The Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council took place on Monday, 12th May 2008 at 7.00pm in Eyke Village Hall.
Present: Mr Fleming, in the chair, Mrs Abu-Hejleh, Mr Adams, Mr Shaw, Mr Whitmore, Mrs Sturrock, District Councillor, Rev. Colin Macdonald, Ms K Bell and the clerk.
Apologies: Mrs Sutch, Mr Veale.
There were no Declarations of Interest. The clerk received and signed Registers of Members’ Interest.
Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman:
Mr Fleming stood down as Chairman.
Mr Adams proposed Mr Fleming as chairman, seconded by Mr Shaw and carried unanimously.
Mr Fleming proposed Mr Adams as vice chairman, seconded by Mrs Abu-Hejleh and carried unanimously.
Minutes: Those of the meeting of 10.03.08 and the planning meeting of 06.05.08, having been previously circulated, were taken as read, agreed and signed as a correct record.
Matters Arising:
1. Rural Housing Survey. It was agreed to proceed with this. The clerk is to liaise with Nigel Brett, to consider the next step.
2. Extra street light, Church Lane. In view of time constraints, it was agreed to defer discussion of this to the next meeting.
3. A1152/Bridge Road junction. An e-mail received by the clerk from David Chenery, chairman of Ufford PC differs substantially from the report of the site meeting attended by Mrs Sutch. At no point were costings between £2,300 and £5,400 mentioned. The clerk is to reply to this effect, and note the possibility of double white lines being instated to prevent overtaking.
4. HGV’s in White Woman’s Lane. Replies from Mr Foskett and SCC have been received. Both parties feel there is little they can do. It was agreed to approach Ordinance Survey to try and rectify the mapping problem.
Correspondence:
1. East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership. Plans for a car park for rail users at Melton, providing up to 40 extra spaces is being considered, at a cost of up to £250,000, but probably substantially less. If funding can be secured, the scheme could go ahead in 2009-10. It is possible that further funding partners from the local area will be sought.
2. SCC Boundary Review. This is progressing, and the consultation period for local authorities and the public will commence on July 7th, for 12 weeks.
3. East Suffolk Travellers’ Association. The latest Members’ Bulletin is available.
4. SCDC Town and Parish Liaison Meeting. The presentation from Suffolk Coastal, regarding the Boundary Review, given at the April meeting has been e-mailed to clerks. Mrs Pooley has forwarded this to councillors with e-mail and has one paper copy for those without.
Planning Permission:
1. C08/0285. Erection of single storey timber framed orangery at 5, White Woman’s Lane.
2. C08/0013. Erection of first floor extension and dormer window at The Warren, Ufford Road.
Finance:
1. Final Report of Accounts, year ending March 2007. Due to an error by Lubbock Fine, these were not returned until April 08. The accounts were satisfactorily signed off.
2. Presentation of Accounts, year ending March 2008. Total expenses in the year were £3931.33, and £3000 was transferred to the savings account, giving a total in the latter to carry forward of £8056.31. The current account balance to carry forward is £2744.86.
3. Cheques. It was agreed to donate £300 each to the Village Hall and the PCC, and £70 to the playgroup. Lubbock Fine, audit fee: £58.75, SALC subscription: £141.80, clerk’s annual salary £2044.00, plus £100 telephone, stamp and stationery expenses. On the latter, a new national award has been agreed, dating from 1.4.07. It was agreed that the clerk should be paid on SCP 22: £9.827 per hour.
Mrs Pooley pointed out the difficulty of arriving at an equitable decision on this, a point acknowledged by SALC, with whom she has been in contact. She asked that an item on this should be placed on the next agenda with a view to:
a) creating a proper contract of employment
b) creating a fair salary structure
c) changing to a monthly salary payment, as advised by SALC
Any Other Business:
1. Motor bikes on the rec. There has been a great deal of activity in this area, and the police are actively dealing with it. They advise a vandal-proof sign to display their poster and the bye laws. The clerk will get prices for this.
2. It was agreed to ask Mr Hassan to cut the grass in the car park on an as needs basis at £25.00 a cut, and to cut the hedge, at £145.00
3. A watching brief is to be kept on vehicles parking on the junction of Castle Hill and The Street, which makes entering The Street hazardous for vehicles. Registration numbers should be taken and reported to the SNT.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm.

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A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday, 16th June 2008 at 7pm in Eyke Village Hall.
Present: Mrs Abu-Hejleh, Mrs Sutch, Mr Veale and the clerk.
Apologies: Mr Adams, Mr Fleming, Mr Shaw, Mr Whitmore.
As this was an extraordinary meeting to discuss 4 specific matters, no minutes were read, nor other business considered.
1. Notice boards on the rec. Following advice from Sgt. Woodmansee on the construction and wording of the notice, and a meeting with Ms Bell and Mr Whitmore, the clerk reported that the next step is to obtain prices for the making of the sign itself. Sgt. Woodmansee advised plastic signs screwed directly on to the notice board. The clerk will endeavour to get prices for this by the next meeting, from Tactile Signs at Rendlesham, if possible, and a Felixstowe Company.
2. The Local Boundary Review. SCDC has asked interested parties to make initial views felt before 4th July, on whether they prefer the idea of a One Suffolk Local Government, or separate areas, including an East Suffolk concept, as the Council understands that the Boundary Commission will almost certainly just come up with one draft option for consideration after that time, and now is the moment to make feelings known. Councillors agreed that they have severe reservations about one large council, feeling that rural views will be sidelined. The clerk will reply to this effect.
There will be a meeting on 21.07.08 at the Council Offices to which the Parish Council is invited to send two representatives. It was suggested that it might be useful for the chairman to attend.
3. Sustainable Community Strategy Review. The Local Strategic Partnership is reviewing its priorities for a Sustainable Community Strategy, which sets out goals for how the district should develop over the next decade. It asks for responses by 4th July. Councillors agreed that they are broadly supportive of the 4 issues already being tackled and the 6 priorities the board will now concentrate on, as they cover the issues relevant to the area: safety, sea defences and allied issues, housing, support for vulnerable people, access to services, climate change, community development, economy, learning and skills, health and well-being and young people. The clerk will reply to this effect.
4. Affordable Housing Questionnaire. The clerk has now met with Louise Wilby, and the details provisionally agreed are: papers to the clerk by 5th September, delivery over 13-14 September, return date 30th September. Councillors agreed that delivery could be shared out. Return will be by post. The clerk will make sure envelopes are marked so contents are known, and not just discarded as junk. The clerk will confirm these details with Louise Wilby.
Councillors were made aware of various meetings taking place over the next few weeks. Mrs Sutch and Mrs Abu-Hejleh expressed an interest in attending the meeting on 2/7/08 at 7pm, at the Forestry Commission’s Tangham office to hear about the 10 year plan for Rendlesham Forest.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm.

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A planning meeting of the Parish Council was called for 6.30pm on Thursday, 25th June to discuss Application C/08/1089. Construction of pitched roof over bathroom/hall at 201, The Street, Eyke for Mrs E Hammond.
Those due to attend: Mr Adams, Mr Shaw, Mrs Sutch. As the only attendees were Mr Shaw and Mrs Sutch and the clerk, and thus there was no quorum, no valid decision could be made on behalf of the council, although councillors attending supported the application.