Minutes June 2008

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

No members of the public were present

APOLOGIES: None

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Wigg declared an interest in the Planning Applications relating to Bradwell Quarry and Rivenhall Airfield.

PUBLIC TIME: None

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

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
The Council understands that the Village Hal Management Committee will be asking the Council to formally apply for Planning permission once the requirements have been confirmed.

PLAYING FIELD
Cllr Speakman will inspect the playing fields twice during June and the Clerk during July.

The Chairman offered to attend to the uneven grass adjacent to the safety surface.

The Clerk had been asked to investigate the price of larger (but not full-size) goal posts and to proceed with the application for grants for goal posts and the see-saw. The grant applications require evidence of need. The Clerk had prepared a brief on 12ft x 6ft goal posts. Mick Keepence to advise on goal posts requirements.

The Clerk asked Councillors to provide evidence of need from the village youth for the goal-posts and from the parents for the see-saw. The Clerk was asked to provide the necessary paperwork for completion at the Village Fete.

A letter had been received from the Trustees of Bradwell Estates asking for advice on allotment security. The Community Warden would be asked to keep an eye open. Encouraging more allotment holders will reduce the time when the allotments are untended. The Council understands that the allotment holders are responsible for the security of the allotments; the Council is prepared to erect fence posts if these are provided by the Allotment Association.




The Parish Council had almost completed clearing the new allotment land – the Green Team would be asked to take away the rubbish, which had been uncovered. After chisel-ploughing the land, the land would be handed back to the Allotment Association. The Chairman thanked Cllr Speakman and other councillors for their efforts in clearing the land.

New allotments are now available.

The Clerk was asked to seek the views of the Trustees of Bradwell Estates on the provision of an orchard adjacent to the Playing Fields and to arrange a meeting with the Trustees when they pay their annual visit.

Cllr Marshall asked that the cutting of the hedges around the churchyard be included in next year’s “grass cutting contract”.

RoSPA had advised that the Inspection would take place in May – a report was awaited

FINANCE
The Clerk presented the Finance Report for the year to date. Income and expenditure were in line with the budget.

GRANTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
See Playing Fields above

PLANNING
Application No: ESS/15/08/BTE Bradwell Quarry, Church Road, Bradwell
The Council had been advised that an Environment Impact Assessment was not required

Rivenhall Airfield – Public consultation 17/18 June 2008. The Council will attend on 17 June 2008. Cllr Saville emphasised the magnitude of this development and was concerned at the volume of traffic which would be crossing Church Road.

TWIN OAKS, STISTED
The Clerk was waiting for comments from the Highways Agency on a report commissioned by Braintree District Council on the feasibility of a ghost island at the entrance to the Twin Oaks site.

ROADS: A120 
James Abbott (District Councillor) has been invited to attend the July meeting and has confirmed his attendance.

ECC Highways have again 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 views of the residents with land adjacent to the proposed yellow lines will be sought and then ECC Highways are to be invited to a meeting on site to discuss options including parking restrictions during the day-time – on-going



CONSULTATION PAPERS
Draft Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Essex. Mr B T Hill had forwarded a copy of his response on this Strategy for information.

POLICE
    - Playing Field incident
I was agreed that appropriate action had been taken, however, certain issues of concern (the Clerk to prepare a brief) would be raised at the Neighbourhood Action Panel on 25 June.

-    Appointment of Independent Members to Essex Police Authority
The Council noted that three independent members are being sought to join the Essex Police Authority.

PAYMENTS
    Allianz Insurance plc                                                        £671-80
    STK Garden Services (Playing Field and Churchyard Mtce)        £195-00
    A G Dunn (Clerks Expenses)                                              £120-98

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm

FUTURE MEETINGS
Commencing at 7.00pm in the Village Hall
14 July; 8 September; 13 October; 10 November; 8 December 2008
12 January 2009; 9 February; 9 March

PARISH CHANNEL SWEEPING DATES FOR 2008-9

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