Myland Community Council

Minutes of the meeting of the Community Council held on Wednesday 30th March 2016, 7.30pm, at Mile End Methodist Church Hall, Nayland Road, Colchester.

Present: Cllr Pete Hewitt (Chair) Cllr John Dickson Cllr John Stewart (Vice Chair) Cllr Martin Goss Cllr Richard Beauchamp Cllr Liz Gray Cllr Catherine Clouston Cllr Carolyne Hurst Cllr David Clouston Cllr Robert Johnstone Cllr Jean Dickinson

There were three members of the public present. Colchester Borough Cllrs Gerard Oxford and Beverly Oxford and Essex County Cllr Anne Turrell attended the meeting.

Before the meeting opened, the Chair paid tribute to Cllr John Sutcliffe, who had died while away in Zambia. He said that Cllr Sutcliffe had joined the Council in 2003. He said that Cllr Sutcliffe had served on a number of committees and working groups during his time as a Councillor, most recently on both the Planning & Development Policy Committee and the Finance and Staffing Committee. He asked all present to join him in a minute’s silence to remember Cllr Sutcliffe.

230-15/16 Apologies

Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Agyekum, Cardle and Pipik.

231-15/16 Declarations of Interest

There were none.

232-15/16 Have your say

Mrs White said that while Cllr Sutcliffe had not been a friend to Thomas Wakley Close she had respected him as he was a man who spoke his mind. She said she hoped that MCC considered freedom of speech important and that she had concerns about what had happened at the last meeting of the Community Working Group. She said Cllr Sutcliffe had ruffled feathers and was therefore not being considered for a posthumous award. She said Cllr Sutcliffe had done a lot for local charities and that he had a very good attendance record at MCC meetings and that despite his frail health, his attendance was second to none. She said he deserved a posthumous award because he spoke his mind. She said she

83 held anyone who did this in great esteem. She said she was surprised that MCC had not considered Cllr Sutcliffe for a posthumous award as she felt he should have this award. She said ruffling feathers should be considered a plus, and she hoped that MCC would take this into consideration.

Cllr Hurst said that the process for awarding the Myland Order of Merit had already been well under way when news of Cllr Sutcliffe’s death had been received. She said that no disrespect to Cllr Sutcliffe had been intended by comments made at the Community Group meeting. She said that it had simply been mentioned that he could ruffle feathers. She said no Myland Community Councillor would ever be disrespectful about a fellow Councillor. She said MCC would be looking at recognising Cllr Sutcliffe’s contribution to the local community posthumously and that MCC would also support the Friends of Myland in any way possible.

Mr Thompson said he would also like to pay tribute to Cllr Sutcliffe who had worked very hard for the community.

233-15/16 Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 24th February 2016 to be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24th February 2016 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Proposed: Cllr Dickson Seconded: Cllr Stewart (8 For; 3 Abstensions)

234-15/16 Update on progress of resolutions made at the last meeting

There were no updates.

235-15/16 Chairman’s Report

The Chairman gave the following report:

“The sad loss of John and the resignation of Ciaran leaves us with two vacancies. If you have any good possible candidates please encourage them and let Helen, Katherine, John Stewart or myself know.

The Chesterwell development is now well underway. There have been some issues and concerns raised by local residents. These are dealt with quickly, often by Councillor Goss, but also re-visited, along with updates and general news on progress during regular liaison meetings with the developers. We have decided to provide a brief overview of the items covered at those meetings on the MCC website. The first update is now available and will be advised to residents via the Mylander. This Council has now received two presentations on community centres. The subject has become somewhat confused and certainly the second presentation embraced community facilities on a much broader scale than just community halls. It is now time to take a pause. We know the community will receive two halls, one on Chesterwell and one on Severalls. We know both will need fitting out and we have a comprehensive list of the services the halls could provide. 84 The presentations tell us we should pursue not just a hall but a facility complex on Chesterwell and /or another complex on the Northern Gateway where the current Rugby Club building sits. There are therefore lots of careful decisions to be made by us, here, around these tables. But we have key partners in all of this. One is CBC and the other in respect of the Northern Gateway is Highwoods Ward. We cannot therefore just carry on making our own decisions in splendid isolation from those partners. Following the Community Working Group and an extended debate when setting this meeting’s agenda it was concluded that it is right to pause and to engage with CBC and Highwoods. And that is what we will do. Councillor Stewart and I are meeting Gerard Oxford next week and will be arranging a meeting with CBC as a matter of urgency.”

