Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

Held on Monday, 11 th October 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present:

Councillors: G. Massey, Chairman, J. Skittrall, Vice-chairman, C. Cannell, C. Chapman, P. Day, N. Edwards, R. Green, J. Ferrando, J. Hatfield, M. Rudge, E. Snarey, I. Smith (Clerk).

County Cllr. David Finch, District Councillors Jo Beavis and Stephen Bolter.

Two members of the public were present.

1. Apologies:

District Cllr. W. Scattergood arrived late due to attendance at a previous meeting.

Cllr. D. Holmes

2. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations.

3. Public Comment   -   None, public arrived after this item.

4. Minutes of the Last Meeting

Item 7, County Cllr's. Report.   Page 169, line 3,   should read "..what their rights are and how ...."

Line 29 should read " 14,000 people will be affected by noise, not carbon monoxide.   Carbon monoxide levels would rise due to the increased air traffic to about 12% from the current 5%."

The Minutes of the last meeting were circulated, read, amended, and accepted as being   a true record of that meeting. 

The Chairman reported that the long awaited replacement of the swings on the Brook Meadow play area was at an end, for the swings are due to be installed this week.

Signage erected on the façade of   the Indian Take Away restaurant had caused complaints from parishioners.   The Planning Enforcement Officer will visit the site and advise the Parish Council of his findings.   There is also a lack of litter bins and no parking signs on the forecourt.

6. Vice-chairman's Report

Cllr. Skittrall reported that the sale of the road sweeper had been concluded successfully, with the sum of £4,150 being paid by a very keen new owner.

Paul Partridge has been extremely helpful in negotiating the deal, even bringing the buyer to see the machine.   A letter to be sent, thanking him for his help in this matter.

BDC have undertaken to clear the brook at Rectory on a regular basis Cllr. Snarey advised that that he had received news from Barry Hardy at BDC that the watercourse should be re-graded in its entirety from the rear of the fire station to the beginning of the culvert during 2004/2005.   Mr. Beagrie has still not fully carried out his responsibilities with regard to clearing the bank of the debris from the cutback vegetation, and clearing the bed of the brook.

7. District/County Councillors Reports

District Councillors' Reports

District Councillor Jo Beavis began with apologies that she would have to leave the meeting at 8.30am to attend elsewhere.

Cllr. Beavis went on to say that the recent meeting with the Co-op concerning youth and litter problems had resulted in the Co-op installing much better litter bins and that the area was looking considerably cleaner.   A follow-up meeting, will take place on Thursday 14 th October at 10.00am and will be held at Gt. Yeldham Police Station.

Recreation Ground Helena Goodwin was mentioned recently in connection with matched funding.   Cllr. Beavis had suggested putting forward a proposal for improving the toilets and providing a Park Warden on this site and was pleased to report that Sible Hedingham was the only parish to put forward a scheme.   She suggested that a meeting be arranged with the Recreation Ground Committee in order to discuss this scheme.

Alderford Street The River Colne Countryside Project had been contacted by Cllr. Hatfield, who registered the parish's keen interest in this scheme.

Shiam Service Station The Planning Meeting had been deferred until the Halstead Area Meeting had taken place.   More screeding and planting is required on this site.   Cllrs. Beavis   and Bolter will attend as ward members.

District Councillor Stephen Bolter advised that information on planning, and other documents, is now more widely available to councillors on the internet, which has made it easier to access.   This will result in saved costs and make it more easily available to the public via the libraries.

Environment and Enterprise

There has been much concern regarding fortnightly collections of black sack/bin refuse and the problems of maggots in hot weather.   It would be very costly to have weekly "black" bag collections as well as the new recyclable collections.   The committee recommended the retention of fortnightly collections and the appointment of a small team of advisers in the summer.

Full Council

The debate concerning Stansted was very full and much lively, informed debate took place.   Early in the meeting a farmer from this ward made a public statement on the problem of aircraft noise, and Jo Beavis added an expression of local concern.   In the debate proper, David Finch gave an authoritative and detailed account on the effect further expansion at Stansted would have on this part of Essex.   Cllr. Bolter suggested that every expansion granted was a step towards the ultimate aim of a 4-runway airport to take the place of Heathrow as a major hub, and asked councillors to support the Green Party's motion of more active opposition.   The council voted to wait for BAA's next formal application, before deciding on further action.

