What the council does for you: annual report 2006
Ever wondered what your parish council actually does? Is it responsible for footpaths and roads? For trees? What can it do about anti-social behaviour? Our Annual Report for 2006/2007 summarises the parish council's responsibilities, and its position on everything from swan feeding to planning. It tells you how it spends its money and what its priorities are.
1. MEMBERSHIP
The Council has eleven Members elected for a four year period. The next election is on the 3rd May 2007. Following the unfortunate death of Cllr Ron Hockley, a long standing Member of the Council, Kate Worsley was co-opted onto the Council to fill the vacancy during the year. Cllr Potter and Cllr Smith are not standing for re-election and thanks are due to them for their contribution to the work of the Council over many years.
Councillors have attended training courses throughout the year to keep them updated on changing regulations and procedures
2. FINANCE
The Council’s precept for the year was £46000 which represents a Council tax for a Band D property of £53.39 per property. This was an increase of about £8.00 per property over the previous year cause by the decision to contribute towards the cost of Police Community Support Officers (see later in this report). The precept for the coming year has been increased to £51544 but, due to the increase in the number of properties in the Parish, this represents no increase in the amount per property.
At the beginning of the year the Council’s reserves stood at £20273.24 and at the end of the year stood at £27150.70, the increase being largely due to commitments entered into during the year but not yet invoiced. For example the energy used for our street lights amounting to nearly £4000 has not yet been billed.
The reserve is made up of General Reserve £14200.10, Village Hall Reserve £9361.88 and Clerk’s Superannuating Fund of £3588.72. These last two items have been “ring fenced” and can be used for no other purpose.
Total income for the year was £80895.94 and total expenditure £74018.48
The Council’s accounts are checked by an Internal Auditor at quarterly intervals and are subject to an annual audit by External Auditors and a summary of Receipts and Payments is attached to this report.
3. Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
Following a referendum in 2005/06 held in Mistley, Manningtree and Lawford to ascertain the support for the three Council’s contributing towards the cost of PCSOs, the result of which was overwhelming support, the decision was taken to employ two PCSOs who are dedicated to work only within the three parishes. The total cost during the year was £28618 of which Mistley’s share was £9368. Following their employment all reports from the public appear to be favourable and bi-monthly meetings are held with the Police to discuss problems and future assignments.
4. OTHER MAJOR EXPENDITURE
4a. Street Lights
The Council owns and maintains 107 street lights throughout the parish of which three have been replaced during the year. A total of £4867 has been spent during the year on repairs, maintenance and renewals. This excludes the cost of energy still to be invoiced.
4b. RECREATION GROUNDS AND OPEN SPACES.
The Council owns and maintains Furze Hill Recreation Ground which includes a Village Hall, children’s play area, three sports pitches and a large wood containing many ancient trees. The total area of the Recreation Ground is about 50 acres. The total cost of maintaining the facilities (excluding the Village Hall which is maintained by a Management Committee) was £5940.11. In addition to the Recreation Ground the Council maintains three areas of common land and cuts highway grass on behalf of the County Council. The cost of grass cutting was £5915.00.
During the year Mr John Dent has been appointed Warden to oversee the Recreation Ground and to act as the Council’s handy man. Part of his duties is to regular check the safety of the children’s play equipment.
The ancient wall forming one boundary of The Green is in need of repair and £3000 of the reserves has been earmarked for this works but further funding in the form of grants will be required.
