Present:

Cllr David Cameron (in the Chair)

Councillors

Julia Griffin

Trevor Horsnell

Peter Latham

Dot Merriday

Anthony Pipkin

Carl Sargent

In attendance

Louise Fuller (Clerk)

City Cllr Nicolette Chambers (to min. no. 84)

Two members of the public

80/2014-15

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

81/2014-15

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Members APPROVED the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14 January 2015 as a correct record.

82/2014-15

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST and REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

There were no declarations of interest nor requests for dispensations.

83/2014-15

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

A resident from Metson’s Lane reported that the green triangle at the junction with Blackmore Road and the grass verges from Blackmore Road to Barrow Farm had been damaged by vehicles, and asked if anything could be done. The county councillor would be asked to look into this.

One member of the public left the meeting.

84/2014-15

REPORTS

Chelmsford City Council

City Cllr Chambers reported various City Council matters, and was asked about enforcement action at Oak Lodge. She thanked the parish council for its work during the past term of office and then left to go to another meeting.

Essex County Council

Cty Cllr Aldridge had emailed his report as he was unable to attend due to another meeting.

Police

The police are no longer sending reports to parish councils.

Community Agent

No report.

Play Park, Edney Common

No report as the play area had been closed. No complaints about the closure had been received.

Village Hall

Cllr Pipkin reported a problem with the air conditioning, and that wildflower planting had taken place in the garden.

Public Rights of Way

Nothing to report.

85/2014-15

REPORT OF THE CLERK

The Council NOTED the Clerk’s report.

1          Purchase of land and buildings from Chelmsford City Council

            The Council noted that the purchase of the property from CCC had been completed on 5 March 2015. A loan for £15,000 over five years at an interest rate of 1.74% had been drawn down on 12 February 2015. Ten repayments of £1,572.71 would be made by direct debit on 12 August and 12 February.

2          Play area, Edney Common

            The council noted the report on options for the future of the play area. As the annual inspection was due in May, it was agreed to ask specifically for the issues which had been raised to be inspected, and then take a view on the outcome.

3          Verge Adoption, St Paul’s Church to bus stop

            No further information.

4          Local elections 2015

            The clerk drew councillors’ attention to several points which had been mentioned at the CCC briefing.

5          Emergency Plan

            As no further progress had been made with the Emergency Plan, it was agreed to accept the offer of help from CCC Assistant Emergency Plan and Community Safety Officer.

86/2014-15

GRASS CUTTING

The grass cutting contract was considered and it was AGREED to cut as follows:

Areas 1-4 to be cut three times a year, in May, July and September.

1          Edney Common, grass verge north of Highwood Road, from opposite Church Farm as far west as the pavement before Wyses Road; from the edge of the road as far back as the hedgeline.

2          verge outside St Paul’s Church – to the left of the gate, the whole grassed area; to the right of the gate, the whole grassed area from the church past the “layby” as far as where the pavement starts at the bus stop opposite Sparrows Close.

3          Loves Green, north side of Highwood Road, the grass area opposite Pools Lane as far as the 30mph sign from behind the shallow ditch (i.e. not from the road edge) as far as the hedgeline.

4          The newly-acquired grass triangle at Sparrows Close

Areas 5 & 6 to be cut five times a year, in April, May, June, July and September.

5          Edney Common play area

6          Grass area at rear of village hall

As the contract needed to be awarded in the near future, it was agreed to delegate this to the clerk.

87/2014-15

TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE PROPERTY PURCHASED FROM CCC

87.1

The garages

1          It was AGREED to dispose of the three garages at the highest price as soon as possible. An informal valuation would be sought from a firm of auctioneers.

2          NOTED that CCC would be refunding to the parish council the rents it had received for the period from completion date to 31 March 2015.

3          It was AGREED to charge the same for the 2015/16 rents as had already been notified to the tenants by CCC i.e. £9.61 per week, for a 48-week year, plus VAT; amounting to £38.44 per month ex VAT, £46.13 p.m. inc. VAT.

