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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES – THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED
AND ARE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT AT THE NEXT COUNCIL
MEETING
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 13 March 2025 at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor J Miller (Chair of the Council)
Councillor R Allen
Councillor M Burns
Councillor S Davies
Councillor R Elmer
Councillor M Hockley
Councillor M Hurley
Councillor L Matthews
Councillor J Price
Councillor R Wombwell
Councillor G Woodcock

In Attendance
County Councillor G Hall
G White, Parish Clerk
N Reed, Consultant
One member of the public

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

The member of the public present did not wish to speak.

153.24.25 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence received from Councillors Dent and Roberts were NOTED.

154.24.25 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST S OR DISPENSATIONS

Councillor Burns declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 8.1 application
DC/25/00908 which related to her house. She will leave the meeting during its consideration.

155.24.25 MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING OF 6 FEBRUARY
2025

It was proposed by Councillor Hockley, seconded by Councillor Davies and RESOLVED
(nine voted for, none voted against) that the minutes of the meeting of 6 March 2025 be
approved as a correct record.

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Councillor Price commented that he was thrilled to see the concepts of Enable and Star
linked through to council projects. He hoped the Neighbourhood Plan Group had a
wheelchair user assisting with the drafting.

He considered that new properties were generally unsuitable for disabled people and
thought they ought to have a 1,2,3, star rating in this regard. Usually, downstairs toilets do
not enable wheelchair access and cause extreme distress to wheelchair users. Councillor
Davies said that Building Regulations provided minimum requirements for new houses and
such access was not a requirement. The Chair asked Councillor Price to send his comments
to Councillor Davies in her capacity as the District Councillor who can establish the strength
of the regulations and what is and is not possible. Councillor Davies added that the Joint
Local Plan considerations were looking at design and she would raise this in that forum.
However, the local planning authority is constrained by the national regulations and an
expression of expectation might be the best which could be achieved.

Councillor Price thought the concept for council projects should include the creation of social
value which would be inclusive of diversity.

156.24.25 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF 13 FEBRUARY 2025

Councillor Price said that in Minute 138 the reference to Minute 121 and the refusal of the
United Charities to meet the Council, paragraph 3, did not adequately reflect why he
considered the Chair’s remark to be inappropriate. The Chair stated that the minute properly
recorded what had been said and that the wording should not be changed, though
explanatory words could be added to the effect that the Council’s disappointment with the
attitude of the United Charities was in relation to the refusal to meet the Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Wombwell, seconded by Councillor Hockley and RESOLVED
(nine voted for, one voted against) that the minutes of the meeting of 13 February 2025 be
approved as a correct record.

157.24.25 MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES

Minute 138 re Minute 121 East Bergholt United Charities – The Clerk was asked if he had
written to the Clerk to the Charities as requested at the last meeting. The Clerk thought he
had but will check.

158.24.25 COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

County Councillor Hall presented her report which had been circulated and expanded upon
it.
Libraries – Suffolk County Council (SCC) was taking libraries back in-house as no-one else
met the contract criteria for the next six years. Councillor Davies asked if those criteria were
publicly available and County Councillor Hall will establish and advise. Councillor Davies
was also concerned that the wider remit of the libraries might not be continued under the
new regime but County Councillor Hall thought the current remit would continue. She would
take this back, obtain a formal answer and advise. Councillor Price commented that if the
criteria were not appropriate for contractors to take on, the usual practice was for the
principal to adjust the criteria accordingly.

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Devolution – SCC is proposing a merger of authorities resulting in a single unitary authority
for Suffolk. This proposal was in the interest of efficiency and to keep costs to a minimum.
There would be job losses amongst the constituent authorities being merged.

Budget – There will be a 4.99% increase in council tax which amounts to an additional £78
for a Band D property.

Councillor Matthews enquired how the additional SEND budget was proposed to be spent.
Post-devolution the public need to know how SEND provision is being spent in each school.

With reference to devolution and the SCC proposal for merger, Councillor Hurley expressed
the concern of carers with regard to SEND provision; it was difficult to get on the waiting list
with a referral from a social worker now and with a unitary authority the prospect of a better
service was remote. County Councillor Hall said that current services would not be cut but
redundancies were possible where two officers were currently fulfilling the same role in
separate authorities.

