News - Page 67 of 71 - Winstred Hundred Parish Council

17th June 20108th December 2015

Annual Report for 2009/2010

Winstred Hundred Parish Council

ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010

Personnel

We are sorry to lose Kevin Bradshaw, Robert Davidson, Frances Fergus, and Sam Knill Jones as Parish Councillors. We thank them for their contributions and hope they will continue to support us from within the community. We welcome Charles Dymond as a new Parish Councillor and John Walker as a returning one. We also welcome Terry Sutton as the new Pyefleet, and therefore Peldon, Borough Councillor. At the time of writing we have vacancies for one Councillor in Virley and one in Salcott.

Archie Moore also retired as one of the Council’s invaluable independent workers this year and maintenance of the Moss Haye playground has been taken over by Barry Gooding.

The Council also welcomes PC Melanie Wilson as our new Birch and Layer Neighbourhood Specialist Police Officer.

Thanks

We extend our thanks to all the people who support and help the Parish Council in its work, including our Clerk, the Borough Councillors, Steve Copeland and all those members of the public who help us with specialist knowledge and through their comments, complaints and occasional praise keep us in touch with our communities.

Finances

The accounts to 31^st March 2010 are attached. At the time of publication they have been internally audited but we await final confirmation from our external auditors. Our policy is to hold funds in hand approximately equal to one year’s precept. This year we are slightly below that amount but decided not to request an increase in the precept.

The Council achieved a considerable reduction in its insurance premium by contracting to deal with Zurich via Suffolk Acre rather than with Zurich directly and by committing to a five year period.

Communications

The Parish Council e-mail service now has some 80 users and the website www.winstred100.org was finally launched during the year. It is being further developed and populated with material all the time. A ‘Gold Edition’ of the Peldon and Wigboroughs Parish News, containing the Annual Report, was sponsored by the Parish Council and distributed to every house in the Parish, including houses in Salcott and Virley.

Village Design Statement

Preparation of the Village Design Statement is funded by the Parish Council and is led by Nicky Ellis. At the outset we were perplexed by how long it had taken other groups to produce such documents. Faced with a high questionnaire return and a small group of volunteers we now understand. Work continues but more slowly than we would like.

Planning

During the year most of the Parish Councillors attended some excellent planning training organised by Colchester Borough Council. We have also agreed a new process for agreeing responses to be made by the Parish Council to local planning applications. The process gives the weight of the decision to the relevant ward Councillors but allows other Councillors to review and comment so that the whole Council can comfortably accept cabinet responsibility for the official reply. The Council has reviewed and commented on nearly 30 local planning applications.

Flooding

Once again flooding, particularly in Salcott and Virley, has been a persistent concern throughout the year. Parish and Borough Councillors and members of the public have all tried to help with specific problems but it has become clear that a major review of all aspects of the problem across the whole area, involving representatives from all the agencies having any involvement in water management and drainage, is required. We await the scheduling of such a meeting which is likely to take place during the summer.

A Water Awareness Session held at Salcott Village Hall and delivered by the Borough Council’s Emergency Planning Team underlined the dangers in still and moving water and advised about modern products which can be purchased and used in place of the more traditional sandbags.

The Council has also purchased and installed new lifebelts at key points in Salcott and Virley.

Works at Moss Haye

The Council has used grant money to relay the path and clear the adjoining ditches and to undertake major replacement and refurbishment of the playground equipment. We also commissioned British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to cut back some of the encroaching shrubs and bushes around the central area and to remove rubbish. We were pleased to show the results of this activity to the Mayor at the Peldon May Festival and hope that residents young and old will respect the investments made by keeping the area clear of dog mess and dissuading people from using the field for inappropriate activities. We hope to replace the basketball square and provide better drainage arrangements for the play area during the coming year.

The Wigboroughs Village Hall

The Trustees of the old Village Hall in School Lane have all died and the Parish Council agreed with the Charity Commissioners that it would undertake the organisation of getting the Trust re-established on a proper footing. Eight people have expressed an interest in being involved and will meet for the first time in June 2010.

