WOODHAM FERRERS & BINACRE PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 3 rd May 2005 at 20.00 in The Pitman Room, Bicknacre Memorial Village Hall. Those in attendance: Cllr. C. Saltmarsh in the Chair. Cllr. B. Arnold. Cllr. J. Bishop. Cllr. R. Blanks. Cllr. L. Carroll. Cllr. T. Dawkins. Cllr. J. Rushworth. Cllr. J. Saltmarsh. Cllr. G. Woricker. Cllr. R. Poulter, Chelmsford Borough Council. PC Wall and one member of the public. Cllr J Bishop acted as Clerk 85. Apologies. The Parish Clerk. 86. Minutes. The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 5 th April 2005 were approved and signed by the Chairman. On the motion of the Chairman, the meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes for members of the public to address the meeting. PC Wall advised of changes being made to the Personnel at South Woodham Ferrers police station and possible effects on the Parish. The issue will be brought up at the APA on Friday 6 May. The possible replacement of the portacabin used by the Pre-school group was also discussed. 87. Planning. Members considered the following applications: 05/00687/FUL 05/00729/FUL 12 Sunnyway Cottages, Bicknacre Road, Bicknacre. Two storey front corner extension. NO OBJECTION. The Lodge, Bicknacre Road, Bicknacre. Demolition of various outbuildings and construction of cart lodge/garage. Comment to be raised about oak tree close to property. NO OBJECTION. Members noted the following decisions by C.B.C.: 05/00417/FUL 05/05046/TPO Little Stratton, Moor Hall Lane, Bicknacre First floor side extension 51 Priory Road, Bicknacre A
Works to two oak trees. Tree surgeon to check the structural integrity of the trees and report any defects to the Tree Officer. A 05/05048/TPO 19, Priory Road Bicknacre Works to two oak trees. Similar report to Tree Officer. Bridleway Cottage, Main Road, Bicknacre. Efforts to get a response from CBC/ECC had proved inconclusive. It was decided to await the results of the upcoming ECC election and then write to our new ECC Councillor. Clerk to draft a suitable letter to put before the next meeting. 88. Accounts. Members approved the following cheques for payment: V.A.T. Signtec Signmakers. Ch. No 103447. 305.50. 45.50. (Cheque approved at Planning Committee meeting. 19.4.2005). Ace Bins. Cleaning. Ch. No 103448. 10.00. Adventure Playgrounds Ltd. Ch. No 103449. 634.50. 94.50. B.G.Appleton. Litter. Ch. No 103450. 85.13. 12.68. B.M.V.H. Lettings. Ch. No 103451. 29.90. C.B.C. Lease. The Hooe. Ch. No 103452. 10.00. C.P.R.E. Subscriptions. Ch. No 103453. 25.00. E.A.L.C. Subscriptions. Ch. No 103454. 437.67. Sams Electrical Contractors Ch. No 103455 146.87 Time Retail Finance Ltd. (B&Q). Ch No 103457. 52.90. 7.87. Mr. D. Wybrow. Handyman. Ch.No 103458. 414.00. Cllr. Woricker asked that it be recorded that he was not in favour of paying cheque number 103449. All other Councillors, however, agreed that it should be paid, as work had been carried out as specified (the contactor had not been asked to level the ground before installation). 89. Field Reports. 89.1 Priory Field. It was reported that the Contractor had spiked and rolled the pitch. Field Officers felt that this had not greatly improved the pitch and it would need to be done again. The Clerk will speak to the contractor about this. The organizer of summer holiday junior football had not attended the football meeting. Efforts will be made to contact her at the APA. JB Members agreed to accept the lower of two quotes to renew the whitelining in Priory Field and the School/Village Hall parking areas, subject to resolving the differences in the specification of the two quotes. It was also agreed to accept the proposed split of costs between the Council, the School and the Village Hall. The Clerk will make the arrangements to get the work done at a suitable time. It was also noted that it may be necessary to reset the goalposts on the field before next season.
89.2 The Hooe. It was reported that the handyman had fixed the new signs to the BMX ramp but not to the fencing around the playground area, due to a problem with the fittings supplied. He has also renovated the goal posts and repositioned them in the field. A form has been received from EDF Energy, which will need to be completed before an electrical supply will be provided. As various technical details are required, it was agreed that the form should be completed in conjunction with a lighting supplier, once one has been appointed. It was reported that the aerial runway has been adjusted and Field Officers felt it was now working correctly. A draft letter from CBC to the owner of various hedgerows around The Hooe was reviewed and the Clerk will report the Council s views to the author of the letter. 89.3 Lodge Road. Rubber matting has been installed under the play equipment at Lodge Road. It was agreed that, while the fixing appears not entirely satisfactory, it should be allowed time to bed in, before the issue is taken up with the suppliers. The fixings are similar to those in other locations. The report of the Contractor into the state of the electrical equipment at Lodge Road made it clear that it was far from satisfactory. The Clerk will query some aspects of the quote for correcting the problems and further quotes will also be obtained. Cllr. Blanks had obtained information on an alternative material for painting white lines around the football pitches. It was agreed that a demonstration of how it worked, to which the football clubs could be invited, should be arranged and that costs compared to the existing method should be obtained. 90. Village Hall Reports 90.1 Woodham Ferrers Village Hall It was reported that the flooring of the new Hall is still outstanding. An issue related to the Mobile Library being parked at the Village Hall was discussed and it was thought that a misunderstanding had arisen. Cllrs Carroll and Blanks undertook to try to resolve the misunderstanding. RB/LC Details of a driver and insurance company related to a recent road accident at the Hall had been supplied by the Police. The Clerk will write to the Insurance Company advising that a claim for replacement bench and litter bin will be made. 90.2 Bicknacre Village Hall It was noted that a Children s play day had been arranged for Tuesday 23 rd August. 91. Bicknacre Priory. It was noted that our Insurers have confirmed that the land acquired from the developer is covered for Public Liability The Chairman reported on the most recent meeting of the Arch group discussions about various subjects are still ongoing with no decisions yet reached.
92. Insurance Members agreed to renew the Insurance at the quoted premium. The Clerk was asked to ensure the new matting at Lodge Road is added to the policy. 93. Training Opportunities. Cllr. J Saltmarsh indicated an interest in the Play Area Safety Course on June 18. She will advise the Clerk if she is able to attend that day. JS 94. Annual Parish Assembly. Members held a final review of the arrangements the only outstanding issue is a form on which attendees can record their presence. 95. Football. Members noted the minutes of the meeting with the football clubs. The Clerk was requested to contact the contractor with regard to reseeding of the goalmouths at both fields. 96. Village Greens. There has been no further progress on this issue. 97. St Mary s Churchyard ECC correspondence indicated that the issue of the unsafe nature of Footpath 19 is the responsibility of ECC and the Parish Church Council. The Parish Council has no role to play. 98. Waste Management Strategy The Waste management document is available for all to read but it was decided that the Parish Council would make no comment. 99. Trafalgar Weekend. October 2005 Information on this has been passed to other parties who may wish to take the matter further. Other than offering support if that occurs, it was decided to take no further action. 100. ECC Grant It was reported that the 1,000 grant had been received. The decision on what to spend this money on, will be taken as part of a budget review. 101. Variable Message signs Members agreed on the response to the ECC questionnaire on this subject and that they would like to see the equipment used again locally. 102. Information Cllr. Woricker advised that he had agreed that a neighbour of Lodge Road playing field could take a vehicle on the field for maintenance of their own property, but only in the summer when it is suitably dry. He also reported that dog mess was again a growing problem on the field and possible new legislation as a way of taking positive action was discussed. Cllr. Rushworth mentioned that a tree at the boundary of Horseshoe Farm was leaning
over and touching cables. Cllr Dawkins will investigate. TD Cllr. Poulter advised that:- - the issue of a farm cottage in Mosses Lane was a CBC issue and outside the remit of the Parish Council. - Leighams Road/Buckhatch Lane are due to be resurfaced in the current financial year. - the Enforcement section of CBC s Planning Department is to be given additional staff and new targets and reporting systems to improve its effectiveness. - the application for continuation of Coach and farm vehicle repairs at Birkett s Hall Farm had been refused. - he would be unable to attend the next meeting. Cllr.Dawkins advised that additional fencing had appeared along Jokers Lane and the grass in the monument field is now very long. It was agreed to refer the latter issue to the Arch Community Group. Cllr Saltmarsh advised that the CCTV system at the School was no longer covered by a maintenance agreement as the supplier had gone out of business. However, an alternative maintenance agreement was on offer from a similar company. 103. Council Diary. Members noted the Council Diary as follows: 6 th May 2005. Annual Parish Assembly. B.M.V.H. 20.00. 9 th May 2005. Agenda for next Planning Committee meeting closes. 12 th May 2005. Meeting of Community Group. B.M.V.H. 20.00. 17 th May 2005. P.C. Planning Committee meeting. B.M.V.H. 19.30. 26 th May 2005. Meeting of Community Group. B.M.V.H. 20.00. 30th May 2005. Agenda for next P.C. meeting closes. 7 th June 2005. Parish Council Meeting. B.M.V.H. 20.00. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 22.30. John Bishop Acting Parish Clerk 4.5.2005.