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, who was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior personal engagement and from Mr. K. Gower who was unable to attend due to work commitments. Mr. John Sears (District Council Ward Member) also sent his apologies.

2/11/07. THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 12^TH OCTOBER 2007, having been circulated to all Members, were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

3/11/07. TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES:

3.1/11/07 Clerk: The Clerk did not have any matters of information arising from the October 2007 meeting to report to the Parish Council.

3.2/11/07 Members’: Members did not have any matters of information arising from the October 2007 meeting to discuss.

4.1/11/07 Decisions taken between meetings: FUL/MAL/07/01083 Summerhouse in rear garden. Queen’s House, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Bateman.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/07/01085 Greenhouse in rear garden. Queen’s House, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Bateman.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

4.2/11/07 Current applications: FUL/MAL/07/01193 Single storey extension. St Georges House, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. P. Brown.

Mr. M. Perriman declared an interest in the above application and played no part in the formulation of the Parish Council’s recommendation.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

FUL/MAL/07/01226 Change of use of existing stables to livery and construction of manège. Mount Cottage Stables, Howe Green Road, Purleigh. Mr. J. Stone.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

4.3/11/07 Notification of Appeals:

Members noted the following appeal decisions:

Appeal by: Mr. D. Carter

Site Address: Palepit Farm, Latchingdon Road, Cold Norton, Essex. CM3 6HR

Application Reference No: FUL/MAL/07/00027, ENF/1233/16/06

Appeal Reference No: APP/X1545/A/07/2041396/NWF

Description of development: Construction of barns comprising agricultural store, tractor and machinery store and farm workshop.

Summary of Decision: The appeal was DISMISSED and the Enforcement Notice UPHELD with variations.

Application Reference No: FUL/MAL/07/00357

Appeal Reference No: APP/X1545/A/07/2041396

Description of development: The construction of barns comprising agricultural store, tractor and machinery store and farm workshop.

Summary of Decision: The appeal was DISMISSED.

Appeal Reference No: APP/X1545/C/07/2047689

Description of development: The erection of a barn comprising an agricultural store, tractor and machinery store and farm workshop

Summary of Decision: The appeal was ALLOWED and planning permission granted for the erection of a barn comprising an agricultural store, tractor and machinery store and farm workshop at Palepit Farm, in accordance with the terms of the application ref: FUL/MAL/07/00357 dated 4^th April 2007, subject to certain conditions.

Copies of the Inspector’s decision were circulated for Members’ information.

4.4/11/07 Maldon District Council planning decisions: Members noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:

4.5/11/07 Other planning matters: Members noted that the Parish Council had been notified of the following application as a matter of information only.

5.1/11/07 Proposed Prohibition of Stopping – Pump Lane: A map of the County Council’s revised proposals for parking restrictions in Pump Lane were circulated for Members’ information. It was agreed to support the revised proposals, including the additional restriction from the end of the ‘School Keep Clear’ markings to just beyond the driveway at Tonnawanda. The Parish Council agreed that there should be a timed restriction on this section of Pump Lane to tie in with the times applied to the ‘School Keep Clear’ markings. Members did however want reassurance that the parking restrictions in front of Tavistock included the access to Badgers.

Obstruction of the pedestrian footway outside Goosepatch, Pump Lane: It was agreed to ask for a progress report from the County Council on the removal of vegetation overhanging the pedestrian footway outside Goosepatch, Pump Lane, and on any proposals the Highways Department may have to address the inadequate width of the pavement and adverse camber between Pestles and Crofters.

5.2/11/07 Other highway matters: Members did not have any other highway matters to discuss.

6.1/11/07 Children’s Play Area: Monthly report: Mr. Perriman reported that 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.

Vandals had however tried to remove the ‘Emergency Use Only’ sign attached to one of the gates. Mr. Perriman had temporarily reinstated the sign but it was agreed to ask Mr. Ovel to replace the nuts holding the sign in position, and to ensure that they were securely tightened.

