GREAT WAKERING PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 4th November, 2015, in the Parish Council Offices, Little Wakering Hall Lane, Great Wakering, SS3 0HH, commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Present: - Councillors L. Blunden, V. Brandon, D. Efde (Vice Chair), N. Hookway, T. Hughes, L. Rodger, M. Sawyer, L. Street (Chair) and B. Wilkins.

In attendance: - S. Hyatt (Parish Clerk)

1. The Chairman to declare the meeting open. The Chairman declared the meeting open at 7.30pm.

2. To receive apologies for absence. Apologies received and accepted from Councillors Loding (business commitment), Wheeler (medical) and White (family commitment).

3. To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and with Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Declarations of interest were received from Councillor Street – allotment holder. Councillor Sawyer – Memorial Hall Secretary. Councillor Rodger - candidate one, item 10.

4. Financial Matters. a. Proposed Payment Schedules for September 2015 be approved. Carried. b. Proposed Receipt Schedules for September 2015 be approved. Carried. c. Proposed Financial Statement for the six months to 30th September 2015 be approved. Carried.

5. To receive the Chairman’s report.  Upcoming Remembrance Day services, Licensing Service for Reverend Kim Lepley and Local Community Meeting.  Attended Chair of RDC’s Thanksgiving Service and Rochford Hundred meeting.  Parish Council Committee update and expected New Ranges visit.  Improvements to Mercer Avenue, North Street and future projects.  Thanks to Clerk and her assistant.

6. To receive reports from the County Councillor and the District Councillors on County and District matters. County & District Councillor Seagers:  Parish representation re Development Committee motion on notice.

District Councillor Wilkins:  Changes to RDC Development Committee.  Bell House incident.  Works to Old Hall Court.

1 District Councillor Hookway:  Development Committee motion on notice.  Devolution

7. To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on 23rd September 2015. Resolved that the minutes be accepted

8. Councillor Wilkins proposal to provide an update on the lantern competition arrangements. Thanks to Nick from the Post Office for selling tealights at no commission, to Co-op for providing cakes, biscuits, squash, milk, tea and coffee, to Tesco for reducing cost of mince pies. Route walked and checked. Entry forms available online and at school and library. Query re entry forms and Clerk replied it was to enable her to gauge numbers attending.

9. To decide upon the proposal from Councillor Street to make an application to the Local Highway Panel to construct new concrete hardstandings to compliment those already in place at Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering. Petition to get works done had been signed by residents of the road 2 years ago. Problems caused by lack of access for emergency vehicles. Advice on completing the LHP form offered by Councillor Seagers but noted financial pressures on LHP budget as similar schemes had been requested in District. Resolved that the Clerk submit LHP scheme request form to ECC in order for the application to progress.

10.To decide upon the winner of the Villager of the Year competition and the prize to be awarded. Due to lack of response many felt this competition had had its day. Resolved that Mrs June Youlden be awarded the title of Villager of the Year. The prize to be a cheque for £50.00 and a framed certificate. Councillor Blunden offered to pay for the frame.

11.To consider the replies from the Shoebury Road residents letter and to agree any further action. Deferred to next meeting for further replies to be received.

12.Councillor Sawyer proposes that more dog bins are needed in Great Wakering as identified in the Parish Plan. She proposes 4 more bins are required and we should investigate if the one by the duck pond is of adequate size. Parish Plan had identified need for more dog bins at Little Wakering Corner, New Road, Victoria Drive and on the sea wall near the old amenity site. £8000 had been allocated by RDC for dog bins. Resolved that Clerk apply to RDC to request that they provide at their expense more dog bins at the sites identified on plan.

13.To agree the proposal from Councillor Street with the published cuts in Police numbers which are expected to impact on services to the 2 community Great Wakering Parish Council take all steps possible to promote Neighbourhood Watch Groups in Great Wakering as a crime prevention and reduction initiative. Organisations in Rochford promoted neighbourhood watch schemes. Should try to promote in Great Wakering. Invite representative to address Council so Councillors know what it entails either as Council or breakaway group. Resolved that Clive Mayhew be contacted and the matter be returned to the Council for consideration when more details available.

