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 31 July 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 26 June 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 has been received but is based on a different specification. The Clerk to obtain two like for like quotes for the next meeting.
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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.

2024/176: Defibrillator Coverage at Cross Green: The Clerk confirmed that the new defibrillator had been delivered. The Clerk will liaise with Cllr Turner to install the defibrillator in the Cross Green telephone box.

2025/046.1.2: Glebe Land: These areas have been sprayed but the treatment has not yet proved effective. Cllr Morley & Cllr Levett (or the Clerk) to meet contractor to agree next steps.

2025/060.4: Bank Account Transfers: The Clerk to investigate a second Building Society into which funds could be transferred from the Parish Council’s Bank Account and submit a proposal to the July Parish Council meeting.

2025/061: Financial Governance – AGAR: The Clerk to submit the Section 1 & 2 of the AGAR to the external auditors (PKF Littlejohn) by the audit deadline.
The Clerk to post Section 1 & 2 of the AGAR on the Parish Council page of the Cockfield Website.

2025/062: Adoption of Governance Documents: Adoption of Risk Register deferred in Cllr Levett’s absence. Cllr Levett to submit a proposal to the July Parish Council meeting.

2025/066.2: CIL Working Group Meeting: CIL Working Group to convene on 15/07/25 at Jeffreys Green to review quotes and specifications for a bridge in Jeffreys Green. A proposal to be submitted to the July 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:

None

6.2 To note any Babergh District Council planning permissions/refusals received:

DC/25/01310: Application under S73 for the Removal or Variation of Conditions following grant of DC/25/01125, dated 07/05/2025 – Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – Erection of 5 No. Dwellings – To vary Condition 10 (Bridge Details) as per revised plan and covering letter. Plough And Fleece Inn, Great Green, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0HJ (Decision: Planning permission without Compliance of Conditions has been GRANTED, subject to certain conditions)

DC/25/02022: Application under S73a for Removal or Variation of a Condition following grant of Planning Permission DC/22/06014 dated 07/09/2023 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) – to vary Condition 2 (Approved Plans and Documents), Condition 8 (Works Over the Ditch), Condition 9 (Surface Water Discharge), Condition 10 (Footway) in order to move the footway north to solve issue of land drainage as per plans and documents received. Land At Junction Of Bury Road And Felsham Road, Great Green, Cockfield, IP30 0HJ (Decision: Planning permission without Compliance of Conditions has been GRANTED, subject to certain conditions)

DC/25/02138: Householder Application – Erection of a single storey side extension. Cedar Cottage, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0HE (Decision: Planning permission has been GRANTED)

DC/25/00049: Householder Application – Erection of two storey side extension and two storey rear extension (following demolition of existing single storey side extension) Tollgate, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0HE (Decision: Planning permission has been REFUSED)

DC/25/00101: Application for Listed Building Consent – Erection of two storey side extension and two storey rear extension (following demolition of existing single storey side extension); Repair and restoration works as detailed in the schedule of works. The Cottage, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Suffolk IP30 0HE (Decision: Listed Building Consent has been REFUSED)

7. Finance:

7.1 To receive a financial reconciliation report.

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

7.3 To consider a proposal from Cllr Morley on behalf of the CIL Working Group to accept the quotation from Neil Copping (circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting) to:
7.3.1: Construct barriers and handrails to each side of the existing pedestrian & vehicular bridge in Jeffreys Green, and
7.3.2: Design, manufacture and install new pedestrian footbridge and handrails in Jeffreys Green, and
7.3.3: Replacement of existing steps and river viewing platform and handrails in Earls Meadow.
(Note: Costs of 7.3.1, 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 to be funded from Neighbourhood CIL funding)

7.4 To consider a proposal from Cllr Turner to accept the quotation (circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting) to break out and remove the existing timber Cemetery gate posts and install two new Iroko gate posts (purchased previously) and rehang the pair of wrought iron metal gates.
(Note: Work to be funded from Neighbourhood CIL Funding)

7.5 To consider a proposal from Cllr Morley to purchase a new Iroko Brandon 1.8m bench from Genesis Mencap (circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting), to replace the life expired bench in Jeffreys Green for £603.42 + £120.68 VAT.
(Note: Work to be funded from Neighbourhood CIL Funding)

7.6 To consider a proposal from Cllr Morley to purchase a mature tree to replace the Elm tree on Great Green (suffering with Dutch Elm disease), that has been removed and the stump ground out.

7.7 To consider a proposal from Cllr Morley to commission another wrought iron tree guard and plaque for the new tree to match the two adjacent tree guards on Great Green.

7.8 To consider a proposal from Cllr Morley on behalf of the CIL Working Group to purchase 3 No. picnic tables/benches from Action Play & Safety Ltd (circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting). Tables to be fitted onto hardstandings with Astroturf to be sited near the pond, Great Green. (Note: Work to be funded from Neighbourhood CIL Funding)

7.9 To consider a proposal from the Cllr Levett for Cllrs to transfer monies from the PC Barclays account into either the Hinckley & Rugby Building Society Account or Unity Trust Bank.

8. Additional Defibrillator: To consider a proposal to purchase and install a defibrillator at either the Parish Council owned Phone Box sited at Crowbrook Place the , or at the Three Horseshoes pub, to provide coverage for Buttons Green, Smithwood Green, Jeffreys Green, MacKenzie Place, Crowbrook Place and Stows Hill. (Note: The owner of the Three Horseshoes has offered for it to be installed outside his pub and to undertake weekly safety checks). Copies of quotations received from Community Heartbeat Trust were circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting.

9 Adoption of Governance Documents: To adopt the Risk Register (Circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting)

10 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP):
10.1: To approve the Cockfield Parish Council BSIP application to extend the Mulleys 377 Bus service from Bradfield St George via Bradfield St Clare to Great Green, Cockfield,
10.2: To support the Bradfield St Clare BSIP application to extend the Mulleys 377 Bus service from Bradfield St George via Bradfield St Clare to Great Green, Cockfield,

11. Maintenance Schedule and Asset Management:

11.1 Maintenance Matters by exception:
11.1.1 Greens Management (including Bandstand)
11.1.2 Glebe Land (including Allotments)
11.1.3 Earls Meadow/Bruffs Line/Jeffreys Green
11.1.4 Cemetery
11.1.5 Playground
11.1.6 Village Hall Car Park
11.1.7 Parish Paths
11.1.8 Pavilion (including Storage Shed)
11.1.9 Bus Shelter
11.1.10 Notice Boards & Benches.
11.1.11 Village Sign
11.1.12 Speed Indicator Devices
11.1.13 Other Assets

11.2 Maintenance Calendar (Full review in October only)
To undertake full review of 2024/25 Maintenance Requirements for budget preparation purposes.

12. 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:
12.1 Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) – Cllr Nic Knight.
12.2 Highways and Emergencies -Cllr Cutting-Keyton/Cllr Levett.
12.3 Police/Fire – Cllr Levett.
12.4 BMSDC – Cllr Levett:

13. Jeffreys Green: The Clerk to provide a progress update on the transfer of land below Jeffreys Green from SCC to Cockfield Parish Council.

14. Village Hall: To receive a progress update from Cllr Cutting-Keyton on the future trusteeship of the Village Hall.

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

16. Correspondence:

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

18. Next Meetings:
The next Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 25 September 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: 25th July 2025