Minutes of a Meeting of Holbrook Parish Council held in the Village Hall on Monday 20th March 2006 at 7.30pm.

Present: Mrs Maureen Abbott, Mr. John Allinson, Mrs. Jean Ashford, Mr. Jim Gitsham, Mrs. Marion Leeson, Mr David Meekings, Mr.Simon Page, Mr Andrew Rodwell, Mr David Tallin, and four members of the public.

Apologies: Mr Bob Brown.

Absent: Mr I Waddleton

Declarations of Interest: No declarations were signed.

Approval of Minutes of the last Meeting: It was proposed by John Allinson and seconded by Simon Page that the minutes of the meeting of 20th February be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. All in favour. The Minutes were signed.

Public Recess

Matters Arising from the Minutes:
1. Action Plan: Nothing to report.

2. Reade Field Management: More notices re dog fouling were required as some had been removed. David Tallin reported that he would be meeting Ian Scrivener, Chairman of the Football Club, at the pavilion on Friday 24th March at 6pm to discuss expenditure on renovations. Other Councillors would be welcome at the meeting. The issue of Football Club fees would go on the April Agenda.

3. Bus Shelter: Copies of the plans drawn up by Mr Stroud were circulated and the next stage was to obtain estimates. Mr M Cornock’s estimate amounted to £1,151. It was proposed by Simon Page, seconded by Jim Gitsham that the Clerk would contact Jonathan Double, John Keeble, Gavin Welham and Bob Abbott regarding quotations for the building work. All in favour.

4. Denmark Gardens: There had been no news from the Parish Council’s solicitor regarding ownership of the ransom strip.

5. Spring Clean Week: Mary Stroud had organized a litter pick for 2.30pm on Saturday 25th March.

6. Alton Green Maintenance: Clearance work had been carried out by Greenman Tree Care at a cost of £360. The Chairman will meet Mr Podd’s daughter at Alton Green at 11am on Sunday 26th March to discuss the location of the seat in memory of her father. Other Councillors would be welcome at the meeting.

7. Godley’s Corner:Nothing to report.

8. Home Start Scheme: It was proposed by Jean Ashford, seconded by David Meekings, that the Parish Council should donate £50 to the scheme. All in favour.

9. Annual Parish Meeting: Leaflets were distributed to Councillors for delivery in the village. The Village Hall Committee will sell raffle tickets at the meeting. Simon Page would greet the Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School and Andrew Rodwell would greet the speaker and Mr Alan Barker.

10. Parking in Heathfield Road: Julia Cook of Highways would visit the area during the next financial year to see whether road markings or signs are needed. John Allinson will report that a vehicle had been dumped in the layby in Heathfield Road. A letter from Highways stated that the repair of vandalised signs on Primrose Hill/Ipswich Road/Church Hill was of low priority owing to lack of funding.

11. Trees in Churchyard: Councillors had met Mr David Carmichael, BDC Tree Officer, on
3rd March. Mr Carmichael had written a letter reporting on the condition of the trees which
needs to be discussed with the PCC. The Parish Council would help to fund the work.

12. Handyperson Scheme: Nothing to report.

13. CPRE: The Parish Council has paid for membership of the CPRE until 2007 and this
means that the Council is automatically a member of the Suffolk Preservation Society.

14. Laminator: P Stroud and A Rodwell are happy to allow the Parish Council to use their
laminators, therefore there is no need to purchase one at present.

15. Community News: Simon Page would write the next article, due on 1st April. He would
include an update on the bus shelter, the memorial seat at Lower Holbrook and parking on
pavements and walkways.

Correspondence
There had been no reply to the letter about the War Memorial.
The Parish Council would not sponsor Hazel Peck’s Save the Children Fund Climb in Africa but individuals could do so if they wished.
Simon Page would pass the details of the Emergency Planning Seminar (SCARF) to a village resident.
It was agreed to book one place on each of the two Planning Workshops on 17.5.06 and 25.5.06 .
The Chairman had spoken at the Ganges Public Enquiry.
Sundry items of correspondence would be circulated in the envelope.
The SALC Discussion Papers would be an agenda item for April and May.
The Clerk would send contact details for the village hall to the organizers of the Public Transport Area Reviews, because the hire of the hall would generate additional income for the village hall.
Bird Flu leaflets received from Suffolk County Council would be placed in the Post Office.
The Chief Executive Officer of SALC, Mary Mitson-Woods, will be resigning on 28th April and the Chairman would send her a card of appreciation on behalf of the Parish Council.

Finance
1. Current Account Update: The current account balance is £2,048.50 before cheques raised at the meeting. The precept will have arrived before the April meeting.

Payments:
1303-clerks salary-£514-96; 1304-clerk’s expenses-£53-96; 1305-Suffolk CC-new street light £189-31; 1306-M Leeson-Chairman’s Allowance £50; 1307- Greenman Tree Care-work at Alton Green- £360.
The above payments were proposed by Simon Page and seconded David Tallin. All in favour.

Planning Applications:
Considered:
B/06/00278-All Saints Church-erection of 7m flag pole antenna on church tower. The Chairman did not take part in the discussion. Four letters of objection had been received. It was proposed by Andrew Rodwell and seconded by Jean Ashford that this application should be referred to the Safety Officer at BDC. Six in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention.
B/06/00393/FUL/AT-Part side garden, Riverview, Heathfield Rd-erection of one terrace dwelling. It was proposed by Maureen Abbott, seconded by David Meekings that this application be recommended for approval. 7 in favour, 2 against.
B/06/00418/OUT/CLD-Land at Vine Cottages and to rear of School Cottages, The Street-outline-erection of 5 dwellings (2 affordable). It was proposed by David Tallin, seconded by Andrew Rodwell that this application should be recommended for refusal because it precludes potential use for affordable housing which the Parish Council hoped to see on this site. All in favour.
B/06/00367/OUT/AT-Part rear gardens, Nos. 6 & 7 Five Acres-outline-erection of 1 dwelling, alterations to existing vehicular access. It was proposed by John Allinson, seconded by Maureen Abbott that a site meeting should be requested before a decision is reached. All in favour.
Decisions:
B/05/02103-Woodlands-single-storey extension and detached storage building-granted
B/06/00056/FHA/RC-Hunterswood, Ipswich Rd-erection of two-storey extension-granted

Matters raised by members present:
Simon Page reported that the ‘No Vehicular Access’ sign at Church Green had been knocked and John Allinson offered to repair it.
Suffolk County Council had smoothed the ruts on the Primrose Hill path.

The meeting closed at 9-07 pm.