Other activities

Parish and Borough Councillors have pressed hard, and will continue to do so, to get potholes filled and road surfaces repaired.
Councillors have continued to attend meetings of the Essex Wildlife Trust, the Abberton Reservoir Liaison Committee and the Colchester Association of Local Councils. The Clerk has regularly attended the Clerks’ Forum.
The Clerk, Chairman and Vice Chairman have undergone computer training designed to improve their knowledge of managing storage and archiving of files and data.
The Council has invited bids for the purchase of the BT red telephone box currently situated in Maldon Road, Great Wigborough.
The Council has committed to undertake an Affordable Housing Needs Survey in the parish in partnership with the Rural Community Council of Essex.
Regular local and independent inspections of the play areas in Salcott and Peldon have continued.
Grass cutting of public areas continues to be paid for from the precept.

(Click next for Financial reports)

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17th June 20108th December 2015

PC Minutes 8th June 2010

WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Peldon Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8^th June 2010.

Present: Jane Banks, Charles Dymond, Jinny Gale, Nicky Ellis, Lynne Simmons, John Walker, Kevin Bentley, Terry Sutton and 3 members of the public

The Annual Parish Assembly

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Everyone was invited to speak on any matters they wished.

Kevin Bentley (County and Borough Councillor) spoke of a busy year for himself and Andrew. The winter proved challenging with long periods of snow and flooding which in turn causing many potholes. The mobile unit for dealing with these with temporary repairs was prompt for which he thanked ECC Highways Department and permanent repairs are gradually taking place as is resurfacing of some roads.

He thanked us as we thanked him and Andrew for our working well together achieving good results where ever possible with the tasks that have come our way.

Terry Sutton (Borough Councillor) thanked Robert for his long service both as a Parish and Borough Councillor. He expressed his intention to serve and support us whenever and with whatever was needed.

Parish Council AGM

Nicky proposed, Jane seconded and all agreed for Jinny to continue as Chairman. Jinny proposed, Jane seconded and all agreed for Nicky to continue as Vice-Chairman. Jinny proposed, Jane seconded and all agreed for the clerk to continue as Responsible and Financial Officer. All necessary forms of declarations and interests were given out and have or will be completed.

Apologies for absence: Phil Gladwin, Andrew Ellis

Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed by the chairman

Chairman’s annual report – Jinny said goodbye to and thanked the leaving councillors, Robert, Kevin, Sam and Frances and welcomed the new, Charles and John. Archie Moore who retired this year had been an invaluable worker and supporter of the parish council and our thanks go to him. Barry Gooding has now taken over the maintenance of Moss Hay playground. PC Mel Wilson was also welcomed who is our new Birch and Layer Neighbourhood Specialist Police Officer. Thanks were also given to those who have supported or helped us and in anyway including an input of comments, requests etc. The completed financial report has been internally audited by Steve Copeland, for which we are very grateful, and it is now being externally audited. Communications by us to the people have improved greatly with an email service, our recently launched website and the ‘Gold Edition’ of the Peldon and Wigboroughs Parish News that contains this Annual Report in full, and will again be sponsored by us and delivered to every household in all our villages including Salcott and Virley. Other issues dealt with by us this year are a Village Design Statement, planning applications, flooding, work at Moss Hay, Wigboroughs Village Hall, training in several areas, the adoption of BT phone boxes, and attended numerous meetings of various bodies.

Public – Have Your Say: Frances read out a thank you and goodbye and expressed her desire to continue with projects dear to her heart. She had enjoyed being a parish councillor but was happy to leave it to the new ones now.

Borough Councillors:

Kevin: The Peldon Festival was a most enjoyable event. Missing fingerposts have been ordered and Salcott sign looked into again. The hump in St Stephens Lane, Great Wigborough has been repaired. Submissions for Abberton Reservoir funds need to be put forward. Visit Essex is the new organisation for tourism.

Bellwood – CBC are now waiting for amended plans to be submitted by the applicant for one of the applications, which is totally unacceptable as far as we are all concerned, so with our agreement Kevin and Andrew will pursue complaints to CBC and to the Ombudsman if necessary.

Terry: A certain planning application at St Ives Farm was discussed and will be brought before CBC Planning Committee as we have requested.

Police Report – two thefts took place in Great Wigborough, one in Salcott and a fraud regarding online transactions in Peldon. A speed check has been carried out in Church Road, Peldon after a complaint about speeding causing an accident. The highest speed recorded was 37mph and average speed was 27 – 28.

