WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall meeting room on Tuesday 13th May 2025 at 7.30pm.

Present: Cllrs Clare Lauwerys, John Abbott, Netty Knill Jones, Roger Pittock, Phil Gladwin, Jinny Gale (chair), City Cllr Carl Powling.

Apologies for absence: Cllrs Catherine Sprott, Robert Davidson, Liz Davidson, City Cllr Martin Parsons, Andrew Ellis, County Cllr Kevin Bentley

The Annual Parish Assembly

Everyone was welcomed to the meeting and no-one spoke at this time

Annual Council Meeting (AGM)

Names put forward for chairman were considered and following a ballot Jinny Gale was duly elected as chairman for this next year. With only one name put forward for vice chairman Catherine Sprott was elected in her absence. The clerk was proposed, seconded and all agreed to continue asFinancial and Responsible Officer, all necessary forms and declarations were completed and signed.

Parish Council’s Annual Report was circulated before the meeting, read out and will be displayed in the usual ways.

Financial Report was circulated before the meeting and will be displayed in the normal ways. The parish council finances are in good order with a comfortable balance enabling the continuation of the services expected of us.

All memberships of EALC, NALC, CALC, SLCC, RCCE were agreed to be continued

Ordinary Council Meeting

The minutes of April 2025 meeting were agreed and signed by the chairman with the addition of, in the Public Have Your Say section, that verges are the responsibility of ECC and not the parish council.

City Councillor Report: The repairs to Mersea Road, Peldon pot holes have taken place with a more permanent fix.

Our concerns with regards to unreliable buses were noted and will be followed up.

Devolution was discussed as was the CCC Local Plan

Public-Have Your Say: we had received thanks for our effects to get diversions away from School Lane when road closures are active in this area.

Declarations of Interest: None

Playgrounds and Playing Fields are in good order, rubber chippings will be ordered for Salcott playground.
Salcott meadow: following complaints it was agreed for the grass cutting company to pick up and take away at their discretion when it is particularly long when cut at a cost of almost double. Tree climbing on the meadow will be discussed with our insurance company as there is concern for both the trees and the children.
Audit Return and Associated Compliances AGAR Part 2 2024/25 has been completed, inspected and signed by our internal auditor (many thanks to Steve Copeland) agreed by all and signed by the chairman and clerk for forwarding to the external auditor.
LGR/Devolution – discussions at County and Government level are still taking place with many aspects to be ironed out.
CCC Draft Local Plan – Parish Councillors met recently with CCC’s Local Plan Officers. The government’s building policy requires extensive development inColchester, resulting inplanners having to consider building in areas they would not normally use, namely the villages surrounding Colchester. At present the indication in the draft plan is that Peldon has been allocated 25 new houses. CCC has once again refused to authorise the latest version of the plan so that it can progress to the next stage, because it lacks detail about infrastructure planning to support developments. The delay means that the promised public consultation on the new plan will not take place until probably November. The Parish Council will monitor the situation and intends to consult with residents before the start of the consultation so that individuals and the Parish Council can comment on the basis of the then latest information.
Website – alterations to suit our needs have now been completed and sent to the website manager for implementing the changes.
Actions and Reminder List – updated

Planning Applications and Decisions:

Certificate of Lawful use Consultation 250761	to confirm existing use of C3 following removal of agricultural tie in 1962 at Lovedowns Lodge, Barnhall Road, Salcott
250962	To determine if prior approval is needed for change of use of building at Mayford, Mersea Road, Peldon

Payments made in May 2025

R S Pullen – May salary	£702.00
T & LC – Salcott grass cut	£126.00

The next meeting will be held on 10th June 2025 at Salcott Village Hall, followed by 8th July at Wigborough Church