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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday 9 January 2025 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 M Burns
Councillor S Davies
Councillor P Dent
Councillor R Elmer
Councillor M Hockley
Councillor L Matthews
Councillor J Price
Councillor R Wombwell
Councillor G Woodcock

In Attendance
G White, Parish Clerk
N Reed, Consultant
Seven members of the public

Open Public Session

Sara Wilcock, on behalf of the tennis club, acknowledged and appreciated the further consideration
being given to the project at this meeting by the Parish Council. Together with her colleagues, she
was happy to answer any questions councillors might have.

Rob Smith referred to his submitted correspondence noting that The Red Lion was on the open
market. He considered that the Council should seek to register it as an asset of community value to
deter any potential purchaser from seeking a change of use to residential which he considered
would be a death knell for the village centre.

112.24.25 Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence received from Councillor Hurley, were NOTED.

113.24.25 Declaration of Interests/Dispensations

None.

114.24.25 Minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Hockley and RESOLVED (nine
voted for, none voted against) that the minutes of the meeting of 12 December 2024 be approved
as a correct record.

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115.24.25 Matters Arising/Updates

Minute 104 Website Working Group – Councillor Roberts enquired as to progress with the project.
Councillor Wombwell reported that the new website had now gone live with a soft launch. User
comments would be appreciated and tweaks could be made if potential improvements were
identified. Councillor Wombwell hoped that as the site developed, it would be used in conjunction
with social media output but slightly differently. Social media was best at pushing things out
immediately whereas the website was more considered, more substantial, and contained
background material.

The Chairman said that the Council owed a huge debt of gratitude to Councillor Wombwell for his
very many hours of background and technical work, to Louise Smith, Assistant Clerk for her
significant work on testing and adapting the content, to Councillor Burns for bringing a fresh look to
the site and for her suggestions for improvements and editing content and to Paul Ireland for
developing and maintaining the Parish website for many years. It was proposed by Councillor Miller,
seconded by Councillor Hockley and RESOLVED (unanimously) that the grateful thanks of the
Council be afforded to Councillors Wombwell and Burns, Louise Smith Assistant Clerk and Dr Paul
Ireland for their contributions towards the success of the website project.

Minute 100 District Councillor’s report – Councillor Roberts referred to the report promised by
Councillor Matthews but which was not on the agenda for this meeting. Councillor Matthews said
she will report to the next meeting.

Councillor Matthews gave a brief summary of the themes for the recent drop-in sessions and details
of the numbers attending. An average of 4-6 people had attended the autumn sessions. Councillor
Matthews advised that a new season of events, some social, some advisory had been developed
and a meeting with other village organisations, to see how this work might combine with other
groups, was arranged for 27 January. Councillor Roberts thought the programme should be
advertised via the new website.

116.24.25 County and District Councillors’ Reports

The report from County Councillor Hall had been circulated and was NOTED. The Chairman said
that if any councillors had any questions for County Councillor Hall arising out of her report, they
should email her direct (copying in the clerk).

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

The new National Planning Policy Framework requires Babergh to build 755 houses per year rather
than 416 on which the JPL is currently based. As a result, Babergh has been advised by the
examiner that it now needs to produce a new Local Plan which will incorporate a revised version of
the current Part 1. Part 2 has to be halted as the additional housing requirement will mean a
fundamental review of the spatial strategy and allocations, The Plan will run to 2044 and Babergh
will have to complete the new plan process in 30 months.

District Councillor Davies considered it inevitable that the new Neighbourhood Plan will have to take
the additional housing requirement into account. Indeed, the District Council may suggest numbers
to Parish Councils and if sites are not proposed, they may have to be imposed as the additional
houses required by central government are mandatory.

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Councillor Price noted that the requirements of the disabled were not really addressed by new build
developers with such matters as internal door widths sufficient for wheelchairs often being
overlooked. District Councillor Davies said that she fundamentally disagreed with just a numbers-
based approach and Councillor Price wondered if the Neighbourhood Plan review could lead on
this. The Chairman added that the new Neighbourhood Plan needs to meet the Council’s and local
community needs. Councillor Matthews asked how the Neighbourhood Plan would link now with
Babergh Having to start again on the JLP. Councillor Roberts said the neighbourhood plan would be
approved with Babergh DC’s involvement which should achieve alignment but did question the
sense of Babergh beginning again on a new JLP if in one year Babergh DC had disappeared as a
result of the Government’s devolution plans.District Councillor Davies said the question had been
asked many times in recent weeks but for now the District Council must carry on regardless and
work towards the completion of a local plan.

The Chairman said the Parish Council would keep a watching brief on what Babergh does though
service on a day-to-day basis needs to continue despite pressures. She thanked District Councillor
Davies for her contribution.

