Members present: Mr. S. Potter (Chairman), Mr. K. Ascott, Mr. K. Gower, Mr. B. Oliver, Mrs. S. Owen, Mr. M. Perriman, Mrs. M. Stock.

Also in attendance: Mrs. J. Potter (Clerk).

Mr. J. Archer and Mr. J. Sears (District Council Ward Members) attended the public session prior to the commencement of the meeting, as did PCSO Stephen Butler and a trainee PCSO, Richard Stott, who also attended part of the meeting.

The meeting was not attended by any members of the public.

Prior to the start of the meeting PCSO Butler introduced a trainee PCSO, Richard Stott, and gave Members an up to date report on local policing in Purleigh. Members were informed about a spate of thefts of lead from school roofs, including Purleigh School, where approximately £2,000 worth of lead had been stolen. In response to information from Parish Councillors, PCSO Butler promised to step up patrols of the playing field and children’s play area to try to prevent further vandalism and graffiti. PCSO Butler concluded his report by advising the Parish Council that he was shortly to take exams so that he could become a regular Police Officer. If successful, he would be leaving his current position in August. All present wished him every success in his future career.

Apologies were received from Mr. Cooper and Mr. Strathern who were unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments.

2/04/08 THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 14^TH MARCH 2008, having been circulated to all Members, were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

3/04/08. TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES:

4.1/04/08 Clerk: The Clerk did not have any matters arising from the March 2008 meeting to report to Members.

4.2/04/08 Members’: Members did not have any matters arising from the March 2008 meeting to discuss.

4.1/04/08 Decisions taken between meetings: Members noted that the Parish Council had not made any recommendations to Maldon District Council between meetings.

4.2/04/08 Current applications: FUL/MAL/08/00388 Use of buildings and associated land for Class B1 business use. Maplefield, Marlpits Road, Purleigh. Mr. N. Wilson.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED that APPROVAL be given for a two year temporary consent only, personalised to the applicant Mr. N. Wilson, so that the impact of the development on neighbouring residential properties could be properly assessed. Members were particularly concerned about the noise which might result from the proposed activity, if planning permission were granted without adequate conditions being attached.

FUL/MAL/08/00423 Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of replacement bungalow. The Cottage, Maldon Road, Latchingdon. W. H. Kirby Esq.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00430 Variation to condition 4 imposed upon planning permission MAL/598/84 relating to hours of operation to allow extension of 1 hour in the morning and 2 hours in the evening for food preparation, washing down and cleaning purposes. Elbistan Kebabs, Milton House, Maldon Road. Elbistan Ltd.

Condition 4 of MAL/598/84 being that:

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED REFUSAL, on the grounds that such an expansion, within a residential area, would be detrimental to the residential amenity of adjacent and surrounding properties by virtue of noise and nuisance, and would set a very damaging precedent for similar development nearby. This was particularly important since the site was in close proximity to a number of other industrial enterprises operating from Mayfair and Mapledean industrial estates, which were all expected to adhere to the hours outlined in condition 4 of application MAL/598/84.

Members remained of the opinion that Elbistan Ltd may have outgrown the Milton House site, which was small and surrounded by residential properties, and that re-locating to alternative, less restrictive premises, might be the best solution for the company, its employees and nearby residents.

4.3/04/08 Notification of Appeals:

Appeal by: Mr. and Mrs. Markham

Site address: The Crib, Hackmans Lane, Purleigh

Application reference No: FUL/MAL/07/00750

Appeal reference No: APP/X1545/A/08/2068994/WF

Description of development: Front, side and rear extensions and new roof over.

Members noted that an Appeal had been received by the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the above development.

4.4/04/08 Maldon District Council planning decisions: It was noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:

and had REFUSED to grant permission for the following development:

on the grounds that the proposed dormer window extension to the rear of the cart lodge, by reason of its excessive scale, bulk and unsympathetic design would have an overbearing and dominant impact upon the building and would be detrimental to the surrounding area. Furthermore, the addition of a large dormer to a building which already had approval for two dormers on the front roofscape was considered excessive. As such the proposal was contrary to policies BE1 and BE6 of the Maldon District Replacement Local plan.

4.5/04/08 Other planning matters: Members did not have any other planning matters to discuss.

5.1/04/08 Street name plate, Slough Lane: Members noted that Maldon District Council had advised that a new name plate would be installed. There may be a delay in installing the new sign however due to the number of repairs and replacements needed throughout the District. Mr. Ascott pointed out that the sign needed re-erecting rather than replacing and therefore its reinstatement should not be delayed.

It was agreed to write to the District Council advising Officers that the Maldon District sign at Slough Bridge had been lying on its back on the grass verge for some time, which did not create a good impression when entering the District.

5.2/04/08 Parking on the verge, Pump Corner: Members noted that motorists were frequently driving on, and parking on, ornamental grass verges in the parish. The verge in front of The Old Police House for example was being churned up despite the 4 wooden posts installed by the County Council some years ago to prevent this practice. According to Mr. Perriman cars drove through the posts, across his drive and along the pavement.

