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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 12 June 2025 at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor J Miller (Chair of the Council)
Councillor N Roberts (Vice-Chair of the Council)
Councillor R Allen
Councillor M Burns
Councillor S Davies
Councillor P Dent
Councillor R Elmer
Councillor M Hockley
Councillor M Hurley
Councillor L Matthews
Councillor J Price

In Attendance
G White, Parish Clerk
One member of the public

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

Joyce Baker commented that the work which had been carried out on Flatford Road had
made matters worse and water was streaming down the road.

Councillor Price said that Suffolk Highways had undertaken an investigation and the ditch
they had dug out was designed to link with the manhole on the other side of the road. Lots of
water was coming down the pipe but it was blocked with tree roots. Suffolk Highways had
tried to jet it but had been unsuccessful. The do not believe the water flowing down is spring
water but water from Gandish Road/White Horse Road. Councillor Price hoped that when
the roots are cut out of the pipe, the unimpeded flow will resolve the problem. Sweeping the
road is a job for Babergh DC. If the gullies are kept clear the system should work. Leaves in
the gullies are a matter for Suffolk Highways.

Councillor Hockley thought there was a break in the pipe higher up and Councillor Price
acknowledged that there could be.

Joyce Baker was resigned to awaiting the outcome of the works.

25.25.26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence received from Councillor Woodcock and County Councillor Hall were
NOTED.

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26.25.26 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST S OR DISPENSATIONS

None.

27.25.26 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING OF 8 MAY 2025

It was proposed by Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Roberts and RESOLVED
(nine voted for, none voted against) that the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting of 8 May
2025 be approved as a correct record.

28.25.26 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISHIONERS MEETING OF 8 MAY 2025

Councillor Roberts noted a typographical error Page 2 Para 5 Line 3 ‘discussedany’ should
be ‘discussed’.

It was proposed by Councillor Burns, seconded by Councillor Roberts and RESOLVED (nine
voted for, none voted against) that subject to the correction of the above typographical error,
the minutes of the Annual Parishioners’ Meeting of 8 May 2025 be approved as a correct
record.

29.25.26 MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES

Minute 12 Item 5 – The Chair reported that she had met the Chair of Brantham Parish
Council and had resolved the misunderstanding regarding the grant request and refusal. She
also reported that they had held a good conversation on a wider basis. Brantham was just
starting work on a Neighbourhood Plan and it would be profitable to work together on site
allocations which are likely to be up to the boundary between the two parishes. The Chairs
will meet again in the autumn for a catch-up conversation. The Chair had been alerted to a
new forum for Shotley Peninsula which had been formed by the three parishes in that
location which are likely to go to Ipswich if a three unitary solution proceeds. As East
Bergholt and surrounding parishes may suffer similarly it might be beneficial to collaborate
with the forum.

Local Government Reorganisation – Consultations are being undertaken by Babergh DC and
Suffolk CC but they are not working together and as all parish councils do not favour a single
Suffolk unitary it is hard to speak to Suffolk CC. The Districts except Ipswich want two
unitaries, East and West Suffolk though Ipswich is seeking three unitaries. However, the
Ipswich population is too small to sustain a unitary authority without significant hinterland
being included. No boundaries for any of the multiple unitaries have yet been revealed. The
Chair considered it risky to support a three unitary solution as the housing need for Ipswich
was bound to spill over into the hinterland.

A meeting was scheduled for 23 June with the Leader and CEO of Babergh DC which the
chair will attend along with Councillors Roberts and Price. District Councillor Davies will also
attend.

Minute 10 – Nomination of Trustees to outside bodies – Councillor Roberts enquired whether
the Chair had contacted former councillor Wombwell concerning his trusteeship of Lettice
Dykes. The Chair apologised for not having done so but will do so before the next meeting.

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30.25.26 COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

County Councillor Hall had apologised for non-attendance due to attendance at another
parish council meeting within her electoral division. Her reports for May and June which had
been circulated were noted. The Chair advised that if any member had any questions for
County Councillor Hall, they should contact her direct.

Councillor Hurley reported that Suffolk CC Cabinet had made a decision to change the flag
flying policy at Endeavour House so that only the Union flag, the County flag and armed
forces flags would be flown. This was said to be in the interests of promoting Suffolk
traditions and values.

June was Pride month and for many years the Pride flag had been flown during that month
and Councillor Hurley considered it to be callous and ill-timed to change the policy so close
to June. This suggests that Suffolk traditions and values are not welcoming to minorities.
Suffolk values are on the Suffolk CC website and include Equality which the Cabinet
appears to have disregarded.

