Wigs Village Hall AGM Minutes – Nov 2014

Wigboroughs Village Hall AGM 2014

This report contains the minutes of the AGM held on 6th November 2014 which have been agreed by the management committee but remain subject to ratification at the next AGM.  There are links within the miuntes to presentations given during the AGM by Rev. Sam Norton about the potential use of St Stephen’s Nave, and by Bob Holmes of the Peldon Village Hall Management Committee discussing the advantages of ‘joining forces’.   Following the minutes are the Annual Report, Financial Report and an Addendum to the Governing Document.

Minutes

THE WIGBOROUGHS VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6th November 2014

19:30

 

ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST HQ at ABBOTTS HALL FARM

MALDON ROAD, GREAT WIGBOROUGH

MINUTES

1. Welcome: JG gave a welcome address, and explained the whereabouts of fire exits, toilets, etc.

2. Resignation of all committee members: MN, JH, CW and MW all resigned

3. Noting the names of appointed members reappointed PCC and PC members: JG and PG were nominated from the Parish Council, SN from the PCC.

4. Annual report and resulting questions: JG explained in brief what had been taking place on the WVHMC in the last 17 months. We had hoped to have three things in place by an AGM in June 2014 .  Postal voting.  The sale of the land. The planning application. The latter is the only one which came to pass. Registering the land has been a tortuous process. Lorna Kean very kindly cut her charges to the bone for the WVHMC.  The planning application was not without its difficulties. There was a legal wrangle over Colchester Borough Council’s insistence that they would hold onto the money when the land was sold. The Charity Commission (CC) already stipulate this condition to us in our Governing Document (GD). The CC said to engage a lawyer. Kevin Bentley stepped in to help, and managed to get the condition overturned, for which we thank him. The planning application was then approved by CBC.  JG explained the rationale behind the WVHMC pursuing two projects of the nave of St Stephen’s and the PVH project. In the 2011 survey two questions were asked. 1. Do you believe the Wigboroughs need their own village hall or Community Centre 2. What do you think should happen to the old building and the site in School Lane. Reluctantly it was decided that the community could not sustain another village hall project in the Wigboroughs.  We again asked the whole community in 2014.  The WVHMC took the most popular projects that came back from that original questionnaire in 2011, and these were put to the community in the 2014 questionnaire. JG pointed out that the results of those questionnaires were in binders around the room for residents to look at.  The WVHMC has put its efforts into the detail of the two most popular projects-the nave and PVH.  Working parties were set up to ascertain the possibilities of both projects.  Nothing can be decided without the say so of the community, and this will be when postal voting is in place, as this will enable a wider electorate to vote on key issues. Regarding Postal Voting, we thought we had a mandate to implement it, but the CC’s guidelines changed, and we needed to go back to the community for ratification of our GD.  Since the need for postal voting was to enable a wider electorate to vote on key issues we have deferred voting on the sale of the land until an EGM which we hope to hold in the Spring.  On a similar argument the resolution submitted by Mrs Houlding was removed from the agenda.  After careful consideration it was decided that it was unreasonable to hold such a vote without postal voting being in place. John Jowers has been very helpful in granting finance to the WVHMC.  There was an original Essex CC grant of £5000 and then a top up from the Communities Initiatives Fund of a further £500. Thanks to JJ and Robert Davidson for orchestrating this for us. The WVHMC will seek final approval to sell the land plus a vote on two projects which have guided us from the questionnaire. JG stated that the WVHMC have met 17 times in 17 months and have also had 4 sub committee meetings. JG stated that the GD was written over 50 years ago, it sometimes lacks detail, and that we need to make sensible decisions for our community today. JG stressed that each trustee needs to leave their personal opinions at the door when attending trustee meetings. JG gave a vote of thanks to MN for all her work as Secretary over the past year. There were no questions.  The Annual Report is attached at the end of these Minutes.

5. Finance report and resulting questions: The WVHMC had started the year with over £4,000 remaining from the Essex CC grant. Surveys, planning preparation, land registry and the planning application had taken all but £443.06. Then this financial year we paid Lorna Keen £253 for land registration and £62.23 for 3rd party insurance. We had received an additional £500 from Essex CC. This leaves us with £617.83 to eke out until the Village Hall site is sold.  The Finance Report is attached at the end of these Minutes.

 

6. Presentation from the Wigboroughs Parochial Church Council and resulting questions: SN gave a presentation on the nave area. The nave is ancient beautiful and characterful.  The area under the tower has been redeveloped. The car park has been upgraded.  It is now used for successful events such as Meet the Neighbours. The nave project is about redeveloping the nave so that it has wider use.  There are fabric problems-it needs a new floor, new heating.  The PCC want to make it into a welcoming and inviting space for the Wigboroughs community.  They want to bring the facilities up to a usable standard.  Mick Biegel asked about the flyer showing the extension on the Purleigh church.  Did this have the approval of the PCC? SN replied that the  PCC has not discussed such a project. That is not to say that it will not be considered.  SN spoke about expanding the storage space available and that might involve changing the outline but as yet the PCC has not discussed this.  A shed for storage would be another option. SN stated that PCC doesn’t have the resources to manage the space.  A new committee would have to be formed. Cost estimates- new floor-£40k, new heating £20k. At Peldon church the extra space has cost £120k. Question: what was the priority for projects?  SN-new flooring is the priority. Second would be heating/lighting. Question: would the money invested be a donation to the church and how can the WVHMC retain control of its asset on behalf of the villages.  Ella Haines wanted clarification that the money could not be used for the general upkeep and maintenance of the building. SN-no it couldn’t. Question: what about the ongoing maintenance of the church?  How would you fund upkeep? What happens if the church runs out of money. SN said this would all have to be looked at. PG-stated that we must not discriminate on religious grounds. SN stated that there are certain criteria laid down by the  C of E. For example, only certain types of activities would be allowed. No profanity.  The church has to retain its character. A Buddhist philosophy group, for example,  could use it.  But it could not be used as a mosque for example. There are some boundaries laid down in church law.  PG asked about de-consecration of the nave.  SN hoped it wouldn’t come to this.  David Buckley-a new building on the side of the church-could it be used for anything? SN-yes it could, but there would be restrictions on building on consecrated ground and over graves. MH stated that as there is a declining congregation, the nave needs to be to be used as a community space.

