Members present: Mr. S. Potter (Chairman), Mr. K. Ascott, Mr. L. Cooper, Mr. B. Oliver, Mr. M. Perriman, Mrs. M. Stock, Mr. G. Strathern.

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

Mr. John Archer (District Council Ward Member) attended the public session prior to the meeting.

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

Apologies were received from Mrs. S. Owen and Mr. K. Gower who were unable to attend the meeting due to prior personal and professional commitments. Mr. John Sears (District Council Ward Member) also sent his apologies, being otherwise engaged.

2/03/08. THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 15^TH FEBRUARY 2008, having been circulated to all Members, were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

3/03/08. TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES:

3.1/03/08 Clerk: The Clerk did not have any matters arising from the February 2008 meeting to report to the Parish Council.

3.2/03/08 Members’: Members did not have any matters arising from the February 2008 meeting to discuss.

4.1/03/08 Decisions taken between meetings: Members noted that the Parish Council had not made any recommendations to Maldon District Council between meetings.

4.2/03/08 Current applications: FUL/MAL/08/00095 Cart Lodge replacing garage building. Queen’s House, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Bateman.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/08/00232 Front, side, rear extension and new roof. The Crib, Hackmans Lane, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Markham.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

TCA/MAL/08/00259 Pollard 4 Lime trees and light reduction on Pear tree. The Old Bakery, The Street, Purleigh. Mrs. Simmonds.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

TCA/MAL/08/00279 Fell three Sycamore trees adjacent to the old coach house to the front boundary of the property. The Old Rectory, Church Hill, Purleigh. Mrs. D. Guest.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

OUT/MAL/08/00228 Retirement bungalow. Oakleigh Lodge, Hackmans Lane, Purleigh. R. Woodcock.

The Parish Council agreed not to make a recommendation to Maldon District Council on this application.

4.3/03/08 Notification of Appeals: Members noted that the Parish Council had not been notified of any Appeals between meetings.

4.4/03/08 Maldon District Council planning decisions: Members noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:

and had advised that prior approval was not required for the following development:

4.5/03/08 Regional Spatial Strategy single issue review: Planning for gypsy and traveller accommodation in the east of England: Members noted that the Government had invited views on the draft policy via a twelve week period of public consultation which ran from 25^th February to 16^th May 2008.

Members noted that in 2006 Maldon District had 39 authorised pitches for gypsies and travellers and that the provision of an additional 15 pitches by 2011 was being recommended.

It was agreed not to send a formal response to the consultation.

4.6/03/08 Other planning matters: Introduction of 1APP planning application forms and validation checklists: It was noted that from 6^th April 2008 Government legislation would require all planning applications to be submitted on a standard form known as 1APP, which would supersede all existing planning application forms (with the exception of those for mineral development) and would be the only method of applying for planning permission in England.

The Government would also be introducing new rules for the validation of planning applications. It was also noted that from 6^th April 2008, in order for an application to be valid for consideration, applicants would have to submit a range of information known as Planning Application Requirements with their applications. In addition to the national list of information required for a valid application, Local Authorities were being encouraged, after a period of consultation, to adopt their own lists of requirements. This local ‘validation checklist’ would set out what needed to be submitted in addition to the 1APP form in an effort to reduce the time taken to process each application.

Each application type had a different list of Planning Application Requirements. However, depending on the nature of the proposed development and its location, the additional information would not always be necessary.

It was noted that Maldon District Council was seeking the Parish Council’s comments on its draft validation checklist by 18^th April 2008.

It was agreed to point out to Maldon District Council that the requirement to record Public Rights of Way appeared to have been omitted.

Second hand car sales, Chelmsford Road: The Parish Council agreed to draw Maldon District Council’s attention to the regular attempts to sell different second hand cars on the verge opposite the entrance to Greenvale in Chelmsford Road, which suggested that a dealer was operating at this location.

