Members present: Mr. B. Oliver (Chairman), Mr. K. Ascott, Mr. L. Cooper (District Councillor),

Mr. D. Fleming, Mrs. S. Owen, Mr. S. Potter, Mr. G. Staines, Mr. G. Strathern, Dr. R. Woodcock.

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

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

Apologies were received from Mr John Archer (District Council Ward Member) who was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior engagement.

Mr. Fleming and Mr. Strathern apologised for their late arrival, having been unavoidably detained. Both joined the meeting during discussion of Agenda item 4.2/10/06.

2/10/06. THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 8^TH SEPTEMBER 2006, having been circulated to all Members, were approved, and signed by the Chairman.

3/10/06. TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES:

3.1/10/06 Clerk: The Clerk did not have any matters of information arising from the September 2006 Parish Council meeting to report to Members.

3.2/10/06 Members’: 5.1/09/06 Vehicle Activated Speed signs and Speed Indicator Devices: Members asked for it to be recorded that at the September 2006 meeting, the Parish Council had decided not to purchase a Vehicle Activated Sign or Speed Indicator Device on the grounds of cost, on-going maintenance issues and insurance implications, as the decision had not been recorded in the Minutes.

6.2/09/06 Pavilion extension: It was noted that the Parish Council had not yet received the keys to the roller shutter, or the Completion Certificate issued by Maldon District Council’s Building Regulations Department (No. FP/91/0625/0) from the Purleigh Playing Field Association (PPFA). The Clerk agreed to remind Mr. Steeples (Chairman, PPFA) that these items were outstanding.

4.1/10/06 Decisions taken between meetings: FUL/MAL/06/01046 Single storey foyer. Howe Green Farm, Howe Green Road, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Piper.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

4.2/10/06 Current applications: Mr. Cooper declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following application and left the Pavilion whilst the Parish Council formulated its recommendation.

FUL/MAL/06/00991 Replacement dwelling. Wickhams Cottage, Wickhams Chase, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. J. Cooper.

The Parish Council RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

At this juncture Mr. Fleming and Mr. Strathern joined the meeting and Mr. Cooper re-joined the meeting.

FUL/MAL/06/01106 Construction of new dwelling. Old Whitmans Farm, Hackmans Lane, Purleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton.

The Parish Council recognised that planning permission had already been granted for the construction of a new dwelling on this site, but Members had serious concerns about the proposed design of the new property, which was situated in a very rural part of the parish.

It was agreed therefore not to recommend approval or refusal of the application, but instead to inform the District Council that the Parish Council was very concerned about the design of the proposed new dwelling, which was not in keeping with the character of the rural area surrounding it or with neighbouring properties. This, combined with the alteration in the proposed siting of the property, would in the Parish Council’s opinion, be detrimental to the rural street scene.

4.3/10/06 Notification of Appeals:

Appeal by: Miss S.J. Kirby

Site address: Land adjacent The Cottage, Maldon Road, Latchingdon

Appeal ref: APP/X1545/A/06/2025260/WF

Application ref: OUT/MAL/05/01379

Description of development: Proposed starter home for young professional teacher.

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

4.4/10/06 Maldon District Council planning decisions: Members noted that Maldon District Council had APPROVED the following applications:

In response to a question from Mrs. Owen, Mr. Cooper explained that the agent acting on behalf of the

owners of Little Le Howe had misinterpreted a reference to a potential beef unit at Le Howe Farm, and had erroneously described it in the application as a ‘meat packing factory’, giving rise to local concern.

4.5/10/06 Maldon District Council’s planning performance and the delegation of cases to Officers: Members noted that at its meeting on 21^st September 2006 Maldon District Council had decided to retain the status quo. The ‘Parish Council trigger’ would therefore remain, so that if a Parish Council’s recommendation on a planning application differed from that of the Officer concerned, the application would go before a District Council planning committee for determination.

