Minutes April 2008

1    MINUTES of the MEETING held on Monday 14 April 2008

PRESENT: Mr R Webb (Chairman), Mr J Marshall (Vice-Chairman), Mr B Saville, Mr T Speakman, Mr P Wigg, Mrs D Tyrie, Mr M Keepence

One member of the public was present

APOLOGIES: None

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: None

PUBLIC TIME: Cllr Saville reported that the Recycling Area was littered. The Clerk would ask the Clean Team to tidy up and would ask for a bin into which people could dispose of their plastics bags (used to bring bottles to the bottle bank).

Mr Forbes – Brown outlined his planning application 08/00532/FUL see below.

MINUTES
The Minutes of the last Meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
RCCE membership is required as the next step – this is in hand.

PLAYING FIELD
Cllr Marshall will inspect the playing fields twice during April and Cllr Tyrie during May.

Brian Saville reported the football posts needed attention. The Clerk and Chairman to deal during the week.

The Clerk reported that the base for the meeting place had been completed and the extension to the baseball pitch was in progress. The meeting place is due to be erected within the next few days.

Cllr Speakman had offered to start clearing the brambles in a few weeks time. He would let the Councillors know the timing so they could help.

RoSPA had advised that the Inspection would take place in May.

FINANCE
Finance Report
The Clerk presented the Annual Accounts, which had been audited by the internal auditor whose report was awaited.

The Council approved the accounts, which were duly signed.

The Parish Band D rate is £15-59. The Council noted that of the 64 parishes in Braintree District only three had a lower precept than Bradwell. For comparison, the Parish Band D rate in Coggeshall is £86-29.

The Council resolved to move all earmarked funds to the general account.

GRANTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Following feedback from Cllr Keepence, the Clerk had investigated the prices of roundabouts  (for 3+ years) and a zip-wire (for 9+ years); he was still investigating the price of full-size football goalposts (for 13+ years).

Indicative prices were:

Roundabout     £5,051 to £7,298 (installed with appropriate safety surface)
Zip-wire     £9,347 (installed)

A grant would require the Parish Council to provide matched funding of 15% ie.
Roundabout    £757 to £1,095
Zip-wire    £1,402

The Clerk was asked to investigate a tree-planting grant for the playing fields.

PLANNING
08/00532/FUL Bridge Hall Barn, Hollies Road, CM77 8DZ
Re-alignment of access road, new gates and railings.
As the response date for this application was before the Council meeting, the Clerk had re-submitted the comments to the previous application, except for those comments relating to the open storage area for which permission was no longer being sought.

The Clerk was asked to inquire about enforcement action regarding the unauthorised storage area.

08/00301 FUL Ashleys, The Street, CM77 8EG
Change of use and erection of new buildings for use as a cattery.
This application has been withdrawn.
The Chairman had received a letter from Ashleys thanking the Council for their earlier comments and advising that a further application will be received in due course.

STREET SCENE PARTNERSHIP
The litter pick will take place on June 7

TWIN OAKS, STISTED
The Chairmen of Bradwell, Stisted and Cressing Parish had received an acknowledgement of their letter to Braintree District Council, but had not received a reply within the requested 14 days. They had subsequently received an invitation to meet BDC on 24 April, which has been accepted. Cllrs Webb and Tyrie to attend. They have also sought and received legal advice.

PUBLIC PATHS PARTNERSHIP
The Clerk advised that a dog litter bin had been provided on footpath 18. One of the neighbours had asked that the bin be re-located; the Vice-Chairman and the Clerk had met with the neighbour and agreed a revised location for the bin. The neighbour had offered to reimburse the Council for the cost of the relocation. The Clerk had obtained a quote for the relocation cost at £83-20. The Council agreed to go ahead.

ROADS: A120 
James Abbott (District Councillor) had been invited to attend this meeting but was unable to do so. The Council decided to invite him to attend the June meeting.

The Clerk had inquired whether the footpath along the A120 LHS facing West could be made into a combined footpath and cycle track and awaits a reply from the Highways Agency.

ECC Highways have declined the Parish Council request to extend the double yellow lines at The Street by 18 metres in a southerly direction on both sides of the road. The Clerk was asked to ask again.

    Other roads:
The Chairman and the Clerk had attended the A12 Inquiry pre-meeting. Members of the Parish Council were invited to a further meeting on 22 April at 7pm. The Council is required to submit comments/suggestions or aspects of how the parish is affected by the A12 which could be of relevance to the Inquiry before 17 April 2008.

EMERGENCY PLANNING
The revised Emergency Plan (Issue 3) has been published, if any member of the parish requires a copy they should apply to the Clerk (there is a fee payable).

POLICE
The report detailing the Community Warden’s work up to 29 February 2008 had been received and distributed. The Clerk as asked to inquire about the CCTV operation.

The Community Warden had been invited to attend, but was on holiday and will be attending the Parish Meeting in May..

YOUTH OFFENDING SERVICE
The YOS has completed work on clearing the ivy from the Village Hall and further work in the Churchyard and at the back of the Village Hall. The Council expressed their gratitude for a good job well done.

PAYMENTS
    E-On Energy (Street Lights)                £  54-04
CPRE (Annual membership)                £  28-00
    EALC (Annual membership)                £123-80
    Earth Anchors Ltd                    £  83-20
    [To be reimbursed, see Dog Litter Bin above]

The meeting closed at 8.55 pm

FUTURE MEETINGS
Commencing at 7.00pm in the Village Hall
12 May; 9 June; 14 July; 8 September; 13 October; 10 November; 8 December;
12 January 2009; 9 February; 9 March

PARISH MEETING: 12 May 2008

PARISH CHANNEL SWEEPING DATES FOR 2008-9

1 May 2008,   29 July 2008,   4 November 2008,   3 February 2009
Please keep the roads clear of parked cars on these days