MINUTES OF MEETING OF 10.03.08

A meeting of the Parish Council took place on 10.3.08 at 7pm in Eyke Village Hall.
Present: Mr Fleming, in the chair, Mrs Abu-Hejleh, Mrs Sutch, Mr Whitmore, Mrs Sturrock, District Councillor, the clerk and four members of the public.
Mr Fleming introduced Nigel Brett, rural housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE, who then gave a short presentation about how he can help parishes to identify need for local housing, and how to deliver small, affordable developments. The first stage is to identify the need by means of a survey of villagers. This could cost in the region of 50p a head. All residents would complete the first part, with those indicating a need completing a more detailed second part. The surveys would be analysed by Suffolk ACRE, and if a need was identified, Suffolk ACRE would work to find suitable land for development, and a small development would be built in conjunction with a local housing association. The project would have to be financially viable, with those living in the houses either paying rent, or obtaining a mortgage on a shared equity basis. The houses would be for villagers in the first instance, although, if at the time of completion no villagers had a need, the net would be spread to immediately adjacent villages.
Mr Brett showed pictures of successful schemes in progress; the properties are built to a very high specification, are as close to carbon neutral as possible, and suitable for disabled people.
There were various questions from the floor, including how suitable land could be identified, and how the planning process would work, along with how potential residents would be identified and screened. Mr Brett emphasised the collaborative nature of the project from start to finish, and pointed to the number of successful schemes already in place.
Mr Fleming thanked Mr Brett for attending, and the possibility of carrying out a survey will be discussed at the next meeting.
The main meeting then started at 7.30pm.
Apologies: Mr Adams, Mr Shaw, Mr Veale, Mrs Clarke, County Councillor, PC Barry.
There were no Declarations of Interest.
Minutes: Those of 14.1.08 and 22.1.08 (planning) having been previously circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.
Matters Arising:
1. £212.00 has now been received from the Locality Budget for the replacement doggy bin on the rec. and the new one in Ufford Road. Thanks were due to Mrs Clarke, County Councillor, and to SCC for making this possible.
2. Grass cutting, car park. It was agreed to ask Mike Fisher for the name of the person who cuts the grass in the churchyard, to see if he would give a price for the car park. It was also suggested to ask Mr Hassan for a price.
Mr Lucas is kindly cutting the grass on the Green. He is to be offered fuel payment for his mower.
3. ‘ Road Narrows’ sign, Eyke Street. SCC Environment and Transport are putting in a bid for the funding of a sign, and will inform the council when it is successful.
4. Costs to install a further street light in Church Lane would be in the region of £1270.00, plus trenching costs of £40.00 per metre beyond the first three metres, according to David Malpass from SCC. Councillors questioned whether such costs could be justified, given the limited numbers who would benefit from the added light, and wondered whether there was any more justification for a light here than, say, in Creasey’s Hill or White Woman’s Lane. It was agreed that Mr Whitmore would estimate the distance between the existing lights, and where a new one would be to give an idea of the extra trenching costs and a fuller picture for the next meeting.
Reports:
1. District Councillor. Mrs Sturrock reported an increase in Council Tax of 10p per week for a D band house for the Suffolk Coastal share, and a 3.9% rise in Council Tax overall. There has been a committed drive to better services, and Suffolk Coastal continues to be rated highly nationally, and by users.
Two important issues currently under consideration are the East of England Regional Assembly’s Review: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation in the East of England. Responses from all interested parties are invited on the draft policy through a 12 week consultation period from 25th February to 16th May, Suffolk has to provide 31 pitches for travellers by 2011.
The second matter is the Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework Consultation for the Core Strategy Further Issues and Options - Regulation 25. As a result of consultations last year, Suffolk Coastal was informed that it should be providing new housing right across the district, with the majority being concentrated in and around Felixstowe, and East of Ipswich, with smaller amounts in market towns and villages. There is a preference for larger scale developments to be provided on 2 or 3 sites in order to maximise developer contributions. The end suggestion is, therefore, a development around Felixstowe, Walton and Trimley villages (around 1600 homes) and east of Ipswich (around 1000 new homes). Comments are invited from the public and interested parties on these areas, as well as others not so far identified which might be preferable and more realistic. The closing date for comment is March 28th.
