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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday 10 August 2023 at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor N Roberts (Vice-Chairman of the Council)
Councillor S Davies
Councillor P Dent
Councillor R Elmer
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
Two members of the public

The Vice-Chairman in the Chair.

Open Public Session

The members of the public present were invited to speak but declined.

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies received from Councillors Miller and Allen and from County Councillor Hall were
NOTED.

2. Declaration of Interests/Dispensations

None.

3. Minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Rothwell, seconded by Councillor Woodcock and RESOLVED
(eight voted for, none voted against) that the minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting
on 12 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

It was proposed by Councillor Wombwell, seconded by Counc illor Matthews and
RESOLVED (eight voted for, none voted against) that subject to an amendment to Minute 9
East Bergholt United Charities; delete ‘Sadly a trustee had died recently’ insert ‘Sadly a
resident had died recently resulting in a vacancy’, the minutes of the Council meeting of 13
July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

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It was proposed by Councillor Hurley, seconded by Councillor Rothwell and RESOLVED
(ten voted for, none voted against) that the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting of
27 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

4. Matters Arising/Updates

27 July 2023 Open Public Session – Councillor Dent enquired whether Mr Peachey had
agreed with the minute. The Clerk stated that he had not been invited to comment on the
minute though he had written to say that in his opinion the minute was inaccurate.

13 July 2023 Minute 6 Item 5 – Councillor Woodcock reported on the MP’s roundtable
meeting concerning litter on the A12 corridor at which he had represented the Parish
Council. It had emerged that the Highway Authority was not responsible for litter in this
location. Twelve inspectors rated litter on the A12 and A14 in categories A (the best) to D
(the worst) and reported back to the relevant District Councils. Those with ratings C and D
were attended to subject to manpower availability. James Cartlidge MP said he would write
to the relevant Minister to assert that National Highways should be responsible for litter
removal on these roads. He considered that the situation would be improved with cameras in
the major lay-bys, bigger bins and solar compaction bins. Meanwhile the Highway Authority
would advise when highway closures would take place so enabling litter pickers to move in.

13 July 2023 Minute 6 Item 1 – Councillor Wombwell reported on the meeting on 19 July
regarding the National Grid pylon route consultation. This comprised a presentation by
National Grid which was picketed by anti-pylon groups.

East Bergholt is not directly affected as the pylons would be located underground through
the AONB but the pylons would be visible as soon as the route left the immediate area. They
would be taller than ten London buses. The Council was being asked by the Parish Councils
directly affected to offer its support to them in opposing the route.

The Chairman noted that the Council had already agreed to respond to the consultation to
say it was opposed to the pylons and supported the sea route. All the local authorities at
every tier in East Anglia were opposed to the pylons and the Council should endorse its
stated position.

Councillor Woodcock said that even if routed underground through the AONB the trench
would still affect East Bergholt. Councillor Wombwell added that the trench would be 30m
wide and would affect the crops on top.

Councillor Price said he could not support the sea route as it would require a much bigger
trench and would be much more complex to install and maintain and he would abstain.

Councillor Wombwell noted that it was a complex issue for which plans were well advanced.
He was concerned that this was such a big national infrastructure project that the impact of
local authority views may be negligible. Nevertheless, it was proposed by Councillor
Wombwell, seconded by Councillor Roberts and RESOLVED (seven voted for, none voted
against), that the Council endorses it opposition to the pylons and supports the initiative to
oppose the pylons.

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Councillor Wombwell had taken from the presentation 1100 leaflets from the groups
opposing the pylons for circulation in the village and Councillors Wombwell, Matthews, Elmer
Roberts, Hockley and Rothwell volunteered to circulate the leaflets.

13 July 2023 Open Public Session – The Chairman referred to the representations from Alex
Gardner and noted that in the last month there had been no improvement. The matter had
been referred to the Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee and should be considered at
its forthcoming meeting.

13 July Minute 7.5 – The Chairman reported that Application DC/23/00740 had not been
considered by Babergh DC Planning Committee on 26 July due to the submission of more
documents but was now scheduled for the Committee meeting on 23 August. He would
represent the Council and liaise with District Councillor Davies. The Clerk was requested to
seek confirmation that the application would be dealt with at that meeting.

5. County and District Councillors’ Reports

There was no County Councillor report this month.

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

Both Babergh and Mid Suffolk DCs were opposing the pylons.

With regard to the earth bund adjacent to the Heath Road development, District Councillor
Davies feared the developer would seek additional residential permission beyond the bund
as it comprised a different site. The Chairman considered it to be remiss of Babergh to allow
the bund to be located outside the approved site. District Councillor Davies was tracking the
matter and had asked if the bund would be subject to a separate application. The Clerk was
requested to make a similar enquiry.

District Councillor Davies was still awaiting a response from the Enforcement Officer who
had said in October 2022 that legal advice was being sought concerning the felling of the
oak trees on the site.

The Chairman thanked District Councillor Davies for her contribution.

6. Correspondence

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

Date

Sender Subject
1. 21/07/23 AONB Seasonal Ranger
2. 22/07/23 Councillor Rothwell Ivan’s Bench
3. 01/08/23 Babergh DC Councillor’s Briefing – August
4. 02/08/23 Tony Brigden Congregational Church

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5. 03/08/12 Lloyd Rehman & Co CPO decision re Red Lion Car Park

Item 4 – Councillor Davies noted that Mr Brigden’s comments were a point of view, but the
Council needs to be aware of what liabilities the acquisition of the property might present
before it is in a position to put a proposal to the village. The decision to seek a structural
survey was a necessary preliminary.

Councillor Elmer noted that no specific sum had been allocated for the Congregational
Church merely that they could help to fund a project but that would require a specific
decision in that, having regard to other competing initiatives.