4          NOTED that it would be necessary to contact the tenants to demand the rent, monitor the receipts, and issue new tenancy agreements.

87.2

The proposed play area

It was agreed that a survey would be carried out to gauge the level of support for play equipment to be installed on the site. Cllr Sargent would draft a questionnaire which could be carried out at the school and put in the parish magazine. The topic could also be discussed at the Annual Parish Assembly and the clerk would mention this in her forthcoming magazine piece about the Assembly.

87.3

No other matters which needed to be discussed concerning the new property were identified.

88/2014-15

FINANCE

88.1

88.2

88.3

Accounts for payment

The accounts for payment, cheques nos. 66 & 67, and online-banking, totalling £23,578.04, were APPROVED.

The account balances as at 2 March 2015 were NOTED.

Internal auditor

It was agreed to re-appoint Mrs N Powell-Davis to carry out the internal audit for the year 2014/15.

89/2014-15

HIGHWAY MATTERS REPORTED BY COUNCILLORS

1          Speeding Traffic

            There had been no Speedwatch.

2          The chevrons at the Cat and Kittens corner had become detached from the post.

            Cllr Sargent had heard from ECC that the road markings in the village did require repainting but were not high priority.

90/2014-15

BROADBAND UPDATE MEETING (Cllr Horsnell)

The standard of broadband in much of Highwood is very poor. Unfortunately no-one was available to attend the meeting.

91/2014-15

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE, and DISTRIBUTION BAG

1          Quiet Lanes

            It was agreed to nominate Wyses Road for consideration as a Green Lane.

2          “Getting around in Essex” consultation

            There were no comments on this consultation.

92/2014-15

DOCUMENTS ON DEPOSIT

None.

93/2014-15

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

93.1

Parish Council Decisions

The following comments made by the parish council between meetings were NOTED.

App. no.

15/00029/FUL

Location

Land north east of Glengarry, Edney Common

Proposal

Construction of detached dwelling, garage and new access

Comment

No objection

App. no.

15/00012/FUL

Location

Ewsons Farm, Ongar Road

Proposal

Part two storey, part single storey front and side extension

Comment

No objection

App. no.

14/01968/FUL

Location

3 Kiln Cottages, Nathans Lane

Proposal

First floor rear extension

Comment

No objection

93.2

To consider the following planning applications

None.

93.3

Other planning applications received since the agenda was prepared

None.

93.4

Decisions by Chelmsford City Council

The following planning decisions by Chelmsford City Council were NOTED.

GRANTED

App. no.

14/01924/FUL

Location

Richmond Cottage, Loves Green

Proposal

First floor rear extension

App. no.

14/01911/FUL

Location

Hawkins Smiths Farmhouse, Wyses Road

Proposal

Two storey front extension. Part single, part two storey rear extension. Ridge to existing house raised by 400mm. Demolition of existing detached garage and construction of new detached garage.

App. no.

14/01983/FUL

Location

Oak Tree Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Swimming pool and glazed enclosure

App. no.

14/02069/FUL

Location

Cob Cottage, Nathans Lane

Proposal

Conversion from garage to annex accommodation

App. no.

15/00029/FUL

Location

Land north east of Glengarry, Edney Common

Proposal

Construction of detached dwelling, garage and new access

REFUSED

App. no.

14/01799/FUL

Location

Longfield, Cooksmill Green

Proposal

Retrospective application for replacement timber fence and entrance gates and new laurel hedge in front of fence, to right boundary

93.5

PLANNING CORRESPONDENCE

None.

94/2014-15

OTHER URGENT BUSINESS – for information only

There was a mobile home in situ at Budds Farmhouse which may be a hangover from the recent building work.

95/2014-15

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

7.30 p.m. Wednesday 20 May 2015, preceded by the Annual Parish Assembly at 7.00 p.m.

96/2014-15

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Council RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the following item under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as it contained confidential information relating to property insurance matters.

97/2014-15

INSURANCE OF GARAGES

The council noted the report about insuring the garages and that the clerk would continue to work on this.

The meeting closed at 9.25pm.