TELPN/08/00558 Removal of public payphone (01621 828365). Telephone Box, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh, Essex.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED REFUSAL, on the grounds that the telephone box was a valuable public amenity, and that there was no other public payphone within 400m.

TCA/MAL/08/00578 Walnut tree – Reduce crown by 25%. Eucalyptus tree – Remove. 1 Purleigh Hall Cottages, The Street. Purleigh. Mark Deller.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00555 Extension of garage with conversion and use as ancillary annexe. 4 Roundbush Farm Cottages, Burnham Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. J Green.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00595 Conversion of existing, attached garage to provide garden room and associated internal alterations. Erection of new cartlodge style garage. Old Orchard House, The Street, Purleigh. Mr. Graham Medcroft.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00492 PP-00405501 Lock up garage to house two cars. Walnut Lodge, Fambridge Road, Purleigh. Mr. Peter Godolphin.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00566 PP-00436663 Relocation of agricultural barn. Palepit Farm, Cold Norton Road, Cold Norton. Mr. D. Carter.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED REFUSAL on the following grounds:

4.2/06/07 Current applications: There were no current applications for the Parish Council to consider.

4.3/06/08 Notification of Appeals: Members noted that the Parish Council had not been notified of any appeals between meetings.

4.4/06/08 Maldon District Council planning decisions: Members noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:

And had REFUSED to grant permission for the following development:

4.5/06/08 To receive an update on outstanding enforcement matters: Sale of second hand cars from grass verge, Chelmsford Road: Members noted that Gordon Nisbet (Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Maldon District Council) had advised that enquiries into the above matter were now complete, as a number of site inspections had failed to show any cars for sale. The District Council’s file would be closed but if there was any significant change in the situation the Parish Council should let Mr. Nisbet know.

The Parish Council thanked Mr. Perriman for sorting out a similar problem in The Glebe, where vehicles had been persistently displayed for sale on the grass verge.

Montrose House, Birchwood Road: It was also noted that Mr. Nisbet had inspected the property and was satisfied that the linked annexe building is not being used as a separate dwelling. He has advised that the annexe was purely used for domestic storage and a games room, which was incidental to the residential use of the main dwelling. There was therefore no breach of planning control. The matter of a separate title (The Barn, Fitchets Mount) was purely historic as contained within the Land Registry deeds.

Little Wood Place, Fambridge Road: Mr. Nisbet also advised the Parish Council that he had now carried out a full site inspection of the property. During his inspection he had found that there were a number of agricultural items of machinery being stored on the western side of the field. Mr. Nisbet had been assured by the owner that these were used both on that land and on other land farmed by him. The area was untidy but measures would be taken to dispose of waste materials.

There was a further item, a bowser being stored on the south eastern corner of the field, which was also used on the field. The Council was satisfied that there were no breaches of planning control and no further action would be taken. The District Council’s file would be closed but if there was any significant change in the situation the Parish Council should let Mr. Nisbet know.

Members remained very concerned about the piles of what appeared to be builder’s rubble and site clearance material around the perimeter of the field and the hardcore in the middle of it, and were not confident that Mr. Nisbet fully appreciated that this waste material had already been disposed of, in that it had been imported onto the site from elsewhere, contrary to current legislation. It was agreed however to leave the matter in abeyance until later in the year to see what measures, if any, would be taken by the property owner to dispose of the waste materials referred to in Mr Nisbet’s letter.

4.6/06/08 Other planning matters: Members did not have any other planning matters to discuss.

5.1/06/08 Obstructions on grass verges: Verge outside Orchard Villa, Simmons Lane: Members noted that Mr. Brown (Essex County Council Highways Department) had written to the resident concerned and asked them to move the obstructions away from the carriageway edge and to make them more visible to road users.

Montrose House: It was noted that the problems with obstructions outside Montrose House were still on going. The resident had not advised Mr. Brown with a date for removal as agreed, so, if he had not heard anything by 17^th June 2008, the County Council would arrange for the bollards to be removed and then charge the property owner for the work.

Sunken trench – Chelmsford Road: Members noted that works to repair this section of carriageway had been ordered and would be scheduled in due course.