[Download copy of presentation – Sam’s AGM PCC presentation].

 

7. Presentation from Peldon Village Hall Management Committee and resulting questions: Bob Holmes and Andy Wade came to the AGM and BH gave a slide presentation on behalf of the PVH project. BH said that the hall was used on average for 2 hours per day. It was not used only by Peldon. It was used by people from the Wigboroughs, and many of the activities were organised by residents sitting in the room.  He stressed that a project involving money coming from the Wigboroughs would be about a joint venture, a merger of the two charities with equal representation on the Board of Trustees, and the resulting building would  be called the Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Centre. The hall is currently is an very poor state of repair and is not large enough. The current building is dilapidated and not sustainable. Historically , the committee wanted to build the best building they could. Plans were approved in 2011. This year (2014) the planning consent was due to expire, and the decision needed to be made as to whether to renew.  The committee re costed plans, and managed to shave off £100k from the cost of building a new hall. The new hall design would be simpler, but would incorporate the essentials (e.g. the foyer as stipulated by the Abberton reservoir committee, to cater for walkers circumventing the reservoir), but also badminton and sporting facilities, and would cost no more than £600k.  It won’t go to tender until the committee are sure of 75% of funding. There will be more car parking, laid with grasscrete. The  committee will re submit plans to CBC in the new year. £313k has been raised so far, and £25k spent on fees so far.  He stressed that if Peldon and the Wigboroughs village halls merged to make the Peldon and the Wigboroughs Community Centre, there would have to be a merger of the charities- the governing documents are fairly similar. There would be a new charity with equal representation on the Board. The Board of Trustees would oversee but would delegate management of the hall to a management committee.  Certain key powers would be reserved for the trustees.  Chairmanship alternating between the villages.  Neither village could outvote the others. If the Charity was unwound at some point in the future,  the value of money that the Wigboroughs put into the project would be  returned back to the Wigboroughs.  All of this would have to be ratified by both the Wigboroughs and Peldon, and would need  approval from the CC. BH stated that PVH would be looking for an investment of not less than £150k. He stated that the project needed to be viable. It needed to demonstrate new uses (sports and badminton). It would need to benefit the whole wider community, including those people from the Wigboroughs.  The investment from the Wigboroughs, if it came, would deliver this project more quickly and with more certainty, and the project gives a way back should it  ever be unwound. Questions: There was some detailed questioning of BH on the financial viability of the new Village hall. Brian Coates stated that he was a member of the Art Group at PVH.  He didn’t believe that the hall paid it’s way at the moment. He gave statistics of a net income £4000, but expenses of £6000. BH replied that the  hall was in such a bad state of repair that maintenance costs were  high. The  state of hall means that its use is declining-they had already lost one regular user there. However, other fundraising events underwrote those costs at the moment. He stated again that the new hall will attract new use.  Alison Biegel stated that Brian Coates had just given the  perfect reason for joining forces. JH corrected the questioner who believed that the Wigboroughs Village Hall was donated to the village by individuals from the village. JH stated that the village hall was bought by the trustees of the village hall from the Ministry of Education for £50. Question: how long would PVH be out of action? BH thought 7-8 months. Question: Even if money goes from the Wigboroughs, PVH will still be short.  BH stated that there are still grants available, and that the committee would have  sufficient confidence to go to tender if money comes from the Wigboroughs. They can close that gap. The last resort would be to reduce the size of the hall.

[Download copy of presentation –  Bob’s PVH AGM Presentation].

8. Resolution re Postal Voting  to include introduction, questions and voting by show of hands: The resolution is “That the addendum headed Addendum to Governing Document and dated 6th November 2014 be ratified to permit postal voting to be used to supplement voting in person at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings thereby enabling a wider electorate in the Wigboroughs to vote on key issues.” JG stated that this was not a vote about postal voting.  That had already been decided at the last AGM.  The  resolution is to ratify changes to the GD to allow PV.  The template for PV is based on the model template which the CC has defined.  JG outlined some of the changes, e.g. the time period between announcing and holding a meeting will be much longer.  Integrity of the process depends on independent scrutineers. There will be no more voting by show of hands.  Everyone will have the same secrecy as people who vote by post.  There will be no more resolutions from the floor, because postal voters have to have sight of every resolution  beforehand so they can vote on it.  Resolutions will have to notified 6 weeks in advance. Alex Lewis clarified that the resolution in advance would have to be set out clearly by the person proposing them and would go to every household.  JG confirmed that that would be the case. Ella Haines (magistrate) offered her services to find an independent scrutineer. The resolution was passed.  Those in favour: 65. Those against: 5. Abstentions: 1   Postal voting will  therefore be implemented.   The Addendum is attached to the end of these Minutes.