Cllr Dickinson said she would like to emphasise that the presentations had made it clear that she and the Assistant Clerk had been looking at ways in which services could be delivered. She said they had concentrated on services for a new generation. She said community centres were only one way of delivering services. She said they had only wanted Cllrs to think about how services might be delivered, and had not asked them to commit to anything at all. She said her wish was that options were not closed down. She said it was important to continue work with the intention of moving holistically.

Cllr D Clouston said that from one perspective the new Community Centres were a long way away. He said that however, last month he had heard almost a requiem for lost community spaces and a regret for that state of affairs. He said if MCC felt that, it was likely to be felt by the wider community. He said it would be possible for him, for example, to do something as a private resident but it would be so much easier for MCC. He said MCC had regular meetings, were kept in the loop, and had governance in place, so that it would be infinitely preferable for MCC to take the initiative. He said the time was approaching for MCC to make their decision.

The Assistant Clerk said that she would like to endorse all that Cllr Clouston had said. She said she would also like to say that MCC had been looking at this issue for the past 15 years and that in that time little progress had been made, so that although 2024 sounded a long time away, it would pass very quickly.

The Chair asked if Cllr G Oxford had any comments he would like to make.

Cllr Oxford said that he would be meeting Cllrs Hewitt and Stewart on Wednesday 6th April to discuss some issues. He said that he would like as much of the Rugby Club site as possible to be retained as open space. He said he had a problem with the sale of the site having to fund new sports facilities. He said the wider community should fund these facilities, which would enable the Rugby Club site to be retained. He said he would like to ask the public what they would like to happen to the site. He said the Diocese of Chelmsford would like to see a new church in Highwoods, that the Rugby Club site was now in Highwoods Ward and that the rest of the ward was already under concrete. He said there might be some ramifications for the St Johns and Highwoods Community Association.

85 236-15/16 Clerks Report

The Assistant Clerk said that the Clerk was on two weeks’ leave from the office.

She said that the Clerk had completed her CilCA portfolio which had now been sent off to be assessed.

237-15/16 Finance - To consider and possibly resolve to approve details of expenditure and income to date.

It was resolved to approve details of expenditure and income to date.

Proposed: Cllr Dickinson Seconded: Cllr Johnstone (9 For; 2 Abstentions)

Income

Date Amount Received from Type 7-Mar-16 6.34 Barclays Bank Interest 18-Mar-16 320.00 Myland Community Crew Other Income 30-Mar-16 976.00 Colchester Borough Council Other Income 30-Mar-16 1,200.00 Barchester - Woodland View Care Home Mylander

Expenses

Date Amount Paid to Type 4-Mar-16 59.66 Npower Electricity 15-Mar-16 34.34 Anglian Water Water 15-Mar-16 20.00 Contract Services Cleaning 21-Mar-16 84.95 CNG Ltd Gas 24-Mar-16 18.76 Titan Telecom Phone 29-Mar-16 23.69 E-on Electricity 29-Mar-16 34.50 Mile End Methodist Church Community Council Meeting 29-Mar-16 24.35 Copy IT Office Equipment & Mtce 29-Mar-16 75.00 EALC Councillor Training 29-Mar-16 149.69 Shaw & Sons Ltd Stationery 29-Mar-16 600.00 Daniel Connal Partnership Professional fees 29-Mar-16 30.00 M&K Gardens Gardening 31-Mar-16 11.00 H Harris Office sundries 31-Mar-16 3964.71 Various Staff costs

238-15/16 To consider and possibly resolve to respond to the Essex County Council Children’s Centres consultation – Closing date 10th April 2016 – Cllr Stewart

It was resolved to respond to the Essex County Council Children’s Centres consultation – Closing date 10th April 2016.

Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Hurst (Unanimous)

86 239-15/16 If 238-15/16 is resolved, to consider and possibly resolve who to delegate the response to the Essex County Council Children’s Centres consultation to – Cllr Stewart

It was resolved to delegate the response to the Essex County Council Children’s Centres consultation to Cllr Hurst as MCC’s Education Champion with support from Cllr Dickinson.

Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Goss (Unanimous)

240-15/16 To consider and possibly resolve to respond to the Colchester Borough Council Recycling and Waste Services Consultation – Closing date 3rd June 2016 – Cllr Stewart

Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: No seconder

The motion could therefore not proceed.

241-15/16 If 240-15/16 is resolved, to consider and possibly resolve who to delegate the response to the Colchester Borough Council Recycling and Waste Services Consultation to – Cllr Stewart

As 240-15/16 was not resolved, this Item was withdrawn.

242-15/16 To gain commitment from every MCC Councillor that they will help with the Fete, either on the day or to contribute to the pre-event organisation. Councillors to advise the Clerk of their commitment/contribution by 15th April 2016 – Cllr Hurst

An amendment to the Item was proposed as follows:

To gain commitment from every MCC Councillor that they will help with the Fete, either on the day or to contribute to the pre-event organisation. Councillors to advise the Assistant Clerk of their commitment/contribution by 15th April 2016 – Cllr Hurst

Proposed: Cllr Hurst Seconded: Cllr Hewitt (10 For; 1 Abstention)

Cllr Hurst said that she would like the organisation of the Fete to be a team effort. She said this year this would be particularly important as the residents who had chaired the Fete Committee for the past three years and had run the raffle had stepped down. She said she would like every Councillor to commit to a contribution to the Fete, either on the day or beforehand, as she appreciated some people would not be able to be available on the day of the Fete itself.

243-15/16 To receive reports from Councillors including updates from Champions

Cllr Dickson thanked Cllr Goss for the allocation of £4,000 to causes within the ward.

Cllr Beauchamp said he had attended the Colchester Parish Transport meeting. He said that they had committed to promoting public transport and making information more accessible. He said it was important that MCC kept watch to make sure that this happened.

87 Cllr Beauchamp said that new bus timetables would come into force on 10th April 2016. He said there would be a new service on Sundays and in the evenings that would travel from Great Horkesley down Nayland Road but that unfortunately there was a dearth of stops and this was also a change of route. He said that sites for potential new stops could be near the Parish Office for the southbound journey and near the Dog & Pheasant for the northbound journey. He said that ECC thought that there was a stop opposite the entrance to Link Close but this was in fact not the case.

Cllr Stewart said he had been at the launch of the Wildlife Service at Highwoods Country Park, which had been well-attended by the public.

Cllr Johnstone said the construction of the new cycle route down Mile End Road was now under way. He said he had received an email from Alan Lindsay at ECC that day which said dimensions would be provided. He said that he was shocked that dimensions were not available even though work was already underway. He said that CBC, the Colchester Cycling Campaign and Mile End Road residents were concerned about the scheme.

Cllr Johnstone said he would be involved with the “Walking To School” campaign with Pam Nelson.

Cllr D Clouston asked if the Clerk reviewed the number of Mylanders printed bearing in mind the growing population of the parish.

The Assistant Clerk confirmed that the Clerk did this for each issue and that she informed the printer of necessary increases.

Cllr D Clouston asked if a “Welcome Pack” giving MCC information had been considered.

Cllr C Clouston said she had mentioned this to the Clerk a couple of months ago.

Cllr C Clouston said she had attended a Training Day on running Community Centres which had been extremely interesting. She said it was very important that if MCC were committed to running the Centres they thought about establishing a Board of Trustees now. She said two Councils that had attended also did outreach work.

244-15/16 To receive reports from Working Groups – maximum two minutes each

Community Group – Cllr Hurst said they had been working on the Fete and she was hoping to get the Army to attend. She said the War Memorial would be cleaned and minor repairs undertaken, and that this would be paid for using S106 money. She said an article about adding names from more recent conflicts to the War Memorial would appear in the next Mylander. She said volunteers for the Community Garden were being sought and that Queen Boudica School and hopefully Myland School would be involved.

