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Parish Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday 8th January 2008
A meeting of the Parish Council
took place in he Village Hall on
Tuesday 8th January 2008 at 7.30.
1. Present
- Mr. L Adams [Chairman]
- Mr. A Richardson
- [Vice-Chairman]
- Mr. T Clegg,
- Mr. B Teal,
- Mr. J Atkinson.
Apologies:- Mr. L Ellis, Mrs. S
Rutter
2. Declaration from Members of
any item of interest.
Nothing to declare
3. Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held
on the 13th November 20078 were
agreed and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising
- Councillors badges, Mr.
Richardson to get a quote for
these.
- The wood is still in the
gutter in Ashen Rd.
- BT hedge, the top has now
been trimmed.
- The ditch survey is still
ongoing.
- Village fete to go on the
agenda in March.
5. Correspondence
All correspondence received
circulated to members.
6. Finance
It was agreed the following
cheques to be signed -
- Cheque No 000701 E - on
Energy - £40. 96 Electricity
- Cheque No 000702 Hedingham
School - £76.65 Printing
- Cheque No 000703 UK Open -
£30.00 Web Site
- Cheque No 000704 P Garrod -
£450.00 Salary
- Cheque No 000705 Braintree
DC - £80.32 Advert Code of
Conduct
- Cheque No 000706 Mrs. Rutter
- £33.80 Bulbs for Xmas Tree
- Chairman explained Code of
Conduct to members that the
monies was for advertising in
the paper.
- Parish Support Grant for
2008/9 is £1825. Precept for
2008/9 was discussed and amount
agreed was £5580 Total £7405
- It was proposed by Mr. Clegg
seconded by Mr. Richardson and
all in favour of the total of
£7405 for 2008/9.
7. Councillor D. Finch
- Councillor Finch attended
the meeting and advised members
of the news from County Hall.
- Government grant to all
councils is only 2% which he
stated is not enough.
- Council tax increase for
this year will be less than 4.5%
- The council is committed to
3% cash saving on the budget.
- Essex recycle 39% of all its
rubbish, the remainder goes to
landfill sites , this will
increase to 50%, then up to 50%;
of the total rubbish.
- Landfill costs are currently
£32.00 per tons of rubbish
tipped, by 2010 the landfill
cost could increase to £150.00
per ton.
- There is a possibility that
some plastics could compress
into blocks and burnt at power
stations.
- Adult social care function
is now a three star operation
from one star.
- Essex County Council is now
one of the top ten councils in
the country.
8. Planning
- The application for a
renewal of the licence for the
burger van in the lay-by was
discussed, The Chairman advised
members that BDC had sent him a
copy of the minutes of the
meeting of when the licence was
discussed and granted,
councillor Finch told members he
would speak to BDC on this
matter.
- 8 Colne Springs – Members
had no comments to this
application but agreed on no
street parking to take place
because of it.
- Great Meadowend Farm –
application for a MoT testing
station. The members objected to
the application.
- The Woodlands in Meeting
Lane – erection of one and half
storey dwelling, Members
objected to this as it was
outside the village envelope.
9. Emergency Planning
- Suggestions from members
already done and will be
attached when the body of the
plan is settled and agreed.
- Other proposals for the plan
where a village map as part of
appendix, members agreed to
this.
- Outbreak of foot and mouth
and avian flu , it was agree
that it might be worth speaking
to someone at BDC on this issue
to see if this should be
included.
10. Highways
Wisperwood Cottage. A letter to
be sent to the Highways Dept. asking
them to tidy up the footpath.
Residents do not want the narrowing
of the road or signage put up
outside their front windows.
- Footpath from the Ashen Road
to Meeting Lane to be reviewed
in this year’s budget.
- Manhole cover on the road
near the lay-by has been
replaced.
- The tree on the triangle at
junction of Ashen Road and
Tilbury Road still to be
reshaped.
- The footpath planned for
Stambourne Road is in this
year’s budget.
- The parking on the grass
verge along Chapel Road, Mr.
Richardson to ask the Warden to
monitor this.
11. Transformer near Orchard
Close
- Mr. Teale advised members he
would clear the branches etc
from around the transformer.
12. Rights of Way over Village
Green and Common Land
- Still to be completed.
13. Allotments
- Allotment rules have now
been given to all the allotment
holders.
- An increase for the rent of
the allotments was discussed and
it was agreed on an increase of
£7.00 for the annual fee for
2008/9.
14. Footpath Walking
- A discussion took place as
to how many people would take
part in this and when the right
time is to be.
15. Ditch Survey
- Still to be carried out.
16. Neighbourhood Watch
- Nothing to report.
17. Ridgewell News
- Nothing to report.
18. Painting of Bus Shelter,
Pumps and Notice Board.
- Mr. Holmes said he had very
little work early in the year
and that the painting should be
completed before the next
meeting.
19. Village Sign.
- The colours have been
agreed, when the pattern is
ready it will be inspected by
Mr. Ellis and the Chairman.
20. Edge Trimming of Paths
etc.
- The edge trimming is to be
discussed with the contractor
and he is to be asked for the
weeks to be sprayed.
21 School involvement in the
Community
- The issue of parking bays at
the school was raised, has this
been taken any further?
22. Weeds to Verges and
Boundaries to Houses etc.
- Councillors are to walk
around the village and take note
of where there is a problem, Mr.
Clegg and Mr. Atkinson to walk
Drury Lane. The Chairman and Mr.
Ellis to walk Ashen Road. Mr.
Richardson and Mr. Teal to walk
Mill Road. The Reports to go on
agenda for next meeting.
23. Dog Fouling
- This is still a problem, the
Warden is to sit in his van one
evening to see if he can catch
the culprits.
24. Grass Cutting in the
Churchyard
- Two estimates have been
obtained for clearing the
overgrown area in the Churchyard
and for cutting the grass.
- It was agreed to accept Mr.
Mortimer’s estimate of £160.00
to clear the overgrown part of
the churchyard and £55.00 per
cut to cut the grass. It was
proposed by Mr. Teal seconded by
Mr. Atkinson and all were in
favour.
25.R.C.C.E. Grants
- Information received and
given to Mr. Clegg.
26. Cluster Meeting
The Chairman and Mr. Clegg will
attend this meeting.
27. Transport Needs Survey
- A working party is needed to
look at bus services and bus
times and report back at the
next meeting.
- Mr. Teale is to research and
see how many people are involved
and their destinations.
28. Christmas Tree
- A letter of thanks is to be
sent to the school for their
cheque of £25.00 for the tree.
- Thirty bulbs have been
bought to replace those needed
for next year’s tree.
29.Open Meeting to the Public
- No member of public present.
29. Any other Business
- Two litter bins on the
village green have been
replaced.
- There is a vehicle parked in
Church Lane, the Chairman is to
phone the Warden about this.
There being no
further business the meeting closed
at 10.30 |