District Councillor Davies said that Babergh which is also located in Endeavour House had
not been consulted and was being tarnished by association.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Matthews and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that Councillor Hurley be requested to draft a letter on behalf of the Council to
Suffolk CC asking why the change had been made and to reconsider the matter.

The Clerk was requested to write to County Councillor Hall asking how many of the 6,000
EV charging points proposed for Suffolk would be in East Bergholt.

District Councillor Davies presented her report which had been circulated and expanded
upon it.

She encouraged the Council and the village to participate in the Babergh consultation upon
Devolution. She commented that at liaison meetings thus far one unitary was not at all
popular and encouraged the Council to engage in boundary discussions.

The new Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan preparation will start in March 2029. Prior
to that the evidence base will be compiled. Babergh had 3,400 extant planning permissions
but only 40 were being built out at present and developers were likely to be pressurised to
commence building houses. The Government is pressing on with reducing democracy in
planning by making more applications determinable by officers, in the interests of speeding
up the planning process, though the latest announcement to provide no financial support to
neighbourhood plan groups was not welcomed.

District Councillor Davies referred to her report upon Babergh DC’s review of CIL policy by a
panel of which she was a member. Its recommendations will be considered by Babergh
Council imminently.

With a Babergh call for sites on the horizon, Councillor Roberts enquired when new housing
numbers will be embraced by the Local Plan being prepared during 2026-2029. Will Babergh
DC’s new allocations be available in advance of 2029 to inform the Neighbourhood Plan and

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is there any likelihood that Babergh DC might not meet its five year housing land supply
during the 2026-29 period when the plan is still in preparation? District Councillor Davies will
find out.

District Councillor Davies confirmed to Councillor Matthews that shared ownership dwellings
on current developments qualify as affordable housing.

31.25.26 CASUAL VACANCY

The Chair reported that at the Extraordinary Council Meeting earlier in the week four
excellent candidates were interviewed for the vacancy on the Parish Council. There was
much enthusiasm from councillors for all the candidates. Each was considered having
regard to their perceived strengths and weaknesses and what they had to offer the Council
and the village. After due consideration the Council resolved that Robert Smith be invited to
be co-opted to the Parish Council to serve a term of office up to the next election in May
2027.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Roberts and RESOLVED that
the decision of the Council (sitting as an appointments panel) be approved and adopted.

The Chair will write to Committee Chairs to ask whether any would wish to invite any of the
unsuccessful candidates to become non-voting members of their committee(s). N.B. Chairs
would need to work together to ensure any invitations were not all sent to the same person.

32.25.26 CORRESPONDENCE

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

Date Sender Subject
1. 08/05/25 Brantham Scout and Guide
Group
Recruitment of Trustees
2. 13/05/25 Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wilder Communities Events Programme
3. 15/05/25 County Councillor Hall Education answers from SCC
4. 16/05/25 Babergh DC Listed Building Consultation Notification
5. 21/05/25 Lighthouse Women’s Aid Thanks for grant aid
6. 25/05/25 Babergh East Police and
Parish Forum
Meeting minutes 19/03/25
7. 27/05/25 Babergh DC Consultation on proposed revised CIL
Charging Schedules
8. 29/05/25 District Councillor Davies SCC answers on EV charging questions
9. 03/06/25 EB Bowls Club Bowls Club Shed – Thanks to Parish
Council
10. 04/06/25 UK Power Networks Drone Surveys
11. (undated) Cllr John Ward, Leader BDC Shaping Suffolk Together
12. 9-10/06/25 Council Chair/Co-op Correspondence re Co-op closure/move
13. 10/06/25 SALC SCC budget proposals and re-
organisation survey.

Item 1 – The Chair advised members who might have anyone in mind to contact Julie Price
direct.

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Items 2 – Councillor Matthews thought the Trust may be interested in Old Hall.

Item 3 – Councillor Hockley enquired if the nursery behind the new co-op store was going to
be built. The Chair said that it was in the approved planning permission so should be unless
Hills put in a revised application.

School in relation to East Bergholt Residents – Both schools are too big for our catchment
area alone and take approximately 50% of pupils from Ipswich. This ensures the school
classes are full. However, with the new residential developments new families are coming to
the village and unless children are of the right age at the right time of year they will not get
allocated to East Bergholt schools as the classes have been filled with children from outside
the catchment area. The school allocation procedure leaves no room for new people coming
to the village and the schools/SCC should either keep spaces free or plan for extra classes.
The Chair will write to County Councillor Hall.