Litter and dog fouling on our open spaces continues to be a problem and any one witnessing an offence can report it to Tendring District Council on 01255 686388 who will take action against offenders. There is now no need to have two witnesses to an offence
4c. Employment of Clerk to the Council
The Clerk to the Council is employed under the terms of the national agreement drawn up by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. He is paid for 13 hours per week and his salary plus expenses during the year amounted to £8066.25
4d. ADMINISTRATION
The cost of administration including insurance, audit fees, stationery, training fees,hire of premises etc, but excluding salaries and expenses, amounted to £9274.43
4e. Grants and Subscriptions
The following grants and subscriptions were made during the year:-
Maintenance of Church burial ground £800.00
Autumn Days Club £50.00
Essex Playing Fields Association £25.00
Essex Association of Local Councils £401.74
Methodist Church £500.00
Prostrate Cancer research £50.00
St Helena Hospice £250.00
Essex Rail Partnership £50.00
Rural Community Council £50.00
Skate board site £280.00
Open Space Society £30.00
Royal British Legion £50.00
Tendring Association of Local Councils £15.00
Society of Local Council Clerks £95.00
Essex Wildlife Trust £35.00
Citizens Advice Bureau £350.00
Community Bus £400.00
Council for the Protection of Rural Essex £27.00
Total £3458.74
In addition grass cutting of the Welcome Home Field, costing about £500, was carried out in lieu of giving the Trustees a grant.
5. OTHER FACILITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL
5a. PLANNING
Every Planning Application received for development within the Parish is considered by the Planning Committee and its views made known to Tendring District Council.
Of major concern during the year have been the proposed redevelopment of the Edme Site, the proposals for a Commercial Estate at Horsley Cross, retaining public access to Mistley Quay and commenting on Tendring Council’s draft Local Plan.
5b. CEMETERY
The Council owns and maintains, in co-operation with Manningtree Town Council, a public Cemetery. This facility is becoming increasingly used now that the adjacent Church burial ground is nearing capacity.
5c. ROADS AND FOOTPATHS.
The Council regularly contacts Essex County Council on the need to maintain, improve and repair public highways. Of continuing concern is the inadequate footpath in New Road from the Church to the Church but our representations have fallen on deaf ears so far. Extensions to various waiting restrictions have also been agreed to reduce dangerous parking and should be implemented this year.
Restricted access signs for Shrubland Road, Green Lane and Church Lane are being prepared which, it is hoped, will ensure that these roads will only be used by vehicle owners needing access to properties. The roads will remain public footpaths.
Two footpaths have been named (1) Mistley Place Walk, from The Walls to New Road and (2) Eileen Jackson Path, from the Church to The Green. This footpath has recently been upgraded with rolled hardcore.
Thanks are due to our footpath representative, Mr David Nicholls who regularly walks all the public footpaths and reports any defects to the Council.
5d. VILLAGE HALL
The Council owns the Hall but its maintenance and operation is the responsibility of a Management Committee to whom thanks are due. The Committee are now in the process of drawing up plans for an extension to the south to improve storage facilities and for renovating the kitchen and toilets. The Council is building up a reserve to contribute towards the cost of the work. This fund at present stands at £9361.88 to which a further £5000 will be added this year. Re-cycling containers have been provided on the Hall car park and we would encourage their use to enable them to remain viable
5e. TREES
Many trees are situated on Council owned land and some of them are very ancient. Thanks are due to our tree Warden, Mrs Sue Bamber, for her regular inspections and reports. Some trees have recently been crown lifted where necessary to allow safe passage and grass cutting.
6. SWANS AND GEESE
One regular matter which has been debated at many meetings is the feeding of swans and geese along The Walls. Our herd of swans is now over 200 which we are delighted to see, but overfeeding, against the advice of English Nature and the RSPB, has attracted over 300 Canada geese which are destroying the greensward and becoming a danger to traffic and health. If the birds are to be fed at all the Council would like to see this take place only from the Quay.
7. RECENT LEGISLATION
7a. Health and Safety
Having only one employee, the Council is not legally required to have a written Health and Safety Policy. However, following advice from the external Auditors, a Policy together with risk assessments is in the process of being produced.
7b. Access to information
Copies of all correspondence to and from the Council kept by the Clerk are available from him, as are all accounts, vouchers, invoices, agendas and minutes.
Ian C Rose - Chairman of the Council
Richard J L Ling - Clerk to the Council
1st April 2007