4.6/10/06 Other planning matters: Little Wood Place, Fambridge Road: Members noted that Gordon Nisbet (Senior Enforcement Officer, Maldon District Council) had reminded the Parish Council that planning permission had been granted by the Council for an all weather manège under the planning reference FUL/MAL/03/01299 on 17^th February 2004. Planning permission had then been granted for a change of use of land to form part of the residential curtilage under planning reference FUL/MAL/05/00831 on 7^th September 2005.

Recent site inspections had shown that there was a mobile home and other outbuildings sited on this land to the rear of the house. According to Mr. Nisbet, these constituted permitted development as they were being used in connection with the residential use of the dwelling. At Mr. Nisbet’s most recent site inspection he had noted that there was a digger and another item of plant which were being used in connection with the maintenance of the land. Currently therefore, there were not any matters which constituted a breach of planning control.

It was agreed to write back to Mr. Nisbet asking him to address the Parish Council’s question about whether the occupants were permitted to store large amounts of what appeared to be building rubble around their field boundary, or if it was not within his department’s remit, to refer the matter to the District Council’s Environmental Health Department.

5.1/10/06 British Telecom’ pole: The Street: Members noted that the Parish Council had formally objected to the position of BT apparatus (pole) in the vicinity of Turnstone, The Street. The pole had been positioned so that it was a mere 32" from the footpath’s edge compared with other poles in the vicinity, which were at least 39" away, and was therefore obstructing the pedestrian footway.

BT had acknowledged the Parish Council’s complaint, investigated the matter and moved the pole so that it no longer obstructed the pedestrian footway.

5.2/10/06 Pedestrian footway: Roundbush section of Fambridge Road: The Chairman reported that he, Mr. Potter and the Clerk had met with Robbie Jamieson (Essex County Council District Manager), Steve Broad (Essex County Council District Engineer), Brian Mead (County Council Ward Member) and Mr. Humfrey and Mr. Barrett (residents of Fambridge Road) on 12^th October 2006 to discuss AGHAST’s request for a pedestrian footway in Fambridge Road.

At the meeting the following action had been agreed:

1. Mr. Jamieson would write to each resident of the Roundbush section of Fambridge Road to establish their views on the possibility of installing a pedestrian footway in the road. The work would be paid for from the Locally Determined Budget and would be completed in sections, as and when finance allowed. To establish a footway, residents may need to be prepared to dedicate some land at the front of their properties to the County Council.

2. Replacement and additional 40mph repeater signs would be installed in Fambridge Road.

3. The County Council would re-measure the road to ensure that a central white line and cats-eyes were appropriate.

4. The relevant department in County Hall would be asked again to alter all pertinent signage so that HGV and tourist traffic bound for Burnham and the Dengie Hundred would be directed to the new A130 so that it missed out Danbury, Maldon and the Fambridge Road, and not, as was the case at present, to the A12.

Members noted that it had emerged at the meeting that letters sent by AGHAST did not represent the views of all the residents of the road. Unless the Parish Council received confirmation from AGHAST that it was a properly constituted organisation, which consulted its membership and represented their views faithfully, henceforth letters from AGHAST would be treated as if they were only the view of the individual who had signed them.

5.3/10/06 Other highway matters: The storage of highway materials, Hackmans Lane: Mr. Fleming reported that during the recent work carried out to improve highway safety in Hackmans Lane, he had permitted the County Council’s contractors to store materials related to the work on his land adjacent to Hackmans Lane. Despite the fact that the work had been completed some weeks ago, the superfluous material remained uncollected and was now attracting fly tipping. Mr. Fleming had entered into dialogue with the County Council and its contractors and had been assured that the pile of scrapings etc. would be removed within the next week.

It was agreed that if however, the materials were not collected as promised, Mr. Fleming would inform the Clerk who would liaise with the Chairman and if necessary the Parish Council would write to the appropriate authority expressing the Parish Council’s concern about the detrimental effect the material was having on the appearance of the parish, as it was attracting fly-tippers.

