Dedham
Parish Council

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of Meeting held on 14th February, 2007

in the Assembly Rooms

Present:   In the Chair       Cllr Mrs. V. Guglielmi

                 Councillors        R. Cannon, R. Cort, R. Laverick, P. Moorhouse, J.Osborn, Mrs. L. West.

                Parish Clerk        Mrs. J. Flewin

                Ward Cllr.           C. Garnett

                 Local electors      9

 The Chairman spoke of Cllr. David Bradbrook who sadly had died suddenly since the last meeting.  A minutes silence was observed.

 The Chairman also congratulated the Parish Council Team on winning the Dedham Quiz despite the fact that they had numbered only five players instead of six.

 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. Clover.

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved subject to the following amendment.  Item 4(a) should read “Cllr. Cannon” and not “Cllr. Cort”.

3. MATTERS ARISING

     (a)  War Memorial   Cllr. Osborn has written to two further companies from a list supplied by the War Memorials Trust and awaits their reply.

     (b)  Barrier - Royal Square   Members had considered the quotations for an alternative barrier to the playing field from Royal Square.   After some consideration it was agreed that a single telescopic post was probably the most acceptable and this was offered in two styles.  It was proposed by Cllr. Cannon, seconded by Cllr. Osborn, with all in favour, THAT the idea of a single telescopic post be taken forward and that a site meeting be arranged with the suppliers, Norman & Gardiner Ltd.,  to discuss various options in design and placement.  Cllr. Osborn to arrange and advise members accordingly.

      (c) PCSO  In view of queries raised following newspaper reports of a slashing of     police “match funding” Cllr. Osborn contacted Insp. Mayes of Essex Police.  He has responded that match funding is secure and that “he was under instruction to continue to attract match funding for PCSOs.”   There was a need to find a suitable area for the use of a PCSO and enquiries would have to be made.  Initially the Duchy Barn, Sports Pavilion and Assembly Rooms would be approached.

    (d)  Other items from previous Minutes   Cllr. Cannon has contacted Mr. Mapleston of ECC Highways to discuss outstanding work in respect of the ‘Parish Gates’ in general and that in Coggeshall Road in particular.  Cllr. Garnett reported that work in respect of the broken road signs in Dedham and Langham has been contracted by ECC.

 Cllr. Laverick has been in touch with Beestons who confirmed that it is still their policy in rural areas to stop if hailed provided that it is safe to do so and that passengers are allowed to board whilst the bus is stationery at the junction of Long Road West and Ardleigh Road.

 Quotations have been received for maintenance of the Mill Lane street and car park lights and one is still to come.  The Chairman will ask for the verbal quote to be put in writing.  This will be discussed at the next meeting.

 Cllr. Cort and Mrs.Judith Fowles have visited Monks Lane and agreed that this lane should be included in the Village Design Statement.  Mrs. Fowles will investigate the history of Monks Lane and ways of including it in the Design Statement. 

 Cllr. Cannon reported that the Planning Investigations Officer has looked at the Abbott’s sign and stated that it does not need consent.

CORRESPONDENCE

 (a)    Free Trees  An initiative is being launched by the Leader of the Council whereby the public can obtain free trees for planting on private property.  These will be available during the weekend of 17/18 February from Rowan House, Sheepen Road, Colchester.

     (b)    Service at Chelmsford Cathedral  All parish councillors and partners were invited to attend a special Civic Service at Chelmsford Cathedral on 27th April, at 7.30 p.m. and to join the Chairman of ECC for light refreshments afterwards.

 (b)  Colchester 2020  The next Assembly Meeting will take place on Thursday, 15th March, at The United Reformed Church, Lion Walk, Colchester, at 2 p.m. On this occasion the afternoon session will be repeated at 6 p.m. in the evening for those unable to attend during the afternoon.

    (c)   Guide Dogs for the Blind   There were no objections to a request from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association for permission to hold a Sponsored Dog Walk in Dedham on Sunday, 20th May, and to have a stall in Royal Square 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 5. DEDHAM SURGERY    Although the building will be called the Health Centre the new unit will be known as The Dedham Vale Community Health Association.  Some funding has been obtained from the ECC Community Initiative Fund for the purchase of furnishings, i.e. blinds, tables and chairs, etc.  Letting the Health Centre accommodation cannot go forward until the footpath is installed and it is hoped that there will be some agreement on this before too long.   The complaints about the lighting have been discussed with Colne Housing who have contacted the contractors.   Cllr. Garnett and Mr. Bower have also met with ECC Highways and agreed that sensor lighting would be more acceptable at the site.  It is hoped that the problem will be settled soon.   Meanwhile there were complaints about the lighting which is far too bright at the new Crown Street development and Cllr. Osborn will follow this up with Colne Housing.