 

9. Noting of candidates for election: Marion Houlding, John Hutchinson, Melanie Newton, Mark Waterfield, Carol Wyatt

10. Addresses from candidates:

MH: There followed a question from Ella Haines, in response to MH’s indication that if she was elected, she would endeavour to keep all the money in the Wigboroughs: “The committee is currently tasked with assessing and reporting on the two favoured options of the nave project and PVH.  Trustees are required to carry out that task dispassionately, impartially and fairly and without regard to their personal opinions, as indicated by Jinny at the start. How can you carry out that task and act in accordance with that duty when you have indicated that your are standing in order to “keep the money in the Wigboroughs”?  MH’s response: Mel Newton sells pantomime tickets.
JH, MH, MN  and MW volunteered copies of their speeches for the record.  CW declined to give a copy of her speech.

11. Voting to elect members to the four vacant positions on the Management Committee

12. Announcement of results: MH 45, JH 31, MN 42, CW 50, MW 58

Marion Houlding, Melanie Newton, Mark Waterfield, Carol Wyatt were duly elected.

JG gave a vote of thanks to the dedication with which John Hutchinson had been involved with the WVHMC over the past 25 years, and said that his expertise will be greatly missed.

Annual Report

 

THE WIGBOROUGHS VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6th November 2014

ANNUAL REPORT

WHY THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) IS LATE

The AGM is normally held in June.  The Trustees realised that there were two important matters likely to come to fruition very shortly after a June AGM so opted to move the meeting in the expectation that by November there would be an outcome to our planning application and postal voting would be implemented.  These would have enabled a final vote on the sale of the land at the delayed AGM.

PREPARING TO SELLING THE LAND 

To be in a position to ask for the community’s final approval to sell the land it had first to be registered and then outline planning permission had to be obtained.

Registration proved not to be straightforward but was eventually achieved.  The Trustees thank Lorna Kean for carrying out this work and submitting a heavily discounted bill for her services.

The planning application was also complicated in that Colchester Borough Council wished, as a condition of granting the application,  to hold the sale money in order to ensure that is was eventually spent on community facilities of which the Council approved.  These conditions are already imposed upon the Charity by the Charity Commission and eventually the Council withdrew their counter-claim and granted the application subject to conditions.  The Trustees are indebted to Kevin Bentley, the Borough and County Councillor, and Andrew Weavers of Colchester Borough Council for their help in resolving this situation.

2014 QUESTIONNAIRE

In an initial survey in 2011 residents had recorded their opinions about whether there was a need for a Wigboroughs-specific Village Hall and what should be done with the site in School Lane.   Several suggestions were clearly not viable but others had possibilities.  The Trustees considered the suggestion of building a new Wigboroughs Village Hall but reluctantly decided that the community would not be able to support the ongoing maintenance costs even if the capital sum to build it could be found.

The Trustees therefore set out to ask the whole community how much support they would give to the four projects which emerged from the earlier survey and from suggestions which had surfaced since.  200 copies of a questionnaire were circulated and 102 of them returned.  The results of this survey are available on the Parish Council website www.winstred100.org .  The clear guidance from this exercise was that the Trustees should explore the detail and viability of two projects – to improve the nave of St Stephen’s church to make it more suitable as a venue for community activities and to look at creating a shared and co-owned community centre on the site of the current Peldon Village Hall by merging the two Village Hall charities and joining the Peldon re-building project.  The Trustees have set up working parties with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and Peldon Village Hall Management Committee (PVHMC) to explore the possibilities of these two suggestions.  It must be emphasised that nothing is decided about either of these projects and examination of what might be possible with either or both of them is ongoing.

The action of consulting our community through the questionnaire and the clear guidance that resulted from it were mentioned by CBC as important elements in their final decision to grant outline planning approval.

POSTAL VOTING

At the 2013 AGM a resolution was passed to approve the introduction of Postal Voting.  The Committee’s understanding then was that this was a mandate to implement postal voting providing the Charity Commission approved the process to be adopted.  Since then the Charity Commission has changed its approach and requires ratification at the 2014 AGM before Postal Voting can be implemented.

Since the need for Postal Voting was to enable a wider electorate to vote on key issues, voting on the sale of the land has been deferred until an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which we hope to hold in the Spring.  On a similar argument a resolution from Mrs Houlding shown on the draft agenda was removed from the final AGM agenda as it was judged unreasonable to hold such a vote without Postal Voting being in place.

ADDITIONAL GRANT OF £500

WVHMC was re-established in 2011 with inherited minimal funds.  To date the Committee has managed to meet costs from a grant of £5000 organised for us by John Jowers the Essex County Councillor.  Little of that is now left and we are indebted once again to John Jowers and to Robert Davidson for finding us a £500 top-up from the Community Initiative Fund and for fast tracking its payment to us.

THE WAY FORWARD

The Trustees plan to hold an EGM in the Spring at which, with Postal Voting finally in place, it will be possible to seek final approval to sell the land.

Progress on the two projects which are still being worked on can be reported then and the Committee may possibly be able to submit its recommendations in respect of them for a vote.

WORK OF  TRUSTEES

Being a Trustee of this charity is a demanding task. The committee has met 17 times in the 17 months since our the last AGM. And there have been four working party meetings. Two each with the PCC and the PVHMC.

