Dedham Parish Council

Dedham
Parish Council

Minutes of meeting held on 14th September 2005

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting held on 14 September 2005

in the Assembly Rooms

Present: In the Chair Cllr Mrs. V. Guglielmi

Councillors D. Bradbrook, R. Cannon, C. Clover, R. Cort,

R. Laverick, P. Moorhouse, J.Osborn, Mrs. L. West.

Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin

Electors 7

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. Garnett.

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

3. MATTERS ARISING

(a) Neighbourhood Watch Brian Hindley, Dedham Area Coordinator, is working

hard to bring the Neighbourhood Watch in Dedham together and a further meeting

will be held in the Assembly Rooms on 22"0 September when local police officers

will be present.

(b)Traffíc Problems Following the brief use of the mobile VMS unit it was felt

that because of its size it had not been positioned where it was most needed other than

in Long Road. Certainly motorists were made aware that they were speeding, but it

was diffícult to assess if it would have an effect long-term. It was agreed that CBC be

asked if Dedham could have a further visit when the unit could be placed elsewhere,

say every two months.

In response to the Parish Council's letter regarding alternative speed reduction

measures, Mr. Ciaburro, ECC, stated that the main benefit of rumble surfacing was to

give drivers an auditory warning which could have a disturbing effect on local

residents and wildlife. However, two trial lengths of a new process had been laid at

Brightlingsea which it was hoped would reduce this problem. Members felt that there

would be little trouble in Dedham with noise in the areas where rumble strips would

be most useful and it was agreed to ask for further details from the Area Highways

Manager.

Cllrs. Garnett and Mrs. West had attended a meeting with Mr. McArthur regarding

HGV lorríes in the village. It was suggested that a survey over the winter months be

carried out and compared with that done in October 2003 in the hope that it will show

an increase in the number of heavy lorries coming through the village and thus

strengthen the case for removing Dedham from the satellite navigation systems. The

Parish Council agreed to support this suggestion.

which showed little sign of relief, and Cllr. West had discussed the walking bus with

Mrs. Clayton. New parents had been made aware of the parking problems and the

walking bus system, and a notice will appear in the parish magazine calling for

volunteers from the wider community, who do not need to be parents, to supervise the

morning walking buses. It was not possible to use the system for the afternoon return

journey as children could not be left unattended if parents were delayed. There were

also after school clubs, etc. which meant children were released at different times.

Safer Journeys for Schools were looking into this problem.

(d) Village Design Statement At the recent meeting the Dedham VDS mandate

had been agreed and the officers elected. Official notice has been given to CBC that

Dedham is preparing its Village Statement and an account has been opened to run the

business. Two more displays are planned and the next meeting of the Steering Group

will be in late October.

(e) August Bank Holiday A letter of thanks had been received from Judith Fowle for

support from the Parish Council in connection with the Bank Holiday Monday Event.

This had been a great success and enjoyed by all. The only problem encountered by

the Parish Council was the vandalism in connection with the temporary hired toilets

sited ín Mill Lane car park. These were overturned during Monday evening.

(f) Dedham Meade Greensward/Trees Cllr. Cannon reported that after some prodding

from him CBC had done some work to reinstate the area and long term plans

discussed involving hedge planting and further work on the ditch. He will monitor

the situation. So far as the trees are concerned CBC advise that only essential safety

work can be carried out on the trees and crown reduction/re-shaping will only be done

if the tree or limb is in danger of falling. An inspection will be carried out and any

safety work will be done.

(g) Licensing Hours Most of the establishments in Dedham involved in the serving

of food and drink had applied for their licence under the new regulations.

(h) Car Park Lighting CBC confirmed the arrangements for the maintenance of

parish lighting will continue to be managed by ECC although specific arrangements

could differ after end March 2006. The cost of replacing the sodium lights with a true

white light would be in the order of £220 each, but if a pinker light was used (as CBC

use in conservation and Colchester Town Centre areas) this would be approx. £200

each. It was suggested that further clarification be sought as to exactly what costs

would be involved in replacing the current lights.

4. CORREPSONDENCE

(a) Hopper Bus The Dedham Vale Hopper will continue throughout October and it

was hoped may be extended even further. Cllr. Osborn was due to meet with

Katherine Blake shortly and will report to her that the service had proved to be very

popular and well supported.

(b) Capital Grant Scheme Awards under this scheme will be made at the Clerk's

Meeting to be held at the Town Hall on 6th October. Cllr. Osborn will attend with the

Clerk.

area have been received. This work has been agreed by ECC following a request by the
local residents association.

(d) BT proposals for payphone provision BT advised that they were conducting a

national consultation in respect of changing some public payphones to cashless

machines. Of the four existing phones in Dedham they were considering changing

two, i.e. High Street and Long Road East. It has been pointed out to them that the

telephone in the High Street has no workings and is therefore out of action anyway

and on balance it was felt that cash machines, although vulnerable, were preferable to

the casual user than card machines particularly in an area having so many tourists and

foreign visitors.

5. DEDHAM SURGERY Although the Parish Council has not received any

official notification Cllr. Osbom reported that he understood the Constable Country

Practice was planning to pull out of the Assembly Rooms temporary surgery at the

end of this year. This was very disturbing news, particularly as the final funding for

the project has now been secured and work was due to start at any time. Suffolk PCT

is looking into the legalities of this action bearing in mind the commitment given by

the Practice to run a service at the new surgery for a minimum of five years. Indeed

the Practice had accepted a grant of nearly £11,000 from the East of England

Development Agency based on this commitment. It was pointed out that such a

withdrawal also put in jeopardy the provision of three or four affordable housing

units. After a great deal of discussion it was agreed that a letter be sent to the Practice

asking that they reconsider stepping back from their initial undertaking.

