DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting held on 8th September 2004

in the Assembly Rooms

Present: In the Chair      Cllr. Mrs. V. Guglielmi

Councillors      D. Bradbrook, R. Cannon, A. Drummond,

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

Ward Councillor C. Garnett (late arrival)

Parish Clerk      Mrs. J. Flewin

Electors          8

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllrs. Clover and Laverick.

Cllr. Garnett hoped to attend towards the end of the meeting following an earlier

meeting at the Town Hall on the subject of the new Travellers' site.
 

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

signed.
 

3 MATTERS ARISING

(a) Village Pump   An update price for the repair of the pump was still awaited. It

was hoped to have this by the next meeting.

(b) Website   Cllr. Laverick had received all relevant information to enable him to

start work on return from his holiday. The printer/scanner/copier unit had been

purchased and this too will be set up on his return.

(c) Highway Matters   A copy of' "progress notes" has been received from CBC

following the Walkabout indicating those officers responsible for actioning various

items. The replacement street light in Parson's Field has been looked at by CBC but

at present is still not functioning. This will be monitored.

(d) Relocation of Travellers' Site   Details of the consultations, findings and

recommendations of CBC had been received. The Cabinet Meeting on this question

was presently in progress and it was known that Site B (east Severalls Lane) was the

favoured site. Cllr. Garnett may have further information later.

(e) Tree Warden   Following an appeal for a volunteer Tree Warden, Cllr.

Drummond had two interested responses. It was hoped that Mr. Paul Roberts, who

was in fact a tree surgeon, would take on this role. Cllr. Drummond hoped that Mr.

Roberts would call in to meet with members before the meeting closed.

4. CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Castle Hill   A resident, Mr. Cort of The Watch House, Coopers Lane, wrote of

his concern at the condition of Castle Hill, particularly in the vicinity of Castle House.

Apart from the general bad condition of the road surface, there is the added danger of freezing water coming off the fields because of poor drainage. There was serious evidence of this last winter when it was extremely dangerous, particularly as the early morning traffic is busy with parents bringing children to school. There is also the problem of the blind blend just before Coopers Lane. Cars travelling far too fast have no time to see cars/horses/pedestrians coming out from the lane and the road sign advising that there is a junction is insufficient and often covered by foliage. Mr. Cort has requested that the police be asked to monitor speeding in this area as well as those already earmarked for a check. Copies of Mr. Cort's letters will be sent to CBC.
 

(b) Memoríal Seat on Playing Field   Mrs. Betty Reason requested permission to erect a seat on the playing field in memory of her late husband, Eric. The Parish Council had no objection to a seat which would compliment the memorial seat already in place by the Sports Pavilion.

(c) Dedham Primary School - Safe Access   Details of the proposed scheme for a safer access to the primary school were circulated. This involved the provision of extra bike sheds, improved footway links and crossing facilities. Also extra markings and signing will be placed in the area immediately outside the school with waiting restrictions during school start and finish times. There was no objection to the scheme although the delay in starting the work was disappointing.

(d) Damaged Tree - Southfields   It was reported that there was an overhanging tree in the corner of the field behind the pavilion which needed attention. Clerk to advise Mr. de Muscotte.

5. DEDHAM SURGERY There was little to report at this time.

6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA Cllrs. Cannon, Laverick and Osborn had nothing to

report on the footpaths in their areas. Cllr. Moorhouse mentioned a broken rail on the

bridge at the Rare Breeds Centre and Cllr. Osborn will deal with this.

Roundabout   Quotes for repairs, surfacing, etc. for the roundabout were discussed

at length and Cllr. Mrs. West suggested that it would be helpful if comparisons of the

various quotes were put down on paper as a visual aid to discussion. It was felt by all

that in view of the grant monies received there was an obligation to make a decision

to carry out the best repairs possible together with safety surfacing. It was agreed

that the Chairman would consult with Tendring Council regarding safety ground

covering with a view to obtaining a third estimate for comparison. Finally, it was

proposed by Cllr. Moorhouse, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. West, with all in favour, that work should proceed on the repair of the roundabout itself and that safety

ground covering should be laid whilst the roundabout was absent.

Cllr. Moorhouse offered to make arrangements for the roundabout to be moved to the

repair workshop and Cllr. Osborn would co-ordinate the quotes for the safety

covering so that a decision as to a supplier could be made.

Cllr Osborn had received several quotes from Playsafe Construction for remedial work in the play area. No action would be taken for the moment until the results of the Chairman's general enquiries from Tendring were known.

