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2020-03-02 Version 1.0
BARHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN BARHAM CHURCH HALL , ON MONDAY 28th JULY 2025, 7.00pm
PRESENT: Chairman Casey Wooltorton, Cllr Julie Gregory, Cllr Ian Woods, Cllr Brenda Mitchell, Cllr Tim Carr, Cllr Marilyn Lesley, Cllr Bonnie Head & Cllr Graham Head.
Also present: BMSDC Cllrs David Penny and John Whitehead, Suffolk County Councillor Chris Chambers the Clerk and 3 members of the public.
OPEN FORUM
Member of the public informed that the damaged railings at the front of Shrubland Hall have still not been replaced. She is willing to contact the owner to chase this up.
No presentation from Port One Technology Park leadership team, regarding the planned expansion of the existing site at Great Blakenham.
BMSDC David Penny June report has been distributed to all ahead of the meeting. CIL has been under review, there is now increased support for existing community cafes and community shops. Also support for community supported agriculture schemes. District CIL can now be applied for at anytime of the year.
The Chairman noted that despite the increased CIL support for existing cafes, the Barham Picnic Site Charity has been told that there is no support for new cafes and is extremely disappointed and frustrated at this. Barham picnic site charity has been waiting some time to be in apposition to apply for funding for the new café at the site. Now that planning permission has been granted for a café, he has applied for CIL money. Despite being told previously that there will always be plenty of funding available for the provision of a new café, he has now been told that only £100,000 can be applied for. Funding is also needed for the proposed new play area.
Cllr Penny noted that the PC has an agenda item for the village sign, he informed that a Pride in Your Place grant could be applied for to help with this.
He also reported on Devolution and the Local Government Debate. The proposal is to have multiple unitaries, although the actual number is still down to the councils. Elections will take place on 1st May 2026 for a Mayor of the Council.
The Chairman also stated that the Parish Council is extremely disappointed that it gets ignored, particularly with planning responses. He had made this opinion known at a recent meeting which district councillors were in attendance and had now been invited to discuss this matter further at a meeting with the district councils Chief Executive.
Suffolk County Councillor Chris Chambers his reported has been circulated to all ahead of the meeting. Suffolk Libraries have been brought In House to run, all 45 libraries to remain open and normal opening times to continue. Work continues as the council is preparing business cases to put forward regarding the proposed devolution of the councils. It is the choice of the SCC to go for one unitary council. Changes to national infrastructure planning framework. An £8 million grant has been received towards public transport.
Cllr Mitchell asked what will happen to the £55 million CIL money which the county council holds once devolution happens? He replied that there is no change and that the CIL money will still exist. She informed that she is also disappointed that the Barham Picnic Site charity has been told by the councils that as the village is in an affluent area it does not meet the criteria for grant funding.
The Chairman informed that despite Barham PC receiving 15% of CIL from the new Taylor Whimpey site (£250,000), the district council will have the other 85% (£2 million), what will the council be spending that money on? He would like confirmation on this and will be seeking advice from solicitors to get clarification on the parish councils entitlement to CIL money.
1.07 APOLOGIES
a. Apologies for absence. Cllr Paul Fenn – Holiday.
b. Consent/non consent to absence. Consent was granted to the PC
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2.07 COUNCILLORS DEC LARATION OF INTERESTS
a. Declaration of interests with regards to any item on the agenda – None.
(Councillors who are on the Barham Picnic Site Community Charity have previously been granted dispensations relating to Barham Picnic Site, to July 2028.
3.07 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 19th MAY 2025
The minutes were approved correct, proposed Cllr Mitchell, seconded Cllr Carr, signed by the Chairman.
4.07 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING .
a. Work Plan
Road sign which has been knocked down at Pesthouse Lane has been repaired.
Repair of steps leading down to the Barham Lakes is being dealt with by the PROW officer Oliver Westall. Barham Green 30mph speed sign knocked down, Chris Chambers is dealing with this.
Work on the bus shelter has been caried out. Cllr B Head asked if the Pride In Your Place grant could be applied for bus shelter cleaning. Clerk to get a quote for cleaning.
The Chairman has been informed by SCC that the “Welcome to Barham” village signs do not meet the legal requirements of Highways, therefore need to be replaced. Cllr Chambers will pass on details of recommended suppliers for village signs.
The Chairman to follow up with Taylor Wimpey who are to re-turf the area at the bottom of Church Lane on the junction.
Overgrown hedges blocking drivers view along Old Norwich Rd into Claydon, also The Crescent opposite Sandy Lane into Norwich Rd and the Sandy Lane/Shrubland Hall junction onto Norwich Rd.
SCC Chris Chambers will look into this.
White Lines in Coopers Rd are non-existent and needs renewing, also passed onto Chris Chambers.
Sandy Lane drains are blocked, resident will contact Bretts Aggregates to advise them.
Tipper trucks are coming down Church Lane and turning left and going through the village past the weight limit sign instead of turning right. Planning enforcement to be advised, passed onto district councillor David Penny.
