Present: Cllrs. W Banes, K Bull, B Felton, D Ray, P Sanderson, A Smith, County Cllr J Spicer and WPC L Whittaker. Cllr G Brown entered the meeting at 8:10pm.

1. Apologies for absence.
Apologies received from Borough Cllr J Hale

2. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr W Banes declared an interest in item 11, Planning Matters.

3. Minutes of 5th February
Minutes were signed as a correct record.

Meeting Adjourned.

4. Report by County Councillor Joanna Spicer
Speed Watch.
There will be a discussion the following day regarding other Speed Watch options. C Cllr Spicer has concerns regarding the practicality of sharing of equipment.

Pavement in Spring Road.
The pavement on Spring Road has been put on the programme for completion in 2008/9. Expect to see the plans shortly.

Police Forum.
The general consensus of the Cllrs who attended was that it was an extremely useful meeting, in particular the information on crime and detection levels. Decisions on the closure of the police enquiry desks are still ongoing. C Cllr Spicer believes there will be another forum in the Autumn.

County Cllr J Spicer left the meeting at 7:50pm

Report by WPC Lindsey Whittaker
WPC Whittaker thanked Bardwell for their representation at the Police Forum.

There have been 2 crimes reported since 5th February 2008.
20th Dec – 11th Feb: Theft of heating oil.
18th Feb: Theft of a tool box in Quaker Lane.

If anyone notices any suspicious activity, particularly that may relate to rave events, please report to the police and provide registration numbers where possible.

There has been a reporting of suspicious behaviour in Quaker Lane. People have been seen hanging around cars and trying doors.

WPC L Whittaker left the meeting at 7:55pm

Meeting Reconvened

5. Matters arising from the minutes.
Village Plan Group.
Cllr A Smith provided a proposal of estimated expenditure for the costs involved in producing the Housing Needs segment of the Village Plan Survey. The Group plan to submit an introduction page in the next Bardwell Village News. Plan to produce the survey for May. The rest of the survey will be produced later in the year. Kathie Bull has also been recruited to the Group.

Emergency Plan.
Cllr B Felton had circulated a proposal regarding the requirement for a first aid kit. An appropriate number of trained first aiders will also need to be available to call upon if there were to be an emergency. A note is to be placed in the Bardwell Village News requesting volunteers.

Cllr G Brown entered the meeting at 8:10pm

Post Office.
A leaflet was received from the Borough Council but it was not very informative.

Vermin in the Croft.
It was believed that the issues have now been resolved. It was reported that rats have been seen in other areas of the village.

Highways Issues.
The following highways issues have not been resolved:
Children crossing sign on Spring Road
Clearing of ditches opposite Moat House on Up Street.
Hedges on Spring Road
These issues are to be chased with the Highways Dept.   Action Clerk.

Salt Bins. 
Cllr Sanderson and Cllr Felton will be removing the damaged salt bin at the entrance to The Croft. The contained salt will be moved to the salt bin on the corner of Low Street/Quaker Lane.

Parish Council Notice Board.
Cllr Sanderson and Cllr Felton will re-erect the repaired notice board as agreed by the school.

Litter Picking.
The litter pick is scheduled for the 29th March 2008.

Meeting Adjourned

6. Meeting open to the public.
A member of the public asked whether Borough Cllr J Hale attended meetings. It was explained that he was unable to attend due to another engagement.
There were 3 members of the public present to speak in relation to the planning application for the land fronting Quaker Lane (SE/08/0244).
A member of the public commented that the plans seemed identical to those that were previously submitted and then withdrawn for unknown reasons.
It was felt that the plans were unsuitable on grounds of affordability, safety and privacy.
A numbers of errors were pointed out. The properties in The Croft are not two storey and they were not built in the 11th Century.
There are four windows which will overlook the properties on The Croft, seriously compromising their privacy. If these applications are granted permission then it must be on the condition that these windows are not plain glass.
The public also felt that the proposed properties would not fit in with the neighbouring buildings. The current properties were only seen as an eye sore due to the fact that the landlords had intentionally neglected them.. The plans state that these will provide affordable housing, these are large two or three bedroom properties with en-suite and it was not believed that they would be affordable as stated.
The properties, excluding the garages, only provide off road parking for one vehicle. It was felt that this would cause additional cars to be parked on the narrow Quaker Lane. The plans also show pedestrian footpaths which do not exist.
Plot 4 is to the very edge of the neighbouring bungalows boundary. Members of the public believed that this would tower over the bungalow, blocking light to the windows, and again compromise the privacy. The back door of plot 4 looks directly into the bedroom of the bungalow.

