MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING MAY 14TH 2007

The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Monday, 14th May 2007 at 7.45pm in Eyke Village Hall.
Present: Mr Fleming, in the chair, Mrs Abu-Hejleh, Mr Adams, Mr Shaw, Mrs Sutch, Mr Veale, Mr Whitmore, Mrs Clarke, County Councillor, Mrs Sturrock, District Councillor, the clerk and four members of the public.
Apologies: Mrs Davis, Mrs Hassan.
Minutes: Those of the last Annual Parish Meeting, having been previously circulated, were taken as read, agreed and signed as a correct record, proposed by Mr Adams, seconded by Mrs Abu-Hejleh and carried unanimously.
Matters Arising: None.
Reports:
1. District Councillor. Mrs Sturrock.
Suffolk Coastal is ranked by the Audit Commission as an excellent authority, based on the number of its performance measures which are in the top 25% nationally. Single digit council tax rises over the last 11 years have been accompanied by a central government failure to support rural districts, and has forced Suffolk Coastal to make £6M worth of efficiencies and increased income. This has been partly managed by sharing services with other partnerships. Suffolk Coastal has linked up with UK mail in a move to cut postal costs by £40,000 a year and joining up legal work with SCC has made savings of around £200,000 this year.
Suffolk Coastal’s share of the total Council Tax bill received by residents remains at 10%. Based on a Band D home, the rest of the figures are made up of SCC 77%, police 10%, 3% for the District’s Town and Parish Councils.
Suffolk Coastal has made a total saving of £7M since 2001, and the budget spending for the coming year has been set at £14.4M
A new part time post has been created to help boost the district’s local authority voluntary groups, thanks to funding from the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership. The Woodbridge Tourist Information Centre has also been improved.
Twin bin recycling has been well received and in the areas so far covered the recycling rates have increased by 50%. Over the coming year 29 more parishes will have the twin bin scheme. The overall recycling/compost rate is currently 40%, which is 3% over target.
The Planning Department is meeting all targets set by the Government, dealing with between 45 and 60 applications per week. Suffolk Coastal has built 136 units of affordable housing in the last two years, with another 41 under construction and approval for a further 86. A new Local Development Framework is currently under consideration taking development up to 2021.
Because of the implications of the Local Government White Paper, all Suffolk local authorities, apart from Ipswich, have collaborated in developing a “Pathfinder Bid”, which aims to develop a formal framework within Suffolk Councils to utilise more shared services, in a new improved two tier model of Local Government. There is no commitment of any sort at this stage.
Mrs Sturrock concluded by detailing her roles over the last four years, as a member of the Development Sub-Committee North, Chairman of Rights of Way, member of the Grants Task Group, council’s representative and vice-chairman of Suffolk Museums, and a committee member of The Village Of The Year competition.
2. Ms Katy Bell. Village website.
Ms Bell explained that she builds websites for a living, and as her contribution to village life would like to build and run a website for Eyke. The site was already available to view, and she asked anyone with information to share, advertising, in fact anything of interest to the community to contact her in any way - e mail, phone or letter.
3. Eyke Charities. Mr Michael Foster.
The income for the year was £166.14, expenditure was £80, and cash at the bank £304.66. 22 people were entitled to receive a cash gift. 16 gifts were distributed, and £15 was returned. The AGM was on 23.4.07, and the next meeting is in December.
4. Friends Of Eyke School.
Mrs Hassan, chairman, sent her apologies, and her written report was read.
FOES currently has about 15 active members, with plenty of extra help when necessary. Activities this year have included 3 discos, 3 bingo nights, an Easter egg hunt, a Christmas fair, and currently being planned is a social evening on 22nd June, and a concert and fun day on 22nd September.
This year the school celebrates its 150th anniversary, and events are being planned. Suggestions from the community would be most welcome. The committee is also considering a quiz night; any suggestions for a quiz master would be appreciated.
Funds are currently low, as various purchases have been made: pool changing rooms, with a commitment to paying for half of the concrete base, coat and bag rails and flooring, £750 towards a half set of African drums, a Shakespeare workshop, playground equipment, an audio centre for early years - and ice lollies for Sports Day.
To help save money, parents are being asked for help in tackling jobs around the school, starting with the front garden. If anyone from the wider community feels they can help in any way, it would be much appreciated.
5. Eyke & Rendlesham Village Hall. Mr M Fisher
Mr Fisher reported a steady year, with regular use by the over 50’s, culminating in their successful Christmas party, attended by family and friends of members. The PCC used it for a harvest supper and quiz night, both of which were social village gatherings, which also raised money for Church funds. As well as this, it continues to be used for band practice, children’s parties, as well as by the Parish Council for all their meetings. It was also used recently as a polling station for District Council elections.
