Dedham
Parish Council

DEDHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting held on 14^th January, 2009,
in the Assembly Rooms

Present:   In the Chair     Cllr. R. Laverick

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

                                          B. Hindley, Mrs. K. Spencer                                              .

                Ward Councillor  C. Garnett

                 Parish Clerk     Mrs. J. Flewin

                 Electors            6
 

Upon the resignation of Mr. Barry Stewart a Casual Vacancy existed in the office of Councillor for Dedham Parish Council.  Having followed the necessary procedure Colchester Borough Council advised that co-option could take place.  Mr. S. Marrison and Mr. S. White had put their names forward.  A ballot was taken and Mr. White was unanimously elected. 

1  .APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr. Moorhouse. 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING having been circulated were approved subject to the following amendments.  Page 36,  (c) VAS, last line should read Long Road East, not West.  Page 37, item 7. Footpaths, line 4. delete “Gull Lane”. 

3. MATTERS ARISING 

(a)    106 Agreement  Cllr. Dempsey will attend the next Langham Parish Council meeting when Beverley Davis, CBC, will be talking on the subject of grants.  He will report back at the next meeting. 

  (b)  VAS, Ardleigh Road    Cllr. Hindley was still waiting to hear further from Highways.  He will chase this up. 

  (c)  Allotments   Mr. Penny had not yet contacted Cllr. Mrs. Spencer with the address of the Colchester Association for Allotments.  Cllr. Garnett will provide the necessary details.  It was suggested that when contact had been made with the Association a representative be invited to attend a meeting in Dedham together with those members of the public who have expressed an interest when questions could be asked.  Details of possible sites was still being investigated and it was again pointed out that CBC had no land available within Dedham or funding for the purchase of a plot.  Cllr. Laverick read a statement outlining the Parish Council’s position on the matter which he felt should be published in the parish magazine.   Members unanimously approved of the statement which will appear in the February edition. 

  (d)  Pedestrian Crossing – Crown Street   Cllr. Dempsey had spoken with the Headmistress who had expressed an interest in a crossing point, particularly in respect of a “lollipop lady”.  Cllr. Dempsey is contacting Safer Journeys to School with a view to arranging a meeting to discuss the options with all interested parties. 

  (e)  Cones   The Chairman had provided samples of cones available for purchase.  It was proposed by Cllr. Dempsey, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Spencer, with all in favour that 10 “No Waiting” cones should be obtained at £3.75 each, plus VAT. 

  (f)  Flowers – High Street   A meeting with village traders will take place on Thursday, 15^th January, with CBC to discuss the placing of a “traders’ sign” in the Mill lane car park.  Cllr. Garnett offered to obtain the views of the traders on the subject of flower tubs.  As yet no sites have been investigated. 

  (g)  Hedge – Crown Street   It was agreed that this hedge line afforded a small degree of safety to pedestrians particularly in wet or icy conditions when traffic is negotiating the double bend.  Mr. Hodson will be asked to keep the nettles, etc. strimmed during the summer. 

  (h)  Equipment for Mr. Hodson   Mr. Hodson did not require a strimmer but equipment to enable him to collect leaves off the playing field.  This was likely to be a very expensive piece of equipment, but Cllr. Cannon cannot investigate until he knows what Mr. Hodson has in mind, or what is available.   He will contact Mr. Hodson. 

  (i)  Dedham Quiz   A team was now available to take part in the village quiz on Saturday, 31^st January, 2009.  The cup (won last year) is at present being engraved. 

  (j)  Emergency Plan   In view of pending changes within the council and village Cllr. Laverick will not issue a new Emergency Plan for the time being.   The current “draft” is applicable.

5. CORRESPONDENCE 

   (a) C.A.L.C.  Details of recent meetings held by The Colchester Association of Local Councils have now been received and copies of the recent minutes, etc. were passed to all Councillors for information.   This newly re-formed Association has the ear of the Borough and deals with matters pertinent to local parish councils.  Cllr. Hindley, as Dedham’s representative, will attend the next meeting of the Association on 19^th January, 2009.  He asked members to advise him of any matters which they would like raised. 

     (b) Freeedom of Information Act  In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2005 and the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner’s Office, it is necessary for Dedham Parish Council to proactively publish information which is held by the authority within specified classifications.  Dedham has adopted the “Model Publication Scheme” and Cllr. Laverick in conjunction with the Clerk has published the necessary information on the website as required.   The Clerk thanked Cllr. Laverick for undertaking this onerous task.

     (c)  Request for Wedding Marquee on Playing Field   A request has been received for permission to place a marquee in front of the sports pavilion for a wedding on Saturday, 19^th December, 2009.  The Parish Council had no objections in principle but felt that the decision was one for the Sports & Social Club and not the Parish Council.  Before replying to the request it was agreed that Mr. Clark, Chairman of the Sports Club, be consulted. 

