

Cllr Catling asked if funding is available to provide a warm room/space in the community centre. Cllr Poulter confirmed that grants are available and she will send the details. Cllr Bensley also advised that Info Community Link gives a long list of help & support, the list could be put onto the village website.

No report received from Suffolk County Councillor Stephen Burroughes.

Cllr Cooper would like to raise the issue with SCC Cllr Burroughes regarding the possibility of making all the Quiet Lanes into 20mph speed limits and for it to be adopted across Suffolk. It would make the lanes much safer for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riding. The Chairman will contact Cllr Burroughes regarding this although is not hopeful that it would be enforced as the police objects to any reductions in speed limits as they have to act and enforce it!

8. Sizewell C - To Include Four Village Bypass (SEGway) & Proposals for Park and Ride at Wickham Market

Cllr Cooper asked that item 8 & 9 could be merged into one topic for future meetings “Energy Projects”. The Clerk to do so.

Sizewell C There is little further to report since our last Parish Council meeting on 19th August. As previously reported, the Secretary of State granted consent to the application by EDF to build Sizewell C on 20th July 2022.

There is significant uncertainty around the financing of the build, but it is now almost a foregone conclusion that the UK and French governments (EDF is now owned by the French government) will have to put substantial public funding into the project if it is to go ahead. Various rumours that the plug is going to be pulled on Sizewell C have been denied by government and EDF. The latest estimates (at today’s money) put the SZC cost at £30bn. It is therefore a material consideration for the Chancellor and it may get referred to in the Autumn Statement to be made on 17th November.

A judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to grant permission was thrown out of the High Court at the end of October. Together Against Sizewell C (TASC) are considering appealing the decision which sought to challenge Secretary of State’s decision on the grounds that it was unlawful because he had not properly considered the difficulties in the supply of water to the SZC site.

If EDF are going to proceed with the project, we would expect them to make a Final Investment Decision (FID) in the second half of 2023.

East Anglia One North and East Anglia 2. Both these offshore windfarms and their associated infrastructure (landfall at Thorpeness and substation at Friston) were approved by the Secretary of State on 31st March 2022

The High Court accepted SASES case for Judicial Review in respect of all six grounds on which SASES challenged Kwasi Kwarteng's (former BEIS Secretary of State) decision to grant consent for EA1N and EA2 wind farms and a National Grid connection hub/substation. The grounds relate to: Flood Risk, Heritage, Noise, Generating Capacity, Cumulative Impact and Consideration of Alternative Sites. The JR is due to be heard in the High Court this month with judgment delivered late December or early January.

Nautilus is a National Grid Ventures (NGV) proposal to bring forward a multi-purpose interconnector (MPI) that would enable the connection of offshore wind generation between the UK and Belgium. Nautilus was originally expected to have a landfall on the East Suffolk coast and connect to the Friston Substation. This is still a possibility, but NGV are currently looking at a site they own on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. They are reserving their position regarding Friston.

Sea Link is a National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) proposed undersea interconnector which will run between the proposed onshore energy infrastructure in East Suffolk and the Kent coast and would have a landfall in Kent somewhere between Herne Bay and Sandwich Bay. The idea is that the undersea cable will allow a balancing of the energy requirements and production and it will be capable of transmission from Suffolk to Kent and vice versa. NGET are now undertaking a non-statutory consultation on options.

There are currently five proposals. All ultimately connect to the Friston substation but have different locations for the converter stations and different routes for the cable which will connect landfall with the converter and Friston. The converter station will cover an area 250m x 250m and will contain buildings of up to 30m in height. The “emerging preference” is for a cable route that will have landfall somewhere north of Aldeburgh and south of Thorpeness, i.e., in the region of The Scallop sculpture and the SSSI (the Haven nature reserve); it would then run parallel with the A1094 (cutting through part of the golf course) on its route to Friston. Other options for the cable route would see a landfall south of Sizewell taking three different routes to Friston.

The two proposed locations for the converter stations are east of the B1069 (Knodishall – Leiston road) close to the north side of the A1094 and due east of Saxmundham. The indicative timeline suggests a decision by the Secretary of State in 2025, construction over four years from 2026 and operation by 2030. The consultation runs until 18th December 2022.

EuroLink National Grid Ventures (NGV) is bringing forward proposals for a Multi-Purpose Interconnector (MPI) called EuroLink, which will deliver a new electricity link between Great Britain and the Netherlands. NGV are going through a similar non-statutory consultation to the NGET Sea Link consultation and the works will be very similar to those for Sea Link i.e., landfall, cable route, converter station and connection to Friston. Options for landfall are currently, North of Southwold, South of Walberswick, South of Dunwich Options for converter stations are, Southwest of Theberton, East of Benhall Green, Northeast of Friston, North of the A1094 (Hazelwood Hall Farm). The project will go through the same approval process as that for Sea Link, but NGV expects EuroLink to be operational by 2029.

Cllr Cooper is happy to do a response on behalf of the Parish Council for both Sea Link and Euro Link. The Chairman thanked Cllr Cooper for his work.

9. Scottish Power North Sea Wind Farms

Dealt with above.

