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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL PARISHIONERS’ MEETING

Thursday 9 May 2024 at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor J Miller (Chairman of the Council)
Councillor N Roberts (Vice-Chairman of the Council)
Councillor R Allen
Councillor S Davies
Councillor P Dent
Councillor M Hockley
Councillor M Hurley
Councillor L Matthews
Councillor J Price
Councillor S Rothwell
Councillor R Wombwell
Councillor G Woodcock

In Attendance
G White, Parish Clerk
County Councillor Georgia Hall
Two members of the public

1. Welcome

The Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor Joan Miller, welcomed everyone to the Annual
Parishioners’ Meeting.

2. Apologies for absence

An apology for absence received from Councillor Elmer, due to illness, was NOTED.

3. Annual Reports from the Chairman of the Parish Council and Committee Chairmen

Written annual reports from the following Parish Councillors had been placed on the village
website and each was presented to the meeting by its author.

The Chairman of the Parish Council – Councillor Joan Miller

At the Parish Council election a year ago there were eighteen candidates for thirteen seats and
a 46% turnout elected the thirteen councillors now serving and working hard for the village. It
has been a very busy year with a huge agenda of activities.

At two Council Workshops, key priorities were identified using information collated from the
various consultative activities of the Neighbourhood Plan group. The projects have been
established, each with a lead councillor, and are charged with undertaking feasibility work in
order to take the priority forward and reporting back on progress in September 2024.

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Priorities include Young People, where the Council has established a new committee to explore
and provide activities which the young people of the village say they would appreciate.

Another priority is the Congregational Church where the Deacons have expressed the wish to
transfer the managing charity to the Parish Council in order to continue the facility of the church
as a community hub to which the Council has agreed. Once the charity is transferred, the
Council will consult widely in the village upon the detailed use of the facility. The transfer could
take six months or more as the Charity Commission is involved and needs to approve the
arrangements.

The Review of the Neighbourhood Plan is a major priority and expected to be put out to
consultation later in this municipal year. Road safety and Footpaths around the village are being
examined with a view to them being made more accessible by the Highway Authority
particularly for those people with disabilities. The footpath to Manningtree is of particular
interest. Affordable housing in the village is a priority and the Council wishes to assist East
Bergholt Community Land Trust in achieving this which is difficult in a place where land and
house prices are so high. In respect of sporting activities, there is an urgent need for additional
land for playing fields as demand exceeds the current facilities.

The chariman was also pleased to report that, in recognition of the severe financial pressures
that households had been under in the last couple of years, the Parish Council had made a
determined effort to keep the PC rate at the same level that it has been at since 2022/23, with
no increase in precept at all.

Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee – Councillor Bob Elmer

In the absence of Councillor Elmer due to illness, the Chairman of the Council presented his
report.

The Council is in a good financial state and has been careful with its money in order to be able
to fund the ambitions of the village. In 2023/24 the Council spent slightly more than the precept,
making up the difference from reserves.

It has been a difficult year for committees with prices rising and with unexpected expenditure
arising in a variety of instances but this has been managed well and the expenditure has been
accommodated within the overall budget.

One budget which was underspent was grants where the budget of £19,000 included £11,000
for cost of living projects, but no applications were made.

There was an unexpected windfall of £5,000 as a result of an increase in bank interest rates.

The Council received CIL payments from Babergh DC of over £74,000 providing a CIL fund of
£94,903.19 at the end of the financial year and with a far greater payment received early in the
2024/25 financial year.

Burial Grounds Committee – Councillor Mark Hurley

Councillor Hurley reported upon projects which had been undertaken during the course of the
year which included tree works in the cemetery and churchyard which had been completed by
the autumn; working with the church over maintenance in the churchyard and work around the
Constable family tomb which is now accessible and the major project of digitisation of the burial

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records which ensures that there are digital copies of all the burial records and not just the hard
copies, and digital processes for new burials.

In March the Cemetery Equipment Store had been broken into and valuable equipment had
been stolen including the sit-on mower. Two insurance claims had been made. The one for the
mower was ongoing although the one for the other equipment had been rejected because the
locks on the store did not meet the standards required by the policy.

Councillor Hurley informed the meeting that he would be stepping down as Chairman due to the
exigencies of his new job, but would remain a member of the committee.

East Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan Committee – Councillor Sallie Davies

Councillor Davies explained the importance of the Neighbourhood Plan. It identified the future of
the village in land use terms and must be taken into account by the local planning authority in
making planning determinations.

Progress in the review has been aided by the engagement of consultants who have assisted in
holding various public consultations, including extending the conservation area, and projects,
including a housing needs assessment which has been completed with work now being
undertaken on a design code, all with a view to early public consultation on the reviewed plan by
September.

Playing Fields Committee – Councillor Graeme Woodcock

Councillor Woodcock reported that the new trim trail was proving popular with older children.
Quarterly, rather than just annual, safety inspections were now being undertaken. The Council
had funded the new Boule Court and new Parish noticeboard at East End.

The Sports Council’s year had been difficult with rising energy costs which had required
economies and additional efficiencies, but the situation was now under better control and there
was light at the end of the tunnel.

The wet weather during the autumn and winter had an adverse impact on the pitches which
were unplayable for three months. Throughout all this the Council supported the Sports Council
and provided grant aid to alleviate the situation both on the ground and for the football club.
Despite these problems all the teams had a good year, particularly the tennis club which won
the coveted LTA Tennis Club of the Year award.

Both the cricket and tennis clubs have CIL applications in to Babergh DC and the outcomes are
awaited with optimism.

Councillor Woodcock thanked the groundsman, Michael Hall, who had given lots of his own time
to maintenance of the playing field.