All three members of the public agreed that they would not object to four bungalows being proposed for the plots.

Meeting Reconvened

7. Speed Watch.
After the comments from C Cllr J Spicer it was agreed to wait until we had feedback confirming further options.

8. Report by the Chairman
Parking on Up Street.
Cllr Sanderson presented a letter, received by Highways, referring to parking problems on Up Street. A resident has found access to their property prevented by inconsiderate parking. Highways have referred the complaint to the Traffic Management Team.

Allotments.
Due to the little interest shown for allotment requirement the query will be closed. To be re-opened if enough interest is shown in future.

9. Report by the Clerk
Notice of temporary road closure in School Lane.
School Lane, between Up Street and Old Mill Street, is to be closed for the period 14th to 18th April 2008. This closure is due to British Telecom ducting works.

10. Report from BPFA
The BPFA have applied for a Rural Area Initiative Grant with regards to the extension to the storage shed. The next work party will be on Saturday 12th April 2008 at 2pm.
The AGM will be on the 13th May and everyone is invited to attend.

11. Planning Matters
SE/08/0026: Mr and Mrs Dunsden: The Pippins, Low Street, Bardwell – Erection of a 2 storey extension to rear elevation (to incorporate existing single storey rear extension) as amended by plans received 11/02/08.      
No Objections.

SE/08/0244: Mr T Warner: Land Fronting Quaker Lane, Bardwell - Erection of 4 dwellings with parking and garages with alterations to existing accesses (following the demolition of existing 3 bungalows)        
The opinion of the Cllrs was that the development seemed too tall for the neighbouring properties. Plots two and three overlook the properties in The Croft. There was no objection to the current dwellings being demolished and replaced with properties more becoming to the village. There was concern that a number of residents would lose their privacy and in some cases their light, which will have a detrimental effect on life in their own homes. It was felt that the properties built on the plot should be lower in height
There was much concern over the planned parking allocation. Irrespective of the garages there is only proposed parking for one car at each of the dwellings. This will not be adequate and Quaker Lane is relatively narrow and busy. It is not capable of accommodating the overflow parking.

SE/07/1969: Colin Lee: The Dairy, Bowbeck Farm, Bardwell – Listed Building Application – Internal Alterations associated with the provision of a gallery at first floor level.            Permission Granted.
TCA08/1571: Mrs Grace Horn: Greenside, The Green, Bardwell – Coppice one Hazel tree to 0.75 metres.       Trees in Conservation Area Notification.
The application in respect of the above-mentioned proposal has now been considered by the Borough Council as Local Planning Authority and no objections were raised.

12. Accounts
12.1. Clerk's Salary for February    
12.2. Litter Picking for February     
12.3. Clerk’s Expenses     
12.4. The Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bell Restoration Project.
The Bells committee is to be notified that £500 has been set aside for the project and will be paid out when the project is due to commence and the funds are required.
12.7. Review of bank statements.
12.8. Internal auditor – Barbara Sanderson has volunteered for the position of internal auditor. The Clerk is to check whether this may be considered as a person with a personal connection to the Parish Council.

13. Correspondence
Suffolk Preservation Society – Planning Training Workshop
Suffolk Preservation Society – Programme of Events 2008
SCC – School Organisation Review
SEBC – Parish Council Conference (22nd April 2008)
Cllr Ray and Cllr Felton volunteered to attend the Parish Council Conference.
EERA – RSS single issue review: planning for gypsy and traveller accommodation.

14. Questions to the Chair
It was queried as to how emails regarding submissions to the BVN, received by the clerk, should be forwarded to the editors. Cllr Felton will speak to the BVN to discuss availability of an email address.

The Vine Farm Driveway has been widened and it was requested that we check whether permission should have been sought prior to the alterations.
The PC were informed that, after enquiries were made by Age Concern, Tesco’s are considering the possibility of altering their bus route so that it will stop in Bardwell.

There seems to be an increase of light pollution within the village caused by properties with security lights. A letter is to be sent to the Borough Council regarding the properties concerned which include Hill Croft (Daveys Lane) , Hillside (Knox Lane) and Manor Farm (Up Street),. There are also extremely bright lights which shine across from Stanton; further investigation is to be made to find out where this is coming from.

A new access has been made into the field adjacent to Bardwell Hall. Planning Enforcement is to be informed.

A vehicle (Mini) on Low Street is again being parked on the pavement. WPC Whittaker to be informed.

15. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 1st April 2008.

Meeting closed at 10:05pm