Meeting held on Thursday 18 December at 6.30pm

In attendance: David Chambers, Julie Bonner, James Steed, Jill Dowsett and Ian Poole (Places4People).

Apologies: Helena Carter, Paul Merry, Vanessa Kingsley and Tina Newell.

Notes of 4 September 2025 meeting:

The absence of four members at the meeting was unfortunate but it was recognised that there had been very helpful involvement in the door to door distribution of the consultation literature and attendance at the event on 27 September.

The planned follow up meeting on 13 November was subsequently postponed to give Ian more time to work on the first draft given his pending house move.

October meeting with Parish Council:

Those present felt that, given this had been called by the Parish Council, it was disappointing that there had been little engagement by the Parish Councillors present. Comments that the Middle School site was not considered as an option for the siting of the Sports & Leisure Centre were noted. Our reasoning of it being outside the Bacton parish boundary, and so could not be addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan for the parish, was duly expressed but this might be explored if Wyverstone Parish Council were in agreement.

There was talk of getting the first draft of the Plan to the Parish Council by mid January but it was recognised that a number of decisions concerning its content need to be agreed before the Plan could be written.

Middle School site:

Following the October meeting Helena had contacted District Councillor Mellen about this option. He replied that he was awaiting further information before discussing the matter with Wyverstone Parish Council.

Draft Plan:

Ian reported that, given the issues raised at the October meeting, his ongoing conversations with Mid Suffolk officers and the pending outcome of the latest Call for Sites, he would not now have the first draft ready for the Team to review until early March.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 5 March 2026 at 6.30pm.

 

September 4, 2025

Present: David Chambers, Helena Carter and Tina Newell.

Apologies: James Steed, Paul Merry, Jill Dowsett and Vanessa Kingsley.

Consultation Event on Community Hall and Sports & Leisure Centre sites: This will now take place at Bacton Village Hall on Saturday 27th September 2025 from 10am to 2pm.Leaflets will be distributed to households from Saturday 13th September with an invitation to make views known online, at the event or on the leaflet questionnaire to be dropped off at the Village Stores, St Mary’s Church or 41 Pound Hill. The draft leaflet was reviewed and the proposed amendments agreed. It will be delivered on Friday 12th September.

Tina Newell will advise the Parish Council of the details of the consultation event and the need for help with the leaflet drop. She will suggest a banner is ordered to promote the event.

Paul Merry will be asked to coordinate the distribution by Parish Councillors.

Timetable for the first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan: Ian Poole anticipates this will be ready to be reviewed by the Team by the end of October 2025.

Next meeting - 13th November 6.30pm at Bacton Manor.

Meeting ended 8.10pm.

 

31 July 2025

Present: David Chambers, Helena Carter, Julie Bonner, Vanessa Kingsley (Councillor), Paul Merry (Councillor) James Steed (Councillor) and Ian Poole (Consultant)

Apologies: Jill Dowsett (Councillor) and Tina Newell (Parish Clerk)

Notes of the meeing held on 26 June 2025 were approved.

Housing Needs Assessment: It was agreed that greater provision for the elderly wishing to downsize should be included in any future development proposals.

Future funding: Following cessation of central grants. The Parish Council agreed at the June meeting to to fund £2,750 for the initial drafting of the Neighbourhood Plan and the July meeting approved a further £6,750 for work to complete the process to the Referendum stage.

Landscape Appraisal: Additional photographs will be provided for the final version. This will be an evidence document sitting alongside the Final Plan.

Masterplanning on the Sports and Leisure site: This was welcomed with the parking all located to the north of the site with the second option showing the Pavilion in the south west corner. The suggested access solution was noted.

New Primary School: This long term requirement will need to be recognised in the draft plan if a suitable site is available along with the potential uses of the existing school site if vacated.

Consultation Event on Community Facility and Sports and Leisure Sites: This will take place on September 26/27 2025. Leaflets to be distributed to households 2 weeks before the consultation with an invitaton to attend with locations for return of any physical forms to be agreed.

Timetable for the first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan: This can be started after the consultation with completion by the end of October 2025.

Other issues: Community actions will need to identified for inclusion. The analysis from the 2024 survey will be reviewed to identify objectives already achieved and those outstanding. A short history of Bacton will also be needed for the plan.

Next meeting: Date of the next meeting agreed to be 4 September at Bacton Manor.

Meeting closed at 7.50pm

 

 

26 June 2025

Present: David Chambers, Juie Bonner, Helena Carter, Vanessa Kingsley (Councillor) and James Steed (Councillor). 

Apologies: Paul Merry (Councillor) and Tina Newell (Parish Clerk)

Housing Needs Assessment: This now incorporates earlier amendments detailing more fuly the facilities and businesses in the village.

Landscape Appraisal: This now incorporates earlier amendments relating to area definitions and further proposed changes would be discussed more fully the July meeting.

Update on the Bellway site: Despite the issues over the S106 Agreement lapse, it is intended to proceed with the public consultation on the original proposed site for a Community facility on the land currently designated as Open Space. 

Masterplanning on the site opposite Shop Green: When the Master Planning Report is available , this will inform the public consultation on that site for a Sports/Leisure centre.

Public Consultation: It was agreed to hold the public consultation on both the above sites at Bacton Village Hall on Saturday 27 September (Subsequently extended to include Friday 26 September).

Master Planning Report: This is delayed awaiting internal information on transport but expected in time for the team to provide its responses by early August 2025.

Future Funding: The £2,275 for People2Places to work on the first draft of the Plan was approved by the Parish Council at its June 2025 meeting.

Following Government withdrawal of future funding for Neighbourhood Plans a quote to complete Bactons Neighbourhood Plan up to Referendum of £6,850 has been received; expenditure for the referendum and later stages will be met by Mid Suffolk District Council.

Recommendations to Parish Council:To commit to fund £6,850 to complete the work for which the Parish Council is responsible.

Display current progress at Bacton Fayre in August and ask People2Places to provide display material.

Next meeting: Date of the next meeting agreed to be 31 July 2025 and invite Ian Poole the external consultant from People2Places.

Meeting closed at 7.45pm