14.To discuss the correspondence from a Parishioner re the Rebels Lane bus shelter and to decide what action to take (if any). A second letter had been received from Parishioner whom had requested shelter be moved. Councillor Hughes work on shelter noted but it was agreed that the shelter although sound needed work. Councillor Seagers noted LHP has funded renewal of shelters. Resolved that Clerk approach the passenger transport liaison officer at ECC to see what help they could offer. If none forthcoming then consider if Parish Council could undertake some works.

15.To agree the proposal made by Councillor Street that Great Wakering Parish Council apply to Essex CC Highways to enter into a Community Service Level Agreement to maintain footpaths on and in the vicinity of Wakering Common against payment by ECC of a grant to carry out such work. Applications are submitted in December for following financial year. Parishioner wished to undertake voluntary works on the common. There was a Service Level Agreement arrangement whereby Parish Council could undertake maintenance of footpaths. Resolved that this be deferred to next Meeting to enable Clerk to contact Essex Highways in order to find out more information.

16.To receive written reports from those persons representing the Council on Committees/outside bodies and to receive reports on seminars and conferences attended, to include, Councillor Lyn Rodger – no report 1. Village Memorial Hall 2. Transport Users Group Councillor Laurie Street – Rochford Hundred Association of Local Councils:  Airport Liaison Committee – passenger numbers & noise complaints.  Passenger Transport User Group – Withdrawal of Clements Hall service 8.  Community Safety Partnership and police cuts,  Reduction in numbers of RDC Development Committee. Councillor Daniel Efde: Footpath Report – Footpath 8’s fingerpost may be moved, path is outside Star Lane development.

17. At the Chairman’s discretion to exchange information under any other Business. Councillor Sawyer attended the Local Community Meeting - Police budget to be severely pruned, need to save £63,000,000. Crime report 01/09/15 to 01/11/15 – little crime, burglary and thefts from garage/shed, criminal 3 damage and shop lifting. Neighbourhood policing reduction.  Councillor Wilkins food bank - very little activity, none from Wakering.  Councillor Brandon – concern over recent Bellhouse rehoming.  Councillor Rodger query over assets, location of strimmer and seat donation request.  Councillor Hookway – noted Councillor Hughes’ work in tidying bus-stops.  Councillor Efde had tested Council walkie talkies and all working.  Councillor Street - himself and Clerk had struggled to open the container door. He had cleared brambles and lubricated swivels and it was hoped this could now be opened and contents noted.  Clerk stated a new telephone would shortly be purchased for the office.

18. The meeting will stand adjourned to permit Parishioners of Great Wakering to address the Council. L Marshall - thanks for North Street works, drew attention to lack of markings at High Street end. Thanked Parish Council for residents letter informing them of their responsibility to maintain the road which they have always known. Commented on memorial gardens in burial ground and elder in churchyard privet. Noted this was now included in grounds maintenance contract. C Seagers – Parishioner contact re North Street works. Complex situation, one-off works and Essex Highways/PROW team will not be taking on maintenance of roadway just public footpath. B Green – stated Chris Brown had agreed bollards along side of road. Chair replied he had no awareness of this agreement. B Green – Yellow lines at Co-op, no support from Council, doubts re feasibility under Dept of Transport guidance. Pond – requested update - endangered species survey completed. Clerk had applied for CIF funding to remove silt, had passed first hurdle and submitted second stage application, now awaiting reply. Thanked Parish Council for pushing Twyford Avenue forward again. Council confirmed Footpath 8 not in danger from Star Lane development and allotment toilets not ongoing. L Marshall - North Street – thought bollards would be a hazard. A few years ago someone petitioned to have bollards across the High Street entrance, but people strongly against this.

Meeting Closed 9.40p

Date of next meeting – 16th December, 2015 – Full Council Meeting

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