We struggle with a Governing Document which was drafted a long time ago and does not always contain detail where we most need detail.  We study the guidance on the Charity Commission website but often cannot find detail specific to our charity or our situation.  Somehow through all the difficulties we are still moving forwards.  Each Trustee has brought a different range of skills and experience and opinions to the table.  They all deserve thanks and praise.

Her colleagues wish to offer special thanks to Melanie Newton who once again this year has managed to play a full role as a Trustee in all our meetings while also producing accurate Minutes in no time at all.

Finance Report

THE WIGBOROUGHS VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6th November 2014

FINANCE REPORT

Great & Little Wigborough Village Hall
Income & Expenditure Account for year ending 31st March, 2014
      £     £ 
Balance at Bank 1st April 2013  4090.54 
Income: 
Colchester Borough Council for Polling Booth   75.00 
Bank Interest     1.02     76.02 
Sub Total  4166.56 
Expenditure:  
Essex Wildlife Trust – AGM Venue   50.00 
Tripoint Surveys – Topographical Survey2527.50  336.00 
A&P Designs – Planning Work395 2527.5  
Lorna Kean & Co – Land Registry Fee    40.00  
Colchester Borough Council – Planning Fee  385.00  
Colchester Borough Council – Monitoring Fee  385.00  
             
Balance at Bank 31st March, 2014   433.06

Addendum to Governing Document

Great and Little Wigborough Village Hall

Charity Number:  301321

Addendum to Governing Document dated 6th November 2014

1.  Throughout this addendum any reference to ‘he’ is taken to mean ’he or she’.

2.  The Charity’s Governing Document consists of a Conveyance dated 18th March 1954 and a set of Management Committee Standing Orders originally approved at the June 2011 AGM which maintains the intent of the Conveyance but was introduced when the Committee was re-established after many years of  inactivity.  Their purpose was to replace certain requirements from the Conveyance which, due to the passage of time, could no longer be met and to define certain administrative and procedural practices not defined in the original Conveyance.

3.  To date voting on any matter has only been possible for those residents qualified to vote by attending an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting (AGM or EGM) in person.  Residents have requested that a system of postal voting be introduced so that those residents unable, for whatever reason, to attend such a meeting may still record their votes.  Postal voting is to be in addition to voting in person, with safeguards to ensure that each qualified voter records only a single vote by one method or the other.

4.  Postal voting will be used for all matters requiring a vote at an AGM/EGM including for the  election of Trustees to occupy the elected member places on the Committee.

5.  This Addendum sets out the postal voting process recommended by the Management Committee (and approved by the community). The process is based on the postal voting template provided by the Charity Commission.   The Addendum also amends certain timing details, as under, in the process leading up to an AGM or EGM to accommodate postal voting.  It also lists certain previously undefined matters of procedure which are necessary to provide parity between those who vote at a meeting and those who use a postal vote.

6.  In Item 6 of the Management Committee Standing Orders the phrase ‘two weeks notice to each home in the two villages’ will be deleted and replaced by ‘at least six weeks notice to each home in the two villages’.

7.  In item 7 of the Management Committee Standing Orders the phrase ‘at least a week before the meeting’ will be deleted and replaced by ‘at least six weeks before the meeting’.

8.  The system relies for its integrity on using two scrutineers who are not residents of either of the Wigboroughs villages.

9.  When notice of an AGM or an EGM is delivered to every household in the two villages a letter will be included describing how any qualified voter may apply for a postal vote.  This will require completion of a form and forwarding it by a stated date to the appointed scrutineer together with proof of residence in line with the government guidelines on proof of address.   Acceptable ways of proving residence will be included in the letter with instructions to contact any Trustee if provision of such proof is a problem.  It is not the intention of the Trustees to deny a qualified voter a postal vote because of special personal circumstances.

10.The scrutineers will post to each successful applicant, by a specified date, by first class postage, a postal voting form containing details of all matters on which votes will be taken at the AGM/EGM and an unstamped return envelope addressed to the appointed scrutineer.  It will state the date by which the completed form must be received by the appointed scrutineer.

11.The scrutineers will keep completed postal vote papers secure and confidential and at least one scrutineer will attend the AGM/EGM to assist in counting votes cast in person by ballot there and to add to such votes the corresponding totals from valid postal votes.

12.Immediately prior to the AGM/EGM the scrutineers will supply the Chairman or Secretary of the Management Committee with a list of those residents who have recorded a valid postal vote.  This list will be used to ensure that no voting papers are issued to these residents if they choose to attend the AGM/EGM.

13.After the AGM/EGM the scrutineers will return all papers to the Secretary of the Management Committee to be held securely pending destruction once sufficient time has passed to allow for any complaints related to the voting procedure to be received.

14.The following practices will be adopted with the introduction of postal voting to ensure that those who vote in person and those who vote by post have as much parity as possible.

  • The notice of pending AGM/EGM meetings delivered to every household will contain details of every matter on which a vote is to be made.
  • No resolutions will be accepted from the floor of the meeting.  They must be pre-advised in writing at least six weeks before the meeting and will be distributed to every household.
  • There will be no voting by show-of-hands at an AGM/EGM.  All voting will be by ballot paper.
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PAWS December – Clarice House

42 of us descended on Clarice House Colchester on a wet and windy night for our annual Christmas meal. The setting was very elegant in this lovely old house and James and his staff made us very welcome. There was lots of laughter and chat, with everyone enjoying the chance to relax and talk to other members. The meal was really good with a few minor niggles, but nothing that spoilt our enjoyment. There were two quiz’s with lots of banter as to who had the correct answer and then everyone had a silly present from the lucky dip. All agreed that we had a super evening. Those members who could not attend missed a treat but, hopefully, enjoyed spending their £10 M&S voucher!

