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 14th January 2014

Present: Netty Knill-Jones, Lynne Simmons, Phil Gladwin, Nicky Ellis (chair), Charles Dymond, Andy Beharrell, Andrew Ellis, John Jowers and 3 members of the public.

Apologies for absence: John Walker, Jane Banks, Jinny Gale, Kevin Bentley, Police, Zone Warden

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

Police Report: was received and read out stating that there were no crimes in Little Wigborough and Salcott and Virley, one road accident in Great Wigborough (no one injured), and at Peldon there was a road accident near The Strood (no one injured) and a burglary at a property near The Strood where a number of items were stolen and a messy search of all rooms took place.

County Councillor: Peldon has received more funding from the ECC Community Initiative Fund for the new village hall project.  There will be a 40mph speed limit along Mersea Road in Peldon and a small section of Colchester Road leading up to The Strood. Also there will be lights in the middle of The Strood crossing to enable viewing high tides at night more easily.  There is another £15 million for repairing potholes and more money for Rural Funds.

Borough Councillor: Information was given on the proposed Solar Park in our area to assist us with our return comments.

Public-Have Your Say: To thank us for our efforts in gaining the speed reductions in Peldon.

Declarations of Interest: None

1. CBC Zone Wardens – nothing to report. 
2. Broadband update – the latest summary of events was noted.  The launch day in Peldon Village Hall will take place on Saturday 15^th February from 10am to 5pm.   A leaflet will go out to all households a fortnight before.

3. Playgrounds and Playing Fields – all in good order as far as is possible with the recent weather.  We are waiting to hear the result of our grant application for the 2 pieces of play equipment for Moss Hay for which the supplier is holding the price for us and will erect as soon as we request when the weather has improved.

4. Precept 2014/2015 – having discussed at length our present financial situation and expected forthcoming spending requirements Phil proposed, Andy seconded and all agreed except one abstention for us to request a precept/grant slightly less than last year, absorbing the reduction from CBC’s grant cut.  Also Phil proposed, Charles seconded and all agreed to honour Terry’s request for £5 more per grass cut.

5. Abberton Reservoir Community Fund, Rights of Way Meeting: 11,800 hedge plants are being put in around the reservoir site and volunteers for this are requested, if anyone is interested please contact Jo Wray on 01206 738172. The costings for Great Wigborough Church car park application for funds has to be explained further, also a business plan for Abberton Cricket Club application has been requested.

6. Elections May 2014 – we know of one Peldon Parish Councillor who will be standing down in May, therefore there will be a vacancy if anyone is interested please contact the chairman or clerk for more information.

7. Actions and Reminders List updated – including, as requested ECC Highways have agreed to put in steps for easier access to the new bus shelters in Malting Road, Peldon.

Planning Applications:

132403 Proposal: Erection of one and a half storey dwelling with attached single storey utility and garage (resubmission of 130420) at Salcot Cottages, The Street, Salcott

Planning Decisions:

132137 Application for variation of Condition 10 following grant of planning permission F/COL/01/1140 at Gable Lodge, Malting Road, Peldon – Approve Conditional

132269 Proposal: Conservatory and garden room/orangery at Fourways Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott – Approve Conditional

Appeal Decisions:

APP/A1530/D/13/2207055 Against CBC’s refusal of application for erection of an outbuilding containing swimming pool, gym and home cinema at Hall Barn, Peldon Road, Peldon, ref 131315 – Appeal Allowed – Permission Granted

The next meeting will be on Tues 11th February 2013 at 7.30pm at Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough

There has been more dog fouling on Moss Hay which is extremely inconsiderate of the offending dog owners and fines can and will be implemented.

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 8^th January 2013.

Present: John Walker, Jane Banks, Charles Dymond, Nicky Ellis (chair), Jinny Gale, Phil Gladwin, Netty Knill-Jones, Lynne Simmons, Terry Sutton, Andrew Ellis, Kevin Bentley, 2 Police Officers and 12 members of the public

Apologies for absence: None

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

Borough and County Councillors: Flooding areas at Salcott have been inspected along with the CBC Land Drainage Technician during the particularly wet weather recently. There were noticeable improvements from work having been carried out but matters could be improved more if land owners carried out further requested works.  Thanks will be given to a certain Salcott resident for his ditch clearance work which is very much appreciated.

