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Minutes of the Meeting of Kessingland Parish Council held on Wednesday 27th June 2007 at the Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm. Members present; Cllr Martin (Chairman), Cllr B Brown, Cllr R Brown, Cllr Burden, Cllr Morgan, Cllr Purkis, Cllr Woodhead. Others Present; Mrs L Beevor (Clerk), 1 member of public. Agenda 1a) Apologies for absence Cllr Crossland, Cllr Lawson, Cllr Sinfield. b) Declarations of Interest The clerk advised details of all planning applications being considered. There were no declarations of interest. Meeting adjourned for public participation. A resident attended to discuss planning application DC/O7/1184/FUL on Church Road. Apparently the garage has been raised from 4m to approx 6m and a second floor has been built on the building with a pitched roof, and windows at each end. Because of the height, the building now shades the neighbouring garden and water from the gutters of the garage also run into the neighbouring garden. An enforcement officer has apparently attended the property. The Chairman confirmed that the application would be considered later in the evening and that the resident's comments would be taken into consideration.
Meeting closed to public participation 2) Chairman's Report i) Library sub lease - the draft of the lease to the Parish Council has been received and copied to all councillors. The draft was discussed line by line and the following comments made; a) Re repairs - Council will need to ensure that the repair responsibility is in a proportionate amount to the square footage of the parish council area. b) Break clause - within the 20 year lease is a break clause every 5 years a possibility? c) Is there an option to renew the lease at the end of the 20 years - what happens to the sinking fund if the lease is not renewed? d) Is there the possibility of having 2 free car park spaces within the cost of the lease? e) Re fitting out of the council area - the chairman explained that there should be some allowance from the Section 106 monies from flagship. These monies should be available towards the cost of carpets and curtains. A budget has been prepared by the Community Activities Group for the cost of other fixtures and fittings for which grants will be sought. f) A separate bank account will be required to receive the rental income and from which the expenses will be paid. It is this account that will need to be made available under the sub lease. g) Exclusive user - the Chairman explained what exclusive user meant within the lease - i.e. if the police wanted a secure office they may not allow other people to use the office and would therefore become exclusive users. The sub lease has been amended to confirm that this can only be introduced prior to the sub lease being signed. h) Re insurance - the clerk confirmed that £5m public liability insurance was held. It was resolved that points a) - d) inclusive should be referred to our solicitor. All agreed. ii) Safer Neighbourhood Teams - The Chairman explained the action points that have been incorporated into the working document especially those relating to Kessingland. The next meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Team will be on the 11th August. Cllrs to contact the clerk should they wish to attend. Mention was made that a resident had complained about the graffiti at the bus shelter in Field Lane. Discussion took place about the shelter and whether consideration should be given to opening the shelter at both sides so that there is more visibility to passers by. It was resolved by all that the clerk should endeavour to obtain 3 quotes for such work. With reference to the bus stop at the top of Field Lane - the police had advised that they did not feel that there was a problem with the position of the shelter. iii) Letter from SCC re Social Inclusion and Diversity was read to the Council - articles are to be provided for community magazines. iv) Flooding public meeting - This has been called by Cllr Goldsmith for 12th July. 3) Vice Chairman's Report No matters 4) Clerks Report Clerk provided update on items outstanding; a) Financial Standing Orders - it was resolved by all to adopt the revised Standing Orders. b) Councillor vacancies - the clerk reported that Mr Berry had advised that he would not be able to take up the councillor position. Mrs Baisden is considering the other vacancy. c) School governor - The Headteacher had confirmed that Cllr Lawson is still considered as the parish council Community governor, although the term of office of each does not need to coincide. The Headteacher advised that there is another Community Governor vacancy and would be pleased to contact any one who may be interested. It was suggested that notification of the vacancy should be advised to Cllr Crossland. d) SID machine - the Chairman had been advised that the SID could be requested at specific locations, and it was suggested that it should be asked to come to Kessingland. e) Fixed Asset Register - a copy of the register was provided to all councillors. It was suggested that the shed by the toilets should be added. f) Kicks Project - Cllr Purkis had written the Parish Council asking for a letter of support for the Kicks Project to be brought to Kessingland. It was agreed by all that a letter of support could be provided. g) Bethel Drive footpath - Discussion took place re the footpaths on the definitive map and Cllr Purkis advised council of the system of getting paths onto the map. No evidence forms have been gathered to enable this path to go onto the map - it was suggested that a group of volunteers would need to distribute and collect these forms, should this matter wish to be pursued. 5) Reports from committees and working parties a) Beach warden - report covering March, April, May read to meeting. Mention made in report of life saving equipment that needs maintenance/replacing. The clerk was asked to report the matter to WDC. b) Allotments/Mardles - The hedge/grass has been cut - there are no other issues to report. c) Amenities - The Muga signs have disappeared - it was agreed that the clerk should arrange for these to be replaced. The June quarterly inspection reports for Church Road and the Muga have been received. A bin is recommended for the Muga. This has been costed within the Awards for All grant. 