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1.0 |
ROAD SAFETY |
ACTION |
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1.1 |
It was noted that no
accidents had been reported since the last meeting. The damaged carriageway
outside Pear Tree Cottage has still not been repaired and the grass verges
are still waiting to be cut back. Mr R Townsend reported that the sunken
drain outside the Village Hall has been repaired. The Clerk agreed to chase
up the outstanding work with Highways department. It was also requested
that the overgrowth of verges and hedges close to New House Villa is also
cut back to improve visibility for residents leaving properties. |
Clerk |
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2.0 |
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OFFICER |
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2.1 |
The planned visit by the
District Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer has had to be postponed
owing to sickness. |
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3.0 |
MINUTES |
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It was noted that Item 4.4
should have read ‘Mobile Phone’ and not Mobile Green Waste Service’. The
Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 13th September were
amended, approved and signed. |
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4.0 |
MATTERS ARISING |
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4.1 |
The Caravan, High Easter Road |
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Following advice sought
from the Essex Association of Local Councils it was noted that although it
has now been confirmed that the land is common land, it is still unclear if
the land has an owner. The Clerk agreed to enquire with the Land Registry.
In the meantime, the Clerk agreed to write to the District Council to ask
why they believe the Parish Council is responsible for the trees. It is
understood that if the land is ownerless it should not be the responsibility
of the Parish Council. |
Clerk |
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EALC has also questioned
how a Certificate of Lawfulness was granted for the caravans on this common
land. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the District Council to
ascertain how this was achieved legally. |
Clerk |
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4.2 |
Village Hall Car Park |
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It was noted that a meeting
has been arranged between the Parish Council and Mr K Shaw, a Civil Engineer
recommended by RCCE and John Inkpen Architects. Mr Shaw will look at the
car park and the quotes which have been received and take some soil
samples. Although it is unclear as to how much this will cost, it was
unanimously agreed by all members that the Parish Council should retain the
services of Mr Shaw. |
Clerk/CWa |
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4.3 |
School Bus |
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It was noted that the Clerk
has spoken to both the County School Transport department and Dons Coaches
to see whether there is a safer place for the school bus to stop than
outside The Old School House. The route is to be looked at with the view of
finding an alternative stop. |
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4.4 |
Parish Council
Newsletter |
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It was noted that Cllr. S
Flack will arrange for the newsletter to be photocopied at County Hall at a
cost of approx. £28. It was unanimously agreed that the two paperboys in
the village should be asked whether they would like to distribute the
majority of the newsletters at a fee of £10. The Chairman declared an
interest in this item and signed the Declaration of Interest book. Mrs H
Rothwell agreed to distribute the newsletter along Parsonage Lane. |
Clerk/SF |
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4.5 |
Libel & Slander |
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Following the Parish
Council’s recent application to Allianz Cornhill, it was noted that
additional covers of Officials Indemnity and Libel and Slander can be
offered at a cost of £54.33. It was unanimously agreed that the Parish
Council should take up this cover. |
Clerk |
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5.0 |
INCREASE IN TRAFFIC
ON A130 |
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Four members of the public attended the meeting for this item. The
residents expressed concern over the increase in heavy goods traffic through
the village since the new A120 has opened. As with the previous meeting,
the Chairman explained the Parish Council’s position with this matter and
that the Parish Council is awaiting the results of a recent survey carried
out on behalf of County Highways department. Although Councillor Bass has
stressed that he will not make a decision to either down-grade the A130 or
re-signpost heavy goods until after the new A120 has been open for
approximately one year by which time clear evidence will be available to
make a decision, he has agreed to hold a follow-up meeting with the Parish
Councils’ concerned next week to discuss the matter further. It was agreed
that all of the letters received by the Parish Council from concerned
residents will be forwarded on to Councillor Bass. As this item concluded,
the Chairman stated that the Parish Council will ensure that the residents
concerns are brought to the attention of Councillor Bass at the meeting. |
Chairman/
Clerk |
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6.0 |
FINANCIAL POSITION |
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6.1 |
The financial position as at 30.09.04 was as follows: £15,460.84 in the
current account and £6,133.90 in the NSB. Totalling: £21,594.74. It was
noted that this figure includes the second half of the annual precept. |
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7.0 |
PARISH COUNCIL AUDIT |
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7.1 |
It was noted that although
the Parish Council accounts had been approved at the July meeting, this had
not been recorded correctly in the Minutes. Members looked at the Statement
of Accounts and the Statement of Assurance and it was unanimously agreed
that these should be approved. The Accounts and Statement of Assurance were
signed by both the Chairman and Clerk at the meeting. |
Clerk |
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7.2 |
On a separate matter it was
noted that the Chairman had used a considerable amount of ink in his printer
over the past few years in order to prepare the accounts and other matters
for the Parish Council. It was unanimously agreed by all members that the
Parish Council should reimburse the Chairman for replacement ink cartridges. |
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8.0 |
STANDING ORDERS AND
PROCEDURES |
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Mr C Watkins has taken the
time to look at the Parish Council’s current Standing Orders and Procedures
and suggested that some changes should be made to them in order to enable
the Parish Council to run more smoothly. All members agreed that this would
be a good idea and it was unanimously agreed that Mr C Watkins should draw
up the updated Standing Order and bring it up at the next Parish Council
meeting. It was also agreed that any public wishing to speak at a Parish
Council meeting in the future would only be able to do so in a planned
‘15-minute question time’ at the start of the meeting. Another suggestion
to improve the conduct of business was that planning applications should be
placed on a separate table prior to the meeting to enable members to view
the plans with greater ease than at present.
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CWa |
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9.0 |
PLANNING APPLICATIONS |
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CC/BTE/53/00 & CC/UTT/54
– Landscaping Scheme, A120 Stansted to Braintree. It was noted that an
application has been made for such a scheme. |
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RESULTS: UTT/1145/04/LB
– Replacement external doors and windows. Taverners, Onslow Green,
Barnston. It was noted that this application has been granted consent. |
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APPEALS: UTT/1392/03 –
Lanham Barn, Onslow Green. Conversion of agricultural building to
garaging. It was noticed that this has been dismissed. |
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10.0 |
CORRESPONDENCE |
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10.1 |
ECC – Seeking Your Views
on the Re A120 Stansted to Braintree |
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It was noted that County
Highways is planning on sending out questionnaires to both residents and
Town & Parish Councils. |
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10.2 |
Wicksteed Leisure |
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Wicksteed Leisure has sent
details regarding the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for play areas. On
a separate matter, it was noted that Wicksteed Leisure have not carried out
safety inspections on the two play areas for quite some time. It was agreed
that inspections should be carried out at a cost of approximately £40 per
play area. |
Clerk |
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11.0 |
ANY OTHER BUSINESS |
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11.1 |
It was noted that a street
light along High Easter Road is not working and another one appears to be on
in the daytime. It was also noted that two street lights in Watts Close
have not been working either. |
Clerk |
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12.0 |
CHEQUES |
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The following cheque was
agreed and signed: |
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Travis Perkins (wood,
fencing and paint for play area repairs) |
£144.30 |
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Mr G Bruneau (Handyman
wages & expenses) |
£141.00 |
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Mrs C Weston Clerk’s wages
& expenses) |
£205.99 |
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Barnston Parish Council
(transfer to NSB a/c) |
£9,000.00 |
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Direct Debits |
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UDC (garage rent) |
£38.89 |
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There being no further
business the meeting closed at 9.35pm. The next Parish Council meeting will
take place on Monday 8th November 2004. |
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