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Parish Council Meeting Minutes May 2006

A meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Tuesday 9th May 2006 at 7.30pm.

1. Present

1. Mr. L Adams (Chairman)
2. Mr. N Rouse (Vice - Chairman)
3. Mr. L Ellis, Mrs. S Rutter, Mr. A Richardson

2. Apologies

1. Mrs. W Fong
2. Mr. M Taylor

3. Election of Chairman & Vice Chairman

1. Mr. L. Adams was proposed by Mrs. Rutter, seconded by Mr. A Richardson and was unanimously elected as Chairman.
2. Mr. N rouse was proposed by Mr. A Richardson, seconded by Mrs. S Rutter and unanimously elected as Vice Chairman.

4. Declaration from Members of any item of Interest.

1. Nothing to declare from Councillors.

5. Minutes of last meeting

1. The minutes of the meeting held on the 14th March 2006 were agreed apart from a couple of minor amendments and signed by the Chairman Matter Arising
2. The Chairman advised he had spoken to Mr. Farrant of Braintree District Council planning enforcement dept. re the burger van and the signage on it. Mr. Farrant advised that being as the signage was on a mobile unit, it did not come within advertising regulations and therefore they could not do anything about the signage displayed on it.
3. The estate agents board advertising the bungalow for sale next to Moat House has now been removed.
4. The Chairman advised he had spoken to Mr. Briggs re the stones from his car park spilling onto the footpath and road. Mr. Briggs agreed to make sure the footpath is regularly swept to prevent this problem happening in the future
5. The Chairman enquired as to when the landscape scheme is to be completed, Mr. Briggs thought he had seven years to do it, but the Chairman advised it should be completed within the first planting season following the completion of the works. wok Ellis advised that the work has now been completed. 

6. Correspondence

1. Letter from Mr & Mrs. Whittle re memorial stone dated 15.4.06
2. Letter from Ridgewell Church re donation dated 20.4.06
3. Letter from Essex County Council re unreinstated foot way from the green Ridgewell dated 5.4.06
4. Correspondence re District Parish Partnership agreement
5. Rural Communities Development fund 2006/7 dated 16.3.06
6. Consultation on Bus Stop Information/Public Transport information dated 24.3.06
7. Cluster Meeting - Parish update flyer dated 23.3.06
8. Essex County Council youth service.
9. Braintree District Council changes to the delegation scheme and Parish Council comments
10. Braintree District Council changes to kiosk telephones dated 19.4.06
11. National Health correspondence dated 5.5.06
12. Correspondence from St. Edmundsbury Local Development Framework
13. Booklet of Essex Playing Fields Association newsletter

7. Finance

1. It was agreed the following cheques be signed.
2. Cheque No. 000624 Lubbock Fine - £175.25 External Audit 2005
3. Cheque No. 000625 Hedingham School - £58.25 printing newsletter
4. Cheque No. 000628 Cornhill Insurance the amount was agreed but are awaiting on the final document. It was agreed the Chairman and Vice Chairman would sign the cheque and send off, as it runs out on the 1st June 2006.
5. Cheque No. 000626 Lineroses properties - £88.12
6. Cheque No. 000627 Transparenties - £13.20 for a presentation
7. Cheque No. 000629 Padlocks - £11.98 Allotment taps  
8. It was agreed the VAT would be recovered once a year to coincide with end of year accounts
9. The approved audit sheet for 2005 from Lubbock Fine the external auditors has now been received, a note has been put in the Parish notice board advising if anyone wishes to inspect they may do so by making an appointment with the Clerk
10. The 2005/6 external audit sheet will be signed off at the July meeting following the internal auditor carrying our her work and issuing the report.
11. A copy of the village hall year end report and accounts have been received.

8. Planning

1. 4 Rose Walk. Erect Conservatory, agreed
2. 8 Stambourne Road two storey extension, agreed
3. Barrington, Hall Lane. Fell one tree and trim back another, agreed.
4. Ridgewell C of E School, fell 5 trees. It was agreed that an arboricultural be asked to have a look and give decision on the work

9. 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.

