Present:

Cllr David Cameron (in the Chair)

Councillors

Glenn Dobson

Trevor Horsnell

Peter Latham

Dot Merriday

Anthony Pipkin

Zoë Cain-Tyler

In attendance

Louise Fuller (Clerk)

Cty Cllr John Aldridge (to min. no. 84)

Brenda Smith (Village Agent) (to min. no. 84)

One member of the public

80/2013-14

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

81/2013-14

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Members APPROVED the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8 January 2014 as a correct record.

82/2013-14

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST and REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

There were no declarations of interest nor requests for dispensations.

83/2013-14

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None.

84/2013-14

REPORTS

Chelmsford City Council

City Cllr Chambers was unable to attend due to a meeting elsewhere.

Essex County Council

Cty Cllr Aldridge spoke about the council tax, the Care Bill and the Tour de France.

Village Agent

B Smith reported that contacts from Highwood were increasing.

Cty Cllr Aldridge and the Village Agent left the meeting.

Police

No report.

Play Park

Cllr Cameron reported that all was well with the play park.

Village Hall

Cllr Pipkin had little to report, other than the village hall’s finances were broadly in balance.

Public Rights of Way

D Taylor had emailed his report, which was noted..

85/2013-14

REPORT OF THE CLERK

The Council NOTED the Clerk’s report.

1          Purchase of land and buildings from CCC

            NOTED that it had been confirmed that the planning permission for use of the grass area had been activated and there was no need to submit another application.

2          “Love Where You Live” Parish Cleansing Days 2014

            It was AGREED to ask for hedges on Wyses Road to be cut back under the parish cleansing days scheme.

3          Annual Parish Assembly

            The council noted the arrangements for the Annual Parish Assembly on 14 May 2014.

86/2013-14

LAW AND PROCEDURES COURSE

Cllr Dobson reported on his attendance on the course, and highlighted Quality Council status and the General Power of Competence as possible areas the council might like to consider pursuing in future.

His attendance on the course was APPROVED retrospectively.

Cllr Tyler requested to attend the Code of Conduct course on 20 March and Cllr Cameron to attend the Social Media course on 12 May; these were APPROVED.

87/2013-14

FINANCE

87.1

87.2

87.3

Accounts for payment

The accounts for payment, cheque nos. 56 & 57, and online banking payments, were APPROVED.

The account balances as at 10 March 2014 were NOTED.

Internal audit

It was AGREED to re-appoint Mrs N Powell-Davies as the internal auditor for the financial year 2013/14.

88/2013-14

HIGHWAY MATTERS REPORTED BY COUNCILLORS

i           Cllr Latham reported that Speedwatch had been out for two hours the previous week; there had been approximately 150 cars, many doing over the speed limit. In respect of a possible 20mph speed limit outside the school, he was waiting for a letter of support from the school before progressing this.

ii           There was dismay in the council at the state of the highways..

89/2013-14

STANDING ORDERS AND FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

The council NOTED the report proposing amendments to the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations to make allowance for the current banking arrangements. In accordance with the Standing Orders, the proposals stood adjourned without discussion to the next meeting.

90/2013-14

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE, and DISTRIBUTION BAG

The members RECEIVED the correspondence and communications placed before them.

The council had no comment to make on Chelmsford City Council’s Street Trading Consultation.

91/2013-14

DOCUMENTS ON DEPOSIT

None.

92/2013-14

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

92.1

Parish Council Decisions

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

App. no.

13/01856/FUL

Location

Land at Oak Tree Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Demolition of existing dwelling & outbuilding & construction of replacement dwelling

Comment

No objection as the building is in keeping and the land size can accommodate the build, but given that there will be a considerable amount of spoil arising from excavation of the basement, the council would like to see the removal proposal.

App. no.

14/00034/FUL

Location

Nortons, Radley Green

Proposal

Raising of roof, two storey rear extension, entrance porch and alterations to fenestration

Comment

No objection

App. no.

14/05016/TPO

Location

Land at the Nest, Highwood Road

Proposal

T9 – weeping willow – frontage of The Nest – storm damaged in the October gales – remove and replace; G4 – Lombardy poplar – frontage of The Nest – remove and replace

Comment

Object to removal of the willow without an expert report that it is necessary

App. no.

14/00079/FUL & 14/00080/LBC

Location

Armswick Farm, Cooksmill Green, Roxwell

Proposal

First floor extension. New dual pitched roof over existing flat roof. Alterations to fenestration including a new glazed door and 4 replacement windows

Comment

The council did not comment on these applications

App. no.

14/00202/CLEUD

Location

Old Barns, Chelmsford Road

Proposal

Construction of a car port

Comment

No comment

92.2

To consider the following planning applications

None.

92.3

Other planning applications received since the agenda was prepared

App. no.

14/00346/FUL

Location

Yew Lodge House, Loves Green

Proposal

Single storey front porch extension with first floor front and side extension. Demolition of existing garage & construction of replacement garage extension to the front/side of the property.

As this application had only just been received it was agreed to exchange comments by email to allow time to view the application.

92.4

Decisions by Chelmsford City Council

The following planning decisions by Chelmsford City Council were NOTED.

GRANTED

App. no.

13/01387/CLEUD

Location

The Woodyard, Metsons Lane

Proposal

Storage retail and wholesale trade of timber and timber goods, office portacabin and storage sheds

App. no.

13/01732/FUL

Location

Eton Lodge, Loves Green

Proposal

Raising part of roof to create first floor habitable accommodation with rear balcony. Pitched roofs to replace existing roofs on both side elements. Alterations to fenestration.

App. no.

13/01856/FUL

Location

Land at Oak Tree Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Demolition of existing dwelling & outbuilding & construction of replacement dwelling

App. no.

14/00034/FUL

Location

Nortons, Radley Green

Proposal

Raising of roof, two storey rear extension, entrance porch and alterations to fenestration

WITHDRAWN

App. no.

13/01781/CLEUD

Location

Old Barns, Chelmsford Road

Proposal

Construction of a car port

App. no.

12/00336/CLEUD

Location

Oak Lodge, Loves Green

Proposal

Use of land for the storage of containers

92.5

Planning correspondence

The council NOTED the information from CCC about the approval of the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule.

92.6

Parish council comments on planning applications

The council considered a proposal that it should not continue to comment on planning applications but DECIDED that it would continue to submit comments.

93/2013-14

OTHER URGENT BUSINESS – for information only

None.

94/2013-14

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Annual Meeting of the Council would be at 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 14 May 2014, preceded by the Annual Parish Assembly at 7.00pm.

The meeting closed at 9pm.