MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
SAXMUNDHAM TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
MONDAY 14th DECEMBER 2009
IN THE MARKET HALL AT 7:15pm

Present:
Cllr. B. Jones, Chairman
Cllr. Mrs. M. Andrews
Cllr. Sir P Batho
Cllr. G. Cooke
Cllr. Mrs. R. Damiral-White
Cllr. J. Fisher
Cllr. G. Moye
Cllr. M. Palman
Cllr. Miss B. Peall
Cllr. Mrs. D. Sculley
Cllr. Ms C. Trotter-Langlois
Cllr. Col. R. Warren
Cllr. D. Willett

In attendance:


Mrs M. Gallop, Clerk to the Council
County Cllr Rae Leighton
13 members of the public


PRESENTATION OF SAXMUNDHAM IN BLOOM AWARDS

Cllr Howe, Chairman of Saxmundham in Bloom presented the yearly awards to the following residents:

* Best Front garden – Mr & Mrs E Bunning
* Best Small garden - Mr & Mrs T Hasler
* Best Hanging baskets - Mr & Mrs J Copeman
* Drought garden - Ms C & Ms L Kinrade
* SOON - Mr & Mrs M Wright were unable to attend

PUBLIC FORUM
* Praise was given to Cllr Howe for the excellent work that he and his team have done for Saxmundham in Bloom this year
* A request to move the agenda item regarding the lease of the Scout Hut site


REPORT FROM THE LOCAL POLICE: Report and apologies for absence received

REPORT FROM THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR: Rae Leighton reported the following:
* The County Council budget process is underway with a view to increased efficiency savings. They are hoping to keep the Council Tax increase to a minimum but that will depend on the Central Government grant.
* Local Government Review has come to the fore once again because three District Councils appealed for judicial review and won at the High Court but the Boundary Committee took the appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Judges then upheld the Boundary Committee’s appeal. The Boundary Committee have now recommended to the Secretary of State a choice of two unitary options. Their first preference now being One Suffolk and the other option to divide Suffolk into an Ipswich, Felixstowe Urban area and a Rural Suffolk Area. Representations to the Secretary of State, before he makes a decision, will be accepted until the 19th January. Obviously this could change if an election was called within the next few months.
* Schools Organisation Review – The Adjudicator decided that the County should implement their proposals for Bungay, Leiston, Beccles, Newmarket and Mildenhall.

REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: Neither Cllrs Mrs Andrews nor Sir Peter had anything to report on.


AGENDA



3559. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Members are invited to make any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on the agenda and are reminded to make any declarations at any stage during the meeting if it becomes apparent that this may be required when a particular item or issue is considered. None declared.

3560. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: All present

3561. MATTERS TO BE RAISED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 18:
3561.1 Economic Development Support Fund – Cllr Mrs Damiral-White

3562. TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE 9th NOVEMBER 2009 MEETING previously circulated: Unanimously agreed and signed. Motion carried.

3563. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM NOT COVERED ON THE AGENDA:
* It was decided that further dropped kerbs were not required at the present time
* The Winner of the Best Dressed Window during the Poppy Appeal was Nick’s Hairdressers, second prize went to Cards and Celebrations with joint third shared between Crisps and Elizabeths.
* The vandalised lights in the Market Place car park have been repaired
* 3550 – Highways have been contacted regarding the consideration of manoeuvrability in Brook Farm Road Southern End
* Paypoint is already installed at Martins Newsagents and the information is displayed on our own website

The meeting was closed for a discussion on the lease of the Scout Hut site. After the Scout Leader explained the situation regarding users of the Scout Hut, which has been open to both Brownies and Guides together with the Scouts, the meeting was re-opened.

3564. Cllr Cooke proposed that the lease be extended for a further twenty one years. Cllr Willett seconded this. 3 abstentions – 11 voted for. Motion carried on majority.

3565. TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:

A – CORRESPONDENCE TO BE NOTED AND CIRCULATED:

406 SCDC Parish Bulletin
407 SCDC Agenda & Minutes
408 EDF Energy Sizewell C Nuclear New Build
409 ESTA Minutes of meeting
410 BOS Thank you for £500
411 Coast & Country quarterly issue
412 SCC Changes to bus services in East Suffolk from Spring 2010
413 National Grid Pylon Proposals – Petitions
414 Town Telegraph

B – CORRESPONDENCE TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE REPLY:

100 Boundary Committee – various News release
101 SCDC Service Efficiency Consultation with all Town & Parish Councils – Councillors can read this in the circulation folder and make their own views.
102 Empowering Parish & Town Councils by getting the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill adopted in Parliament – already completed
103 Network Rail – Railway Communications System – New mast allocated for Saxmundham
104 Invitation to PASTEL short comedy-horror film 11am – midday on Saturday 19th December.
105 email Police - Trees being cut down and used as firewood near the Water Tower by gentleman sleeping rough. Clerk to contact police to confirm their actions.



