MOULTON PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Council website - please click link: www.moultonparishcouncil.co.uk

Parish News

Moulton Parish Council Annual Report Year Ending 31/03/2010

The Parish Council held 12 formal meetings, and in addition, the Chairman, Clerk and Councillors have attended many area meetings, District Council committees and forums, meetings with council officers to discuss specific concerns, including financing the proposed new hall, site meetings and briefings on wider issues such as the re-organisation of local government in Suffolk, the Local Development Framework and the School Education Review. The Council continues to receive numerous consultation documents from Council and Government agencies on a variety of topics. The parish enjoys regular visits and support from Becky Simpson, our Police Community Support Officer. It is also a pleasure to see the continued presence of PC John Gowing in Moulton – he now has wide-ranging responsibilities covering 12 of the surrounding villages. Lisa Chambers, Roger Dicker, County and District Council representatives, and John Englebright, Head Teacher of Moulton School, have attended many of our meetings, and their support and input into village affairs are very much appreciated.

The Council has been involved in a variety of local issues during the past 12 months, the most important of which has been the VILLAGE HALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. Following overwhelming support of villagers, Councillors and the Clerk have spent the past 12 months working with the Management Committee so that the rebuild could start on 1st January. Funding has been a major problem, and the Council’s efforts have been fraught with difficulties. The District Council was not prepared to offer short term, interest free, bridging finance, but agreed to consider a loan at commercial rates, however this application was turned down in September. Subsequently the Public Works Loan Board was approached and after detailed negotiations the Council has been offered £100,000 at very favourable rates. As it is likely that the loan will only be required short term (the Kennett Park community gain payment is due on first occupation of the new homes), the funding can be borrowed at a variable rate of interest, fixed at 6 monthly intervals, currently 0.70%, equating to £700 per annum. It is hoped this exceptionally cheap finance will prevail during the lifetime of the loan (one or two years). At the same time it is intended to repay the loan by half yearly instalments of £5,000, which offers protection, in the unlikely event that the developer delays/defaults on the Section 106 payment. It was expected that this loan of £100,000, with the other funding secured in 2009, would make up the shortfall. Regrettably, the District Council, less than 4 weeks before the start of build, slashed their promised grant aid by over £60,000. This was totally unexpected, and has been a bitter blow. However, the Council is determined that this set back will not halt the project, as villagers have been working tirelessly for over 10 years for a new hall. Other avenues of extra funding are now being investigated, including the possibility of a County Council grant due to the energy efficient heating and ventilation system planned for the building. With the ongoing village commitment to raise funds, and the continued support of both parishioners, representatives from the existing user groups, and other generous benefactors we hope that through a variety of means we shall be able to meet the total cost of build, and by the autumn Moulton will have the new community building, it has worked so hard to achieve.

In the meantime the Management Committee regrets any inconvenience caused by the building works, and congestion around Bridge Street.

VILLAGE MAINTENANCE – the Council is grateful to Mr Douglas James, who continues to maintain the village to an exceptionally high standard. Play Area - the weekly equipment check is now carried out by Mr James, having attended a specialist course; the District Council engineer only visits once a month, and the annual safety audit takes place each spring. The swings were relocated on the playing field with new safety matting, having been overhauled and the chains and seats renewed. Mrs Lisa Chambers generously donated £1000 from her CC budget, as well as purchasing a supply of sand, so that the Council is fully prepared in the event that sandbags are needed to protect properties in close proximity to the river. The bus shelter is regularly cleaned, the gutters and down pipes renewed, and repainted by Mr Dale Burch. The red telephone box has also been cleaned out. The River Bank – as in previous years alternate banks were cut, leaving a 30cm margin left at the water’s edge. The Environment Agency sprayed the in-channel weeds to kill off the vegetation and improve water flow. The success of this treatment was questioned, and it is understood that spraying will not be repeated in 2010. Wayside Seats – a new seat was donated for the playing field, opposite the PO stores, and a new gate installed. Dog Fouling – is a continued concern and owners are urged to be responsible and clear up after their dogs – bags are available free of charge from the PO Stores. Spring Clean 2010 – is fixed for Saturday 27th March - volunteers are asked to meet at the Packhorse Bridge at 10am. Reflective clothing, gloves and litter picks will be provided. Your help with this and other village clearance work throughout the year is very much appreciated. Tree planting scheme – a number of new trees were planted last year, and most survived the summer. Two more trees have been generously donated, and these have recently been planted. If you would like to sponsor a tree, please contact the Chairman. Playing Field - the Panthers football club continue to use the ground for training sessions and Saturday league games. It is hoped that a senior team will be formed once the new hall is built.  