6.2/11/07 Other playing field and open space matters: Pavilion re-decoration: The Parish Council noted with thanks that a working party from the Purleigh Playing Field Association (PPFA) had almost finished painting the exterior of the pavilion, but had run out of the architectural Sadolin provided by the Council. The working party were prepared to finish the painting but required an additional 5 litres of paint.

It was agreed to ask Brian Ellis to purchase another 5 litres of paint for the working party on the Parish Council’s behalf.

Members noted that Brian Ellis had advised the Parish Council verbally that he would submit a quotation to redecorate the pavilion, but that it was highly unlikely that he would be able to undertake the work. Mr. Ellis had gained the impression from the PPFA that he would be able to start work on the pavilion in December 2007 / January 2008 rather than wait for the new financial year, during which he intended to retire.

It was agreed to ask Mr. Ellis if he could recommend another painter and decorator who might be willing to submit a quotation to redecorate the pavilion for the Parish Council’s consideration.

Church Clock: The Parish Council received a letter from Eric Gildersleve, Churchwarden, writing on behalf of the Parochial Church Council, which asked the Parish Council to pay for repairs to the Church Clock.

Members noted that the Parochial Church Council had commissioned a survey on the condition of the clock from Smiths of Derby and that their recommendation had been that the clock should be dismantled, cleaned to remove any corrosion on the pivots and in the bushes and re-assembled with fresh oil. In addition, one of the pulleys used by the weights had a worn bearing and needed to be re-bushed.

The total price for this work amounted to £1,565.00 plus VAT.

Members noted that the balance in the Parish Council’s Historic Buildings Fund, which was earmarked for the restoration and repair of historic buildings in the parish (pursuant to section 48 of the Essex Act 1987) currently stood at £10,868.22. Alternatively, the Parish Council was empowered to use its general fund to repair the clock, pursuant to section 2 of the Parish Councils Act 1957.

The Chairman proposed that the Parish Council paid for the necessary work on the clock and asked the Parochial Church Council to make a financial contribution towards the repairs.

Mr. Cooper declared an interest in this matter and then voiced his opinion that repairing the clock shouldn’t be a charge on the parish on this occasion. Some Members also felt that the clock wasn’t part of the fabric of the Church and therefore it wasn’t appropriate to use the Historic Buildings Fund to pay to repair it. Other Members expressed the view that the clock was part of the fixtures and fittings of the historic building and that it was entirely appropriate to use the Historic Buildings Fund for this purpose. It was generally agreed however that nothing more than a small contribution could be made if the Historic Buildings Fund wasn’t used, as the Parish Council hadn’t precepted for this expense.

The Parish Council agreed to write back to Mr. Gildersleve advising him that the Parish Council may favourably consider a request to pay for the repair of the clock, if Members knew how much, if any, contribution the Parochial Church Council and/or the Friends of Purleigh Church were willing to make towards the work.

The following tenders for the grass cutting and hedge-trimming contract in Purleigh for the 2008 and 2009 seasons were opened by the Chairman, and their contents considered by the Parish Council:

It was proposed, and agreed, to accept Andrew Macmorland’s quotation for the grass cutting and hedge-trimming contract in Purleigh for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

It was noted that on this occasion M. J. Hawes had not been able to submit a quotation for the Parish Council’s consideration.

8.1/11/07 To receive a report of the independent audit of the Parish Council’s accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 30^th September 2007, carried out on Friday, 26^th October 2007: Members noted that Mr. Stichbury had carried out an independent audit of the Parish Council’s accounts for the period 1^st April 2007 to 30^th September 2007, between 8.45 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. on Friday, 26^th October 2007.

There were no matters arising from the independent audit to report to the Parish Council.

8.2/11/07 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:

8.3/11/07 To approve payment of accounts between meetings: Members noted that there had not been any accounts paid between Parish Council meetings.

8.4/11/07 To approve payment of accounts to hand: It was unanimously agreed to approve payment of the following accounts to hand:

The Clerk did not have any correspondence to report to Members

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 8.34 p.m.

Top of Page