Minutes July 2007

PRESENT: Mr R Webb (Chairman), Mr J Marshall (Vice-Chairman), Mr C Evans, Mr B Saville, , Mrs D Tyrie, Mr P Wigg

Three members of the public were present. Philip Hughes (District Councillor) and Jackie Windard (Community Warden) also attended.

APOLOGIES: Mr T Speakman

DECLARARTION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Wigg declared a personal interest in Church Road and the Waste Consultation.

PUBLIC TIME: Cllr Tyrie raised the issue of fly-tipping and was provided with the process for reporting fly-tipping.

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

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Father John Corbyn and Michael Ferguson attended. Father John outlined the options for Bradwell Parish Church. The church is in a good state of repair and has been recently redecorated and re-wired. The congregation is small; indeed, the Churchwarden for Stisted is also the Churchwarden for Bradwell. The key issue is whether the Bradwell Community still require the church – which the parishioners of Bradwell have generously supported and maintained through the years – or whether there are other services which the Community require. A sub-Committee has been set up to investigate these issues; Cllrs Evans and Tyrie volunteered to help. Ideas and views on these issues to the Parish Clerk Tel: 331409; e-mail: bjcpc@btinternet.com

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
The Council had asked for a project time-table. The Clerk had provided a summary of potential sources of funding to the Village Hall Management Committee. Essex County Council had confirmed that the CIF grant for playing field equipment cannot be used towards the Village Hall Improvement.

John Bedford stated that the Village Hall Management Committee now needed approval in writing from the Church from whom the Village Hall is leased.

PLAYING FIELD
Three weekly reports had been received.

FINANCE
The Clerk was asked to provide Councillors with a list of grants available to Parish Councils and the purposes for which the grants are available. The Clerk was also asked to approach Braintree District Council for help with grant applications.

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. It is proposed to buy heavy-duty metal picnic benches/tables (£1006-50 excl VAT installed), a see-saw (£2338-85 excl VAT installed), signs, a meeting point and 5-a-side football nets.

The Clerk would seek approval from Essex County Council for these purchases.
Cllr Evans will obtain formal quotations for the signs and football nets.
Cllr Evans will also seek the opinion of the youth of the village to the meeting place proposal.

PLANNING
05/01598/FUL Detached double cart shed at 114 Coggeshall Road Bradwell – garage doors not included in the original application have appeared on the cart lodge. BDC have been asked whether they have given permission for this variation on the original design. A reply is awaited.

07/01250/FUL Amendment to 07/00439/FUL Little Nuntys Farmhouse, Nunty’s Lane, Pattiswick. No objections

STREET SCENE PARTNERSHIP
Litter pick will not go ahead on 21 July, but will go ahead in the autumn. Litter picking equipment can be hired from Braintree District Council.

ROADS: A120 No news
OTHER ROADS
- The Street. The appearance of three pot-holes outside Tippits Wade has
been reported to ECC who have stated they will send out an Inspector as a
matter of urgency.
- Church Road. ECC were asked (on 4 July) to cut the grass verge and the
grass around the seat
- Hollies Road - ECC have requested a speed and volume survey to be carried out on a week-day before the end of June. The results are awaited.
- Three cars had been seen for sale on the corner of Hollies Road.
- Church Road crossing with Blackwater Aggregates private road. Claire Tomalin ECC has been asked to investigate the removal of the bank(s) to improve visibility of lorries. Clr Saville commented favourably on the work which had already been completed to improve visibility at this junction.

STANDING ORDERS
The Council adopted a new set of Standing Orders (dated 030707) which reflect the revised Code of Conduct.

CONSULTATION PAPERS
The views of the Parish / Parish Council are sought on the following papers

- Planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England :
Issues and Options – Consultation document available at http://www.eera.gov.uk/consultation/ response required by 31 July. The Clerk had provided a draft response for Councillors to amend/approve by 26 July

- Minerals & Waste Development Framework – response during the next 3 months. The Waste Strategy for England had been received but no papers for comment had yet been received.

ESTATE INSPECTION PROGRESS – Adam Bones from Atkins has provided the following report:

Atkins have been employed by the Highways Agency to undertake various management functions on the trunk roads in East Anglia, which includes the A120 in Essex.

Atkins are aware of a number of footway surface defects that have occurred through Bradwell. They have received funding to carry out a limited amount of footway reconstruction works on the A120 for Bradwell and they are hoping that these works will be carried out later this year.

POLICE
A report had been received detailing the Community Warden’s work up to 31 May 2007. In future, the Community Warden’s report will be copied and e-mailed to the Parish Council.

Councillors provided the Community Warden with three issues to be addressed.

EMERGENCY ROUTES TO AND THROUGH VILLAGE
Members of the parish are asked, when parking vehicles, to ensure they are not causing an obstruction should a fire engine or ambulance need to get past.

PAYMENTS
Braintree District Council (Returning Officers fee) £ 23-12
E-On Energy £ 54-04

The meeting closed at 8.55 pm

FUTURE MEETINGS

Commencing at 7.00pm in the Village Hall
10 September; 8 October; 12 November; 10 December; 14 January; 11 February
10 March; 14 April; 12 May