Dedham
Parish Council

Minutes of meeting held on 13th February 2008

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of meeting held on 13^th February, 2008

The Assembly Rooms

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

Councillors Mrs. A. Cannon, R. Cannon, R. Cort, R. Laverick,

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

Ward Councillor C. Garnett

Parish Clerk Mrs. J. Flewin

Electors 8

The Chairman congratulated those members of the Parish Council who formed the winning team at the recent Village Quiz. Having retained the Cup from 2007 the Parish Council team had now won it on three occasions.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved subject to the following amendments. Page 206, 2^nd line, should read “chevron markings” not “road markings”. Line 5 should read “Cllr. Laverick was seeking confirmation..” not “had received confirmation”. Line 15 should read “the Chairman would approach the Parish Office…” not “he should approach the Parish Office..”

3. MATTERS ARISING

(a) Road Markings – Royal Square Having given CBC the correct location of the Royal Square area which is owned by the Parish Council they have stated their understanding of the parking restrictions which apply and given an opinion as to the options open to the Parish Council for controlling the area. This was not part of the enquiry originally made which merely concerned the non-reinstatement of two parking bays, either side of the memorial itself, which were “on the highway”. It was agreed that no changes to the present parking arrangements as operated by the Parish Council were required, and that any Traffic Regulation Orders which CBC has in place should, at their suggestion, be revoked. There is no official parking either side of the memorial although cars continue to be parked there.

(b) Monks Lane Cllr. Marrison reported on the very constructive meeting he and Cllr. Garnett had had at the Town Hall with residents from Monks Lane when frank views were expressed. An indefinite noise abatement order was now in operation and the resident concerned has been instructed to keep her animals under control and within her own boundaries. It was hoped that the situation has now been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned and the promise of dog bins will further improve the lane. Residents will continue to keep diaries and will contact CBC should any problems arise. Cllr. Garnett said that there were some inconsistencies in the Minutes of their meeting which will be checked with the residents and corrected.

(c) Section 106 Agreement Cllr. Cannon reported on the very interesting meeting held at the Town Hall which he and Cllr. Cort attended. They welcomed the opportunity to sit down and debate with Borough Councillors in open forum and to understand the subject more fully.

(d) Manningtree Road – Telegraph Pole This had still not been removed and Cllr. Garnett will chase this matter up.

(e) Village Seats had now been refurbished and Cllr Mrs. Cannon hoped that CBC will attend to their seat and bicycle rails before Easter. She still needed to contact the donors of the Eley memorial seat.

(f) VDS – Website Cllr. Laverick had received a contractor’s licence for the use of O.S. data from CBC. This he has signed on behalf of the Parish Council and the Village Design Statement is now available on the website. A copy of the contract is lodged with the Clerk.

4. CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Proposed Waiting Restrictions Details of ECC Highways proposed changes in waiting restrictions in the High Street (vicinity of Threadneedle Street and entrance to the waterworks) were approved.

(b) Essex Police – Attendance at meetings Chief Inspector Adrian Coombs, Essex Police, has written to all Parish Councils outlining his strategy for closer contact between the parishes and local officers. In view of the fact that Dedham now has its own PCSO who is already in close touch with the village it seems that further attendance by police officers is unnecessary. It was pointed out that the local community police officer does on occasions attend the Parish Council meetings with the PCSO.

5. REPORT OF PCSO In her absence the PCSO had asked that the following item be put before the meeting.

Essex Youth Bus This is a new venture by ECC . Two “buses” have been obtained which can be booked for use in villages by the local youth. The vehicles are large enough to accommodate an “internet café” together with a “social” area. Cost is unknown at present but staffing must be organised locally and volunteers have to pass the police check. The site also has to be specified. Our PCSO has provisionally booked the smaller of the two buses to attend at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday, 12^th March, prior to the next P.C. meeting, when councillors and other interested parties can look to see what it offers. It was agreed that this would be of interest and Cllr. Garnett will inform Mr. Taylor, Youth Club leader.

6. FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA Cllr. Osborn reported that all the gates on that part of the Essex Way behind Winterflood House would be put in good order. The cost will be covered by PPP.

Barbed wire has been strung across part of Mr. McShane’s frontage in order to prevent public shortcuts from Brook Street into the recreation ground. Cllr. Osborn agreed to discuss the matter with him. Cllr. Mrs. Cannon attended the Sports club meeting and was pleased to advise that there were now no broken items of machinery lying around the playing field. The site for the proposed compound had been discussed and further enquiries will be made through an approach to the vicar in respect of the Duchy Field. It was hoped that a meeting of all involved clubs will take place on the playing field with the planning committee. The question of disabled access was raised and it was confirmed that the present pavilion was built before the current regulations came into force and was therefore not legally required to provide one. Should any extension be added disabled access would need to be incorporated.

The disabled tennis coach was quite happy with the current situation.

7. DEDHAM SURGERY The Dedham Vale Network would be using the surgery premises from April. This was always on the understanding that should the premises be required for a doctor’s surgery this would take precedence.

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

Mr. A. Hodson – Ground maintenance work and tree clearing 312.50

Mrs. O. Ruff – Litter 156.00

Mr. G. Lane – Village seats 132.00

CBC – Proportion of Advert for Code of Conduct 48.00

Parish Precept. The Finance Committee has considered the precept for 2008 and recommends there be no increase this year. There were no objections. The parish precept for 2008 will remain unchanged at £27,000.

