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)

Brenda Smith (Village Agent) to min. no. 52

One member of the public (the site manager of the development at The Nest)

48/2013-14

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

49/2013-14

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Members APPROVED the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 September 2013 as a correct record.

50/2013-14

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST and REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

There were no declarations of interest nor requests for dispensations.

51/2013-14

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

The site manager of the development at The Nest outlined the programme of work and responded to members’ questions. He then left the meeting.

52/2013-14

REPORTS

Village Agent

B Smith had had no requests to contact Highwood residents. She reported on the knitting project for the hospital and then left the meeting.

Chelmsford City Council

City Cllr Chambers was unable to attend and had emailed her report

Essex County Council

No report.

Police

A crime report had been received by email.

Play Park

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

Village Hall

Cllr Pipkin reported that the village hall was still breaking even. The drive and car park required work on them which would be costly.

Public Rights of Way

D Taylor had emailed his report. He had specific concerns about lorries blocking Pools Lane Bridleway 25. City Cllr Chambers would be asked to follow this up.

53/2013-14

REPORT OF THE CLERK

The Council NOTED the Clerk’s report.

1          Purchase of land and buildings from CCC

            NOTED that CCC was in the process of transferring the ownership of the pumping station to Anglian Water, and the parish council’s solicitor had asked to see the terms of the transfer.

            ALSO that an extension of time for the borrowing approval had been granted to 31 October 2014.

2          The Nest

            The concerns about trees on the Nest had been put to the site manager during public question time earlier in the meeting.

3          Allotment rent, Radley Green

            NOTED that the rent of £70 had been received.

4          Local Highways Panel Schemes

            NOTED that the council’s three schemes have been re-submitted: traffic management in Loves Green and Edney Common, and a footway between St Paul’s Church and the Green Man.

5          Blocked water courses

            NOTED that the blocked water course at Church Farm had been reported.

54/2013-14

REQUEST FOR DOG BIN AND LITTER BIN IN WYSES ROAD

The possibility of placing a dog waste bin and a litter bin in Wyses Road was considered but it was felt that they were unlikely to be well-used, so no further action would be taken.

55/2013-14

FINANCE

55.1

55.2

55.3

Accounts for payment

The accounts for payment, cheques nos. 49 to 52 and online-banking, were APPROVED.

The account balances as at 4 November 2013 were NOTED.

Annual Return 2013

NOTED that the annual return had been approved by the external auditor without qualification, but with an advisory comment that the Financial Regulations should be updated in light of the council’s use of on-line banking, and that this should be addressed in a timely manner.

ALSO NOTED that the conclusion of the audit had been publicised as required by statute.

56/2013-14

HIGHWAY MATTERS REPORTED BY COUNCILLORS

i           Cllr Latham reported that the Speedwatch team would be out again soon.

ii           Cllr Horsnell was still concerned about overhanging vegetation in Ingatestone Road and blocked drains, and had also noticed missing road signs. Cllr Merriday had a form for reporting overgrown vegetation.

iii          The advisory sign “not suitable for heavy goods vehicles” at Wyses/Highwood Road junction is still awaited.

iv          Another pothole has opened up on the church corner.

57/2013-14

PARISH MAGAZINE

Following the decision made about the grant for the parish magazine at the July Council meeting, a motion to discuss the arrangements for funding the parish magazine, signed by councillors Cameron, Merriday and Pipkin, had been submitted in accordance with Standing Orders.

The Chairman reported that the church finances were in a poor state and a request had been made for the council to pay the magazine costs as they were incurred throughout the year.

All felt that the parish magazine was a valuable asset to the village.

After some discussion it was AGREED that a grant for the parish magazine would continue to be made, based on a grant application supported by full accounts of the magazine for the past year (January to December), up to a maximum of £1,750. However in future the grant would be paid in advance to enable the church to pay the bills throughout the year.

An application for the grant accompanied by the accounts for 2013 should be submitted to the meeting of the council in January 2014. As long as the council was happy to make the grant, an amount up to £1,750 would be paid for 2013. In addition, a grant of the same amount would be paid at the same time to cover 2014. Accounts for 2014 should be submitted with the grant application in January 2015, and all being well the council would make a grant in advance for 2015, based on the 2014 accounts, not exceeding £1,750.

The Clerk would write to the church treasurer to inform him of this arrangement.

NOTED and ACCEPTED that this would mean that in the financial year 2013/14 there would be two payments made for the magazine, which would reduce the council’s general reserves at 31 March 2014.

58/2013-14

DRAFT BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2014/15

The report on the draft budget was NOTED, including the uncertainty surrounding the possible payment of a Localising Council Tax Support grant from CCC.

It was AGREED that, as the loan to purchase property from CCC had not been drawn down during the year, the amount of £3,120 budgeted for interest would be transferred to an earmarked reserve to fund the purchase of play equipment for the new site.

Precept 2014/15 – it was AGREED that the council’s net requirement would stay the same i.e. £25,515. The precept would be this amount less the LCTS grant from CCC.

It was possible that this decision might need to be re-visited in January 2014 depending on the outcome of the grant and other calculations by CCC.

59/2013-14

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE, and DISTRIBUTION BAG

None.

60/2013-14

DOCUMENTS ON DEPOSIT

None.

61/2013-14

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

61.1

Parish Council Decisions

There had been no comments made by the parish council between meetings.

61.2

To consider the following planning applications

There were no planning applications to consider.

61.3

Other planning applications received since the agenda was prepared

App. no.

13/02082/NAMPRO (Street naming and numbering)

Location

Barn conversion at Jordan’s Farm, Nathan’s Lane

Proposal

Name: Cowells Court

Comment

No objection

61.4

Decisions by Chelmsford City Council

The following planning decisions by Chelmsford City Council were NOTED.

GRANTED

App. no.

13/00881/FUL

Location

Riding Stables, Barrow Farm, Blackmore Road

Proposal

Demolition of 4 existing concrete stables and construction of 4 new wooden stables

App. no.

13/01075/FUL

Location

Budds Farmhouse, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Demolition of existing dwelling and replacement house with new dwelling

REFUSED

App. no.

13/01160/FUL

Location

Richmond Cottage, Loves Green

Proposal

Dropped kerb and new access

61.5

PLANNING CORRESPONDENCE

None.

62/2013-14

OTHER URGENT BUSINESS – for information only

None.

63/2013-14

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

7.30 p.m. Wednesday 8 January 2014

The Council considered the request from the Ladies Club that the council should meet in the Village Hall foyer for this meeting so the club could use the main hall, but DECIDED that it was best to stick to using the main hall for the council meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.