117.24.25 Correspondence

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

Date

Sender Subject
1. 16/12/24 Babergh DC Well People, Healthy Places Fund
2. 18/12/24 Anglian Water Flooding – Who to contact
3. 22/12/24 Suffolk Police Burglaries, Theft, Crime Prevention
4. 29/12/24 East Bergholt Heartwatch Request for grant aid
5. 30/12/24 Rob Smith Red Lion
6. 3-7/01/25 Jonathan Peachey Red Lion Car Park
7. 07/01/25 Babergh DC Joint Local Plan Update
8. 08/01/25 Babergh DC Joint Local Plan and Devolution.

Item 1 Babergh initiative – Councillor Matthews considered this initiative to be just what the
Council needs. The Chairman said that a funding bid on behalf of the Council could either be
submitted to the next meeting or if the deadline had expired by then, a circular email to all
councillors would enable views to be obtained. This initiative should also be publicised on the
website and Facebook.

Item 3 Heartwatch – It was proposed by Councillor Hockley, seconded by Councillor
Matthews and RESOLVED (unanimously) that pursuant to Section 1 of the Localism Act
2011, a grant of £500 be awarded to East Bergholt Heartwatch.

Items 5 and 6 Red Lion – The Chairman referenced Rob Smith’s correspondence (Item 5) in
which Mr Smith exhorts the Council to establish a strategy to maintain the asset as part of the
village in the future and that over the last few months, via the good offices of the Chief
Executive of Babergh DC, Mr Peachey and the Parish Council have signed an agreement
which may lead to the sale of the car park and the pub back land to the Council. At its last
meeting the Council agreed that such agreement be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the

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Council. The Council is now awaiting to hear from the Babergh CEO as to the impact of Mr
Peachey placing the land on the open market after the signing of the agreement, whilst the
Council was under the impression that it was a sole purchaser and hence the conditions
precedent. Clarity upon the situation is required urgently.

The Chairman noted Mr Smith’s comments and wondered whether the Council ought to
pursue the acquisition of whole estate or just the back land and the car park. The Council
discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the wider acquisition in order to ensure the
future of the pub against the risk of this important heart of the village facility being converted to
to residential use. The Council AGREED to explore the purchase of the whole.

In the meantime, it was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Elmer and
RESOLVED (seven voted for, four voted against) that a community nomination be submitted
to register the Red Lion as an asset of community value.

118.24.25 Planning

118.1 Planning Applications received

The Council considered the planning applications received from the Local Planning Authority
since the last meeting as follows:

DC/24/05403 Land at Flatford Road, East Bergholt – Notification of works to
trees in a conservation area – Deadwood clen of Oak tree (T1),
Removal of Silver Birch tree (T2) and reduction by up to 2m of
Silver Birch tree (T3).

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Roberts
and RESOLVED (eleven voted for, one voted against), that refusal be
recommended as there is insufficient information in the application to
enable a positive recommendation to be made. Full justification is
required for the removal of trees in a conservation area and no
explanation is provided in this application. More detail of the proposal is
required in respect of the trees T1 and T3 and justification is required
for the removal of T2.

DC24/05202 Oak Farm Barns, Hadleigh Road, Holton St Mary, CO7 6NW –
Application to determine if Prior Approval is required for a
proposed Change of Use of Agricultural Buildings to
Dwellinghouses (C3) and for building operations reasonably
necessary for conversion. Town and Country Planning (General
Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 as amended
Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q –
Conversion of 2no agricultural buildings into 2no dwellings.

NB re-consultation due to amended address from Oaks Farm
House to Oaks Farm Barns.

Recommendation 12/12/24 RESOLVED (five voted for, three voted

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against) that it be agreed that prior approval should be granted.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor
Matthews and RESOLVED (eight voted for, none voted against) that
the Council’s recommendation of 12/12/24 be endorsed.

118.2 Planning Correspondence

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

119.24.25 CIL Award – Parish Council Project (Tennis Club)

The Chairman presented her report which had been circulated. Planning Permission for the
development had now been granted. However, the costs of the project had risen from £120k
to £209k due to various factors itemised in the report.

Babergh DC’s CIL team is recommending an award of £100k and the Parish Council has
approved a CIL award of £25k and a pre-application contribution of £5k. The Tennis Club is
contribution £60k plus £7k from volunteer work. This totals £197k and a further CIL award of
£12k is now sought to finalise the project costs.

Councillors Wombwell and Roberts both expressed concern on the costs escalation on this
project. Councillor Roberts asked that the building costs be capped at those in the chosen
contractor’s quote to which the Chairman agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Woodcock and RESOLVED
(eleven voted for, none voted against) that a further award from Parish CIL funds of £12,000
be assigned to this project.

