Minutes of Barnston Parish Council Meeting held on

Monday 13^th December 2004 at Barnston Village Hall

Present:

Mr R Burlend (Chairman)

Mrs P Singleton

Mr G Ball

Mrs S Sellens

Mr R Townsend (Item 1)

Mrs H Rothwell

Mrs C Weston (Clerk)

Mrs S Tuttlebury

Apologies:  Mr M LeMasurier and Mrs S Flack

Four members of the public attended the meeting.

1.0

ROAD SAFETY

ACTION

1.1

It was noted that three accidents have been reported since the last meeting.  The first occurred on the night of 12^th November when a car turning into Berners End took down part of the fence outside Broadgroves Cottage.  It is understood that the car has since been dumped in the Watts Close play area car park. The second accident occurred on 17^th November when a vehicle hit a telegraph pole in High Easter Road.  The driver was unhurt but the telegraph pole and overhead cables came down resulting in the Parish Council’s street light being broken.  It was noted that the Clerk has written to Essex Police requesting details of the driver in order to claim of his insurance company.  A third accident occurred as a driver pulled out of Berners End onto the A130.  No further details are known.

Clerk

1.2

It was noted that the drain outside The Old School House has dropped.  The Clerk was requested to report this to Highways department.  Mrs H Rothwell stated that a lorry has hit and damaged the footpath sign opposite Parsonage Barn in Parsonage Lane.  The Clerk agreed to speak to Essex County Council about this.

Clerk

2.0

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 8^th November were approved and signed.

3.0

MATTERS ARISING

3.1

School Bus

The Clerk informed the meeting that despite contacting the School Transport department at County Hall, she had still not received a response from them regarding moving the stop outside The Old School House to a safer location.  It was also noted that following the recent inspection of the route from Barnston to the Dunmow schools, Mrs S Flack has received a letter from the County Planning & Admissions Officer stating that members expressed concerns about certain areas of the route and these have been passed to Highways department for consideration.  For this reason the decision has been delayed until the issues have been fully investigated.

3.2

The Caravan

It was noted that following an inspection of the site made by the Arboricultural Officer for Essex County Council, no obvious significant defects with any of the trees that may present an immediate safety concern to those living on the site was found.  The letter also stated that it was not clear why it had been previously suggested that the Parish Council would be responsible for payment of any such work.  If in the future such work is required and the owner or occupier of the land makes a request through the District Council for the trees to be made safe, the District Council may carry out the work on the trees and recover the costs from the owner or occupier.  It was unanimously agreed that this subject should now be closed unless there is any follow-up information available regarding access to the land.

3.3

Mill Field Hedge

It was noted that quotations have been received from Uttlesford District Council, Acorn Services, Ron Newcombe and Pleshey Tree Services.  It was unanimously agreed that as Pleshey Tree Services quotation of £700+VAT was the cheapest, the Parish Council should accept this quote providing that the work is to be carried out by hand and not using a flail

Clerk

3.4

Bus Shelter

It was noted that the Handyman had carried out an excellent job of getting rid of the ivy around the bus shelter.  It was agreed that the ivy should also be taken out from the gutters and if the gutters break as a result of this then replacements should be bought.

Handyman

3.5

Village Hall Car Park

It was noted that a site investigation has now been carried out and detailed plans have been drawn up.  T the suggestion of Mr Ken Rush, these plans have now been sent to both M.B. Surfacing and B. Ketley inviting them to re-submit a quotation using these plans and specifications.  It was noted that the invoice for £1,256.95 (inc. VAT) has been received.

3.6

Standing Orders and Procedures

It was agreed that the revised Standing Orders and Procedures should be put back to the January meeting.

Clerk

4.0

FINANCIAL POSITION

At the time of the meeting the current account bank statement had not yet arrived so an approximate figure for the current account was given.  The financial position as at 30.11.04 was as follows: £5,406.04 (approx.) in the current account and £15,133.89 in the NSB.  Totalling: £20,539.94.  Please note the statement has now been received and the actual amount in the current account is £5,412.35.  Totalling £20,546.24.

5.0

PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY

The Chairman informed the meeting that regrettably Mr C Watkins has had to resign from the Parish Council owing to work relocation.  The vacancy will be advertised around the village and replacement sought as soon as possible.

Clerk

6.0

PARISH PRECEPTS

It was noted that the Parish Council has been asked to submit its request for the Parish Precept by the end of January.  It was agreed that the Chairman would look at the figures over the next few weeks and bring the matter up at the January meeting.

Clerk/

Chairman

7.0

WICKSTEED LEISURE ANNUAL INSPECTION REPORT.

