Dedham
Parish Council

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of Meeting held on14th November, 2007
in the Assembly Rooms

Present:   In the Chair       Cllr. Mrs. Guglielmi

                 Councillors        Mrs. A. Cannon, R. Cannon,  R. Laverick, S. Marrison,

                                            Mr. P. Moorhouse, Mrs. L. West,  J. Osborn

                 Ward Councillor C. Garnett

                  Parish Clerk       Mrs. J. Flewin

                  PCSO                Natalie King

                  Electors              9

 1  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. Cort

 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved..                                                             

 3. MATTERS ARISING

 (a)    Recycling Units  To be reported on by Cllr. Garnett, Item 10.

 (b) Public Toilets  To be reported on by Cllr. Garnett, Item 10.

 (c)  Brown Signs  To be reported on by Cllr. Garnett, Item 10.

 (d) Village Seats  This matter is in hand.

 (e)  Footpath Map  A “You are here” addition has been made to the footpath map now  on the new notice boards.  All the new boards are now in position and thanks are due to Cllr. Moorhouse for his help in their erection.

(f)   Skateboarding  A feasibility study is being undertaken by Tendring District Council with regard to the possibilities of a mobile skateboard park.  Meanwhile members had ascertained that the half-pipe at Furze Hill had not been particularly successful so far as users from Dedham were concerned..  Apart from the distance involved in getting there one problem had been intimidation by local youths and under the circumstances it was agreed that the outcome of the feasibility study should be considered before any further action was taken. 

4. CORRESPONDENCE

 (a)  Damaged kissing gates   Mr. Amstutz of the D.V. & Stour Valley Project team had written apologising for the delay in dealing with this matter.  He has contacted Mr. Moorhouse and will meet with him in the very near future.

5. REPORT OF PCSO  Natalie King reported that there were five unsocial behaviour contracts in force in Dedham at the present time. Not all those concerned were from the village and parents of those children involved had been visited. She felt that this action helped enforce the point that bad behaviour was unacceptable and had repercussions.  In speaking with the youngsters she was aware that they felt they had nowhere to go on a regular basis to meet with their friends and this was something which the Parish Council might take on board.  It was agreed that this was a desirable goal but difficult to achieve in a rural area.  However the PCSO will invite constructive thoughts from the youth and report back to the Parish Council.

 There was some complaint that the white lines across private entrances had not been reinstated since the roadworks.  Cllr. Garnett will mention this to Highways supported by a letter to from the Parish Council.

 The Chairman thanked the PCSO and said that her efforts were much appreciated by the village residents.

6. FOOTHPATHS/PLAY AREA  Cllr. Osborn is well aware of the situation in respect of Footpath 12 (Long Road West) and is keeping the matter under observation.  The matter of the stile on the Essex Way behind Winterflood House is also in hand.

So far as the maintenance of the play area was concerned, Cllr. Osborn explained that Mr. A. Hodson now carried out a weekly check of the equipment which in fact had duplicated that of Playsafe Construction.  In view of this and the overall annual check by ROSPA he wondered if a replacement for Playsafe was necessary.  There was a need for a delivery of bark and it was agreed that Cllr. Osborn should deal with this. 

After some discussion it was agreed that the “motorbike” rocker should be monitored as suggested by ROSPA in their last report, and all members were asked to look at this piece of equipment from the safety point of view and bring their views to the next meeting in January, 2008. 

7. DEDHAM  SURGERY  There was nothing concrete to report but there was to be a meeting with the Dedham Vale Network soon.  There had been no written reply from the Minister of Health and this matter was being pursued by Mr. Bernard Jenkin, MP. 

As a temporary measure black and yellow tape had been put round the telegraph pole which was obstructing the new footway in Manningtree Road whilst BT continued to try to resolve the problem with an unhelpful landowner.

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

Mr. A. Hodson  Hours worked in October – Maint.                                    130.00

                                                                        PPP                                    275.00

Mrs. O.M. Ruff – Litter                                                                              156.00

British Legion – Wreath                                                                               20.00

Income:  CBC share of  Capital Grant Scheme -   £1,808.00

                Dedham Village Association meetings -        £7.00

                       (Steering Committee)

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

 COL/07/2566    Oaklea, Ardleigh Road, Dedham.

                           Certificate of Lawfulness for child minding 6 children.

  Comments:       Approve conditional.

COL/07/2629     Old Grammar School, Royal Square, Dedham.

                            Various internal works.

  Comments:        Approve.

COL/07/2632     White House, High Street, Dedham.

                             Variations to o6/0392

  Comments:        Approve.

COL/07/1773     The Anchor, The Heath, Dedham.

                            Amended plans for 2 detached houses.

  Comments:        Approve if conditions are met.

COL/07/2666     25 Forge Street, Dedham.