Our next get together is January 27th when we welcome back our speaker John Lilley “The Storyteller”. Membership is closed but visitors are welcome at a cost of £5.00 which includes refreshments.

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of the Winstred 100 website. If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.

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PC Minutes 9th December 2014

WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon   Great Wigborough   Little Wigborough   Salcott   Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough at 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th December 2014

Present: Charles Dymond (chair), John Walker, Jinny Gail, Phil Gladwin, Nicky Ellis, Rob Surface, Andrew Ellis, Robert Davidson and 3 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Bob Holmes, Lynne Simmons, Netty Knill-Jones, Kevin Bentley

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

Police Report – None received other than the weekly report for the whole of Colchester.  The CALC meeting was attended by this and many other disgruntled parish councils where there was a police representative to explain the reasons for withdrawal of attending parish council meetings which, they say, is mainly due to funding cuts and they informed of the new-format meetings held every 8 weeks in 5 various locations around Colchester for the public to attend and express their concerns. Attendance numbers to these meetings will be monitored to establish their worth.

Zone Wardens Reports – None received

Borough and County Councillors – The drain cover has been fixed and the ‘No Through Road’ sign is scheduled for repositioning both at Salcott crossroads, and the missing village sign approaching Salcott from D’Arcy has been identified at last and will be reinstated in due course.

A bad patch of repair work along Mersea Road in Peldon will be reported for improvements.  Other ditch and hedge matters in Peldon and a hedge in Great Wigborough were discussed and further action will be taken.

Certain enforcement issues in all the villages will be followed up.

Public-Have Your Say – Enquiries were made for any update on the investigation of speed reduction methods for Lower Road, Peldon which will be followed up.  The rubber strips for monitoring speed were suggested as a start to establish the severity of the problem.

Declarations of Interest – None 

1.   Playgrounds and Playing Fields – at Peldon the old bark is in the process of being removed for us by the Community Team in preparation for the rubber to be installed and the signs for the new equipment are being made. We have now taken delivery of new flat swing seats which will be fitted shortly; also further hedge and ditch work will be addressed. At Salcott the new baby swing seat has been fitted and the deteriorating condition of the basketball pad has been noted for probable repair work in the spring/summer. 

2.   Peldon Hall Houses Hedge – a site visit had taken place and more questions arose as to how this should be tackled so a site meeting will be arranged with Peldon councillors for possible solutions and residents will be invited to attend. 

3.   Peldon Bus Stops/Shelter/Curbs – a site meeting with ECC Passenger Transportation Officer had taken place and he took on board all our suggestions and requirements to make these bus stops more user-friendly and it is thought that funding will be available. A specification will be drawn up for improvements needed to the brick built shelter to put the work out for tender. Suggested lighting at the bus stops was not thought to be appropriate in this rural village.   

4.   Abberton Reservoir Rights of Way – a consultation event will take place in Peldon Village Hall on Wednesday 4th February 2015 for two drop-in sessions 4 – 6 pm and 7 – 9 pm for a short presentation, fill in a questionnaire and ask any questions, refreshments will be provided. 

5.   Broadband – Salcott launch event will now be in the spring as winter months are possibly not suitable for some residents.

6.   Actions and Reminders List – updated including that Salcott telephone box is now added to the parish council insurance policy for a replacement value of £2,000 at a cost of £21.78 per annum.

Planning Applications
146240 Proposal: Listed building application for installation of secondary double glazing to 7 no. windows at Sleyes, Church Road, Peldon
146351 Proposal: Erection of detached two and a half storey dwelling with all habitable accommodation at first and second floor levels at Salcott Cottages, The Street, Salcott
Planning Decisions
145967 Proposal: Alteration to rear roof over existing projection forming gable and additional floor nursery/bedroom at Fourways, Barnhall Road, SalcottApprove conditional
146055 Proposal: Rear extension at Hillside Cottage, Colchester Road, Great WigboroughApprove conditional

 

Finances:
101802 Mrs E Davidson – Moss Hay grass cuts x 8£360.00
101803 B & S Chains – cradle swing and bolts£130.33
101804 Business Services at CAS Ltd – annual insurance£1,056.97
101805 R S Pullen – December salary£367.57
101806 Sutcliffe Play – swing seats, chains & shackles£273.82
101807 Tollesbury (St Mary’s) PCC – mag entries£55.00
101808 T Simmons – play insp.£30.00

 

The next meeting will be on Tues 13th Jan 2015 at 7.30pm at Peldon Village Hall

Abberton Reservoir Rights of Way

There will be a consultation event in Peldon Village Hall on Wednesday 4th February 2015 for two drop-in sessions 4 – 6 pm and 7 – 9 pm for a short presentation, fill in a questionnaire and ask any questions, refreshments will be provided. All are welcome to attend.

