LITTLE BADDOW PARISH COUNCIL

The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Memorial Hall on May 3, 2012. The Meeting commenced at 7:30pm. In attendance:-

Mr R Shepherd - Chairman Mr R Barrett Mrs M Buckley Dr N Cooper Mr K Ferguson Mr P Irvine Mr J Robinson Mr T Thorogood Mr P Willington

Mr R Upward (Clerk) Members of the Public – 6

69/12 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN It was proposed by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Willington that Councillor Shepherd is elected as Chairman. The proposal was carried.

70/12 DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE The Chairman read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

71/12 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN It was proposed by Councillor Shepherd and seconded by Councillor Irvine that Councillor Willington is elected as Vice Chairman. The proposal was carried.

The Chairman thanked the out-going Chairman and Vice Chairman, Councillors Robinson and Ferguson, for their significant contributions to the Parish Council and the village during their terms of office.

72/12 CO-OPTION OF THE NEW COUNCILLOR Councillor Barrett read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. The Chairman welcomed Councillor Barrett to the Parish Council.

73/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None.

74/12 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Councillor Willington declared a Personal Interest in all planning applications. Councillor Buckley declared a personal interest in the Bowers House planning application.

75/12 MINUTES It was proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Thorogood that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on April 5, 2012 are accepted as correct record of the meeting. The proposal was carried.

76/12 MATTERS FROM PRIOR MEETINGS Minute No/Date/Councillor Subject Status 118/11 (11) Love where you Investigate opportunities within the Litter Pick completed but live – July 14, 2011 village disappointing turn out. Article sent Councillor Buckley to LB News. CLOSED 160/11(12)Lingwood Common Prepare follow-up letter to the National Response received. Meeting to be October 13, 2011 Trust re deforestation of the common. arranged with Mr Beasley and new Councillor Irvine Danbury NT Warden.

1 07/12 (2) Lights hazard Talk to owners of Brambles re The Chairman will contact the January 12, 2012 complaints of gatepost lights creating a Police Inspector. Councillor Irvine traffic hazard 76/12 MATTERS FROM PRIOR MEETINGS (cont) Minute No/Date/Councillor Subject Status 07/12 (12) Footpath 33 Arrange for debris to be cleared from Completed. CLOSED January 12, 2012 Footpath 33 at Spring Elms entrance. Councillor Thorogood 56/12 DC11 breaches Write to CBC regarding breaches of Waiting response from CBC. April 5, 2012 DC11-increases over 30% on rebuilds Councillor Robinson 57/12 (10) Internet speed-up Opportunities for speeding up the Input provided to support the April 5, 2012 internet in rural locations. business case to extend the fibre Councillors Ferguson optic cable from Danbury to LB. 57/12 (4) Oil bulk buy-RCCE Investigate RCC bulk buying of heating Notices posted advertising for a April 5, 2012 oil and opportunities within the village. village coordinator. Councillors Ferguson 62/12 New Swings Arrange installation of new swings at the Contract letter issued to Sutcliffe April 5, 2012 Sports Ground Play. Installation planned for the Parish Clerk end of May.

77/12 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME A complaint was made about the rubbish being left in Holybred Wood and about sexual activities at various times during the day and evenings. The resident was advised to report the latter to the police and to insist upon an Incident Number.

A further complaint was received about the lights on the gate posts at Brambles and the surface water from Spring Elms Lane which now runs down Postman’s Lane and is causing erosion of the bridle way.

Mr Simon Johnson reported that the Jubilee Celebrations have been well received and all events are almost sold out.

78/12 DEVELOPMENT IN THE VILLAGE

79/12 CORRESPONDENCE Writer Subject Outcome 1. CBC Briefing session on the new standards Parish Clerk to attend regime – Friday May 12 at 10am 2. Mid-Essex PCT Workshop on local services to be Noted provided by the PCT from 2013 – May 31 at 9:30am, Spring Lodge, Witham 3. Mrs Barbara Teal Complaint about noise from the Clerk to advise resident to report Generals Arms over the weekend to the Licensing Department 21/22 April.

