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Dedham |
Minutes of meeting held on 13th April 2005
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DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes
of Meeting held on 13th April, 2005 Present: In the Chair Cllr. Mrs. Guglielmi Councillors D.Bradbrook, R. Cannon, C.Clover, R. Cort, P. Moorhouse, J. Osborn, Ward Councillor C. Garnett Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin Electors 25 Prior to the Parish Council Meeting the Chairman welcomed Carole Dennis from Colchester Borough Neighbourhood Watch and Rob Clark, Co-ordinator for Neighbourhod Watch in Langham who gave a brief outline of their successful village scheme. There was close co-operation between the police and the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and a daily crime sheet was e-mailed by Colchester police to Rob Clark who passed any relevant information to his volunteer street co-ordinators. Carole Dennis said there was a great deal of help available for local Neighbourhood Watch groups and it was agreed that the Parish Council would look at the information given. This would be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting and a public meeting arranged. Carole Dennis said she would be pleased to support such a meeting and the Chairman thanked her and Rob Clark for their attendance. 1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllrs. Mrs. West and Laverick. 2 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were agreed and signed. 3.MATTERS ARISING (a) Skateboard Park Tendring Hundred Water advised that they understood the need for a change in surface if their site was to be used for skate boarding and confirmed their acceptance in principle. Detailed information of what might be proposed would be required by them and any agreement would need to allow for reinstatement if/when the use of the site was terminated. A copy of a letter of objection from Mr. Curtis had been circulated to all members. Before making any further enquiries, Cllr. Mrs. West wished to know if there would be overall support for the venture and it was agreed that the question of whether the Parish Council should proceed with any proposals to install a skateboard park in Dedham should be put to a public meeting when the residents could air their views. This would be arranged. (b) New Road Layout - Parson’s Field Cllr. Garnett had been unable to visit the area with Mr. Hicks but had done so in company with Sgt. Middleton of Essex Police. He would report fully under item 9. (c) New Licensing Act 2003 Cllr. Cort had attended the CBC seminar on this subject and gave a comprehensive summary of the new regime of licenses and notices that will affect all village halls that cater for activities such as the sale of alcohol and the provision of food, entertainment, music and dancing. Information on this was passed to the clerk. |
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4. CORRESPONDENCE (a) Speeding in Dedham A copy of a letter from Mr. Anderson to CBC regarding speeding traffic and the state of Stratford Road and a letter from residents in Crown Street voicing concern about speeding and heavy lorries had been circulated to all members. A letter from Essex Police following the Parish Council’s enquiry about hand-held cameras stated that this was not something which Essex Police supported. In the main the safety of local people was paramount and local speed gun operators were considered as “good sport” by some road users and often assaulted, verbally abused, etc. Also providing the necessary administrative support and resources for a community Speed Watch Scheme would detract from their current commitment which is targeted to ksi (killed and serious injury) sites. However, ECC Highways Department are to allow Parish Councils to purchase and operate a Speed Activated Sign which will enable parish members to contribute towards speed management and road safety in their local area. It was agreed that further enquiries into this be made. Cllr. Garnett has spoken with the Crown Street residents and agreed that there were considerable grounds for checking with ECC to see if something can be done and members agreed that this would have the full support of the Parish Council There appears to have been an increase in Dutch lorries using the village roads and County Councillor Clover said this was because these lorries were fitted with Satellite Navigation Systems which permitted the use of Dedham roads. He was presently involved in trying to get Dedham’s inappropriate smaller roads removed from this system. Meantime Cllr. Garnett asked that residents continue to try to get information (names, number plates, times, etc.) about HGVs using village roads and to let him have the details. Cllr. Cort had also heard from Essex Police stating that Dedham was not a priority site for speed watches but that these would be carried out as spot checks. It was pointed out that the highly visible positioning of police cars meant that mostly speed traps were useless as drivers had plenty of time to slow down as had been witnessed by Cllr. Garnett and Sgt. Middleton. It was hoped that future speed traps would be positioned in more suitable places and be more effective. It was also agreed that the cost of a “smiley face” road safety device be investigated. (b) Dedham Run 2005 This year the Dedham Run will be held on Sunday, 25th September. There was no objection to the sports field being used for this event. 