Minutes September 2007

5 MINUTES of the MEETING held on Monday 10 September 2007

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

No members of the public were present.

APOLOGIES: Mr R Webb (Chairman),

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Wigg and Cllr Saville declared a personal interest in Scripps Farm, Coggeshall Pit

PUBLIC TIME: Cllr Saville noted that Bradwell Aggregates had carried out all promised changes to the junction of their private road with Church Road, although people are still ignoring the signs.

Cllr Speakman understood that Stisted (CofE) School were planning to drop Pattiswick and Bradwell from their catchment area in favour of Coggeshall.

The Council noted that the current school buses are too big for the country lanes – objection only to the size of the bus. Pick up from within the village is still required.

The Council asked the Clerk to write to the Chairman of the Governors of Stisted School and the Headmaster regarding the above two points.

The Council asked the Clerk to write to Fr John to ask whether attendance at Bradwell Church would be an acceptable alternative to attendance at Stisted Church as a pre-requisite to attendance at Stisted School.

Cllr Evans highlighted the progress of the Save our Church campaign and thanked John Bedford for printing the leaflets that are being circulated throughout the village (see separate minutes)

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

GRANTS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
The Clerk had provided Councillors with a list of grants available to Parish Councils and the purposes for which the grants are available.

After discussion, it was agreed that the focus of grant applications should be on the Village Hall.

Meanwhile, the range of grants available should be advertised throughout the village - The Clerk would prepare a summary of the grants available

VILLAGE HALL IMPROVEMENT
The Clerk had provided details of RCCE (for Village Halls) to the Village Hall Management Committee as they could help with grant applications.

The Village Hall Management Committee are waiting for approval in writing from the Church from whom the Village Hall is leased. John Bedford to be invited to attend the next Parish Council

PLAYING FIELD
Six weekly reports had been received.

Graffiti had been reported on the safety surfaces under the playing frames. BDC Environmental Services had inspected the site and the Clean Team had been asked to clean it. Further obscene graffiti has been added more recently on the basket-ball hoop. The Parish Clerk will report to BDC Environmental Services and the Community Warden.

It was decided not to move the park bench situated in Park House Meadow.

FINANCE
The Clerk reported that the Council was currently underspent against budget.

The previous Clerk has been paid £70-52 expenses and would be allowed to retain and use the parish PC and printer (cost £950) for the time being.

The Petty Cash balance had been paid into the bank account. There will be no Petty Cash account in future.

The Council decided not to join the BDC advertisement in the East Anglian Daily Times “Revised Code of Conduct for Members – Publication of Statutory Notice” at a cost of £80-32 as the Council had already met its statutory obligation through publication of the relevant minutes in the Parish Magazine.

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.

The Clerk had met with a representative from Wicksteed regarding the location and purchase of a heavy-duty metal picnic benches/table and a see-saw – the quoted price is £6,100 ex VAT in total including safety surfaces. It was decided to look at alternative suppliers.

Cllr Wigg reported that he had the ‘No unauthorised vehicle’ sign for the Playing Fields. Tom Speakman agreed to help with the installation.

Bradwell Parish Council wish to thank Blackwater Aggregates for the kind donation of the above sign.

It was proposed to buy 5-a-side football nets for £35-79 (5-33 VAT)

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. From BDC: “I am writing to confirm that the front of the approved structure is open with 3 oak posts and brackets.
No variations or amendments were approved after the 4th October 2005.”
The Parish Clerk to write to the owner.

ESS/40/07/BTE Coggeshall Quarry, Scripps Farm, Coggeshall – Revised plans supported.

The following applications were processed in correspondence during the summer recess:
07/01437/FUL Woodhouse Compasses Road Bradwell Braintree Essex CM77 8BB – Extension – No objections
07/01551/FUL Bridge Hall Barn – new gates and railings, diversion of track and creation of commercial storage space on agricultural land. The Council had objected to the creation of commercial storage space on agricultural land
07/01599/FUL 1 Jubilee Villas, Links Road – Extension. The Council had objected to the size of the extension, but had provided suggestions which would make the extension acceptable
07/01638/FUL 40 Old Road – Replace existing garage with carriage house style garage of timber construction – No objections
07/01649/FUL Park Farmhouse, Church Road (listed building) – Erection of rear extension – No objections

The Council has been advised that the following applications have been granted:

07/01001/FUL Links Cottage, Links Road Bradwell CM77 8ES
07/01161/FUL Compasses Cottage, Compasses Road, Pattiswick CM7 8BG

STREET SCENE PARTNERSHIP
Litter pick will go ahead in the autumn in co-operation with the Village Hall Committee. Litter picking equipment will be hired (free) from Braintree District Council.

ROADS: A120 - Carriageway Maintenance Works are on-going
OTHER ROADS
- The Street. The pot-holes outside Tippits Wade have been filled and the road made good
- Church Road. ECC were asked (on 4 July) to cut the grass verge and the
grass around the seat. This has been done by John Mills.
- Hollies Road - ECC have completed the requested speed survey and the results have been circulated to Councillors.


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

- 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.

- Draft Essex School Organisation Plan 2007-2012 has been forwarded to Councillors for comment.

ESTATE INSPECTION PROGRESS – Adam Bones from Atkins has provided the following report:
Atkins have been resurfacing limited stretches of the A120 recently. Atkins are hoping to carry out a limited amount of footway reconstruction works on the A120 for Bradwell later this year.

POLICE
Reports have been circulated detailing the Community Warden’s work up to 31 July 2007.

The Community Warden had been asked to address the security of the Glass Bins; she has asked the re-cycling team to ensure the bins are locked (26/7/07). [The Parish Clerk has been advised that the bins to be replaced with bins with secure padlocks and the source of the double-glazing has been identified (11/9/07)]

[BDC Environmental Services had been asked to ensure the overflowing glass around the Glass Bins was tidied].

The alleged shooting of a dog with an air-rifle on the edge of the Playing Fields had been reported to the Community Warden.

YOUTH CLUB
The Youth Service Mobile Unit will again be back again on Wednesday evenings 7 – 9pm outside the Village Hall.

PAYMENTS
Essex Heritage Trust £ 15-00
Lubbock Fine (External Auditor) £158-63
Mr B T Hill (Clerk’ expenses) £ 72-53
Football nets £ 35-79

The meeting closed at 9.12 pm

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

The next Street Cleaning will take place on 9 October 2007.
Please keep the roads clear to allow this work to take place