Present:

Cllr David Cameron (in the Chair)

Councillors

Lyn Cook

John Heginbotham

Trevor Horsnell

Peter Latham

Dot Merriday

Anthony Pipkin

In attendance

Louise Fuller (Clerk)

Cty Cllr John Aldridge to min. no. 78

Brenda Smith (Village Agent) to min. no. 78

City Cllr Nicolette Chambers from min. no. 79 to 80

74/2012-13

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

75/2012-13

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Members APPROVED the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14 November 2012 as a correct record.

76/2012-13

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST and REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

There were no declarations of interest.

General Dispensations

It was RESOLVED that the following general dispensations would be granted:

1          Payments

            Where the matter relates to an allowance, payment or indemnity given to all councillors, including payments of expenses and Chairman’s allowance.

2          Precept

            Where the matter relates to the setting of the council’s precept.

3          These general dispensations to last until the annual meeting of the council following the next ordinary elections.

77/2012-13

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None.

78/2012-13

REPORTS

Essex County Council

Cty Cllr Aldridge reported on ECC budgets, which would hopefully lead to no increase in council tax, but warned that cuts in future years may have more obvious effects. He then left the meeting to go to another elsewhere.

Village Agent

B Smith reported that she continued to attend the Catch-Up Café. She was helping a resident in Highwood. The knitted items for babies had been very well received.

She then left the meeting to go to another elsewhere.

Play Park

Cllr Cook had nothing to report on the play park.

Village Hall

Cllr Pipkin reported that a new ventilation system had been installed, for which users would be required to pay an hourly fee.

Parish Magazine

Cllr Heginbotham reported that the cost of advertising had been increased but led to no losses in advertisers.

Footpaths

D Taylor’s emailed report was noted.

Police

No report.

79/2012-13

REPORT OF THE CLERK

The Council NOTED the Clerk’s report.

1          Jubilee mugs

            The chairman had given out all the Jubilee mugs to those who had requested them. Any remaining could be donated for use at the Village Hall.

2          Borrowing approval

            Noted that approval had been granted to borrow £15,000. It will be helpful to obtain information about grants available for play equipment and quotes from suppliers, when the council is ready to proceed.

3          Purchase of land and buildings from CCC

            The clerk had reverted to CCC about the clauses in the transfer which the parish council contested, but no response had been received yet.

4          Section 106 contribution

            The legal agreement for the transfer of planning contribution of £1,250.80 from CCC to the parish council in respect of land north west of Briggs Farm Cottages had been received. It was RESOLVED to sign and seal the legal agreement.

5          Allotment site, Radley Green

            The clerk had written an article in the parish magazine inviting expressions of interest in taking plots on an allotment site at Radley Green but received no responses as yet.

            The matter would be discussed further at the next meeting.

City Cllr N Chambers joined the meeting.

6           Affordable Housing

             The clerk had forwarded an email following the discussions with the Rural Community Council about the need for affordable housing in Highwood. The council was dismayed that the location which, on the site visits, had been identified as most favoured, i.e. the play area opposite the Green Man, was not even mentioned in the architects’ report.

             The council confirmed that even with the provision of four affordable properties as part of the Nest development, there was still a need for more affordable housing in Highwood.

80/2012-13

REPORTS continued

Chelmsford City Council

City Cllr N Chambers reported on planning developments in the city centre, and the consultation on the future of the Shire Hall. She answered a question about traffic issues in relation to the city centre developments. She had visited the site of the Nest but there had been no further activity. She agreed to obtain a view from the planning officers about possible development for affordable housing on the play area site opposite the Green Man.

She then left the meeting to attend another elsewhere.

81/2012-13

REST CENTRE TRAINING

Cllr Latham reported on the Rest Centre Training he had attended.

It was AGREED that the Village Hall would probably be better as a rest centre than the school, and a formal approach would be made to the Management Committee to request this.

It was also AGREED that the named contacts for CCC Emergency Planning would be Cllrs Cameron, Pipkin and Latham, although all councillors could be contacted if necessary.

82/2012-13

PROPOSED LITTER PICK

It was agreed that a litter pick in spring would be desirable. A volunteer co-ordinator was required. Cllr Latham would ask at Catch-Up Café if anyone would take on the task.

83/2012-13

FINANCE

83.1

83.2

Accounts for payment

The accounts for payment, cheques nos. 38-39, and online-banking, were APPROVED.

The account balances as at 6 January 2013 were NOTED.

84/2012-13

PRECEPT 2013-14

The council noted the report and accompanying figures on the budget and precept for 2013/14. The difficulties in setting the precept arising from the government’s change in the method of calculating the tax base and the lack of timely information about the possible grant to mitigate the effect of the reduction in the tax base were also noted.

The new prices for open space maintenance were AGREED. It was also AGREED that the clerk’s tax-free office allowance would be increased to £4 per week from 1 April 2013.

The council RESOLVED that its net requirement for 2013/14 would be £25,515. The actual amount of the precept would be this figure less any grant to be made by CCC.

85/2012-13

HIGHWAY MATTERS REPORTED BY COUNCILLORS

1          Speedwatch

            Cllr Latham would write an article for the parish magazine to recruit volunteers. The clerk would enquire as to the cost of a Speed Indicator Device (SID) and whether one would be permitted.

2          Highways issues

            Cllr Horsnell reported blocked drains and hedging over the footpath.

3          Cycle races and time trials

            Cllr Horsnell enquired whether it was legal to hold cycle races and time trials on public roads, as was often encountered around Highwood. Cllr Latham would ask the PCSO.

86/2012-13

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE, and DISTRIBUTION BAG

Noted.

87/2012-13

DOCUMENTS ON DEPOSIT

None.

88/2012-13

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

88.1

Parish Council Decisions

The following comments made by the parish council were NOTED.

App. no.

12/01679/FUL

Location

Awes Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Conversion of barn to 4 bed dwelling

Comment

No objection

App. no.

12/01708/FUL

Location

Schoolfield Cottage, Radley Green Road

Proposal

Single storey side extension and alterations to first floor side fenestration

Comment

No objection

App. no.

12/01794/FUL

Location

Oak Tree Cottage, Nathans Lane

Proposal

Construct new conservatory to the rear of the property

Comment

No objection as the size and position of the conservatory have no adverse impact.

88.2

The following planning application was considered:

App. no.

12/01861/FUL

Location

Hunters Lodge, Chelmsford Road, Blackmore

Proposal

Orangery to the rear of the existing property

Comments

Objection as the proposal constitutes overdevelopment of the site. The proposed orangery is far too large in relation to the existing building.

88.3

Decisions by Chelmsford Borough Council

The following planning decisions by Chelmsford Borough Council were NOTED.

GRANTED

App. no.

12/01495/FUL

Location

1 Gorrells Cottages, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

New detached garage with dormer window and external staircase

App. no.

12/01523/OUT

Location

Land at Oak Tree Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Demolition of existing bungalow and construction of new 3-bed bungalow (all matters reserved)

App. no.

12/01534/FUL

Location

Bleak House, Highwood Road

Proposal

New dwelling house

88.4

PLANNING CORRESPONDENCE

The council had no comment on the CCC consultation on Core Strategy and Development Control Polices DPD.

89/2012-13

OTHER URGENT BUSINESS – for information only

None.

90/2012-13

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

7.30 p.m. Wednesday 13 March 2013

The meeting closed at 9.45 p.m.