120.24.15 Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee

120.1 Schedule of Payments and Income – It was proposed by Councillor Roberts,
seconded by Councillor Hockley and RESOLVED (unanimously) that the schedule of
payments and income and the bank transfer be noted and the payments due for
December 2024 amounting to £24,475.85 be approved.

120.2 Bank Reconciliation Statement – The bank reconciliation statement for December
2024 was NOTED.

120.3 Budget Monitor 2024/25 Q3 – The Clerk presented his report and the accompanying
spreadsheets for the Budget Monitor up to the end of the third quarter of the 2024/25
financial year. The report was NOTED.

120.4 Budget and Precept 2025/26 – The Clerk presented his report and accompanying
spreadsheets upon the budget and precept for 2025/26. Each committee budget had
been formulated by the relevant committee and submitted to Strategy, Policy and
Finance Committee which recommended to Council a total Council budget of
£207,383.50 which is 0.65% more than in the previous year. This is funded by the
precept, income and reserves.

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Whilst the precept for 2025/26 has risen from £148,000 to £160,000, this still
represents a saving to Band D Council Tax payers of 1.89% or £2.41, down from
£127.62 to £125.20. This is because the tax base upon which the Council Tax is
calculated has increased by 10% due to additional residents in the village.

It was proposed by Councillor Elmer, seconded by Councillor Roberts and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:

(i) The Budget for 2025/26 in the sum of £207,383.50 be approved;

(ii) The Precept for 2025/26 in the sum of £160,000 be approved;

(iii) Reserves in the sum of up to £34,883.50 be earmarked to support the budget
once the precept has been exhausted;

(iv) For 2025/26 the Council’s employees be awarded the national pay award and
any incremental advance which may be appropriate to their grading.

121.24.25 Reports from Council Representatives on Outside Bodies

Constable Hall Management Committee – Councillor Price reported that four
organisations, East Bergholt WI, Stour Valley U3A, East Bergholt Cinema and District
Councillor Davies through her locality fund, had provided funds for the black box
installation in Constable Hall. The intention of the equipment is to provide a user-friendly
interface to make the cinema projector available to the wider community.

East Bergholt Community Land Trust – Councillor Matthews reported that there had been
no meeting since the last Parish Council meeting.

East Bergholt/Barbizon Twinning Association – The Chairman reported that the visit from
Barbizon was scheduled for May/June in the 46
th
year of the twinning association. Over
the years visits by a number of children from both East Bergholt and Barbizon had been
arranged and this year a year 9 pupil from East Bergholt was spending this half term at
school in Barbizon and was hosted by a Barbizon twinner.

East Bergholt Futures – Councillor Woodcock had nothing to report.

East Bergholt Society – The Chairman reported that the Society’s first public meeting had
been very successful with an attendance of 60/70 people and a moving presentation
about soldiers from East Bergholt who fought and died in the world wars. The next
meeting on 21 February will have a presentation from Adrian James upon the Brazier
Map.

East Bergholt Sports Council – Councillor Woodcock reported that the Playing Fields
Committee was meeting representatives of the Sports Council to clarify responsibilities of
the Parish Council and the Sports Clubs. The Parish Council Cricket Club project had
been successful in its CIL bid to Babergh and an application for a top-up award from
Parish CIL funds is likely. The Pavilion floor is now being laid.

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SALC – Councillor Davies and SALC were aware of a group of communities getting
together to develop a community energy scheme. She thought it time that the Parish
Council got involved.

Council Nominated Trustees to Outside Bodies

East Bergholt United Charities – Councillor Hockley reported that a meeting had taken
place and the Trustees had declined the invitation to meet the Parish Council.

Lettice Dykes Foundation – Councillor Woodcock reported that there has been no
meeting since the last report.

Lambe School – Councillor Elmer reported that the next meeting of Trustees was
imminent.

122.24.25 Urgent Communications

Councillor Davies outlined the issues at the RSPB reserve at Flatford where costs are
outstretching income and RSPB can no longer fund the reserve in a sustainable manner
and will have to give it up. Legal advice is being taken on how best to transfer the reserve
to another suitable party and Councillor Davies will keep the Council informed.

123.24.25 Resolution to exclude the public (including the press)

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Allen 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.

124.24.25 Minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Burns and RESOLVED
(nine voted for, none voted against) that the confidential minutes of the meeting of 12
December 2024 be approved as a correct record.

125.24.25 Matters arising/updates

None

126.24.25 Personnel Issue

The council determined an issue concerning a member of staff.

The meeting closed at 10 pm.

Date of the next Council Meeting – Thursday 13 February 2025 at The Lambe School.

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