2. Suffolk Constabulary. (Written report). There has been just one incident of a domestic nature since the last meeting. A mobile police unit attended Eyke on 25.2.08 between 2.50 and 3.45pm. Of the 57 vehicles which travelled in the Snape direction, 32 were above the 30mph limit, with the fastest at 45mph.
3. Mrs Sutch. Site meeting at the A1152/Bridge Road junction. Present were SCC Highways Engineer, SCC Ecologist, SCDC Landscape Planner, Mr & Mrs Smith, landowners, 2 members of Ufford PC and Mrs Sutch. After much discussion, it was agreed that this was not an accident black spot, and is similar to many other junctions in the area. In the light of this, it was felt that removing a very well established elm hedge and destroying some valuable wildlife habitat would serve very little purpose. It was felt that the main danger when pulling onto the A1152 from Bridge Road, was from cars overtaking when coming from the Eyke direction. It was suggested that double white lines could be installed on this stretch of road to stop this happening.
Correspondence:
1. Bromeswell Parish Council: Speed Watch Scheme. The Council wonders if Eyke would be interested in joining a scheme to purchase a speed gun/camera for volunteers to record speeding offenders. This was the same scheme which Eyke Parish Council had previously discussed and rejected; it was agreed not to join with Bromeswell at present. On a related issue, the clerk is to check with Mrs Clarke about the flashing signs for Eyke.
2. Suffolk Coastal Services: litter pick. It was agreed not to organise a litter pick, but thanks were given to Mr Whitmore for his work in this area.
3. Audit Commission. BDO Stoy Hayward LLP has been appointed as auditor to Eyke Parish Council for a term of 5 years, commencing with the 2007/8 accounts.
4. Dates for meetings. Suffolk Preservation Society. Planning training workshops will take place on November ‘08; Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Local Action for Suffolk’s Wildlife 8.4.08; SCDC Open Day: 20.3.08; Flood Awareness at Ipswich Town Hall, 27.3.08.
Planning:
1. Application C08/0285. The Farmhouse, White Woman’s Lane, IP12 2SY. Erection of single storey timber framed orangery. Councillors supported this application.
2. Permission. 4, Cracks Lane, Eyke C07/1744 Single storey extension.
Eyke House, The Street, Eyke. C08/0020. Swimming pool and associated alterations.
Finance: SCC Electricity supply and maintenance: £131.60. Cheque agreed (Dated 2.2.08).
Any Other Business:
1. HGV’s in White Woman’s Lane. Mrs Fleming has complained that HGVs bound for Low Farm, Bromeswell, miss their turning and on a regular basis end up at Mill End Farm. The reason is poor signing on the A1152/ Bridge Road junction, and the fact that Low Farm, Eyke, (a private house) is on OS maps, and Low Farm, Bromeswell is not. As a result, inconvenience is caused to local residents, damage is sustained by verges and hedges, and it is hazardous for these vehicles to return to the main road.
It was agreed to write to SCC Highways to ask for better signing at Bridge Road, and at the top of White Woman’s Lane, and to ask Mr Foskett to erect a portable sign in the corner of his field.
2. The Boundary Committee: Structural Review. Advance notice has been received that, following the refusal of the Ipswich bid for Unitary Status, a further review is taking place, which though generally keeping to county boundaries, will involve some alterations, notably in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. Views from stakeholders will be sought between 14th April - 4th July, and the consultation period on the draft will be from 7th July - 26th September.
Date of Next Meetings: Parish Council AGM: 7pm Monday, 12.5.08
Annual Parish Meeting: 7.45pm Monday, 12.5.08
The meeting closed at 9.20pm.