Declarations of Interest: None

Items for Discussion

The Way We Work – email protocol and our planning application response procedure were given to the new parish councillors as will our Standing Orders and Code of Conduct.
Filling vacancies for Salcott and Virley was discussed and leaflets will be delivered to all houses to enquire as to any interest. If not it may be that we look into Winstred Hundred becoming a non-warded parish, but that is a big decision that would need careful consideration.
Playgrounds annual inspection reports have been received. Retrospective approval was agreed for purchase of bark that completed the refurbishment of Moss Hay and other works for the Mayor’s visit at the Peldon Festival. Salcott also had some bark but more is needed and will be bought.
Road and speeding signage in School Lane, Great Wigborough and Church Road, Peldon will be considered for adequacy by ECC Highways Dept. after correspondence received.
Website – Jinny proposed, Nicky seconded and all agreed to accept the setting up cost of our website plus support and development up to the end of the year, £300 agreed initially and £200 for the extra work.
Dog poo on Moss Hay is very annoying and inconsiderate for all. CBC Dog Warden will be contacted for signs spelling out the dangers to children of this unsociable behaviour. Quad bikes on Pete Tye Common have been reported to the Police a couple of times and hopefully the culprits will eventually be caught in the act. This area is for dog walkers, children playing and horse riders and therefore totally unsuitable for bikes roaring around as is Moss Hay and Peldon Common.
Bellwood – as above, Kevin and Andrew will express our views most strongly about the latest events on this matter.
Cutting of the roadside hedge at the old garage site at Peldon was agreed that immediate action was required. The front and side hedges at Salcott meadow and the growth at the Kings Head corner will also be dealt with soon.
Edward Gittins & Associates has submitted sites again for public consultation to be considered in the CBC – LDF which were not originally supported by CBC. The process allows them to do this but sustainability appraisal work must be carried out. The parish council will explain to everyone in full the details and later make a response.
Theatre tickets to be donated by the Water Board will be allocated by means of a draw placing names of suitably worthy people in a hat.
Rolling Actions List updated.

Planning:

100915 Proposal: Variation of condition 2 attached to approval 072151 (use for the overhaul, repair, sale and maintenance of contractors plant etc) to permit the use for the sale of packaging tape, bubble wrap, shrink wrap and stock boxes and manufacture of bespoke cardboard boxes at St Ives Farm, Peldon

100940 Proposal: Change of use to B2 from B1 with restriction Condition 2 removed. The use of the building to be restricted to occupation by Swiftboats at Unit 2, Building 2, St Ives Farm, Peldon

100941 Proposal: Change of use to B2 from B1 with restriction Condition 2 removed. The use of the building to be restricted to occupation by Popper and Carter at Building 4, St Ives Farm, Peldon

101012 & 101013 Proposal: New planning permission to replace exant permission F/COL/07/0328 & LB/COL/07/0329 for demolition of existing lean-to conservatory and replacement with a permanent single storey extension to the existing sitting room at Haxells Farm, Peldon Road, Abberton

Notice of Planning Decisions:

100503 Proposal: For erection of a one bay timber framed car port with small log store/shelter to rear of the construction. Timber frame to be open on two sides with one number weatherboard to the side and back delineating the log store. Existing dilapidated post-war garage to be demolished and removed from site before new car port can be constructed at Cobb Cottage, The Street, Salcott – Permission Granted

Finance:

101546 David J Kingaby – website £500.00

101547 R S Pullen – clerk’s fee for June £353.53

101548 Hill Farm Landscapes Ltd. – Moss Hay footpath and associated ditch £1762.50

101549 R S Pullen – padlock and extra keys £29.69

101550 CPA Horticulture Ltd. – play bark £718.04

101551 Anglia Inspection Services – playgrounds annual inspection £155.00

101552 B J Gooding – work to Moss Hay playground £880.69

101553 T Simmons – 2 x grass cuts, play insp, bark spreading, life rings & boxes £323.50

101554 T Hedger – cutting of roadside hedge at Peldon old garage site £35.00

Received from CBC grant payment for Lappset playground refurbishment works £3895.00

The next meeting will be at Salcott Village Hall on Tuesday 13^th July 2010 at 7.30pm

2nd June 201027th November 2015

Results of Parish Elections

At the election on 27th May 2010 six candidates stood for election to four places representing the ward of Peldon. There was a huge turnout of 31% and 146 people voted. The successful candidates were:

Jane Banks,
Charles Dymond,
Nicky Ellis and
John Walker.

Our congratulations to them and commiserations and thanks to Frances Fergus and Robert Kean.

Uncontested elections on 6th May 2010 for Salcott, Virley and the Wigboroughs returned Lynne Simmons, Phil Gladwin and Jinny Gale to office.

