Members of the Council

You are hereby summoned to the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council which will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 24 April 2025 at 7.30pm for the purpose of transacting the business below.

Members of the public

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting and may address the Council, during the Public Participation Session, Item 5.2 on the agenda.

Reporting on Meetings

Except where members of the public have been excluded due to the confidential nature of the business, any person is normally able to film, photograph, audio record or use social media to report on meetings of the Council, including any public comment and/or questions.

AGENDA

1.. To receive any apologies for absence.

2. To receive, from Members, any declarations of interest in items on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

3. To approve the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 27 March 2025.

4. To review progress on all outstanding actions from minutes of previous meetings.

2022/178: Pavilion Balustrade:
A second Contractor’s quotation for a new balustrade is still awaited.
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2024/066.4: Financial Regulations: The Working Group will make a recommendation to a future Parish Council Meeting on the adoption of digital payments & on-line banking.

2024/101.2.7: Parish Paths: Cllr Baber is awaiting a costed proposal from SCC, to replace the bridge in Old Hall Lane.

2024/175: Plough & Fleece: The Clerk is still awaiting legal advice from NALC on the Parish Council’s ability to provide a loan. The CVG suggested a further meeting after the Share Offer Deadline (See Agenda Item 10).

2024/176: Defibrillator Coverage at Cross Green: The Clerk was requested to submit a proposal to a future Parish Council meeting, once BT have signed and returned the adoption contract.

2024/177: Grit Bin at Old Hall Lane: The Clerk will advise SCC when the Grit Bin has been installed, so they can include it on the Grit Bin filling Rota.

2024/181.3: Police/Fire: Cllr Cutting-Keyton received confirmation that the Police would continue to visit Howe Lane to attempt to operate the speed cameras, but parked cars had preventing them from doing so, during earlier visits.

2024/190.1: Planning: The Clerk was requested to raise an enforcement issue on DC/23/055936 over the reduction in size of the Garage Doors.

2024/192: Village Hall Update: Working Group comprising Cllrs Cutting-Keyton, Levett and Morley and the Clerk to review legal advice being sought from SALC on the Parish Council’s powers and options and submit a proposal to the April Parish Council meeting. (See Agenda Item 11)

2024/193: Planning Statement of Community Involvement Consultation: The Clerk was requested to complete and return the questionnaire to BMSDC.

2024/194.1.3 Earls Meadow/Bruffs Line/Jeffreys Green: Cllr Morley to purchase grass seed to sow on the barren areas of Jeffreys Green burnt by the brush fires.

2024/197: Neighbourhood Plan: Cllrs to reflect on the feedback provided by the Planning Working Group and read the BMSDC briefing note so that it can be discussed at the May Parish Council meeting.

5. Public Participation Session: (15 minutes).

5.1 Suffolk County Councillor and Babergh District Councillor Reports.

5.2 Public comment.

6. Planning:

6.1 To consider any applications received which have been referred to the Parish Council:

DC/25/01751: Works to trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order – 1 x Beech – Fell: Dead wood present in crown,1 x Lime – Pollard at 3 metres above ground level – dead wood present in crown – aim to rejuvenate the tree: Peppers Hall , Cross Green, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds IP30 0LH (Consultation Response Deadline: 2nd May 2025)

6.2 To note any Babergh District Council planning permissions/refusals received:
None

7. Finance:

7.1 To receive a financial reconciliation report.

7.2 To authorise Payments as presented and to note Income received.

8. Neighbourhood CIL:

8.1 To note and approve the Annual Neighbourhood CIL Expenditure Report (01/04/24 to 31/03/25) (Report circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting) and authorise the Clerk and Chairman to sign and submit it to BMSDC.

8.2 To note the Neighbourhood CIL Income, Expenditure, Balance and Expenditure Deadline Report (Report circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting). Cllrs are invited to propose potential projects for CIL funding.

9. Permissive Footpath in Howe Lane: To authorise a budget of £7,500 + VAT (to be funded from Neighbourhood CIL) for Hodge Farms Ltd to instruct their contractor to undertake the work to form a footpath (approximately 205m long) running parallel to Howe Lane. Budget to include quotation from ADM Contracting Ltd for £6,870 + VAT provided by C Shallow (Hodge Farms Ltd) + Contingency for additional unforeseen works. Note: Work will not be instructed until the Lease has been signed between Hodge Farms Ltd and Cockfield Parish Council for a permissive footpath.

10. Plough & Fleece: To receive an update from Cllr Fletcher on the future of the Pub and the Village Shop.

11. Village Hall Update: To receive an update from Cllr Cutting-Keyton on the future of the Village Hall.

12. Cloud Storage: To consider a proposal from Cllr Baber to purchase Cloud Storage from Ionos at a cost of £20 + VAT/month (£240 + VAT per annum). (Briefing Note circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting).

13. Maintenance Schedule and Asset Management:

13.1 Maintenance Matters by exception:
13.1.1 Greens Management (including Bandstand)
13.1.2 Glebe Land (including Allotments)
13.1.3 Earls Meadow/Bruffs Line/Jeffreys Green
13.1.4 Cemetery
13.1.5 Playground
13.1.6 Village Hall Car Park
13.1.7 Parish Paths
13.1.8 Pavilion (including Storage Shed)
13.1.9 Bus Shelter
13.1.10 Notice Boards & Benches.
13.1.11 Village Sign
13.1.12 Speed Indicator Devices
13.1.13 Other Assets

13.2 Maintenance Calendar (Full review, February, June, October only)
To undertake full review of 2024/25 Maintenance Requirements for budget preparation purposes.

14. Third Party Liaison: By Exception, to receive any reports from lead members on matters which need to be brought to the attention of the Council and to take actions appropriate:
14.1 Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) – Cllr Nic Knight.
14.2 Highways and Emergencies -Cllr Cutting-Keyton/Cllr Levett.
14.3 Police/Fire – Cllr Levett.
14.4 BMSDC – Cllr Levett:

15. Defibrillator Coverage at Cross Green: To accept a quotation from Community Heartbeat Trust for the supply of a semi-automatic Defibrillator and Cabinet. (Note: Cllrs approved the manufacture and type of defibrillator at the Ordinary Parish Council meeting on 27/03/25).

16. Local Needs Housing: To consider any matters – Cllr Morley

17. VE 80 Commemoration: To receive an update from Cllr Cutting-Keyton

18. Correspondence: To consider the list of correspondence received and listed in the Correspondence Register (circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting) and to agree any appropriate actions.

19. Matters to be brought to the attention of the Council either for information or for inclusion on the agenda of a future Ordinary Meeting.

20. Next Meetings:
The next Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 22 May 2025 at 7.30pm, in the Village Hall.

Parish Clerk: Steve Ball, Proper Officer of the Council
Address: Green Ridge, Howe Lane, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0HA
Tel: 01284 828987
E-mail: parish.council@cockfield.org.uk

Published: 18th April 2025