Minutes of Barnston Parish Council Meeting held on

Monday 9^th February 2004 at Barnston Village Hall

Present:

Mr R Burlend (Chairman)

Mrs P Singleton

Mrs S Tuttlebury

Mr M le Masurier

Mr C Watkins

Mrs H Rothwell

Mr G Ball

Mr R Townsend (Item 1 & 2)

Mrs C Weston (Clerk)

Apologies:  Mrs S Sellens

Councillor E Hicks also attended the meeting.

Two members of the public attended the meeting for Item 1.

1.0

UN-ADOPTED ROAD - THE CHASE, BARNSTON

ACTION

1.1

Mr & Mrs Hayes of The Chase, Barnston asked the Parish Council whether it would be willing to contribute towards the repairs that are needed on the un-adopted road in The Chase.  It was noted that various works have been undertaken at different houses over the past few months resulting in both British Telecom and Transco digging trenches and then back-filling them afterwards.  It was believed that other factors to blame for the deterioration in the road are that parents use the road to turn around in before collecting their children from the school buses and the school bus driver also uses the close to back into before turning round in the afternoons.   It was noted that there is also a problem with drainage on the adopted part of the road where two gullies have been placed under the road and flooding occurs.  Mr Hayes informed the members that he has received a quotation for £11,000 to repair the un-adopted road but does not feel that all residents living in The Close will be able to or are willing to contribute towards the costs.  Mr & Mrs Hayes asked whether the Parish Council would be able to contribute between 25/30 per cent towards the costs. 

It is not clear who owns the road, whether it is all of the housesholders in The Chase or as thought previously the owners of Sakers.  Councillor E Hicks stated that when he and other residents in The Chase bought their properties they understood that the road was owned by Sakers, however, this is now in doubt.

It was agreed that in the first instance the residents should take the matter up with the school bus company and in the meantime The Clerk was asked to see if she could try to establish who is responsible for the un-adopted road and to contact the County Council to ask them to do the remedial work on the drains on the adopted part of the road.

Clerk

This matter would be raised again at the next Parish Council meeting in March.

2.0

ROAD SAFETY

Mr G Ball stated that an accident had occurred on the Barnston bends earlier in the day.  No other details were known.  It was also noted that the drain cover on the A130 had still not been repaired.  The Clerk to chase up.

Clerk

3.0

MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 12^th January 2004 were approved and signed.

4.0

MATTERS ARISING

4.1

Dog Control Issues

It was noted that the dog owner’s solicitor has requested copies of the statements and letters from the various residents and District Council Animal Warden.  Copies of these have now been forwarded to the solicitor.

4.2

Tree at The Caravan, High Easter Road, Barnston

The Clerk informed members that she has spoken to several people both at the County and District Council to try to establish whether the Parish Council is responsible for the costs for the work that is needed on these trees.  It is believed that the land was registered as common land in 1969 as there is no owner to the land.  Mr M Perry from the Legal Services department at the District Council has advised The Clerk that unless the Parish Council has records to show that it is the owner there is no need to take matters any further other than to inform the owner of the caravan that the Parish Council does not accept responsibility.  It was noted that the Parish Council can obtain a document from the County Council stating whether the land is registered as common land at a fee of £14.  It was unanimously agreed that this should be purchased in order to clarify the situation

Clerk

4.3

Re-classification of A130

The Chairman informed the meeting that both he and the Clerk had attended a meeting at County Hall with Councillor Bass and representatives from Great Waltham, Ford End and North End Parish Councils to discuss the future plans for the A130 once the new A120 is complete.  Although Councillor Bass would not consider down-grading the road now he stated that he would be happy to hold a second meeting six months after the new A120 has been open, by which time, he believes, the traffic will have been monitored and evidence will have been gathered to justify whether or not the road needs to be down-graded.  He also explained that Chelmsford and Stansted Airport need to be signposted at either end of the A130 at the moment as it is still the principal route.  All Parish Councils had an opportunity to express their particular concerns with the A130 running through their villages, Barnston’s being the narrow footpaths at either end of the village and narrow carriageway on the Barnston bends plus the daily volume of traffic.  A site meeting has now been arranged between Mr Brian Goodwin from County Highways and the Parish’s concerned on Thursday 18^th March.

4.4

Stop Stansted Expansion Meeting

It was noted that arrangements have been made for representatives from SSE to make a presentation and Q&A session to residents in Barnston in the Village Hall on Tuesday 18^th May 2004 at 8.00pm.  As agreed previously The Clerk will also invite a representative from BAA Stansted to come along on a separate occasion to state the case for airport expansion.

Clerk

5.0

FINANCIAL POSITION

5.1

The financial position as at 31.1.04 was as follows: £5,817.36 in the current account and £5,977.83 in the NSB.  Totalling: £11,795.19.  All members signed a new mandate form to be handed in at HSBC which would also allow Mrs S Sellens to act as a signatory.  The Clerk informed the meeting that she had two Direct Debit forms which needed to be signed by three Councillors, one for the garage rent and the other for Powergen, who have taken over from TXU Energi.  These forms were signed and returned to the Clerk.

6.0

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

TCI Ltd – Development by Telecommunications System Operators – re: Proposed Vodafone Radio Base Station at RBS 35678B, Great Broadfields, Barnston.  Members looked at the plans and raised concerns that this is the second company seeking to erect a base station on the same site.  The Clerk was asked to raise these concerns with both the District Council and the base station companies concerned.  It was suggested that the two companies should share the same base station.

Clerk

UTT/0053/04/FUL – Retrospective application for change of use of agricultural land to garden land and erection of shed and fencing – Mr R Ashton.  This application was considered and concerns were raised over whether future development would be permitted on this site.  The Clerk to raise these concerned with the District Council.

Clerk

UTT/1954/03/FUL – Erection of storage unit, Barnston Village Hall, Chelmsford Road, Barnston – Barnston Parish Council.  It was noted that the Parish Council’s application has been accepted and no objections were raised.

RESULTS:  UTT/1851/03/FUL – Erection of single storey extensions, Apton Fields, Onslow Green, Barnston.  Conditional Approval.

UTT/0467/03/FUL and UTT/0468/03/LB – Demolition of existing garage and store and erection of two bay cart shed and garden equipment store.  Barnston Old Rectory, Parsonage Lane, Barnston.  Conditional Approval.

7.0

CORRESPONDENCE

7.1

UDC – Village Civic Amenity Scheme 2004

It was noted that in addition to the household skip on 13^th March, further skips will also be at the Village Hall on the following dates:  Saturday 7^th August from 1300hrs to 1700hrs and Saturday 9^th October from 1200hrs to 1500hrs.

7.2

Auditors

As agreed at the previous meeting, the Clerk has obtained a list of Internal Auditors from EALC.  It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Heelis & Lodge to see whether they could undertake the Parish Council’s next Audit.

Clerk

8.0

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

8.1

Mr M le Masurier stated both he and Mr C Watkins had attended a meeting at the District Council Offices about the proposed expansion at Stansted Airport.  It was noted that all Councillors at the meeting opposed the plans.

8.2

It was noted that agreement had been made between meetings for the purchase of a new litter bin for the Berners End walkway through to Mill Field.  This bin was now in place.  It was agreed that a dog waste bin should also be purchased and put up beside the waste bin.

Clerk

9.0

CHEQUES

The following cheque was agreed and signed:

P. Tuckwell (mower servicing)

£303.10

Mrs C Weston

£204.48

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.45pm.  The next Parish Council meeting will take place on Monday 8^th March 2004.