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PAWS November – Experiences of a Puppy Walker

angusangus-and-marjory-culhamNearly 40 members and 8 visitors came along to our November meeting to meet Angus and his Puppy Walker Marjory Culham. Marjory has worked with 23 dogs on behalf of Guide Dogs for the Blind and explained how it all works. Guide Dogs for the Blind are the largest dog breeders with 250 brood bitches. Puppies are weaned at six and half weeks old at the centre in Warwickshire before going to their “Puppy Walkers” who will look after them until they are 12/14 months old before they then go on to full training at Woodford Green where the real work begins. She explained how she taught them to be house trained (busy or big busy being the terms used) and learning to respond to their name as well as learning skills like using stairs, lifts, going to church, shopping etc. It was important that the puppies got used to different environments and noises. There is a 70% success rate in the dogs being trained with some not making the grade and being rehomed with other departments or the general public. She herself has a Labrador who wasn’t successful as a Guide Dog. There were lots of questions at the end as everyone was interested in this wonderful charity.

There is no meeting in December but we have Christmas Dinner on 9th December at Clarice House in Colchester. So it only remains for the committee to wish all our members and loyal visitors a Merry Christmas and A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Our next get together is January 27th when we welcome back our speaker John Lilley “The Storyteller”. Membership is closed but visitors are welcome at a cost of £5.00 which includes refreshments.

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of the Winstred 100 website. If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.

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New Years Eve – Village Party

Invite to New Years Eve Party at Peldon Village Hall

You are invited to a New Years Eve village party at Peldon Village Hall, starting at 8pm on 31st December 2014 and going on until late.

Host and DJ, MamboMark, will be playing classic, current and traditional dance tunes for all generations.  Celebrate the New Year in a traditional style including a free glass of bubbly at midnight.

Fancy Dress theme “Twins and Triplets” (optional)

Light bites including home made canapés and nibbles will be served during the evening

Licensed bar

Tickets £15 adults, £5 children (5-16 yrs) in advance from Bob Holmes on 01206 735510 or Jayne Walker on 01206 735418

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PC Minutes 11th November 2014

WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon   Great Wigborough   Little Wigborough   Salcott   Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Salcott Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11th November 2014

Present: John Walker, Netty Knill-Jones, Lynne Simmons, Phil Gladwin, Charles Dymond (chair), Jinny Gale, Bob Holmes, Rob Surface, Kevin Bentley and 4 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Nicky Ellis, Andrew Ellis, Robert Davidson

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

Police Report – received covering all Colchester

Zone Wardens Report – none received

Public-Have Your Say – Speeding along Lower Road in Peldon was discussed further and statistics have been collected emphasising this matter. The speed camera has been in operation but although this may deter some drivers it does not entirely solve the problem.

Borough and County Councillors: ECC will be approached to ask what options are available in an attempt to reducing the speeding in Peldon (as above).  Salcott issues regarding signs are being addressed and further missing signs in Great Wigborough will be chased up plus the request to remove a brown sign as it not relevant any longer. A ditch along Maldon Road where vehicles can drop into easily will be reported for assessing for possible solutions and likewise a section of Mersea Road in Peldon.  We are encouraged to have our say for the second consultation on the draft recommendations for the Electoral Boundaries.  We will repeat our request that all the villages of Winstred Hundred are in the same ward and not split as they are now.

Declarations of Interest: None

1.   Speeding matters – as above at Public and County Councillor

2.   Playgrounds and Playing Fields – are in good order and the Community Working Group has been approached requesting them to install the rubber surface at Moss Hay playground, hedge trimming work and removal of plastic collars on trees on Pete Tye Common and possibly ditch clearance work. Signage for the new equipment on Moss Hay will be made and erected shortly and we expressed our thanks to Robert Kean for fitting bird prevention wire above the swings.  Phil proposed, Bob seconded and all agreed for Terry to purchase the baby seat and bolts and install at Salcott playground.

3.   Salcott Telephone Box – lighting has been installed enabling the box to be insured which will be done shortly.

4.   Parish Council Thank You Letters – Names were suggested and letters will be sent in due course to those who are greatly appreciated for their voluntary contribution to the community.

5.   Peldon Bus Stops/Shelter/Curbs – following a site meeting Peldon councilors would value a site meeting with the ECC Passenger Transport Manager to explain their concerns and requests for all the bus stops in Peldon which will be arranged if possible.

6.   Abberton Reservoir – the Community Fund is now spent and there will be an open event at Peldon Village Hall in February 2015 for the public to view and discuss the proposed Rights of Way.

7.   Broadband – Salcott launch event is now postponed until mid to late January next year due to other pressing commitments.

8.   Actions and Reminders List – updated

Finances:
101797 Greener than Green – Salcott playground trees£250.00
101798 Mr B Gooding – play insp£30.00
101799 R S Pullen – expenses (phone, paper, ink, etc.)£254.20
101800 R S Pullen – November salary£367.57
101801 T Simmons – play insp, paint bus shelter, light phone box£83.63

The next meeting will be on Tues 9th Dec 2014 at 7.30pm at Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough

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PAWS October – Leaf Peepers

white-mountains-1 

white-mountains-2

Over 40 members and 4 visitors came along to our October meeting to hear the rather intriguingly named talk given by Mr. Ian Rose of “Leaf Peepers in the White Mountains USA”. Ian told us how some years back he and his wife joined a group of like-minded individuals to visit the States in order to hike the White Mountains in the fall and see the wonderful colours that can only be seen at this time of year. The small group had an excellent guide, Eileen, as even though the trails were marked it was still possible to get lost over such terrain.