5.1/03/09 To consider a request for speed control measures in Hackmans Lane: Members noted that having recently moved into Hackmans Lane and observed much speeding traffic on the road, Mr. Steel (Penn Cottage, Hackmans Lane) had approached Jackie Roerig (Essex County Council Highways Department) to ask if a Speed Indicator Device (SID) could be deployed to try to encourage motorists to obey the 30 mph speed limit. Mrs. Roerig advised Mr. Steel that if the Parish Council wrote to her supporting this request it might be possible to deploy a SID during the next financial year. Mrs. Roerig also suggested asking Essex Police to take some enforcement action.

It was agreed to support Mr. Steel’s request for a SID and to request police enforcement of the speed limit.

5.2/03/08 Safer journeys to school: Parking restrictions in Pump Lane: Members noted that Jackie Roerig had written to the Parish Council informing Members that, unfortunately, due to a major re-prioritising of funding, the County Council was unable to implement the new parking restrictions outside Purleigh Community Primary School until later in the new financial year.

Mrs. Roerig regretted any disappointment caused and assured the Parish Council that the work would be carried out at the earliest opportunity.

5.3/03/08 Tree planting site requests: Members noted that Essex County Council had written to the Parish Council asking Members to suggest potential sites in the parish suitable for tree planting, as it was committed to planting 250,000 trees during the 2008/09 financial year.

It was agreed to suggest that further trees be planted at Purleigh Wash, an important gateway into the parish.

5.5/03/08 Other highway matters: Street Nameplate: It was agreed to ask Maldon District Council to replace the Slough Lane nameplate.

Drains: It was agreed to ask Essex County Council to raise some of the drains in Fambridge Road, two at the south end of Howe Green Road and the drain in Chelmsford Road, opposite the entrance to Lodge Lane.

6.1/03/08 Children’s play area: Monthly report: Mr. Perriman reported that he had carried out his weekly inspections of the Children’s Play Area and that all items of play equipment therein appeared to be in a satisfactory condition.

Mr. Perriman also reported that the mole situation was much improved.

6.2/03/08 New play equipment: Mr. Strathern reported that he and Mr. Gower had visited Purleigh School to learn what type of play equipment the children would like to see replace the old tower, slide and suspension bridge. Whilst at the school they had been very impressed by the children’s enthusiasm, behaviour and manners. Subsequently, they had also been greatly impressed by the quality of suggestions for a replacement piece of play equipment that the children had put forward.

The Parish Council agreed to select the winning designs at an informal meeting to be held on Tuesday, 25^th March at 7.30 p.m. in the pavilion. It was agreed that the child with the most appropriate design would be presented with a £20 gift token and the runner up with a £10 gift token from W.H. Smith.

In the interim, the clerk would write to the school passing on Mr. Strathern and Mr. Gower’s comments and informing the children when the final selection would take place.

Mr. Ascott gave his apologies, as he would be unable to attend the meeting on the 25^th March.

The Parish Council thanked Mr. Strathern and Mr. Gower for all their efforts.

6.3/03/08 Parish multi-sport session: Members noted that Vicky Ayris (Leisure Assistant, Maldon District Council) had written to apologise for the delay in the training staff arriving at Purleigh Playing Field on 12^th February 2008 for the sports taster session. Unfortunately there had been a misunderstanding with regard to location and they had gone to Purleigh School instead.

By way of an apology, Maldon District Council would run an identical session on the Playing field on Wednesday, 2^nd April between 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. Mr. Perriman kindly volunteered to open up and lock the pavilion on the day so that the children could use the pavilion toilets if required.

6.4/03/08 To consider a request for a new litter bin: The contents of a letter from Mick Elliott (Chairman, Purleigh Cricket Club) were noted by the Parish Council.

In his letter Mr. Elliott requested that a new litter bin be installed in front of the pavilion verandah.

Members noted that the price of a vandal resistant litter bin from Glasdon plus fixings was approximately £275.00 (plus an adjustable depth concrete in anchor fixing).

It was agreed to purchase a litter bin and advise Mr. Elliott accordingly.

6.5/03/08 Pavilion showers: Members noted that between meetings the Parish Council had received a complaint from Purleigh Football Club that only three showers in the pavilion were working and that the water pressure in those three was pretty awful, with the water ‘dribbling out at best’.

