Minutes 17 Dec 07
Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 December 2007 at the Church Room, Chapel Cut, Mistley at 7.30pm.
Present: - Cllrs Rose (Chair), Forrester, Peacock, Rayner and Thompson
R Ling (Clerk to the Council)
2 Officers from the Police
Representative from Harwich and Manningtree Standard
7 Members of the Public
Apologies Cllrs G Carter, J Carter, Fairhall, French, Horlock and Worsley. District Cllrs Dew and Guglielmi
107.07 Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Rose, Forrester and Rayner declared a prejudicial interest in item 6c of the agenda but, as there was no discussion on the item, remained at the meeting but took no part in voting thereon.
108.07 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13th November 2007 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Proposed Cllr Rayner
109.07 Public Voice
The meeting was adjourned between 7.36 p.m. and 7.46 p.m. to allow members of the public to speak. Matters raised were (1) Police report, (2) proposed waiting restrictions Chapel Cut/Harwich Road and (3) footpath between the Church and the Church Hall, New Road.
110.07 Action on matters raised under Public Voice
Under (2) the Clerk reported that the Council had supported the waiting restrictions at the junction of Chapel Cut and Harwich Road. He also confirmed that there was no truth in a rumour that restrictions were proposed for the west end of Chapel Cut. Under (3) the Clerk would again contact ECC regarding the inadequate state of this footpath.
111.07 Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes
a. Affordable Housing The Clerk reported that the results of the survey carried
out by the Rural Community Council of Essex would be known at the next
meeting in January. He also reported that a similar, sample, survey was
currently being carried out by TDC.
b. Feeding of birds along The Walls. The Clerk reported that TDC were
arranging a meeting in the new year to try to resolve the problems caused by
the number of Canada geese attracted to the greensward along The Walls by
the practice of Swanwatch in persisting to feed birds against the advice of
the R.S.P.B. and other environmental organizations.
c. Skate Board Site The Clerk presented a report from District Councillor Dew
stating that sufficient grants had been obtained to purchase the existing unit
and to carry out any necessary permanent work. Lawford and Manningtree
Councils had agreed to contribute towards any future maintenance costs.
This was noted.
d. Village Hall Cllr Peacock reported that the Hall Committee were obtaining
quotations for improvements to the Hall and was organising a meeting of
interested parties as soon as possible in the new year.
112.07 Finance
a. The following direct debits and standing orders were noted:
£653.00 (salaries) £101.39 (photocopies – 2007)
b. The Clerk reported on the revised National agreement on Clerk’s salaries
which increased his hourly rate from £11.59 to £11.87 per hour backdated
to 1st April 2007. Rather than altering the existing standing order before 1st
April 2008 it was agreed to pay the difference in one lump sum covering
2007/08 amounting to £192.00
Proposed Cllr Rayner
c. A request from the Mistley to Harwich Rail partnership for a grant towards
enhancing the appearance of Mistley Station was considered. It was agreed
to make a grant of £50 towards the cost of maintaining the flower beds
Proposed Cllr Thompson
d. The following payments were approved:-
I Rose £67.70 Rail Partnership £50.00
R Ling 269.40 G Clarke £252.60
B Forrester £118.40 S.L.G. Clerks £102.00
M Rayner £30.00 Manningtree Museum £50.00
Manningtree T.C. £600.00 CAB £200.00
Community Bus £200.00
Proposed Cllr Peacock.
e. A date for the Finance Committee was confirmed for 4th January 2008 at
Yaffles, School Lane commencing at 7.30 p.m. In accordance with the
Council’s agreed policy on calculating the precept this was approved at
£53000 for 2008/09.
Proposed Cllr Rose
113.07 Planning
a. Recent planning decisions made by TDC since the last meeting were noted
and comments made on new applications.
b. District Local Plan. The Clerk had circulated the chapter relating to Mistley,
Manningtree and Lawford and the whole document was available from him. c. The Clerk had received a document entitled “A Sustainable Strategy for
Tendring” which was available from him.
114.07 Correspondence
Recent correspondence was reported by the Clerk and is available from him.
Decisions made were (1) to book a Councillors training day at the E.A.L.C. for Cllrs Rayner and Thompson on 24th January at a cost of £50 per delegate
(2) Lawford Parish Council be supported in its efforts to improve the width of the road under the Manningtree Railway bridge and (3) a request for a bus stop along The Walls, opposite Kiln Lane be supported.