Pot holes have been mended but with many the repairs have come out again all too soon but will be dealt with yet again in time.  More resurfacing has been requested and with a better job than has been seen on the roads of late.

ECC is not increasing their part of the Council Tax and even though their funds have been significantly reduced front line services have not been affected.

The collapsed edge on St Ives Hill has been repaired and Copt Hall Lane will be chased up for a similar problem.

The new grant system from CBC was clarified in order for us to make a positive decision.

Public-Have Your Say: The consultation for the speed reduction proposals along Mersea Road in Peldon was enquired about and will be looked into. Also enquiries were made about the proposed bus shelter for Church Road/Malting Road which will be followed up by requesting a date when we can expect this to take place.

Declarations of Interest: None

Planning Application 122083 (details below) was brought forward on the agenda for which a full discussion took place with presentations and comments from the applicant, his agent, neighbours, other Salcott residents and a Borough Councillor speaking for and against this proposal.  The Parish Council discussed this further later on in the meeting and all that was said earlier with emails and letters sent to us previously were carefully considered  in order for us to put together our comments to be sent to CBC Planning Dept.

1. Police from both Tiptree and Mersea gave reports of no crimes in our villages but would urge people to be vigilant as there are cases of household oil theft at present.  Also they will carry out speed gun visits if they are told of a particularly bad place and time.  Speed gun training for those that put their names forward is taking place.  A vase had been stolen from Salcott Church.

2. Playgrounds and Playing Fields – the Community Service work on Moss Hay has been suspended due to the village hall being occupied with panto rehearsals as the toilets etc are required for this work party. Work will resume again in February for which we are very grateful and delighted with all their efforts so far.  The playgrounds are in good order given the very poor weather we’ve been having.

3. Zone Wardens and Highway Rangers – nothing to report

4. Precept/Grant 2013/14 – following further discussion and consideration Phil proposed, Jinny seconded and all agreed to apply for the same money as last year despite the fact it will be a modest increase of £2.31 average per band D property but this being a direct result of the withdrawal of most of the Revenue Grant by CBC.  We have and will continue to try and make savings wherever possible but insurance, maintenance of our playgrounds, grass cutting etc are a constant commitment for us.

5. Abberton Reservoir Expansion Liaison Group Meeting – the poor weather had stopped work but habitat work will start soon. The main part of the project is still on course to finish at August 2013.
    Abberton Reservoir Community Fund – there had been one application this time for helping with the cost of a length of footpath in Layer de la Haye from the works entrance to the crossroads.

6. Flooding – as above at Borough Councillors plus a land owner along St Ives Hill has been approached for ditch clearance to alleviate a problem there.

7. Broadband update report – there is a question of planning permission being a problem that will hopefully be resolved soon.

8. Website and Five Parishes Show – our website could be of more use to the Five Parishes Show and we would like to treat everyone the same with regard to any possible charges.  Our new parish councillor who will be co-opted at our next meeting has already expressed knowledge of website maintenance so we will approach him on the matter.

9. Actions and Reminders List – updated

Planning Applications:

122083 Proposal: Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 2 no. two and a half storey semi-detached dwellings at Old Barn Burrows, The Bungalow, The Street, Salcott

Finance:

The next meeting will be held at Peldon Village Hall on Tues 12^th February 2013 at 7.30pm.

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 10^th January 2012.

Present: Nicky Ellis, Phil Gladwin, Jane Banks, John Walker, Netty Knill-Jones, Kevin Bentley, 3 Police and 2 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Jinny Gale, Lynne Simmons, Charles Dymond, Terry Sutton, Andrew Ellis

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

Police: Thanks were given to the police for their attendance.  There has been very little crime in our villages of late apart from hare coursing.  Speed checks have been carried out periodically and just a few people are exceeding the limit.  Possibly on one of the worst occasions out of 50 people checked 8 were speeding and none by very much.  The perception often appears greater than the actual truth.