At the Chairman’s request Gary Lynch had investigated and had advised that all six showers worked, but not at the same time. Members considered the following two options to try to resolve the situation:

1. Install a header tank and pump

2. Remove another 2 showers (one from each side)

It was agreed that as the Parish Council hadn’t precepted for a header tank etc., Members would ask Mr. Ovel to disable two further showers (one from each changing room), but leave them in situ so that they could be reinstated if necessary.

6.6/03/08 Other playing field and open space matters: Bird feeders at the allotment site, Chelmsford Road: The Chairman reported that he had received a complaint from Mr. Woollard, the tenant of allotment plots 4 and 9, that his bird feeders were being habitually moved back into the hedge adjacent to the allotments.

Mr. Oliver, who had had experience of a similar dispute last year, kindly agreed to investigate the complaint further.

Pavilion redecoration: The contents of a letter from Mr. Steeples (Chairman, Purleigh Playing Field Association) were noted by Members. In the letter, the PPFA requested that the redecoration of the interior of the pavilion proceeded as soon as possible.

It was agreed to inform Mr. Steeples that the Parish Council still did not intend to commence any redecoration of the pavilion until later in the financial year 2008/2009 (see Min 6.3/02/08).

It was agreed to ask Mr. Ovel to repair a broken down pipe at the pavilion and look at the warped board in front of the changing rooms to assess what remedial action, if any, needed to be taken.

Members noted that National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had just commenced a consultation on proposed changes to airspace over parts of London, southern and eastern England. This airspace was called Terminal Control North (TCN) and was amongst the most complex airspace in the world. Purleigh lay beneath the TCN region and the Parish Council was therefore being consulted. The Clerk circulated leaflets and a DVD which provided a general overview of the proposals, and explained how they affected different parts of the region. NATS also advised that Councillors visited their website www.nats.co.uk/TCNconsultation where detailed information on the proposals was available alongside an online questionnaire for submitting feedback. The website also provided a postcode search facility. Members noted that the consultation period closed on 22^nd May 2008.

8.1/03/08 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:

8.2/03/08 To approve payment of accounts between meetings: Members noted that the Parish Council had not paid any accounts between meetings.

8.3/03/08 To approve payment of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve payment of the following accounts to hand:

Members noted that the next quarterly meeting of the group would be held on 19^th March 2008 in Althorne Village Hall, Summerhill, Althorne, at 7.30 p.m.

Parish Councillors were invited to attend the M&DCVS Annual General Meeting to be held in the Plantation Hall, Colchester Road, Heybridge, at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday, 17^th April 2008.

It was noted that the Essex Training Partnership was running the following courses:

Law & Procedures on 15^th April 2008 between 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. in the Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow at a cost of £52 per delegate.

Employment Issues on 30^th April 2008 between 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. in the Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow at a cost of £52 per delegate.

It was noted that the EALC was running a ‘Short Course for Councillors’ for Maldon District parish and town councils on Monday, 30^th June 2008 between 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. (to include light refreshments at 6.15 p.m.) in the Plantation Hall, Colchester Road, Heybridge, at a cost of £35 per delegate.

Mr. Ascott informed the Parish Council that under new legislation Parish Councils who had obtained Quality Status would be empowered to spend more money in their parishes.

Members noted that the LCLC provided a means for Bradwell Reactor Site to liaise and inform local organisations and members of the local community on matters arising from the operation of the site, including environmental monitoring, emergency planning arrangements and any new developments by the company. Representatives of local parish councils were invited to attend these meetings, which were held locally twice a year.

The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 19^th March 2008 in the Barn Room, the Minerva Centre, Roundbush Farm, Burnham Road, Purleigh. The meeting would commence at 10.00 a.m. with tea and coffee and conclude with a buffet lunch at approximately 1.00 p.m.

Members received a copy of a paper referred to by Mr. Oliver at the February meeting, which outlined the history of the PPFA, for their information.

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 8.18 p.m.

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