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Council
Membership |
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During the past
year we have seen a number of changes with the resignations of Sarah Lewis and
Dennis Lusty as councillors and recently Nick Peacock as both chairman and
councillor. As no elections for these vacancies were requested, these posts
were filled by advertising for applicants. Accordingly Roger Watling and Keith
Blackburn were appointed councillors, and we are in the process of appointing
another councillor. I am most grateful that Sally Johnson has agreed to
continue as Vice Chair. Next year a full council election will be held. |
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Our County
Councillor, Lord Hanningfield, unfortunately was unable to attend any meetings
last year, but has indicated he will attend the meeting in August this year.
Ian Grundy, our Borough Councillor, attends all our meetings and provides
updates each month of any news or developments which concern our village. We
are all very grateful for his active and practical support. |
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Planning |
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The Council
continues to spend a considerable amount of time reviewing and commenting on
planning applications, with the vast majority of these being put to full
council. We continue in our aim of maintaining the village character and
appearance, and keeping the village within the village envelope, conscious that
92% of parishioners do not want to see any development of the Green Belt.
However our views are only one aspect taken into consideration by Chelmsford
Borough Council Planning Department, which continues to make some decisions
that surprise us. |
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Policing |
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For some months
Stock has been without a dedicated policeman. This is a matter of some concern
that has been raised with both Lord Hanningfield and the Chief Constable of
Essex Police. We are awaiting their response. |
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Local
Amenities |
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New play
equipment has been installed on the Common, which is proving very popular with
our young parishioners. We are purchasing 2 benches to be put near the play
area for the comfort of the adults accompanying the children. Two other benches
on the Common will be renovated shortly. |
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Keith Blackburn
continues to be very active as our Tree Warden and recently organised, in
conjunction with our primary school, the planting of 14 trees around the
village: 9 in Brookman Road, 3 in Swan Lane, 1 by the War Memorial and 1 on the
Common. A grant from Chelmsford Borough Council was obtained to defray the
costs. |
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The Council
contributed 50% of the costs of resurfacing the Village Hall car park. It also
arranged for the improved drainage and resurfacing of the road outside the
Almshouses, the clearing of the ditch around the Common and the resurfacing of
All Saints church car park. The village pump has been restored and the village
pond cleared. Additional litterbins and dog litterbins have been provided
around the village. |
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Village
Action Plan |
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In order to
find out the interests and concerns of parishioners, and to ensure that we are
working to address these, a series of 3 meetings were held. The results of
these meetings are still being evaluated and will be used to identify projects
to be undertaken in the coming year. Also as a result of these meetings a
committee has been set up to draft a Village Design Statement. This project
will be run independently of the Parish Council, but Cllrs Blackburn and
Johnson will act as our representatives on this committee. Please contact them
directly for further information on this exciting development. |
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Best Kept
Village Competition |
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Cllr Williams
has kindly agreed to coordinate our application. The results were disappointing
last year so we will be making even greater effort this year, but we cannot do
this alone. Accordingly could we please ask you all to do your part by
tidying-up around your property, particularly those that are undergoing
building work. Our annual 'bin-it' day is scheduled for 22nd April, starting at
10 a.m. on the Common and we would be delighted to see more volunteers this
year. But a pleasant environment is not achieved by a once a year event: we
look to everyone to do their bit on an everyday basis by picking up litter,
discouraging parking on the verges and reporting any council property that
requires attention. |
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Traffic |
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There has been
a frustrating lack of progress in resolving the traffic problems experienced by
this village. This has been primarily due to certain responsibilities for the
highways being moved from the Borough Council to the County Council, with
resultant changes in personnel responsible and breakdown in communication. We
will be making every effort to re-establish a dialogue and press for changes in
the coming year. |
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Website |
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Cllr Watling
continues to do a sterling job compiling the data for our excellent website,
www.stock.org.uk, where you can find all our notices, agendas and minutes,
along with contributions from villagers. He is currently also working on
enabling us to view all the building plans electronically on a screen in the
Village Hall, rather than by passing round large and unwieldy pieces of paper.
A grant from ECC went towards the necessary purchase of a laptop computer,
router, screen and projector. |
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Thank
you |
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We
work hard to maintain a pleasant village environment and to represent the views
of the village in our interaction with the Borough and County Councils.
Accordingly I should like to thank all the councillors for their support and
our Clerk, Lorraine Green for her invaluable assistance. |
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We would
appreciate more active participation from everyone in the village, particularly
at our meetings, which are generally held on the first Monday of each month at
7.30 p.m. at the Village Hall. |
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Sally Easton
Chair, Stock Parish Council 28 March 2006 |