Cllr Bradbrook had asked Mr. Smith to carry out repair work to the seat on the playing field but this was still to be done. Cllr. Osborn advised that the football posts would be erected at a cost of £25/30 (labour free). This cost was agreed. There was a slipped tile on the pavilion roof which will cost approximately £30 to repair. This cost was agreed.

A branch had fallen from a tree in the recreation ground and Cllr. Osborn felt that a survey of the trees should be carried out. It was agreed that this could be left until the appointment of a new Tree Warden.
 

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

                                                                                                                                      £

Mr. A. Hodson - general maintenance work during August          140.00

Mr. A. Hodson - footpath clearance September                           87.50

Mrs. O.M. Ruff- litter clearance                                                120.00

Clerk's Qtrly. Salary & Expenses - July/September                     537.83

Mr. R. Cannon - Expenses                                                         11 49

Capel Plant Holdings (Toilets)                                                   176.25

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

applications:

COL/04/1549 Part garden -Hallfíelds, Crown Street, Dedham.

Proposed new dwelling and garage.

COMMENTS: No objections, subject to neighbours' comments.

COL/04/1625 Santa Maria, Anchor Lane, The Heath, Dedham.

Construct new dormer windows on front elevation to give natural

light to upstairs hallway.

COMMENTS: No objections, subject to neighbours' comments.

COL/04/1616 The Old House, Coopers Lane, Dedham.

Additional accommodation built as 1.5 storey in garden.

COMMENTS: Recommend refusal (for details see sub-committee plans file).

Colchester Borough Council has approved the following applications:

COL/04/1255 Marlborough, Long Road West, Dedham.

Single storey extension.

COL/04/1178 2 Clayhall Cottages, Long Road East, Dedham.

2-storey rear extension.

Colchester Borough Council has refused the following application:

COL/04/0547 (re-submission of AG/COL/04/0273)

Freemans Farm, (formerly Brook Farm), Grove Hill, Dedham.

New steel framed agricultural storage building.

Dedham Parish Council has written a strong letter of objection to ECC following

information received from Ardleigh Parish Council that planning permission was

being sought for offices, stores and metal re-cycling (car breakers) to be sited on land

adjacent to Wick Lane, Ardleigh.

9. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR   Cllr. Garnett had attended the Cabinet

Meeting on the Travellers site held at the Town Hall at which a very large number of

objectors were present. CBC will offer Site B. (east Severalls Lane) to ECC as the

preferred site in Colchester. If the conditions attached to the offer are accepted by

ECC, and if the plan goes ahead, it will be approximately two years before the site is

up and running. HGV traffic in Mill Road and the Birchwood is in abeyance at

present but Cllr. Garnett will continue to pursue the matter. The questionnaire for

the Village Design Statement has been produced and details of the public meeting

will be published in the October parish magazine. The six months supply of black

rubbish bags will be delivered shortly.

10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION    Mrs. Hammond complained that concrete blocks

placed along the grass verges were a hazard to road users, particularly where the road

was very narrow. It was pointed out that so long as these blocks were one metre from

the road, were not unsightly or a particular hazard to pedestrians residents were

allowed to protect the grass verges outside their property. Mrs. Perry said that

parking outside her house which was adjacent to the Craft Centre was not only

dangerous but blocked her access. This was a "No parking at any time" area and it

was suggested she consult the mobile police van. Mr. Bartholomew objected to the

disturbances caused in Parson's Field by children who were left by parents far too

early before the start of school. Trees were being vandalised and litter dropped. The

Headmistress will be contacted. He also stated that on a Friday the refuse collection

vans were in Parson's Field at the same time as children were being brought to school

- in cars and by the walking bus - which not only caused general chaos but was

dangerous. Cllr. Garnett promised to look into this. The caravan which had been

parked on the verge outside the school had reappeared. The Clerk will write to the

owner with the request that it be removed.

Cllr. Garnett apologised that the attended freighter did not appear on 2nd September.

This was due to a CBC oversight regarding the August Bank Holiday. He will advise a

new date. Mr. R. Marven was concerned that young skateboarders were using the

slope in Parsons Field, the junction with Crown Street and the footpaths and that this

was very dangerous. Members were aware of this and Cllr. Drummond asked that the

question of skateboarding in Dedham be placed on the agenda for the October

meeting.

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS   The Chairman had received a letter of thanks from

Judith Fowle for the support of the Parish Council during the Bank Holiday Monday

event. This had been a great success and so far as she was aware there had been no

complaints. The hedge at Octagon House, Mill Lane, needed trimming back. Clerk

to contact Mrs. Clayton. Large vehicles executing a three-point-turn at The Heath

crossroads was causing damage and Cllr. Garnett was asked to look at this.

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

Wednesday, 13th October, 2004, at 7.30 p.m. in the Assembly Rooms.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.