A meeting of the Flood Defence Committee took place on 3 rd October.   An Environmental Study had been carried out and the findings will cause changes to the design of the scheme in the Sugar Loaves area.   A study is required on the greater crested newt and the Hedgerows Act will need to be looked at in depth. The newt population is to be surveyed in March, when they gather to mate.   Work is progressing on buying the land and, once acquired, signs will be erected informing the public that this has been earmarked for the Flood Defence Programme.   Approval will need to be granted to build the holding ponds, but Cllr. Finch thought this would be a mere formality.   Spoil from the ponds will not be removed, but used as landscaping.

A MORI Survey on policing in Essex has been undertaken, the survey having been taken over a representative slice of the population in Essex.   The key topics were Anti-social Behaviour, Improved Schools, Protection of Vulnerable Children, the regeneration of run-down areas, and Managing the Police.   The survey was broken down into 8 different sub sections.   (More detailed information held by Clerk.)

Chairman Massey asked what the reactions of District/County were to the Clean Neighbourhood report produced by defra?   Cllr. Finch was unable to reply to the question, but will come back with the answer.

Cllr. Skittrall questioned the wisdom of the Chief Executive of ECC going on a jaunt to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong in order to see how the courts work there.   He suggested the money would best be spent on research in Essex.

Cllr. Finch replied that it would be a much wider fact finding tour to research different ways of dealing with problems; Australia has some good systems in use.  

Cllr. Skittrall replied that there was very little response from the police in solving anti-social problems.

Cllr. Finch advised that the CCRP had routed money to deal with problems, each area received around £20k.   Police Community Support Officers are in place, with something like 30 in the BDC area, and more money is to be put into recruiting and training more PCSOs.

Cllr. Skittrall replied that there was still no visible police presence.   The main concern of parishioners was bad response times and no reaction to requested police patrols.  

Cllr. Massey said she thought it was odd to chase round the world when local issues were still unresolved.

Cllr. Finch said funding was adequate but it will not necessarily solve local problems.   He offered to ensure a police patrol was put in hand.

Cllr. Skittrall said late Friday night drinking parties held by older children were a problem.   Cllr. Finch asked about the number of children at these parties.   Cllr. Massey said around 15-20. In excess of 60 bottles and cans had been picked up from the Recreation Ground one Saturday morning.

Cllr. Beavis suggested that the Open Police meeting on Monday 18 th would be a perfect forum at which to bring up issues. She also added that matters were being put in hand to deal with these problems.

Cllr. Green asked about CCTV surveillance, adding it might be useful.   Cllr. Finch was unsure if the imagery would be clear enough to be of use.  

Cllr. Skittrall asked what were the criteria of obtaining a PCSO.   Cllr. Finch said they were allocated on a rota basis, but he will put in a word on behalf of the parish.

Cllr. Chapman said he understood there was a priority basis with a pecking order, resulting in PCSOs being sent to larger areas.

Cllr. Beavis said at the last meeting at Gt. Yeldham with the police and Co-op, forms were suggested for residents to record incidents.   She asked if they were given out and was advised that some elderly people's homes were using them.   Cllr. Beavis will bring the matter up at the meeting on 18 th October.

Cllr. Wendy Scattergood had nothing to report.

8. Matters Arising

Cllrs. Massey and Skittrall visited the Londis Store as a follow-up contact after a letter was sent to them and were very impressed that the owners were extremely co-operative and were very keen to stop the litter problem.

Churchyard

Fencing - A quote has been received and a figure in the region of £7-£10,000 is the estimated expenditure for this project.  

Roadway - A quote should be in by Thursday.   A hard based, tarred and shingled surface is envisaged; this will be a costly item.

An application has been made to Anglian Water with a view to installing a tap on site and a survey is to be carried out.  

The hedge is to be looked at and if surplus soil can be dumped locally it will save money.   Cllr. Skittrall to investigate the possibility of dumping with local landowners.