The hall runs as a viable entity, having made a small surplus over the year. Accounts are available for inspection on request.
6. Recreation Ground.
Mr Whitmore continues to monitor the use of the ground. The doggy bins continue to be well used, but rabbit holes continue to be a problem. The Parish Council has decided to remove the slide, due to its age, and possible health and safety issues. This should happen very soon. It has also been agreed that the barriers will be repainted.
7. Eyke Millennium Group.
Mrs Davis’s written report was read. A village quiz in June ‘06, with Mr Joe Marshall as question master, was a successful occasion attended by 66 people. £200 was raised for the Ipswich Hospital bladder cancer scanner. In December, the Christmas tree, kindly donated by Sir Michael Bunbury, was put up in Eyke Churchyard. On 17th December carol singing, ably led by Clive Boot, took place, and everyone enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies. “Wishes” were bought and tied on the tree, and those who wanted also joined in the raffle for the “Pola” bear. As a result, £100 was donated to the East Anglian Children’s Hospice. The Over 60’s lunch on 24th March was attended by 39 villagers, who enjoyed a lunch of beef stew, potatoes and vegetables, followed by cheesecake. The meal was accompanied by a glass of wine, and followed by coffee and mints. The cost of the meal was raised to £2.00, but there were no complaints.
The bank balance at 30.04.07 was £811.24
8. County Councillor. Mrs R Clarke.
Finance continues to be a difficult issue. There is a 5% cap on Council Tax increases, so extra funding is not available from this source. In February the Council voted a 4.5% increase, the lowest which could be imposed if standards and services are to be maintained. Efficiency savings of £24M were achieved last year, and this year £22M savings will need to be made. Government funding to rural areas is totally insufficient, but the Council is aware that any increase affects everyone, particularly those on low, fixed incomes.
The Council has been awarded a “four star and improving well” rating.
The County Council debated and voted on whether to progress the Schools Organisation Review to its second stage in March. If the County Council’s education policy is accepted by Government, many millions of pounds could come into the county for secondary schools’ improvement. The county’s aim is to provide the right educational environment for children in Suffolk for decades to come. Primary schools are not at risk.
Suffolk has an excellent recycling performance, which it needs to maintain and improve to avoid excessive landfill charges after 2010. A business case for an energy from waste incinerator is being prepared, on which there will be wide consultation.
A major review into adult care services has been undertaken. The county council wants as many people as possible to have access to high quality provision, and sees itself as a commissioner, rather than a provider. Most people live to be very old, with serious implications for their care needs in later years.
Consultation is currently ongoing regarding the “Pathfinder” scheme, also considerable discussion and consultation on the proposed A12 four villages bypass.
Other issues recently dealt with have included the outbreak of avian flu at Holton, new routes for mobile libraries, with the aim of cutting down travelling times and increasing stopping times, how to make best use of the opportunities afforded by the London Olympics in 2012.
Mrs Clarke attended a seminar on climate change and carbon reduction, and its effects on East Anglia.
Suffolk Police Authority has had a busy year, and members of the constabulary are to be complimented on their handling of the murders of the 5 young women in Ipswich at Christmas, along with 2 other murders in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. The amalgamation of Suffolk Constabulary with those of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire did not take place at the direction of the new Home Secretary. The SNT within Suffolk Coastal started work from Rock Barracks at Sutton Heath on 19th March. The team will be supervised by Sgt. Mark Woodmansee, in charge of police constables, community support officers and special sergeants and constables, and overseen by Inspector Ian Farthing, the Woodbridge Sector Commander. The chief constable, Alastair McWhirter, retired at the end of March, and will be replaced by the current deputy chief constable of Hertfordshire, Simon Ash, who commences duty at the beginning of June.
Mrs Clarke’s duties have been diverse with the county council, including assistant portfolio holder SCC Adult and Community Services, member of SCC Roads and Transport Scrutiny Committee, and member of Suffolk Police Authority, among many others.
Adjournment for Parish Forum.
Mr Foster raised the issue of traffic calming.
Mrs Clarke replied that the Vehicle Activated Signs are in the pipeline, to be linked by Development Control to any increase in the development at Rendlesham. This notification came from Luke Barber at SCC.

Mr Fleming thanked his colleagues on the Parish Council for their continued support.
Eyke Parish Council accounts were available for inspection.
Mr Fisher thanked the Parish Council, Mrs Clarke, the County Councillor, and Mrs Sturrock, District Councillor for all their work on behalf of the community.
In the absence of any other business, the meeting closed at 9pm.