In Attendance: Cllr B Herbert (Chair), Cllr P. Drew, Cllr L. Edwards, Cllr K. Plummer
Held on 2 February 2017
MINUTES
In attendance: Cllr B Herbert (Chair), Cllr P. Drew, Cllr L. Edwards, Cllr K. Plummer, Cllr P. Balbirnie, Cllr R. Adams, Cllr R. Taylor and Cllr G. Wright. Also in attendance were TDC Cllr L McWilliams, ECC A. Goggin and 9 members of public.
Public questions:
- It was reported that the part of the pedestrian barrier outside Tesco is missing and confirmed that it has been stored for safe keeping.
- It was noted that the bench on Plough Road is in a poor state of repair.
PART A
02.17.019Apologies for absence: Cllr J Hills.
02.17.020Minutes of the last meeting:The minutes of the meeting on 5 January 2017 were proposed by Cllr Balbirnie, seconded by Cllr Edwards and agreed as a true record of proceedings.
02.17.021Declarations of Interest:None offered.
02.17.022Information & Reports: None.
02.17.023 County and District Councillors Reports:
a)District Councillor: Cllr L. McWilliams:has asked that both 75 housing planning applications are considered by the Planning Committee. She referred to the high level of pollution at Frating roundabout and agreed to seek a test in Gt Bentley. Anglia Ruskin University has committed to invest £1.2M in education in the District.TDC annual budget setting meeting is scheduled for 7 February 2017.
b)County Councillor – Cllr A. Goggin: Confirmed he had circulated a briefing report relating to the amended operation at local recycling centres. He provided further clarification.The ECC annual budget setting Meeting will be convened on 14 Feb. Alan referred to the attendance of Jane Gardiner, the Deputy PCC at a recent Alresford PC meeting. He outlined some of the appalling statistics relating to Safeguarding children in Essex. The Clerk agreed to check if pothole on Forge Lane has been reported and notify Cllr Goggin of position.
02.17.024Other Reports: To receive reports from;
a)PCSO:PCSO J Brandon’s report attached as Appendix A was noted. The Clerk was asked to inform her that her increased visibility in the parish is appreciated.
b)TDALC:Cllr R. Taylor reported that the minutes of the recent TDALC meeting have been circulated. They are attached as Appendix B.
c)Transport: Mr P. Harry advised that he had nothing significant to report. Highways practice of advising road closures ofthree weeks to cover any delays results in difficulties to the bus service.
d)Footpaths:Mr D Gollifer referred to his previously circulated report. He advised of anissue of a dog harassing users of Footpath 8. It was agreed to write to householder.
e)Caretaker: The Chair read out Mr McWilliams report.
02.17.025Correspondence:
a)Request to display temporary notices on the Green – St Mary’s: Agreed.
b)Gt Bentley Running Club Half Marathon - Sunday 5 February 2017: Noted.
c)Request to delay mowing – Gt Bentley Conservation Group:A debate was held and it was resolved not to agree to the request. GBPC’s grass cutters are not able cut longer grass and long clippings cause problems when wet.
02.17.026Parish Clerk Report: The Parish Clerk’s report attached as Appendix C was noted.
02.17.027Finance Report: The monthly expenditure report is attached as Appendix D.
a)To approve the monthly expenditure report:PROPOSED: Cllr Adams, SECONDED: Cllr Drew, RESOLVED: To approve the monthly expenditure report.
b)To note the monthly bank reconciliation:Noted.
02.17.028Village Green Working Party: The Chair’s report is attached as Appendix E.
- The Clerk was asked to contact Landscape Service and request that two trees by Mill House are cut back
- The Clerk was asked to write to Openreach regarding to complain about its contractors recent works on the Green.
- The Clerk was asked to ask Landscape Services to level Southside Track.
- Memorial bench plaque now fitted.
- The Chair outlined a request (Valhalla Endurance Fitness) to introduce fitness classes on the Green. It was agreed to put this on the agenda next month and notify accordingly.