6. REPORT OF PCSO  In  her absence the following report from the PCSO was given to the meeting via the Clerk.  Residents were asked to be aware that men in official looking yellow jackets in the churchyard were overheard discussing the roof of the church.  The vicar has announced that there are no plans for any work on the church to be carried out inside or outside and that such persons on the premises should be treated with suspicion and the police advised.  Nuisance vehicles in the car park had been reported and patrols attended on several occasions, unfortunately with no result.  However there had been 57% less thefts from cars and no burglaries over the holiday period.  Complaints received re dog fouling on the Dedham Meade and a resident had put up a private sign.  In response Cllr. Mrs. Cannon said that there was an anti-dog fouling notice on each lamp post but no bins on the Meade.  Cllr. Garnett was happy to try to arrange for a dog bin if advised where it was to be sited.   Cllr. Mrs. Cannon will liaise with him on this matter.   Finally, Highways had reported that a sign in Monks Lane was missing and tree trunks were obstructing the byway.  There had as yet been no complaint from residents about this. 

7.  FOOTPATHS/PLAY AREA   Cllr. Appleby reported that there had been some rubbish dumped on the footpath behind the old police station.  He had spoken to the culprit who had since cleared it.   Although it appears on the Definitive Map, Cllr. Appleby had had a problem in locating Footpath 1. and had spoken to Lisa Cross, Public Rights of Way Officer.  After some discussion with Cllr. Garnett the problem appeared to be that Footpath 1.had no waymark and Cllr. Appleby will pursue this matter. 

Now that repairs had been carried out to the climbing frame in the play area Cllr. Mrs. Cannon will arrange for ROSPA to visit for an inspection in May.

8. DEDHAM SURGERY    Cllr. White was happy to take on Mr. Stewart’s role on the Working Committee and will contact him for any information he may wish to pass on. 

A meeting of the Working Committee will be held on 20^th January, 2009, in the surgery.

Cllr. Garnett advised that Mr. Bernard Jenkin was continuing to try to further the cause of Dedham Surgery with the PCT.  He understood that a general postal questionnaire on local G.P. services and a similar enquiry via the telephone was taking place at present.  Some members and residents had been contacted in this way.

9. ACCOUNTS/FINANCE   Prior to the meeting the Finance sub-committee had met to discuss the Parish Council’s precept for 2009/2010.  It was agreed that the precept should not be increased and should remain at £27,000.   

It was agreed that the following accounts be paid:

                                                                                                                 £

Mr. A. Hodson – Hours worked in December                                     165.00

Mrs. O. Ruff – Litter                                                                            141.75

Hire of Duchy Barn                                                                               10.00

Status Office Services – Printed cards                                                   29.90

C. Clark – for K. Leach – Sports club equipment                                 77.61

Dedham Sports club – Cleaning of pavilion gutters, etc.                        70.00

A,B. Carpentry – repair to climbing frame                                          268.55

Audit Commission                                                                             327.75

                                                                                                               £

Essex Police Authority                                                                     3,500.00

D. March – Keys                                                                                 10.00

Dedham Quiz                                                                                       36.00 

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

COL/08/2038   Seasons, Monks Lane, Dedham – Withdrawn 

COL/08/2084/  Munnings, Castle House, Dedham.

2081                 Change of use from studio for use as Educational Facilities

   Comments:     No objections.

 

COL/08/2052   Gun Hill Garage, Ipswich Road, Dedham. 

                         Bunding and landscaping (part retrospective) 

 Comments:      Recommend refusal.

 

COL/08/2090    9-11 Coopers Lane (Daisy Duff’s Cottage), Dedham. 

                         First and Second Floor extension, new vehicle access and double garage. 

  Comments:     Recommend refusal, yet again.

 

COL/08/2122   Coppins, Ardleigh Road, Dedham. 

                         Single storey rear conservatory. 

  Comments:     No objection.

 

COL/08/2101    Land at Park Farm, Coopers Lane, Dedham. 

                          Menage. 

  Comments:     No objection conditional.

 

COL/08/2125   Glyncroft, Coggeshall Road, Dedham. 

                          Block off original access and retain new access. 

  Comments:      Clarification on ownership of land to be resolved.

 

COL/08/2134    Crown House, Crown Street, Dedham. 

                           Enclosure for swimming pool. 

  Comment:        Recommend refusal – Outside Village Envelope and height issues.
 

CBC has approved  the following applications: 

COL/08/1889   Hallfields Farm, Manningtree Road, Dedham. 

                         Conversion of redundant Farm Offices to dwelling.

 

COL/08/1993   Dedham Oak, Coles Oak Lane, Dedham. 

