Approved Dennington PC Minutes

Meeting Date:

Summary
This summary is generated by AI and may contain errors. It does not form part of the official minutes.
Exciting updates include progress on replacing the footbridge near The Neathouse, with quotes being sought for a permanent solution. Meanwhile, the clerk is set to attend a presentation on supporting residents with the rising cost of living. Plus, financial approvals were made for various community events and meetings.

Present

Councillors
Matthew Lunn (Chair) Robert Wardley Doris Dearing Sam Steward John Calver Vashti Mouncer Nick Watts Lydia Kirk (clerk)
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr. Schofield (illness). Apologies were also received from Ward Councillor Freeman and County Councillor Burroughes.
Residents
Shirley Cunningham Jo Denton

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 11th July 2022 were approved as a true record of the meeting and signed by the Chair.

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

Chair’s Report

The chair has contacted four more companies seeking quotations for the replacement footbridge near The Neathouse. These will be shared with Councillors when received in order for the works to be ordered and the bridge installed as soon as possible. NW has carried out a temporary repair to the bridge but a more robust solution will be needed if the bridge replacement works are not imminent. NW offered to fill the ditch in if the council provided the materials but RW said that the landowner would not allow the ditch to be filled. The chair will purchase a safety board to cover the existing bridge until the permanent repairs are completed (Councillors authorised him to spend up to £400 on the board).

Clerk’s Report

The clerk will attend East Suffolk Council’s Ease the Squeeze presentation later this month to see how parish councils can help residents with the increasing cost of living.

Responsible Financial Officer’s Report

  1. The following payments were approved, subject to the meeting date of P19 being changed from 3rd to 8th March. Furthermore, payment was approved for two additional Jubilee committee meetings once the invoices have been raised.
    Reference Number Amount Payee Details
    P18 22-23 £503.69 Zurich Town & Parish Insurance 01/10/22-30/09/23
    P19 22-23 £15.00 Dennington Village Hall Jubilee committee meeting 08/03/22
    P20 22-23 £15.00 Dennington Village Hall Jubilee committee meeting 01/04/22
    P21 22-23 £10.00 Dennington Village Hall Jubilee committee meeting 03/05/22
    P22 22-23 £25.00 Dennington Village Hall Parish Council meeting venue hire 09/05/22 (Annual meetings)
    P23 22-23 £20.00 Dennington Village Hall Parish Council meeting venue hire 11/07/22
    P24 22-23 £20.00 Dennington Village Hall Parish Council meeting venue hire 5/09/22
  2. No funds have been received since the last meeting. One payment made since the last meeting was noted:
    Reference Number Amount Payee Details
    P17 22-23 £120.00 The Neathouse Ltd Cake for Jubilee celebrations
  3. The bank balances as at 31.08.2022 were: Current Account £8,901.89 Active Saver £6,403.86 Equipment Account £7,460.44
  4. The bank statements and bank reconciliation, as at 31.08.22, were reviewed by the Examining Officer.
  5. The year-to-date receipts and payments account was considered alongside the budgeted figures.
  6. It was agreed that adding an additional banking mandate with access to make payments online would be useful. ACTION Clerk to ask Cllr. Schofield if she banks with Barclays and would be happy to be added.

Highways and Footpaths Issues

  1. The repairs to Frostley Bridge have now been carried out and the traffic lights removed. There is some subsidence on the Dennington side of the bridge which the Chair will report to SCC.
  2. The meeting with the Rights of Way Officer to discuss improving the pedestrian access to Boxbush Lane has been postponed.
  3. The school has again written to parents asking them to park responsibly; not to block driveways or obstruct the junction but they are continuing to receive complaints about the parking. ACTION Clerk to contact ESC civil parking enforcement team for help. Also to remind parents in the next newsletter that they can park at the village hall for school drop-offs.
  4. The second traffic survey from SCC is still awaited.
  5. The hedge alongside the footpath near Mill Lane and Swainston’s Way needs trimming. ACTION NW will do this.

Planning

  1. Planning updates:
    • The prior notification regarding works to The Leys has been withdrawn.
    • Application DC/22/2490/FUL regarding Wash Farm has been permitted.
  2. Application DC/22/3107/FUL was discussed. Single Storey Rear Extension The Leys, Saxtead Road, Dennington IP13 8AP
  3. Application DC/22/3142/TCA was discussed. Fell 1 Holly tree Elderberry Cottage, The Street Dennington IP13 8JF

Councillors unanimously supported both applications.

Insurance Policy

The insurance policy for 2022-2023 was discussed. It includes public liability, employers’ fidelity insurance and the council’s fixed assets. The clerk is to see if the Jubilee bench for the green can be added to the policy when it arrives. Also to add the second Speed Indicator Device. Councillors authorised up to £50 additional spending if these additions increase the cost of the policy.

Reports from Council Representatives

  1. Dennington Consolidated Charities- RW reported that the lease for the playschool was signed several weeks ago and that the entrance is now being built. It is hoped that construction will be completed by spring.
  2. The Village Hall has not yet met.
  3. The Sports & Social club has not yet met. ACTION SS to ask the chair to call an AGM in the near future.

Correspondence

  1. The parish council now has the option to opt out of the SAAA central external auditor appointment arrangement and choose its own external auditor. ML proposed continuing to use SAAA’s county appointed auditor. This was seconded by RW and carried unanimously.
  2. The possible ‘Hour Community’ bus service in the village was discussed. Councillors thought that ‘Connecting Communities’ currently provides a good service in the village for local journeys, but thought that if ‘Hour Community’ could run longer trips, this might be popular.

Public Session

SC agreed that day trips on the Hour Community bus might be useful. JD confirmed that flags around the village hall were left up for the fete but will be taken down imminently. The village hall’s AGM will be in early November. The rising costs of fuel will severely affect the hall. A supplement will be added to all winter bookings and the heating will be carefully managed. ML suggested the council writes to the MP asking what can be done to help community projects and charities with the rising costs as these groups do not seem to be being considered currently. Items for the next edition of Dennington news are required by the end of the month. The wildflower strip on the edge of the green will be cut as soon as she has a working strimmer. Cllr. Burroughes’ had today sent a report. ML highlighted the findings of the recent lorry route consultation and confirmed that the status of the A1120, B1116 and B1119 has not changed; these roads are suitable for local distribution only, not through traffic.

Additional Councillor Reports

There were no additional councillor reports.

Matters for Next Meeting

  • Christmas tree for the green
  • Village fete subcommittee

Next Meeting

The next meeting was confirmed as 7.30pm on Monday 14th November 2022.

There being no further business, the Chair thanked Councillors for attending and closed the meeting at 8.30pm.

Signed M. Lunn 14th November 2022
Chair Date

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