- The Clerk was asked to write to the householder on corner of Sturrick Lane/Thorrington Road to request that the hedge is cut back to improve the vehicle sightline at the junction.
- Cllr Wright noted that he would be against the proceeding with the installation of soak-aways at Forge Lane because of the expense but would agree to the kerb work.
- Cllr Wright reminded all that there isroad grit stored at Admirals and Brook Farm, which is for use around the village as necessary.
02.17.029Recording of meetings: The Clerk provided an update. He has yet to make contact with the correct officer at TDC to obtain its standard operating procedures.
02.17.030PCSO Contract: Cllr Wrightprovided a summary of the recent meeting of the PCSO Working Party with representatives of Alresford PC and PCSO Brandon and Sgt Paul Gale.
The only issue of concern is the PCSO travelling between Gt Bentley and Clacton at the start and finish of shifts and for breaks. Councillors asked that it is made clear to the Police that this issue is important to GBPC. As a point of principal GBPC wants the PCSO to spend the time that it is paying for in the Village.
The Clerk agreed to investigate the PCSO using the Village Hall and to notify the Police that GBPC is very pleased with the increased profile of the PCSO in the Parish.
PROPOSED: Cllr Drew, SECONDED: Cllr Adams, RESOLVED: To agree to enter in to an annual contract to share (on a 50:50 basis) with Alresford PC the cost of a PCSO.
Cllr Wright gave his apologies and left the meeting at this point.
02.17.031Highways
a)Relaunch of the Village Speed Watch Initiative: Nothing to update but keep on the agenda.
b)20’s Plenty for Us campaign:Keep on the agenda.
c)Indiscriminate parking in the Village:This issue is being addressed by PCSO Brandon.
02.17.032Consultation for funding for public Open space improvements (S106 Monies): The Clerk was asked amend the report (attached as Appendix F) to clarify a number of items (including mowers) and circulate it to Councillors for comment prior to uploading on to the website and forwarding it to the Parish Magazine. Councillors agreed to attend next month’s meeting having given consideration to what open space improvements would most benefit the Parish.
02.17.033Housing Needs Survey:Cllr Drew provided a brief summary of some of the headline data in the report. After some discussion, she agreed to gather some information relating to the process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the next meeting.
02.17.034Funfair and Circus Use of The Green: In Cllr Wright’s absence, it was agreed to defer this item.
02.17.035 Exclusion of press and public: PROPOSED: Cllr Drew, SECONDED: Cllr Taylor, RESOLVED: That the business to be considered in Part B includes commercial information that justifies the exclusion of the public.
Public questions:
- It was noted that it may be helpful to include the NHS survey as an objection to the major housing applications.
- It was suggested to speak with the Chair of St Osyth PC regarding developing a Neighbourhood Plan.
- Cllr Goggin offered clarification informing that the ECC’s offer is to clear ‘domestic’ fly tipping only.
PART B
02.17.036Forge Lane Kerb and Drainage Works:
PROPOSED: Cllr Plummer, SECONDED: Cllr Edwards, RESOLVED: To accept the quotation submitted by D.A. Cant Ltdfor the kerbing work alone, subject to the company holding its price for three months for the drainage works while the situation is reviewed.
APPENDIX A
PCSO Report January 2017
01/01/17 EP-20170101-0903- Great Bentley- driver reported for manner of driving in village.
02/01/17 - EP-20170102-0138- Suspicious circs- Phoenix Ind Estate
03/01/17 EP-20170103-0133- Broken down car dangerous position on bend - Great Bentley.
04/01/17 EP-20170104-0856- The station- Threats.
05/01/17 EP-20170105-0213- Flag Hill- Prevent breach of the peace.
05/01/17 EP-20170105-0921- Mitchell close- Harassment
16/01/17 EP-20170116-0271- The Green- RTC
09/01/1 EP-20170109-0566- Great Bentley- cloned number Plates.
16/01/17 EP-20170116-0861- Plough Road- Nuisance quad bike.
24/01/17_EP-20170124-0334- Gt Bentley garage- Enquiries Found damaged vehicle.
