Annual Parish Meeting Minutes 2 April 2008

 

WRITTLE  PARISH  COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

HELD ON WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2008

AT 8.00PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT:                    Mr C J Hibbitt (Chairman)

                                       Mr R J Bray (Vice Chairman)

                                       Mr J Drake                               Mrs P E Laflin

                                       Mr J K Menown                        Mrs E A Roe

                                       Mr S J Robinson                      Mr. P Storry

                                       Ms L Bowser                            Ms. M.Barratt

                                       Mrs A Robinson                        Mrs W Walker

IN ATTENDANCE:         Mr K Everett                             Clerk

                                         Mr J Gipson                             Essex Police

                                         Mr T DeVries                            Essex Police

                                         Mr B Cox                                  Essex Police                           

                                         55 members of public

APOLOGIES:                Mrs D H Candler                       Mrs C Knight

                                        Mr A F Sach

                                        Borough Councillor T Roper

                                        County Councillor J F Aldridge

 

The Chairman commenced the meeting by thanking Mr. David Woodyard for all his support that he had provided to the Writtle Parish during his role as Writtle Parish Clerk.

1.         MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 21 MARCH 2006

It was proposed by Mr. C J Hibbitt and seconded by Mr. R J Bray that the minutes be approved and signed.

  • 2. MATTERS ARISING
  • None
  • 3. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Mr C J Hibbitt highlighted two projects during the last year.

3.1        New Playing Field

The new playing fields are now in use. New Portacabin Changing Rooms have been sited and need connecting to the required services before they can be used.

  • 3.2 World Wide Scout Jamboree

Thanks to the youths attending the Jamboree for all their hard work in cleaning the village pond, painting of railings and laying of the car park in the sports field.

Mr. C J Hibbitt explained to the meeting the method of funding the Parish Council expenditure. £90,000 comes from the council rates, £80,000 from grants and donations and the remainder from incomes from savings interest and rent from allotments, playing fields and The Green.

 

  • 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee reports were included in the Writtle Flyer which had been distributed to every household in the Parish.

            4.1 Environment

            Two issues raised :

  • Notice at the pond to inform visitors about feeding the duck. Mrs. E A Roe informed the meeting that the committee was aware of the issue and was working on a solution.
  • Litter around the village. Mrs E A Roe said that this was a continuing problem even though we have paid for the services of Mr. Don Coster to clear the litter. The committee is always investigating ways of improving situation. Mrs. A Robinson explained that on the 15th June there is a day organised to clear litter within the Parish. Areas to be cleared to be decided, all volunteers are welcome.

 

  • 4.2 Development

Ms L Bowser explained that the Village Design Statement (VDS) was now 'carrying more weight' when considering the approval of planning application by the Chelmsford Borough Council.

  • 4.3 Playing Fields

Main development was the Paradise Road playing fields.

 

  • 5. COMMUNITY POLICING

Number of speed guns are being purchased for the use of the parishes around Highland Park - donation from Maztec. Speed gun training courses are held for between 6 to 14 people. Cost of the course is £250 and will be paid by the Parish Council, anyone interested in attending the training course please contact any Parish Councillor or the Parish Clerk. The speed guns will be used to collect information which highlights areas and times of excessive speeding and possibly used to send a warning letter to speeding motorists.

 

  • 6. ACCOUNTS.

Interim audited figures to 15 February 2007 were explained; also the non audited year end figures which showed the Parish council spent £202,700 with an income of £201,500.

 

  • 7. PARISH PLAN

Mr R Bray updated progress. Questionnaires have been issued to all residents of Writtle, completed questionnaires to be returned by the 12th April so that analysis of results can be started by Writtle College. AGM is set for the 13th June to discuss some of the results - all are welcome.

Businesses within Writtle have already completed their survey, results of the survey are only available in electronic form by e-mailing: ralph.bray@writtlefuture.org.uk - who will  e-mail a copy to whoever wants one. At present there is not a printed copy available for distribution. It will be entered on to the Parish Plan website which is: http://www.writtlefuture.org.uk/

 

  • 8. OPEN FORUM
  • Broken trees at Long Brandocks by the shops.

Mr J Drake said that work is in progress to replace these trees with more mature trees and some form of shielding to reduce the risk of the trees being broken again.

  • Youth Club attendance

 C J Hibbitt said that attendance of the youth club at the Scout Hut is very poor. Mr. R Bray said that the Primary school is setting up a youth club, so we need to review the situation once the Primary school youth club has been established.

 

 

 

 

Meeting closed at 9.25pm