Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Residents might be interested to know that discussions focused on local road safety, with plans to assess areas near Swallows Farm and Frogs Hall for improvements. Additionally, there's a chance to apply for project funding from a new locality budget, which could benefit community initiatives.

The Chairman, Mr. Arthey welcomed the following Parish Cllrs. to the meeting – R Corcoran, M Hainsworth, B Howe, R Howe, J Moore and A Sturgeon. In attendance was Mrs V Waples, Clerk and latterly County Cllr. Finch.

Opening – the Chair opened the meeting and thanked all for attending. The Clerk read out the statement on reporting at meetings of the parish council.

Apologies of Absence

  1. There were no applicable apologies of absence as all Councillors were present.
  2. The meeting noted that District Cllr. Jamieson had submitted his apologies and that County Cllr. Finch would be present later in the meeting.

Declarations of Interest

  1. There were no declarations of pecuniary or local non-pecuniary interests for the agenda under discussion. There were no declarations of gifts of hospitality received exceeding £25 – Cllrs. Arthey, Howe and Moore declared local nonpecuniary interests for agenda item 8iv. There were no further declarations received.
  2. There were no requests for dispensations for the agenda under discussion.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

  1. To approve the minutes of the following Parish Council Meetings:
    • 6th May 2021 - the meeting agreed that the circulated minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place and agreed for the Chair to sign the minutes as such, aif.
    • 3rd June 2021 - the meeting agreed that the circulated minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place and agreed for the Chair to sign the minutes as such, aif.

Public Forum

(maximum 10 minutes)

  1. To note the report from the County Councillor – the meeting noted the written report previously circulated – a copy of which can be found at Appendix A. Discussion followed over an article in the EADT of 9th July 2021 in which it was reported that Cllr. Finch had over £17K of his Highways Budget returned to the central pot as it had not been spent. Cllr. Finch replied that this was a miscalculation and that it was not for the want of projects coming forth that the money had not been spent more an issue with allocation and resources given the past year or so. He confirmed that most of the money spent had been allocated to the new the A134 speed limit.
  2. The following matters were brought to the Council’s attention:
    • New locality budget for the current route - 8K maximum. Bid could be submitted by the PC for project funding and will be judged in accordance with set criteria. Such a bid would be one of many received (confirmed that he had 13 villagers within his ward). Agreed that the Clerk would ask for a Highways Surveyor to come out and assess the area which was confirmed as being opposite Swallows Farm / Frogs Hall. Cllr. Finch confirmed that if the problem was on the system, it would be addressed but there were delays in carrying out such works. Cllr. Finch stated that signage was currently below the priority list. He urged the Council to put a request in via the correct channels and keep him informed of the status of the report. Paul West was confirmed as the Cabinet member for highways maintenance.
    • Suffolk is going to be more cautious than the national guidelines with regards to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
    • Recycling – easing of restrictions.
    • Fostering – support for this was still needed.
  3. To note the report from the District Councillor – the meeting noted the written report previously circulated – a copy of which can be found at Appendix A.
  4. To receive comments from the public on the agenda as published – there were no comments submitted prior to the meeting.
  5. To receive comments from or questions from the public on matters relating to Lindsey – there were no members of the public present.
  6. To receive questions or comments submitted by email – email from resident on Frogs Hall – depressed curb 250mm deep size of two tables on the highway. Increase of large vehicles – road users are encroaching and damaging the verges. Road from Lindsey is breaking up. It was discussed and noted that County Councillors do have a fund that could be tapped into for solutions such as kerbing which can be installed upon request (e.g. kerb outside White Rose). It was agreed that there was also a problem with surface water and lack of drainage. Confirmation was given that the puddle outside of Frogs Hall remains in situ for an excessive amount of time. The Clerk was asked to request, via Cllr. Finch for SCC Highways to be asked to come and access the damage to the road edge caused by vehicles and could kerbing of this area be considered. The clerk was requested to respond to the resident advising of the action the Council will be taken and to keep them appraised.