88 Footpaths Working Group – Cllr Johnstone said that a survey of Public Rights of Way in the parish would be undertaken by the Group. He said the survey would lead to a work programme and that money could be claimed from ECC for equipment. He said the Group was reluctantly ceasing their monthly walks. He said that Highwoods Country Park provides walks on two Fridays and two Sundays each month. He said he would be confirming this information and providing an article for the Mylander pointing residents in that direction.

Neighbourhood Plan Working Group – Cllr Hewitt said the Plan is now in the hands of CBC. He said that their consultation exercise has finished and the examiner appointed for April examination of the Plan. He said that MCC must expect that the examiner will ask for changes. He said that the Mylander should carry a centrefold alerting residents to an upcoming referendum..

245-15/16 Reports by Ward Councillors

Cllr Goss said he and Cllr Graham had had £4,000 to spend in their ward. He said over 400 people had submitted preferences and that this had led to £2,000 to be allocated for tree-planting, £1,500 for play equipment at Fords Lane and £250 each to sports equipment for New Braiswick School and Queen Boudica. He said that Myland School had also been contacted but that they had not responded within the deadline. He said that he had followed this up and subsequently spoken to the Vice-Chair of Governors. He said that it had been agreed that if the school let him know what was needed he and Cllr Graham would offer money out of their personal pockets so that Myland did not miss out.

Cllr Goss said that CBC’s Planning Committee had discussed a condition on the Severalls application that stated that every house would have an external charging point for electric cars.

Cllr Dickson asked where the money for tree-planting would be spent.

Cllr Goss said the money would be spread across the ward.

246-15/16 Report by County Councillor

Cllr Turrell referred to the work on the new Mile End Road cycleway. She said ECC were not following Safety Audit requirements. She said for example the path went past houses with drives which could result in a collision between cars and cyclists. She said so far she had had no satisfaction but that she would continue to question this.

She said she had taken a note of house numbers on Mile End Road outside which trees had been taken down, including where they had been removed a while ago. She said that she had received agreement that 18 new trees would hopefully be provided to replace these.

Cllr Johnstone said he would just like to point out that what was being constructed was in fact a shared footway/cycleway. He said this was a small point but important.

Cllr Turrell said that if any Cllrs or members of the public had any other issues they could email her and she would do what she could to help.

89 247-15/16 Planning & Development Policy Committee

Copies of Planning & Development Policy Committee minutes of the meetings held on 17th February 2016 were received.

248-15/16 Finance & Staffing Committee

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2016 were not yet approved.

249-15/16 Date of next meeting: Wednesday 27th April 2016, 7.30pm at Mile End Methodist Church Hall, Nayland Road

The meeting closed at 8.52pm.

Cllr Pete Hewitt ………………………………………………….. Chairman

List of abbreviations: Cllr – Councillor NALC – National Association of Local Councils CALC – Colchester Association of Local Councils NAP – Neighbourhood Action Panel CBC – Colchester Borough Council NGUAE – North Growth Urban Area Extension CIF – Community Initiatives Fund NP – Neighbourhood Plan CIL – Community Infrastructure Levy NEPP – North Essex Parking Partnership CiLCA – Certificate in Local Council Administration OHP – Overhead Projector EALC – Essex Association of Local Councils PP – Parish Plan ECC – Essex County Council P3 – Parish Paths Partnership EEAF – East Essex Area Forum PRoW – Public Right of Way ELAF - Essex Local Access Forum RCCE – Rural Community Council of Essex EPO - Emergency Pla nning Officer S106 – Section 106 of Town & Country Planning Act ‘90 LDF – Local Development Framework SC&L – Sustainable Communities & Localism LHP – Local Highways Panel SLCC – Society of Local Council Clerks MCC – Myland Community Council SPD – Supplementary Planning Document MDC – Myland Development Committee VAS – Vehicle Activated Sign

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