BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Full Brandon Town Council

Held at 7.00pm on Monday 3 December 2007

At the Forest School, Bury Road, Brandon

 

Present: Cllr. R Silvester, Cllr. N Vant, Cllr. P Ridgwell, Cllr. Mrs S Jureko, Cllr. Mrs M Young,

Cllr. P MacLoughlin, Cllr. S Edwards, Cllr. A Simmons, Cllr. K Butcher, Cllr. D Bimson,

Cllr. L Jacobs, Cllr. G Hughes.

           

Also present: Mrs C Mason (Town Clerk), Sgt. Liam Garrard, RAF Squadron Leader Jerry Neild, 1 member of the press, 3 members of the public.

 

The meeting commenced at 7.02 pm.   

 

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 Cllr. Mrs C Silvester, Cllr. E Ashley.

 

2.  DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS AND ADDITIONS TO REGISTER OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

None.

 

3.  TO RECEIVE, CONFIRM AND SIGN MINUTES

Of the Full Brandon Town Council Precept Meeting of Monday 19 November 2007 (Public items) [LGA 1972 Sch.12]. 

Resolution Record No. BTC/83/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. G Hughes and seconded by Cllr. D Bimson.

CARRIED: 9 for 2 abstentions.

 

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE PRECEPT MEETING OF THE FULL BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL OF MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007 BE ACCEPTED AND SIGNED AS A TRUE RECORD.

 

4.  MATTERS ARISING for information exchange only

Of the Full Brandon Town Council Precept Meeting of Monday 19 November 2007 (Public items) [LGA 1972 Sch.12].

There were no matters arising.

 

5.  PUBLIC FORUM - monthly event limited to 3 minutes duration maximum per resident relating to public agenda items.

Resolution Record No. BTC/84/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. A Simmons and seconded by Cllr. K Butcher.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM.

 

A resident voiced her concerns pertaining to poor street lighting in the Knappers Way /

Warren Road vicinity. It was agreed the area be inspected and if practicable, quotations obtained for additional streetlights.

 

6.  TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM RAF LAKENHEATH

This agenda item was heard later in the meeting.

 

7.  TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE POLICE

The Chairman welcomed Sgt Liam Garrard to the meeting. Key points: The Safer Neighbourhood Team is currently addressing issues in the Warren Heath area relating to street lighting and parking; following refurbishment, the Flowerpot will be reopened shortly; at a shared cost of two thousand pounds, six volunteers will be trained to use the speed detection equipment. Questions to Sgt Garrard included vehicle abuse of the one-way system and the police viewpoint on parked cars straddling both the pavement and highway.

 

8.  TO RECEIVE REPORTS (if any) from County and / or District Councillors.

Condolences to be sent to FHDC following the death of Jim Harris (Internal Auditor) and an employee tragically killed in a road traffic accident.

Cllr. L Jacobs asked for information on the garage redevelopments in the Wood Close/ Heath Road area. Cllr. S Edwards to investigate this further.

 

9.  URGENT BUSINESS –any items the Chairman considers a matter of urgent business (pursuant to Section 100B (4) (16) LGA 1972.

Concerns have been raised by the Town keepers regarding the pollarding of trees in Victoria Avenue and the Cemetery.

Resolution Record No. BTC/85/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. D Bimson and seconded by Cllr. Mrs S Jureko.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL SEEKS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM THE FOREST HEATH DISTRICT COUNCIL TREE OFFICER PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK.

           

10.  ACCOUNTS

10.1 Approval of payments: Public Items – November 2007 Discussion permitted upon.

10.2 To adopt the NALC recommended pay scales for 2007/2008, backdated to April 2007.

10.3 Confidential Items – November 2007 (Staff Salaries/Local Gov. Pensions).

Resolution Record No. BTC/86/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. S Edwards and seconded by Cllr. K Butcher.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL APPROVES AGENDA ITEMS TEN ONE, TEN TWO AND TEN THREE EN BLOC.

 

 

Date

Amount

Supplier

Chq No.

Net Total

VAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov-07

135.00

Pearsons (Thetford) Ltd 

103799

114.89

20.11

 

Nov-07

49.12

Powergen

DD

46.78

2.34

5%

Nov-07

210.07

HSS Hire (Excavator)

103800

179.28

30.79

 

Nov-07

23.50

SLCC

103801

23.50

 

 

Nov-07

189.18

Smith of Derby (Clock Service)

103802

161.00

28.18

 

Nov-07

6.00

J & D Green (Window Cleaners)

103803

6.00

 

 

Nov-07

170.84

K B Leach

103804

145.40

25.44

 

Nov-07

74.85

Thetford Garden Centre

103805

63.70

11.15

 

Nov-07

262.48

Powergen

103806

249.98

12.50

5%

Nov-07

39.06

Powergen

103807

37.20

1.86

5%

Nov-07

173.90

CGM (Orchard Maintenance)

103808

148.00

25.90

 

Nov-07

951.09

SCC (Archaeological Survey)

103809

809.44

141.65

 

Nov-07

120.58

Finevale Service Station

103810

102.62

17.96

 

Nov-07

47.26

Neat Ideas

103811

40.22

7.04

 

Nov-07

70.50

Ecolab (Wasps nest in garden)

103812

60.00

10.50

 

Nov-07

41.34

C Mason (Travel Expenses)

103813

41.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

2564.77

 

 

2229.35

335.42

 

 

11.  TO FORMALLY ACCEPT THE BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL 2008 TO 2009

PRECEPT FIGURE AS FORMULATED AT THE PRECEPT MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007

Resolution Record No. BTC/87/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. G Hughes and seconded by Cllr. D Bimson.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

           

THAT BRANDON TOWN FORMALLY ACCEPTS THE 2008 TO 2009 PRECEPT FIGURE AS FORMULATED AT THE PRECEPT MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007, FOR THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO POUNDS.

