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Dedham |
Minutes of meeting held on 9th March 2005
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DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting held on 9th March, 2005, in the Assembly Rooms Present: In the Chair Cllr Mrs. V. Guglielmi Councillors D. Bradbrook, R. Cannon, C. Clover, R. Cort, J.Osborn, Mrs. L. West. Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin Electors 11 1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr.Laverick and Cllr. Moorhouse. 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved. 3. MATTERS ARISING (a) Skateboard Park Cllr. Clover said that there was some concern in the village over the proposed site for a skateboard park and the lack of information available to residents. The Chairman pointed out that the subject had not been fully aired because at the present time there was nothing positive to report. The Parish Council was merely testing the waters and making very early enquiries regarding the possibilities of such a venture. It may well not proceed, but should it be taken further nothing would be decided without full discussion and proper public consultation. (b) Car Park Lighting The timers had been installed in the car park lights. Cllrs. Cort and Osborn had visited the car park and felt that the required amount of light was being provided.. A letter from CBC advised that ECC will be taking over total responsibility for all Highways work and CBC will no longer be in a position to arrange repairs, for instance, to non-highway lighting. CBC was willing to discuss with ECC the possibilities of ECC maintaining the non-highway lighting as CBC had in the past. The Parish Council has requested this facility and awaits the outcome of the negotiations. (c) New Road Layout - Parson’s Field Cllr. Mrs. West reported that in principle the school was happy with the new layout but felt there was a problem with enforcing it. Residents were complaining that parents were unco-operative and abusive and were themselves endangering the children by their irresponsible parking. Cllr. Garnett will be visiting the area with Mr. Hicks of CBC at an appropriate time and asked that names/ car numbers, etc. be collected and a diary of incidents kept for a week. It was also reported that signs were facing in the wrong direction and the site had not been left clean and tidy following the work. Cllr. Garnett took these complaints on board for his visit with Mr. Hicks. It was also hoped that a parking attendant could be asked to visit the area during the morning and afternoon congestion hours and the Head Mistress asked to try to arrange for school goods deliveries to be made outside the rush hours. Cllr. Cannon said that other councillors had visited the area and seen the chaos when children were delivered and collected and he felt that some alternative arrangements should not be impossible. He was of the opinion that the whole problem should be re-assessed and hoped that Mr. Hicks’ visit with Cllr. Garnett might produce some new thinking on the matter. (d) Village Design Statement It is intended that the Village Design Statement will become a supplementary planning document to the Local Plan and be adopted as part of that planning policy by CBC. If the document is adopted by the local council it will ensure that local views are taken into account by both would-be developers and Council Planners when considering any future development in Dedham, large or small. Consultation with the community is essential and a workshop focused on village characteristics will be held on Saturday, 14th May, in the Assembly Rooms. The Parish Council has been asked not to issue a cheque to Mrs. Fowle (as previously minuted) but to pay expenses for the forthcoming meeting up to the promised amount of £200. This has been agreed. (e) Speeding To date there has been no reply from Chief Supt. Murthwaite to letters recently sent by the Parish Council. Cllr. Cort has spoken with resident Mr. Carouth regarding the various issues and will monitor the situation. |
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(f) Other Matters Cllr. Osborn has spoken with the new Licensee of the Rose & Crown regarding the use of their car park during school rush hours. The public house is now open all day and the car park is for customer use only. Builders vans are no longer blocking the footpath in Colchester Road. 4. CORRESPONDENCE (a) Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Bill Details of new powers available to town and parish councils in respect of litter, dog fouling, fly posting, etc. have been advised. Parish Councils can now issue fixed penalty notices in a number of instances if they wish to do so without having to go through central government. (b) Capital Grant Scheme Details of this year’s scheme were passed to Cllr.Osborn. (c) Dangerous Corner - Grove Hill A copy of a letter to Highways, CBC, sent by Mr. R. Freeman of Freemans Farm highlights the dangerous bend at the bottom of Grove Hill where for the fourth time in a few years the rails by the stream had been demolished by speeding traffic. Mr. Freeman called for some speed reduction measures before there is another fatality. (d) Litter Warden Cllr. Osborn detailed the enormous improvement in the tidiness of parts of the village during the four years that Mrs. Ruff has acted as Litter Warden. At present she worked 6 hrs. per week at £5 per hour and the village was fortunate that she was supported by her husband who worked with her for no pay. Cllr. Osborn would like to see Mrs. Ruff’s hours increased to 8 hrs. per week. Members of the Finance Committee felt that this matter should have been raised before this year’s precept was set in view of the extra cost involved. After some discussion it was agreed that Mrs. Ruff’s hours remain the same for the forthcoming year but at an increased rate of £5.50 per month with effect from 1st April, 2005, and that this, and the remuneration of other staff, be reviewed annually in January when the parish precept is discussed by the Finance Committee. A letter will be sent to Mr. & Mrs. Ruff expressing the gratitude of all for their public spirited hard work. 5. DEDHAM SURGERY Following the “lose it or use it” announcement in the parish magazine there had been an increase in attendance at The Assembly Rooms during February. Unfortunately the limited procedures which could be carried out at the Nurse Surgery meant that some patients had to attend at East Bergholt and the possibility of reducing the Nurse Surgery hours may be discussed in view of the application by the Constable Practice to cut the surgery hours on offer at present. However Cllr. Garnett said that the Constable Practice will supply a medical presence in Dedham for the next five years and the cost of the rent will be shared by Suffolk and Essex PCT for the next 10 years. There will be a press release stating that Colne Housing are ready to start building in Manningtree Road but work will not commence until a further £150,000 is found. Cllr. Osborn is still actively involved in applying for grants but said that every effort should be made to try to raise funds locally. Cllr. Cort said that so much work had already been done and the village should now show its support. A public meeting should be arranged which included the peripheral villages, and Cllr. Garnett was certain this was something which could be undertaken by the Steering Committee. It was also agreed that residents be encouraged to write to the PCT Board showing their support of the present situation and their concern at any loss of the facilities now available. |
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6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA Nothing to report on footpaths. It was hoped to have a grand opening of the roundabout over the Easter holidays. The press have been notified. 7.ACCOUNTS It was proposed by Cllr. Bradbrook, seconded by Cllr. Osborn, with all in favour, THAT the following accounts be paid: £ A. Hodson - Hours worked in February 112.00 O.M. Ruff - Litter clearance 120.00 Clerk’s Qtrly. Account & Expenses - Jan/March 511.70 Duchy Barn - Hire for meetings 10.00 John Wolton Welding (Roundabout) 1,468.75 AB Carpentry (Roundabout) 1,160.72 Playsafe Construction - Maintenance of play area 158.62
St.
