November 2008 Parish Council Minutes

Minutes of Great Oakley Parish Council Meeting
Held at the Village Hall Tuesday 18th November 2008

Present: Mr S Huk, Chairman – Mr T Spurge, Vice-Chairman – Mrs J Hylton – Mr B Eaton – Mrs J Mason – Mr N Daniels – Mr B Harrington – Cllr T Ferguson

Apologies: Mr J Tierney

Chairman opened meeting with prayer at 7:30pm.

Declaration of Interest: None declared.

Public Participation: A resident from Farm Road brought to Councils attention the condition of Farm Road and Pesthouse Lane. There are pot holes more than two inches deep which make the road difficult and to cycle down and this, with there being no speed limit, make this road extremely dangerous. Pesthouse Lane is covered in mud and leaves and residents are reluctant to travel along this road. Clerk has already contacted Highways about these roads with no response to date.

Mr Harrington reported that the small roads are swept every six weeks as a smaller sweeper is needed but they turn around at Deex’s yard and don’t go to the end of Farm Road or Pesthouse Lane. Chairman responded by saying that we have many roads in our parish which have the same problem which we are seeking to rectify.

After discussion, it was decided to ask for an extra sweep to clear the debris and to send pictures of the road so Highways can see how dangerous it is.

Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 21st October 2008, after being circulated, were proposed as correct by Mr Eaton, seconded Mr Daniels, carried unanimously.

Police Report: There were reports of one burglary, one criminal damage, one disturbance, one sudden death, one suspicious circumstance, three nuisances/other, one road traffic collision.

PCSO Ray Aylott sends his apologies for next month but will try to find someone to attend in his place.

Progress Report:

Stile at Pesthouse Lane
Mrs Hylton reported that the post is rotten and the fence is leaning over. Clerk will contact Highways again.

High Barn Farm
Sean Roff from Essex County Council Highways is due to contact Clerk regarding the pot holes at High Barn Farm. Clerk will update Council accordingly. Clerk has recently followed a Highways Maintenance van through Stones Green so hopefully there will be some news on the highway issues we have.

Play Area
Cllr Ferguson and clerk will meet on 28th November to complete grant application forms.

Dog Bin
We have received an answer from Veolia who say it is now the responsibility of Tendring District Council to empty the bin so clerk contacted them to get some answers. Stephen Sparrow has asked his colleague to contact the clerk after his holiday but we still haven’t heard anything. After discussing briefly, clerk will contact again to say the bin is overflowing and if this doesn’t work Cllr Ferguson will contact the head of Environmental Services.

War Memorial
The work has now been completed and looks really good. Chairman has had a discussion with Mr Palmer and the British Legion and they feel that the appropriate time for a re-dedication would be in the New Year, around the same time of year as the original dedication. Council agree this is a suitable time.

Remembrance Day was well attended and the Maybush provided refreshments afterwards. After discussion it was agreed Clerk will write to the landlord to express our thanks for his hospitality.

Mr Daniels has offered to write an article for Coast to Coast about the war memorial.

Farm Road/Pesthouse Lane
Clerk has reported to Highways a leaning telegraph pole in Pesthouse Lane and large pot holes in the roads. There has been no response from Highways as yet so Clerk will pursue this.

Bus Shelter
At the last meeting Council agreed to pay the shortfall of £120 and Clerk was to order the bus shelter. Clerk contacted Highways to see who was to arrange delivery and pointed out that the grant they kindly gave us did not cover all the costs due to a high delivery charge and they subsequently offered us a further £1000 to assist with delivery costs.

Red Barn Lane
This stretch of road was reported to Highways due to parts of it being undercut which could cause a serious accident. Photos have also been sent but we haven’t had a response as yet. Clerk will keep in touch with Highways and hopefully provide some indication of progress at our next meeting.

Speed Survey Stones Green
Chairman had offered to contact Highways to ask them to explain why we can’t have a speed survey in Stones Green but due to work commitments he hasn’t been able to.

Maybush Sign
Highways previously turned down the Maybush’s request for a sign so after discussion, Council asked Clerk to contact them again to ask why the Maybush can’t have a brown tourist sign as many pubs in the area have one. Highways contacted us to say that brown tourism signs are for pubs that have a large number of visitors annually and they don’t envisage the Maybush would meet the criteria for a tourism sign.

Wooden Sign
Clerk has contacted all those who provided a quote to repair the wooden Great Oakley sign to say they have been successful or unsuccessful. The person who was successful has taken the sign down to repair and contacted the Clerk to say he has had to purchase some oak, at an extra cost of £65-£70.

Hedge Cutting
Both contractors have been contacted regarding the quotes we received for hedge cutting at the old and new burial grounds. Jobsihate will start the work soon now that the grass cutting has slowed for winter.

Horbridge Hall
Clerk reported a hole in the bridleway to Highways. Meanwhile Mrs Hylton reported it to Essex Bridleways. The hole has been repaired.

