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January 2008 Parish Council Minutes
Minutes of Great Oakley Parish Council MeetingHeld at the Village Hall 7:30pm Tuesday 15th January 2008
Present: Mr S Huk – Chairman, Mr N Daniels, Mrs J Mason, Mrs J Hylton
Our District Councillor was available for questions.
Chairman opened meeting with prayer at 7:30pm.
Accept apologies for absence: Mr B Harrington – Vice-Chairman, Ms K Schooling, Mr T Spurge
Declaration of Interest: None declared
Public Participation: There were no members of the public present.
Minutes of meeting held on 18th December 2007 were confirmed as a true record. Proposed Mrs Mason, seconded Mr Daniels, carried unanimously.
Police Report: There were 7 reported incidents in the Parish, including a domestic incident, obstruction, a fallen tree and 3 road traffic collisions.
Progress Report:
Basketball Hoop
We are still waiting for drier weather for the work to be completed.
Dog Bin
Clerk is to place an order.
Notice Board
We still haven’t received any information from the contractors who were asked to quote to renovate the notice board.
Grants
We were not successful with the application to the Big Lottery Playful Ideas as they were looking for new ideas, products and services. Ms Ferguson will assist us with some grant applications.
Highways
Highways had been contacted for an update on the resurfacing works on the B1414 East of Great Oakley. Highways responded by saying the B1414 is still on the reserve list for carriageway re-surfacing but the scheme has not attracted funding as other locations identified by the annual electronic carriageway structural survey have gained a higher priority. They are therefore unable to give a date when works may be expected to be undertaken.
After discussing Wix Road was thought to be more urgent.
Grass Cutting Contractor
We still haven't had a response from the interested contractor.
TDC – Open Space Audit
Clerk contacted Tendring District Council to query why our play area was deemed inadequate in the Open Space Audit. They responded by saying the statement which was published was made a number of years ago. It seems there is an under provision of play areas and the existing sports pitch provision is of sufficient size but needs improvement.
War Memorial
The Stonemason has the stone. Clerk is to wait for more news.
Fly-tipping
Clerk reported a TV which had been disposed of in the ditch near the Church. This will be cleared when they are in the area.
Bus Stop
Work has been completed and the contractors have promised to reinstate the verges where damaged by their vehicles.
Wooden Signs: We have had a reply from Highways who say that there are no plans to repair/replace any rural village sign posts within our area during the current financial year so funding cannot be allocated. Funding could be available in the new financial year depending upon whether their policy is to encourage the introduction of signs to the specification we have provided.
After discussing this issue it was decided to contact Highways again and request a specific answer to our question on the acceptability of the proposed sign design. Proposed Mr Daniels, seconded Mrs Mason, carried unanimously.
The fingerpost at the Soils has been reported as broken so Clerk will contact Highways to see what their response will be.
There has been a suggestion to put a village sign on the large triangle area at Stones Green but it is outside the main village. A smaller version could be placed there. The triangle is still being cleared.
Village Seat: Our insurance company has replied to our query. They have confirmed that we would be solely responsible for the seat including maintenance and upkeep thereof. The public liability section of the policy would extend to include the legal liabilities of the Parish Council as far as they could apply.
Clerk contacted the EALC to see if they know of any Councils which have experienced the same problems. They suggested we contact ECC to see if anyone else has been able to fulfil the insurance cover being requested of us. Their response was to send out a copy of an agreement sent to and agreed by another Parish Council which would be similar to the one we would need to sign.
After discussion, it was decided to send a copy of the letter from our insurance company to ECC to see if our insurance cover meets all their requirements.
Grass Cutting: Our grass cutting contractor attempted to cut the field at Sparrows Corner and managed to get 3 vehicles stuck. Clerk asked them why they tried to carry out this work in such wet weather and their response was that the grass was getting long due to the lack of frost this winter and it hadn’t had the designated amount of cuts carried out.
After discussion it was decided that if the work was completed the invoice will be paid when received.
Council are happy with the standard of the grass cutting over the previous year and decided to ask the contractors to carry on the work under the same terms and conditions. Proposed Mrs Mason, seconded Mrs Hylton, carried unanimously. Clerk to contact the contractors.