42/10280/17- 31/12-01/01- New Cut- Dwelling Burglary.ECM sent out
42/11271/17- 01/01-04/01- Birch Avenue- malicious comms.
42/12890/17- 05/01/17- Mitchell Close- Public order.
42/15393/17- 13/01/17- The Green- Burglary dwelling. ECM sent out
42/18488/17- 04/01/2017 to 21/01/2017- Heckfords road- harassment.
Additional Tasks.
09/01/17- Station car park, Plough Road- Cleared large amount of litter cleared from a vehicle and dispersed on Tarmac of a parking space., search through found receipts and invoice for identification of person and emailed all to Tendring Council for possible penalty notice.
Various Leaflets given to Bob McWilliams to update notice boards in the village.
Keeping your home safe booklets put in Village Hall.
8 ECMs sent for Great Bentley
Chase up Tendring Council to remove Fly tipping Tye Road
17/01/17 majority of fly tipping cleared- Tye Road- barriers still in situ- chase up council for update.
Campervan in station Car park finally removed.
Hare coursing Wick Road- car retrieved from ditch and 2x lurcher dogs running loose retrieved. (put them out of action for a while) scene guard waiting for recovery of vehicle.
16/01/2017 Meeting with Gt Bentley Pre-school teachers, liaise with Children.
16/01/2017 Alert Tesco Express on large qualities of cigarettes being stolen by grab and run in Tendring- A male attempted to do this in the store but not reported. Enquiries and CCTV.
16/01/17 Call on victims of recent burglary The Green, Great Bentley- Shed alarm and security advice given. H2H surrounding property’s offering security advice.
24/01/2017- Talk with children at Great Bentley Pre School on “who keeps your community safe?”
Vehicle details check – possible attempted fly tipping.
20/01/2017 Contact council for removal - Re- mattress fly tipping in ditch. Lovers Lane/ TheTye Road Crossroads.
24/01/2017 Theft from motor vehicle/abandoned red Ford KA- Station Car Park Plough Road.ECM for security awareness sent out.
Swept excessive amount of glass to prevent other users of car park getting flat tyres/Checks and registered owner enquiries to make contact, If still in situ in reasonable time scale, I will contact The council to proceed on removal.
24/01/2017 Excessive amount of litter all down Plough Road past Aingers Green- Contacted Tendring Council to clean up.
27/01/2017 Meeting at Brook Farm with Councillors.
27/01/2017 Checks on 2 vehicles left in Station car Park, Renault scenic, no plates and chassis number not visible, if this is still there when Im next on duty, I will do further enquiries and arrange to have removed by the council. And EK02 AUP flat tyre, no RO in Trade, both may be something to do with car dealers on The industrial estate.
APPENDIX B
Tendring District Association of Local Councils
Minutes of the Meeting held at Beaumont Village Hall on Wednesday, 18th January 2017.
Apologies were received from those marked with “A” above and and Cllr Lynda McWilliams, Tendring District Council. The Secretary reported that Helen Rich from Thorpe-le-Soken had resigned from the Council so would no longer be a representative to this body.
The Secretary thanked Vivien Chapman for taking notes at the previous meeting.
The Minutes of the November 2016 meeting were approved and signed, after amending the item on planning (page 2 line 2) to read: “... a Senior Planning Officer, and/or Cath Bicknell, Head of the Planning Department, ....”.
Matters Arising from those Minutes - Section 106 monies - It was reported that S106 payments were not affected by the amount of ‘affordable housing’ on a site; and, when the new Local Plan is agreed and in operation, S106 will be replaced by the CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) which will not be associated with the locality in which the development takes place but will be spent by TDC on infrastructure projects anywhere in Tendring District.
Chairman’s Report – The Chairman reported that there was to be a liaison meeting with TDC in the near future and that he would welcome ideas of subjects to be covered at it.
Matters of Concern
Planning - It was reported that inconsistencies in planning decisions had resulted in two similar applications in Ardleigh having different outcomes; one had been approved and the other refused resulting in an adverse precedent being set for future small developments.
