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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday 11 February 2021 at 7.30pm

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor J Miller (Chairman of the Council)
Councillor N Roberts (Vice Chairman of the Council)
Councillor R Allen
Councillor C Cathcart
Councillor P Dent
Councillor R Eley
Councillor R Elmer
Councillor M Hurley
Councillor R Lansdell
Councillor J Price
Councillor S Rothwell
Councillor R Wombwell
Councillor G Woodcock

In Attendance
G White, Parish Clerk
County Councillor Gordon Jones (from Item 7.1.4), District Councillor John Hinton
Six members of the public

Open Public Session

District Councillor Hinton advised that Suffolk County Council was increasing its element of Council Tax by 4%.
He reported that Babergh Enforcement Officer Peter Thompson had left the Council and he advised the Parish
Council to be watchful that the enforcement service is maintained.

1. Apologies for Absence

There were no apologies for absence from members.

2. Conduct at the meeting

Following the Handforth Parish Council incident, the Chairman reminded the Council of the need to
adhere to procedures set out in Standing Orders and to maintain good order at the meeting. The Zoom
recordings of meetings are available on the village website and it is important that the meetings are
conducted properly.

The Chairman reminded the Council that members should speak for no more than three minutes and that
any decision to be taken required to be proposed and seconded. Similarly any amendment should follow
the initial proposal and also be proposed and seconded. An amendment would be debated first and
disposed of before a debate on the substantive motion. If an amendment was carried the original motion
as amended became the substantive motion.

3. Declaration of Interests

Item 13 – Councillor Eley declared a non-pecuniary interest as owner of hedges adjacent to the highway.

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4. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 14 January 2021

Item 10.4 Councillor Cathcart noted that the minute stated that ‘two residents had participated’ in the
Neighbourhood Plan Committee meeting whereas it should have stated that ‘two residents had joined the
Neighbourhood Plan Committee’.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED (unanimously) that
subject to the following correction:
Item 10.4 delete ‘participated’ insert ‘joined the Neighbourhood Plan Committee’
the minutes of the meeting of 14 January 2021 be approved as a correct record.

5. Matters Arising/Updates

Councillor Roberts referred to the various references in the minutes to seeking tree preservation orders
(TPOs) which was not on the agenda for this meeting. The Chairman said that she would allow the matter
to be raised under Urgent Communications at the end of the agenda.

6. Coronavirus

Councillor Hurley had no update from the Covid-19 Group which was continuing its activities.

Councillor Rothwell reported that there had recently been two Covid related burials and with three more
burials in prospect the numbers were increasing somewhat.

The Chairman noted that the number of positive cases, hospitalisations and deaths was decreasing and
hoped this would continue.

7. District and County Councillor reports

District Councillor Hinton presented his report. Planning was the main topic at the moment, particularly
enforcement with the principal officer having left. There had been no committee meeting for some while
due to lack of business, decisions having been taken under delegated powers. District Councillor Hinton
had asked for certain matters to be referred to the committee but had not heard the decisions upon such
referrals. He considered that the Parish Council seeking TPOs might assist in the protection of the rural
heritage. The report was NOTED.

County Councillor Jones’ report was NOTED.

The Chairman referred to an update on Fen Bridge which she had received from County Councillor
Jones. It was anticipated that the options decision would be made by Easter and the work undertaken in
summer 2021.

8. Planning

8.1 Planning Applications received

The Council considered the planning applications received from the Local Planning Authority since the
last meeting.

DC/21/00276 Constables, The Street, East Bergholt, CO 7 6TD – Householder
application – Erection of single storey extensions, installation of
rooflight, extension and part conversion of existing garage, landscaping
works including erection of glasshouse and potting shed, erection of
fencing and gates.

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It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Dent and
RESOLVED (Seven voted for, four voted against) that approval be
recommended.

DC/21/00277 Constables, The Street, East Bergholt, CO7 6TD – Application for Listed
Building Consent – Erection of single storey extensions, internal
alterations as detailed on drawing 1619-05 schedule of proposed works,
installation of rooflight, extension and part conversion of existing garage,
landscaping works including erection of glasshouse and potting shed,
erection of fencing and gates.

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Dent and
RESOLVED (Seven voted for, four voted against) that approval be
recommended.

DC/21/00450 Maythorns, Whitefield, East Bergholt, CO7 6SP – Householder planning
application – Erection of single storey extension.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor Roberts and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that approval be recommended.

DC/21/00482 Grassroots and Wellyboots Farm, Park Road, East Bergholt – Planning
application – Erection of a single building to comprise four separate B8
storage units.

Councillor Miller presented paper 7.1.4 (circulated with the agenda) comprising
the Planning Working Group’s recommended response to the consultation.