Cllr G Head informed that there have recently been 2 tragic accidents at the Sandy Lane junction due to poor visibility and speeding traffic. SCC Chambers advised that should Bress Aggregates get planning permission at the Quarry, they may be enforced to make change to the junction to make it safer.
5.07 REVIEW OF PARISH COUNCIL PLANNIN G LIST DISCUSS NEW PLANNING APPLICATION S RECEIVED.
Planning permission has been granted to the Barham picnic site, change of use from information/Visitors centre to cafe and extension of building. Erection of play area.
Planning permission also granted to Barham Lakes, Pesthouse Lane to change use of lodge from commercial to holiday let and alternatively ground floor assembly room for anglers.
Noted that changes have been made to application DC/25/01795 extension of existing vehicle parking area approved under 3277/15, and conversion of building to associated office (Class E). Land Adjacent, Pesthouse Lane, Barham.
The district council has informed the PC that a consultation has been carried out with Claydon PC for the naming of new roads further to the development of land to the west of Ely Road, Claydon. However, it has since been brought to the attention of the district council that the roads in question fall within the Barham parish boundary not Claydon as originally recorded. They apologies that Barham PC was not consulted during the address allocation process.
6.07 FINANCE
a. Monthly Payments – to agree the payments for May & June 2025.
May, payments £2144.85, no receipts, approved by all, signed off by Cllr Mitchell.
June, payments £2932.71, no receipts, approved by all, signed off by Cllr Mitchell.
b. Monthly reconciliation – June bank reconciliation.
As at 30/06/25 the Current Account £75,218.64. Business Account £55,586.09. The accounts are holding reserves of £88,630.92 CIL money & £14,487.54 for grass cutting (Brett Aggregates).
Signed off by Cllr Mitchell.
c. Bank Accounts Quarterly Summary April – June Q1
Councillors have received this in advance of the meeting for consideration. “Other Expenses” is now itemised as an appendix further to the request of the PC.
The spend against budget was also circulated to all ahead of the meeting. No issues raised.
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d. To Consider a Request from Claydon & Barham Recreation Ground Committee to Reinstate the Grant of £2000 for the financial year.
Claydon and Barham Recreation Ground Committee have asked Barham Parish Council if it intends to reinstate the grant of £2,000 and would like this confirmed.
The Chairman advised the PC that it has given £40,000 over the past years to help with the maintenance of the recreation ground. However, when the Barham Picnic Site Charity asked Claydon Parish Council for funding towards it’s site the request was not discussed.
Barham Parish Council had discussed the matter of funding to the Recreation Ground Committee at its precept budget planning in November 2024 and it was agreed by the PC to remove funding for the Recreation Ground Committee from its budget.
The Chairman asked if the PC is in favour to reinstate a grant of £2,000, none in favour. A caveat to also be stated to the recreation ground committee that the PC will not be discussing any further requests every 6 months. Unanimous decision.
e. NSK Landscapes additional cut, approval of Invoice.
NSK had been instructed by the Clerk to carry out an extra cut on the corner of Kirby Rise and Norwich Road as complaints had been received from residents at the overgrown state. Payment of £72.00 has been made. The PC had all been informed and were happy to proceed with this additional cut.
Payment approved, proposed Cllr Mitchell seconded Cllr G Head.
7.07 REVIEW OF THE BARHAM COUNCILLOR CODE OF CONDUCT .
The document has not been reviewed since the PC adopted it in August 2022. No changes required to the document. Reviewed and approved by all, proposed Cllr Gregory seconded Cllr Lesley.
8.07 REVIEW THE KIRBY RISE PLAY AREA HEALTH & SAFETY POLIC Y.
Last review took place in April 2021, it was agreed by all to defer until the September meeting and to carry out review then.
9.07 REPORTS – Councillors to report on any meetings that they have attended since the last meeting.
The Chairman reported on the recent meeting he had attended with district councillors regarding Devolution and Port One. Reiterated his frustration at how parish councils are not listened to by the district council, he awaits his meeting with the district council chief executive. SCC Councillor Chris Chambers is also to attend to give the Chairman his support.
Disappointed that the representatives from Port One did not attend tonight’s meeting. Clerk to look into this and invite to the next meeting.
Chairman is to meet with surrounding parishes regarding the proposed expansion of Port One.
However, Barham PC is not in a financial position to be able to participate in a joint neighbourhood plan.
Cllr Carr is aware that there is a lot of confusion over the Port One application and it will be a good idea for the surrounding parishes to work together in this to have a better voice.
Cllr Mitchell advised that the In Touch magazine is no longer being distributed in Barham. Clerk to contact the Editor for confirmation.
10.07 TO CONSIDER REPAINTING OF THE BARHAM VILLAGE SIGN.
Request has been received from a resident for the village sign to be repainted. Last repaint was in 2014. District Councillor John Whitehead to pass on retails of company who carries out this work.
Quotes to be sought and will be discussed at the next PC meeting.
11.07 DATE OF NEXT MEETING . Monday 22nd September 2025.
The meeting ended at 8.35pm.
Chairman ………………………… …………………… …. Date …………… …………...........