5. DEDHAM SURGERY Nothing further to report on funding. Cllr. Osborn said that the Practice had made a move to close one of the surgeries being held in the Assembly Rooms and this will be vigorously contested. Following an alleged complaint regarding the facilities available at the Assembly Rooms the Public Health & Safety had investigated and reported favourably. Problems with making appointments should be challenged by speaking with the Practice Manager and details passed in writing to either Jean Flewin or John Mitson as Patient Representatives. 6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA Grass cutting of footpaths is now starting. Following the successful re-opening of the roundabout on Easter Monday an unfortunate accident occurred involving young children, with one boy having to be taken to hospital. The roundabout has been temporarily closed and an inspection will be carried out. It was proposed by Cllr. Mrs. Guglielmi, seconded by Cllr. Bradbrook, with all in favour, that an independent Health & Safety Inspector be asked to look at the roundabout before it is re-opened. Cllr. Osborn is in contact with the family concerned It was agreed that the recommended top-up of bark be obtained for the play area. |
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7. ACCOUNTS It was unanimously agreed THAT the following accounts be paid: £ Hire of Assembly Rooms 39.00 CBC - Lighting 36.80 Mrs. O.M. Ruff 120.00 A. Hodson - Hours worked in March 112.00 Playsafe Construction - Security fencing 165.67 Playquip Leisure - Roundabout 3,252.00 AB Carpentry - Roundabout 593.50 Dedham Sports Club - Grass cutting 826.60
Income: Dedham LTC - £30.00 Dedham FC - £30.00
8. PLANNING The Planning sub-Committee has dealt with the following applications: COL/05/0404 Loke End, High Street, Dedham. New two storey extension and conservatory. COMMENT: Application approved, subject to condition that first floor window
overlooking Princel House is obscured and fixed. COL/05/0460 The Charels, Bargate Lane, Dedham. Demolition of existing garage and single store rear extension. COMMENT: The DPC has reservations as to whether the size of the extension contravenes Policies H7 and H8 being detrimental to the street scene. We also feel PD rights should be removed to ensure no new garage proposals in the front garden are submitted.
COL/04/1145 The Cottage, Grove Hill, Dedham. Approval of Conditions 2 (materials) COMMENT: Refer to letter dated 29th March 2005 in Planning File.
COL/05/0476 l Chestnut Cottage, Boxhouse Lane, Dedham. Two storey link extension.
COMMENT: Bulky design but not impacting on the street scene or the rear. COL/05/0525 The Cottage, Old Ipswich road, Dedham. Erection of pitched roof over existing garage. COMMENT: See letter dated 15th March, 2005, in Planning File
The Anchor Public House, The Heath A further application has been made in respect of this property which will be challenged. Residents were asked to send letters of objection to the Planning Office, Lexden Road, Colchester. |
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9. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Cllr. Garnett had made an extensive tour of Dedham roads in company with Sgt. Middleton of Essex Police and they had seen for themselves the congestion caused by parking by parents during the school run. This was an on-going problem which is constantly being scrutinized. There has already been one police spot check for speeding and the “smiley face” discussed. The caravan parked on the verge outside the primary school has been removed. Cllr. Garnett made enquiries about the waste bin for outside the school and one will be provided when further stocks are obtained by CBC. Once again a speed limit of 30 mph has been turned down for Stratford Road as it does not meet the necessary criteria. It is hoped that the 30 mph signs on the “gates” will be installed in Coggeshall Road soon and it has been agreed that the sign in Ardleigh Road will be re-sited near to Hunters Chase. 10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION Mr.Michael Archer hoped that the replacement for the destroyed Monkey Puzzle tree at Appletree Cottage, Manningtree Road, would be of an indigenous species and not just an ornamental tree. It was explained that the replacement condition is for an indigenous variety which if it dies within five years must be replaced. Residents from Parson’s Field again raised the problems involved due to the new parking arrangements and Mr. Bartholomew had received a considerable amount of abuse from drivers. Mrs. Williamson said she was prepared to use the walking bus but that getting to the pick up point along Long Road was far too dangerous to walk with her very young children. She would need to drive to the gathering point and this in itself created a problem as there was nowhere to park her car. Also the walking bus only operated in the morning. Mrs. Oven suggested that a scheme of “letting” resident’s drive to parents for short stays was in operation elsewhere and worked very well and could be a solution to parking problems. The strip of land which Cllr. Moorhouse had offered for parking beside the school was discussed, and although initially turned down by the School Governors the Parish Council felt an approach to ECC should be made to see if they would be interested in helping fund such a project. The Clerk to write to ECC. 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Cllr. Moorhouse reported that badgers were undermining Manningtree Road and it was agreed that Highways be advised. 12. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th May, 2005, in the Assembly Rooms at 7 p.m. This will be followed by the Parish Assembly at 8 p.m. There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.55 p.m. |