NEWPORT PARISH COUNCIL. Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held at 7.30pm on Monday, 6 th August, 2018 at Church House, Newport.

Transcription

1 NEWPORT PARISH COUNCIL 916 Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held at 7.30pm on Monday, 6 th August, 2018 at Church House, Newport. Present: Cllr A. Yarwood (AY) (Chairman) Cllr D. Alexander (DA) Cllr S. Amos (SAm) Cllr S. Ayles (SAy) Cllr R. Benge (RB) Cllr H. Bowman (HB) Cllr A. Gerard (AG) In attendance: Mrs C. Griffin Mrs. E. Edwards Dist Cllr N. Hargreaves Rev. N. McCleod Lucy Carpenter Chris Jackson and Peter Stocking 9 members of the public Parish Clerk Responsible Financial Officer NH Planning Consultant Enterprise Capital Group 18/C090 Apologies for absence Apologies were received from Cllr J. Emanuel (on holiday) and Cllr P. Simper (business commitment). 18/C091 To receive any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relating to items on the Agenda The following non-pecuniary interests were declared: AY in C097, C098, C102, C103 and C113. HB in C097, C098, C105, C112 and C114; RB in C097 and C098; SAy in C097, C098 and C115; DA in C097, C098 and C110; SAm in C097, C098, C100 and C108; AG in C091, C094, C095, C097, C098, C104, C106, C107, C108, C111, C112 and C114. The following pecuniary interest was declared: AY in C /C092 To discuss planning application UTT/18/1827/FUL for the demolition of existing dwelling and garage at Bricketts, London Road, and the erection of 20 dwellings. The Planning Consultant acting for the landowners will give a short presentation and answer any questions Chris Jackson thanked the PC for allowing him and his colleagues to attend the meeting. He reported that the site is 1.1 hectares and already has planning permission for 11 units. We felt the 11units were too large so have submitted a separate application for 20 units which includes four affordable properties. We discussed the affordable housing issues with Doug Malins at UDC and he suggested four properties

2 917 to meet specific needs. There will be an earth mound at the back of the site and the roads will be wide, no pavements. The open space included in the scheme will be available for everybody in the village. We have met with the neighbours on the boundary. The whole site is affordable. The following questions were raised: DA said if there are no pavements there could be a safety issue. HB pointed out that in all probability a Residents Association or Management company will be set up for the development and questioned the public open space and access to it. There will have to be a Section 106 agreement relating to the open space and access. The 106 agreement has not been agreed. AG asked if the gardens on the southern boundary are compliant. It was confirmed that they meet the requirements. Why are there only 20% affordable properties? The original scheme was only 20% and UDC requested this special provision of four units which will be more costly to build. There will be 4 houses that are affordable (shared equity or rented) and the price range for all the properties will be below 600,000. NH asked if their company owned the section of land at the bottom. The developers confirmed that they do not own this part. When the original application was submitted it included the whole site. UDC were not happy with that so the number was reduced. The piece of land went forward but then it was decided to take it out from the proposals and it is a completely separate piece. We do have an option agreement on that land but there is no guarantee that it will ever get planning permission. The Chairman pointed out that there is a speed sign near the entrance because of the speed of vehicles coming into the village. Also, are you proposing any footpath works. It was confirmed that a new footpath along London Road is included in the scheme. Highways have not yet commented on the proposals but at another scheme which was similar we put in a gateway to slow the traffic. NH pointed out that the draft Neighbourhood Plan for Newport Quendon & Rickling includes a section on development near or outside a 30mph limit. If this application is approved would you agree to fund the cost of moving the 30mph limit further out. We will wait until we receive the comments from Highways. A neighbour raised the distance from their boundary and the height of the two storey buildings as their property is one and half storey. The Chairman requested drawings showing the cross sections so that we can see how they relate to the existing dwellings. The developers said they would forward this to the PC and would be pleased to answer any further questions.

3 The Chairman thanked Lucy Carpenter, Chris Jackson and Peter Stocking for coming along to the meeting /C093 Public Participation session (15 minutes available if required) The following matters were raised: Residents in Frambury Lane are worried about the prospect of double yellow lines along London Road. The Chairman pointed out that there are areas that need them, in particular the Station Road junction with the High Street/London Road. NH pointed out that parked vehicles do slow down the traffic coming through the village and the businesses would be destroyed if this should be implemented. The Clerk will contact RG and ask if he has any knowledge of this. Countryside carried out a traffic survey last weekend and the sewers are due to be surveyed this week. 18/C094 To receive reports from District and County Councillors Dist Cllr Neil Hargreaves reported that: A meeting was held with Rissa Long, Essex Highways, and the 30mph speed limit in Cambridge Road will be moved out to a point to be decided and there will be a 40mph limit further out, again, at a point to be decided. This scheme will be submitted to the Local Highways Panel in January 2019 and then into their Budget for 2019/20. Regarding the lights on the railway bridge, a resident drew up a plan which we showed to Rissa. She has advised that all lights should be connected by 28 th August. (This concurs with the information the Clerk has obtained from Power Networks) Regarding litter in the village, the students are the worst offenders. In view of this could someone speak to the students at the Academy drawing attention to this. The Chairman advised that commuters at the station also cause problems there. It was agreed that the worst area is from the back of the recreation ground up to the shed where there is asbestos and a large pile of rubbish. HB will raise this at the Sports Committee meeting tomorrow night, 7 th August. AG supplied funding for a white line marking machine which has been left outside. HB will also raise this at the meeting and advise that no more funding will be given at present. The Chairman advised that members of the Youth Club did a litter pick on 22 nd July on the recreation ground and footpath up to the motorway. They collected several bags of rubbish. DA advised that there is also a problem with residents putting household rubbish in the black roadside litter bins. 18/C095 To approve and authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 2 nd July 2018 It was resolved that the Chairman should sign the minutes as approved. Proposed: HB Seconded: SAy All agreed

4 919 18/C096 Chairman's comments The Chairman: Thanked the RFO for integrating the Sports Committee accounts into the Parish Council. Thanked all the members of the Neighbourhood Planning group who have done an enormous amount of work on the plan which will be of great benefit to the village. The chair will be handed to HB for item 18/C099 As I will be on holiday from the end of this week the chair will be handed to HB for the month. Please encourage residents to clear drains near their properties. 18/C097 To receive the Clerk's Report circulated prior to the meeting Duly received. The Clerk reported that: The seat in memory of Ted Denyer was put in place over the weekend. Many thanks to DA and Martin. The Village Hall Committee has requested a link to their website from the Newport PC website. I will speak to PS regarding this. I have been asked if the silt near the pedestrian crossing and the grit in Wicken Road could be swept up. This will be dealt with. I have asked the ECC Arboriculturist to look at the plane tree in the High Street following a request from a resident. The most suitable dates for the Autumn clean are either Sunday 14 th or 21 st October. Details will be finalised with PS. The meeting with Taylor Wimpey will be organised on Monday 17 th September, 7.30 pm at Church House. No payment has been received from the circus. This will be followed up and, in view of the length of time they were in the village, 50 will be requested. The litter bin for Wicken Road has been in the office for several months. HB will deal with this. Regarding the Representatives list, members confirmed this should not be available on the website. The request from a resident to include actual spend against budget on the website on a monthly basis will be included on the agenda for the September meeting. 18/C098 To receive the Treasurer's Report and approve accounts for payment, schedule circulated prior to the meeting Duly received. The payment schedule showing 19 items, totalling 8, was signed by the Chairman. Proposed: HB Seconded: SA All agreed The RFO advised that the Sports Committee Accounts will be integrated with the Parish Council Accounts, full details provided in my report. The PC need to approve this and new terms of reference will need to be drawn up.

5 920 The Chairman advised that the Sports Committee Financial Officer has resigned and as the Sports Committee is a sub-committee of the PC this will give us stronger financial control and there will be less administration. All instructions will come from Mike Hannant, the Chairman of the Sports Committee, and we will also be able to claim back VAT. It was proposed that the Sports Committee Accounts should be integrated with the Parish Council Accounts Proposed: AY Seconded: HB All agreed The new laptop has been purchased and Sage online will be up and running by the end of September. It was emphasised that anyone claiming expenses should fill in an Expenses form and provide a VAT invoice wherever possible. A list of Allotment tenants is required. DA will provide a list of names and addresses of tenants. AG advised that a resident has asked if we could include on the website the actual spend against budget every month. This will be included on the next agenda. It was confirmed that all proceeds from this year s Village Fete should come to the PC. 18/C099 To approve drawing down 600 from the Youth Club budget and the erection of a shed at the west side of the Youth Club for storage purposes.(the Chair was passed to HB for this item) AY advised that the shed would be the Youth Club's responsibility and will be a green plastic type which should be maintenance free although he will obtain some further advice on this. It would be placed between the Youth Club building and the footpath and used for storing outside equipment. It was proposed that 600 should be drawn from the Youth Club budget. It was also proposed that the shed should be placed on the area between the Youth Club and the footpath Proposed: HB Seconded: SAy All agreed 18/C100 To approve a donation to the Pond Common Trust for the Clock on the Church It was proposed that a donation of 55 should be made to the Pond Common Trust. Proposed: HB Seconded: SAy All agreed 18/C101 To consider a donation to Support 4 Sight The Clerk advised that Support 4 Sight currently have 17 blind or partially sighted users and their families from Newport on their records. It was proposed that a donation of should be made Proposed: AG Seconded: SAy All agreed

6 921 The RFO suggested that all organisations requesting a donation should supply their last year's accounts and this was agreed by the PC. 18/C102 To discuss arrangements for including additional names on the war memorial in the churchyard and Remembrance Service on Sundy 11 th November The Chairman advised that we have discussed adding the additional names to the war memorial in the past. SAm advised that she had spoken to Whitehead & Day in Saffron Walden and they visited the churchyard in 2014 and supplied a quote but nobody got back to them. After discussion it was agreed that SAm would obtain quotes from Ivett & Reed and J. Day for adding the eleven names from WW1 and two from WW2. We should endeavour to get these added before November. The list for WW2 is currently on a brass plate so the additional names will have to be placed on a separate plate. With regard to the Remembrance Service, Rev Neil McCleod suggested getting name blocks. The names could be read out at the service and the blocks then placed at the front of the Church as a memorial. It was proposed that the PC should purchase a name block for every person who is currently named on the memorial plus the additional names, i.e. 52 blocks at 10 each. Proposed: AY Seconded: AG All agreed. Rev McLeod will send the list of names to the Clerk who will place the order. The Clerk will contact Clavering British Legion to enquire whether there is a special wreath for this year and report back at the next meeting. At the October meeting we should decide whether to write the usual card of have something else for this year. Rev McCleod advised that he is currently asking for volunteers to ring the bells at the end of the service on Sunday, 11 th November. He reported that he is seeking help from Saffron Walden Church to train the volunteers. 18/C103 To consider a quotation for clearing the area behind the wall in Barnards Close The Clerk had obtained a verbal quotation of 2,750 plus VAT for clearing the area and then making it suitable for laying turf. It was agreed that more information is needed on ownership of this. As the residents own the wall, SAm will ask one of the residents if they also own this piece of land. Generally it was felt that if this area is improved several other areas in the village would also have to be improved as well which could be very expensive. 18/C104 To receive a report on the Neighbourhood Watch Meeting held on 6 th June SAm attended and a report was circulated prior to the meeting.

7 922 SAm highlighted: The positive feedback received from the Surround the Town project carried out in Thaxted. It is hoped the project can be repeated in Saffron Walden in September. Members felt a similar project in Newport would be very helpful. Defibrillator Course - Derrick Giffin has suggested organising a training course. The Clerk advised that she has a contact in Saffron Walden who could organise this. SAm will discuss with Derrick Giffin and get back to the PC. Key fob signal blockers and protection sleeves for bank cards are available from NhW. 18/C105 To discuss the report received from Phillip Rogers following a survey of the Common, circulated 4 th July, and decide on the next step. Phillip Rogers carried out the survey on behalf of the Ellis Trust. It was agreed that the PC will not allow a pipe across the Common and discharge of water into the River Cam. A letter should be sent stating that the PC object to the laying of a pipe across their land and they would not allow outfall into the river. As the owner of the Common the PC is fully aware of their responsibilities under riparian rights and if any problems were caused downstream the PC would be responsible. 18/C106 To discuss planning applications received and agree responses and any other planning issues UTT/18/1827/FUL Bricketts, London Road Comments due by 8 th August The Clerk will contact the UDC Case Officer and report back regarding an extension. UTT/18/0739/FUL The Joyce Frankland Academy, Cambridge Road The Chairman of the Trustees has contacted the PC today and advised that the Academy is close to an agreement with ECC. It is understood the application will be going to the Planning Committee on 29th August. He also asked if the PC still maintains its opposition. The Clerk will go back to the Chairman of the Trustees and request more details as there is nothing new on the website from Essex Highways. 18/C107 To agree a response to the UDC Regulation 19 Local Plan The Chairman proposed that members read through the draft which has been circulated this evening and send any comments to the Clerk by Thursday 8 th August at the latest as this needs to be sent to UDC this week. Proposed: SAy Seconded: HB All agreed 18/C108 To receive a further update on engaging a PCSO for Newport AG advised that a letter has been sent to seven neighbouring Parish Councils asking them to consider this at their September meetings. A further report will be given when we hear from them. 18/C109 To receive an update on the Village Playgroup following the last meeting Following the last meeting the Chairman of the Village Hall and Elaine Edwards met with the lady who is going to run the playgroup from September. It is understood that Cala Homes recently gave a grant to the group and the accounts have been requested

8 923 Elaine will assist the new organiser with the administration. The health visitor will still be attending twice a month. 18/C110 To receive a report on the playground and approve a quotation for new chains for the small cradle swings DA reported that the ROSPA inspection was carried out in June and we were advised to attend to the slide, logs, decking and the chains on the swings. It was suggested that the slide is repaired rather than replaced. It was proposed that the new set of chains should be purchased and any other items which are required. Proposed: AY Seconded: HB All agreed 18/C111 To approve the Parish Representatives list, circulated prior to the meeting. AG was added to Youth Matters and Sports Committee. SAm and DA were added to War Memorial. With these additions the Parish Representatives list was approved. Proposed: AY Seconded: DA All agreed 18/C112 To receive an update on the Newport Quendon & Rickling Neighbourhood Plan NH reported that members of the group have been going through the responses. A meeting was held with UDC recently. They did not respond to some of our comments. We had a problem with the quarry site. Taylor Wimpey has bought the field behind Chalk Farm Lane plus the former allotments and they have met with UDC. UDC pointed out to them that the site is not in the UDC Local Plan. We are now looking at the ECC response. A meeting has been held with them and we have drafted a response. 18/C113 To receive an update on the bridleway to the Recreation Ground The Chairman reported that following the last meeting a letter was sent to Mike Hannant, Chairman of the Sports Committee. It appears that the Ellis Trust would like the car park back where it was originally. HB will raise this at the Sports Committee meeting on 7 th August. 18/C114 To receive an update on improvements to communications with the village, AG reported that he has set up a Newport Parish Council Facebook page. This is for information only. DA and EE are members of Facebook and could post on to it. AG will add agendas and minutes. HB asked AG if he could let the PC know how many people look at it. 18/C115 To receive an update on problems with parking on verges in the High Street and Belmont Hill The Clerk reported that she had spoken to Essex Highways and it will be difficult to obtain another cast iron bollard to match the existing. If the PC would like to put bollards around the area by the Newport Club they will need to apply for a licence. The Clerk will obtain the application form and liaise with SAy.

9 924 Essex Highways suggested obtaining bollards from Glasdon which consist of a steel pole with plastic coating. The Clerk will also check with Highways the procedure for straightening up the bollard in the High Street that has been hit by a vehicle. The Clerk reported that another letter has been received from a lady in Cambridge Road who has now asked the PC to consider planting a hedge along the grass instead of grass. It was felt that it is highly unlikely that Highways would allow this and it would cause a maintenance issue. 18/C116 Items for next Agenda 1. To receive a report on the Sports Committee meeting held on 7 th August. 2. To consider including details of the actual monthly spend against Budget on the website. 3. To receive an update on the war memorial and arrangements for the Remembrance Service on Sunday 11 th November. 4. To receive an update on engaging a PCSO for Newport 5. To receive a further update on improvements to communications with the village and approve quotation for new logo. 6. To receive a further report on the Common and decide whether to establish a natural, maintenance free border 7. To receive an update on the licence for installing bollards near the Newport Club 18/C117 To discuss any Urgent matters of interest to the Parish AG reported that the planning page on the website is out of date. Applications need to be added and the page kept up to date. The Clerk will contact PS SAm reported that the Fete Committee need people to help out on Friday evening 17 th August and on the Saturday to set up RB reported that the flight path now appears to go over Newport. The Chairman said it does vary and AG advised that, at present, there are a lot of cargo flights The Chairman reported that several letters have been sent to Amherst s solicitors regarding the access at Redbank in Bury Water Lane. They do not own sufficient land to access the site. 18/C118 Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Council will be held on Monday, 3 rd September, 2018, 7.30 pm at Church House. The meeting closed at pm Signed...(Chairman) Dated:

10