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Parish Council Meeting Minutes 10th January 2006

A meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Tuesday 10th January 2006 at 7.30pm.

1. Present

1. Mr L Adams (Chairman), Mr N Rouse (Vice - Chairman), Mr L Ellis, Mr  M Taylor, Mrs S Rutter, Mrs W Fong.

2. Declaration from Members of any item of Interest.

1. Nothing to declare from Councillors.

3. Vote to Co-op a new Councillor

1. Mr Richardson gave Councillors information about himself and what he  felt he had to offer the Council. He was proposed by Mr Taylor, seconded by Mr Rouse and was duly elected.

4. Minutes of last meeting

1. The minutes of the meeting held on the 8th November 2005 were agreed apart from an amendment to the Planning Section. The Chairman signed the minutes and initialled the change.

5. Matter Arising

1. Mr Rouse still to obtain a copy of Mr B Coe's Public Liability Insurance Certificate.
2. Trees on the Village Green to be trimmed when weather permits.
3. Councillors responsibility spreadsheet to be updated.

6. Correspondence

1. Halstead Youth Initiative - dated 21st November 2005.
2. Braintree District Council - Rural Communities Development Fund, dated 28th November 2005
3. Braintree District Council - Details of the Parish Ranger dated 29th November 2005
4. EALC Local Council Forum dated 20th December 2005.
5. Braintree District Council Planning confirmation dated 29th December 2005.
6. Braintree District Council re Flu Pandemic dated 12th December 2005
7. Office of Deputy Prime Minister re standards of conduct in English Local Government dated 15th December 2005.
8. Circular from Councillor David Finch re Waste Not - Tax Not.
9. Anglia in Bloom circulation letter.
10. BAA Stansted re Air Traffic etc. dated 9th December 2005.
11. Minutes of Bumpstead & Upper Colne parish cluster meeting.
12. Essex County Council re Highways problem Drury Lane dated 7th December 2005.
13. Braintree District Council re Ridgewell Surface Water Drainage.
14. Essex County Council re bus routes dated 22nd December 2005..
15. NHS re proposals in connection with Cancer Services dated December 2005.
16. Essex County Council re Community Initiatives Fund.
17. Essex County Council Development Control re Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act dated 1st December 2005.
18. Braintree District Council re Housing Conference dated 9th December 2005.
19. Braintree District Council re Ridgewell Surface Water Drainage dated 5th January 2006.
20. Braintree District Council re Reaching Communities dated January 2006.
21. Braintree Police re Crime Report covering damage to the Christmas tree dated 5th January 2006.
22. Braintree District Council re Open Secrets Date Protection January 2006

7. Finance

It was agreed the following cheques be signed.

1. Cheques No. 000614 E-on Energy - £52.23 Energy Charge
2. Cheques No. 000615 Braintree DC - £188.00 Refuse Vehicle
3. Cheques No. 000616 Hedingham School - £58.25 Printing News Letter
4. Cheques No. 000617 Mr N Rouse - £5.99 Creosote
5. Cheques No 000618 Mrs S Rutter _ £38.99 Xmas tree lights
6. Cheques No. 000619 Mr L Adams - £49.22 Allotment project & bulbs for Xmas tree.  
7. Budget for 2006/7 agreed as £6966.60. Proposed by Mr L Ellis seconded by Mrs S Rutter.
8. Precept signed. Proposed by Mr N Rouse seconded by Mrs W Fong.

8. Paragon Signs

1. Councillors voted against the signs to go on the village green stating No Parking. It was also agreed to remove the one existing sign.

9. Planning

1. Madura Cottage - planning application to alter an out building, the council  did not object to this.
2. The Nook - replacement fireplace on objections were raised.
3. Derek Pannell Change of use, Councillors agreed to approve with a  condition re noise.
4. Compulsory Purchase and Planning of Mineral Extraction Licences, there is none of these in our parish or adjacent parish's.
5. Mr Rouse agreed to do a report for the Ridgewell News on the new planning process.

10. Parish Plan

1. There is no further action at this stage, although there are a few issues still to be cleared, they are for individual Councillors to resolve and report back.

11. Highways Dept

1. The Highway Dept have now agreed to lower the carriageway as soon Mr. Waters of Wisperwood Cottage has replaced the timber foundation plate
2. The majority residents in Church Lane do not want the Highways Dept. to put a broken line along the front edge of the drive in line with the gutter, councillors agreed with this.
3. A discussion took place re having yellow lines at the junction of Church Lane, Mill Road and Drury Lane, Mr Rouse proposed seconded by Mrs Rutter; the vote was lost 2 in favour and 3 against

12. Footpaths

1. Mr Ellis will prepare an article for the news letter about the footpaths; also ask for volunteers to walk the paths in April/May.
2. Mr Ellis also to look into the possibility of getting a map produced, it may be possible to get a grant for this.

13. Surface Water Drainage

1. It would appear that the out fall pipe from the ditch at the bottom of Madura Cottage has been cleared; an eye needs to be kept on this to ensure no further problem occurs.
2. A letter has been received from Braintree District Council re the drainage to the Congregational Church, Mr Rouse and the Chairman will review the file then arrange a meeting.

14. Rights of Way over Village Greens & Common Land

1. The Chairman advised he has only three properties that he is waiting for information from, as soon as he has this he will visit County Hall Chelmsford, and hopefully get all the information added to the Registers.

15. Allotments

1. Mr Taylor advised there were now seven plots let and two or three still to be let.
2. Mr Rouse will advise on the current position of the grant.
3. It was agreed that Mr Taylor and Mr Rouse would agree on any further works required to be carried out at the allotment site and report back in due course.
4. Mr Taylor is progressing with collection of the rents, also collecting names and addresses of the tenants.
5. Mr Taylor to do an article for the news letter advertising of the remaining plots.

16. Insurances

1. Councillors voted and agreed to keep all the existing assets insured for 2006/7 also add the war memorial which has never been insured before, it has been valued by a stone mason at £10000.00. The cover to include vandal damage. The renewal is in June, the clerk to obtain a quotation incorporating the additions.

17. Christmas tree

1. Mrs Rutter to collect the sponsorship money from the village shop..
2. All the bulbs were broken by vandals just before the tree was due to be removed, this was reported to the Police and an incident report made out.
3. It was generally agreed that a bigger tree be purchased next year.

18. Affordable Housing 

1. The Chairman advised he had sent a note to Mrs A Bishop informing her that Mrs S Rutter would be the contact for the Parish Council, Mrs Rutter will contact Mrs Bishop to get an update prior to each Parish Council Meeting.

19. Anti Social Behaviour

1. Nothing further to report since Mrs Rutter copied her meeting notes to all Councillors. No further information received. If nothing received by the next group meeting Mrs Rutter to chase up.

20. Cluster Meeting 

1. The Chairman attended the meeting at Stambourne; the minutes have circulated to all Councillors. The meetings for next year will be at Steeple Bumpstead and Birdbrook.

21. Open Meeting to the Public

1. The owners of St Lawrence Lodge advised they were going to resubmit their planning application following discussions with the planners..

22. Any Other Business

1. Nothing to record.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.00pm