10. Reports from Parish Representatives

SALC – Cllr Bensley, the regional SALC Forum on 8th November focused on firstly a presentation on Transport East and Regional Rural Mobility covering who they are, their vision and priorities and the rural transport survey. In brief they are Sub-national Transport Body for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Thurrock and Southend that pulls together all the transport authorities, district authorities, Local Economic Partnerships and Chambers of Commerce, National Highways, Network Rail and the Department for Transport to become a Single Voice for transport, Transport strategy and priorities to Accelerate and improve deliver and Maximise capability in Local Transport Authorities Their strategic aim is to connect the East Region’s growing towns and cities and energise coastal and rural communities Their ambition is to, et up a Regional Taskforce, engage with local partners & stakeholders, understand rural transport access from a community perspective, undertake a literature review, publish and share the survey analysis & outcomes of the literature review, identify transport pilots to test new models in rural areas. They acknowledge 1/3 of Transport East lives in rural areas where there are significant ‘transport deserts’ without access to education, employment and services by sustainable modes, exacerbated by poor digital connections, with significantly higher transport emissions from vehicle use and higher costs to households on transport spending. The recent SALC bulletin gave a link to their Rural Mobility Survey to draw a wider picture of the connectivity challenges and opportunities in our region. I have completed the survey on the PC behalf as it was a fact based survey ie where is the nearest library type ques, not our opinions on transport as such. So we will await the outcome.

The second focus of the meeting was a Planning working group update on the result of the SALC Survey on Planning Process. The working group has now been analysing and drawing out common threads so that SALC can then use this to approach East Suffolk Council to find a joint way forward. The top three themes were communications, transparency and consistency. There were more positive responses for the process being “in line with policy” and “accurate”. SALC hopes to engage with East Suffolk Council on common areas. The East Suffolk Strategic Planning Committee Planning Performance Report - 1 October 2020 to 20 September 2022 itself acknowledges that enforcement was an issue, more staff were needed, poor % of engagement of ward members at meetings, gap between what a town and parish council feel and what is approved. The % which is officer determination is growing year on year. The review panel does not keep any records. A very valid point was made about the complexities of the planning system and the limits of a local councillor to deal with such matters and represent the community they serve.

The Boundary Commission have issued their final consultation and refreshing they have listened to feedback. In short the CSNI remains in name but now extends westwards to include Needham Market rather than northwards to Stradbroke. The new boundary does removes the previous anomaly and move all of Wickham Market into a single constituency. Cllr Bensley is supportive of this and is happy to make comments on behalf of the PC.

Planning - The Chairman advised that despite objections from the PC the solar farm has been given the go ahead. The PC will expect a gesture of good will from the solar farm company as compensation in the form of a contribution to the local economy. ESC Cllr Poulter advised that the PC will get financial compensation as it is a legal requirement. The Community Centre has put in a planning application to reduce the crown on an Oak tree in the carpark by up to 4 metres and to laterally reduce by 2 metres. The PC support the application and have no objection.

Firs Bowling Green – The Chairman reported that he is still awaiting the documentation back from HM Land Registry for the registration of the Firs Bowling Green to Marlesford Parish Council. There is currently £60 in the bowling green bank account and he would propose to transfer the money to the Community Council or to the Parish Council. Agreed in principle that the monies should be transferred once the land registry document is confirmed. A vote was also taken and it was agreed that the Parish Council should be the new trustees. He will call a meeting of the bowling green committee. Need to decide if the electricity at the pavilion should be cut off. Cllr Cooper suggests that if the pavilion is not maintained it will become a risk and should be taken down.

Footpaths & Access – Cllr Catling advised that all is ok.

Highways - Cllr Howard advised that all is ok.

Website – Cllr Howard has nothing to report.

Environmental Dimension of All Other Policies

Cllr Catling reported that some dog owners in the village are not behaving responsibly when taking their dogs for a walk. Dogs are being allowed to run freely, in particular an incident in Pound Lane, when a dog was off the lead and was intimidating to a member of the public. He suggests that a sign could be erected to advise dogs must be kept on a lead. Cllr Bensley will also put a note in the village magazine that the Parish Council has been made aware of the incident.

11. Correspondence

None

12. Any Other Business

East Suffolk Local Plan and the Joint Parish Traffic Initiative. Cllr Cooper asked if the Parish Council supports the letter received from Campsea Ashe Parish Council regarding the East Suffolk Local Plan and the Joint Parish Traffic Initiative. Who are trying to resolve the serious traffic capacity issues linked to the Bentwaters/Rendlesham area. He will circulate the letter to all. The Parish Council agreed to support and sign the response.
HGV’s Bell Lane. A resident has complained about HGV usage of Bell Lane. It is advisable that the resident contacts the lorry company to put in a complaint.
Article 4 Direction, Marlesford Conservation Area. Cllr Cooper asked the Chair what progress had been made with the enquiry to East Suffolk Council about the possible application of an Article 4 Direction to the Marlesford Conservation Area. The Chair confirmed that no further response had been received from the Council since their email of 22nd September, but he agreed to follow up with Chris King at the Council. The Chair observed that an Article 4 Directive should not adversely impact lower income homeowners wanting to make alterations to their homes.

13. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting

Thursday 16th February 2023

Meeting ended at 9.10pm

Signed ……………………………………………… (Chairman) Date ………………………………