Minutes March 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

Three members of the public were present

APOLOGIES: None

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Keepence declared an interest in Ashleys, The Street. Cllr Webb declared an interest in Footpath 18.

The Council were thanked for the picnic benches, which are being used.

PUBLIC TIME: Concern was expressed that the proposed cattery would generate additional traffic in The Street. Flood risk should also be considered.

Cllr Speakman explained that the recent rabbit shoot was safe and the local police had been advised.

Cllr Tyrie advised that the keys of a JCB, axes and other items had been stolen.
Cllr Speakman reported having three youths on mini-bikes riding through his barns.
Cllr Wigg advised that a loading shovel had been stolen from Bradwell Pit

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

COUNCIL VACANCY
Mr M Keepence had accepted the invitation to be co-opted onto the Council and the relevant paperwork had been completed. Mr Keepence was welcomed to the Council.

FEEDBACK FROM STISTED SCHOOL
The Clerk had spoken to the Rector, who was unable to help.

GRANTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Notice-board - The Parish Clerk had inquired of the new garage owner and had received a positive response from the garage receptionist. The Clerk was asked to prepare a header and to provide some notices.

The Clerk was asked to investigate the price of roundabouts and a zip-wire. Meanwhile, Cllr Keepence would collate ideas from the youth of the village

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
Fund-raising continues - Bingo Friday Night and Easter Egg Hunt (Easter Sunday 23 March)
The Management Committee are preparing the Planning Application, which is expected to take a few months. The Committee will be joining RCCE.

PLAYING FIELD
Cllr Saville will inspect the playing fields twice during March and Cllr Marshall during April. The Clerk had attended a RoSPA training course on Playing Field maintenance.

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

FINANCE
Finance Report
The Clerk presented the Finance Report for February, which indicated that the expenditure for the year would out-turn slightly below the income for the year.

Two complete responses to the ITT had been received. The Parish Council decided to award the contract for the Playing Field and the Churchyard to STK Garden Services.

The annual running costs of the new contract represent an increase of £80-£140 per year over the current contract, but does include the maintenance of the Common Land. The Clerk would advise the Trustees of Bradwell Estates.

Cllr Speakman offered to complete clearing and planting of the Common Land. Cllr Speakman was thanked for the effort he had already put in clearing the land.

Blackwater Aggregates have kindly agreed to pay for the proposed planting of the Common Land.

PLANNING
07/01551/FUL Bridge Hall Barn.
Re-alignment of access road, open storage area and new gates and railings
The Clerk had received a letter from Braintree District Council stating that the applicant had been advised to withdraw the application and re-submit an application only for the access road and the new gates and railing – permission for the open storage area would not be forthcoming – otherwise the entire application would be rejected. A further letter had been received stating that the application had been withdrawn.

07/01599/FUL 1 Jubilee Villas Links Road CM77 8ES
Erection of two storey and single storey side extensions with first floor extension to rear
The applicant has appealed against the District Council’s rejection of this application.

07/02618/FUL Ashleys, TheStreet, CM77 8EG
Change of use and erection of new building for use as a cattery
The Council expressed concern over the increased traffic, the opening hours but had no issues with the cattery proposal itself.

08/00404/FUL Potash Farm, Potash Farm Road, CM77 8BD
Proposed conversion of outbuildings for recreation room
The Council was content with this application.

08/00111/OUT Land Adjacent To 28 Old Road Pattiswick Braintree Essex CM77 8BJ
Erection of one residential dwelling
The clerk has been advised that the application has been withdrawn

08/00094/FUL White Gates, Bridge Hall Road CM77 8EA
Erection of single storey garden room
The District Council have approved this application

TWIN OAKS, STISTED
The Chairmen of Bradwell, Stisted and Cressing Parish Councils met Braintree District Council in December for an update on the enforcement at the above site. The District Council said they had asked some consultants to determine whether the road access to Twin Oaks could be “made safe” and the consultants would be reporting in February. The Council had agreed to meet with the Chairmen again in February. The Council has now refused to meet with the Chairmen, accordingly the Chairmen have written to the Council seeking answers within 14 days as required by the judicial review protocol.

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

The Council agreed to continue the Street Scene Partnership Agreement for a further year.

PUBLIC PATHS PARTNERSHIP
The Clerk advised that a dog litter bin could be provided on footpath 18 for £150-£160 and Braintree District Council would install it and empty it regularly providing it is accessible from the public roadway. The Council agreed on a vote of 4:1 with one abstension to go ahead with the purchase.

ROADS: A120
The Clerk reported back on a conversation he had with the Highways Agency regarding the proposed route for the new A120. The Clerk was asked to write to James Abbott (District Councillor) asking for a written report on his proposals for the new A120 (for next 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.

The Clerk had received a reply from ECC Highways regarding the extension of the double yellow lines at the junction of The Street and the A120. The Council asked that ECC Highways be requested formally to extend the yellow lines by 18 metres.

Other roads:
The Council had been asked to send a representative to the pre-meeting of the A12 Inquiry on 25 March – it was decided the Chairman and the Clerk would attend.

The Clerk had reported for repair the potholes that have recently appeared in The Street, Cut Hedge Lane and Glazenwood Road.

EMERGENCY PLANNING
The Clerk had provided the Councillors with a draft revised Emergency Plan. The Clerk and the Chairman will complete the Plan.

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

The Community Warden had been invited to attend.

YOUTH CLUB
The Clerk had been advised that the Youth Bus is now back on Monday evenings every other week starting on 17 March.

YOUTH OFFENDING SERVICE
The YOS has started work on clearing the ivy from the Village Hall.

RECYCLING
The bins on the Recycling Area have been locked.

Bradwell Estates are concluding a formal agreement with BDC for the use of the concrete pad as a Recycling Area. BDC are proposing to improve the area including better signage.

PAYMENTS
May & Gurney had queried Invoice 202357 dated 19/12/2006; it is believed this had already been settled in previous correspondence
A G Dunn £1,500-00 (Clerk’s annual salary)
A G Dunn £ 133-18 (Clerk’s expenses for six months)

The meeting closed at 9.35 pm

FUTURE MEETINGS
Commencing at 7.00pm in the Village Hall
14 April; 12 May; 9 June; 14 July; 8 September; 13 October; 10 November;
8 December; 12 January; 9 February; 9 March
PARISH MEETING: 12 May 2008