Members noted that it was an offence to park on an ornamental verge, and that the Essex Act 1987 s6, gave local authorities the power to prohibit vehicles and animals from ornamental verges.

It was agreed to ask Essex County Council to install more posts in the vicinity of The Old Police House and to ask Officers to liaise with Mr. Perriman so that the extra posts could be installed to maximum effect.

5.3/04/08 Other highway matters: Speeding traffic, Hackmans Lane: Members noted that Jackie Roerig (Essex County Council Highways Department) had responded to the Parish Council’s request for a speed indicator device to be installed in Hackmans Lane.

It was noted that Mrs. Roerig had advised that there were two ways of providing this type of signage. Firstly, the County Council could install a permanent post, which would have a Vehicle Activated Sign face attached for three months each year. These posts and signs were quite large and may not be what the Parish Council wanted in a rural location. The second option was for the Parish Council to purchase its own Speed Indicator Device (SID) for which a County Council grant of £1,000 per parish was made available. This would be as permanent as the Parish Council desired and was a smaller, less obtrusive sign.

Members noted that Mrs. Roerig would be ordering this year’s quota of Vehicle Activated Sign posts in the next few weeks and so would be grateful if the Parish Council advised her as soon as possible if it wanted to be included in the Vehicle Activated Sign Programme 2008/2009. If so, Mrs. Roerig would like to meet with a representative of the Parish Council on site to establish whether there was a suitable location for the sign within the 30mph limit in Hackmans Lane.

It was agreed to ask Mrs. Roerig for a permanent post to be installed in Hackmans Lane upon which the County Council could mount a Vehicle Activated Sign face for three months each year, and to invite Mrs. Roerig to attend a site meeting so that an appropriate location within the 30mph speed limit could be agreed upon. It was also agreed that the Clerk would invite Mr. Steel of Penn Cottage, to attend, if he was available (see Minute 5.1/03/08).

5.4/04/08 Other Highway matters: It was agreed to ask Essex County Council to replace a missing 30mph sign, which had formerly been situated by Little Birchwood in Birchwood Road, and to replace the sign warning of a Hump Back Bridge in Barons Lane (on the left of the carriageway when travelling towards Maldon) which had gone from its pole.

It was also agreed to ask for pot-holes to be repaired at the junction of Howe Green Road with Mill Hill (opposite the Village Hall), and in The Glebe near Pump Corner.

6.1/04/08 Children’s Play Area: Monthly report: Mr. Perriman reported that he had carried out his usual weekly inspections of the Children’s Play Area and that all items of play equipment therein, with the exception of the cradle swings, appeared to be in a satisfactory condition.

It was noted that whilst meeting in the play area with a play equipment company representative on Wednesday, 2^nd April, it had been noted that a new cradle swing seat was needed to replace a vandalised seat. Members noted that with the approval of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Mrs. Stock, a new seat had been ordered.

It was noted that graffiti had become a problem and that within the last day or so teenagers had begun digging deep holes in the play area, just outside the safety surface. It was agreed to ask Mr. Ovel to fill the holes in as a matter of urgency and to paint the T-bar swing frame, which looked unsightly.

Members also noted that RoSPA had confirmed that the play area would be inspected in May 2008.

6.2/04/08 New play equipment: Progress report: Members noted that on 25^th March 2008, Mr. Gower, Mr. Oliver, Mr. Potter, Mr. Strathern and Mrs. Stock had met in the pavilion to choose the most appropriate designs from those submitted by children from Purleigh Community Primary School, for a new piece of play equipment to replace the tower, slide and suspension bridge which had been removed from the children’s play area in August 2007. The Clerk had also attended the meeting.

It was noted that Members had been very impressed by the effort and imagination shown by the children and by the quality of their work, and consequently had found it very difficult to select the best designs. It had been agreed however to award gift tokens to the following children:

1^st Callum, Class 2, (£20)

2^nd Lucy Biggs, Reception class (£10)

Highly Commended, Maya Gladman, Class 4 (£5)

Highly Commended, Hannah Brown Class 3 (£5)

Callum’s winning design had shown a piece of equipment which ‘went up and down and around’, whilst Lucy had designed a number crocodile log walk. Maya had been highly commended for the effort which had gone into producing a beautiful model of a multi-function tower, scramble net, climbing wall and slide with stepping stones, and Hannah had been highly commended for designing a highly imaginative multi-level climbing frame which was based on six trees with linked branches and incorporated hanging ropes, tyres and nets.

Having studied all the designs submitted, several common themes had emerged. The children wanted a slide of some sort, a log walk or adventure trail (i.e. some opportunity for climbing and balancing), and a gyro-spiral (which rocked, spun and had the rise and fall motion of a see-saw) or a pole spin. It had therefore been agreed to invite representatives from four play equipment manufacturers to visit the site and advise on suitable equipment and on the feasibility of creating an embankment slide over the mound just outside the children’s play area where the concrete tubes used to be.

It was envisaged that once proposals and quotations had been received from the play equipment companies, Mr. Strathern and Mr. Gower would return to the school to show the children what the Parish Council hoped to achieve in the play area and to present the prizes. Grant applications would then be submitted.

