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Dedham |
Minutes of meeting held on 10th November 2004
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DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting held on 10th November, 2004, in the Assembly Rooms
Present: In the Chair Mrs. V. Guglielmi Councillors D.Bradbrook, R. Cannon, C. Clover, R. Laverick, P.Moorhouse, J.Osborn., Mrs. L. West Ward Councillor C. Garnett Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin P.C. Everett Electors 12
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. P. Moorhouse.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved subject to the following amendments: Minute 3 (b) second line should read “The matter has been discussed with Mrs. Marshall and councillors were of the opinion..…” Minute 6. 2nd para. should read “Cllr. Laverick will attend the PP3 Course” Minute 8. 1st application, Comment: should read “…In area of AONB”
2. MATTERS ARISING (a) Village Pump Work on restoring the pump should be carried out in the near future. (b) Parish Council Website This is now up and running and the address is www.dedhamparishcouncil.org.uk. Thanks to information received from Bob Cox, acquisition of the domain name and subsequent hosting will cost us nothing. Subject to the addition of councillors’ photos and resumes (some still to be received) and those sections which require periodic update (e.g. Minutes) Cllr. Laverick regarded the site as now complete but as the approach adopted was a little more complicated than that originally proposed he felt that initially he should be responsible for updating information. Should the need arise another member could be trained. This was unanimously agreed and Cllr. Laverick was thanked for his work in this respect. (c) Tree Warden As requested at the previous meeting Mr. Carter had looked at the trees in Parson’s Field and had written a comprehensive report. In his opinion the best course of action would be to put a protective cage around the trees to prevent children climbing them with possibly a “Please do not climb” sign. It was agreed that this suggestion should be pursued and the Clerk will write to CBC with a copy to Cllr. Garnett and Dedham Primary School. (d) Skateboarding Cllr. Moorhouse has asked that the Parish Council contact Tendring Water Company to get their response regarding the use of land opposite the Assembly Rooms which was due to be discussed at their board meeting. At the moment three possible sites had been identified i.e. Brook Street, Manningtree Road and High Street (opp. Assembly Rooms). It was felt that the opinions of local youth be sought and it was agreed that a visit to the Youth Club would be the best way of getting their views. It was suggested that Cllr. Moorhouse and/or another councillor be asked to take this on board. (e) Mrs. Marshall’s Wall Mrs. Marshall had provided costings for the repair to her wall and it was agreed that this matter would be discussed further by councillors after the meeting. 4. CORRESPONDENCE (a) Lay visitor scheme - CBC’s CCTV Monitoring Centre CBC were keen to recruit volunteers to visit the CCTV monitoring centre to determine that correct procedures are being followed and civil liberties maintained. Members were given information regarding the scheme and any willing volunteer asked to contact CBC. (b) Draft Licensing Policy for Colchester From autumn 2005 the Licensing Act 2003 will make sweeping changes to current licensing arrangements and district councils will be taking over from local Magistrates the responsibility for licensing the sale of alcohol. CBC’s draft policy had been sent to all Parish Councils for comment on the new proposed Licensing Act. This did not affect the Parish Council directly. (c ) Transfer of Justices “Off” License from The Dedham Gourmet, Tegfan, High Street, to the Old Bakery premises, High Street, Dedham, had been received and noted. (d) Damage to High Street Map Resident Mr. John Tavner had witnessed an incident when a runaway milk float had hit the Dedham Map by the church wall in the High Street. Cllr. Osborn will check the map to see what damage had been done
