Purleigh Parish Council
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PURLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL, HELD IN THE WELLS PAVILION, HOWE GREEN ROAD, ON FRIDAY, 10th DECEMBER 2010, AT 7.30 P.M. Members present: Mr. S. Potter (Chairman), Mr. K. Ascott, Mr. L. Cooper, Mr. K. Gower, Mr. M. Perriman. Also in attendance: Mrs. J. Potter (Clerk). Mr. John Archer and Mr. John Sears (District Council Ward Members) attended the public session prior to the meeting. The meeting was not attended by any members of the public. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman it was agreed that Mr Potter chair the meeting. 1/12/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Mr. B. Oliver, Mrs. S. Owen, Mrs. M. Stock and Mr. G. Strathern who were unable to attend the meeting due to prior personal and professional engagements. 2/12/10 THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 12TH NOVEMBER 2010, having been circulated to all Members, were approved, and signed by the Chairman. 3/12/10. TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES: 3.1/12/10 Clerk: The Clerk did not have any matters of information arising from the November 2010 meeting to report to the Parish Council. 3.2/12/10 Members’: Members did not have any matters arising from the November 2010 meeting to discuss. 4/12/10 PLANNING MATTERS 4.1/12/10 Decisions taken between meetings: LDE/MAL/10/00891 Lawful Development Certificate for the use of a barn to residential. Barn between Ashlea and Red Oaks Farm, Fambridge Road, Mundon. Mr. John Perry. The Parish Council RECOMMENDED REFUSAL on the following grounds:
Members noted that the Parish Council had received a letter from an affected parishioner OBJECTING to the above application. A copy of this letter was placed in the circulation folder for Members’ information. 4.2/12/10 Current applications: There were no planning applications for the Parish Council to consider. 4.3/12/10 Notification of Appeals: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Appeal by: Ridgewind Ltd Site address: Land between Middlewick Farm & Wraywick Farm, The Marshes, Southminster Application ref no: FUL/MAL/10/00004 Appeal ref no: APP/X1545/A/10/2140423/NWF Description of development: Construction of nine wind turbine generators with an overall height to tip of 125m, and associated crane hardstanding areas, access tracks, substation building, 80m meteorological mast, hardstanding area for marine access, temporary laydown area, temporary construction compound and associated electrical infrastructure. Members noted that an appeal had been received by the planning inspectorate in respect of the above site against the decision of the District Council to refuse planning permission for the above development. 4.4/12/10 Maldon District Council planning decisions: Members noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:
4.5/12/10 Other planning matters: Essex County Council Minerals Development Document: Preferred Approach: It was noted that the County Council was consulting for a period of ten weeks from 9th December 2010 to 17th February 2011 on this document. A drop-in session would be held on 1st February 2011 between 11.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. in Danbury Village Hall to discuss site A35 Tyndales Farm, Danbury. A copy of the consultation paper was placed in the circulation folder for Members’ information 5/12/10 HIGHWAY MATTERS 5.1/12/10 Enforcement of the 30mph speed limit – Hackmans Lane: Members noted that on 24th November 2010, during their latest speed complaint investigation, Essex Police Officers had issued 5 Fixed Penalty Notices to motorists driving in excess of 40mph within the 30mph speed limit in Hackmans Lane. 5.2/12/10 Proposed diversion of Footpath 11 (Birchwood Road, Purleigh): Mr. Ascott declared a non-prejudicial interest in this matter being the Hon. Ramblers Association Footpath Secretary (Maldon). The Parish Council noted that Essex County Council intended to make an order to divert the above footpath. The definitive line of the path currently ran across a ditch where there was no footbridge. According to the County Council the alternative proposed route crossed the ditch via a culvert further to the south and along a headland route to Hackmans Lane rather than across field. It was agreed to support the proposal to divert the footpath, but to request that point ‘C’ (shown on Definitive Map Sheet TL 80 SW supplied by the Essex Council for consultation purposes), be moved to the gap at the corner of Little Montrose, Birchwood Road, which was the route walked by the public and would be much more convenient for walkers coming from the direction of Birchwood Road. 5.3/12/10 To consider a request for a salt bin in Walton Hall Lane: The Parish Council was asked to provide another salt bin in Walton Hall Lane (in the vicinity of Walton Hall) following the theft of the new bin last year. Residents were most concerned that a serious accident would occur if salt wasn’t provided. Members noted that between meetings the clerk had contacted Essex Council and asked for clarification of its policy regarding the provision of salt bins. Last year after the Parish Council’s bin