                            Single storey side and rear extension.

  Comments:        Approve with conditions.

The following applications were approved  by CBC.

 COL/07/2229    Rusty Tiles, Coggeshall Road, Dedham.

                           Demolish garage, erect new bungalow. Alterations to existing bungalow.

COL/07/0931   Glen-Helen, Ardleigh Road, Dedham.

                          Demolish existing and erect 2-bed. bungalow.

COL/70/1664   Landsdown, Bargate Lane, Dedham.

                          Single storey annexe for elderly relative.

COL/70/2389   St. Margarets, High Street, Dedham.

                         Single storey conservatory extension and loft conversion. 

10. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR  Cllr. Garnett reported that there was no support for CBC’s assertions that there was a covenant on the land at Mill Lane car park and it remained for them to prove otherwise.  Meanwhile he had met with the leader of the Council and it was hoped that proper toilets would be available for next year. The question of their maintenance during the summer period was still to be decided.

Cllr. Garnett said that eventually larger bottle banks should be available in the Mill Lane car park.  There was at present a very large “overflow” with bottles lying outside the full bins but Borough funding is not available to enable Homestead School to increase the emptying timetable.  A local resident asked why there was a need for bottle banks at all in view of the fact that every household was provided with a bin for bottles which were collected on a fortnightly basis.  Cllr. Garnett noted the comments and will continue to pursue the matter.

Cllr. Garnett has an appointment with Katherine Blake from the D.V. & Stour Valley Project team to discuss Brown Signs. He was pleased to report that the Dedham Visitors Management group is to start up again.

A date for street cleaning was invited in order that this early morning event can be organised.  It was suggested that 30^th November would be suitable in view of the Dickensian Evening which was to take place on 1^st December.  Residents will need to be advised that they must park their cars elsewhere. 

The village map will be amended by the D.V. & Stour Valley Project to show that there is parking at Castle House.

CBC is undertaking a programme of improvements to the facilities of their properties to bring them up to a reasonable standard.

11. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION   A resident reported that the forecourt of the new surgery in Manngtree Road was being used as a car park.  Registration numbers of offending cars will be taken. 

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS   Cllr. Laverick had produced a Dedham Emergency Plan update and all members received a copy.  The Headmistress of Dedham Primary School had requested a copy and there were no objections to this.  He expressed concern at the proliferation of  advertising signs in respect of the new shop at  Birchwood Farm.   Cllr. Cannon has written to Planning asking that they visit the area and Cllr. Garnett said there was a definite policy against such signs in the Borough Plan.  Cllr. Cannon will follow this up. There has been a  complaint about the build up of litter in Royal Square and this will be monitored.

 In his absence Cllr. Cort had written a report on the Dedham Village Design Statement which he said has been accepted by CBC and implemented as a Planning Guidance Note with effect from 5 p.m., Thursday, 25^th October, 2007.  It is now at the printers and a “launch” will take place on Saturday, 24^th November, 2007, at 11 a.m. in Royal Square.  A copy should be delivered to all parishioners’ homes by the middle of December, 2007.  All printing and distribution costs have been covered by a grant provided by the D.V. & Stour Valley Project.  Cllr. Cannon said this was a very useful document to run alongside the Planning Policy Document.   Cllr. Garnett stated that CBC had been very impressed with the document and that Dedham was the first village in Colchester to produce a Design Statement, setting a new standard.  It was agreed that a letter be sent to Judith Fowles and her VDS Steering Group team congratulating them on their success in achieving this major milestone for the Parish. 

The Chairman requested that a letter be sent to the Ardleigh Cubs and Scouts who attended the Remembrance Day Service, congratulating them on their impeccable behaviour during a very cold, lengthy Service.

 Cllr. Cannon distributed a document outlining Riperian Rights and hoped to organise a site meeting in the New Year to show the problems with drainage which exist particularly in the Coggeshall Road area.  Cllr. Marrison had spoken with Colin Teare of Highways on the subject of ditches and felt that an open forum meeting with Mr. Teare on the subject of ditches, etc. would be beneficial.  It was agreed that if a date could be arranged notification could appear in the February edition of the parish magazine.   Cllr. Moorhouse reported that a rotten tree by the watersplash needed attention. The Environmental Agency will be contacted.  He also wondered if a strip of his land which ran behind the houses in Parson’s Field towards the school could be offered for use as allotments.  It was suggested that this offer could be advertised in the parish magazine and Cllr. Marrison agreed to be the contact for anyone interested.

 The Chairman will undertake the decorating of the Parish Council Christmas Tree for the special event in Dedham Church and Cllr. Mrs. West agreed to provide the tree. 

13. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING    There will be no meeting in December.  The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 9^th January, 2008, at 7.30 p.m. in The Assembly Rooms, Dedham.

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