East Bergholt Parish Council Chair’s Report, 11.12.25

On 27 Nov we held an all-councillors workshop to discuss the recommendations made
by the CEO of SALC relating to conduct of council meetings and to discuss future
council priority projects for CIL and other funding. Recommendations from the
workshop are outlined at item 11 on the agenda. However the funding for the Lambe
School kitchen refurbishment was not included in the projects discussed, and having
been approved in principle by the council the funding of 100% needs to be added to the
Counicl project priorities.

I met with Douglas Bourn, Chair of Dedham Parish Council, He was inviting us to
cooperate on events to celebrate the 250
th
anniversary of John Constable’s birth in
2026. I was able to show him the new website page we have created to advertise such
events and invited him to share details of Dedham events that we can display on the
same page. His working plan at the moment is an evening presentation on Constable
and the environment interspersed with musical performances. Douglas will attend the
next In Our View working group meeting. I have also invited Brantham PC Chair to be
included in the events.

We have heard from Persimmons homes that they are intending to develop a field south
of Slough Road in Brantham, but bordering on EB, for homes including affordable hoes. I
will be talking to Mal Bridgeman, Chair of Brantham PC, about this development.

The Barbizon Twinning group held a quiz evening on 22 Nov and made over £1000 in
funds to be put towards the costs of the next visit to Barbizon in 2027. I have also
contacted the Barbizon Chair of their twinning group to see if they are interested in
joining in our Constable 250 celebrations. Barbizon are organizing their own Constable
250 exhibition and we may be able to help with photographs, etc.

The police forum was hosted in East Bergholt on 3 Dec and 4 councillors were present.
We spoke about traffic and other village issues. The Inspector had just come from a
meeting of Brantham PC where they were considering the appointment of a local CPO,
funded by the local PC. There may be an opportunity for EB to share this opportunity
and costs with Brantham if councillors wish? I have written to Mal Bridgeman to ask him
what Brantham’s next steps will be.

There has been a virtual meeting with Babergh officers who are supporting in principle
the proposals of the PC to increase the conservation area in EB. Boundaries have yet to
be agreed with Babergh but the officers are fully engaged and will be putting forward a
timetable to allow for outline consultation with the village in Feb-March 2026 and formal
consultation in May – June. Regular meetings with Babergh officers have been put into
the diary to ensure the momentum continues.

Joan Miller, 11.12.25