6. EMERGENCY PLAN Cllr. Laverick is in the process of updating the Dedham

Emergency Plan and on completion will provide each member with a copy for

safekeeping.

7. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA The usual programme of footpath management is

proceeding according to plan. Cllr. Osborn thanked Cllr. Laverick for producing a

very useful plan of numbered Dedham footpaths.

Dave Bower has carried out a detailed inspection of the play equipment in

conjunction with the ROSPA report. The paramount need is to ensure that the

equipment is safe and it was therefore agreed that the Wickstead Metal Slide be

removed altogether and that the waste bin be removed to a more appropriate site away

from the seating area. Consideration for a new piece of equipment will be given at

the next meeting. It was agreed that Andrew Hodson be asked to carry out a weekly

inspection of the play area.

In view of the Health & Safety rules which ROSPA indicated should be followed it

was agreed that the Sports Club be advised that appropriate Health & Safety

procedures be carried out for all those who worked directly or indirectly for the Parish

Council, i.e. head protection and roll bars on grass cutting machinery. It was agreed

that a letter be sent to the Sports Club. Dedham Litter Warden, Mrs. Ruff, should

also be advised of the need to wear a yellow jacket when working. It was agreed this

would be paid for by the Parish Council.

ACCOUNTS The signed audit certificate for the year ended 31st March 2005 has

been received from Lubbock Fine, Parish Council Auditors.

It was proposed by Cllr. Bradbrook, seconded by Cllr. Osbom, with all in favour that

the following accounts be paid

August £

A. Hodson - Hours worked in July 112.00

PPP 250.00

Mrs. O.M. Ruff- Litter 165.00

Playquip (Roundabout) 42.30

September

A. Hodson - Hours worked in August 252.47

PPP 250.00

Mrs. O.M.Ruff- Litter 132.00

J. Osborn - Padlock, etc. 10.50

Playquip - Roundabout 176.25

Mrs. J. Flewin - Clerk's Exp. July/Sept. 619.88

Hire of Assembly Rooms (incl. VDS meetings) 185.00

Playsafe Construction - Playground maintenance 55.81

Lubbock Fine - Auditors 293.75

Capel Plant Holdings - Temporary Toilets 235.01

R. Cort - Expenses 2.10

Duchy Barn - Meetings 20.00

Income PPP - Footpath clearing - £500.00

Dairy Crest - Reimbursement - 44.20

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

applications.

COL/05/1342 1 Rye Cottages, Ardleigh Road, Dedham.

Two storey side extension.

COMMENT: Recommend approval subject to local conditions.

COL/05/1361 Rowan House, Ardleigh Road, Dedham.

Conservatory to rear.

COMMENT: Recommend approval.

COL/05/1395 Blackbrook, Ipswich Road, Dedham.

Two storey side extension.

COMMENT: Recommend approval subject to minor standard features.

COL/05/1415 The Octagon, Mill Lane, Dedham.

Timber conservatory.

COMMENT: Recommend refusal. Not in keeping and more details required.

COL/05/1372 5, Kiln Cottages, Crown Street, Dedham.

Change of use of wooden out-building to Nail Salon.

COMMENT: Recommend approval subject to stringent conditions. See Planning

File.

COL/05/1464 Plot adj. Berryfíelds, Coggeshall Road, Dedham.

New dwelling.

COMMENT: 'Called in'. Consultations now taking place. Report next meeting

10. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR. In the absence of Cllr. Garnett
nothing to report.
11. DEDHAM QUIZ Cllr. Mrs. West said that the next Dedham Quiz would be held
in February, 2006. The venue was booked and David Druitt had kindly consented to
be Quizmaster again and a meeting will be set up. The Chairman suggested that the
winning team should choose the charity to be supported by the event.
12. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION None.
13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Late collectíon of rubbish caused by the Bank Holiday
had resulted in vandalism of bags left out overnight in several places in the village.
The Parish Council is grateful to CBC for the speed in which they attended to clear up
the mess. This was not the first occasion this had happened and it was thought that a
reminder in the Parish Magazine suggesting that residents, if possible, should not put
out rubbish sacks overnight after Bank Holidays might help. Grants for the
improvement of websites are available through ECC and Cllr. Laverick suggested
the Parish Council should take advantage of this to change the present hosting
arrangement. There were also grants towards software. It was agreed that Cllr.
Laverick should go ahead with whatever action he thought appropriate. A resident at
Lamb Comer reported that her car had been vandalised on more than one occasion.
She was advised to inform Brian Hindley, Neighbourhood Watch, and residents asked
to notify him if information on this or any other incident of vandalism became
available. The street light opposite 24 Parson's Field had been damaged in the
hailstorm and had still not been repaired. The condition of the footway from Anchor
Lane to the junction with The Heath was causing concern particularly as this was
the route used by the walking bus every morning. The footway in the High Street,
particularly by the church wall was very slippery and in need of sweeping. CBC to be
advised. A resident had walked into the new seat by the church wall in the dark and
it was agreed that Andrew Hodson be asked to put a reflector on it. Cllr. Osborn is in
contact with the Sports Club regarding the continued use of the "short cut" through
to the playing field. Mrs. Canham should be contacted and the gap in the hedge
closed as this was on a particularly dangerous bend. It would also stop the parking in
Manningtree Road.
14. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Wednesday,
12th October, 2005, at 7.30 p.m. in the Assembly Rooms.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.55 p.m.

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