Mary’s Church PCC - Maintenance of churchyard 800.00 8. PLANNING The Planning sub-committee has dealt with the following applications: COL/05/0176 Gothic Cottage, Grove Hill, Dedham. Single and 2-storey rear extension, new rear pitched roof and modifications to existing. COMMENTS: Approved subject to neighbours’ comments.
COL/05/0173 Park House, Lower Park, Colchester Road, Dedham. Single storey side extension COMMENTS: Approved subject to neighbours’ comments.
LB/COL/05/ Park House, Lower Park, Colchester Road, Dedham. 0174 Change of use from garage to living and single storey extension as utility. COMMENTS: Approved subject to L.B. Officers comments.
COL/05/0165 Sleepy Hollow, Coopers Lane, Dedham. Erection of single storey side extension to front elevation. COMMENTS: Approved subject to neighbours’ comments.
COL/05/0236 Appletree Cottage, Manningtree Road, Dedham. Proposed carport and vehicular access (re-submission COL/04/2321) COMMENT: ‘Called in’ by DPC. See Planning File.
COL/05/0274 Appletree Cottage, Manningtree Road, Dedham. Retrospective application for the demolition of existing kitchen and erection of similar sized kitchen, erection of Victorian timber conservatory, addition of front entrance porch. Change of external wall finish to traditional Essex Weatherboarding. Removal of UPVC windows and replacement with bespoke timber windows and external doors. COMMENT: ‘Called in’ by DPC and Cllr. Garnett. See Planning File.
COL/05/0286 The Shuttlecock, Coggeshall Road, Dedham. Proposed dormers to garage. COMMENT: Approved subject to neighbours’ comments.
LB/COL/05/ 3 B rook Cottages, Brook Street, Dedham. 00347 Glass and wood conservatory to the rear. COMMENT: Approved subject to neighbours’ comments. |
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9. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Car debris at The Heath crossroads had been removed. Cllr. Garnett was of the opinion that the Essex Police were not in favour of residents using hand held speed cameras as reported being used in some counties and that the aim should be to get the police speed cameras out on Dedham again. The visit of the Chief Executive would now be on 10th May (not 12th May) and the meeting point would be in The Duchy Barn at 11 a.m. There has been a radical change to the licensing laws and Cllr. Garnett felt it advisable for a representative to go to a training course which will be held in the near future. Cllr. Cort agreed to attend if possible. 10. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION Resident Mrs. Oven voiced concern at the recent outbreak of burglaries and vandalism in the village and queried whether there was a Neighbourhood Watch. Although there was a Neighbourhood Watch operating in one or two sections of the village there was no overall structure. Cllr. Garnett agreed to provide the name and address of the Langham organiser of their Neighbourhood Watch. Mrs. Smith reported that a trench across the road had sunk due to the weather. Cllr. Garnett agreed that this was an emergency repair and would report it. Mr. Bartholomew asked that another letter be sent to the owner of the caravan which was still parked on the verge outside the primary school. It was agreed that the owner be advised to remove it or the Parish Council will do so and give him the bill. Cllr. Garnett will look into the request for a waste bin near the primary school. 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Congratulations were given to those members of the Quiz Team who won the village Quiz cup this year. This means that the Parish Council will be responsible for organising the event for 2006. It was unanimously agreed to support an extension to the AONB as detailed in the Countryside Agency Consultation Document and Cllr. Clover will advise them accordingly. Cllr. Mrs. West said that the Duchy Barn Committee had not yet met to discuss the question of lighting on the outside of the Duchy Barn. Cllr. Cannon presented Cllr. Mrs. West with a security light and proposed, with all in favour, that this should be placed on the front of the Duchy Barn for a trial period of one year. Cllr. Mrs. West thanked Cllr. Cannon and the matter will be discussed when the Duchy Barn Committee next meet. 12. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 13th April, 2005, at 7.30 p.m. in the Assembly Rooms.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m. |