STOCK PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2002
AT STOCK VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30PM.
Present: Cllrs. Mr & Mrs Elliott, Peacock, Tully, Webb & Williams
In The Chair: Cllr. Johnson
Minute Secretary: Lorraine Green
Also Present: Chelmsford Borough Councillor Gary Stringer and 6 Members of the Public
435. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Councillors Tant and Lusty sent their apologies.
436. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.
Cllr. Williams asked that in Minute 427, item g, the letter ‘s’ was removed from the word Fothergills.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, having been previously circulated, were then duly signed as a true record of events. All agreed.
437. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.
Minute 375, 378 & 388, 398, 411 & 424. Any Other Business
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from the Planning Enforcement Officer in reply to Cllr. Lusty’s letter concerning the advertisement boards being displayed in the Cock Car Park.
Minute 408, 411 & 424. Any Other Business
The Clerk advised that a new bill had been received from Mr Tant for the work carried out outside the Almshouses. She also read out a letter that Mr Tant had sent regarding the works on the bus shelter. It was decided that the contract for the work on the bus shelter would be tendered. It was agreed that Cllr. M. Elliott and Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer would put a specification together in order that the Clerk could send it out to the contractors. It was agreed that Mr Nichols, Mr Osborne and Mr Andrews would be asked to tender.
The Clerk advised that she would contact Sue Potter at 24/7 with regard to the black cable that had still not been removed from the green outside The Almshouses.
Minute 421 & 424 Any Other Business
The tenders had been received from ELS and M.I. Henderson for the grass cutting contract and were opened at the Meeting. The Chairman gave the tenders to Cllr. M. Elliott to decide which was the cheapest quote.
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Chelmsford Borough Council advising that the road sign on Ingatestone Road, just before the corner by Buttsbury Church, had now been repaired.
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Chelmsford Borough Council advising that the road sign in Downham Road, on the left hand side just before the footpath, between Mill Lane and Lower Stock Road, which had been smashed was being inspected and any remedial work would be carried out.
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Chelmsford Borough Council advising that the potholes in the middle of The Square were being inspected and repairs would be carried out as necessary.
Minute 426. Village Hall Report
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Mr Sheffield, Principal Planning Officer, at Chelmsford Borough Council confirming that a 100% increase in the cycle provision in cycle parking would satisfactorily discharge the condition of planning permission 01/01125 for the car parking extension.
Minute 427. General Correspondence.
The Chairman advised that she had completed and returned the questionnaire from Chelmsford Community Recycling.
The Clerk advised that she had written to The Mayor’s Office nominating Jo Fothergill to attend the Community Evening.
Minute 434. Any Other Business
The Chairman and the Clerk both reported that they had spoken to Mr Bacon in the Cleansing Department at Chelmsford Borough Council with regard to the state of Well Lane and Smallgains Lane following the diversion of traffic due to the tree coming down in the High Street.
The Chairman reported that the paint pots had been cleared in Well Lane/Smallgains Lane.
The Clerk reported that she had spoken to Chelmsford Borough Council and the Police with regard to the parked vehicles outside Greenwoods and in Common Road. The Clerk was advised that a patrol car would be sent to investigate the problem. The Chairman advised that she had spoken to a Police Officer when he was recently in the village.
The Clerk advised that she had reported the mud on the road on Crondon Park Lane and the B1007 to Mr Bacon at Chelmsford Borough Council.
The Clerk read out a letter received from Cllr. Lusty with regard to claiming costs from Heat & Eat (Southend) Ltd. Our application for costs had been unsuccessful.
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Chelmsford Borough Council advising that the sign defects in Whites Hill and Leather Bottle Hill had been rectified.
The Clerk read out a letter that she had received from Chelmsford Borough Council advising that her letter regarding the signpost that had rotted at Footpath 27 from Swan Lane to Dakyns Drive had been passed to their depot to be given a priority.