Item 12 – The Chair confirmed that the current Co-op store will close on 29 July and the new
one will open on 30 July.

Councillor Roberts noted that there were often items in correspondence which should be
further publicised via the website and/or social media. He identified six such items from this
month’s list. The Clerk will arrange this via the Assistant Clerk and the Media Consultant.

The Chair reported that the Government had approved remote and hybrid meetings and
limited proxy voting for councils and committees. Legislation is required to implement these
measures and when in place the Council will need to develop a policy for implementation in
East Bergholt.

33.25.26 PLANNING

33.1 Planning Consultations received

DC/24/04060 Land adjacent to Oranges and Lemons Café, Rectory
Hill, East Bergholt, CO7 6TL – Planning Application –
Erection of 1 no two-storey dwelling.

Notice of appeal to be determined by written
representations.

All representations must be received by Planning
Inspectorate by 13/06/25.

The Council had already submitted detailed reasons for
refusal to Babergh DC which will be passed on to the
Planning Directorate.

Notwithstanding, it was proposed by Councillor Miller,
seconded by Councillor Matthews and RESOLVED that the
Council should repeat its objections to the Planning
Inspectorate and add that the property is on a bus route
thereby exacerbating the traffic issues raised in the objection.

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DC/25/02079 Richardsons Farm, Gaston Street, East Bergholt, CO7
6SB – Householder application – Erection of two storey
extension following demolition of existing single storey
boot room and plant room and internal and external
alterations.

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, Seconded by
Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED (ten vote for, one voted
against) that approval be recommended.

DC/25/02080225/0202192 Richardsons Farm, Gaston Street, East Bergholt, CO7
6SB – Application for listed building consent – Erection
of two storey extension following demolition of existing
single storey boot room and plant room and internal and
external alterations.

The Council is content to leave this decision to heritage
experts and has no comment to make.

DC/25/02192 Bedside Manor, Rectory Hill, East Bergholt, CO7 6TH –
Notification of works to trees in a conservation area – T1
Sycamore – Fell to ground level and grind stump.

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by
Councillor Miller and RESOLVED (seven voted for, two voted
against) that subject to a condition that a new tree be planted
close to the location of the subject tree, approval be
recommended.

DC/25/02224 1 Hicks Way, East Bergholt, CO7 6DB – Application for
consent to display an advertisement(s) – Installation of
1no wall mounted illuminated fascia sign and 1no
illuminated projecting sign.

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by
Councillor Hurley and RESOLVED (ten vote for, one voted
against) that subject to a condition that the signs are
illuminated only as necessary only during opening hours,
approval be recommended.

DC/25/01958 63, Chaplin Road, East Bergholt, CO7 6RN – Householder
application – Installation of a pitched roof to existing flat
roof car port.

This application should not have been validated as one of the
plans attached was for a different application entirely. In
addition the replacement drawing lacked the necessary detail
to make any judgment of the application’s merit.

33.2 Planning Correspondence

The correspondence received from the Local Planning Authority as set out on the planning
list, concerning determined applications was NOTED.

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34.25.26 STRATEGY, POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

34.1 Schedule of Payments and Income -The Clerk presented his report and answered
questions upon it. It was proposed by Councillor Elmer, seconded by Councillor Miller and
RESOLVED (unanimously), that the schedule of payments and income and the bank
transfer be noted and the payments due in May 2025 amounting to £49,567.42 be approved.

34.2 Bank Reconciliation Statement – The bank reconciliation statement for May 2025 was
NOTED.

34.3 Internal Audit Report 2024/25 and Annual Governance and Accountability Return
(AGAR) 2024/25 – The Clerk presented the Internal Audit report and his report listing the
Internal Auditor’s recommendations and how they were to be addressed. The AGAR for
2024/25 was submitted for approval.

It was proposed by Councillor Hockley, seconded by Councillor Roberts and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that the Internal Audit report be noted and the Clerk’s responses to the
Internal Auditor’s recommendations be approved.

It was proposed by Councillor Matthews, seconded by Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that the AGAR 2024/25 be approved.

35.25.26 OTHER COMMITTEE MATTERS

Burial Grounds Committee – Councillor Hurley reported that a recent burial had comprised a
large American-style coffin, the first in the cemetery. The Clerk added that the earth piled on
top of the grave was excessively large and he had arranged with the groundsmen for this to
be reduced in the near future. At its next meeting the committee will consider measures to
ensure this does not happen again, for example looking at a maximum size for coffins.