In response to a question from Councillor Dent, the Chairman said that the village would be
consulted when the Council has sufficient information to establish whether acquisition is
viable. At present the Council is still at the investigation stage.

Item 5 – The letter from Mr Peachey’s solicitors which concerned the disclosure of a
confidential minute pursuant to a freedom of information request was noted. The Clerk will
respond to it in due course.

The Chairman considered that this matter had been blown out of proportion and to save
further dispute the confidential minute could be brought into the public domain by the
Council. It was proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Rothwell and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that the confidential restriction on the relevant part of Minute 3 of
the confidential minutes of the meeting of 13 January 2022 be removed and the minute be
placed in the public domain.

The Chairman read out the minute as follows:

3. Matters arising/updates

Section 146 Notice and associated matters – The Clerk informed the Council that the
landlord had changed his solicitors and from correspondence between the solicitors, a
settlement might be possible though terms were still to be agreed.

Consideration was given to promoting a Compulsory Purchase Order via Babergh DC. It was
proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED (unanimously)
that the principle of seeking a Compulsory Purchase Order be approved and that the Clerk
be requested to research the process required and to report back to Council.

The Chairman requested the Clerk to place the minute on the website and to contact
Babergh DC further as they had not responded to his email to them of eighteen months ago.
The Chairman confirmed that the Council had not taken any further action on the matter
since the above resolution but should Babergh respond positively the Council reserves its
right to proceed with a compulsory purchase order if it so decides.

The Chairman stated that the Council uses its ability to exclude the public from meetings
sparingly but has had to so during the course of the legal action taken against the Council
and associated matters which has involved responding to that legal action and
seeking/receiving legal advice which is protected by legal privilege and inappropriate to be
dealt with in the public domain.

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7. Planning

7.1 Planning Applications received

No planning consultations had been issued to the Council since the meeting on 13 July
2023.

7.2 Planning correspondence

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

7.3 Application DC/23/01514

Councillor Woodcock reported that the above application had been approved permitting
weddings and private events at Grassroots and Wellyboots Farm which was a concern to
residents of East End due to the potential for noise nuisance. The Clerk had received the
decision notice earlier in the day but too late for circulation for this meeting. It will be
circulated to members shortly.

8. Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee

8.1 Schedule of Payments and Income – It was proposed by Councillor Rothwell, seconded
by Councillor Wombwell and RESOLVED (unanimously) that the schedule of
payments and income be noted and the payments due for July 2023 amounting to
££7698.28 be approved.

8.2 Bank Reconciliation Statement – The bank reconciliation statement for July 2023 was
NOTED.

9. Other Committee matters

9.1 Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee – Councillor Hockley said that the next
meeting was scheduled for 24 August. Councillor Price reported that in respect of the
Kissing Gate Project the major landowner would not approve new kissing gates following
bad experiences with walkers and cyclists and the project could not be realised.

9.2 Burial Grounds – Councillor Hurley said that the next meeting of the committee was
on 17 August. He gave notice that quite significant tree works in the cemetery would
commence on 14 August.

9.3 Playing Fields – Councillor Woodcock reported that the Tennis Group had a
development plan to present to the Council and will be presented to Strategy, Policy and
Finance and Playing Fields Committees in August and Council in September. A
discussion ensued as to whether the plan should be reported to Playing Fields Committee
before Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee as scheduled and it was AGREED that
the plan be first reported to Playing Fields Committee on 24 August and rather than be
reported to Strategy, Policy and Finance on 17 August, an extraordinary meeting of the
committee be arranged for 31 August for this purpose.

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9.4 Neighbourhood Plan – Upon the Neighbourhood Plan review, Councillor Davies
reported that a contract had been entered into with consultants who would assist in the
production of the review document. Two meetings will be held in September, an
orientation meeting and a full day workshop.

Regarding the Traffic Survey a fee proposal from PJA for the next stage of the work was
under consideration. This would include representing the Council in discussions with
developers, Babergh DC and Suffolk CC.

Councillor Price expressed dissatisfaction that these road proposals were not being
considered by the roads committee. The Chairman pointed out that he had been invited at
the onset to join the group which was developing this work and that he had declined. The
invitation remained open to him if he wished to join at this stage in the process.

9.5 Website Working Group – Councillor Wombwell reported that the Council was moving
forward with the developer. The Clerk had attended the last weekly meeting which was
useful for him to see how some of the current problems will be addressed. Progress is
considered rather than unduly rapid and it will probably be October before the project
moves into test mode with completion anticipated by around the end of the year.

10. Cost of Living

Councillor Hurley reported that the Rural Coffee Van programme was now published and
monthly visits to Broom Knoll were arranged for 16 August, 20 September and 18 October.
Other visits may be possible during the winter months.

11. Review of Council Policies – Financial Regulations

The Clerk presented his report upon the review of Financial Regulations which proposed a
number of minor amendments to the existing regulations to better meet the good practice
and procedure of the Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Rothwell, seconded by Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that subject to the correction of two typographical errors in paragraph 5.6, the
Financial Regulations as amended be approved and adopted.

12. Urgent Communications

None

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

It was proposed by Councillor Hurley, seconded by Councillor Elmer 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.

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14. Confidential Minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Hurley, seconded by Councillor Davies and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that subject to the correction of a typographical error in Minute 2 paragraph 6,
the confidential minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting of 27 July 2023 be approved
as a correct record.

15. Matters arising/updates

The Clerk reported that the Council’s solicitor had been instructed as per the resolution at the
last meeting and that she had written to Mr Peachey’s solicitors.

The meeting closed at 9.51 pm.

Date of the next Council Meeting – Thursday 14 September 2023 at 7.30 pm at The Lambe
School.

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