Dedham
Parish Council

Minutes of meeting held on 10 May 2006

                     DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting held on 10th May, 2006
in the Assembly Rooms

Present: In the Chair: Cllr Mrs. V. Guglielmi
Councillors D. Bradbrook, , C.Clover, R. Cort, R. Laverick,
Mrs. L. West, P. Moorhouse, J.Osborn, .
Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin
Electors 18


Chairman of the Youth Club, Mr. Kevin Taylor, and Treasurer Mrs. Nors Jackson
attended to give a brief resume of the current situation with regard to the Youth Club and their aspirations for the future. Mr. Taylor paid tribute to those residents who helped with the Youth Club on a Friday evening without whom the club could not run. However, more help was needed, especially male, and there were behavioural problems which mainly stemmed from non-members. It had been encouraging to conduct an evaluation report and the feedback from both parents and children was very rewarding. The majority of parents were overwhelmingly supportive, but at the other end of the scale there were those who were dropping off children in Dedham who were not members of the Youth Club and were not particularly concerned how the youngsters would be spending their time. Being able to employ Frauke Lehmeier as youth leader through a grant from the Local Network Fund had been a major step forward and her work has been greatly appreciated by the young people. For the future they had been successful in obtaining two further grants which will (a) allow Friday night activities for the younger children to continue and (b) allow for activities of interest to older boys and girls. These could include workshops, possibly on a Saturday morning and outside the village, covering motorbike maintenance, skateboard maintenance, purchase of a laptop, etc.

Mr. Taylor was aware that bad behaviour was not acceptable and appreciated that some residents were concerned. He wanted to stress that much of the problem was created by young people who were not members of the Youth Club. The new community policing arrangements it was hoped would help, and PC Kerry Allen will attend when on duty if possible. Steps were being considered as to how the situation could be controlled and Mr. Taylor has discussed the matter with PC Allen. It was questioned whether the Co-op, which was a focal point, should be approached to close earlier than 10 p.m. on a Friday night, but some councillors did not see this as an answer to the problem.

In closing Mr. Taylor said that the aim of the youth club was to increase a sense of community, responsibility and respect and more volunteers to help with the range of activities offered would be greatly appreciated. The Chairman thanked Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Jackson who with Frauke Lehmeier were giving so much time and effort to the youth of the village. It was hoped that the police would be able to help with the behaviour and influence from outside the Club and the Parish Council would write to PC Allen inviting her to attend to discuss problems with the Parish Council.
 

 




1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. R. Cannon and Ward Cllr.
Garnett.

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved.
However it had been mistakenly reported under Item 9. para 2. that vandalism had taken place on the playground at the local Primary School. This was incorrect. The problem arose on Council land and not on school premises and has been reported to CBC.

3. MATTERS ARISING

DVDS Questionnaire There were no suggestions for inclusion in the DVDS questionnaire. However Cllr. Moorhouse felt that a new map for local footpaths would be welcome in view of some recent changes instigated by ECC. Cllr. Laverick had produced a local map which it was suggested could be discussed at the next meeting. County Cllr. Clover reminded members that the Definitive Footpath Map was legally binding and should be adhered to.

(b) Neighbourhood Policing Details of the new set up were presented at the Clerk’s Forum recently. This involved more trained members of the police force being out on the streets and it was hoped that the “bobby on the beat” would again become a common sight. PC Kerry Allen, working out of Copford, was the Community Police Officer assigned to Dedham. Complaints had been received that the Neighbourhood Watch E-mail set up was not being used strictly for the purpose for which it had been created. Mr. Hindley, local Co-ordinator, had been informed.

(c) Royal Square Bus Stop There appeared to be some confusion regarding the road markings for the newly signed bus stops in Royal Square. Cllr. Clover will contact CBC and attempt to clarify the situation.

(d) Voluntary First Registration of Title Cllr. Mrs. West had obtained some information regarding Land Registry of land owned by the Parish Council. It appears that this did not affect the Parish Council at the present time.

4.CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Mill Lane Car Park – Broken Bottles There were complaints that bottles were being removed from the bottle banks in the car park and smashed. It was agreed that it would be better if the containers were re-sited in the coach park and were of the larger closed in variety. This would mean that bottles could not be removed and vehicular access for collection would be easier. It was agreed to contact CBC to ask if these bins could be changed and moved coach car park and replaced with an ordinary litter bin in the car park.