101 is the new number to call with non-emergency situations.

Borough Councillors: Grants from the Abberton Reservoir Community Funds have been awarded to the three applicants, Peldon Church, Peldon Village Hall and a resident in Layer affected by noise from the works. A time limit is given for spending these funds.

Following the Flood Summit meeting our Borough Councillors and an experienced CBC Officer will be visiting the places that have serious flooding problems when the weather is particularly wet.  One of our parish councillors will join them if available at the time.  Who owns which culvert will be the main source of the investigation.

Poor road surfaces including Maldon Road, School Lane and St Stephens Lane will be chased up for repairs as will empty salt boxes, in Great Wigborough and Salcott.

Broadband improvements are a concern for all our villages and ECC are working alongside other bodies to help achieve a good solution to the problem.

Public-Have Your Say – None

Declarations of Interest – None

1. Playgrounds – reports were not available due to illness etc. but inspections had been carried out as normal.  Rubber clippings will be ordered when a suitable drop off time and place have been decided.

2. Salcott Meadow/Creek – requests for fencing along the creek edge were discussed at length all of us having read the four reports received from authoritative bodies.  Phil proposed, Netty seconded and all agreed that following four independent reports regarding a potential water hazard the advice received was to install more signage which we will carry out shortly. Only one report mentioned fencing but advising against it.  We were required to pay for two of the reports totaling £260.

3. Precept/Grant 2012/2013 – finances were discussed at length using the prepared detailed sheet.  Our predicted spending for the year (year finishes 31/03/12) is not far out from the money received therefore Phil proposed, Jane seconded and all agreed to keep the precept/grant the same as last year.

4. Police – as above

5. Chairman and Vice for the next 2 year period – following councillors circumstances changing it will prove difficult to keep to the same village rotation system that we have been using therefore we will amend our standing orders to adapt this at the AGM in May.  It was agreed by all that Jinny has made a huge contribution to the parish council since she joined and every effort will be made to keep up the standard that she has created.

6. Broadband update: John presented us with a very informative pack and has been researching this matter thoroughly in the aim of better broadband speed and availability for all our villages.

7. Website update: Again John has been working to take up this work.

8. Sparklers Report: The number of people seemed to be similar to last year, although by mistake the counter wasn’t carried out. The set-up had been moved around to give more space for the crowds.  A road sign had been put in the wrong place causing congestion.  A few people had been treated by the Red Cross, mainly for grit in eyes and nothing too serious although one person had been hit by a bottle being thrown.  Record money was taken and in general it was a very successful evening.  Any problems have been noted and will be addressed for next year’s event including a limit on the advertising.

9. Abberton Reservoir Report: Work has progressed well due to the dry weather. The new road will be opened in March.  Any complaints to the Water Company have been addressed immediately.  We are not happy with the outside lighting at the new Visitor Centre and will be making our feelings known to the planning department.

10. Actions and Reminders List – updated

Planning:

112327 Proposal: 3 vehicle detached garage at Fourways Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott

112345 Proposal: Single-storey extension in brick and tile at north door, providing WC and wet area to Church at St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Peldon

111937 Proposal: Detached office, garage and car port building at Rosefield, Lodge Lane, Peldon

112422 Proposal: Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling with attached garage at The Farmhouse, Abbots Wick Lane, Great Wigborough

112023 Proposal: 1^st floor extension to rear over existing g/floor 2 storey extension to side at The Briars, Peldon Road, Peldon – Withdrawn

Finances:

101641 – R S Pullen – clerk’s fee for January                                                           £353.53

101642 – St Mary the Virgin, Peldon – mag entries                                                  £150.00

101643 – Peldon Village Hall – hire                                                                         £174.00

101644 – T Hedger – sorting fallen tree on Moss Hay                                                 £12.00

The next meeting will be held at Peldon Village Hall on Tues 14^th Feb 2012 at 7.30pm