He had a wonderful collection of slides showing the beautiful shades of autumn on the many Sugar Maple Trees and being a keen Mycologist lots of photos of mushrooms and fungi including the deadly death cap mushroom. The first part of their trip was uneventful but following some torrential rain the weather changed to -10o covering everywhere with a snow like substance and making the ascent to Mount Washington impossible. He told us they stayed in accommodation belonging to the Appalachian Mountain Club, they had to bunk sometimes 30 to a room, and the beds were 4 high, and as they were made of timber, and there were no stoves, due to fire risk, so therefore they were unable to have hot food or even a bath for most of the trip!  Sheer bliss when they finally were able to bathe.

Again, another interesting evening.

Our next get together is November 25th when our speaker Mrs Culham is going to tell us all about “Guide Dog Puppy Walking”.

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of the Winstred 100 website. If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.

 
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PC Minutes 14th October 2014

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 14th October 2014

Present: Bob Holmes, Rob Surface, John Walker, Charles Dymond (chair), Phil Gladwin, Nicky Ellis, Netty Knill-Jones, Lynne Simmons, Andrew Ellis, Robert Davidson, Rights of Way Study Project Officer – Yan-Yee Lau and 6 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Kevin Bentley, Jinny Gale

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

Police Report – None received but we know of several burglaries in Great Wigborough mainly along Maldon Road and mainly from outbuildings.  Following the notification of nonattendance to our meetings in future a letter will be written to the Police Crime Commissioner to express our disappointment at this decision. Any results or convictions of reported crimes were requested and this will be looked into.

Zone Wardens Report – None received but they are always ready to take up appropriate jobs for us where ever they can.

County Councillor – Report received stating that many of the road defects have been repaired and further work is on-going. Essex Means Business is a new campaign set up to promote Colchester in the business arena.

Borough Councillors – will also write to the Police about nonattendance to parish council meetings. Several missing road signs and the dislodged manhole cover at Salcott crossroads will be followed up.  NAP (Neighbourhood Action Panel) meetings are held at West Mersea Town Council offices where the police are currently in attendance and we will endeavour to attend the next one in December.  ECC Highways Panel has money to allocate for highways improvements and we are encouraged to submit ideas for this area. Many power lines are being repaired at present so disruption to certain roads must be expected. We are requested to forward any problem flooding areas as and when they arise.

Public-Have Your Say – Speeding is particularly bad coming from the old garage corner along Lower Road in Peldon and Community Speed Watch will be contacted for using the gun again and more volunteers encouraged to achieve the required training for its use.  A certain footpath was spoken about but this is thought to have been dealt with. Ditch clearance was regarded as necessary along the Church Road and Malting Road vicinities and so CBC will be contacted for possible work or writing to homeowners. The Community Work Party will also be contacted for various jobs in Peldon.  A property owner in Great Wigborough will be contacted to request that they cut back their roadside hedge for safety reasons.

Declarations of Interest: Lynne for item 3.

1.   Reviewing Colchester Borough Council Local Plan – Our Village Design Statement and Parish Plan has been reviewed and would seem to be relevant for today.  The questionnaire from CBC on our views re their Local Plan was discussed and the result will be circulated before its return to CBC.

2.   Playgrounds and Playing Fields – reports from both playgrounds have been received. Phil proposed, Charles seconded and all agreed to buy the new flat swings and chains etc as advised in the annual report. Certain jobs, bird wire, signage and rubber installing, on Moss Hay need addressing and unfortunately have been delayed due to the wet weather but will be tackled in due course. The Community Work Party will be requested to carry out several jobs for us on Moss Hay and Pete Tye Common, also the owner of Pete Tye Common will be contacted to request footpath work.  

3.   Salcott Telephone Box – If suitable lighting can be installed in the box by Terry (at little cost) and it can therefore be insured (at little cost) Phil proposed, John seconded and all agreed to a Gentleman’s Agreement in accepting Lynne and Terry’s offer for maintaining the box at their cost until such time as they would like to refrain.   

4.   Wigboroughs Village Hall Management Committee – Charles proposed, Nicky seconded and all agreed for Phil and Jinny to continue as the Parish Council representatives on this committee.  

5.   Abberton Reservoir Rights of Way – Study Project Officer Yan-Yee Lau gave an explanation of her role and plans for future public consultation and ideas were suggested including leaflet drops, questionnaires, magazine entries and events in village halls to address as many requirements for this path as is possible.

6.   Broadband – More households are connecting to superfast broadband. There will be a launch event for Salcott and Virley in Salcott Village Hall on 29th November 2014.  

7.   Actions and Reminders List – updated

Planning Applications:
145967Proposal: Alterations to rear roof over existing projection forming gable and additional first floor nursery/bedroom at Fourways Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott
146055 Proposal: Rear extension at Hillside Cottage, Colchester Road, Great Wigborough
Planning Decisions:
145564 Proposal: Single storey rear extension at Nest Cottage, Colchester Road, Great WigboroughApprove conditional
145758 Proposal: Extension and alterations including loft conversion and dormers at Superb, The Street, SalcottApprove conditional

Finances:

101789 County Broadband£33,333.33
101790 Colchester Borough Council – Broadband VAT£2,266.66
101791 R S Pullen – October salary£367.57
101792 Mr B Gooding – playground fence, sign, goal post£565.80
101793 EALC – course£67.00
101794 PKF Littlejohn LLP – external audit£120.00
101795 EALC – course£67.00
101796 T Simmons – play insp, 2 x grass cuts, noticeboard catches£130.00

The next meeting will be on Tues 11th Nov 2014 at 7.30pm at Salcott Village Hall

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PAWS September – NLP, All About You

jane-malyonAfter our summer break it was lovely to see so many members and visitors at our September meeting where Jane Malyon returned with her talk “All About You”.