Speeding traffic, Chelmsford Road: At the request of a parishioner it was agreed to ask Essex County Council to install a Speed Indicator Device at a suitable location within the 30mph speed limit in Chelmsford Road.

Missing repeater signs: It was agreed to ask the County Council to check the repeater signs in Chelmsford Road and Fambridge Road and replace any damaged or missing ones to ensure that the correct number were sited in the correct places. It was also agreed to ask Officers to reinstate the missing signage from the approaches to Palepit Corner.

Worn tarmac: The Parish Council agreed to ask the County Council to replace the red tarmac at the start of the speed limits in Chelmsford Road, as the existing surface had worn away.

6.1/06/08 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 appeared to be in a satisfactory condition. The winding up of the swing seats remained a recurring problem however.

6.2/06/08 To receive the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) report on the condition of the play area: It was noted that the Parish Council had not yet received RoSPA’s report. It was agreed however to put any minor repairs recommended by RoSPA in hand as soon as their report had been received, to comply with the insurance company’s requirement that all faults identified in any play equipment should be repaired within sixty days of being informed about them. It was agreed that the Chairman would consult the Vice Chairman and other Parish Councillors between meetings should any major remedial work be required.

6.3/06/08 New play equipment: Progress report: Members noted that grant applications had been submitted to Essex County Council (Community Initiatives Fund), Maldon District Council’s Parish Projects Fund 2008/09 and the National Lottery (Awards for All).

Mr. Gower reported that he had visited Purleigh Community Primary School on 5^th June 2008, and had presented the four children whose designs had been chosen as the most appropriate for the play area, with their prizes. He had also outlined the plans for the play area and updated pupils on progress made to date. Mr. Gower reported that the children had appreciated the tokens and had been pleased to hear about the Parish Council’s plans for the play area.

Mr. Gower kindly agreed to write an article about the project for the Parish Magazine.

6.4/06/08 Pavilion redecoration: The Parish Council received the following estimate from Eric Bane to re-decorate the pavilion:

It was agreed to accept Mr. Bane’s quotation for the redecoration of the Pavilion in the sum of £729.50, and to ask him whilst he was on site, to take down the light casings in the hall so that they could be cleaned and also to take down the notice boards, paint them and the wall behind them.

It was agreed to ask Mr. Bane to paint the lobby and hall in the colours suggested some months ago by the PPFA, i.e. white ceilings and window frames, magnolia or light cream walls with the remaining woodwork to be a medium blue such as Royal Air Force Blue.

It was agreed to ask Mr. Bane to commence the work at his earliest convenience but to avoid the fourth week in the month if possible, so as not to interfere with the Folk Dance Club’s monthly meeting in the Pavilion.

The Parish Council would also write to Mr. Ellis declining his quotation, but thanking him for the time taken in preparing it.

Letter from the Purleigh Playing Field Association (PPFA): The Parish Council received a letter from Bernard Steeples (Chairman, PPFA) in which he outlined the PPFA’s intention to commission Brian Ellis to redecorate the Pavilion as per the quotation the PPFA had received from him several months ago, and to pay for the whole cost of the work. The letter also expressed the PPFA’s frustration at not being consulted about plans for the new play equipment, as it would have been prepared to make a contribution towards its cost.

It was agreed to write to the PPFA and thank them for their generous offer, but explain that as the quotation received from Mr. Ellis in January 2008 to redecorate the Pavilion had exceeded £1,000, the Parish Council had been obliged to put the work out to tender, and had subsequently accepted a quotation of approximately half the amount. The letter would explain that the Parish Council had however asked to the contractor to use the colours suggested by the PPFA in their letter dated 7^th December 2007.

If the PPFA still wished to make a donation towards the general maintenance of the pavilion to reduce the burden on the parish ratepayers, which the PPFA had originally been set up to raise money to do, the Parish Council would accept it most gratefully, as the facilities cost approximately £5,000 per annum to maintain.

Regarding the play equipment, the Parish Council would explain that it had consulted children at Purleigh Community Primary School extensively, many of whom would use the new equipment, before briefing play equipment companies, obtaining quotations and applying for grants.

6.5/06/08 To receive a quotation to mole plough the playing field: It was noted that Douglas Bates had not yet provided a quotation to mole plough the playing field, but that he had spoken to the Chairman and confirmed that he would be prepared to undertake the work in the autumn, subject to the submission of a satisfactory quotation to the Parish Council.

