Parish Council Minutes 23 January 2006

PRESENT

Mr Eric Barnett Chairman

Mr Julian Haywood-Smith Vice Chairman

Mrs Sally Johnson

Mr Ken Willcox

Mr John Carter-Jonas

Mr Robin Sadler

Mr Simon Williams

Mrs Emily Lynch

Mrs Sarah Cartwright Parish Clerk

IN ATTENDANCE

Mr Peter Bellfield

PWC Victoria Gilmore

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Ivan Jowers, District Councillor.

At the commencement of the Meeting the Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. The Chairman also advised that there was no formal declaration of interest.

2. POLICE NEWS

PWC Victoria Gilmore announced that there had only been two crimes in the local area. The first, a road rage / harassment crime, and the second, a theft from a motor vehicle (prior to Christmas). We were reminded to lock all car doors. PWC Gilmore then introduced us to a new scheme called “Suffolk SAFEKey”. This would cost the residential house owner £11.75 a year for peace of mind in the knowledge should an alarm go off, for instance; a neighbour/allocated keyholder would be contacted by the police and informed. She gave out some posters, one of which was to be displayed on the village notice board in Boot Street. PWC Gilmore said Neighbourhood Watch had been contacted. It was also suggested that the police put a notice in the Benefice Newsletter.

Speeding was a hot topic and the danger areas noted were over the hump backed bridge; near the Great Bealings/Little Bealings boundary; and along the Grundisburgh road. It was agreed to write a letter of complaint about speeding; so that PWC Gilmore can carry out checks.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 23rd November 2005

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23rd November 2005 were approved as a true and accurate record of the discussion at that meeting. Mr Ken Wilcox proposed and Mr Robin Sadler seconded the proposal. The Minutes were then signed by the Chairman.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Robin Sadler had been in touch with Suffolk ACRE over the question of a “Community Plan”. He said he felt that Suffolk ACRE where rather prescriptive as to how we were to proceed and he felt that we would be better off liasing with other local Parishes – Grundisburgh have a community plan, and Playford are in the process of putting one together. In any case any help that they did have was not free. Some hand outs from Suffolk ACRE were given to the Clerk for the next meeting when “Community Plan” would be on the Agenda. It may also be the major item for discussion at the annual meeting in May when members of the public will also be there.

A date had been set for the Energy Efficiency talk. It was agreed that the 21st February at Bealings Village Hall would suit all. Little Bealings Parish Council was to display a poster notifying residents and flyers were to be posted through parishioners doors. It was also to be put on the website. The cost of this evening - £16 - to be shared with Little Bealings, plus a small budget for refreshments (to be carried by Great Bealings Parish Council).

5. VILLAGE PLAYING FIELD

At the last meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee on the 17th January, the Friends of Bealings Village Playing Field, a joint body of Great & Little Bealings volunteers, were delegated to appoint a Design Consultant, and produce draft proposals for costing and planning application purposes. Funding was touched on and Peter Bellfield pointed out that not only is there the locality fund, but that the District Council holds a small amount of money which is ours by right.

It is also hoped that Little Bealings Parish Council will formally decide to make a bid on the locality budget of SCC. There is still £3,000 left in the locality fund for this year and next year there is £9,500 available though the maximum hand out per parish is £2,000. Initial funding and plan preparation requires £4,500 and we have £3,000 available: design and specification important. Mr Peter Bellfield says the District Council holds a small amount of money which is ours by right. Funding of consultants cost will be clarified in due course.

6 EXPENDITURE

The draft budget was subject to discussion and the precept of £3,000 was proposed by Julian Haywood-Smith and seconded by Eric Barnett. £242 was earmarked for the recreation area.

7. CORRESPONDENCE

A letter came through about childcare centres. The general feeling was that a childcare centre would not be applicable in Bealings. It would be more suitable for one of the urban areas, for example, Martlesham or Kesgrave.

A letter had been received from Little Bealings Parish Council relating to a footpath between Great and Little Bealings. In principle the Parish Council agreed with the proposal and it was suggested we should arrange a discussion with Little Bealings Parish Council on the matter.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Julian Haywood-Smith commented on the amount of litter in the village and proposed a “Litter Pick” which has been implemented. Each councillor has been delegated a section of the Parish road network to monitor and clear as necessary. So far the team has found lots of plastic debris from cars including 9 wheel trims, various plastic bottles and bags, drinks containers and tops, sweet wrappers, tin cans, cigarette debris, a syringe, a condom and a single black rugby glove, well worn!

Ken Wilcox proposed that we should write to Lord Cranworth asking for support for the VPF project.

Peter Bellfield up dated us on County Council business. SCC have been shattered with the reduction in government funding which meant there could be some adverse effect on the services for the elderly and reduced highway expenditure, e.g. sign-posting of footpaths was being cut. The County Council has been taking an active interest in proposals for regional police forces and is unhappy with the idea that the number of authorities is to be reduced to 13. He felt Suffolk would be likely to suffer.

The Meeting closed at 9.15m.

The next Meeting will be held on Monday 20th March 2006 in the Bealings Village Hall Committee Room commencing at 8.00 p.m.