Neighbourhood Plan Committee – Councillor Davies reported that the changes to the
Neighbourhood Plan text sought by the Council at the Extraordinary meeting on 3 April were
being incorporated by the consultants.

The next step is to address the extra sites for housing. She had discussed this with the
Babergh Planning Strategy officer who had suggested it would be better to pre-empt the
outcome of the spatial planning review and consideration was being given to incorporating
additional sites.

Playing Fields Committee – Councillor Hockley reported that the dry weather had enabled
lots of cricket, bowls and tennis matches to take place. The playing field needs to be
resprayed with plantone.

The cricket project is proceeding well though there is currently a delay with the mat and the
availability of the yarn which stiches it together. It will be a top class facility when completed.

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Babergh DC has inspected the recycling bin twice and on both occasions found it to contain
some non-recyclable material sufficient for Babergh to decline to empty the bin. The Sports
Council will consider this because if a private contractor is engaged to empty the bin there
will be a significant charge.

The Chair reported that the Tennis Club project is underway with groundworks, trenchwork
and utilities taking place. The containers should be delivered in July. Councillor Hockley
urged regular liaison with John Hambrook to ensure that the works would not adversely
interfere with the other clubs’ activities. The Chair reported that the project manager had met
with the Chair of the Sports Council during the week and they had agreed the process for the
trench work.

Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee – Councillor Price reported that Rupert Eley had
been in touch concerning his field adjacent to Gandish Road where there was no dropped
kerb. It was suggested that he take the matter up with County Councillor Hall.

Councillor Price had met Melanie Hall and both an SCC and Police traffic officers.
Concerning the Gandish Road/Straight Road junction with the B1070, the SCC officers saw
little prospect of a speed limit reduction due to the rural nature of the road. However, it was
possible to put Stop markings instead of Give Way marking on the roads abutting the B1070.

It transpired that the recent accident on Touchy Hill had not been directly at the blind bend
which removed the lever for a speed limit reduction.

Discussion had taken place in respect of the White Horse Road junction and pedestrian
crossing points and Stop lines and signs were raised. The Council referred this back to RFF
committee for a plan to be developed which could be publicised to gauge public reaction.

Young People Committee – Councillor Davies reported that the committee was
concentrating on the establishment of the Youth Club. There had been some teething
problems but by week eight attendance had risen to about 20 per week. Use of Constable
Hall was running smoothly. Initially there had been a lack of advertising at the High School
but it was still early days and the committee was hopeful that the club would get better and
better as it becomes established.

The committee is also working to obtain an analysis of the number of children in the village.
who are under 5.

Community Services – Councillor Matthews reported that the next event will be on 10 July at
the Lambe School, when the focus will be on Families. The Council agreed that the event
could be advertised in Brantham, Capel, Stratford St Mary and Bentley.

Councillor Matthews added that she would be attending the Police and Parish Forum on 25
July and if members had any items to raise, they should let her know.

36.25.26 SUMMER FAIR

Councillor Burns presented her report which had been circulated and advised the Council
that the arrangements for the event were progressing well as set out in the report. Publicity
for the Fair was now beginning to be laid out and Councillor Burns thanked Councillor Dent

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for posting notices around the village. Some minor additional expenditure was identified in
the report and was approved by the Council.

The Parish Council will have a stall at the Fair focused primarily on Devolution, and the Chair
sought volunteers to help her run it. Councillors Hurley, Dent, Davies and Burns volunteered.

The final meeting of the working group was scheduled for 24 June and Councillor Hockley,
Chair of the Playing Field Committee, was invited to attend.

37.25.26 MEETING DATES

The report from the Assistant Clerk setting out revised meeting dates for the Strategy, Policy
and Finance Committee was considered. The Committee will meet every two months rather
than quarterly as the gap between meetings was proving to be too great. The report was
noted and approved.

38.25.26 URGENT COMMUNICATIONS

Councillor Price referred to the Constable 250 celebrations in the week 8-14 June 2026 in
which Constable Hall wishes to feature prominently and has cleared the diary for that work to
enable related events to take place. However, Constable Hall needs someone to co-ordinate
events and wondered if the Parish Council can assist. Councillors Miller and Burns agreed to
undertake the role.

39.25.26 RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC (INCLUDING THE PRESS)

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Davies and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and the
Local Government Act 1972 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.

40.24.25 UPDATE

The Chair updated the Council on matters pertaining to the Car Park and the Council
determined its next course of action.

The meeting closed at 11.02 pm

Chair……………………………………………… Date…………………………………

Date of next meeting Thursday 10 July 2025