HIGHWAY MATTERS – pot holes are a particular problem following the severe winter weather. The Highways Authority is under great pressure to maintain road surfaces throughout the county to an acceptable and safe condition. Lark Hill was successfully redressed last summer, the broken section of highway by Packhorse End repaired and the footway resurfaced outside French Hall Farm. Unfortunately a large number of metal road signs have been stolen; it has been suggested that replacements should be made of plastic, to prevent future theft. With the support of the CC and adjoining landowners it is hoped that the rural footpaths along the Newmarket and Kentford roads will be accessible this year, providing a circular walk connecting with Footpath 1, and a walkable route along the grass verge from Moulton End to the village.

PLANNING MATTERS – over 35 planning applications have been scrutinised, and comments passed to the Planning Authority. The Parish Council supported successful appeals by the owners of 26a The Street for the erection of a first floor extension, and the continued provision of child minding services at 12 St Peters Avenue. The Council also supported the adjoining landowners’ concerns about the felling of mature trees at Kennett Park. Councillors opposed the development at the Carrot Wash site, for the housing of equine staff, on road safety issues, and because the site is outside the development area. The Council will be consulted in May on the Site Allocation plan for future development at Moulton End, including the Animal Health Trust.

Planning Appeal – relocation of Truck Stop at Red Lodge – the Council and parishioners have supported the campaign to fight this appeal, which will not only increase congestion at the B1506/B1085 road junction, but will attract a higher volume of HGV traffic through all the rural roads leading to Red Lodge,

BUS SERVICES – there is now a good service in and out of the village, and buses have been re-routed and stop at St Peters Avenue

VILLAGE POST OFFICE – the Sorting Office dispute was resolved, mainly thanks to tremendous village support opposing changes to the existing mail delivery services in Moulton.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW – the Government has recognised that councils in Suffolk have very different views of how a one tier system of governance could work and has made no decision about the future. Instead a 'county constitutional convention' of all councils and MPs has been asked to work towards a consensus opinion. In the view of the Parish Council an enormous amount of money has already been wasted on this exercise in Suffolk, and the delivery of services is suffering as a result of the uncertain future. Unless agreement can be reached whereby better services are provided with increased investment in local communities, economies of scale and reduced duplication, the current system should be retained and modified to make it more efficient and effective.

STREET LIGHTING – there is still a risk that Moulton could be faced with an excessive bill to comply with new regulations for maintaining lighting units in close proximity to high voltage wires. The Council is vigorously opposed to such costs being levied on parishes and has suggested that the CC should look at alternative solutions to the problem. Street lights are still being repaired, but sometimes there is a delay before a qualified team can attend.

FINANCE 2010/11- the parish precept will be approximately £1.65 a week for a Band D household; the requirement for parish expenditure has remained at £26,864 for the past 3 years, but to this has been added an extra £10,000 to finance the loan for the hall. It is hoped that this levy to fund the deficit until the Kennett Park money is received will be short term. The Council is particularly grateful to Mr Melvyn Skelton and Mr David Unwin for their professional help regarding the legal and financial issues relating to the Section 106 and the bridging loan.

PARISH BOUNDARY DISPUTE – following the successful outcome of the review the Council has made efforts to encourage cohesiveness and strengthen ties with all parishioners.

MOULTON NEWS, VILLAGE WEBSITE & 200 CLUB – the Council is grateful to Tony Franklin for taking over as Editor of our excellent newsletter. Articles and photos are always welcome – tonyfranklin40@fsmail.net Also, information to publicise village events can be emailed to john@scotwebdesign.co.uk for the Moulton website. Ian Spinks now runs the 200 Club, and your continued support will help raise funds for the new hall.

Bill Rampling Chairman – Parish Council

It’s the time of year to look back over 2009 and see what we have achieved and to look forward to the New Year ahead. Overall it has been a good year for Moulton. We have won the battle to keep our parish boundary the same and look forward to the provision of ninety two new homes in the parish on the old Friskies site close to Kentford.

Despite the gloom in the economy the Village Post Office and Stores seems to be flourishing and the Pub’s reputation has soared under Tony’s and Donna’s management. Please make sure you support them both as they are vital to our community and many other villages are losing these valuable resources.

The new bus routes through the village mean that the Dalham Road end of the village now has a regular service.

A few other successes have been the ‘litter pick’; the planting of new trees around the recreation ground and the installation of a new picnic table opposite the shop. With the support of the County Council we are well on the way to completing the footpath routes up the Newmarket and Kentford Roads and they have secured a supply of sand and sandbags for use in the event of flash flooding.

The exciting news is that the start of the Village Hall rebuild will be early in January and the new building will be completed by the autumn. For 2010 my personal thoughts are that it would be good to see a Good Neighbour Scheme established in the village; ‘Welcome Packs’ for new residents; a Keep Fit Trail around the recreation ground; more tree planting and a really successful and enjoyable Fun Day involving everyone.

Suffolk County Council

COUNTY COUNILLOR SURGERY AT RED LODGE MILLENNIUM CENTRE

Cllr. Mrs. Lisa Chambers 38b Heatherset Way, Red Lodge, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 8JR

Telephone: 01638 554314 (answer phone available - please leave a message and I will call you back)

Email: lisa.chambers@suffolkcc.gov.uk