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5. DEDHAM SURGERY It was hoped that a final decision on the application will be made towards the end of this month when it was hoped there would be more concrete news about funding. Colne Housing Society were pursuing all avenues and Cllr. Osborn advised that a number of applications for other funding had been made. 6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA The Chairman welcomed P.C. Everett to the meeting and said that she had requested a police presence to discuss the increasing amount of vandalism which was taking place on the sports field in general and the children’s play area in particular. The most recent had been the spoiling of the two-seater “camel” which had been ripped off its spring. Whilst not wishing to accuse members of the Youth Club it was evident that most damage was occurring on a Friday night and the Chairman asked that P.C. Everett visited the Youth Club. In response P.C. Everett said he had called in on the Youth Club on several occasions and found that the organisers ran “a tight ship”. However it appeared that a considerable number of children from outside the village were being ferried in by their parents in the belief that their children were attending the youth club, which they were not. The police were trying to collect names and addresses of these children so that parents can be informed that their children are “on the loose” in Dedham and not under supervision at the Youth Club. Obviously the amount of time available to the police for such an activity was limited. Mr. & Mrs. Wickstead, Brook Street, had seen from an upstairs bedroom quite young children intent upon vandalising newly installed goalposts, and suggested that perhaps the lowering of the hedge would give better visibility from the road which, in turn, might deter young vandals. This was discussed and following a proposal by Cllr. Bradbrook, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. West, with all in favour, it was agreed that Cllr. Osborn would undertake to obtain costings for cutting the hedge down to an approximate height of 4 ft. Cllr. Clover felt that the youth club was a victim of its own success inasmuch as it had outgrown the Duchy Barn and questioned why it should not be held in the Assembly Rooms as in the past before the building was refurbished. It was agreed that the youth club leaders be approached with the suggestion that they look into the Assembly Rooms as an alternative venue. The roundabout had been removed for repair. Mr. Mark Sycamore will undertake the resurfacing work with a new long-lasting non-slip material which was recommended for the purpose. Cllr. Cannon reported that Footpath 12 had been cleared by Mr. Hodson. 7. ACCOUNTS It was unanimously agreed that the following accounts be paid: £ Mr. A. Hodson - hours worked in October 120.00 Footpaths 24.00 Mrs. O.M. Ruff - Litter 150.00 Dedham Community Bus - Annual Road Tax 165.00 Duchy Barn - Meetings 10.00 Playsafe Construction - Play Area maintenance 925.90 Mr. C. Welham - Repairs 55.00 Mrs. V. Guglielmi (For A.Smith - Repairs/Maintenance 146.79
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8. PLANNING The Planning sub-committee has dealt with the following applications:
COL/04/1089 Amended Plan. Heath Cottage, The Heath Dedham. Erection of lst floor extension, part two storey/single storey rear extension, front porch and replacement doubt garage to rear.
COMMENT: It is the view of DPC that any objections have been overcome, BUT proviso 1 - 3 should be conditional (see Planning File)
COL/04/1890 15 Dedham Meade, Dedham. Rear balcony
COMMENT: No objection subject to neighbours’ comments.
COL/04/1909 47 Dedham Meade, Dedham. Loft conversion & installation of 2 dormer windows.
COMMENT: No objection subject to neighbours’ comments.
COL/04/1920 & Amended Plan. Anchor Inn, The Heath, Dedham. Demolition of P.H. erection of 3 detached dwellings.
COMMENT: Object to Change of Use. Loss of community amenity therefore application to be called in. (See Planning File).
(Mr. M. Daughters had written a letter of objection. Residents wishing to object to this application were advised to write to Colchester Borough Council direct.)
COL/04/1979 Innisfendra, Long Road West, Dedham. Single storey rear conservatory extension.
COMMENT: No objection, subject to neighbours’ comments.
COL/04/1975 Colchester & Essex Co-op Society, High Street, Dedham. Erection of protection bollards to outside front shop.
COMMENT: No objection.
COL/04/1974 Runnymeade, The Heath, Dedham. Windows added to garage & re-position of drive access entrance.
COMMENT: Object to application on the grounds that the access is unacceptable onto a very narrow lane. See Planning File.
The following applications have been approved by Colchester Borough Council.
COL/04/1616 The Old House, Coopers Lane, Dedham. Additional accommodation built as 1.5 storey building in garden to house.
COL/04/1625 Santa Maria, Anchor Lane, The Heath, Dedham. Construct new dormer windows on front elevation.
COL/04/1089 Heath Cottage, The Heath, Dedham. Erection of first floor side extension & two-storey/single storey rear extension and front porch plus detached workshop/art studio
The following application has been refused by Colchester Borough Council.
COL/04/1656 Hill Farm, Long Road East, Dedham. Erection of slimline 15 m. pole with single ground base unit.