Councillor Davies said that there is no evidence that larger authorities are more efficient.
They are too big and too far from the people they serve. SCC has been unwilling to talk to
the districts about alternative proposals and their proposal is no more than cost-cutting and a
SCC takeover, with a reduction of democracy as councillors will have a large increase in the
area they cover and in consequence less opportunity to understand and investigate local
circumstances. Everyone needs to get involved or SCC will bulldoze its proposal through.

The Chair said the Parish Council had heard nothing from SCC about the Mayoral proposal
or Devolution whereas Babergh DC has invited town and parish council chairs to two
seminars to explain the matter. SCC might claim it has heard nothing from parishes, but it
had not asked.

The Chair said that the districts were putting their reports and proposals in the public domain
but SCC had not. The public need to know what SCC has done and its thinking. County
Councillor Hall will establish what is available in this regard and advise.

Councillor Wombwell did not understand the ‘merger’ concept as presented. It leaves local
democracy in an unenviable position and services are likely to gently decline. There is a
need for SCC to talk not just to Parish Council Chairs but to the general public.

Councillor Price did not know how the SCC proposal would improve democracy nor enhance
services. New authorities will need a regulator to hold them to account as services decrease.
Councillor Hall will take back the points made.

The Chair said that there was lots of material for each councillor to think about. The
government consultation upon a regional mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk is out and public
views are sought by 14 April. Councillors should not miss the opportunity to express their
views.

It is unfortunate that the government is not seeking public views on devolution and the only
dialogue is with the districts at present. The Chair said she had written an article for the
parish magazine for April explaining the current situation and she will circulate that to
councillors together with links to various informative sites.

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The Chair said she had personally responded to the Mayoral consultation and noted in
particular that a regional mayor/authority does not adequately provide a local voice in the
governance currently proposed.

Upon the Devolution timetable, principal councils have been asked to submit their initial
proposals to government by 21 March and then talk to each other and their constituents and
submit a single proposal by 26 September.

The election for the regional mayor will be in May 2026 and be in a shadow capacity for a
year before the implementation of the supporting governance for the regional Mayor. New
unitary authorities will be elected in May 2027.

County Councillor Hall undertook to provide answers to the questions which she was taking
back to SCC. The Chair thanked County Councillor Hall for her contribution.

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

Babergh DC is starting again with its Joint Local Plan having regard to newly published
government requirements. An important meeting has been called by James Cartledge MP on
21 March at which the Babergh DC JLP team will be present. It is important for all parish
councils. Although space is limited at the venue, the Clerk will endeavour to book places for
councillors who wish to attend.

The planning application for Woodland School was approved unanimously by Babergh DC’s
Planning Committee, with a long list of conditions. The Committee wanted the school and
local people to form a liaison group to monitor implantation. Councillor Woodcock
volunteered to be a member of such group.

Babergh DC’s Cabinet has approved the CIL bid from the Parish Council/Tennis Club.

The Chair thanked District Councillor Davies for her contribution.

159.24.25 RED LION

The Chair updated the Council on matters since the last meeting. The Council’s working
group met Mr Peachey on 28 February at a meeting chaired by the CEO of Babergh DC.
The Council offered to exchange valuations which Mr Peachey declined but Mr Charvonia
offered to receive both valuations and to submit them to an appropriate officer for checking
the assumptions made in each and establishing where different assumptions may have led
to the wide variation in valuations. The outcome of this consideration should be available at
the next meeting on 17 March. The Council has to be able to justify any price paid and thus
the assumptions need to be identified to establish if a narrowing of the gap is achievable by
both parties using similar assumptions. Mr Peachey has confirmed that he no longer wishes
to retain a ransom strip which will vary one assumption made in the council’s valuation.

The Chair is talking to Babergh DC to see whether other parish council projects in the priority
list might be funded to release funds for this purchase. Indications have been given that the
Congregational Church refurbishment and the facilities for a new sports field might be
viewed favourably which would enable earmarked council resources to be used for the Red
Lion project.