It was noted that inspections have now been carried out on both play areas.  The wearing chains and cradle seat on the swings in the Watts Close play area need replacing together with the oilite bushes.  Wicksteed Leisure has quoted £228 plus £187.50 fitting of spares.  It was unanimously agreed that WL should be requested to carry out these repairs.  It was also noted that the Watts Close merry-go-round ground clearance is set marginally low.  It was agreed that a quotation should also be sought to rectify this.  There is insufficient dog proof fencing at both play areas and information signs are required.  It was agreed that the fencing at the Watts Close play area could not be improved but the Village Hall play area could be improved slightly.  The Clerk was asked to look into this and to also follow-up earlier designs for the information signs using the Parish Council’s new telephone number.

Clerk

8.0

VILLAGE CIVIC AMENITY SCHEME/GREEN WASTE SKIPS

It was noted that the District Council is arranging the schedule for 2005 and are offering staffed skips at a cost of £159 + VAT per full day and £78.44 per half day. It was agreed that skips should be requested at regular intervals during 2005.   It was also noted that Barnston will no longer be included in the Green Waste Collection service for 2005 as the service was not sufficiently used.  Residents in Barnston can take their green waste and wood to the site at Hoblongs Industrial Estate in Dunmow.  This service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.00am – 3.00pm.

9.0

STREET LIGHTS

Following the accident along High Easter Road, the Clerk has asked Dunmow electrical to provide a quotation to replace the street light that was knocked down.  The cost for such a replacement will be £200 for the new light plus approximately £150 for a new bracket.  It was noted that Dunmow Electrical has requested that EDF replace the fuse box and are trying to obtain a replacement bracket.  It is believed that these brackets may no longer be available so one may have to be made.  It was unanimously agreed that the street light should be replaced as soon as possible and that a claim should be made to the driver concerned once details are available.

Clerk

10.0

ST. ANDREWS CHURCH – INDUCTION LOOP

It was noted that the induction loop system has now been installed at the parish church and as agreed previously, the Parish Council decided to contribute the full £250 promised towards these costs despite the costs of the installation being slightly lower than anticipated.

Clerk

11.0

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

UTT/1869/04/FUL and LB – Change of use and conversion of agricultural barn to residential dwelling.  Martels Farm Barn, Barnston.  Mr & Mrs J Wormald.  This application was considered and there were no objections raised.

UTT/1911/04/FUL – Change of use and conversion of existing garage and store to form granny annex.  Buttles, Chelmsford Road, Barnston.  Mr & Mrs Hayes.  This application was considered and it was agreed that there should be a clause in the planning permission that the dwelling should only be used as a granny annex and should never be sold as a separate residence.

Clerk

UTT/1996/04/FUL – Erection of detached dwelling with detached garage.  Construction of new access.  Sakers, The Chase, Barnston.  Mr & Mrs D Hammond.  Mr E Hicks declared an interest in this planning application and withdrew for this item.  This application was considered by members and it was recommended that this application should be refused as the dwelling is too large and would be over-development of the site.  It was also believed that the proposed dwelling is too close to ‘Pantiles’ and that it protrudes in front of the building line in both parts of The Chase.  The Clerk was requested to forward these comments to Planning department.

Clerk

UTT/1912/04/LB - Retrospective planning application for retention of stainless steel flue to kitchen roof.  Lanham Barn, Onslow Green, Barnston.  Mr C D Lye.  This application was considered and there were no objections raised.

UTT/1984/04/FUL – Erection of a 3 bay open-fronted garage.  Hoppits, New House Farm, Onslow Green, Barnston.  Mr Whale.  This application was considered and there were no objections raised.

It was noted that letters have been received by the Parish Council from CPRE and several residents expressing their objections to the proposed erection of 5 dwellings at Broadgroves Farm, Barnston.

12.0

CORRESPONDENCE

12.1

UALC – Membership

It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would not take up membership with UALC.

12.2

NALC – Terms & Conditions of Employment – Parish Clerk

It was noted that various guidelines have been received.  It was agreed that the Chairman would take a look at these and would add it to the Agenda for the January meeting.

Clerk/

Chairman

13.0

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

13.1

Mrs S Sellens agreed to take over the responsibility of local government issues following Mr C Watkins resignation.

SS

13.2

It was noted that a street light at the entrance to Mill Field and another one just along from Mill Field are not working.  A third street light outside 39 Barnston Green is also not working.  The Clerk agreed to report these.

Clerk

14.0

CHEQUES

The following cheque was agreed and signed:

Mr R Burlend (reimbursement of ink cartridges – agreed at October meeting)

     £40.98

Wicksteed Leisure (play area inspections)

     £94.00

Ken Rush Associated (engineering tests – Village Hall car park)

£1,215.95

Barnston Village Hall Management Committee (hall hire)

   £115.00

Mr G Bruneau (Handyman’s wages & expenses)

   £125.06

Mrs C Weston Clerk’s  wages & expenses)

   £200.19

St. Andrew’s Church (donation towards Induction Loop System)

   £250.00

Direct Debits

UDC (garage rent)

    £38.89

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.15pm.  The next Parish Council meeting will take place on Monday 10^th January 2005.