Please note: To obtain a copy of the full formal minutes of this meeting, please email the Parish Clerk, parish.council@cockfield.org.uk

Greens Management: In Cllr C Brinkley’s holiday absence, there was no update on Hewick’s decision as to whether they are able to provide edge grass cutting services on the Great Green. Cllr Golding is also to obtain quotations from two local contractors to undertake edge cutting in the interim

Village Hall Car Park: Cllrs Cutting-Keyton & Levett, will be meeting with contractors on site to discuss the Village Hall Car Park maintenance requirements over the next two weeks.

BMSDC Public Realm Land: The Clerk has written a formal letter of complaint to the CEO of BMSDC, but has only received an acknowledgement and promise of a full response.

The Clerk has chased up a response and requested details of who Emily Atack (BMSDC Assistant Director) has notified within SCC Highways to get the fence moved.

Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations 2022: The Clerk is assisting Cllr Cutting-Keyton with the distribution of Invites throughout the village.

The Clerk has written to the Cross Green resident granting permission to use Cross Green for a local planned event and outlining conditions for its use.

Playground: The Clerk has received a quotation to dig out the stumps/roots of the three shrubby trees, recently cut down on the Great Green to improve driver visibility approaching the Playground.

Local Needs Housing – Registration of Jeffreys Green as a Green: The Clerk has determined that the formal process is written around the historic granting Green status to areas in existing use, not the creation of new greens. Therefore, the Council will continue to look into how it can overcome this obstacle.

Highways & Emergencies: The Clerk (as requested) forwarded details of the PC’s ongoing problems in obtaining SCC’s permission to erect safety signage, to District Cllr Arthey to enlist his assistance.

Councillors robustly challenged SCC Cllr Lindsay on SCC Highway’s poor service and apparent apathy in progressing a number of issues. Cllr Lindsay had spoken to SCC Head of Road Safety who believes it feasible, but we still have not received their approval so would chase them again. The Clerk will also write to SCC’s Cllr Paul West complaining about the delay and requesting a meeting on site to discuss the proposed footpath.

Public Participation Session: Suffolk County Cllr Lindsay has escalated to SCC Cllr Paul West, the issue of skirting back the footpath at Cross Green.  District Cllr Arthey has also escalated the issue as it is not a BMSDC responsibility but agreed that SCC and BMSDC will cover the cost. Cllr Arthey hoped that he would be able to include Cockfield onto a twice-yearly rota of pavement sweeping.

District Cllr Maybury circulated her report in advance of the meeting but was not in attendance to add further to her report.

District Cllr Arthey reported that:

• There would be a Council Tax Rebate Scheme of £150 for Band A-D properties,
• Renovation loans up to £20k would be available for properties that had remained empty for a period of time,
• There would be a new BMSDC campaign encouraging disposal of glass via Bottle banks rather than in domestic Blue and Black Bins,
• The Jeffries Green development in Cockfield has contributed to BMSDC achieving their bungalow target.

Planning Applications Received for consultation:

DC/22/00912 : Proposal: Householder Application. Erection of two storey extension, including single storey flat roof linking element. Abbey Farm, Bury Road, Cockfield, Suffolk IP30 0LB. The Parish Council Supports this Application.

DC/22/00178: Planning Application – Installation of 16no. ground based solar panels. Drift Barn, Chapel Road, Cockfield, Suffolk IP30 0HE The Parish Council Supports this Application.

DC/22/01254: Full Planning Application – Construction of staff car parking area. Loft Farm, Cross Green, Cockfield, Suffolk IP30 0LJ The Parish Council Supports this Application.

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Planning Decisions Notified by BMSDC:

DC/21/05655: Application for Outline Permission (Access points to be considered, Appearance, Layout, Scale and Landscaping reserved) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – Erection of 1No self-build dwelling and cart lodge. Land at Wix House, Great Green, Cockfield, Suffolk IP30 0HQ. Decision: Outline Planning Permission has been Refused.

Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations 2022: Cllr Cutting-Keyton provided an extensive update that all arrangements were moving at a pace and now substantially in place.

Plough & Fleece ACV – Community Right to Bid: No one from the Cockfield Community Group was in attendance to provide an update on the Community Right to Bid Process. The Clerk advised that the Group had delivered mailshots to every property throughout the village, containing questionnaires to gauge the level of local support for the Pub. The Group have recently met with the Plunket Foundation and will provide a full update at the April PC Meeting.

Neighbourhood Plan: The Chairman thanked the Clerk for his briefing note which helped to inform discussions. Cllrs debated the benefits versus the cost and resource demands and agreed unanimously not to pursue a Neighbourhood Plan. District Cllr Arthey agreed that the costs would probably outweigh the benefits and said that once BMSDC’s JLP was adopted, then Cockfield would be better protected against unwanted development.

Cockfield Pavilion Hire: It was proposed by Cllr Golding and seconded by Cllr Morley that Cllrs consider any 2021/22 Pavilion hire fees at the end of the season, and proposed that £1,200 be charged for 2022/23 season. The proposals were carried.

Cllr Joe Brinkley had advised the Clerk that he needed to raise an Invoice for £350, to enable Bury Town FC Boys U10 team to pay for their pitch hire for 2021/22.

Risk Register: The updated Register was adopted.

Glebe Land: Cllr Webster confirmed that he had improved the visibility splays when exiting the Glebe land, by trimming back the hedge at the entrance. Attempts to obtain quotations for weed killing and rotovating has been put on hold due to the current shortage of weed killer. Cllr Webster is pursuing an alternative supplier.

Earls Meadow: Cllr Morley advised that the Queens Platinum Jubilee Plaque had been placed adjacent to the Walnut tree planted in Earls Meadow.

Cemetery: Cllr Turner advised that R Williams would be increasing his 2022/23 charges for cemetery grass cutting. Cllr Turner advised that he would be benchmarking Cockfield’s Cemetery Fees against other Parishes.

Pavilion: The Clerk’s meeting on 24/03/22 with the Loss Adjuster’s Engineer was deferred until 21/04/22 as the Engineer had Covid.

 CIL Working Group: The Consultant Engineers have produced a plan of the new Bus Shelter Base. Cllr Morley has held initial discussions with the land owner over the acquisition of the additional land needed for the extended base.

 Highways and Emergencies: A very positive response was received from residents and the areas were allocated in record time for this year’s annual Litter Pick. Thank you to all the pickers and to PC Darren Marshall who organised a group of Police Cadets to pick along the A1141.

Thank you to Hodge Farms for making the barn available to collect the pickers and to drop off the rubbish.

Correspondence noted / for action:                                                                                                     

• BMSDC Enforcement Update: 18/00226/UST – The Old Piggeries – Untidy Site and Change of Use from Agricultural to Residential.
• BMSDC Acknowledgement letter from CEO regarding PC’s complaint.
• Donation from Mr Henry Ford towards the Queens Platinum Jubilee Event. The Parish Council would like to thank Mr Ford for his kind donation.
• Vertas Grounds Management Contract. The Clerk has signed and returned the Contract for Great Green cutting.