Great Bardfield Parish Council  

'ESSEX VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2009'

Present: Cllrs Dyson (Chairman), Ruffle (Vice Chairman), Slemmings, Hayward, Hockley, Holmes

There were no members of the public present.

Declarations were received from Cllr Dyson – personal interest in the planning application received from Great Bardfield School and Cllr Ruffle – pecuniary interest in respect of item 6 on the Financial Statement.

Apologies were received from Cllr Walsh who was attending an ECC Cabinet (Fire) meeting.

These were approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. Proposed Cllr Hayward, seconded Cllr Hockley.

Pipers Meadow: The quotation has still not been received from Mr Stock of Brambles and the Clerk would contact him again.

Fountain: Still no response from Mr Hitchcock.

Cluster Meeting: This was confirmed as 7.30 p.m. on 25 June at the Friends Meeting House. A representative from Farleigh Hospice has been invited to give a short presentation regarding the new HOP scheme.

Speed Indicator Device: A site visit was to be made on 17 April to which representatives of all Councils had been invited together with an officer from ECC and Traffic Technology, the manufacturer.

Amenity Land: The Clerk advised that the grant application to EET had been short listed and it was a matter of providing three quotations for the proposed work. Alan Kemp had visited the site with Cllr Slemmings, and although it was a difficult job to estimate, Alan had suggested £200 per day for two men, plus the cost of digger hire, any waste removal costs and eventually seeding, planting and fencing.

Replacement Windows Caretaker’s Cottage: Cllr Ruffle advised that, at the Town Hall Committee meeting, she had pointed out to members that UPVC windows were inappropriate and that wooden frames should be used, there was no opposition and prices were to be obtained.

The Chairman welcomed Chris Moore and Moira Groborz and explained the Council’s reason for inviting them, which related directly to the considerable amount of interest in affordable housing, stimulated by her recent comments in the Bardfield Times. Ms Moore explained her role working with the various councils in establishing the schemes and managing thereafter. Properties were sold at 50-60% of the prevailing market value plus a charge of £250 per annum to comply with legislation to protect the leasehold of the properties. She addressed a number of questions raised by members, and then introduced her colleague from RCCE to explain the next stage, which would be a questionnaire to establish the need, or not, for affordable housing. The parish council would be responsible for distributing it throughout the parish, together with a covering letter, and cover the cost of its production – approximately 14p per unit. Once the responses were received they would be analysed by Mrs Groborz and a detailed report on all the findings produced. The Chairman said she would make an initial report in the next edition of the BT to publicise the forthcoming survey and to ask people to complete and return the survey whether or not they had a need. The Chairman thanked Chris Moore and Moira Groborz for attending and for a very informative presentation.

(b) Verge Cutting: CW Low & Son have tendered for grass verge trimming at £31 per mile plus VAT this is a £2 increase on last season, due to increased fuel costs. It was agreed to accept this quotation. Proposed Cllr Ruffle, seconded Cllr Hayward.

(c) Three tenders had been received (i) BDC at £1833.14, (ii) MDLandscapes £1904 and (iii) Alan Kemp at £2660; all figures net of VAT and for 14 cuts per season. There had been some dissatisfaction with BDC’s quality and regularity of cut and it was agreed, therefore, to award the contract to MDLandscapes. Proposed Cllr Hayward, seconded Cllr Hockley.

00588/ADV Bardfield Centre – erection of signage to side entrance.

The new sign is within a few feet of the Conservation Area and as such has a detrimental visual effect on the area. The proposed sign follows exactly the format as those within the Centre i.e. contemporary vertical aerofoil shape, coloured yellow with dark grey text. The Great Bardfield Village Design Statement states: "Visually obtrusive signage is not necessary" and while this really refers to shop signs it applies equally in this case. There is no competition therefore it is a location sign rather than a promotional sign. The Parish Council realises tenants of the Centre need visitors to locate the site but the modern form and aggressive text is not necessary. Consequently, while the Parish Council appreciates the need for legible signage to locate The Bardfield Centre, the proposed format is not appropriate for the edge of the Conservation Area, particularly at a major entrance to the village and should be reconsidered. In the response to BDC reference will be made to planning policy RLP107.

00626/FUL & 627/LBC Blue Gate Hall Farm, single storey extension to side and alterations. No objections.

00560/FUL Beam Cottage, replacement of new bedroom window. The application is for the replacement of a metal window on the rear of the building with a painted timber window to match existing. Advice has been taken from Historic Buildings. No objections.

00703/FUL Pavilion Building. Matter of report that the application covering the re-positioning of the new building has been received.

CC/BTE/28/08 Great Bardfield Primary School, installation of single storey relocatable classroom unit. It was agreed to support this application, and acknowledge the need of this essential larger facility, for the work of this successful village school.

Cllr Slemmings reported on his successful meeting with Nick Perchard, County Development Manager for the Essex Football Association, when he was accompanied by Dan Mercer, Great Bardfield youth football club leader. The outcome was very promising for substantial funding opportunities and community input was essential; fund raising possibilities within the village would be explored.

The Police Architectural Liaison Service had contacted him suggesting a site meeting to discuss property security etc., which has been arranged for Monday 21 April at 11.00 a.m.

Parking/congestion: Letters had been received from two residents reflecting the problems experienced in various areas of the village. Major problems were experienced in Bridge Street and the junctions of Crown Street with Brook Street and Vine Street. It was suggested that this item be put on the Cluster Meeting Agenda.

The damage caused to Town House, when it was once again hit by a lorry which had difficulty in negotiating this junction, was discussed. ECC had visited the site and taken photographs and the Clerk had spoken to highways’ officers but unfortunately there seemed to be little they could do under current legislation. She had passed contact details to the house owners who were hoping to pursue the matter to achieve some remedy to their problem; members agreed to support them as appropriate.

All items have either been circulated or included in the Agenda.

Pot Holes: Very little repair work appears to have been undertaken despite continued reporting.

Flooding: The drains in Beslyns Lane were unable to cope with heavy rainfall; jetting had been requested and this would be chased.

Co-op: The poor stock situation was discussed and the Chair said she would draft an appropriate letter to Head Office highlighting this and other matters.

The Parish Assembly was the next meeting to be held on 2 May 2008 at 8.00pm with refreshments served from 7.30pm

The AGM would take place on 21 May 2008 at 8.00 pm

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.25 pm

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