Great Bardfield Parish Council  

'ESSEX VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2009'

Present: Cllrs Dyson (Chair), Ruffle (Vice Chair) Hayward, Hockley, Slemmings, Walsh

Mrs Jane Deller was present to discuss her application in respect of Bridge Farm and explained to the Council the reasons for proposed amendments.

Cllr Walsh noted his interest in respect of Item 11 in connection with his role as a District Councillor.

Apologies were received from Cllr Holmes who was attending 6^th form college evenings in respect of her daughter.

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

Amenity Land: The second stage of the work approved at the October meeting had taken place and the boundary fence installed. The Clerk confirmed that she has now applied for payment of the grant of £1750 awarded by EET and had been successful in her application to the O2 "Its Your Community" fund and awarded £750 towards the Quiet Space Project as the amenity land would be known. Members agreed that the condition of the site would be monitored, and as soon as appropriate, work would continue in order to achieve the ideas outlined in the original plan, including the wet area. Regarding site access, Cllr Hayward, who had now viewed all the paperwork connected with the land transfer, suggested that the PC should consult their solicitor (Holmes & Hills) regarding a suitable letter to residents, explaining the requirement to keep the area clear.

Causeway Green: ECC have been asked to given further consideration to the maintenance of the post and rails around this area.

Pipers Meadow: (i) John Parker has inspected the roof of the cart lodge, and it appears that the tiles could be difficult to match; he has been asked to go ahead as appropriate to make it weather tight. (ii) Mr Ray Tabor (EWT) had been contacted regarding the grass cutting. In his response he stated that the grass had been cut in October prior to the school’s planting session (800 plants) but it was very wet and did not cut particularly well. They plan to cut three times next year – again to mesh with the school’s planting. He liked the idea of the path to allow visitors to get close to the Oxlips, which would be cut more regularly, than three times a year. At the moment they were concentrating on getting the plants in, which will take until autumn 2009, following which a meeting would be arranged with the PC, when management of the site will revert to this Council.

River Pant: John Claydon, responding to the PC’s enquiry, stated that the mechanical clearance work had been carried out but the hand work had been delayed but was imminent.

Footpaths: (i) Overgrown footpath 25 across Mr Bray’s land had been inspected and PRoW officer reported that as animals were apparently due to be moved in shortly be did not issue a work ticket, but would return in a couple of weeks to inspect the area again. (ii) Footbridge over stream at Copford Hall – the short term some concrete bag work will be carried out to prevent the scouring damage and secure the supports. In the long term they have marked it down to be replaced with a longer bridge so that the supports will no longer be in the river.

Town Hall: The Clerk had contacted the Chairman Mr Bray, to remind him of the problem with the broken, falling tiles, from the Cottage Room roof and the wasps nest.

(a) Revised Pay Scales – Increase in Clerk’s Salary. An agreement has been reached on the revised pay scale to be applied from 1 April 2008, and as a result the Clerk’s salary would increase from £9.827 to £10.068 per hour. This was approved by the Council, proposed Cllr Ruffle, seconded Cllr Hayward.

The Clerk presented budget proposals illustrating the 2008/09 figures and predicted 2009/10 figures. Although there was a need to increase the Precept in some area, it was agreed that it was important achieve zero movement this year, in order not to increase the burden on Council Tax payer. Unfortunately BDC had not yet agreed the Parish Support Grant figure and the Clerk had been advised to work on the basis of receiving at the least the PSG paid in the current financial year (£4305). As a result of the discussions the Clerk would present the final proposals at the December meeting (when the PSG figure would be known) for approval and submission to BDC.

01958/FUL Bridge Farm, Bridge End. This was the resubmission of a previous withdrawn application with some amendments. Mrs Deller (under Public Forum) had explained the difficulties with the existing access and the reasons for other changes, e.g. the LBO had been concerned that the design was too much of a statement so the new part of the build is more subservient. Cllr Slemmings highlighted the amendments and following discussion it was agreed that, if Highways and the Historic Buildings Advisor give full approval, Members saw no reason for objection.

Pavilion Project: Cllr Slemmings brought Councillors up to date, advising them of the result of the fund raisers meeting and the use of the spread sheet to track funding opportunities. The 2009 calendar had been launched and had been placed in outlets around the village -CIP, Blue Egg, Danny’s, Co-op, Bell – the Clerk would monitor sales. Following the distribution of information to every household, donations had been received, and the Clerk would register these and send appropriate thank you notes. The QS had provided the requested breakdown in costings to enable specific funding opportunities where appropriate – an approximate total presently exceeded £900,000. Notification of an application to the ECC Community Initiative Fund, made much earlier in the year, had just been received and the sum of £5000 awarded towards the cost of professional fees.

Playingfields: There was general disappointment that the playingfield had been left in such a poor state following the firework event on 1 November as a result of heavy rain. It would take several months to recover and the PTA would be contacted to ask that a contingency plan be in place if they wished to hold the event again. MDLandscapes would be made aware of the situation. Also, although access to the pavilion has been permitted for the supply of power, general use was not and the Clerk would also make reference to this. It was pointed out that the Muddogs do allow parking on the field and the Clerk was asked to write to ask that this be restricted to essential use.

Pavilion: It was agreed that the proposed graffiti artwork on the existing pavilion could go ahead and the PC would support this to a value of £400 – it was noted that the figure in the 08/09 precept was underspent. Proposed Cllr Ruffle, seconded Cllr Walsh. Changes to the external door were requested, there were no objections however it was pointed out that is mainly for access for meter reading purposes, and should not in fact contain other items.

Police: There was reference to the Three Fields meeting held on the previous evening, when once again there was no police presence although Robert Chambers, Chair of the Essex Police Authority was in attendance.

Highways: Pram Crossing Outside Church ECC had written asking for confirmation that there was no objection to the proposed pram crossing for ease of access; apparently is should have been included when the slope was installed. There were no objections to this or a matching crossing on the opposite side of the road if required.

Footpath – Post Office There had been a positive response to the Council’s enquiry about the possibility of creating a footpath to access the PO located at the Blue Egg; this would both encourage walking and provide a safe route. The PRoW officer would be visiting the area on 21 November and discussing the proposal with Nicholas Reed, land owner, as one possible scheme could involve his permissive footpath.

This Minute was to note that the Clerk was presently preparing the submission for this and to record the fact that the Council approve a training policy and make financial provision for this.

A very comprehensive report had just been received, based on the results of the survey, and would be circulated for discussion at the December meeting.

This was being circulated and members agreed to form a sub group to meet to discuss and prepare the PC’s response. This was an important document and essential that the Council’s views were recorded.

(a) Regal Bus Service: Complaints are still being received regarding the new contractor who services the Village Link 16 bus. The Clerk has passed this on to ECC, but was asked to write again; Cllr Walsh advised that he had also received complaints.

(b) Quaker Meeting House: In response to a letter from Mr Collins the Council saw no objection to installing the notice board removed in the 1980s, as long as appropriate permissions were given. Regarding the Oxlip the Clerk was to put them in touch with Doug Joyce who would be able to advise on providing extra plants for their grassed burial area.

(i) The Making and Enforcement of Byelaws document had been circulated and the Clerk would respond.

(ii) Vine Meadow – possible allotments.

(iii) School Council – to invite to January meeting.

This would be held on 17 December 2008

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.40pm.

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