Dedham
Parish Council

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of meeting held on 8^th October, 2008, in
The Assembly Rooms 

Present: In the Chair          Cllr. P. Moorhouse 

                Councillors          Mrs. A. Cannon, R. Cannon, M. Dempsey,

                                             B. Hindley, R. Laverick, Mrs. K. Spencer, B. Stewart

               County Councillor  A Clover

                Parish Clerk         Cllr Mrs A. Cannon (in the absence of Mrs J. Flewin)

                Electors                7 and Dedham PCSO Natalie King.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE   Cllr R. Appleby, Cllr C Garnett and Mrs J. Flewin

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

3. MATTERS ARISING 

 (a) 106 Agreement  A letter had been received from Mr B.Perry (CBC) in answer to a question put to him at the last meeting regarding the 106 Agreement applying to extensions to properties. A Test Case was at present going before the High Court and the outcome was awaited regarding this matter. Councillors were asked to come forward with ideas for the use of the 106 money at the next meeting. The toilets in the car park could be one consideration and our PCSO and Cllr Dempsey asked that the Youth Shelter be considered. Cllr Dempsey would also apply for a grant for the Youth Shelter from the Essex Environment Trust. The 106 Agreement would go forward onto the Agenda for the next meeting.

  (b) War Memorial     Former Cllr J.Osborn spoke on this matter. It had taken two years to get the War Memorial re-furbished but the job had been done very well. The cost of £3850.00 plus VAT had been split three ways between the War Memorial Trust, Friends of Dedham Church and The Dedham Parish Council. A final report along with photographs had been sent to the War Memorial Trust. The Chairman on behalf of the Dedham Parish Council thanked Mr. Osborn for all the work he had done towards this project.

 (c) Village Walkabout Eleven items had been identified that needed attention which could possibly be addressed by the Highway Rangers, Cllr Laverick would action these. A further four items were not within the Highway Rangers remit. Cllr Laverick would liaise with Cllr Garnett over these items.

 (d) Mill Lane Car Park   Vehicles were using the car park in the evening for car racing. A number of offenders had been spoken to by the PCSO. It was thought that for the present the problem was manageable. A vote was taken as to whether the car park should be locked at night and it was carried that it should not be locked by 6 against and 1 for.

(e) Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS)   Cllr Hindley has written to Highways Department asking them to commence work on the VAS in Ardleigh Road. Cllr Hindley said that a grant may be available for another VAS in Long Road and that he had submitted an application. if this was forthcoming it was thought that the best site for this VAS would be in Long Road East fairly close to the cross roads with The Heath.

 (f) Other outstanding items    The hedge on Gun Hill - Highways Inspector would investigate and the Parish Clerk would be informed. The kerb stones in Forge Street - Highways Inspector would investigate and the Parish Clerk would be informed. Slow sign in Stratford Road - Traffic Engineer to investigate and Parish Clerk would be informed. Walkway, Long Road Eat and West - Traffic Engineer to investigate and Parish Clerk would be informed.

4. CORRESPONDENCE  

 Mr B Penny's letter ( regarding 106 Agreement) had been copied to all Councillors.

5. REPORT OF PCSO    Smartys Playgroup had been visited along with a Police Car which the children had enjoyed. There was a need for more Special Constables. The Police would take action over any nuisance caused by fireworks/bonfires in the run up to Bonfire Night. If any elderly residents were worried about break-ins etc. the PCSO would be happy to visit them.

6. DEDHAM SURGERY  Cllr Stewart gave an update saying that the License had now been signed by the Dedham Vale Network and would be effective from the 1st November 2008 and that he had attended the Patient Community Forum The Surgery had been offered free of charge to the Constable Practice to carry out flu jabs but the offer had been received a little too late for this year unfortunately. Flu jabs for the Constable Practice would be carried out at Capel and East Bergholt. The next Committee Meeting for the surgery would be on 23rd October at the Health Centre. The sign for the Health Centre had now been erected, former Cllr J.Osborn thanked Cllr Stewart for his help in this matter.

7. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA    The householder concerned with the problem on Footpath 13 had been written to and the letter sent by recorded delivery. Mark Sycamore had been instructed to carry out the work on the climbing frame. The Sports Club Quiz would be on Saturday 15th November 2008 at 7.30pm in the Sports Pavilion. The Parish Council would enter a team.

8. ACCOUNTS   The following accounts were paid during the month of September:

9. PLANNING  

 10. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR    In the absence of Cllr Garnett, Cllr Stewart gave an update. No date was available for CBC Homes Ltd visit. The dome bottle banks to be sited in the car park had been ordered. More money was available for more dog bins in the Borough it had been suggested that Crown Street (along footpath next to Police House) Brooke Street and possibly East Lane would benefit from the siting of dog bins. The Shakespeare Gallery the Arts Centre and the two village public houses had showed interest in supporting the CBC idea of allowing members of the public to use their toilet facilities.

11. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION   Concern was expressed about the excessive noise from the Marlborough Head on the August Bank Holiday and that letters had gone to CBC. The Chairman stated that this was being dealt with by Cllr Garnett and an outcome was awaited. Concern was expressed about members of the public climbing over the War Memorial, but it was felt that although it was undesirable little could be done to stop it.

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS   Cllr Spencer bought up the matter of allotments in the village and it was agreed that she would contact Mr.S.Marrison for an update. The Dedham Vale Network who are to work from the Health Centre are holding an Open Day on 15th November 2008 between 10.00am - 3.00pm to promote their work. The hedge along Brook Street needs cutting back and it was agreed to get this done. Cllr A Cannon to organise through Mr J. Osborn. Cllr Dempsey ask if some sort of pedestrian crossing had been considered in Crown Street near Parsons Field. County Cllr Clover suggested that the best way of approaching this would be through the school Cllr Dempsey would make some enquiries and report back at the next meeting.

13. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING   The next meeting will be held at the Assembly Rooms, on 12th November, 2008, at 7.30 p.m.  

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.