Cllr. Snarey suggested that research should be carried out on how many graves might be needed over the next 5 years.   The land could then be fenced of little by little and used as needed.   The Burial Ground committee will discuss and Cllr. Skittrall will assess the position.

Item 19 - Cllr. Hatfield reported that a meeting had been held to discuss bulbs, shrubs required.   More top soil will be required for the frontage at the Shell garage, but at present work is being carried out on the forecourt and no planting can be undertaken until this has been completed.

Item 22 - Capes Chase.   Cllr. Skittrall advised that E. Mayes will be working on this area.   Trees are to be cut back and any dead trees will be removed.

Dumping at the substation, Alexandra Road - This area requires to be monitored as black sacks are still appearing, despite letters being sent to nearby householders from the Clerk asking them to refrain from this practice.

District Cllr. Scattergood informed the meeting that the Clean Team will investigate dumped rubbish and prosecutions are being made.

It was RESOLVED to donate £50.00 to C.A.B. (Item 23).  

Proposed: Cllr. Massey. Seconded: Cllr. Cannell.   Agreed unanimously.

As Members were not going into the Parish office to survey the correspondence, it was felt that specific committee items to be sent to the Chairman of said committee and noted as such on the list.

10. Committee Reports

Planning

There were NO OBJECTIONS to the following applications:

04/01847/FUL - 99 Swan Street.   Replacement of existing windows.

04/01741/FUL - Premdor Crosby Ltd., Station Road. Erection of a portable building for office accommodation and creation of staff car park.

04/01933/FUL - Kimberley Lodge, 5 Swan Street. Erection of extension and alterations to existing dwelling and erection of new double garage.

03/01520/FUL - Little Acre, Cobbs Fenn.

03/01521/LBC - Minor amendments - replace glass roof of conservatory with natural slate.

Proposed: Cllr. Massey.   Seconded: Cllr. Snarey.   Agreed unanimously.

11. Water Management

An agreement had been reached with Dr. D. Bainbridge for works to be put in hand behind his property in Alderford Street, starting November 2004.

Swan Chase - the brook is nearly overflowing and it is scheduled to be cleared within a month.

Brook Meadow - an e-mail from Barry Hardy has been received, outlining proposals for this area to be cleared further in 2004/2005.

A car was stolen recently, driven across a field and floated across a stream on straw bales.   These bales will block the waterway if not removed soon.

Cllrs.   Massey and Skittrall will look at the situation.

12. Skate Park

Those Councillors involved in the public meeting pooled their comments recently, taking the views of all the residents into consideration and bearing in mind that the whole project was put in hand for the youngsters of the village.   The consensus of opinion was that the originally planned 5 large pieces should be cut back to 2/3 pieces of equipment.   Money would also to be spent on providing multi-use equipment for youngsters who did not use skate boards.   The proposed equipment would probably only cover a third of the total area and advice would be sought from Tony McDonald at BDC.   The initial idea was that youngsters would raise some lottery funding for themselves, but that was not likely to happen.

It was agreed to spend £3k on equipment, with an equivalent £3k matched funding.   Cllr. Cannell asked if more than £3k would be spent if matched funding fell through.   Cllr. Massey advised that no more than £3k would be spent by the Parish Council in any case.

Cllr. Ferrando reported that he had heard of a 'wall' type piece of equipment which facilitated kicking a ball into a net, or shooting through a basketball net.   BDC Parks Department to be approached for more information, as they have installed such a piece of equipment.  

Proposal to spend £3k: Cllr. Cannell.   Seconded: Cllr. Green.   Agreed unanimously.

13. CCTV Surveillance

Cllr. Chapman reported that he had spoken to Crime Prevention Officer Jeff Butler about any problems that might be encountered by a resident who agreed to house the appliance.   The householder must disclose the images, but not their address.   However, it would not be difficult for someone to ascertain where the CCTV was housed when the images were taken.   Cllr. Chapman felt that responsible householders would accept any potential risk.   The toilets on the Recreation Ground could also be used as a site.   Supporting business are happy to have it sited on their premises in order to survey surrounding areas; however this might just push the problem 100 yards further up the road.

