Sible Hedingham Parish Council
Annual Report, April 2011
Message from the Chairman
Dear Parishioner, welcome to the Sible Hedingham Annual Parish Council Report 2011.
Firstly, I hope that you will join me in thanking existing members of the parish council for
serving our community so well over the past year. They are, without doubt, the faces of
our community and so often the very people you turn to when local issues occur.
Cllr. Christine Cannell. Cllr. Ian Carruthers.
Cllr. Ray Falco. Cllr. Ron Green.
Cllr. Hylton Johnson. Cllr. Elspeth Jones.
Cllr. Tony Law. Cllr. Gill Massey.
Cllr. Martin Rudge. Cllr. Ted Snarey.
Cllr. Fred Swallow. Cllr. Ron Volkwyn.
My thanks also go to our Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer Mr Adrian Corder‐Birch.
Adrian’s continued dedication towards us as members and to the wider community
remains invaluable.
The village continues to prosper and enjoy the benefits of many new community groups
and activities. It is a pleasure to attend the many village activities and be a part of our
growing and active community.
This year the annual report includes an invitation to join us at the Annual Parish Meeting.
Following on from last year, the theme of this meeting will be focused on the progress of
the Sible Hedingham Regeneration Area. Representatives from our village community
groups will also be present to give their annual reports. You are very welcome to join us.
My thanks go to the Rev. Laurie Bond for his kind invitation to insert this year’s Annual
Report into the Parish Magazine. Laurie’s continued partnership approach in supporting
our parish is greatly appreciated.
Joanne Beavis.
Chairman.
The work of the Planning Committee
The Planning Committee has the responsibility to consider all of the planning applications that are submitted to Braintree District Council within our
parish. The District Council has a duty to consult and the Planning Committee are asked to give their views on all the local applications. The
Parish Council members are not the final decision makers. The final decision is made at Braintree District Council. Quite often the members of Sible Hedingham Parish Council Planning Committee will visit sites and discuss applications with the applicant and local residents.
On new developments, including new single dwellings, monies are made available to the District Council from the developer. These funds are
allocated to the village for the purpose of public open space improvements.
The work of the Finance Committee
The Finance Committee oversees the council’s budget. Each year the Finance Committee will set the local tax (The Parish Precept). This year the council
has set the local tax at a reduced rate. In addition to the local tax, the council also receives a grant from the District Council to pay for some local services. The Parish Council also receives other grants to maintain the street scene as well as supporting new capital projects.
The work of the Recreation and Amenities Committee
The Recreation and Amenities Committee considers issues that affect the street scene and recreational areas. The committee advises the Parish Council Clerk about the areas in the village that need improvement and he arranges for the work to be carried out. The parish has a large geographical area. Consideration is given to ensure that all areas of the village are kept free from litter and are regularly maintained.
The Footpaths and Public Rights of Way Advisory Group
This group consists of some parish councillors and some parishioners. Each group member has their own cluster of footpaths to walk and report on. Thanks go to the Tuesday Wellbeing Walkers who report on footpath issues. The parish has many miles of public rights of way consisting of footpaths, bridleways and byways.
The group is supported by Essex County Council who offer some funding and training to ensure that our public rights of way are kept in good order. Lately, the advisory group has received additional funding to help with improvements including new gates in place of stiles. Our grateful thanks must go to the many parishioners’ and land owners’ who have supported this scheme.
The Emergency Planning Group
The Emergency Planning Group meets to consider the arrangements that would need to be put into place if a disaster occurred.
An Emergency Plan is adopted each year and details of this are updated alongside the District Council’s current plan for our district.
The Water Management Group
TheWater Management Group meets to consider any issues regarding the water courses in the village. The group works in partnership with Essex
County Council, the Environment Agency and the local Member of Parliament to ensure that a robust plan for water management is in place. The group has currently considered the yearly maintenance plan for the water courses in the village.
Essex County Council has become the Lead Local Flood Authority for our area following a new Act approved by Parliament. The Parish Council has recently supplied the Leading Local Flood Authority with all the historic information relating to all flooding issues in the village. The Partnership Group will continue to meet and discuss improvements required by the parish.
The Public Transport Group
The Public Transport Group meets to consider the public transport opportunities currently available in the village. A representative of the
Parish Council regularly attends district wide meetings to ensure that public transport services are maintained in our village.
The village is well served. Many of our parishioners’ rely on the high frequency of public transport passing though our parish. The
Parish Council will continue to listen to the view of parishioners’ to ensure that our needs are met.
In addition, the district council provides a Community Transport Service that provides a vital lifeline to those elders’ of the district and those with mobility issues.
Law and Order
The Parish Council continues to work in partnership with our local police team. Visibility continues to be of high importance to parishioners’ and we are assured, by the police, that this is the case.
The Parish Council regularly meets with our local police team and receives feedback on the latest issues. The meeting gives the Parish Council the opportunity to discuss local issues and raise comments and concerns.
The Village Design Statement
Thanks to the commitment of long serving members’ of Village Design Statement Group the statement is now complete.
The Village Design Statement provides a colourful and detailed explanation into the character of the village.
The statement has been adopted by the district council and consideration will be given to the plan when future development sites are determined.
Copies are available online, or disc or in hard copy, if requested.
The Conservation Appraisal and Management Plan
This appraisal has been produced by Braintree District Council to assess the current condition of Sible Hedingham’s Conservation Area. It identifies
where improvements can be made and advises on any changes that are appropriate.
The report is comprehensive and provides photographic evidence to support the recommendations. In some cases, the extensions of certain
conservation areas have been advised in consultation with parishioners’. The aim of the management plan is to protect the village for the future.
The Sible Hedingham Medieval Pottery industry.
A booklet has been produced, from development funding, to highlight the importance of the historic pottery‐making industry centred around Sible
Hedingham. The booklet is available, from the Parish Council Office, at the cost of £1.00
Future Village Developments
The Sible Hedingham Regeneration Area continues to dominate the future landscape of the village. However; there are many other development areas
for our consideration. These could include:
The Parkfield’s Affordable Housing Scheme
The Oxford Meadow Affordable Housing Scheme
The Cooper’s Yard Housing Scheme
The former Cinema site
The former Tanner’s Dairy site
These sites will be considered by the Parish Council’s Planning Committee they become available.
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS
The parish council continues to seek improvement opportunities in the village. Recent improvements have included:
Bulb planting. The bulbs were donated by Braintree District Council.
Grant funding from Braintree District Council to plant many new mature trees this
Autumn. The project has also received private funding thanks to the generosity of a
parishioner.
Road safety crossing improvements in Swan Street.
Funding to create and plant new borders at the entrance to Oxford Meadow thanks to
Greenfields Community Housing.
Road safety improvements at the Station Road entrance and the Yeldham Road island
crossing.
New children’s play equipment on the Recreation Ground.
The ownership of the car park, to the rear of the Co‐Op, from Braintree District Council.
THIS PROJECT WILL ENSURE THAT PARKING IS KEPT FREE IN THE VILLAGE.
A new manual gritting machine.
New borders to be dug at the gateways to the village.
A grant obtained by the Parish Council for improvements to the Riverside Walk.
Funding to install further plant containers at the corner off Alexandra Road.
The purchase of dog bags to keep our streets clean – just arrived. A small fee will be
chargeable.
The new petanque court on the Recreation Ground.
The parish council continues to keep good partner relationships with many organisations’ that support us to deliver projects on behalf of the village.