438. BEST VALUE GROUP REPORT.
Traffic Management - Cllr. Peacock reported that with the help received from Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer, Chelmsford Borough Council had agreed to resurface, put up better signage and repaint the roadmarkings at the Honeypot Lane/Ingatestone Road junction.
Playground – Cllr. Peacock reported that Chelmsford Borough Council Recreation Department had advised him that they would be able to help with the matter. He explained that the person he needed to speak to was on holiday but they would be in touch in the next couple of weeks.
Village Hall Car Park – Lighting – It was agreed that Cllr. M. Elliott would contact Mr Sheffield to see what is needed regarding the lighting for the car park. Cllr. Peacock suggested that the Village Hall Committee submit plans.
Litter Bins – The Clerk read out a letter that had been received from the School thanking the Parish Council for the Froggo Bin. It was reported that the new litter bin had been sited on the Common but the old tulip bin had not been removed.
439. VILLAGE HALL REPORT.
Cllr. Williams reported that there had not been a meeting. Cllr. M. Elliott advised that there were now 433 people in the lottery which was 100 more since this time last year.
The Clerk read out a report with recommendations that Cllr. M. Elliott had prepared with regard to the three tenders recevied for the Village Hall Car Park. It was agreed that Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer , Cllr. Peacock and Cllr. M. Elliott would meet the two cheapest contractors and report back at the next meeting.
Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer raised the point that only the financial side of the project had been looked at but not the legal side. In particular, who would in actual fact own the land?, how long the responsibility for the car park would be held for?, and what would happen in terms of maintenance?. It was decided that legal advice needed to be taken up and the Clerk would contact the EALC. Clerk to ask whether the Parish Council could carry out the work and then hand over the reponsibility to the Village Hall Committee.
440. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
441. PLANNING MATTERS
Application No. 02/00152/FUL. Demolish existing detached garage and construct two storey side extension and single storey rear addition.
Location: 7 Cambridge Close, Stock. Applicant: Mr & Mrs C. Pratt.
Comments by 19th February 2002, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.
Application No. 02/00187/FUL. Single storey side extension.
Location: 1 Church Hill Cottages, Buttsbury, Stock.
Applicant: Mr J. Rosser.
Comments by 20th February 2002, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.
Application No. 02/00201/OUT. Renewal of approval 98/01004/OUT. Demolish existing dwelling and erect two detached dwellings and garages.
Location: Whitewalls, 144 Mill Road, Stock.
Applicant: Mr J. Higgins.
Comments by 22nd February 2002, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who objected to two large houses on this site as it was not in keeping with the surrounding area.
Application No. 01/02103/FUL. Replacement house.
Location: Cornerfield, Mill Road, Stock.
Applicant: Mr & Mrs C. Nation. Approved.
Application No. 01/01799/FUL. Change of use of domestic first floor studio over existing garage to a beauticians salon.
Location: The Lattices, 9 High Street, Stock.
Applicant: Mr J. Gadsden. Approved.
Application No. 01/01800/CAC. Change of use of domestic first floor studio over existing garage to a beauticians salon.
Location: The Lattices, 9 High Street, Stock.
Applicant: Mr J. Gadsden. Conservation Area Consent Approved.
442. FINANCE.
The following cheques were approved for payment and signed:
100763 £281.42 Mrs L.J. Green – salary and expenses
100764 £20.00 ACDPC – subscription for 2001/02
100765 £9.00 Stock Village Hall – hire of small hall on 25.1.02
100766 £285.00 M. Tant – maintenance to gravel road outside Almshouses
100767 £10.99 Local Council Review – renewal of annual subscription
100768 £55.46 British Telecommunications Plc – office telephone bill
100769 £141.00 M.P. Andrews – Siting of Litter Bins
100770 £75.00 Our Lady & St. Joseph R.C. Church P.C. – Annual Churchyard Grant
100771 £200.00 Essex Air Ambulance – Annual Donation
100772 £200.00 All Saints’ Church – Annual Churchyard Grant
Audit – The Clerk read out a letter that had been received from PKF advising that until the complaint that had been received from a parishioner had been resolved they could not close the accounts. The Chairman had also received a letter from PKF asking for various documents which she had sent to them. They also advised in their lettter that the Parish Council would be receiving a rather large bill due to the work involved in dealing with the parishioner’s complaint. The Chairman explained that rate payers money would have to be used to pay the costs. The Chairman reported that advice had been taken from all areas and we could only now await the outcome.