 6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA   A Colchester rambling group had contacted Cllr. Osborn and whilst congratulating the Parish Council on the overall condition of footpaths in the area they did have a complaint regarding a footpath on land owned by Daniel Freeman.  Garden rubbish had been dumped and burned on the footpath previously and this had been dealt with by Mr. Freeman and Cllr. Laverick who had spoken with the local residents.   Unfortunately the dumping has continued and Mr. Freeman is investigating the matter from the legal point of view. 

 A complaint from a resident regarding the “free ranging” of a large number of  chickens, geese, etc.from a property in Monks Lane had been investigated by CBC involving sound equipment.  This had produced a negative result but following CBC’s visit the owner had agreed to do whatever was possible to contain the problem.

The small grass triangle at Lamb Corner was again being used for parking, but in view of the current building work it was agreed that any remedial work should be delayed until it is finished.   The new road sign for Birchwood Road had been damaged and this had been reported.

 7.  ACCOUNTS   It was agreed that the following accounts be paid:

                                                                                                                £

Mr. A. Hodson  -  Hours worked in January                                      £120.00

Mrs. O.M. Ruff -  Litter                                                                        144.00

Hire of Duchy Barn                                                                                10.00

IJT Direct - Inkjets                                                                                 31.93

Donation to Altzheimer Society (in memorium David Bradbrook)       50.00

 Income

VAT Rebate                    £1,092.77

Parish Paths                         900.00

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

COL/07/2096   Ivy Cottage, The Heath, Dedham.

                          Erection of side extension.

  Comments:     Approved before consultation was received.

 Col/07/0025    1, Frog Meadow, Brook Street, Dedham.

                         Conversion of roof void with three dormers.

  Comments:     Approve as previous application.

 COL/07/0003  Francote, High Street, Dedham.

                         Two storey and single storey extension and alterations.

                         Recommend refusal after site meeting.

COL/07/1848  34 Dedham Meade, Dedham.

                         Convert 2-bed, bungalow to house.

  Comments:     Recommend refusal.  To be ‘called in’.

 The following applications have been approved  by CBC.

 COL/07/2096   Ivy Cottage, The Heath, Dedham.

                          Erection of side extension.

 COL/07/2085   Maison Talbooth, Stratford Road, Dedham.

                          Single storey dining/garden room extension.

 The following applications have been refused by CBC.

 COL/07/1848   34, Dedham Meade, Dedham.

                          Complete first floor extension to bungalow.

 COL/07/2010   Land in garden of Berryfields, Coggeshall Road, Dedham.

                          Erection of dwelling.

 Following a request by a resident at the January meeting for a breakdown of refusals and approvals as a result of Parish Council recommendations Cllr. Cannon has provided figures for the year 2006.  In summary out of 82 applications received during the year 76 (92.7%) applications were approved or refused following recommendations from the Parish Council and 6 (7.3%) which the Parish Council initially recommended for refusal were subsequently approved.

REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR  Cllr. Garnett advised that he and Cllr. Osborn will be meeting with CBC on 28th February in the Mill Lane car park to discuss the provision of temporary toilets.    CBC are making some alterations in the method of applying for dwellings within the Borough.  At present there are several residents looking for single bedroom accommodation.   On behalf of Langham Parish Council Cllr. Garnett wished to thank the Parish Council for their support in refusing the Arley Grange Assessment Centre application.  He reported that the local Forum meetings were becoming more complex and that the number of 17,100 houses was now regarded by Eastern Region as a minimum number of houses to be produced. It is proposed that a tariff system be imposed on new developments and it is hoped that some of this money will be ploughed back into local communities.

 10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION   A resident complained about the state of the car park by the Mill pond.  This land belonged to CBC and was in a very bad condition.

Cllr. Garnett will take the matter up with CBC.

 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS  Cllr. Osborn asked members to bring suggestions to the next meeting for consideration in respect of the Town/Parish Council Capital Grant Scheme.  Potholes at Bargate Lane and Lamb Corner were again mentioned

and some white line work was still outstanding.  In response to Cllr. Cort’s query regarding the status of Castle Hill in the Borough repair programme C.Cllr. Clover said that this area was at the top of the “B” category and hopefully would come into the “A” list before too long.   All repairs were categorised and finances apportioned accordingly.    So far as brown tourist signs in Dedham are concerned  Cllr Garnett said that he had not yet had a response from businesses as to what information was wanted on the signs.  As soon as this was available to him he would follow it up.  Cllr. Moorhouse agreed to deal with this.

 It was unanimously agreed that a cheque for £50 be sent to the Altzheimer Society in memory of the late Cllr. David Bradbrook.

 12. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING  The next meeting will be on Wednesday,

14th March, 2007, at 7.30 p.m. in The Assembly Rooms.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.