Sparrows Corner: A resident from Sparrows Corner contacted the Clerk regarding the condition of the access track to the field at Sparrows Corner. They would like us to fill in the pot holes. Clerk contacted legal department at TDC who informed us that even though we lease the land we are under no obligation to maintain the track. TDC also mentioned that the residents with access to their properties via this track have deeds to their homes which states that they would need to pay a proportioned amount shared between other properties to maintain the track.
After discussion, Council agreed to contact the homeowners to seek their view on paying a proportioned amount towards the upkeep to the track. Proposed Mrs Mason, seconded Mr Daniels, carried unanimously.
Wage Review: The NALC have contacted the Clerk with the new revised wage scale for 2007-8. The understanding is that the previous Clerk used to work a year behind the wage increase. The new hourly rate is £8.041 which is a 2 ½ % increase. Proposed Mr Daniels, seconded Mrs Hylton, carried unanimously.
The NALC also included details of the revised mileage costs which are now 55.8p (52.7p previous). Proposed Mr Daniels, seconded Mrs Mason, carried unanimously.
Planning:
Application No: 07/02013/FUL
Proposal: Side car-port
Location: 3, Council Houses, Clacton Road, Stones Green, Harwich
After discussion, no objections were raised.
Application No: 07/01795/FUL
Proposal: Erection of detached goose building
Location: Field No. 4989 East of Friths Farm Colchester Road
After reviewing the new plans for this development, it was decided to raise the following objections:
Application No: 07/01591/FUL
Proposal: Erection of building to facilitate 10 no. cattery pens and 1 no. quarantine pen following removal of existing cattery pens.
Location: 1 The Willows Stones Green Great Oakley Harwich
After discussion, no objections were raised.
Public Rights of Way / Trees: The footpaths are clear at the moment with nothing to report.
We have had notification regarding the following application:
Case 582 – Application to add a bridleway to the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way along the route of Footpath 17, Great Oakley and part of Footpath 13, Little Oakley and then on to the Clacton Road. The applicant has lodged an appeal against the County Councils decision to refuse the application.
Feedback of Sub Committees:
Village Hall
The Village Hall Committee met on the 8th January 2008. Quotes are being obtained to provide trellis fencing around the new bulk gas tank.
The Village Hall Committee currently have £821.38 in the Hall bank account.
The general condition of the hall was discussed and it was accepted that a certain amount of remedial works would be necessary in the relatively near future and that proposals should be drawn up so that we were in a position to apply for grant funding as opportunity arises.
The leak in the roof has been successfully repaired.
It was agreed to reinstate annual inspections of the hall structure – scheduled to take place on Saturday 8th March 2008 at 12:00.
Crime Prevention Panel:
No Attendance
Accounts for Payment:
| Coast to coast Donation | 700732 | £50.00 |
| Society of Local Council Clerks Membership | 700733 | £70.00 |
| Frinton & Walton Town Council Donation | 700734 | £100.00 |
| Mr S Huk – Chairman Expenses | 700735 | £149.54 |
| Just Lamps (UK)Ltd Street Light Maintenance | D/D | £37.94 |
| E-On Street Lighting | D/D | £ 80.91 |
| E-On Village Hall Lighting | D/D | £37.94 |
| Philip Liverton Hedge Cutting | 700736 | £399.50 |
| Miss J Bootyman Clerks Wages & Expenses | 700737 | £211.36 |
| TOTAL £1124.25 | ||
Having been circulated, accounts proposed as correct by Mrs Mason, seconded Mr Daniels, carried unanimously.
Correspondence:
We have received a letter from Mr Brooker requesting the oil tank at the village hall be disguised as previously agreed. – Actions already in hand via the Village Hall Committee.
Mr Daniels has been approached by the owner of Zig Zag Cottage, Queen Street bringing a claim by an estate agent that there is an ‘allocated parking space’ for one of the properties off the village square to our attention. After discussing it was decided to contact the estate agent to determine the exact space they have quoted and then ask Highways to determine who owns this piece of land – Highways or the property owner.
There being no further business Chairman closed meeting at 8:52pm.
None