It was reported that, at the November 2016 LDP meeting, The proposed number of dwellings proposed for Weeley had been reduced to 304 (situated behind the council offices at Weeley), however, like most villages, outline applications had also been submitted for 380 dwellings plus industrial units at the Car Boot site by Taylor-Wimpey and for 285 dwellings on land along the village by-pass from the caravan park at the railway station to the crematorium roundabout by Mr Bacon. It was also reported that the Parish Council feared that there would be more to come in future. It was further reported that, at the same meeting of the LDP in November, Weeley was designated a Rural Service Centre
It was then reported that there was to be a meeting the following evening of the Committee looking at the new Local Plan and members wished to know if the process could be speeded up to avoid large developers gaining outline permission for sites as they would be ‘sustainable’ and Parishes/Towns did not wish these ‘green field’ sites included in the Plan. It was pointed out that ‘Sustainable’ was the only criterion used by the Inspectorate when determining appeals.
It was further reported that the Final Consultation Draft of the Local Plan was almost ready to be put out to consultation again and that it could be up to a year before it was approved by the Minister and would come into force.
It was mentioned that Tendring was top of the list for appeals and that it had lost many of them according to a recent article in The Times.
It was further reported that the Government’s Local Government Department set the rules for planning and that it had set the criteria so that District and Borough Councils which did not have a Local Plan in place would get their Plans adopted quickly; it was also pointed out that TDC had sent its proposals for ‘land approved for housing’ to the Department separately and, when that was agreed, it would strengthen TDC’s ability to refuse permissions on land not so designated and it was hoped that this would reduce the number of appeals in future.
It was agreed that inconsistencies in decisions and the new Local Plan procedure be items for consideration at the Liaison meeting with TDC. The Chairman asked for examples of cases to back up the question.
There followed a general discussion on how outline planning approvals, on appeal, for large developments affected communities and that these caused residents/voters to lose confidence in TDC’s Planning Department and, as a result, the Council as a whole. The discussion also covered the fact that most villages/parishes were content with appropriate developments and that none was wishing to see no development at all on the basis that small developments could be assimilated and that large numbers of people moving into 200+ homes with variable bedroom numbers resulted in more vehicles and vehicle movements on roads already congested. In addition it was believed that the County Council Highways Department’s computer model for vehicle numbers bore no relation to reality: e.g. the Car Boot site in Weeley was designated for 200 dwellings and Highways had no objection as, according to their model, there would be 48vehicle movements between 8 am and 10 am on any given day. Various examples of planning appeals won and lost were then given: Little Clacton’s Judicial Review and St Osyth’s opposition to development of parts of the Priory’s estate.
It was then reported that some parishes were not receiving complete weekly lists and some were missed altogether, resulting in the Parish Council’s first intimation that approval/refusal had been given by TDC was in the decisions list or when building works had started or, sometimes, completed. It was pointed out that it was sensible for Clerks to check the web-site on a weekly basis to find the additional applications received since the previous list had been issued. It was stated that the person responsible for overseeing the efficient operation of the Planning Department was the Head of Planning, Cath Bicknell, under the direction of the Portfolio Holder who currently was Cllr Neil Stock on a temporary basis (although this had been for some time since CllrGuglielmi had given up the responsibility.
It was pointed out that District Councils recruit officers and train them so that, just as they become proficient and knowledgeable, they are poached by developers with higher salaries on offer and that it was only three-and-a-half years ago that the Planning Ombudsman declared TDC’s Planning Department ‘corrupt’.
A letter from Alresford Parish Council to the Chief Executive at TDC, Ian Davidson, is attached at Appendix A to these Minutes.
Health - Following the discussion at the November 2016 meeting about Maternity Units being closed, a call was put out for support to keep the Walk in Centres and Minor Injury Units open as their closure would put additional pressure and costs onto the Accident and Emergency Department at Colchester Hospital which, together with other hospitals, was already finding it very hard to cope with the excessive demand being put on it at present. Members were asked to encourage as many people as possible to attend the public meetings and to complete the on-line questionnaire at