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9. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Cllr. Garnett reported that CBC were implementing a new refuse collection plan. He and Cllr. Osborn had attended a meeting with Mr. High of CBC to select suitable lighting for the Mill Lane car park. Galvanised poles were in place and these will be painted black. Initially Cllr. Garnett said that the lights would remain on all the time and that time switches would be considered after the new lighting was up and running. After some discussion members stated that it would be less intrusive to neighbours if the time switches were installed from the beginning so that the lighting went off at 10 p.m. Cllr. Garnett agreed to pass this request on to CBC. A very successful public meeting had been held when the Dedham Village Design Statement was discussed. This was essential in order to protect the village High Street and the welfare of Dedham as a whole. He asked that this matter be placed on the agenda for the next meeting and that a comparison be made between the Parish Plan and the DVDS before a decision was made. It was unanimously agreed that this was the way forward. Cllr. Garnett stated that the result of the Shopping Survey had been quite good with a 13% return.
10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION Mr. Bartholomew asked if anything further was being done about speeding through the village and the bad parking in Parson’s Field by parents of children at the primary school. PC. Everett said that it was hoped that the speed camera would be out in Dedham and the police were only in a position to deal with parking which was considered an obstruction. Whilst appreciating the difficulties members hoped that matters would improve once CBC undertook the new road layout on the approach to the school. Cllr. Garnett suggested that the presence of traffic wardens at appropriate times to coincide with school “rush hour” might be a solution. He agreed to request this. Mr. Moogk commented that he felt it would have been preferable to use a traditional material, such as wood, for the new roundabout.and asked if the material to be used was inflammable. Cllr. Osborn said that it conformed to all the safety standards and had the added advantage of being waterproof. It was agreed that a smashed litter bin (and stanchion still with Mr. Druitt) be removed from the playing field. A resident reported that the broken streetlight beside the old surgery in Parson’s Field was now working. Mr. Bartholomew asked if CBC could be asked to provide a dropped kerb in Crown Street as it was impossible to get a wheelchair through the gap behind the telegraph pole and Mr. Carter’s fence. Clerk to write. Cllr. Garnett would approach the refuse department regarding the timing for collections in Parson’s Field, but felt that the new system which came into operation this week should be given a chance to work. ll. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Concern was expressed that vehicles were accessing the field behind The Limes via the public footpath. Cllr. Osborn asked that the owner who lives in Colchester be advised that this was not permitted without the consent of the Parish Council and the owner of the land over which the footpath runs (Mr. Moorhouse). Cllr. Bradbrook reported that there were two large potholes beside the war memorial. Two dead trees in the Parson’s Field play area will be checked by Cllr. Osborn. Cllr. Cannon said that the sightline at the junction of The Heath with Long Road West was poor and the verge/hedge needed to be cut back. The Clerk will contact the landowner, Mr. C. Shepherd. Cllr. Laverick was unable to attend the Emergency Plan meeting at the Town Hall as notice had been very short, but he was proposing to update the Dedham Emergency Plan in the near future. Cllr. Cannon had contacted the owner of the land beside “the gates” in Coggeshall Road and the hedge would be cut Cllr. Garnett said that he had no new information about these gates but CBC were aware that they remained incomplete.
DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 12th January, 2005, at 7.30 p.m. in the Assembly Rooms.
The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m. The question of Mrs. Marshall’s wall was discussed further in private. The Parish Council records gave no answer to the question of when the litter bin had been installed or who was responsible for the damage to Mrs. Marshall’s wall. The builder employed by Mrs. Marshall had charged £1,135 to repair the wall of which her insurance company had paid only £241.30 for what they considered was the “damaged area”. Mrs. Marshall was looking for £455 from the Parish Council which was half the balance of the full repair. Whilst members were sorry that Mrs. Marshall had been subjected to vandalism, they were of the opinion that the Parish Council could not accept responsibility for the damage caused by a third party using something which may or may not have been taken from the sports field. To do so would create a precedent which was not acceptable. The Clerk to write to Mrs. Marshall with a copy to CBC and Bernard Jenkin. |