December 2007

Chairman: Cllr Paul Stirland Clerk: Angela Balcombe

Tel: 01376 330230 Tel: 01376 528081

E-mail: Chair@greatnotley.gov.uk E-mail: Clerk@greatnotley.gov.uk

6 Shires Close, Great Notley

Braintree, Essex, CM77 7FT

GREAT NOTLEY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE GREAT NOTLEY PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2007 AT 7.30 PM
AT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE, GREAT NOTLEY.

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Present: Cllrs Barltrop, Dunster, Mansfield, Prosser, Sandbrook, Stirland and Walters.

In the Chair: Cllr. Stirland

Clerk: Angela Balcombe

Also present: 5 members of the public

07/18. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Apologies were received from Cllr Butland.

07/19. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.

To receive any ‘personal’ or ‘personal and prejudicial’ interests relating to items on the agenda. No interests were declared.

07/20. PUBLIC FORUM.

· Litter bin in front of the Doctors Surgery – query over ownership and emptying – the Parish Council will empty it.

· Bin near one of the stones on The Green is in the wrong place, request to move it.

· Tesco – the Council will write to them regarding community engagement, reminding them of their civic responsibility.

· Parking/mud/noise problems at The Green when football is played. It was agreed that the Green has now become a football pitch and looks very unkempt. The Green has been upgraded to a sports field by the District Council with no consultation, the general view from members of the public was that it should revert back to a Village Green. It was suggested writing to both BDC and ECC to say that more pitches are needed in the Country Park – it was explained that this had already been done to no avail.

07/21. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.

The minutes of 13 November 2007 were approved as a correct record of events.

Proposed: Cllr Mansfield. Seconded: Cllr Barltrop. All agreed.

07/22. MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES.

Brief progress check only.

07/05. Crummock and Thorrington paths have been done. The pile of chippings needs to be barrowed into White Court Wood to fill holes.

07/08. Litter picking job to be advertised after Christmas.

EX-AGENDA.

District / County Councillors Report – Cllr Walters gave a brief report. Rubbish on the A120 at Galleys Corner was reported, it was explained that this is a Highways Agency road, therefore not the responsibility of the Council – a letter from the Parish Council to the Highways Agency may help to back up the District Council in getting this cleared.

07/23. COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE / COMMITTMENT.

Lack of Councillors attendance at Council meetings. There was much discussion and disagreement regarding attendance and commitment. New councillors can contact, or arrange to meet, with the Clerk to discuss any aspect of procedures and future working arrangements of the Council.

07/24. POND MAINTENANCE.

The ponds can be maintained through the BDC partnership. The Parish Council has money in the budget which could help towards this.

07/25. FINANCE.

The following cheques were approved for payment and signed:

100813 £556.06 A Balcombe (Salary & Expenses)

100814 £405.60 F Illman (Salary)

100815 £136.91 ECC (Pension Contributions)

100816 £62.70 Helping Hand Company (2 x 6’ litter grabbers)

100817 £19.39 Acumen Wages Service (Monthly Salaries)

100818 £752.00 Braintree District Council (Refuse Vehicles)

100819 £1,372.00 The Printing Place (Great Notley Times)

100820 £80.00 T Perkins (£12.00 P3, £68.00 Play Areas)

100821 £11,496.20 D K Civil Engineers (Thorrington & Crummock Paths)

The Precept form was signed by Councillors and the Clerk.

07/26. NEW SEAT – QUEENBOROUGH LANE.

To agree design and cost of the proposed new seat. It was agreed to order the same design of seat already installed along this path (Ollerton in Green with a middle arm rest). Unanimously agreed.

07/27. EALC TRAINING COURSES.

· Health & Safety, 1 February – cost £75

· Raising the Profile of the Council, 17 January – cost £30

· Councillor Training Day 2, 24 January – cost £50. Cllr Dunster to attend.

· Chairman’s Day 1, 28 February – cost £50

· Planning for the Future of your Village, 19 February – cost £30

07/28. PLANNING APPLICATIONS & RESULTS.

Application No: 07/02132/FUL. Erection of play and resource centre

Location: Country Park, Great Notley. Clarification of boundary sought, otherwise no objections.

Application No: 07/02346/FUL. Erection of single storey side extension to lounge.

Location: 17 Wood Way, Great Notley. No objections.

Results to be noted:

Application No: 07/01829/OUT. Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 3 no. detached houses.

Location: 224 London Road, Great Notley. Refused.

Application No: 07/01983/FUL. Erection of rear extension.

Location: 33 Shelduck Crescent, Great Notley. Granted.

07/29. CENTRAL FOOTPATH / CYCLEWAY.

To discuss the possibility of extending the route to allow the safe journey to school for children that walk or cycle. It was agreed to write to BDC, copying in Notley High School (Safer Journeys to School Scheme) and also to contact Sustrans for their support.

07/30. REPORTS.

· Country Park – report noted.

07/31. CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE.

BALC - Open Meeting 24 January 2008 – subjects will be the Cultural Partnership Board and the Essex Strategy – ‘Parish Proofing’ session.

ECC – Q & A session on the LAA – 16 January, Essex Strategy – ‘Parish Proofing’ sessions on 30^th and 31^st January.

07/32. ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

Information exchange / next agenda items only.

· ‘Active Braintree’ – Cllr Dunster has contacted local schools, who are interested but need firm details.

· Emergency Plan – review of policies and procedure.

· Neighbourhood Watch – request to pay for signs.

07/33. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING.

The next meeting is on the 8 January 2008 at 7.30 pm at the Discovery Centre, Great Notley.

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9.17 PM

SIGNED (CHAIRMAN): DATE: