The closing date for nominations was 31^st August 2006 when judging commenced.

It was agreed to nominate Queen’s House, Chelmsford Road for the building conservation award, provided the owners agreed. The Chairman agreed to discuss the matter with them and then inform the Clerk accordingly.

6.1/04/06 Highway safety: Roundbush section of Fambridge Road: The Parish Council received a copy of a letter from AGHAST (Action Group for Householders Against Speeding & Traffic) to Julie Martyn (Area Highway Manager) requesting further action to improve highway safety in the road. The letter was placed in the circulation folder for Members’ information.

6.2/04/06 Other highway matters: Birchwood road name sign: The Parish Council noted that the Birchwood Road name sign was still leaning against the roadside hedge where it had been for at least three months, despite the Parish Council and Mr. Ascott’s frequent requests to the District Council that it be dealt with. It was agreed that this matter be raised with James Doe (Chief Planning & Development Services Officer, Maldon District Council) when he attended the meeting with Parish Councillors on Friday, 9^th June 2006.

Kent Wood: It was agreed that the Clerk would try to ascertain from the County Council, what, if any, progress had been made to:

and to put the matter on the Agenda of the May 2006 Parish Council meeting.

7.1/04/06 Children’s Play Area: Monthly report: Mr. Ascott reported that he had carried out his usual weekly inspections of the Children’s Play Area and that all items of play equipment therein appeared to be in a satisfactory condition.

7.2/04/06 To consider the provision of a youth shelter: Members noted the contents of an article entitled ‘Don’t just do something, sit there …’, extracted from The Playing Field, (Winter 2005/2006, p7) which had been circulated prior to the meeting, for Members’ information.

Members also noted that the Clerk had obtained a copy of the booklet ‘6 Steps to a successful youth shelter’ published by Rekk Limited.

After some discussion, it was agreed not to proceed with the provision of a youth shelter at this juncture.

7.3/04/06 Pavilion extension: National lottery grant: Members noted that Jenny Griffiths (Awards Officer, Awards for All) had confirmed in an E-Mail to Mr. Steeples (Chairman, Purleigh Playing Field Association) that her organisation was quite happy for the contractor to invoice Purleigh Playing Field Association for the kitchen aspect of the extension so that the PPFA could pay for it with the grant Awards for All had given to them.

Extension foundations: Members noted that Mr. Steeples had spoken to Mr. Osborn (Architect) on 28^th March 2006 who had explained that he had been unable to persuade the District Council that the foundations approved in the original plans would suffice, although the District Council would not insist on compliance with other new building regulations relating to insulation etc.

According to Mr. Steeples, Mr. Osborn had suggested a 3.0 metre strip foundation with polystyrene attached to the sides. Mr. Osborn had then commissioned a structural engineer to design these for the PPFA (at their expense) and had passed the designs, which also included a ‘raft foundation’ option, onto Maldon District Council for Building Regulations approval.

Members noted that Mr. Lynch wished to start work on the Pavilion extension as soon as possible.

It was agreed that before work on the extension could proceed the Parish Council would require:

It was agreed to write to Mr. Lynch requesting a revised quotation and to copy the correspondence to Mr. Steeples.

Storage space: It was agreed that when work on the extension commenced the Croquet Club could store their equipment in the cupboard previously used by Club 2K and that any redundant equipment be disposed of. The Chairman agreed to obtain the key to the cupboard.

7.4/04/06 To approve the Pavilion and Playing Field Accounts 2005/2006: The Parish Council received the Playing Field Accounts 2005/2006. It was noted that during the financial year ended 31^st March 2006, income from the pavilion and playing field had amounted to £2,357.75, whereas expenditure on the facilities had totalled £3,469.07. This represented a deficit for the year of £1,111.32, but did not take into account money spent on insurance, grasscutting, the new car park barrier or the plans and fees associated with a proposed kitchen extension which amounted to an additional £3,947.55.

7.5/04/06 Voluntary registration of the Common, Farther Howe Green: Members noted that the Land Registry had advised that they were still processing the Parish Council’s application to register The Common, Farther Howe Green, but to proceed required a copy of the ownership section of the Commons Register and a copy of the plan showing unit CL47 by 26^th April 2006, or the application would be deemed cancelled.

Members noted that the Clerk had applied to Lloyd Simpson, Department of Law and Administration, Essex County Council, for copies of the register and map and had stressed the urgency of the Parish Council’s request.

7.6/04/06 Other playing field and open space matters: Safety Surface: Mr. Potter reported that he had met with a District Council Officer on site earlier in the day, as the District Council had wished to inspect the newly laid safety surface prior to releasing the Parish Council’s grant towards it of £1,400.00. Mr. Potter advised the meeting that the Officer had been satisfied with the work and would arrange for the grant to be paid in due course.

Members noted that the Royal Mail had agreed to investigate the adequacy of the Post Box at Pump Corner. If the results of its investigation revealed that the box became full too quickly it would either install a larger box or increase the frequency of collections.

Regarding the Parish Council’s request to have the box relocated to the vicinity of the village sign, Royal Mail had advised that it would only consider such requests if they were made by the Local Planning Authority. The Parish Council had therefore explained the situation to the District Council, and Mark Jackson (Planning Officer) was investigating the matter. He was not sure however whether the Royal Mail was correct in thinking it couldn’t act on requests made by other tiers of local government e.g. Parish Councils.

9.1/04.06 Accounts and Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006, SI 2006 No.564: Members noted that the Amendments to the 2003 Regulations had been made and laid before Parliament and noted the major changes which would affect Purleigh Parish Council.

9.2/04/06 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005: Members noted that from April 6^th 2006 Parish Councils had been empowered to issue fixed penalty notices for littering, graffiti and flyposting offences. Alongside this, the Act had brought into play a new system for controlling dogs - ‘Dog Control Orders’ which replaced the current byelaw system. By using Dog Control Orders, Parish Councils would be able to make a range of ‘Orders’, including the banning of dogs from certain areas, and requiring owners to clean up after their dog had fouled on areas of land within their parish. Parish Councils would be able to issue fixed penalty notices to those who offended against a dog control order or to prosecute them in a Magistrate’s Court.

Existing Byelaws to control dog-fouling etc. would remain in place until such time as they were replaced by new Dog Control Orders. Not all Parish Councils would wish to use these new powers however.

Members noted that the Parish Council had ordered a copy of a guide for Parish Councils ‘Getting to Grips with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005’ produced by defra, which explained how to use the new legislation and the compulsory training required if fixed penalty notices etc. were to be issued, for Members’ information.

It was agreed to circulate the Guide, once it had been received, so that Members could read it prior to deciding at a future Parish Council meeting whether to take advantage of the new powers provided by the Act.

Members noted that Kris Radley (Essex Rural Transport Partnership Co-ordinator) would be running a Transport Needs Consultation in conjunction with the Parish Council, in Purleigh Village Hall on Thursday, 27^th April 2006 between 2.00 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. Members noted that this was a ‘drop-in’ event where parishioners could have their say about their transport needs. Publicity was very important if the event was to be a success and Purleigh’s views to be given due consideration by the County Council when the future of the Village Link Bus service etc. was decided.

To attract the maxim number of attendees, Mr. Radley had suggested that targeted letters were sent to members of the community and local dignitaries as well as to local groups and organisations.

Flyers advertising the event were distributed amongst Members so that they could pass them on to interested parishioners.

Members noted that Mr. Radley also needed at least one member of the Parish Council or its representative to assist him on the day.

The following rota was agreed:

11.1/04/06 To receive a Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2005 to 31^st March 2006: It was unanimously agreed to approve the Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2005 to 31^st March 2006:

Bank Statements detailing the transactions in all four of the Parish Council’s bank accounts for the financial year 2005/2006 were available for Members’ inspection, as part of the internal audit process.

Members noted that Mr. Stichbury would carry out the end of year independent audit on either Thursday, 18^th May 2006 or Thursday, 25^th May 2006.

11.2/04/06 Financial review 2006/2007: As part of the Parish Council’s internal audit process, Members received a detailed breakdown of receipts and payments for the period 1^st April 2005 to 31^st March 2006, and considered and approved estimates of income and expenditure for the financial year 2006/2007.

11.3/04/06 To sign the payments and receipts account for the year ended 31^st March 2006: The Chairman and Responsible Financial Officer signed the Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1^st April 2005 to 31^st March 2006.

11.4/04/06 To consider a request for a donation from The J’s Hospice: Members noted that the J’s Hospice was a charitable organisation, which planned to build and maintain a hospice in Essex for young people between the ages of 18 and 40. The organisation had been established in 2003 and aimed to complete by 2008. Volunteers, who were working with the Children’s Hospice at Southend-on-Sea, were running the project and had secured pledges of support from Lady Warner and Brewers. The capital cost for building and equipping the hospice would be £5 million. To date the Trustees had raised £100,000 from their continuing programme of fundraising events.

The Trustees asked what the possibility was of the Parish Council offering some financial support.

It was agreed not to offer financial support to The J’s Hospice. Members preferred instead to continue the Parish Council’s current practice of making donations to local charities, which were already in operation, as and when appropriate.

11.5/04/06 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:

11.6/04/06 To approve payment of accounts between meetings: Members noted and approved that the following accounts had been paid between meetings, adhering strictly to the procedures outlined in the Parish Council’s Financial Regulations 5.3 - 5.7.

11.7/4/04 To approve payment of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve the following accounts to hand:

Council Training Day: Members noted that a Training Day designed for Clerks, Chairmen and Councillors would take place on Wednesday, 3^rd May 2006 between 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. in the Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow at a cost of £45 per delegate.

The course would cover compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection, Insurance cover and Risk assessment.

Awards 2006: Details of EALC and NALC Awards 2006, which included those for the Newsletter of the Year, Best Annual Report, Best Community Website, Best Council etc. were placed in the circulation folder for Members’ information.

Open Mind in Maldon event: Parish Councillors were invited to attend an ‘Open Mind In Maldon’ event on Wednesday, 26^th April 2006 between 2.00 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. it the West Maldon Community Association, Sunbury Way, Maldon.

Members noted that a seminar would take place on Thursday, 25^th May 2006 at the Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford between 1.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. The seminar was free and twenty five exhibitors, who offered funding for all sorts of community projects, would be in attendance.

Members did not have any points of information to share.

Consideration was given to the crime and disorder implications of all decisions made at this meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.20 p.m.

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