Present:

Cllr David Cameron (in the Chair)

Councillors

Trevor Horsnell

Peter Latham

Dot Merriday

Anthony Pipkin

In attendance

Louise Fuller (Clerk)

Cty Cllr John Aldridge (to min. no. 24)

David Taylor, PROW officer (to min. no. 24)

20/2014-15

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None.

21/2014-15

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Members APPROVED the minutes of the annual meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2014 as a correct record.

22/2014-15

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST and REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

There were no declarations of interest nor requests for dispensations.

23/2014-15

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None.

24/2014-15

REPORTS

Chelmsford City Council

City Cllr Chambers had emailed her report as she was unable to attend.

Essex County Council

Cty Cllr Aldridge reported on ECC’s adoption of the Inspector’s plan for Roxwell pit; government money for repairs to potholes, kerbs and pavements; and ECC’s campaign for improvements to the A12. He was asked about ECC’s inaction over vegetation overhanging highways and cycle races on public highways.

He then left the meeting.

Police

No report.

Village Agent

The village agent had sent her apologies.

Play Park

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

Village Hall

Nothing to report.

Public Rights of Way

D Taylor asked about progress with the problems on Pools Lane. Its ownership was unclear. It was agreed to forward D Taylor’s report on Pools Lane to ECC Highways department, and copy it to the local MP, City and County councillors.

D Taylor left the meeting.

25/2014-15

REPORT OF THE CLERK

The Council NOTED the Clerk’s report.

1          Purchase of land and buildings from CCC

            Nothing further to report.

2          Resignation of Cllr Cain-Tyler

            Noted that Cllr Cain-Tyler had resigned and that after posting of the statutory notice, no by-election had been demanded.

3          Play Area Inspection Report (Edney Common)

            The annual inspection report was noted. The check list for the regular inspections was also noted; Cllr Cameron confirmed he checked the playground monthly and this information would be given to the insurance company. A method of retaining the reports needed to be set up.

4          Emergency Plan

            The council considered the template for the emergency plan but had some difficulty in completing the information. Cllrs Cameron and Latham agreed to attend the Community Resilience workshop on 22 July and it was hoped this would assist in completing the plan.

5          Asset Register – water boiler

            Noted that the water boiler had been donated to the village hall and would be removed from the council’s assets register.

6          Annual Parish Assembly

            Noted that there were no matters requiring attention arising from the Annual Parish Assembly.

7          Verge adoption, St Paul’s church to bus stop

            Noted that no response has been received from ECC to the request to adopt the verge. It was agreed to take no further action on possibly applying for funding from the Community Initiatives scheme until the outcome of the request was known.

8          Winter Salt Bag Partnership Scheme

            Agreed to participate in the winter salt bag scheme again in 2014/15. More salt would be requested and stored at Cllr Horsnell’s farm.

9          New Financial Regulations briefing

            Agreed that the clerk could attend this briefing with a course fee of £45.

26/2014-15

CO-OPTION

The council considered the application from Ms Julia Griffin for co-option on to the council and agreed to co-opt her as a parish councillor.

As there was still a vacancy on the council, it was agreed to advertise again in the parish magazine.

27/2014-15

FINANCE

27.1

27.2

Accounts for payment

The accounts for payment, cheques nos. 59 & 60 and online-banking, were APPROVED.

The account balances as at 7 July 2014 were NOTED.

27.3

Petty cash

Noted that the remaining petty cash had been spent and the petty cash account would not be reinstated unless circumstances required it.

28/2014-15

HIGHWAY MATTERS REPORTED BY COUNCILLORS

1          Speeding Traffic

            Speedwatch showed 10-16% of motorists were speeding. The police would be coming to the village shortly to carry out speeding checks.

2          Cycle races and overhanging vegetation

            Covered earlier in the meeting.

3          Delivery lorries unloading on the road outside the Nest

            The Site Supervisor had requested the lorries not to do this, to no avail. The situation should improve now the access road had been built.

