Minutes February 2008

PRESENT: Mr R Webb (Chairman), Mr J Marshall (Vice-Chairman), Mr B Saville, Mr T Speakman, Mr P Wigg

No members of the public were present

APOLOGIES: Mrs D Tyrie

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Wigg declared an interest in Scripps Farm, Coggeshall

PUBLIC TIME: Attempted break-ins to Glazen Holdings cars and buildings were brought to the attention of the Council – Villagers are advised to be alert.

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

COUNCIL VACANCY
A name was given to the Clerk who will ensure that the person is qualified to be co-opted and is willing to undertake the role.

BRADWELL POORS LAND CHARITY
Members approved the appointment of Mr Bob Hume as a Trustee until February 2012. Mrs Julie Barker had been appointed as a Trustee until February 2010 at a previous meeting in 2007.

FEEDBACK FROM STISTED SCHOOL
The Clerk read the feedback from Essex County Council:

“Stisted is a Voluntary Aided School and the Governing Body is therefore the admission authority for the school. I can confirm that having discussed the proposed arrangements with the school, the Local Authority considers the arrangements to be lawful and comply with the mandatory provisions of the Code.  The Local Authority is awaiting receipt of the formal consultation document from the school.
 
Objections to the Adjudicator can only be made by statutory consultees and, as the Parish Council is not a statutory consultee, it would not be in a position to submit an objection.  It would be possible to make representations to the Diocese, a statutory consultee.”

The Clerk was asked to speak to the Rector.

GRANTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
The Community Initiative Fund grant had now been fully committed.

Notice-board - The Parish Clerk had inquired of the new garage owner and is awaiting a phone call from him.

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
The Rector had confirmed that the Village Hall Improvement can go ahead.

PLAYING FIELD
Cllr Wigg will inspect the playing fields twice during February and Cllr Saville during March.

The Clerk had expressed the Council’s disappointment at certain aspects of the work by Wicksteed who had apologised.

The meeting place has been ordered from Panelstones – the benches, delivery and installation were included in the price.

The extension to the playing surface around the basketball area by 20 sq m and an additional 5 sq m of concrete as base for the meeting place have been ordered and are due to be installed before the end of March.

Clearance of brambles on land adjacent to the Playing Fields – the Clerk had asked for two quotations, but the potential suppliers had suggested the work be carried out jointly with a working party from the Parish. This will be progressed at the March meeting.

FINANCE
ECC Community Initiatives Fund Grant
A grant up to £7,500-00 has been awarded to the Parish Council for installation of additional equipment on the Playing Field for use by March 2008. £7436-85 has been committed

Following discussions with the representative of the Bradwell Estates, a grass cutting tender has been issued covering the Playing Fields, the Churchyard and the Common Land. The response deadline is noon on 21 February 2008.

PLANNING
07/01551/FUL Bridge Hall Barn.
Re-alignment of access road, open storage area and new gates and railings
The Clerk had asked Braintree District Council for an update on progress and had received a non-committal reply.

07/02618/FUL Ashleys, TheStreet, CM77 8EG
Change of use and erection of new building for use as a cattery
This application has been withdrawn.

08/00094/FUL White Gates, Bridge Hall Road CM77 8EA
Erection of single storey garden room
The Council is content with this application.


08/00111/OUT Land adjacent to 29, Old Road (Pattiswick) CM77 8BJ
Erection of one residential dwelling
The Council is content with this application.

ESS/40/07/BTE Scripps Farm, Coggeshall
Revised proposals for Final Restoration
The Council is content with these proposals.

STREET SCENE PARTNERSHIP
Litter pick will go ahead in the spring in co-operation with Karen Keepence. Litter picking equipment will be hired (free) from Braintree District Council.

PUBLIC PATHS PARTNERSHIP
The Chairman had cleared Bradwell 7. The Chairman was thanked for his efforts.

The Council asked the Clerk to investigate the provision of a dog litter bin for installation on footpath 18.

Bradwell Estates have instructed the provision of a new stile for the junction of Footpath 35 and Church Road.

ROADS: A120 
The Clerk had asked the Highways Agency (ref no: 522284) whether a yellow box could be placed on the A120/The Street junction as part of the Puffin Crossing development. The Highways Agency had agreed to paint ‘Keep Clear’ on the road at this junction as part of the Puffin Crossing development.

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.

The Clerk has written to ECC Highways regarding the extension of the double yellow lines at the junction of The Street and the A120. The Clerk was also asked to remind BDC of their commitment to police the double yellow lines in The Street.

    Other roads:
The Clerk was asked to report for repair the potholes that have recently appeared in The Street and Cut Hedge Lane.

CONSULTATION PAPERS
The Council had received the Orders and Regulations Relating to the Conduct of Local Authority Members in England for comment.

EMERGENCY PLANNING
The Clerk had provided the Councillors with a draft revised Emergency Plan. Councillors agreed to review the document and help complete the gaps. On-going.

The Clerk was asked to order more empty sand-bags.


POLICE
The report detailing the Community Warden’s work up to 31 December 2007 had been received and distributed.

RECYCLING
The new locked bins have yet to be delivered to the Recycling Area. BDC have been asked for a progress report.

The concrete pad on which the recycling facilities are placed are owned by the Trustees of Bradwell Estates – repairs to the concrete pad have been requested.

PAYMENTS
There were no payments this month.
   
The Council had received an invitation to the Service for Local Government in Chelmsford Cathedral on 17 April 2008.

The meeting closed at 8.40 pm

FUTURE MEETINGS
Commencing at 7.00pm in the Village Hall
10 March; 14 April; 12 May;
PARISH MEETING: 12 May 2008