6.1/10/06 Children’s Play Area: Monthly report: Mr. Ascott 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.

6.2/10/06 Pavilion extension: Members noted that Mr. Lynch had almost finished the extension. Outstanding items included:

It was noted that following a flood at the Pavilion, Mr. Lynch had removed a broken shower from the changing rooms and would remove a shower from the other changing room, as previously requested.

Mr. Staines agreed to ask Mr. Steeples to remove the redundant fridge and various packaging from the Pavilion, as soon as possible.

The Chairman agreed to ask Croquet Club members if they could swap the urns around so that the larger one was in use, and the smaller could be stored in one of the kitchen cupboards.

6.3/10/06 To report the results of Members’ inspection of the Pavilion outbuildings: Having inspected the outbuildings at the Pavilion, the Parish Council was pleased to be able to record that, in Members’ opinion, there was not any asbestos contained in the garage or the cricket club shed (both having corrugated iron roofs). The site was therefore asbestos free, as the Pavilion itself did not contain any asbestos.

6.4/10/06 Other playing field and open space matters: Pavilion exterior: Members noted that on Sunday, 1^st October 2006, a working party convened by the PPFA had painted approximately half of the front of the Pavilion. Members noted that Mr. Brian Ellis had purchased black sadolin on behalf of the PPFA at a cost of £105 including VAT, and would invoice the Parish Council for it in due course.

Electrical issues: Members noted that Turpin Electrical Engineers had inspected the faulty heater in the kitchen and had concluded that it was broken beyond repair.

It was agreed to ask Mr. Turpin to install a new heater in the kitchen for the sum of approximately £75 plus VAT, as quoted.

Members noted that the Whist Drive had complained that every time the hall door was shut, the trip switch was activated which cut out the lights. Mr. Turpin had investigated the matter but couldn’t trip the switch, so had advised that the best course of action would be to install a mechanism to prevent the door from slamming shut.

It was agreed to leave the matter in abeyance for a couple of weeks, after which Mr. Potter would ask the Whist Drive if they were still experiencing the same problem.

Members also noted that whilst on site Mr. Turpin had tested the emergency lighting, which was in perfect working order.

EDF Energy poles in the vicinity of The Bell Public House, The Street: Mr. Potter reported that on Thursday, 12^th October 2006 he had received a complaint from a resident of The Street about the position of replacement EDF Energy apparatus in the vicinity of The Bell. He had subsequently met with the resident and EDF Energy operatives on site, to discuss the location of poles and wires in this part of The Street.

Mr. Potter reported that EDF Energy was using a fund designated for the removal of overhead cables in conservation areas etc. to try to reduce the number of poles and wires in this part of the parish. In the course of their work EDF Energy employees had installed a replacement pole between the corner of The Bell and the Churchyard gate (south entrance). As the wires leading from the old pole towards Purleigh Hall were being put underground, the replacement pole was unbalanced and required a stay, which had been put in the only available position, which was with its end right up against the garden fence running in front of Creran. Mr. Potter believed that although EDF Energy had put luminous strips around the stay, it was still possible for pedestrians to bang their heads on it when walking beneath it to, or from, the churchyard path. The stay would be particularly dangerous at night, and for the elderly who may be more likely to look where they were placing their feet rather than in front of or above them.

It was agreed therefore that as EDF Energy were spending money to improve the appearance of the area, and that as the most prestigious building in the conservation area was the Grade 1 listed All Saints Church, the Parish Council would ask EDF Energy to consider putting the wires which led from the replacement pole to the Church, underground. The wires could feed into the extension, which would solve some outstanding supply issues and would allow the stay to be relocated to a safer position, and at a less acute angle, within the churchyard where it would not pose a threat to pedestrians.

It was agreed to copy this correspondence to the Parochial Church Council who may also consider it worthwhile writing to EDF Energy in support of the proposal.

Plantain and other weeds on the playing field: Mr. Strathern reported that he was not insured to spray the playing field to eradicate plantain and other weeds. It was agreed therefore to ask Billericay Farm Services and John McLaren to provide the Parish Council with quotations to carry out the work.

