Members of the Council

You are hereby summoned to the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council which will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 22 May 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 elect the Chairman of the Council for the coming year.

2. To elect the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the coming year.

3. To receive the Chairman’s and Vice-Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

4. To receive any apologies for absence.

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

6. To approve the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 12 May 2025.

7. To agree any Council committees, sub-committees and/or working groups and their membership.

8. To appoint Representatives to external bodies, as appropriate.

9. To appoint Council officers.

10. To appoint Council portfolio-holders.

11. Adoption of Governance Documents. (Circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting)
11.1 To review and adopt Standing Orders
11.2 To review and adopt Financial Regulations
11.3 To review and adopt Asset Register
11.4 To review and adopt Risk Register

12. 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. Cllr Golding 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 the June or July 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.

2024/176: Defibrillator Coverage at Cross Green: BT have signed and returned the adoption contract. The Clerk submitted a proposal to the Extraordinary Parish Council meeting on 12/05/25.

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 Ordinary Parish Council meeting (See Agenda Item 18).

2025/008.1: Neighbourhood CIL Annual Return: The Clerk was authorised to submit the Annual Neighbourhood CIL Expenditure Report (01/04/24 to 31/03/25),to BMSDC and post on the PC page of the website.

2025/008.2: Neighbourhood CIL Expenditure: Cllr Morley advised that he is exploring to obtain a feasibility proposal and estimate for a pedestrian bridge at Jeffreys Green and would report back to the CIL Working Group.

2025/010: Village Shop: A working group comprising Cllrs Morley, Golding and Knight, plus members of Cockfield Village Group together with Cllr Turner to convene to explore options to secure the future of the Village Shop.

2025/012: Cloud Storage: Cllr Baber and the Clerk to explore the practical issues involved for the Parish Council and report back to a future meeting.

2025/013.1.3 Earls Meadow/Bruffs Line/Jeffreys Green: The Clerk to provide an update to the May Ordinary Parish Council Meeting on the progress of the land transfer from SCC to Cockfield Parish Council.(See Agenda Item 27).

2025/013.1.13 Other Assets: The Clerk to ask BMSDC to impose a Tree Preservation Order on an Elm Tree in Dukes Meadow.

13. Public Participation Session: (15 minutes).

13.1 Suffolk County Councillor and Babergh District Councillor Reports.

13.2 Public comment.

14. Planning:

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

DC/25/02022: Application under S73 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 (Consultation Response Deadline: 30th May 2025)

DC/25/02138: Householder Application – Erection of a single storey side extension: Cedar Cottage, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0HE 0HJ (Consultation Response Deadline: 30th May 2025)

DC/25/02138: Householder Application – Erection of a single storey side extension Location: Cedar Cottage, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0HE (Consultation Response Deadline: 2nd June 2025)

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

DC/25/01064: Application for Outline Planning Permission (all matters reserved). Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). Erection of 1No dwelling Plantation Lodge, Bury Road, Cockfield, IP30 0LB (Decision: Outline Planning Permission has been REFUSED)

DC/25/01125: Application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act for DC/24/05289 (relating to up to 5no dwellings approved under Outline Planning Application DC/18/03048 Allowed at Appeal APP/D3505/W/18/321481 and Reserved Matters Approval DC/22/02540) for the Variation of Condition 1 (Approved plans & documents) for Plots 2 & 4 Plough And Fleece Inn, Great Green, Cockfield, IP30 0HJ. (Decision: Planning permission without compliance of Condition(s) has been GRANTED subject to Conditions).

DC/25/01022: Householder Application – Insertion of new door, removal of chimney alongside small cosmetic alterations. Church Cottage, Church Lane, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0LA. (Decision: Planning Permission has been GRANTED)

DC/25/01023: Application for Listed Building Consent – Insertion of new door, removal of chimney alongside internal and external works as per the schedule of works. Church Cottage, Church Lane, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 0LA. (Decision: Listed Building Consent has been GRANTED)

15. Finance:

15.1 To receive a financial reconciliation report.

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

16. Village Hall: To consider a proposal from Cllr Cutting-Keyton seeking Parish Council agreement “in principle” to become Sole Trustee of “The Village Hall Charity” (under the terms of the Charity Deed and “Constitution”). Note: Briefing note circulated to Cllrs in advance of the meeting.

17. Village Shop: To receive an update from Cllr Morley on the Working Group meeting, comprising representatives of the Parish Council, the Cockfield Village Group and the owners of the Village Shop.

18. Neighbourhood Plan: To agree whether the Parish Council wish to produce a Neighbourhood Plan and which Cllrs would be involved in its production.

19. VE 80 Commemoration: To receive an update from Cllr Cutting-Keyton on the event.

20. Neighbourhood CIL: To receive an update from Cllr Morley on a CIL Project.

21. Maintenance Schedule and Asset Management:

21.1 Maintenance Matters by exception:
21.1.1 Greens Management (including Bandstand)
21.1.2 Glebe Land (including Allotments)
21.1.3 Earls Meadow/Bruffs Line/Jeffreys Green
21.1.4 Cemetery
21.1.5 Playground
21.1.6 Village Hall Car Park
21.1.7 Parish Paths
21.1.8 Pavilion (including Storage Shed)
21.1.9 Bus Shelter
21.1.10 Notice Boards & Benches.
21.1.11 Village Sign
21.1.12 Speed Indicator Devices
21.1.13 Other Assets

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

22. 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:
22.1 Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) – Cllr Nic Knight.
22.2 Highways and Emergencies -Cllr Cutting-Keyton/Cllr Levett.
22.3 Police/Fire – Cllr Levett.
22.4 BMSDC – Cllr Levett:

23. Jeffreys Green: To receive an update from the Clerk on the progress of the land transfer from SCC to Cockfield Parish Council.

24. Street Name Proposal: To consider a request from BMSDC Street Management to agree a Street Name Proposal for the Development at the Plough & Fleece.

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

26. 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.

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

28. Next Meetings:
The next Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 26th June 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: 16th May 2025