It was agreed to put the matter on the agenda of the May 2008 meeting, by which time quotations should have been received.

6.3/04/08 Flooding on the playing field: Mr. Potter reported that the football club had pointed out that the playing field and football pitch were flooding, as water ran off the far end of the car park (where the basketball equipment used to be) and across the pitch towards the goal mouth, and that surface water wasn’t draining away properly. It was noted that the playing field hadn’t been mole ploughed since January 2004, when Douglas Bates (D & L Landscapes) had carried out the work using a small tractor designed for use on golf courses etc., at a cost of £280.

It was agreed to ask Mr. Bates for a quotation to mole plough the playing field, as before, in the autumn.

6.4/04/08 Maldon District Council non-domestic rate relief: Members noted that the District Council had advised the Parish Council that it had been brought to its attention that there had been an incorrect award of discretionary rate relief relating to the pavilion, as precepting authorities were not eligible for discretionary awards within the provisions of s47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

It had therefore given notice that the relief would not be applied to the pavilion in future financial years.

Members noted that the Parish Council had subsequently been asked to pay £279.10 non-domestic rates for the year 2008/2009.

6.5/04/08 To approve the pavilion and playing field accounts 2007/2008: The Parish Council received the Playing Field Accounts 2007/2008. It was noted that at the end of the financial year one debt was outstanding, namely Purleigh Football Club (£450.00). For the purposes of the playing field accounts only however, this money had been taken as received by 31^st March 2008, to avoid a misleading deficit. The Statement of Accounts and four column analysis for the year however showed the debt as outstanding. Members noted that the Football Club had in fact paid their fees on 1^st April 2008.

It was noted that during the financial year ended 31^st March 2008, income from the pavilion and playing field had amounted to £2,362.25, whereas expenditure on the facilities had totalled £3,262.70. This represented a deficit for the year of £900.45, but did not take into account money spent on insurance, grasscutting, pest control, spraying the playing field and flag pole repairs, which amounted to an additional £3,758.46.

6.6/04/08 Other playing field and open space matters: Maldon District Council – Sports taster session: Members noted that due to an error with the District Council’s advertising, sports training staff had actually run two free sports taster sessions for children on the playing field during the Spring break. One as planned on Wednesday, 2^nd April and the other on Thursday, 3^rd April 2008.

Mr. Perriman was thanked for kindly opening up and locking the pavilion so that the children could have access to the pavilion toilets during the sessions.

Pavilion redecoration: The contents of a letter from Bernard Steeples (Chairman, Purleigh Playing Field Association) were noted by Members.

To comply with the Parish Council’s Financial Regulations (Regulation 10.2), it was agreed to obtain two further quotations to redecorate the interior of the pavilion (from Ian Wright and Graham Cornell), as the only quotation received to date was in the sum of £1,525.00. It was agreed to ask both contractors to quote for painting the hall and lobby, and also to quote for just painting the lower half the hall (to window height) and the woodwork including doors in the main hall and lobby.

Members noted that the Points of Contact booklets had last been issued in August 2001 and were now considerably out of date.

It was agreed to print and distribute a new edition of the booklet, provided that a quotation for the printing was obtained which did not exceed £150.

8/04/08 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR TRAINING

It was agreed that Mr. Ascott would attend the Essex Training Partnership event, ‘Planning for the future of your village’ on 12^th June 2008 in Great Dunmow at a cost of £32, payable from the Parish Council’s training budget 2008/09. Mrs. Stock also expressed her interest in attending and agreed to let the Clerk know as soon as possible whether she would be able to attend.

9.1/04/08 To receive a Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2008: It was unanimously agreed to approve the Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2008:

Bank Statements detailing the transactions in all four of the Parish Council’s bank accounts for the financial year 2007/2008 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 Friday, 16^th May 2008.

9.2/04/08 Financial review 2008/2009: 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 2007 to 31^st March 2008, and considered and approved estimates of income and expenditure for the financial year 2008/2009.

9.3/04/08 To sign the payments and receipts account for the year ended 31^st March 2008: The Chairman and Responsible Financial Officer signed the Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2008.

9.4/04/08 The annual audit of accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2008: Members noted that the Parish Council had not yet been notified of the date of the audit of accounts for the year ended 31^st March 2008.

9.5/04/07 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:

9.6/04/08 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.

9.7/04/08 To approve payments of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve payment of the following accounts to hand:

*Members noted that these vouchers had been purchased pursuant to the Local Government Act1972, s137.

The Chairman declared a prejudicial interest in this matter and did not participate in the Parish Council’s discussion of it.

Members noted that the EALC had advised that more and more parish and town councils were considering providing a pension for staff. In the past many councils had chosen to offer a gratuity to staff upon retirement, but this was now becoming less common, with councils choosing to become a member of the Essex County Council Pension Fund instead.

Members noted that Purleigh Parish Council had had a retirement and death in service gratuity scheme approved by the Inland Revenue on 14^th March 1997.

The Parish Council did not wish to attend a seminar on this subject, being satisfied with the arrangements that were already in place.

Members noted that Alan Storah had been appointed Head of Planning Services at Maldon District Council.

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 8.35p.m.

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