was stolen the County Council had been prepared to enter into a contract with the Parish Council to provide, install and continue to re-fill a salt bin in Walton Hall Lane for the sum of £300. Iain Jones (Essex County Council) had subsequently advised that Essex County Council Policy was as follows: Regarding the provision of new salt bins: "We are not accepting any new requests for salt bins this season. The experience last year was the stock within them was being misused – either on people’s personal property and not on the highway or the whole scale theft from the bins with evidence suggesting the salt was being re-sold back to the public. A pilot is being undertaken with several parish and town councisl to test alternative ways of distributing the salt to ensure that it remains available to the local community and is used on the highways. Until we understand the findings of this pilot we are not installing any new bins." Regarding the filling of existing salt bins: "Our priority must be to focus and secure the precautionary network. At this time we do not have the resources available to divert away from this key activity to fill up the salt bins. Therefore no salt bins will be refilled at this time. Requests will be logged and dealt with at a later date when resources dictate." Unfortunately therefore the Parish Council was not able to provide at salt bin in Walton Hall Lane at this juncture. Mr. Ascott agreed to ask the Essex Association of Local Councils about the progress of a pilot project whereby bags of grit were given to Parish Councils to distribute to willing parishioners to spread on particularly dangerous sections of the highway. 5.4/12/10 Other highway matters: Carriageway defects and misleading road signs, Howe Green Road: Members noted that Iain Jones (Road Traffic Engineer, Essex County Council) was arranging for patching to be applied to all the carriageway surface defects on Howe Green Road. Works would also include laying planings on some of the worse ‘verge/carriageway overrun areas’. Unfortunately this had taken some time to organise because a road closure (except for buses) was needed. Missing and misleading road signs would also be correctly reinstated at this time. 6/12/10 PLAYING FIELD AND OPEN SPACES 6.1/12/10 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, apart from the broken bounder, appeared to be in a satisfactory condition. 6.2/12/10 Moles in the Children’s Play Area: Mr. Perriman reported that the bad weather had suppressed the mole activity in the play area. 6.3/12/10 Broken bounder: It was noted that some time between the 20th and 21st November, the bounder in the children’s play area had broken again in the same place as it had broken in May 2009 after which the manufacturer had removed it and welded it together again free of charge. In consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Mr. Perriman and Mr. Potter a notice had been placed on the equipment warning people not to touch it. The broken top section had then been removed by Playquip Leisure on Wednesday, 24th November, for assessment. It was agreed to wait for the manufacturer’s report before taking any further action. 6.4/12/10 To consider an estimate for repairs to the safety surface as required by RoSPA: Members noted that Adventure Playgrounds had provided a verbal estimate of between £300 and £400 to chase out the gap between the two existing surfaces to 4" in width and re-fill. It was agreed to accept Adventure Playgrounds’ estimate. 6.5/12/10 Pavilion garage door: Members noted that this Agenda item had been deferred from the November 2010 meeting so that Parish Councillors could inspect the garage and its contents. In the interim, the Parish Council had obtained the following estimate from Graham Cornell to replace the garage door: To remove the existing door and replace the damaged doorframe. Supply and position two framed ledged and braced doors to close in the width, these to be fixed top and bottom for added strength, two further doors to be hung to the fixed side doors allowing a 4’6" access in the centre. All to be finished with a dark wood stain and fitted with a mortice lock and tower bolts. Labour & Materials £760.00 Members noted that Rollaway Garage Doors (Chelmsford) had also agreed to supply a quotation to replace the door but had not been able to get to the pavilion due to the recent bad weather. It was agreed to defer discussion of the matter until the January 2011 meeting by which time Rollaway’s quotation should have been received. 6.6/12/10 Other playing field and open space matters: Space between the garage and the Cricket Club shed: Mr. Potter reported that the space between the sheds still had not been cleared by the cricket club as they had agreed to do last spring (Minute ref: 6.6/04/10) and when he was inspecting the garage door he had discovered that people were dumping rubbish, including old broken wheelbarrows, behind the sheds. In an effort to prevent further fly tipping etc. it was agreed to ask Mr. Ovel to clear the area so that it could be cut along with the rest of the grass on the playing field next season. Redundant chairs: In response to a request from the Tractor Shed (Latchingdon) it was agreed to give them any redundant plastic chairs from the garage for their use at future events. 