10. Highways Dept.

1. The footpath adjacent to Madura Cottage and the ditch has been rectified following the ditch repairs. 

11. Footpaths

1. Following no Ellis's report in the Ridgewell Newsletter looking for volunteers to walk the footpaths during April/May, no one came forward so the groups have been set up using volunteers, all the paperwork has been issued to the groups and it is hoped they will all be walked by the middle of June
2. shoeing Ellis will also look into the possibility of getting a map produced, showing all the footpaths on one sheet, it was also agreed to look into a map of the village showing all houses and names. wold Richardson thought it would be possible to get a grant for this grope Ellis now have some costing and a sub group has been set up of Mr. Ellis, Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Fong.

12. Surface Water Drainage

1. The Chairman and Mr. Rouse met with Mr. Tullett of Braintree District Council to look at the problems of the Congregational Church flooding. On looking at this it was established that the Congregational Church was receiving water from Bridge Cottages, but had allowed their outlet to be blanked off some years ago by the owners of the adjoining bungalow. It was thought that should heavy rain fall it will only be their property that would flood, but should this not be the case then they will be liable should it damage other properties in the area. Mr. Tullett has written to the Congregational Church Trust in Nottingham with a copy to Mrs. Adams. Mr. Tullett has also advised where there is a Anglian Water surface water sewer that they could apply to connect to. Mr. Tullett advised Braintree District Council are now closing the file on this and not using enforcement powers as they will be the only ones to suffer the flooding. It was agreed the Parish would also close it's file on it.

13. Rights of Way over Village Greens & Common Land

1. The Chairman advised he has only one property that he is waiting on information from, as soon as he has this he and Mr. Ellis will visit County Hall Chelmsford, and hopefully get all the information added to the Registers.

14. Allotments

1. Mr. Taylor was not able to attend the meeting so an update on the remaining plots will be given at the next meeting
2. Letter received from the Rural Communities Development Fund asking for a report, accounts and copies of all invoices covering the work, this information has to be submitted by the 31st August 2006. Mr. Rouse will be able to meet this date.
3. The gates and fencing have been installed, the headland levelled and the hedge cut back. Once the headland is grassed covered Mr. Coe will be asked to cut this when cutting the village green
4. Mr. Rouse thought it would be nice to have a formal opening of the allotments when complete and all plots worked.
5. Essex County Council have been contacted to se if they cover Public Liability Insurance on the allotments as we rent the land from them, they advised they do not. The Clerk contacted Allianze Cornhill who are our insurers they only cover for general maintenance, and advised the individual tenants should make sure they have cover from there household  insurance. A letter from the Parish Council and copies of Allianze Cornhill letter has been handed to Mr. Taylor to pass a copy to each tenant. 

15. Insurances

1. Whilst the value of the insurance commencing 3rd June was known, we did not have the documentation. As soon as it arrives the Chairman and Vice Chairman would sign the cheque and the Clerk would send off. Members were happy that the renewal covered all the requirements for the coming year.

16. Affordable Housing

1. The Chairman and Mrs. Rutter have revisited all the plots along with Mrs. A Bishop, and it was agreed that Mrs. Bishop would have a further meeting with the planners and look at re - ranking. as time has moved on and changes have occurred. Mrs. Bishop will report back in due course

17. Standing Orders

1. The Parish Council agreed to adopt the following amendment to their standing orders in respect of planning applications.
2. In the event that comments on a planning application must be returned to Braintree District Council before the next Parish Council meeting, the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and the lead Parish Councillor for Planning has delegated power to return the comments on behalf of the Parish Council

18. Councillors Responsibilities

1. It was agreed the list showing Councillors Responsibilities issued would apply for 2006 and would be reviewed again during mid 2007

19. Village Fete

1. Mr. Rouse, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Richardson are looking at what is required and will make contact with Braintree District Council dept's to obtain and information and support necessary. The dates of the show is the 15th July

20. Litter

1. Mr. Rouse advised that the litter pick went well, and had a good response, but there was a lot of discussion re the amount of rubbish in the layby ditches as a result of the burger van, it was agreed to put this on the agenda for the July meeting so that the Councillors can discuss how this can be resolved for the future.
2. Mr. Richardson will write to express our thanks for the loan of the picking sticks, sacks and yellow vests etc.

21. Open Meeting to the Public

1. There being no questions from the public as no one was present

22. Any Other Business

1. Mr. A Richardson asked for some headed paper, the Chairman would arrange to drop some off
2. Mr. Ellis gave Councillors details of the cost for the village map. It was agreed that a sub group of Mr. Ellis, Mrs. Fong and Mr. Richardson be setup to put all the details together including final costs and report back.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.15pm