Parish Council Minutes 15th December 2016

• Mr Sean McCarthy (Chairman)
• Mr David Drane
• Mr Alan Weedon
• Mrs Nicola McNeill
• Mrs Sara Scott
• Mr John Sladen
• The Clerk

Members of the Public:

74. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    Mr Mark Welbourn
    District Councillor Simon Howell

75. REPORTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

    District Councillor Howell had sent a message offering his apologies for his absence due to illness. He asked to be informed if there were any issues that he could support the Council in addressing. He also re-iterated his commitment to a grant for the Play area from the new homes bonus.

76. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held Thursday 17 November 2016

    These were agreed to be an accurate account of the meeting.

77. MATTERS ARISING

    Not covered elsewhere. There were none.

78. CORRESPONDANCE

    
    Correspondence from Miss Diana Frost about anti-social disposal of dog faeces and stealing of plants was noted with regret. It was also noted that the British Legion Poppy Appeal had raised £263.

    Community Volunteers had left the hall in a messy state that required extra cleaning. Mr Weedon agreed to contact them to ensure that it did not happen again

79. HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

    Footway Meryl Haylock had contacted the council about her concerns that there should be adequate signage to deter over use of Wincelow Hall Road particularly by heavy or large vehicles. Diversions should be in place and signed. Preparations looked underway for a start early in the New Year as reported in an email from Rissa Long.

    A provisional date was set for a celebration to mark the completion of the footway project. Saturday 11 March was agreed with a budget of £1000 from reserves. Other councillors and Highways Dept would be invited.

    David Drane report Resurfacing between the Wash and Bumpstead was still being chased, though repairs had taken place in the Wash area. Some of the fingerposts had been repaired.

    Signage at Long Corner Cottage The dangerous placing of signs at this location had apparently been the work of sub contractors

80. ENVIRONMENT

    Flooding John Sladen reported that his neighbour had now cleared his section of ditch so that a clear run was now possible. Chris Stoneham has said that the engineers were still working on the data from the jetting survey. Mr Sladen said that the next step was to encourage landowners to take responsibility for the run-off from their land onto the roads.

    Lifebelt The siting of the life belt was discussed and it was agreed that the Chairman and Mr Sladen would install this in the near future.

    Tree Survey Issues at Wellyard. The boundaries and responsibilities in this area were still being established. Various options were discussed but for the time being it was agreed that the Clerk would write to residents in the area explaining the situation and indicating that loss of trees may have an impact on the appearance of the area.

81. POLICING

    A reply had been received from the Police Commissioner to whom the Council had written asking for a meeting. The letter pointed out that he had hosted a recent public access meeting in Dunmow and was due to do another in the New Year in Saffron Walden on 2nd February in the Town Hall from 6.30 to 8.30pm

82. FINANCE

    Precept
    The precept document was signed by the Chairman and Clerk to give a total income of £8500 from precept and LCTS grant, as agreed at the November meeting.

    Payments
    A cheque was made out to Mr Stuart McNeill for the Christmas Tree, amount £79.81.

    Banking Arrangements
    A letter to Barclays was signed by the Chairman and Mr David Drane to close the three Parish Council accounts. The Village Hall account would go to the Village Hall Management Committee. The Parish Council current and deposit accounts would go to the new Unity accounts.

83. COMMUNICATIONS

    There was approval of the festive decoration on the website pages. However it was agreed that the Clubs and Societies need to check and update their information.

    County Broadband was arranging to start the infrastructure on January 4th by locating the local broadband distribution unit on the Church tower now that it had been agreed with the diocese.

84. VILLAGE HALL

    The council welcomed the news that Essex Community Initiative Fund had made a grant of £14000 towards the cost of the play area.

FUTURE MEETINGS – Thursdays: January 12, February 9 and March 9 pm in the Village Hall at 8pm

The meeting ended at 9.35 pm