C – OTHER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED TO DATE:

C162
SCDC
Agenda & minutes Circulation C163
Boundary Committee
Structural Reviews of Devon, Norfolk & Suffolk
New response needed
C164 Email Hilary Slater
Parish representative on Standards Committee
Cllrs Palman, Willett and Howe volunteered.
C165 Suffolk Coast & Heaths Newsletter
Dec 2009 – Feb 2010
Circulation

3566. CHAIRMAN’S/ TOWN CLERK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* The Clerk had been informed that a pedestrian walking along the narrow pavement in the High Street had been hit by a vehicle’s wing mirror . After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should contact Highways to discuss whether a priority system could be implemented.

3567. FINANCE REPORT:
* To approve the monthly finance report to end of November 2009. Cllr Jones proposed these as correct, seconded by Cllr Cooke. Unanimously agreed. Motion carried.

3568. TO CONSIDER REVERTING BACK TO COUNCILLORS DELIVERING NEWSLETTER: The quarterly Saxmundham News has not been fully delivered to all residents by our present distributor. However it was agreed that it was not feasible for all Councillors to personally deliver these and Cllr Mrs Andrews will investigate the use of door to door delivery for £240.00 and the cost will need to be incorporated in the budget.

3569. TO CONSIDER THE LACK OF CAR PARKING FACILITIES IN SAXMUNDHAM: Cllr Jones will report back to the Chairman of BOS on this subject. The Clerk will write to Hopkins Homes to enquire whether car parking could be available within their proposed development.

3570. TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET FOR 2010: After a long discussion it was decided that the budget would be determined at the January meeting and the Clerk will circulate a revised budget sheet.

3571. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAVVY: Cllr Ms Trotter-Langlois had previously circulated a full report to the Town Councillors. Cllr Jones proposed full support, in principle, for SAVVY to continue with their project, seconded by Cllr Willett. 12 votes for, one against. Cllr Trotter-Langlois declared an interest. Motion carried on majority.


3572. RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE: Cllr Mrs Damiral White reported the following applications discussed at the committee meeting on the 7th December 2009.


C09 1755
Byways Residential Care Home
55 Rendham Road, Saxmundham
Erection of single storey extension to provide kitchen/diner & utility room
We have no objections in principle but we are concerned about the ‘piece meal’ development of the site and previously submitted plans do not correlate to the ones submitted this time round.
C09 1667
Mr Woods
56 Brook Farm Road, Saxmundham
Relocate garden fence closer to side boundary (revised scheme)
The committee offered no objections
C09 1474
Mr I Bolt
36 High Street, Saxmundham
Renovation & repair of existing commercial building
The committee strongly supported this




Cllr Mrs Damiral-White advised that planning permission had been received from SCDC on the Hopkins Homes development.
A new application had been received C091890 Clock House, Saxmundham and will be discussed at the next planning meeting.


3573. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Cllr Palman reported:

* The lease of the site of the Scout Hut had previously been discussed
* A discussion had taken place regarding whether we should extend the business page for Businesses located outside Saxmundham and the Councillors had no objections to this but thought there could be a charge for advertising.

3574. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE MARKET HALL COMMITTEE: Cllr Mrs Sculley reported:

* Sewage problem in the Market Hall. Clerk to obtain advice from drainage companies to have a camera placed down the manhole in the disabled toilet.


3575. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SAXMUNDHAM NEWS AND THE WEBSITE: Cllr Mrs Andrews
advised that the next issue will be delivered by the middle of January and will telephone the Door to
Door delivery company.

3576 . TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES including
working parties.
ESTA – Cllr Howe – the minutes are in the circulation folder. ESTA have requested assistance
with funding (agenda item for January).
SALC – Cllr Howe attended the AGM and advised various leaflets are in the circulation folder.
Saxmundham in Bloom – Cllr Howe advised that all winter planting had been completed. The next
fund raising event is a wine tasting evening in the Market Hall on the 12th February 2010.

3577. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE CHAIRMAN’S DISCRETION as notified under
agenda item 3.
3577.1 Economic Development Support Fund – Cllr Mrs Damiral-White advised that she had read
about this in Coastline magazine. Clerk to investigate.
3577.2 Cllr Mrs Andrews advised that she would like the Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Mr Derek
Chambers who had designed the cover of the new Town Guide

3578. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 11th January 2010 at 7.15pm.


The meeting closed at 10.00pm



Signed…………………………………………………… Dated…………………………………..







…………………………….
* Page 4 of 4 Town Council Minutes 14th December 2009