He would like to hear from any landowners who might wish to lease, rent or sell land suitable for
additional playing fields.

Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee – Councillor Michael Hockley

Councillor Hockley reported that the Car Park was in good order and any maintenance issues
arising had been resolved promptly. He thanked the Toilet Cleaners who did a good job on a
daily basis. There had been no recent complaints about the lighting.

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He noted that in April 2022 Councillors had met the SCC Cabinet Member, Richard West, who
promised to sort out the village centre parking issue within three weeks. Action is awaited two
years later.

Many footpaths and footways are not in a good condition though there have been some
improvements to footways prompted by David Wilson Homes.

The Dog Bins are well used and are being emptied by Babergh DC.

Jane Barnes, the Litter Picker, retired at the ned of March after 25 years’ service. The new Litter
Picker, Jeremy Kemp, has commenced his duties and is doing well.

Young People Committee – Councillor Simon Rothwell

Councillor Rothwell reported that the main issue is the provision of non-sport based facilities for
the youth of the village. The committee decided that a needs analysis was required and was
being undertaken, including discussions with youth groups and other stakeholders. Community
Action Suffolk was being helpful and will assist with this, free of charge. Once the need has
been established, provision will be commissioned. The next meeting of the committee is
scheduled for July.

4. Report from County Councillor Georgia Hall

County Councillor Hall said that her written report included month by month reports on County
Council activities, but in short, quarter by quarter she noted in particular:
Q1 -The increased number of pupils for primary school places and that 99% were offered
places.
Q2 –The concerns of SCC to the National Grid Norwich to Tilbury proposals and the SCC
spending issues.
Q3 – The implementation of new highway surfaces methods and picking up the maintenance
backlog, particularly potholes. Funding to reduce the carbon footprint.
Q4 – Financial pressures for the 2024/25 budget.

5. Report from District Councillor Sallie Davies

From election a year ago and starting as a backbencher, District Councillor Davies recounted
how she had been appointed to Cabinet and then due to circumstances become Portfolio
Holder for Planning.

Babergh DC had adopted the Joint Local Plan and now had to decide where development will
be designated to occur.

It had been a difficult year for Babergh with similar pressures as for SCC with inflation, reduction
of government grants and rising wage bills. It meant the District Council had to tighten its belt.

Major issues addressed had been the housing stock which had suffered from years of neglect,
climate change and economic prosperity.

It had been a baptism of fire but she was pleased that throughout she had been able to keep the
pressure on officers. In 2024/25 the Green Party were leading the Council pursuant to the
coalition agreement.

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The Chairman noted that all Parish Councillors are volunteers and undertake the role as they
value the community. She thanked all Parish Councillors, the County Councillor, the District
Councillor, the Parish Clerk and the Assistant Clerk for their service.

6. Open Forum

Terry Dadds thanked all councillors for their service and asked a number of questions.

Will there be affordable housing on the two new estates? The Chairman confirmed that
affordable housing was part of both planning permissions.

Is the Constable family tomb easy to find in the Churchyard and will it be signed? Councillor
Hurley said it was much easier to find now that maintenance works had been undertaken and
signage was in prospect.

When at Constable Hall, Mr Dadds had noticed a picture of a Naval Funeral. Did anyone know
whose funeral it was? No-one did.

Cemetery equipment store locks. Does the fact that they do not meet the insurance policy
standard mean that the insurers will not pay up? Councillor Hurley said that the claim for the
minor items of equipment had been rejected for this reason. The locks had been replaced and
were fully compliant. The separate claim for the sit-on mower was ongoing.

In the field immediately to the north of the playing field there used to be a pond 4/5 feet deep.
Does it need to be dredged? The Chairman said that the question needed to be addressed to
the East Bergholt Estate company.

At the top of Elm Road, SCC had recently cleared the drain to prevent flooding in adverse
weather. However, in the recent rain it had flooded again. The Chairman directed this to County
Councillor Hall who undertook to take this back.

Young People. Mr Dadds was pleased to hear that Councillor Rothwell will instigate enquiries of
the young people as to the activities they want which will differ from those of the previous
generation(s).

Potholes on Hadleigh Road. SCC men had drawn circles round 6 potholes. A crew came out
and filled 2. Another crew came out and filled another 2. There remain 2 to go. This is totally
inefficient. County Councillor Hall explained the priority system which operates and that those
with different priorities are placed on different lists. Councillors commented on the inefficiency of
the priority system for roadworks which resulted in potholes in the same location being filled on
several visits rather than all at once. The Chairman said that clearly the priority system was not
working. It was not cost effective. County Councillor Hall agreed to take back the comments
made.
It was proposed by Mr Dadds, seconded by Councillor Hockley and RESOLVED (unanimously)
that the Parish Council take all steps available to them in improving the drainage conditions in
the village which impact on the village roads and public spaces.

It was proposed by Mr Dadds that the Parish Council looks to provide a free space for
parishioners to meet and socialise. He explained that this related to the Community Hub and he
considered that within it there should be provision for free use by parishioners. Both Constable
Hall and the Lambe School charged hire fees for the use of their rooms.

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Following discussion, the Chairman undertook to place this suggestion before the committee
that will be appointed to manage the Community Hub and she so proposed, seconded by
Councillor Wombwell. The motion was approved (eight voted for, none voted against).

Joyce Baker noted that Flatford Lane still had water running down it. The Chairman said that
this was a SCC matter and County Councillor Hall took note.

There were no further public contributions and the Chairman thanked members of the public for
attending and contributing to the meeting. She reminded the public that there was a Public
Open Session at the beginning of each monthly Council meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.10 pm.

The next Annual Parishioners’ Meeting will take place on 8 May 2025.