Other recommendations included:

Mrs. O.M. Ruff – increase of 25p. per hr. (to £6.50 per hr) = £40.50 per week

Mr. A. Hodson – increase of 50p. per hr (to £11.50 per hr.) = £34.50 per week

Mrs. J. Flewin – increase of £100 per annum = £2,850 per annum.

All the above proposals were unanimously approved.

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

COL/07/3150 Heath Farm, Long Road East, Dedham.

Replace roof, extension and outbuildings.

Comments: Approve with conditions.

COL/07/3151 Hillcrest, East Lane, Dedham.

Erection of bungalow and garage

Comments: Approve but site dimension queries.

COL/08/0066 15 Dedham Meade, Dedham.

Two storey extension

Comments: Amended plans required. Conditions and policy non compliance.

COL/08/0076 18 Dedham Meade, Dedham.

Retrospect application for two metal gates.

Comments: Approve.

COL/08/092 White House, High Street, Dedham.

Variation to 06/0392 Re-submission of 07/2632

Comments Approve.

COL/08/0085 Crown Cottage, Crown Street, Dedham.

Creation of dropped kerb and access.

Comments: Recommend refusal.

COL/08/0102 Heath Cottage, The Heath Dedham.

Two storey side and single storey rear extension.

Comments: Approve.

COL/08/0183/ Little Netherhall, Princel Lane, Dedham.

0187 Proposed boundary treatment between Lttle Netherhall and Princel Cottage.

Comments: Approve with conditions.

COL/080196 Land in garden of Berryfields, Coggeshall Road, Dedham.

New dwelling. Re-sub of 07/1386

Comments: Design problems – still within consultation period. Site factors and design considerations.

Cllr. Cannon had had a most interesting meeting with Laura Chase, Principal Planning Officer responsible for Planning Policy, Local Development Framework. He was glad for the opportunity to have an input on behalf of Dedham and correct some anomalies in the LDF report.

10. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Cllr. Garnett reported that parking outside the Crown Street almshouses was worsening making it difficult for residents. He asked for support from the Parish Council for residents parking only which he would follow up. The PCSO and other residents had reported the increased car parking which means that vehicles using Crown Street are having to drive on the wrong side of the road for some length which was very dangerous, particularly during school delivery and collection times. Members were unanimously in support of Cllr. Garnett taking action. Unfortunately it was felt that most probably the problem will just move elsewhere in view of the parking restrictions already in existence in Parson’s Field. Cllr. Garnett is also making a request to ECC for the bus stop outside “Marylee” in Crown Street (Mrs. Mayhew’s house) to be moved further away in order to give her more privacy. He suggested that the Parish Council should begin to give thought as to how they might use the 106 Agreement Grant which at the moment, in total, amounted to £4,707.13.

11. PUBLIC REPRESENTATION None.

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS A resident had written expressing concern at what she saw as abuse of the war memorial and another wished to ensure that the refurbishment would be carried out with due regard to the nature of the job. Both residents were assured that the work was being undertaken by experts under the guidelines laid down by the War Memorial Trust. It must be remembered that the memorial had been designed to be used as a seat and inevitably there would be some who misused it.

Cllr. Laverick mentioned the elections which will take place on May 1^st. He felt that nominees should be encouraged to publicise themselves with perhaps a potted history. The format for the election is standard and the Clerk will be receiving papers during the next few weeks. The election will be publicised in the Parish magazine.

Cllr. Mrs Cannon said that dog fouling notices are to be placed in Dedham Meade. She had arranged for a site meeting outside the Craft Centre in order that the open culvert which runs under the road can be discussed. Mr. Bligh will attend at 3 p.m. on Friday, 15^th February, when it is hoped some action to block this very dangerous area can be agreed. Flooding in the High Street, particularly after heavy rain, was an ongoing problem. Cllr. Mrs. Cannon had asked if the gullies could be jetted before 8 a.m. so that cars would not be an obstruction. Mr. Phillips was willing to help by putting out notices given a date and time.

Repairs to the roof of the bus shelter at the Ardleigh Road end of Long Road West were discussed. It was felt that as a bus stop no longer existed there was no need for a bus shelter. It was in poor condition and rather than spend money repairing it members felt it could be dismantled. It was proposed by Cllr. Marrison, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Cannon, with seven in favour and two abstentions that the surplus bus shelter be removed. Cllr. Osborn will mention the job to Mr. Hodson to see if he is interested in carrying out this work.

There had been a good response to Cllr. Marrison’s allotment scheme and an item will appear in the next parish magazine. The Chairman reported that Friends of Foundry Court have had a meeting with ECC following the announcement of the proposed closure of the Day Centre at Foundry Court in June. This will affect some Dedham residents. At the present time suggestions have been put forward by The Friends that rather than close the Centre completely consideration should be given to running a two day a week Centre with a reduced staff.

Cllr. Moorhouse felt that the Co-op were to be congratulated on the refurbishment of the local store which was looking much smarter. Other members agreed.

13. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 12^th March, 2008, at 7 p.m. at The Assembly Rooms, Dedham.

Note earlier time to allow for viewing the Youth Bus.

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

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