Members noted that the Chairman, Mr. Staines, Mr. Archer and the Clerk had met with Mark Jackson (Maldon District Council) on Wednesday 27^th September 2006 to discuss the proposed re-location of the post box in Pump Lane.

At the meeting Mark Jackson had agreed to recommend to the Royal Mail that the post box be relocated to the bottom of Church Hill, between the litter and salt bins, where it would be visible, easily accessible and would benefit from off-street parking. Lynne Strange (Royal Mail) had subsequently agreed to start the process of moving the box, which could take up to 12 weeks to complete.

The Parish Council reviewed details of the grasscutting contract for Purleigh Village, as the current contract (awarded to Andrew Macmorland) was due to expire at the end of the 2006 season.

Members agreed to amend the current contract so that area (A) included the children’s play area, which it had been agreed would be put down to grass in the autumn.

It was then proposed and agreed to invite the following contractors to tender for the grass cutting and hedge trimming contract for the 2007 season:

M.S.J. Garwood & Son, Mick Gray of M & H Landscapes, M.J. Hawes, and Andrew Macmorland.

Members noted that quotations would be opened by the Chairman at the Parish Council meeting due to be held on Friday, 10^th November 2006.

Rigby’s Path: The Parish Council noted that the road scrapings Mr. Fleming had applied to the surface of Rigby’s Path had improved its condition, so that during times of prolonged wet weather mud no longer made it difficult to negotiate.

9/10/06 FINANCIAL MATTERS

9.1/10/06 To consider purchasing a wreath for Remembrance Sunday: It was unanimously agreed to purchase a wreath to be laid at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. The Clerk agreed to provide Mr. Don Nowell with the sum of £25 (from Petty Cash) and to ask him to purchase a wreath and lay it on behalf of the Parish Council at the Remembrance Day Service.

Members noted that the wreath would be purchased pursuant to s137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

9.2/10/06 To receive a Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2006 – 30^th September 2006: It was proposed and unanimously agreed to approve the Statement of Accounts for the period 1^st April 2006 to 30^th September 2006:

Bank statements detailing the transactions to date in all four of the Parish Council’s bank accounts for the period 1^st April 2006 to 30^th September 2006 were available at the meeting for Members’ inspection, as part of the internal audit process.

9.3/10/06 To carry out a financial review 2006/2007 and consider forward estimates 2007/2008: Members also considered a detailed breakdown of income and expenditure for the period 1^st April 2006 to 30^th September 2006; estimated income and expenditure for the financial year 2006/2007 and a breakdown of anticipated income and expenditure 2007/2008.

This review formed part of the Parish Council’s internal audit procedure as required by Regulation 5 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003.

Members noted that Mr. Stichbury would be carrying out an independent audit of the Parish Council’s accounts for the period 1^st April 2006 to 30^th September 2006 at 8.45 a.m. on Friday 27^th October 2006.

9.4/10/06 To receive a report of receipts: Members received a report of the following receipts:

Members noted that the following courses were being run by the EALC and would take place in the Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow:

Budget Consultation Event: It was noted that Maldon District Council was holding a budget consultation event on Monday 30^th October at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Princes Road. Places had to be pre-booked.

Unfortunately there were no Parish Councillors available to attend this event.

Appointment of Independent Members of the Police Authority: Members noted that Essex Police Authority would have four vacancies arising in 2007 and was keen to encourage a wide range of applications. Further details could be obtained from the Essex Police Authority, 3 Hoffmanns Way, Chelmsford, CM1 1GU. Tel: 01245 291600 / 291604 or from the website www.essex.police.uk/authority.

Members noted that from 16^th October 2006 the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) would have new contact details as follows:

RCCE

Threshelfords Business Park

Inworth Road

Feering

Essex

CO5 9SE

Tel: 08444 773938

Fax: 01376 573524

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 8.58 p.m.

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