79/12 CORRESPONDENCE(cont) Writer Subject Outcome 4. National Trust Response to the Council’s complaint Meeting to be arranged with Mr about deforestation in Blakes Wood. Beasley and the new Danbury NT Warden. 5. ECC - Flood Risk Flood Risk Strategy consultation from Councillor Ferguson Partnership April 16 to July 2. 6. EALC NALC briefing note on new Code of Parish Clerk Conduct

2 7. Fiona and Paul Walker Concern over potential removal of tree Noted in Spring Close. 8. CBC Changes to Recycling and Waste Noted collections 9. ECC P3 Works approval and risk Councillor Barrett assessments. 10. CBC Mayor’s Office Invitation to the Annual Civic Service Councillor Shepherd. Councillor on June 17 at 11:15am Willington to confirm. 11. CBC Special Planning Meeting to consider Noted the planning application for land around Belstead Farm will take place on June 19 (was June 12) 12. Bradwell Walkers Missing finger posts on footpaths near Councillor Thorogood has spoken Willows Farm to the new farm manager.

80/12 ACCOUNTS

80/12 ACCOUNTS(cont)

It was proposed by Councillor Willington and seconded by Councillor Ferguson that the accounts are approved for payment. The proposal was carried.

81/12 MEMORIAL HALL Councillor Willington presented a hall budget for 2012-13. It was proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Robinson that this budget is accepted. The proposal was carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Willington that £201 is spent to provide an external power socket at the Memorial Hall. The proposal was carried.

Councillor Ferguson advised the Council that future expenditure items would include work to prevent parking opposite the emergency exit doors and to bring the number of chairs available to the advertised capacity of the hall.

Councillor Ferguson presented 3 quotes for site investigations for the hall extension. The Council resolved to proceed with the £750 quotation subject to Barker Associates confirming that this work would provide answers to all the questions raised by CBC Building Regulations.

82/12 SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT Councillor Willington advised that the final draft was in preparation prior to submission to CBC Planning for approval to proceed with the public consultation. Discussions will take place with Chelmsford Borough Council on a date for the Cabinet Meeting to approve this document.

83/12 AFFORDABLE HOUSING Councillor Willington presented the report of the working group that has investigated three housing associations as potential partners for building affordable housing in the village. It was proposed by Councillor Willington and seconded by Councillor Cooper that Colne Housing Society is selected as the partner for affordable housing and to assist with finding the appropriate site. After a lengthy and considered discussion, the proposal was defeated.

It was proposed by Councillor Thorogood and seconded by Councillor Ferguson that the Council continues to work with Chelmer Housing Partnership with the objective of providing part of the affordable housing need at their site at Wickhay Green and works with the Colne Housing Society to 3 find a site outside the defined settlement zone for the remaining affordable housing need. The proposal was carried.

84/12 NOTICE BOARDS Councillor Ferguson advised that a site at Runsell Lane has been agreed with ECC Highways and the adjacent resident. It was proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Irvine that £120 is spent to install the notice board. The proposal was carried

85/12 EMPLOYEE CONTRACT FOR 2012-13 The Council resolved to exclude the public for this item.

The salary of the Spring Close Supervisor for 2012-13 was agreed.

86/12 INFORMATION ITEMS The Chairman advised that he would be contacting every member of the Council prior to assigning the Special Responsibilities.

Councillor Cooper advised that only 1 entry for the website photo competition had been received since March. He will be contacting people who had previously submitted photos and putting an article in Little Baddow News.

Councillor Buckley reminded the Council that the Jubilee Celebrations included competitions for the best dressed street and best dressed house. Photos of the event should be sent to the History Centre. Coucillor Buckley reported that on occasions, the hall is too hot which resulted in two people fainting.

Councillor Ferguson advised that he would be looking for volunteers to clear the under stage area.

Councillor Robinson advised that after much correspondence with Essex Highways, that extending the 40mph limit at the north end of the village to beyond Paper Mill Lock was the only practical solution.

Councillor Irvine agreed to present the ECC Highways Policy on Speed Limits to a future meeting.

Councillor Barrett advised that he preparing an article for Little Baddow News to ask for volunteers to help maintain the many footpaths in the village and that he is preparing work proposals for next year.

87/12 NEXT MEETING The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on Thursday June 7, 2012.

The meeting closed at 9:42pm.

Chairman June 7, 2012

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