Parish Matters

To receive updates on items raised at previous meetings:

  1. Climate Emergency / Climate Awareness and the next steps coming forward – nothing further had been prepared for this meeting, but it was agreed that the situation was not getting any better. It was further agreed that articles should still be submitted for each newsletter to keep the matter at the forefront of people’s minds. The article previously submitted set out the overall picture and the next one would cover practical solutions and provide updates by those undergoing changes to their own environment and lessons learnt.
  2. BMSDC – tree, hedge and wildflower planting for parishes – Council to be provided with an update on the proposed hedge planting plan for the road to the north of Lindsey Tye – BMSDC – it was noted that there was now an open-ended date for applications for assistance with such planting. Cllr. Moore had met with the landowner who was keen on the idea, but the original plan was very ambitious, and a further meeting will be had to discuss the extent of the planting. It was noted that further planting was also planned in areas adjoining Lindsey. Cllr. Moore agreed to update the Council with the new plan once agreed. BMSDC are due to undertake a tree canopy survey and undertake a comparison with that which was in place versus that which was collated under the Suffolk Hedgerow Survey of 2011/2012.

Statutory Business

  1. Parliamentary Boundaries Review - The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) have published initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries on 8 June for an eight-week consultation period, To view the proposed constituency consultation process use the following link: https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/ it was noted that the proposed boundary will follow the newly reviewed wards within BDC and Council agreed that it was supportive of this proposal, aif.

Correspondence

  1. BMSDC – Active Travel Public Consultation: Councillors to be reminded to engage if appropriate: https://baberghmidsuffolkactivetravel.commonplace.is/ Council had no further comments to make on this matter.
  2. BMSDC – Parish/Town Council Dissertation research – to note the Clerk has responded to the questionnaire submitted by a Senior Planning Officer at BMSDC on the effectiveness of the relationships between parish/town councils and the Development Management Department at BMSDC during the decision-making process. It was noted that in the main the response had been positive with regards to engagement between the planning department and the parish council.
  3. SALC – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 – Council to note the extended bank holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June and to consider whether Lindsey should undertake any public event or community activities to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years of service – all agreed that the lighting of the Beacon on that evening could be considered and was appropriate provided a full risk assessment was undertaken.
  4. BMSDC - Councils’ Joint Local Plan examination to reconvene in September – Council noted the delay and reasons behind the delay and the planned resumption in the Autumn.
  5. To note all relevant correspondence received since the last meeting has been circulated via email – it was noted that all correspondence received since 6th May 2021 which was of relevance to the Parish Council had been circulated by email and this was noted.

Clerk’s Financial Report

  1. To consider schedule of receipts received since the last meeting – Paper A - no monies had been received since the last meeting - (Appendix B refers).
  2. To consider and approve the verified items awaiting authorization as per the schedule submitted – Paper B - all agreed that subject to formal verification by the two authorised signatories, Council approved to accept the schedule of invoices awaiting payment - (Appendix B refers). The Clerk agreed to continue the exploration of internet banking.
  3. To consider the Council's financial position to date – Paper C – the meeting noted the carried forward balance of £4,415.53 once the agreed schedule of invoices awaiting payment had been taken into account. It was agreed that the authorised signatories would review the bank reconciliation and sign the papers submitted to ensure a full audit trail, aif. (Appendix B refers). The Clerk and Chair provided the meeting with a resume of the CIL pot and how it should be administered by the Parish Council in determining spending patterns and the manner in which projects could be supported. It was agreed that the Clerk would show the CIL sums being held by the Council as a separate allocation on the Financial Reports submitted at each meeting, aif.
  4. To consider and approve payments to be made as donations to the Village Hall and St Peter’s Church as per the budget set for the year 2021-2022 – agreement was forthcoming that the Village Hall be supported by a grant of £200 and St Peter’s Church by £400, aif. The cheques would be submitted for signature at the next meeting.