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Section 106 money of up to £500,000 held by Babergh DC for affordable housing would be
available subject to a sound business case. This would release further earmarked funding
for parish council priority projects. East Bergholt Community Land Trust has access and the
ability to fund housing including land and may be able to be a partner in the project. By
achieving funding through these various means the package may be made affordable.
However it is also likely that a significant loan would need to be raised from the Public Works
Loans Board.

The Council may need to hold an extraordinary meeting in the coming weeks if an
acceptable purchase price can be negotiated. The Council would need to approve a decision
to acquire the property and also to seek government borrowing approval which is required
prior to an application for a loan from the Public Works Loans Board. Before such application
can be made the Council must consult the public and obtain feedback.

Councillor Wombwell asked how this would be achieved and the Chair indicated that several
methodologies are recommended by government guidance though which to employ had not
yet been determined. Whichever method is used, the public will have all the financial
information available and the Council’s ultimate decision will have regard to the public’s
views. Councillor Davies added that if the public say No to the Council seeking a loan from
PWLB, that will be the end of the matter.

160.24.25 CORRESPONDENCE

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

Date Sender Subject
1. 07/02/25 SARS Request for grant aid
2. 14/02/25 Babergh East, Police and
Parish Forum
Minutes of meeting 18/12/24
3. 26/02/25 St Elizabeth Hospice Thanks for grant aid
4. 26/02/25 EB Parochial Church Council Thanks for grant aid
5. 05/03/25 Babergh East, Police and
Parish Forum
Agenda for meeting 19/03/25
6. 07/03/25 EB Parochial Church Council Request for grant aid
7. 04/03/25 Headteacher EB Primary
School
Support for request for grant aid
8. 10/03/25 1
st
Brantham Scout and
Guide Group
Newsletter

Item 1 – It was proposed by Councillor Hurley, seconded by Councillor Burns and
RESOLVED (unanimously) that pursuant to Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011, a grant of
£200 be awarded to SARS.

Item 5 – Councillor Matthews advised that she will attend the meeting.

Items 6 and 7 – The Chair invited Councillor Hockley to inform the Council of the background
to this application for grant aid. He said he had been made aware of parents of children at
the primary school who were in dire financial difficulty and struggling to feed their children.

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He had asked the Clerk if the Council could assist this resident and was advised that the
Council cannot grant aid individuals. However, if a third party organisation was to establish a
fund and administer a scheme the Council could make a contribution to that organisation
under its general power of competence. The Parochial Church Council was prepared to take
on those responsibilities and sought a grant from the Council.

The Chair said that the appropriate procedure was for the matter to be referred to the
Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee (SPF) for detailed consideration and if necessary to
make a detailed recommendation to Council.

Councillor Hockley considered that the Council could not afford to wait for that procedure to
reach fruition as the situation was urgent and immediate action was required.
A wide ranging discussion ensued from which emerged a view that the Council could make a
small start now to support the scheme whilst referring the application to SPF to work out
longer term options that would provide for a sustainable future position.

Councillor Davies considered that support services such as CA’s Debt Counsellors and
similar ought to be contacted to assist recipients of relief.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Allen and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that pursuant to Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011, an immediate grant of
£250 be awarded to East Bergholt Parochial Church Council for the immediate benefit of its
hardship fund and that the application for grant aid be referred to the Strategy, Policy and
Finance Committee for greater consideration of a longer term predictable and sustainable
methodology to assist in the alleviation of hardship.

161.24.25 PLANNING

161.1 Planning Consultations received

DC//25/00871 The Old Rectory, Rectory Hill, East Bergholt, CO7 6TH –
Notification of works to trees in a conservation area – Fell 5no
Sycamore (T1), Fell 14no Leylandii cypress in hedge row (T2-
T16), Fell 13no Leylandii cypress (T17-T29).

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor
Hockley and RESOLVED that approval be recommended.

DC/25/00908 Pound House, The Street, East Bergholt, CO7 6TE –
Householder application -Erection of a Garden Studio, newside
entrance porch, pedestrian gate and alterations to boundary
wall.

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Burns
left the meeting for the duration of this item.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodcock, seconded by Councillor
Miller and RESOLVED (unanimously) that subject to a condition
binding the Garden Studio to the house and that neither be sold
separately, approval be recommended.