Street Lights
A light near the phone box and another at Woodlands were reported as not working so Clerk contacted A & J Lighting Solutions. The light was repaired in the High Street but this repair was not effective so a new light was fitted. The light at Woodlands is yet to be repaired as it has only just been reported to us.

Highways: Mrs Hylton reported that there is standing water outside her property (Mill House) long after the rain has ceased. This needs to be reported again with photographic evidence proving this.

Seat: The residents surrounding the war memorial were canvassed about having a seat positioned on the pavement and asked to respond with any comments by the end of October.

Clerk has received one response which was of a positive nature. After discussion, it was proposed we contact Highways confirming the mail-shot to the residents and that we received a supportive response and no objections and requesting they confirm we can go ahead with the purchase of a bench which they will then install on our behalf at the location previously agreed.

Burial Ground Seat
The Chairman has tried to arrange a meeting at the new burial ground but has been unsuccessful. He will try this month and report accordingly.

New Village Hall: Mr Daniels has spoken to Mr Inkster (TDC Planning Policy) who had committed to write to us confirming the views he expressed at the recent site meeting. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Mr Inkster has not been able to do so. He commented that he can’t see there will be any objections. Mr Daniels will keep in contact with Mr Inkster.

Recycling Facility: After discussion at the last meeting, a letter was sent to “Millview” with a pre-written reply and a pre-paid envelope for the owners to sign if they have no objections to the recycling facility.

As yet this has not been returned. After discussion, it was agreed Clerk will print another letter and ask Mrs Chilver, who knows them personally, to visit the owners of “Millview” and request they sign it. If this doesn’t work Chairman will go and see them to see what the issue is.

Fingerposts: The fingerposts have been delivered and Mr Daniels is waiting for Terry Knights’ (ECC Highways) Engineers to contact him with an installation date. Jobsihate are on standby to clear the area when we get the go ahead. Chairman explained the history of the fingerposts to the parishioners present. Mr Daniels informed us that Highways are currently carrying out an underground services search.

Planning:
Application No: 08/01473/FUL
Proposal: Conversion and extension of existing barn into dwelling
Location: Park Pale Farm Harwich Road Great Oakley Harwich

After discussion, there were no objections.

Public Rights of Way: There are no new issues to report this month. Mrs Hylton reported that the footpath where the new dog bin is situated has been cut; in the summer it was overgrown and impassable.

Mr Spurge reported that in discussion with Essex County Council during the summer, the possibility of them commissioning three cuts per year as opposed to the current two cuts was raised. With only two cuts, there is very little flexibility as to when they are carried out and, if we get another growing season like last summer, the paths could become impassable again. Landowners are paid to make a limited number of cuts on behalf of Highways and the final decision whether to fund an additional third cut rests with them.

Feedback of sub committees: There was not sufficient notice of when the crime prevention panel meeting was held.

Accounts for Payment
Ian Allston	Tree Pruning	700772	£364.25
E-On	Street Lighting	D/D	£80.91
E-On	Street Lighting (Sept)	D/D	£80.91
A & J Lighting Solutions	Street Light Maintenance	D/D	£42.54
A & J Lighting Solutions	New light fitting	700778	£197.40
A & J Lighting Solutions	Repair	700779	£110.10
Jobsihate	Grass Cutting	700780	£349.83
The Green Gardener	Old Burial Ground	700781	£70.00
Miss J Bootyman	Clerks Wages & Expenses	700782	£234.98
TOTAL			£1530.92

It was noted that A & J Lighting Solutions had billed us for the failed repair of the street light in the High Street and also for replacing it. Clerk to query this item and until resolved, it was agreed we would not pay for the repair.

Subject to the above query, the accounts were proposed as correct by Mr Spurge, seconded Mrs Mason, carried unanimously.

We have received an income of £98.86 for interest.

Every year we donate £50 to Coast to Coast and after discussion, it was agreed to donate the same again this year. Proposed Mrs Hylton, seconded Mr Daniels, carried unanimously.

Mrs Mason reported that the Grassroots funding does not provide grants to organisations like Parish Councils, only to community groups, potentially like the toddler group or the Village Hall Management Committee. Clerk will pass details onto the toddler group and Mr Daniels will also inform the village football club. Chairman will raise at the next Village Hall Committee meeting.

Correspondence: Voluntary First Registration of Parish Council Land – Land Registration Act 2002.
A Solicitor based in Colchester has approached us to see if he can assist us with registering land in our Parish.

After discussion, it was agreed we did not need his services, however it would be prudent to check with the Land Registry what Land is registered to us and if there is any not registered, to get them registered forthwith. Areas of land in the Parish that belong to/are the responsibility of the Parish Council are the Burial Grounds, Village Hall, War Memorial, Partridge Close and the Triangle at Stones Green.

There being no further business, Chairman closed meeting at 8:36pm.

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