2 litter bins are also required for the Church Road play area picnic area. Bins have also been requested along the beach and Mr Turrell will consider how many are required and where they should be placed. A letter had been received from a resident requesting a bin in the entrance to the field, behind the school. It was suggested that with the proposed building works, this matter could be addressed when the building is complete. Clerk to advise resident and ask for details of any other area that is in need of a bin. The letter also refers to the pathway by the school and the clerk was asked to advise the resident that this is on the school curtilage and would need to be referred to the school, The Clerk was asked to chase Badger builders regarding the provision of any bins at Heritage Green. Prior to the next meeting, Cllrs to provide details to the clerk of locations where bins are required. d) Crime and Disorder - The next meeting is in August. A meeting is to take place with Lorraine Heale on 4th July. e) KSSC - No report available. f) Emergency Committee - The next meeting is on 10th July and Mike Topliss will be attending. The Emergency Plan protocol is being compiled and Cllr Woodhead is doing the newsletter. The Chairman advised that the committee are having difficulty getting funding to put the Plan together. g) Footpaths - There have been 2 queries received; i) - on footpath 12 - Mr West had cut this but has cut it again. ii) on footpath 13 - there is debris on the path and the trees are very tall and the cones are dropping. Mr West has cleared the path and the rights of way officer has been contacted regarding the debris. Enquires are being made at WDC to ascertain the owner of the land to see if the trees could be slightly lopped. h) Library Groups - Project Team A workshop was been held at the last project team meeting. A revised set of plans had also been shown which may be the final footprint. Copy of plans shown to all councillors. A public meeting is to be held on 17th July at St Edmunds Church Hall from 3 - 7 pm where Flagship and all agencies will be present. Contact has been made with various agencies to ascertain whether they would be interested in using the new facilities - The UEA through Lowestoft College have been contacted regarding using the facilities for outreach classes. CAG - The CAG group are considering the fitting out of the Parish Council office and the rest of the space that will be transferred under the sub- lease. 6) Correspondence - no correspondence. 7) Questions to the Chairman a) Ownership of path from Holly Grange Road - It was mentioned that the path had been blocked off by the holiday camp but it was noted that there is a gap on the opposite side of the road to allow access to the path. Discussion took place as to whether this was satisfactory or whether any further action was required. Cllr Purkis offered to take councillors to the site so that the matter could be discussed at the next meeting. b) Marsh Lane path - to be considered at the next meeting. c) Bethel Drive footpath - this was discussed above. d) Pathway to Nordalls - Several years ago the High Court had decided that this is a private path. No further action required. 8) Reports from meetings attended by councillors No further reports available 9) Planning Applications; DC/07/1184/FUL - reconstruction of a double garage in the rear garden of 133 Church Road, by Mr and Mrs Mummery. After full discussion it was resolved that the application should be refused with the following comments; a) From the front elevation Council considers that this is a two storey building as there are windows on the top elevation. b) There is not sufficient room between the boundaries for maintenance work. c) Following a site visit, council would query the description of the planning application. d) It would appear that there are drainage issues which affect the neighbouring property. DC/07/1227/ Ful - Construction of a front and rear single storey extension at 14 Whites Lane by Mr S Ellis. After full discussion it was resolved to approve the application but comment that Council would prefer to see a pitched roof. 5 members of the public arrived Correspondence/other planning matters a) Wind turbine - A site visit had taken place by WDC to consider the planning application from SLP for a wind turbine at Africa Alive. Cllr Morgan attended on behalf of the Parish Council. There were no discussions at the site visit - maps were shown to committee members and the members viewed the surrounding areas. It is expected that the application will go to committee in July. b) T Mobile - the clerk advised that the original application had been withdrawn and that a further permission had then been submitted with revised wording referring to a ‘telecommunications mast.' Cllr Woodhead read out an e mail that had been sent from the Chairman of KSSC to T mobile regarding the rumour that had been voiced about the potential for the mast to have a ‘microwave' system attached. T Mobile had replied stating that the ‘dish link is being looked at as a means of transmission for the base station as an alternative to a fibre link.' Cllr Woodhead confirmed that in original discussion with KSSC, there had been no mention of a dish option. The Chairman of the KSSC advised that should a dish option now be a consideration, the matter would need to be considered again by the KSSC committee. Full discussion took place regarding the application. It was resolved, with one abstention, to reply to T Mobile stating ‘that since receipt of the original application, we have received further informal information which would lead us to withdraw any previous agreement to this proposal. We are aware that there is concern amongst the community about the application and we would support the village and refuse support for the application for the telecommunications mast.' Copy of the letter to be sent to WDC. 10) Any other business a) Update on clearance of Ashley nursery site requested. b) First Bus - timings and route to Lowestoft have changed but there are no revised timetables in the bus shelters. Clerk to request. 11) Date of next meeting Wednesday 11th July 2007. There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10pm. Chairman ...................................... Dated............................................
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