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Councillor Burns re-joined the meeting.

161.2 Planning Correspondence

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

162.24.25 STRATEGY, POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

162.1 Schedule of Payments and Income – It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded
by Councillor Elmer and RESOLVED (nine voted for, none voted against), that the schedule
of payments and income and the bank transfer be noted and the payments due in February
2025 amounting to £28,858.91 be approved.

162.2 Bank Reconciliation Statement – The bank reconciliation statement for February 2025
was NOTED.

163.24.25 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSDE BODIES

Constable Hall Management Committee – Councillor Price had nothing to report

East Bergholt Community Land Trust – Councillor Matthews reported that a meeting had
taken place on 26 February when land acquisitions was discussed.

East Bergholt/Barbizon Twinning Association – The Chair reported that the visit from
Barbizon was arranged for the end of May when 49 visitors from Barbizon would be
welcomed. The Chair mentioned the programme of events for the visitors.

East Bergholt Futures – Councillor Woodcock had no meetings to report but he had met
Chris Tuppen (the Chair of EB Futures) who will look at the Solar Panel tenders received by
the Playing Fields Committee and will give an analysis to facilitate a recommendation to the
next Playing Fields Committee meeting.

East Bergholt Society – The Chairman reported upon the well-attended meeting featuring
Adrian James’ presentation upon the Brazier Map. There will be further presentations in the
future.

East Bergholt Sports Council – Councillor Woodcock reported that the next meeting was
scheduled for 17 March when the main discussion would be future projects in the light of the
Parish Council’s recent meeting with the Sports Council.

The new perimeter fence has now been installed and the table tennis table will be installed in
the coming week, next to the Outdoor Gym.

SALC – Councillor Davies said she was unable to attend a course which had been paid for
and Councillor Burns volunteered to attend.

Councillor Davies reported that SALC was being very helpful to parishes with sustainable
energy projects, such as wind and solar farms and the Parish Council should seek advice
from SALC should one be located in East Bergholt.

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COUNCIL NOMINATED TRUSTEE TO OUTSIDE BODIES

East Bergholt United Charities – Councillor Hockley had no meetings to report

Lettice Dykes Foundation – Councillor Hurley reported that he had heard that an application
for assistance had been received by Simon Rothwell and will be considered by the trustees
shortly.

Lambe School – Councillor Elmer had nothing to report.

164.24.25 SUMMER FAIR

Councillor Burns presented her report which had been circulated. Various events and
attractions had been or were being arranged and the Council was pleased with the progress
made so far. Although expenditure would not be incurred until the Fair had taken place,
arrangements to hire Constable Hall, a DJ/Compere and the Essex Concert Band would
together cost up to £1,000 and the Council’s approval was sought to incur the expenditure.

It was proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Matthews and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that expenditure of up to £1,000 be incurred upon the hiring of Constable Hall,
a DJ/Compere and the Essex Concert Band for the Summer Fair.

165.24.25 COMMUNITY DROP -IN

Councillor Matthews presented her report and appendix which had been circulated. The
former reported upon events in Autumn 2024 and the latter scheduled seven events from
March 2025 – March 2026.

It was proposed by Councillor Hockley, seconded by Councillor Wombwell and RESOLVED
(nine voted for, none voted against) that the Council’s thanks and congratulations be
afforded to Councillors Matthews and Hurley for arranging the sessions to date and for over
the next year.

166.24.25 URGENT COMMUNICATIONS

None.

167.24.25 RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC (INCLUDING THE PRESS)

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

Councillor Hurley left the meeting having previously declared a non-pecuniary interest due to
friendship with the Owner of The Red Lion.

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168.24.25 MINUTES

It was proposed by Councillor Davies seconded by Councillor Allen and RESOLVED
(unanimously) that the confidential minutes of the meeting of 13 February 2025 be approved
as a correct record.

169.24.25 MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES – CAR PARK

The Chair updated the Council on various commercially sensitive matters relating to the
ongoing negotiations with the owner of the Red Lion. The outcome of these matters will be
placed in the public domain and the public will be consulted if the transaction proceeds.

The meeting closed at 10.34 pm

Date of next meeting Thursday 10 April 2025

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