7/12/10 The future of Purleigh’s Sorting (Mail work) Office and implications for the Post Office and shop: Members noted that Mrs. Barber (post mistress and proprietor of the stores) had been informed by the Post Office Ltd that the sorting (mailwork) office attached to Purleigh Post Office was to be closed. Mrs. Barber was extremely concerned that if the closure went ahead, the resulting loss of income would mean that the shop and Post Office would no longer be economically viable and may have to close. Since the Post Office and shop were the only retail outlets in Purleigh Village, their closure would have a very detrimental effect on local residents and businesses who relied on them for goods, services and to combat social isolation. Mrs. Barber had therefore asked the Parish Council to express any concerns it may have about the planned closure to the Post Office Ltd. It was agreed to write to the Post Office asking it to re-consider its decision to close the Mailwork office in Purleigh given the adverse effect this may have in the local community. It was agreed to send copies of the Parish Council’s letter to John Whittingdale OBE, MP, the Essex Rural Partnership and the Rural Community Council of Essex. 8/12/10 CLERK’S SALARY REVIEW AND REMUNERATION FOR SERVICES Under the terms of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, this item of business was held in Committee, and the public excluded, due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted. National Minimum Wage: Members noted that from 1st October 2010 the National Minimum Wage had been increased from £5.80 per hour to £5.93 per hour for workers aged 22 years and over. 8.1/12/10 Pavilion cleaner: It was agreed to continue to pay Mrs. Dilworth £6.25 per hour to clean the Pavilion. 8.2/12/10 The Clerk: Members noted that the Clerk was contracted to work an average 100 hours per month and currently earned an annual salary of £11,928 (i.e. £9.94 per hour), plus the sum of £400 for the use of a room in her house as a parish office. Details of the National Salary Award, which had not been altered since 1st April 2009, were noted by Members. The recommended hourly rate for part time clerks on scale point 21 (the Clerk’s scale point) therefore remained £9.94. Members also noted that the National Joint Council for Local Government Services had reached agreement on the rates of car allowances payable from 1st April 2010 and that a lump sum of £1,239 per annum for the essential use of a motor vehicle (1199 – 1450cc) had been agreed. Mr. Potter declared a prejudicial interest in this matter and left the pavilion, as did the Clerk, during the Parish Council’s discussion of this Agenda item. In the absence of Mr. Potter it was agreed that Mr. Ascott would take the chair. On Mr. Potter and the Clerk’s return to the meeting they were informed that it had been proposed and agreed that the Clerk’s salary remained £11,928 (i.e. £9.94 per hour) effective from 1st April 2011, plus the sum of £400 for the use of a room in her house as a parish office. It was also agreed that expenses for 2011/2012 should be increased by the sum of £144 to £1,539 comprised as follows:
The Clerk thanked the Parish Council very much indeed and Mr Potter resumed the chair. 9/12/10 FINANCIAL MATTERS 9.1/12/10 To review Parish Council subscriptions: The Parish Council reviewed its current subscriptions, which were as follows:
Members noted that the cost of subscriptions had increased by £5.96 between 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 (EALC + £5.96). It was agreed not to subscribe to the RCCE in 2011/12. 9.2/12/10 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:
9.3/12/10 To approve payment of accounts to hand: Members noted and approved that the following account had been paid between meetings, adhering strictly to the procedures outlined in the Parish Council’s Financial Regulations 5.3 - 5.7.
9.4/12/09 To approve payment of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve payment of the following accounts to hand:
It was agreed to purchase Mr. Ovel a Christmas gift from petty cash in recognition of his hard work over the past year. 10/12/10 CORRESPONDENCE Essex Association of Local Councils (EALC) Amendments to the process of Council payments – Consultation: Members noted that the Parish Council had until 7th January 2011 to comment on the proposals to repeal s150 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, relating to payment by cheque. Members noted that broadly speaking the EALC, NALC and SLCC supported the repeal of this part of the Act so that councils could take advantage of new means of electronic payment, provided ‘local councils had in place safe and efficient arrangements for managing money to the highest standard of honesty and integrity’. The consultation papers were placed in the circulation folder for Members’ information. 11/12/10 POINTS OF INFORMATION Members did not have any points of information to share. CRIME AND DISORDER ACT 1988 (SECTION 17) 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 8.07 p.m.
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