Budget – The Chairman reported that the Clerk, Cllr. Peacock and herself had had a meeting to look carefully through the Budget that was prepared in November 2001. Cllr. Peacock explained that he thought the Parish Council should implement a tracking system so that everyone could see what was being spent each month and to ensure that the Parish Council were keeping within their Budget. It was agreed that the Clerk and Cllr. Peacock would have a meeting to organise a computerised system. The Parish Council considered the detail of the agreed Budget of £30,000 made at 26th November Meeting, Minute 404. The Councillors agreed the detail on the previously agreed total.
Donations – The Chairman explained that the annual donations that were normally paid in November had not in actual fact been paid in 2001. Letters had now been received from All Saints’ Church and Our Lady & St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Parish Council requesting their annual grants from Stock Parish Council. It was agreed that a churchyard grant of £200.00 would be made to All Saints Church and £75.00 to Our Lady & St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Parish Council. It was also agreed that the annual donation to Essex Air Ambulance should be increased to £200.00 and a cheque would be sent to them accordingly.
443. GOLDEN JUBLIEE
Cllr. Williams reported that there would be a street party on the Sunday after the church service and the Royal procession would take place on the Monday.
In Stock Press there was an advertisement for a Queen with the name of Elizabeth or a deriviative of the name Elizabeth.
As the Parish Council were not actually organising the event, it was decided that the item would be removed from the Agenda.
ESSEX RURAL HOUSING TRUST
The Chairman advised that she was still awaiting the printed forms and was hoping to receive them at the beginning of March. Once received distribution would have to be organised.
445. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING.
The next meeting is on the 25th March 2002.
446. ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer explained that he had spoken to the Clerk with regard to the declared interest forms that needed to be completed for the new Model Code of Conduct. He advised that an information pack was being put together at Chelmsford Borough Council and would be sent out to Parish Councils in due course.
Chelmsford Borough Cllr. Gary Stringer thanked everyone for their support with regard to Long Gable. He advised that a meeting had been held at Chelmsford Borough Council and that a site meeting was to be arranged in the next week or two which is normally held at 8.30am on a Monday morning. The Chairman thanked Cllr. Gary Stringer for his help in this matter. The Chairman advised that a working party had tittervated the area but posts were needed to follow the line of the grass. She explained that seven posts were needed on the pond side and 5 posts were needed on the other side. It was agreed that Cllr. M. Elliott would organise this.
Cllr. W. Elliott reported that the loose drain cover outside 46 High Street had still not been repaired. Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council again.
Cllr. Webb advised that he had received a telephone call from Mr Chris Shaw of Brookmans Road on behalf of Mrs Anne Fuller. He explained that a neighbour opposite is making it difficult for her to get out of her drive as they are parking a caravan on the road opposite. He explained that Chelmsford Borough Council had passed Mr Shaw back to the Parish Council. The Chairman advised that Mr Shaw should get in touch with the Estate Management.
Cllr. Williams reported that the Birch Lane sign had disappeared. Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council
The Chairman advised that the Agenda would be taking a new format as from the next meeting. One new heading that would be added would be maintenance.
The Clerk advised that she had been approached from Roger Watling with regard to setting up a Parish Council web site. It was decided not to proceed with this idea. Clerk to advise Roger Watling.
The British Telecommunications bill that had been received was discussed and it was decided that the service charges and VAT were too high for the amount of calls being made. It was therefore agreed that Cllr. Peacock would look into organising a mobile telephone and once this was in place the Clerk would ask British Telecommmunications to disconnect the office telephone.
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