Jane explained that she was going to show that we are all different in the way we act and process things, and that these can be changed by Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).  Many people have phobias of things like spiders (that applied to several members!) flying, dentists, snakes etc. all of which can be ‘cured’ by NLP by suggestion and sometimes hypnotism – no she did not try it on us!  NLP is observing behavioural patterns, which are often learnt through experience, and changing them to achieve a specific goal.

We had fun finding out what sort of person we were.  Did we rush in to do things no matter what the consequences or did we take it slowly and think more about what we were to do?  So to change that thinking, a new motivation or goal would be suggested.  Body language and intonation is all part of how we speak.  If we are happy about something, we look and sound happy; if we are sad, we look and sound sad.  This is how mistakes in meaning can happen with text and email, because there is no body language to help to understand the true meaning.  An illustration of this was the sentence ‘my cat doesn’t kill birds’; which could be ‘my cat doesn’t kill birds’ or ‘my cat doesn’t kill birds’ – inferring that it may play with them!

This was a fun and enlightening talk and was enjoyed by all present.

Our next get together is October 28th when our speaker Ian Rose is going to tell us all about “Leaf Peepers in the White Mountains”. Sounds pretty intriguing doesn’t it?

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of the Winstred 100 website. If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.

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PC Minutes 9th September 2014

WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon   Great Wigborough   Little Wigborough   Salcott   Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th September 2014

Present: John Walker, Nicky Ellis, Lynne Simmons, Phil Gladwin, Charles Dymond (chair), Jinny Gale, Netty Knill-Jones, Bob Holmes, Rob Surface, Andrew Ellis, Laura Chase CBC Planning Policy Officer, and 3 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Kevin Bentley

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

Police and Zone Warden Reports – None received

Borough and County Councillors: Highways issues at Salcott are being addressed. There was a request that signage for the recently closed Birch Tearoom should be taken down which will be followed up.

Public-Have Your Say: None

Declarations of Interest: Lynne for item 3.

1.   Reviewing Colchester Borough Council Local Plan – Laura Chase gave us a very informative and useful presentation and questions were answered. There will be various stages in developing the CBC Local Plan which will be adopted in 2017. Our Village Design Statement and Parish Plan will be reviewed as we had planned but construction of the new Neighbourhood Plan is not considered to be appropriate for us as this is a document to complete when substantial development is required.

2.   Playgrounds and Playing Fields – Salcott is in good order and the playground perimeter fence has been repaired and painted. Peldon is receiving attention with the rubber chippings being placed in the playground in a couple of weeks when equipment and manpower will be available including a work-party yet to be appointed.  Wire to prevent birds landing above the swings is being erected and signage for the new pieces of equipment on the field are being made and will be erected including a plaque from Cory Environmental Trust who has given us a substantial grant for this equipment. More hedge trimming is to take place on Moss Hay when a date can be arranged with the volunteer group.  

3.   Salcott Telephone Box – Following more discussions it was agreed to make further enquiries about lighting and insurance but keeping an open mind as to our final decision as to the future of the box. 

4.   Email Protocol – It was agreed to add to our email protocol list of dos and don’ts that the emails requiring an answer should be done so within 48 hours, with holidays or illness etc. taken into account.  

5.   Salcott Trees – Phil proposed, Nicky seconded and all agreed for the lowest of three quotes to be accepted for trimming the trees alongside the playground and adjacent property.  All three professional contractors gave a verbal opinion that the Chestnut trees along the road edge did not need immediate attention at this time but of course they will be monitored periodically. 

6.   Abberton Reservoir Community Fund, Rights of Way Meeting – a prepared map, etc for the footpath was distributed to all and Phil proposed, Charles seconded and all agree to adopt John’s carefully considered plans. The parish council gave Phil a mandate to take to the Community Fund meeting to agree that the remaining funds are allocated to Layer de la Haye Church for improvements and that any money not spent at the at the end of the given time should be allocated to the church up to the amount they have requested.

7.   CALC Meeting – was not attended but the minutes will be received and circulated shortly.

8.   Broadband Update – Salcott launch event has been put on hold and further coverage for parts of our villages is still to be developed.

9.   Actions and Reminders List – update and to include that the Peldon noticeboard catches are made easier to open.

Planning Applications:
145564Proposal: Single storey rear extension at Nest Cottage, Colchester Road, Great Wigborough
Planning Decisions:
132631 Proposal: Demolition of existing village hall and erection of 2 no. 3 bedroom dwellings at Great Wigborough Village HallApprove conditional
145283 Proposal: Extension to rear of bungalow incorporating internal alterations at 14 Newpots Close, PeldonApprove Conditional
144754 Proposal: Change of roof design to match with existing side ridge levels at The Hollies, School Lane, Great WigboroughApprove Conditional

Finances:
101781 EWD – rubber for Peldon playground£2,040.00
101782 Business Services at CAS – insurance for new equipment£85.71
101783 R S Pullen – salary for Aug and Sept£735.14
101784 R J Playle Servicescut hedge at Moss Hay£180.00
101785 Peldon Village Hall – hire£80.00
101786 EALC – course£67.00
101787 County Broadband – VAT£6,666.67
101788 T Simmons – play insp x 2, grass cuts x 4, fence, life ring£599.87

The next meeting will be on Tues 14th Oct 2014 at 7.30pm at Peldon Village Hall

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