The Council discussed the application and was concerned about the paucity of
detail contained in the application, the highway problems and that this
application appeared to be part of a larger scheme amounting to planning by
stealth.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller and seconded by Councillor Roberts that
the Council’s representations and recommendation be as set out in the paper
7.1.4 circulated with the agenda.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Price and seconded by Councillor
Lansdell that the paper 7.1.4 be strengthened by the addition of a specific
recommendation of refusal and that the Council’s representations and
recommendation be as set out in the paper 7.1.4 (as amended). The
amendment was RESOLVED (ten voted for, none voted against) and became
the substantive motion.

The substantive motion was RESOLVED (ten voted for, none voted against).

The Document 7.1.4 (as amended) comprising the Council’s
representations and recommendation is appended to these minutes.

DC/20/04663
Re-consultation
Revised
masterplan and
agent’s email
dated 26/01/21
Land east of the Constable Country Medical Centre, Heath Road, East
Bergholt – Application for approval of reserved matters following outline
approval B/16/01092. Town and Country Planning (Development
Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 – Access, Layout, Scale,
Design, and Landscaping for Mixed-use development including up to 75
dwellings, a pre-school and neighbourhood hub, comprising a swimming

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pool, office space and a local shop, public open space and associated
infrastructure and landscaping as amended by drawings received on 11
November 2016 (omission of school land).

Councillor Miller presented Document 7.1.5 (circulated with the agenda)
comprising the Planning Working Group’s recommended response to the
consultation.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Wombwell and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Council’s representations and
recommendation be as set out in the Document 7.1.5 (circulated with the
agenda) subject to the amendment to the document that the representations
and recommendation were made in addition to those made at the meeting of
12 November 2020.

The Document 7.1.5 (as amended) comprising the Council’s
representations and recommendation is appended to these minutes.

DC/20/05800 The Red Lion, The Street, East Bergholt, CO7 6TB – Planning application.
Erection of 7no 2 bedroom terrace dwellings. 1no garden office building
and 1no store/commercial building. Demolition of toilet block. Car Park
improvements.

The Chairman noted that the applicant, Mr Peachey, had been unable to
establish an internet contact for the Open Public Session of the meeting and it
was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Hurley and
RESOLVED (six vote for, one voted against) that Mr Peachey be allowed to
make representations to the Council.

Mr Peachey said that he had improved the pub which together with the
improved antique shop were beneficial to the village and he wished the car
park to be improved and maintained to a higher standard. He said that at
present it had holes in it and was unsafe. The toilet block was not an attractive
structure and only attracted antisocial behaviour and removal would be
beneficial. The proposed houses met local plan policies. At the pre-app stage
he had sought a larger housing element but had scaled back as he was trying
to do the right thing for the village.

Councillor Miller presented Document 7.1.6 circulated with the agenda
comprising the Planning Working Group’s recommended response to the
consultation.

Councillor Wombwell said he had measured the benefits and disbenefits of the
proposal to the community and had been lobbied primarily by residents living in
the village centre who were concerned about the loss of integrity of the village
heart. On balance he was unable to identify any community benefits from the
proposal.

Councillor Hurley considered that a different constituency of residents had
spoken to him which comprised those who thought that improvement was
necessary. Evidence of antisocial behaviour around the public toilets was
particularly off-putting. Although some members were not aware of actual
instances of such behaviour, Councillor Rothwell said that there was evidence
on the internet.

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Some members considered that a public car park and public toilets at the heart
of the village was a benefit worth preserving.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor Roberts and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Council’s representations and
recommendation be as set out in Document 7.1.6 circulated with the agenda.

The Document 7.1.6 comprising the Council’s representations and
recommendation is appended to these minutes.

8.2 Planning correspondence

The correspondence received from the Local Planning Authority concerning determined planning
applications was NOTED.

9. Correspondence

The correspondence set out in the Correspondence List and circulated with the agenda and subsequently
was considered and NOTED, comprising:

Date Sender Subject
1. 21/01/21 East Bergholt Heartwatch Request for grant aid
2. 29/01/21 AONB Promoting the AONB
3. 29/01/21 Suffolk Resilience Forum Covid-19 Vaccinations
4. 01/02/21 Roger Harden Various matters
5. 05/02/21 Tony Brigden Heath Road application
6. 05/02/21 Charlie Stannett Red Lion application
7. 09/02/21 Babergh DC How to report flooding in Suffolk

Item 1 East Bergholt Heartwatch – It was proposed by Councillor Lansdell, seconded by Councillor Elmer
and RESOLVED (unanimously) that pursuant to Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972, grant aid
of £400 be afforded to East Bergholt Heartwatch.

10. Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee

10.1 Schedule of Payments – It was proposed by Councillor Elmer, seconded by Councillor Lansdell and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that payments due for January 2021 amounting to £6578.28 be approved.

