Little Baddow Parish Council s3

LITTLE BADDOW PARISH COUNCIL

An Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Memorial Hall on March 1, 2012. The Meeting commenced at 7:30pm. In attendance:-

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

Mr R Upward (Clerk) Members of the Public – 2

34/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were accepted from Councillor Thorogood.

35/12 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Councillor Willington declared a Personal Interest in all planning applications.

36/12 MINUTES It was proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Buckley that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on February 2, 2012 are accepted as correct record of the meeting. The proposal was carried.

37/12 MATTERS FROM PRIOR MEETINGS Minute No/Date/Councillor Subject Status 41/08(e) VDS issues The Chairman and Councillor Jones CBC comments being March 6, 2008 are to meet with Conservation Society incorporated. Photographs Councillor Robinson and Mr D Stebbing on May 7 to needed – Councillor Cooper to discuss upgrade of the VDS to an assist. SPD> 85/11 (5) WGPA Notice Arrange for sign to be installed and Physical check confirmed May 12, 2011 modifications made to roundabout in line roundabout incorrectly installed. Councillor Hodgson with Zurich recommendations. This has now been fixed by Sutcliffe Play. Sign to be arranged. 105/11 Memorial Hall Arrange for hall floor to be sanded and Completed. CLOSED June 2, 2011 sealed. Establish ongoing maintenance Councillor Ferguson requirements prior to work commencing. 144/11 Memorial Hall Evaluate electronic organ as Piano has been moved to a September 1, 2011 replacement for the piano. residential home. CLOSED Councillors Ferguson/Shepherd 160/11(12)Lingwood Common Prepare follow-up letter to the National Chairman to write to NT manager. October 13, 2011 Trust re deforestation of the common. Councillor Irvine 198/11 PRS/PPL licences Develop proposals to obtain the Licences obtained and information December 1, 2011 necessary licences. communicated to hall users. Councillor Cooper CLOSED 07/12 (2) Lights hazard Talk to owners of Brambles re Councillor Ferguson will contact January 12, 2012 complaints of gatepost lights creating a Highways. Councillor Irvine traffic hazard 07/12 (15) Jubilee Tree Investigate potential site of Jubilee Tree EWT proposed site at Waterhall January 12, 2012 within the churchyard Meadows. Agreed in principle. Councillor Ferguson 1 38/12 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME Members of the public raised concerns about the water running across North Hill at Cock Farm and at Coleraines, the damaged VR letterbox in Spring Elms Lane, the unsightly fence at the back of a house in Mill Lane, the difficulty of exiting the Hall when full at a film night, the blocking of the emergency exit by cars parking along the exit route and the need for a new village coordinator for Neighbourhood Watch.

39/12 DEVELOPMENT IN THE VILLAGE

40/12 CORRESPONDENCE Writer Subject Outcome 1. Elm Green School Requesting permission to use the Permission granted. Clerk to Sports Ground for car parking on the reply. following dates -June 15 Sports Day -June 20 Sports Day (reserve) -July 9 Open Day -July 11 Speech Day 2. RCCE Entry Forms for Best Kept Village and Councillor Buckley. Clerk to send Best Kept Churchyard forms for the Churchyard competition to Mrs Hooson and Mr Breeze. 3. CBC Confirmation that the Site Allocations Noted Document has been formally adopted by CBC 4. Miss K Bass Comments on affordable housing and Councillor Shepherd asking if the CHP development could satisfy these needs. 5. Mid Essex NHS Consultation on new community Councillor Cooper hospital at St Peter’s – closing date April 2, 2012 6. Mr Geoff Ford Complaints about bollards outside Highways policy on kerbside houses in Mill Lane. obstacles to be sent to residents 7. EALC Training Day Noted -Councillor Training Day 2-April 25 8. Danbury Parish Council Invitation to their Parish Assembly on Councillor Robinson to confirm Monday March 26 at the Sports and attendance. Social Centre starting at 7:15pm 9. ECC Extension of 40mph speed limit on Councillor Robinson to respond North Hill to the north side of Papermill Lock.

40/12 CORRESPONDENCE (cont) Writer Subject Outcome 10. Traditional Markets Ltd Interest in holding a continental market Councillor Ferguson to pursue in the Memorial Hall on March 25. Danbury location for March. Councillor Irvine to investigate possible locations for a later event. 11. Mr Simon Johnson Advising that he will be stepping down Councillor Shepherd as the Neighbourhood Watch coordinator at the end of May and is putting his replacement “in the hands 2 of the Parish Council”.

12. ECC Explanation of “the compact” between Noted government and the voluntary sector.

41/12 ACCOUNTS

41/12 ACCOUNTS (cont)

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

42/12 PARISH ASSEMBLY Detail arrangements were agreed for the Parish Assembly on March 14. Councillor Shepherd gave his apologies and provided the Borough Councillor’s report for the meeting.

43/12 SPORTS GROUND Councillor Shepherd provided four estimates for the new swings and it was agreed to proceed with Sutcliffe Play to provide a detailed quote following a site visit. The Parish Clerk agreed to arrange this visit.

44/12 FINANCE It was proposed by Councillor Willington and seconded by Councillor Shepherd that £35,000 is invested in a 9 month bond at Barclays. This will include funds from Scottish Widows and this account will be closed. The proposal was carried.

45/12 MEMORIAL HALL Following a presentation by Councillor Ferguson, it was agreed that the Memorial Hall tariffs would increase for new bookings after April 1, 2012 as follows:- -All tariffs to increase by 5% (rounded to the nearest pound) -The weekend loading to increase to £20 per session -A compulsory paid session on the following morning for clean-up will be added to all major events -A deposit of £200 will be required for all major events at the clerk’s discretion, to be refunded once it has been established that there are no losses or breakages, nor is excessive cleaning required.

Councillor Ferguson advised that Mr Connor McGrath had found permanent employment and is unable to continue the furniture service. A replacement is being urgently sought.

46/12 CASUAL VACANCY The Clerk advised that two people have expressed interest in becoming a councillor. The closing date for applications is March 17. It was agreed to meet the applicants prior to the next council meeting on April 5, 2012 at 7:00pm.

47/12 AFFORDABLE HOUSING This item was withdrawn from the Agenda. Councillor Shepherd advised that a meeting with Chelmer Housing Partnership will take place shortly and a recommendation brought to the April meeting. 3 48/12 “LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE” Councillor Buckley presented adverts that will be put on the notice boards and in the magazines for the litter pick on April 21. These will be available at the Parish Assembly. It was agreed that these will be sent to all the village organisations asking for support on the day.

49/12 INFORMATION ITEMS Councillor Willington advised that the Chelmer Canal Trust is seeking a grant to fund clearing the canal of non-native invasive plants.

Councillor Ferguson reported on the Planning Road Show organised by EALC and RCCE. This confirmed the need to update the Village Design Statement to a Supplementary Planning Document but that there is no short term need for a Neighbourhood Plan as CBC has approved strategies and plans in place. The need for a Neighbourhood Plan will arise when the present CBC plans are being revised and updated which will be towards the end of this decade.

50/12 NEXT MEETING The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on Thursday April 5, 2012.

The meeting closed at 9:35pm.

Chairman April 5, 2012