 

12.  ALLOTMENTS

Cllr. Mrs M Young declared an interest in this item and left the room. The Members Book of Interests was duly signed.

Planning permission has been granted by FHDC with the following conditions:

‘No development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing a plan indicating the positions, design, materials and type of means of enclosure, including any proposed gates to be erected. any fences shall be open in nature to allow water to flow freely in the event of flooding.’

Resolution Record No. BTC/88/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. A Simmons and seconded by Cllr. L Jacobs.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT THIS COUNCIL ELECTS A COMMITTEE WITH DELEGATED POWERS TO OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALLOTMENTS.

CLLR. R SILVESTER, CLLR. P MACLOUHGLIN AND CLLR. A SIMMONS

WERE DULY SELECTED.

 

Resolution Record No. BTC/89/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. R Silvester and seconded by Cllr. G Hughes.

CARRIED: 10 for 1 abstention.

 

THAT THIS COUNCIL SEEKS PERMISSION FROM THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRANDON REMEMBRANCE PLAYING FIELDS TO COMMENCE

INITIAL CLEARING OF THE ALLOTMENT SITE PRIOR TO THE LEASE BEING SIGNED. FURTHERMORE, AN UNDERTAKING IS TO BE GIVEN

THAT THE SITE WILL BE RETURNED TO ITS FORMER CONDITION IF, FOR ANY REASONS THE LEASE IS NOT SIGNED.

 

13.  BRANDON TOWN BUS

To consider the funding of an additional journey on the R1/441 bus service.

Resolution Record No. BTC/90/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. N Vant and seconded by Cllr. P MacLoughlin.

CARRIED: 8 for 3 against.

 

THAT BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL AGREES TO CONTRIBUTE THE SUM OF THREE HUNDRED AND TEN POUNDS TOWARDS THE COST OF AN ADDITIONAL JOURNEY ON THE R1/441BUS SERVICE ON THE CONDITION THE BALANCE IS MATCHED FUNDED BY WEETING PARISH COUNCIL.

 

Resolution Record No. BTC/91/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. D Bimson and seconded by Cllr. A Simmons.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT STANDING ORDERS BE SUSPENDED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM RAF LAKENHEATH.

 

Squadron Leader Neild said comments made at the previous meeting in relation to the traffic flow on the A1065 have been passed to the appropriate tasking office. A meeting is anticipated shortly.

Cllr. G Hughes raised a question in relation to ID procedure. Enquiries to be made.

 

Standing orders were reinstated.

 

14.  BRANDON HANDICAPPED CLUB

A report by Cllr. G Hughes had been previously circulated. A copy of which was handed to the member of the press.

Resolution Record No. BTC/92/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. Mrs M Young and seconded by Cllr. N Vant.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

           

THAT A LETTER BE SENT TO SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL REQUESTING CONFIRMATION THAT THE BRANDON COMMUNITY CENTRE WILL REMAIN OPEN AND VIABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.

 

15.  COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN.

Cllr. G Hughes asked for six ID holders and three translation books to be ordered. A final copy of the Plan has been lodged with Forest Heath District Council.

 

 

16.  ADOPTION OF MEETINGS SCHEDULE TO DECEMBER 2008

Resolution Record No. BTC/93/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. A Simmons and seconded by Cllr. Mrs S Jureko.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTS THE MEETINGS SCHEDULE

TO DECEMBER 2008.

 

17.  POSSIBLE TWINNING OF BRANDON WITH NEUFCHATEL-HARDELOT

Resolution Record No. BTC/94/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. Mrs M Young and seconded by Cllr. K Butcher.

CARRIED: 10 for 1 abstention.

 

THAT THIS COUNCIL REQUESTS FURTHER INFORMATION BEFORE PURSUING THE POSSIBLE TWINNING OF BRANDON WITH NEUFCHATEL-HARDELOT.

 

18.  COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS COMMUNITY SCHEME

Resolution Record No. BTC/95/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. S Edwards and seconded by Cllr. A Simmons.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

THAT BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL AGREES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE   COUNTRYSIDE COMMUNITY SCHEME.

 

19.  CLERKS MONTHLY LOG OF INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN AND ACTIONS TAKEN

Contents were noted. No questions were raised.

 

20. RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC AND PRESS:

Resolution Record No. BTC/96/03/Dec/07

Proposed by Cllr. A Simmons and seconded by Cllr.D Bimson.

CARRIED: Unanimous.

 

‘That pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the Public and Pres be excluded from the Meeting temporarily due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed concerning: CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES: QUOTES: STAFFING ISSUES. (Section 100(A)(4) LGA 1972)’

 

 

     

BRANDON TOWN COUNCIL

Confidential Minutes

Of the Meeting of the Full Brandon Town Council

Held at 7.00pm on Monday 3 December 2007

At the Forest School, Bury Road, Brandon

 

THIS PAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL

ONLY THE RESOLUTIONS MAY BE DISPLAYED

AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD

 

21.  TO RECEIVE, CONFIRM AND SIGN CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES

Of the Full Brandon Town Council Precept Meeting of Monday 19 November 2007.

Resolution Record No. BTC/97/03/Dec/07

CARRIED:                                                               

 

THAT THE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES OF THE FULL BRANDON

TOWN COUNCIL PRECEPT MEETING OF MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007 BE ACCEPTED AND SIGNED AS A TRUE RECORD.

 

22.  MATTERS ARISING FROM THE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES

Of the Full Brandon Town Council Precept Meeting of Monday 19 November 2007.

None.