Cllr. Cannell thought it would surely be better to have it sited somewhere, rather than nowhere at all.   Her general feeling was that people wouldn't want to get involved.   CCTV could be set up externally, i.e. church, but it must be sited high up, or be well hidden.

Cllr. Scattergood questioned signage being displayed re: 'under surveillance' and any planning application which might have to be made.   Cllr. Chapman replied that any planning issue could be got round in the first instance by posting notices, and permanent signage could be displayed in broadly disclosed areas, similar to the police speeding area notices, i.e. at either end of the village.   Crime Reduction Units are using mobile CCTVs in their work and they use digital imaging.

Cllr. Chapman made the plea that the CCTV was being offered on a plate to the parish and could prove useful as a deterrent, even if used only twice a year.   He would be very happy to manage the setting up and monitoring of the system.

It was RESOLVED to accept the offer of a CCTV system for the parish.

Proposed: Cllr. Massey.   Seconded: Cllr. Skittrall.   Agreed unanimously.

A CCTV Sub Committee to be set up comprising Cllrs. Chapman, Day and Skittrall.   The Chairman is an ex-officio member of all committees.

14. River Colne Countryside Project

This issue was received with great interest and commitment by the Council.   Cllr. Hatfield advised that he had written to Melvyn Crow expressing the Council's interest, and the Clerk will write further to confirm our position.

15. Approval of Expenditure for Recognition of Long Service

Cllr. Skittrall advised that he had approached Tommy Gaw concerning the planting of a tree in recognition of his work within the parish for over 30 years.

An English oak tree (Quercus Rubra) is to be planted on amenity ground; close to the seat dedicated to Roy Tanner, and will bear a suitably engraved brass plaque.   The expenditure of £160.00 for the tree and around £20 for the brass plaque was put to the Members for approval.

Proposed: C. Cannell.   Seconded:   Cllr. Massey.   Agreed unanimously to spend up to £180.00 on this project.

16. Appendix 2 - Accounts for Payment

The accounts were passed for payment.

17. Members' Items

Outage reported at 4/5 Recreation Ground.   Clerk advised she had reported this twice to McAlpines and will chase again.

Community Transport

The demise of the Countryside Agency had looked as if it would mean the end of the proposed bus into Freeport on a Saturday evening.   However Cllr. Snarey had attended a meeting at County Hall to discuss the issue and it is still an ongoing project.   The cost would be around £800 for 18 months to each parish involved, which seemed high.   It is a worthwhile scheme, but the actual cost is to be investigated; a contribution of around 25% per parish was mooted.   Cllr. Snarey will report back at the next meeting.

He also reported that the old notice board sited on the wall near the post office was not worth renovating.   There is another one alongside it which is in reasonable order and Cllr. Cannell will ascertain whether this belongs to the W.I.

Cllr. Skittrall reported that he e-mailed the Clerk on various problems at least once a day, sometimes with four or more issues.   He advised that he always received an e-mail back, giving details of the action the Clerk had taken, very shortly afterwards.   He asked that his appreciation be recorded, and the Members present also joined him in their thanks.   Thanking the Members for their support, the Clerk replied that it was a team effort.

Website

Cllr. Ferrando announced that the website was up and running and that he would like to install photos of the Councillors on the site.   He had brought his camera along to the meeting and persuaded Members to participate in order to bring more 'visibility' to the Parish Council.

Orphaned Footpaths

A further letter is to be sent re: Spurgeon Close footpath and Hills Road, in order to ascertain just where these footpaths are on the prioritised list under the Locally Determined Programme.

Proposed: C. Cannell.   Seconded:   Cllr. Ferrando.   Agreed unanimously.

Drains

The drain outside 46 School Road appears to be partially blocked with concrete and rubble.   There is also a manhole cover near Summerfields, just before Spring Way, which appears to be leaking water.   Clerk to action.     

Footpath 54

A new kissing gate has been installed on this footpath.   The working party consisted of Cllrs. Skittrall, Hatfield and Green.