10.2 Bank Reconciliation Statement – The bank reconciliation statement for January 2021 was NOTED.

10.3 CIL Strategy – Councillor Elmer advised that he would circulate a discussion paper in the next week
for consideration at the next meeting

10.4 Bank Accounts – Councillor Rothwell noted that the Council’s accounts with Santander exceeded
the £85,000 guaranteed sum covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Clerk
outlined the difficulties he had experienced in trying to open a new business deposit account which so far
had proved unsuccessful. Any suggestions members may have should be sent to the Clerk who will make
further efforts to open an appropriate account.

10.5 War Memorial – The Chairman reported that District Councillor Hinton had advised that he may be
able to assist with the cost of cleaning the War Memorial from his locality budget, provided application
was made during the current financial year. The Clerk advised that he had been in contact with a funeral

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director who was interested in the project and the Clerk will pursue the matter with a view to an early
conclusion.

11. Other Committee Matters

11.1 Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee – Councillor Lansdell reported that an informal meeting
of the Committee had taken place on 21 January 2021.

11.1.1 ANPR Locations – Following further consideration the Committee considered the appropriate
locations to be:
1. Rectory Hill
2. Heath Road
3. Gaston Street if a 20mph zone were established in the village, or if not, Foxhall Fields.

11.1.2 Suffolk CC Design Guide Consultation – The Council’s response has been submitted.

11.1.3 Red Lion Car Park Drainage – Excavation work has been delayed because of a positive Covid-19
test amongst the workforce. It will be completed as soon as possible.

11.1.4 Village 20mph zone – The Committee considered the experience of Eye Town Council which had
doubts whether the substantial effort to get a zone installed had been worth it in view of the fact that it
was not being policed. The Committee will continue to seek a zone nevertheless.

11.1.5 Village Signage – The Committee thought signage should be part of the tourism element in the
Neighbourhood Plan and that Babergh DC should be consulted for help on how best to encourage the
identity of the Constable connection without the village becoming overwhelmed by tourism. Liaison needs
to take place with the Neighbourhood Plan Committee to establish which committee is best placed to take
this forward.

11.1.6 The Street – Parking – An issue over the blocking of Cemetery Lane by inappropriate parking on
yellow lines had been raised with Suffolk CC which had questioned whether appropriate No Parking
Notices were in place. The Clerk was requested to take this up with Babergh DC as the parking authority.

11.1.7 Dazeley’s Lane Dog Bin Request – Although the Committee was prepared to agree to a dog bin at
a suitable location, Councillor Eley was vehemently opposed regarding it as ‘urbanisation’ and the
Committee will give the matter further consideration.

11.2 Burial Grounds Committee – Councillor Rothwell reported that an informal meeting of the
Committee had taken place on 28 January 2021. There has been a delay on the work to the Churchyard
railings due to inclement weather. Quotations for tree works in the Churchyard and at the Cemetery have
been negotiated down and work is scheduled to commence on 22 February. A long standing sensitive
issue regarding the placing of a bench in the cemetery is continuing and the Chairman will contact the
resident concerned to discuss the feasibility of options.

11.3 Playing Fields Committee – Councillor Woodcock reported that an informal meeting of the
Committee had taken place on 21 January 2021.

11.3.1 East Bergholt Tennis Club – Graham Daldry, Chair of the Tennis Club, attended and explained the
club’s achievements to date and outlined its plans for the future. These involved seeking grants and loans
and discussions were continuing as to how the Council may be able to assist in this regard.

11.3.2 Feedback from Sports Council – Following a meeting on 11 January, the sports groups were
requesting an allocation of CIL money from the Council. Councillor Dent was assisting in the production of
new signage. Quotations had been received for CCTV equipment for the sports ground and buildings.
Quotations had been received to remove damaged cladding from the pavilion and replace with new
cladding.

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11.3.3 Playgrounds – Work on the matters identified in the ROSPA report would commence shortly.

11.3.4 Tesco Bags of Help Grant – An application in aid of the Outdoor Gym scheme will be made subject
to the Council approving the project.

11.4 Neighbourhood Plan Committee – Councillor Cathcart reported that an informal meeting had taken
place on 2 February 2021. Lots of issues were being progressed. Work was continuing with Google
Documents on a trial basis for both the plan and the survey. The Group was looking at an extension of
the Conservation Area. Tony Brigden had done a lot of work on researching ways to carry out the
Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire and how to increase community engagement with the Neighbourhood
Plan. The project was moving forward satisfactorily.

12. Review of Council Policies

The Clerk presented his report upon the review of Standing Orders conducted by the Vice-Chairman of
the Council, Councillor Rothwell and himself. Whilst much of the content of the existing document
remained, the revision had been re-ordered, re-numbered and updated where necessary. Members
sought additional time to consider the document and it was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by
Councillor Rothwell and RESOLVED (unanimously) that consideration be deferred to the next meeting.