Re-location of Post Office The present Post Office will close on 22nd May and
will re-open at The Pharmacy on 25th May. All services and facilities will be available at the new location. It is not yet known if the pillar box will be re-sited.


5. DEDHAM SURGERY Colne Housing advise that VAT will be payable on the new building. The Parish Council will apply for the sum of £25,000 from the Parish Grants fund which will be considered on 1st August, 2006, at the Town & Parish Clerk’s Forum. Cllr. Osborn can attend with the Clerk on this occasion.

Cllr. Garnett had reported that the Strategic Health Authority was in conversation with the PCT’s regarding funding and will hear from them in due course. Cllr. Osborn said that there would be six housing units available including one for disabled.
Application packs were now available and were held by him.`

6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA A meeting had taken place with the rights of Way Officer to discuss anomalies with the new footpath notices, some of which had been wrongly sited. A certain measure of agreement had been reached with the landowner and some signs will be re-positioned. Cllr. Osborn is monitoring this. An exchange of E-mails with Mr. de Muscotte shows that he will not approve the introduction of gates to replace stiles on his land as these are not stock-proof. Cllr. Moorhouse agreed that in his experience this was so and that this was a matter between the landowner and ECC. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to Mr. de Muscotte accordingly. Cllr. Osborn had looked at the footbridge on Footpath 16 and agreed that it could be made more user-friendly if a six inch step was installed at each end.
This could probably be done under the PPP programme. It was agreed that this work should be put in hand.

Resident Mr. Stewart, together with a welder, has made adjustments to the gate in the play area so that it now closes. The broken spring had been removed. The Chairman thanked Mr. Stewart for his public spirited help. Cllr. Osborn advised that the gate was now locked on a Friday night to deter youths taking bikes into the play area..

7. ACCOUNTS It was proposed by Cllr. Bradbrook, seconded by Cllr. Osborn, with all in favour THAT the following accounts be paid:
£
Mr. A. Hodson - Hours worked in April - 120.00
PPP - 250.00
Mrs. O.M. Ruff – Litter 180.00

Income: Precept lst half-year - £8,500

 




8. PLANNING The Planning sub-committee has dealt with the following applications:

COL/06/0544 Hegeston, Long Road West, Dedham.

Replacement conservatory.

Comments: No objection.

COL/06/0562 2 Clayhill Cottages, Long Road East, Dedham.

Two storey rear extension.

Comments: Not sympathetic. Insufficient parking and overdevelopment of site.

COL/06/0527 Lower Barn Farm, Manningtree Road, Dedham.

Change of use to workshop and office accommodation.

Comments: Not sympathetic towards proposals. Traffic and highway issues non
compliance with Policy CO2.

COL/06/0591 Heathfields, Long Road East, Dedham.

Ground floor extension and two storey lst floor extension.

Comments: Concern over visual impact from road and rear flat roof. If issues
met, no objection.

COL/06/0595 Mayfield, Long Road East, Dedham.

New bay window and detached garage/store.

Comments: Plans incomplete, insufficient turning area, more details needed
Therefore rejected.

COL/06/0636 Albany Lodge, High Street, Dedham.

Single storey rear extension.

Comments: No objections.

COL/06/0620 Duchy House, Royal Square, Dedham.

Garden wall repair and raising 162.75 to match.

Comments: No objections.

COL/06/0659 Jupes Hill House, Long Road East, Dedham.

New front door surround and cover.

Comments: No objections.

COL/06/0660 Jupes Hill House, Long Road East, Dedham.

Pool house.

Comments: No objections.

In order to facilitate publication on the website, Cllr. Laverick will bring a suggestion to the next meeting.

9. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Cllr. Garnett was hopeful that extra toilets would be available during the summer.

10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION Some residents were concerned at a report in the
newspaper regarding a Certificate of Lawfulness application for land at the rear of Sundowne, The Heath. This was in respect of its use as a builder’s yard. This has not yet come before the planning committee and will be dealt with at the next meeting.
A query was raised regarding Footpath 29. This has not been diverted and Cllr. Osborn will investigate the report that walkers were deviating from the path.

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Cllr. Moorhouse was of the opinion that the War Memorial needed cleaning. The Chairman will look into this request and give a report next meeting.

12. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held in the Assembly Rooms, Dedham, on Wednesday 14th June at 7 p.m. Insp. Glen Mays will
talk about Community Support Officers.
 

 

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