Vacancies still exist for councillors at Virley and Salcott.

2nd June 20108th December 2015

PAWS – May Report

paws

38 members and 2 visitors attended our May meeting where we met Mr. W. Jones from the “Palace of Knightsbridge” – more commonly known as “Harrods”. He entertained us with stories covering his 40 years with them, having started work as a Trainee in September 1963 and retiring in 2003 as the Licensee. He was wearing a rather fetching frock coat which had been made for him, at a cost of £750, with a crest on the pocket bearing the store’s motto “All things to all people everywhere”. He gave us the history of the store from when Charles Henry Harrod took it over in 1849, when it was in financial difficulty and not in the best of areas, but seeing the potential as wealthy Victorians were building houses to be near to the Royal family. By 1883 his Son Charles Digby was running the business (Dad sold it to him for £600) and expanded it greatly employing some 150 staff. 7 days before Christmas it burnt down taking most of Knightsbridge with it. By 1889 it was rebuilt and claimed amongst its customers Oscar Wilde and Lilly Langtry who were given store credit cards. By now he had taken on a Managing Director – Richard Burbridge who had lots of new ideas re advertising and publicity and one of these was to kit out the solders for the Boar War – what a novel idea. Between 1910 and 1920 Harrods was rebuilt to be the biggest and best store. Because electricity and water supplies could be erratic, and so his customers would never be inconvenienced, he had wells drilled and a power house installed in the basement. In 1955 the Burbridge family lost control of Harrods to the Al Fayed family and as we all know it was sold again recently for 1.5Billion.

Next month is our annual social night on 27^th July. This years theme is South American, so join us for Salsa and fun with Mark Moore and Partner. We will also have refreshments and a light themed Supper. There will be a prize for the best dressed, so raid your wardrobes ladies and whilst there don’t forget your dancing shoes! As usual we meet at 7.30pm in Peldon Village Hall, Church Road, Peldon. Membership is currently closed. Visitors are welcome cost £5.00 by pre-booking on any of the following numbers. Alice 01206 735510, Jane 01206 735004, Julia 01206 735053 or Sue 01206 735212.

Alice

27th May 20108th December 2015

Police Report

PC Melanie Wilson reports on the recent crime and speed check results for the area. One crime is reported and she requests help with Farm Watch and ensuring future speed checks are not frustrated by impromptu warning signs.

Continue reading “Police Report”

24th May 201027th November 2015

Flower Arranging Classes – July 2010

Flower Arranging & Floristry Classes

After the success of our first Class, we will be holding our second in the series of 4 seasonal Master Classes on Saturday, 3rd July. This will again be held @ 10am in St Stephens, Gt Wigborough. Each Class consists of 2 hours – 1 hour of flower arranging and 1 hour of floristry and will be limited to 12 people so book your place early and come and enjoy the fun. Not only did we learn but it was good opportunity to catch up & chat with people we have not seen for a while & also meet new people. There will also be a small sales table.

The cost is £20.00 including refreshments. We would ask that a non-refundable deposit of £10.00 be paid before the day to avoid buying flowers unnecessarily.

Contact Sue on 735607 or Annette on 735526 for further details.

(Proceeds towards St Stephens Tower Project)

24th May 201027th November 2015

Strawberry Tea & Craft Fayre

strawberry-fayre-jun10 The Wigborough’s Strawberry Tea & Craft Fayre is taking place at Keston’s Farm, Maldon Road on Sunday 20th. June 2010 between 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Proceeds will be going to the PCC of Great & Little Wigborough in aid of St. Stephen’s Church. Entrance is for a £1.00 donation (children free).

Attractions include:

Strawberry Cream Teas
Local Crafts with demonstrations
Art Exhibition
Photographic Competition on theme of Reflections (details here)
Children’s Competitions
Children’s Colouring Competition Display (details and download here)
Luxury Tombola
Cake Stall
Home Produce Stall
Hot Dogs & other Stalls

The event is taking place by kind permission of Wendy Mitchell at Kestons Farm, Maldon Road, Great Wigborough CO5 7RE

24th May 201027th November 2015

Peldon Village Hall 2010 AGM

Report from the Peldon Village Hall Management Committee on Tuesday 4th May addressing, amongst other things, the exciting prospects for new Village hall.

Continue reading “Peldon Village Hall 2010 AGM”