13. Outdoor Gym Proposal

Councillor Woodcock presented the proposal which had been deferred at the last meeting. He referred to
evidence from NICE which was in the proposal. This had been taken out of context and he withdrew it. He
added that he should have included material from MIND.

Councillor Woodcock said that initially he was seeking a decision in principle as to whether to install
outdoor gym equipment. If that was approved the Council could go on to consider a suitable location for it.
The Committee had given further consideration to the location having regard to representations from
residents of Notcutts and concluded that the best location was near Gandish Road by the Groundsman’s
garage on the former cricket nets hardstanding. The proposal was for four pieces of equipment at a net
cost of c£5,000.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED (eleven voted
for, one voted against) that in principle the Council approves the installation of outdoor gym equipment at
the Sports Ground.

Resolution to suspend Standing Orders – It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor
Lansdell and RESOLVED (unanimously) that pursuant to Standing Order 5(xx), Standing Order 1(x) be
suspended to enable the meeting to continue beyond the two hour limit.

Consideration was given to the location for the equipment. It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock,
seconded by Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED (nine voted for, one voted against) that the preferred
location be adjacent to the groundsman’s garage and the pedestrian entrance to the Sports Ground.

A further report will be submitted to the next meeting concerning the specifics of the equipment, the cost,
value for money, access for disabled and different sized people and the moveability of the equipment.

14. Verges and Hedgerows

Councillor Eley presented an email from Suffolk County Council Highways Enforcement requesting the
cutting back of hedges/vegetation on East End Road. Photographs accompanied the email. Councillor
Eley stated that he had spent many years looking after hedges and verges, protecting the AONB and
supporting the quiet lanes project. In his experience drivers have no respect for these ambitions and
damage the verges by driving on them. He considered that the County Council was not fully appreciative
of the situation and sought the Parish Council’s support in preserving the hedges and verges. It was

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AGREED (unanimously) that the Parish Clerk should write a supportive letter to the County Council with a
copy to County Councillor Jones, emphasising that hedges and verges are important to the control of
speed on rural roads and integral to the quiet lanes project.

15. Review of the Parish Office

The Clerk’s report had been circulated. It itemised the ways in which over its first year the Parish Office
was becoming established as the Parish Council hub in the village and was more widely known and used
more often by residents. As it became established it was hoped it would play a valuable part in the local
community. The Chairman considered that having an office in the village had proved to be successful and
had provided a base for the Clerk to be in the village and available to residents.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED (unanimously) that
the report be noted and that the Parish Office continue for the remaining two years of the current lease
and be reviewed prior to the termination of the lease.

16. Urgent Communications

16.1 Land adjacent to Hadleigh Road – Mrs Alicia Herbert had urged the Council to hold discussions with
Babergh DC and the Developer to establish whether a footpath could be created from the development
site via the cemetery and the car park whereby school children in particular could avoid the need to use
The Street and Hadleigh Road which were more dangerous. The matter was referred to the Burial
Grounds Committee with assistance from the Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee if required.

16.2 Tree Preservation Orders – At the last meeting Mr Charlie Stannett had urged the Council to seek
TPOs for trees in the car park but there was a wider question of seeking TPOs for trees which contributed
to the character and heritage of the village. The matter was referred to the Roads, Footpaths and Flatford
Committee for consideration.

16.3 National Grid Consultation – County Councillor Gordon Jones informed the Council of a consultation
upon National Grid network options. A new pylon route south of Brantham which could be close to the
A12 was under consideration and this could impact adversely upon East Bergholt if it affected the
‘Constable views’. County Councillor Jones will provide more information after he has been briefed.

16.4 Village database – Councillor Dent reported upon the Neighbourhood Plan Committee idea to create
a village database to improve communication with the community. The matter was referred to the
Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee for consideration, subject to Councillor Cathcart advising
whether the proposal should first be considered by the Neighbourhood Plan Committee.

17. Resolution to exclude the public (including the press)

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Eley and RESOLVED (unanimously) that
pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and the Local Government Act 1972
Sections 100 and 102, the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as publicity would be
prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

18. Confidential Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 14 January 2021

It was proposed by Councillor Lansdell, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED (unanimously) that
the confidential minutes of the meeting of 14 January 2021 be approved as a correct record.

19. Matters arising/updates

Item 18 – The Council’s property interests – The Chairman updated the Council.

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The meeting closed at 10.02 pm.

Date of the next remote Parish Council Meeting – Thursday 11 March 2021 at 7.30pm

Chairman…………………………………………………………………………………….Date………………………………………………..