6.6/06/08 Other playing field and open space matters: Members did not have any other playing field matters to discuss.

7.1/06/08 To receive a report of the independent audit of accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2008: Members noted that Mr. Stichbury had carried out a thorough internal audit of the Parish Council’s accounts for the year ended 31^st March 2008 on Friday, 16^th May 2008 between 8.45 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. A copy of Mr. Stichbury’s report to the external auditor attached (Section 4 of the Annual Return) was given to each Member.

Members noted that there were no matters arising from the internal audit to report to the Parish Council.

It was also noted that the Parish Council’s completed Annual Return for the year ended 31^st March 2008 had been sent to the Audit Commission for external audit.

7.2/06/08 To receive a report of receipts: The Parish Council received a report of the following receipts:

7.3/06/08 To approve payment of accounts between meetings: 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.

7.4/06/08 To approve payment of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve payment of the following accounts to hand:

Older persons strategy: Members noted that the District Council would like the Parish Council’s comments on the draft Older Persons Strategy for the period April 2008 to April 2011. Consultation began on 11^th May and would end on 23^rd July 2008. The document was placed in the circulation folder for Members’ consideration.

Members noted that the Parish Council had been invited to send two representatives to attend the launch of Maldon District Community Transport between 11.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on 26^th June at Maldon Town Function Suite, Park Drive. This followed the take over of Viking Community transport by the Maldon & District CVS in March.

It was noted that Essex and Southend Local Involvement Networks for Health and Social Care (LINk) were giving communities a stronger voice in how health and social care services were delivered. A LINk inaugural public meeting would take place on Saturday, 28^th June 2008 at Chelmsford City Football Club, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, between 10.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. The meeting would ‘constitute Essex and Southend LINk into a legal entity’.

All Parish Councillors were invited to attend.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party:

Members noted that the EALC were inviting nominations to enter a draw to be allocated Buckingham Palace Garden Party tickets for 2009. The Lord Chamberlain had taken the view that invitations were in recognition of past service and it was therefore appropriate that Councils should nominate a Chairman or Mayor having given ‘service of recognition’ to their community.

The Parish Council did not have any nominations.

Annual Meeting of the Maldon Parish and Town Councils in Essex:

Members noted that the meeting had taken place on Tuesday, 10^th June at 7.30 p.m. at the New Parish Room, Queenborough Road, Southminster.

Members noted that a representative from the Parish Council had been invited to attend the LCLC meeting on Wednesday, 25^th June between 10.00 a.m. and approximately 1.00 p.m. at the Minerva Centre, Burnham Road, Purleigh. The meeting would commence with tea and coffee and a buffet lunch would be served at the close of business. The Local Community Liaison Council was an independent, local community body acting as a link between the Bradwell Reactor Site and its neighbours.

Parish Councillors were invited to attend a ‘Linking to the Statutory Planning System’ training session on Saturday, 28^th June from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. at a cost of £25 per delegate. The event would take place at the RCCE’s Offices, Threshlefords Business Park, Feering.

Members noted that the Neighbourhood Action Panel would meet again at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8^th in Cold Norton Village Hall and at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23^rd in Althorne Village Hall.

Mr. Ascott reported that the possibility of creating a new nuclear power station at Bradwell would be discussed at the group’s next meeting, which would be attended by Mr Gower.

Members noted that Station Commander Dave Moore (Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, South Woodham Ferrers) would be attending the public session prior to the start of the July meeting to meet with Parish Councillors to see if the Fire Service could assist with fire related matters in the community.

Members noted that ITV wanted to hear from the ladies of rural Britain for a makeover programme with a twist.

If Parish Councillors knew of anyone interested, they should contact Shone Baldwin on 0207 1574862 or at shona.baldwin@itv.com.

Mr. Ascott reported that he and Mrs. Stock had attended a training session on Planning for the future of your Village’ run by the EALC and Essex Training Partnership on 12^th June. It had been a positive experience and Mr. Ascott placed the course materials and his thoughts on how Purleigh could benefit, in the circulation folder for Members’ consideration prior to the July meeting, when it was agreed that Design Statements would be on the Agenda.

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 8.10 p.m.

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