                          Certificate of Lawfulness for Orangery.

 

CBC has refused the following applications: 

COL/08/1849    Ruby’s Barn, Ipswich Road, Dedham. 

                           Certificate of Lawfulness.

 

COL/08/1784     Beech House, High Street, Dedham. 

                            Demolition of garage. 

Cllr. Cannon gave a resume of the planning applications dealt with in 2008 which showed that 76 applications had been received -  a 38% increase over 2007 (55 applications received).  The following table is a breakdown of the six basic outcomes for applications: 

DPC approve – CBC approve                           3l                         57.6%

DPC approve (cond.) – CBC approve                6                           9.8%

DPC approve – CBC refuse                               3                            3.2%

DPC refuse – CBC approve                               6                            9.8%

DPC refuse – CBC refuse                                  9                          14.7%

DPC Refuse – Applicant withdrawn                   3                             4.9%

 Some applications still to be resolved. 

DPC and CBC are currently in agreement over Planning for 87% of the time.  CBC refused 3.2% of the applications approved by DPC  and approved 9.8% of the applications refused by DPC.

11. REPORT OF BOROUGH COUNCILLOR  Cllr. Garnett said there were some problems in getting repairs to Council owned properties and the deadline had been extended from 2010 to 2014.  There had been a resumption of nuisance from cocks crowing in Monks Lane.  Sound recording equipment has been installed and necessary legal action is being taken.  The hedges along Stratford Road/Colchester Road need cutting back and the Clerk will write to The National Trust.  Cllr. Garnett had attended the Parish Council meeting in Stratford St. Mary, to which residents of Gun Hill had been invited, when the serious problem of diverted traffic through the village was debated with the Highways Authority..  This had occurred whilst the A12 was closed for maintenance and had brought chaos and serious problems for the village.  It was hoped that the situation would be eased by better planning and advice to motorists to slow down. 

12.  PUBLIC REPRESENTATION     None. 

13.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS  Cllr. Appleby was very concerned at the attitude of motorists who are speeding, particularly in Long road East.  He had witnessed some very bad driving whilst participating in the village Speed Watch and said that parents with children were particularly at fault.  Cllr. Hindley will consult with our PCSO to see what steps might be taken and Cllr. Dempsey will report on this in the Primary School’s Newsletter.  Cllr. Appleby also suggested that pedestrians would be safer if they wore lighter coloured clothes or a reflective jacket.   There was concern that parents were parking on the “apron” to Forge Street and Cllr. Appleby wondered if double yellow lines could be placed there.  Cllr. Garnett will endeavour to get a Highways representative to look at the situation.  Some traders and residents had expressed annoyance that a number of film equipment vans had been parked outside the church for a whole day, virtually closing the High Street. A request will be made to the vicar that when filming, or similar occasions, are planned it would be appreciated if some warning could be given to the traders in the High Street.   There had also be complaints that black refuse bags put out too early were a nuisance to pedestrians, particularly after dark.  Cllr. Garnett said that there was always a problem following a Bank Holiday when  collections were delayed.  Cllr. Appleby commented that for the first time he had been asked for identification as a parish councillor.  Cllr. Cannon had been asked for information regarding the possible closure of the Dedham butchers and Cllr. White will make enquiries. 

The metal memorial seat in Stratford Road had been torn from its base and left in the road presumably because it was too heavy to move.  Highways had been called and the damaged seat was at present with them.  Armour Engineering, who made the seat, are willing to collect it and look at the damage.  Until more is known as to what the cost of repair and replacement might be no decision can be made.  The Clerk is following up on this.  The wastebin which was taken has already been replaced  by Borough. 

Cllr. Laverick asked if a fellow councillor could undertake to deal with next month’s article in the parish magazine in his absence.  Cllr. White agreed to do so. Cllr.Cannon reported that there had been a delay in a meeting at The Marlborough Head regarding their appeal because the Enforcement Officer had not turned up. The meeting had eventually taken place with an officer who was not fully au fait with the situation. He asked if members had any objections to him writing to CBC expressing disappointment that their representative had not attended as arranged.  There were no objections.  Cllr. Cannon had read an article in the CPRE magazine on Protecting Local Landscape and was of the opinion that this should be an adjunct to the Village Statement.  He felt that the Dedham Vale Society and the DVSV Project should be consulted about this and members agreed that he should do so.    

Cllr. Mrs. Spencer reported that the Dickensian Evening had been a great success and wondered why a “market” in Royal Square on a more regular basis had not been considered.   The general feeling was that this might not be a popular move so far as residents or traders were concerned and such a suggestion would neelong and careful consideration at a future meeting. 

14.  DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING   The next meeting will be held in the Assembly Rooms, Dedham, at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 11^th February, 2009. 

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