29/2014-15

COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE, and DISTRIBUTION BAG

The members RECEIVED the correspondence and communications placed before them.

30/2014-15

DOCUMENTS ON DEPOSIT

None.

31/2014-15

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

31.1

Parish Council Decisions

The following comments made by the parish council between meetings were NOTED.

App. no.

14/00756/FUL

Location

Phillips Farm, Highwood Road

Proposal

Extensions to existing house, conversion of pool room/annex and extensions to form new dwelling, conversion of redundant barn & extensions to form dwelling. Alterations to fenestration.

Comments

No objection

App. no.

17/00763/FUL

Location

Containers rear of Oak Lodge, Loves Green

Proposal

Retrospective application for new gates and railings to the site entrance with an overall height of 2.35m

Comments

The council objects to this application as the property is a private house and the height of fence in the application is considered inappropriate.

App. no.

14/00806/FUL

Location

Fidlers Moat, Loves Green

Proposal

Ancillary building, stables and the conversion of garage roof space including two dormers and an external staircase & door

Comment

No objection

App. no.

14/00937/FUL

Location

Hollowdene, Cock Lane

Proposal

Enlargement of existing porch and roof-space accommodation with insertion of front & side dormer windows & rear dormer window with Juliette balcony & internal alterations.

Comment

No objection

App. no.

14/00999/CLEUD

Location

Oak Lodge, Loves Green

Proposal

Storage containers (30 no.) for rental and service yard

Comment

The parish council objects to this application and disputes that the premises have been in use for the stated purpose for a period exceeding ten years. The original owner of the property died several years ago. His widow continued to occupy the property, alone, until her death about three years ago but was not carrying on the business at the premises during this time. The son of the family was living abroad and returned after his mother died. The property was subsequently sold and there was no evidence at the time of sale that it was being used for any commercial business. If a business was being run then presumably annual accounts would be available to view. CCC is also requested to check with the council tax/business rates department to establish whether domestic council tax or business rates were being paid on the property.

31.2

To consider the following planning application

None

31.3

Other planning applications received since the agenda was prepared

None

31.4

Decisions by Chelmsford City Council

The following planning decisions by Chelmsford City Council were NOTED.

GRANTED

App. no.

14/00458/FUL

Location

Land At Oak Tree Farm, Ingatestone Road

Proposal

Amendment to planning permission ref 13/01856/FUL (Demolition of existing dwelling and outbuildings and construction of replacement dwelling.) to; 1. Insert velux windows to front, side & rear; 2. Change the roof pitch & increase maximum ridge height to 6m; 3. Change the rear hipped end to a gable end; 4. Alterations to fenestration; 5. Move the position of the proposed dwelling

App. no.

14/00385/FUL

Location

Church Farm, Highwood Road, Edney Common

Proposal

Demolition of the existing residential and agricultural building on site and construction of a new building comprising a 4 bedroom residential unit and agricultural storage and office space.

App. no.

14/00528/FUL

Location

Cowells Court, Nathans Lane

Proposal

Amendment to planning permission ref: 10/00638/FUL (Conversion of existing barns into a single dwelling with detached garage and landscaping) to move the garage & increase its size. Include a front porch. Alterations to fenestration.

App. no.

14/00327/FUL

Location

Glengarry, Highwood Road, Edney Common

Proposal

Proposed wetland providing storage for surface water attenuation system serving adjacent residential development. Installation of new fencing with a maximum height of 1.8m

App. no.

14/00756/FUL

Location

Phillips Farm, Highwood Road

Proposal

Extensions to existing house, conversion of pool room/annex and extensions to form new dwelling, conversion of redundant barn & extensions to form dwelling. Alterations to fenestration.

31.5

PLANNING CORRESPONDENCE

None

31.6

PLANNING WORKING GROUP

No further action at present.

32/2014-15

OTHER URGENT BUSINESS – for information only

None.

33/2014-15

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

7.30 p.m. Wednesday 10 September 2014

The meeting closed at 9pm.