Clerk’s Report

The following matter was brought to the Council’s attention:

  1. General Power of Competence (GPC) – the Council was advised that at the next meeting, the Clerk would bring forth a request for Council to review the provisions of the GPC (Localism Act 2011 s1) which gave eligible Councils the power to do anything that individuals may generally do. The Clerk would provide further details prior to the meeting and request that as the Council was an eligible council and fulfilled the criteria it should consider resolving to use the power.

Planning Matters

  1. To consider the following planning applications: there were none to be considered.
  2. To note the following planning applications determined by the local planning authority:
    • DC/21/03086 – Discharge of conditions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 –application B/16/00955 – Condition 9 (Submission of Information) @ Lower Ley, Kersey Road

Parish Councillors’ Reports

To receive reports on village issues from Councillors present:

  1. Cllr. Arthey provided the Council with a possible request for the provision of Wi-Fi in the Village Hall which would be advantageous for users of the village hall, for the use of hall for hiring for public elections and public hearings. It was noted that the provision of internet and a period of usage would be eligible for CIL funding. In principle the meeting was in agreement that such a bid should be worked up and submitted by the Village Hall Committee for consideration at the next meeting.
  2. Half of the potholes have been filled in the village whilst the remainder have yellow lines around them. When will these be sorted? In particular the potholes on Church Road
  3. Road signs that are bent and buckled – when will these be replaced / repaired.

Date of Next Meeting

Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 8th September 2021 commencing at 7.30pm, in Lindsey Village Hall. There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 21.05pm.

Appendix A – County and District Councillor Reports

County Councillor James Finch report to Council:

  • COVID 19 infection rates over June - THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN INFECTION IN SOUTH SUFFOLK including the very local area of Nayland Leavenheath and Boxford for the first time in 10 weeks. In the 7 days up to July 13 there have been 995 new cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk – this has doubled this last week. Locally in the area of my division, there were 12 cases up to the seven-day period ending 12th July in the local Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) of 18 villages. I urge all those of you who are travelling locally and mixing with more people for work and / or pleasure to take a Rapid Flow Test twice per week. The good news is despite this increase of infections there are relatively few needing to enter hospital because many have now been vaccinated.
  • Say Yes2Test - get tested twice a week to keep Suffolk safe. - Read More about testing and how you can get your test: https://yes2test.co.uk/. Regular testing is seen as key in controlling the spread of the virus as the UK’s vaccination programme continues. Shops, pubs, and indoor leisure businesses such as gyms re-opened in England on Monday April 12 under the government’s roadmap to recovery from lockdown, and in Suffolk bosses are being asked to sign up to the Yes2Test scheme which asks them to commit to workforce testing.
  • Independent review of aspects of Suffolk’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services to be carried out by experts from Lincolnshire - in recent weeks, there have been calls from some parents and carers of children with SEND - known as the Campaign for Change (SEND Suffolk) - for an audit of the council’s compliance with the legal requirements set out for the service. Suffolk County Council has considered this request, it has been announced that a multi-agency team from Lincolnshire will carry out an independent review into special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision. This review will be carried out by a senior professional with no links to, or direct involvement with, Suffolk’s provision and will focus on the processes, communication protocols and family-facing elements of SEND services within Suffolk County Council. The review will focus on the processes, communication protocols and family-facing elements of SEND services within Suffolk County Council. It will not look at specific cases or the provision given to specific children. The review will look at:
    • The effective flow of cases
    • Communication with young people and families
    • Processes for dealing with incoming enquiries from young people and families in a timely manner
    • A focus on the family-facing elements of the service
    • The allocation of provision and, where appropriate, placement in a timely way for children
  • The review started at the end of June and will be completed within six weeks. The report, with any recommendations, will be published on Suffolk County Council’s website, shared with those who contributed to it and also scrutinised, in public, by the council’s Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee. The review team from Lincolnshire will consist of two senior officers from Lincolnshire County Council, performance analysts and the chair of the county’s parent carer network.
  • State-of-the-art vehicles join Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s fleet - On May 20th, it was announced that Suffolk Fire and Rescue had unveiled three new vehicles, packed with the latest technology, to support firefighters at emergency incidents. The Command Support Vehicles will typically be used as a hub at large, complex incidents, from which officers can manage operations and work with other emergency services. Some of the new features on the vehicles include:
    • Dedicated Wi-Fi, enabling officers at the scene to quickly stream and share data, images, footage and plans with colleagues who are based remotely, for example at the Combined Fire Control Room
    • LCD display built into the side of the vehicle, allowing officers to share content with other agencies attending an incident, such as live drone footage and plans
    • Latest communications and computer technology with access to live information, weather reports, data on substances and chemicals, and direct contact with other agencies and services
    • Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has invested £360,000 in the new units, which replace the three existing Command Support Vehicles.
  • Easing of restrictions when visiting Suffolk’s Recycling Centres - Suffolk is set to continue on its path of working towards full capacity at recycling centres as. From 19 July, there will be some changes to the rules when visiting the county’s recycling centres, but you will still need to book, pending a full review of arrangements. The changes will take place in two phases to enable a managed increase in the number of bookings and to ensure that sites are operating safely and effectively.
  • Phase one: From Monday 19 July:
    • The one visit per week rule will remain in place, but an extra 3,760 slots will become available per week.
    • Cars with small trailers will now be able to book a 15 min car slot (750kg max gross weight, single axle and unbraked) and will also be allowed at Haverhill Recycling Centre.
    • Cars with large trailers will now book a 30 min large trailer/van slot (over 750kg max gross weight, double axel or braked), apart from at Haverhill Recycling Centre due to its size.
    • Vans without trailers will be able to book at all Recycling Centres (including Haverhill). Vans must book a 30 min van slot.
    • Vans with trailers are still prohibited from using any of the recycling centres
    • Social distancing will be removed from all sites. Cars can park next to each other (as directed by site staff) and restrictions on number of people on walkway/gantry removed.
    • Staff will be able to assist visitors if requested. (All staff will wear FFP3 standard face coverings when assisting and follow good practice on Covid hygiene).
    • More than one adult will now be allowed to unload per vehicle
    • Guidance will remain for the public to continue wearing face coverings if possible. Face coverings for staff remain optional except when assisting the public.
  • Phase two: From Monday 16 August: (In addition to changes in phase 1)
    • An additional 4,500 slots will be made available per week, taking Suffolk’s Recycling Centres to full capacity (weekly total to 27,422)
    • Removal of the limit of “one visit per week rule“ for household waste
    • Trade waste will remain restricted to one visit per week (to ensure fair usage of the system which is mainly designed for residents’ household waste)
    • Virtual Fostering and Adoption Sessions for the Stour Valley - Since the incidence of COVID 19 sadly the demand for this service has increased significantly. Therefore, those who would like to join one of the following events please email for the log in codes:- The Foster Carer Recruitment Event is held the 1st Wednesday of every month, and the Adoption Event is the 1st Thursday. all 7:00pm in your home. To book a place please email Claire.Gwatkin@suffolk.gov.uk. She will then send instructions on how to join the virtual meeting. As always, our team will be happy to answer any questions you have about fostering or adoption! They normally will have a foster carer or adoptive parent available to help you too at these events. For more details to find out more refer to the website - https://www.fosterandadopt.suffolk.gov.uk

District Councillor Leigh Jamieson report to Council:

  • Virtual High Street - Over 100 new businesses have signed up to the Virtual High Street as the site launches in Hadleigh and Stowmarket, joining over 130 already signed up to the platform in Sudbury. This allows shoppers to shop local at a range of high street stores, independent retailers, and market stalls, as well as cafes and restaurants. Customers will be able to visit their local shops online to browse stock, place orders and arrange click and collect or a delivery from home or on the move. The aim of the Virtual High Street is to bring the local high street and market stalls into the homes of customers before they visit the high street in person, making shopping local and supporting local businesses even easier. For residents in Hadleigh, over 55 businesses including Ferguson’s Delicatessen, Cobbler Café and Wine Bar, Andrew’s Quality Butchers and EriVica Cakes are all signed up as well as accommodation providers such as Holbeck House B&B and The Gables B&B.
  • Joint Local Plan Examination - It is anticipated that the Stage 1 hearings sessions scheduled for June and July will now take place over a concentrated period from September and it is envisaged that the Stage 2 hearing sessions will continue to be able to take place in mid-Autumn as originally planned. Appropriate notice will be provided to all who made a representation to the Regulation 19 consultation, so they can participate in the hearings. Further information for anyone who wishes to follow the proceedings will be published on the councils’ dedicated Joint Local Plan examination webpage nearer the time. The change of dates does not alter the status of the Joint Local Plan regarding weight in the planning decision making process.
  • Belle Vue Park entrance on the agenda - The future of Belle Vue park in Sudbury is on the Agenda for both Cabinet and Full Council this month. Earlier this year the Cabinet accepted a bid to turn the house and swimming pool area into homes for retirement living. The bid will give the Council £1.2M for the park entrance. This project is not only hugely controversial in Sudbury, but the Council will need to borrow the £1.2M to build the park entrance before the new properties even have planning permission. There is a concern that this could leave us in debt if planning permission is refused.
  • Hadleigh Workspaces - Businesses in Babergh could benefit from new workspaces at a key location in Hadleigh following a decision from Babergh District Council to progress the development of 1.5 acres of allocated employment land. Situated on the A1071 at Hadleigh, the land could support a convenience retail until and approximately 10 light industrial or workspace units for a range of uses including by micro and start-up businesses. It is hoped that this employment site could create almost 50 full time jobs as well as opportunities for young people and apprentices, providing a boost to the local economy post Covid.
  • Locality Award Fund - Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ have again made money available for Locality Awards funding – enabling communities to improve facilities, learn new skills and work towards becoming environmentally sustainable. Babergh have provided each Councillor with £2000 to support the villages in their wards. The Locality Awards grants can be used towards combating loneliness in communities by installing hearing loops, providing Wi-Fi in rural areas, or hosting coffee mornings or lunch clubs. Groups can also apply for funding for sports and play equipment, exercise classes, walking festivals and other initiatives which support the councils’ aim for communities to lead active lives and manage their own health and wellbeing. Applications are also welcome for providing medical skills such as first aid to communities, as well as supporting them in other training including safeguarding, fire safety and anti-social behaviour prevention.

Appendix B – Financial Report

Items received since the last meeting:

Income Description Nett VAT Gross Ref
Total Income £NIL

Items Paid out since the last meeting:

Income Description Nett VAT Gross Ref Power
Total Expenditure £NIL

Items to be Authorized for Payment:

Expenditure Description Nett VAT Gross Ref Power
14.07.21 Clerk’s Salary & Expenses 497.53 0.00 497.53 490 LGA 1972 s111 & s112
HMRC – Qtr. 1 PAYE due 79.40 0.00 79.40 491 Income & Corp Taxes

Financial Report

Date £
Opening Balance 06.05.21 4992.46
Add Income Received June - July 0.00
Less Expenditure Incurred June - July 0.00
Less Expenditure from verified list 14.07.21 576.93
Closing Balance 14.07.21 4415.53

Bank Reconciliation

Community Account Statement – 08.07.21 5135.51
Less unlogged cheques * At 14.07.21 719.98
Plus unaccredited income 0.00
Reconciled Total 4415.53

*

  • 489 £143.05
  • 490 £497.53
  • 491 £79.40
  • £719.98

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