STOCK PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2001

AT STOCK VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30PM.

Present: Cllrs. Mr & Mrs Elliott, Peacock, Tant, Tully, Webb, Lusty & Williams

In The Chair: Cllr. Johnson

Minute Secretary: Lorraine Green

Also Present: 7 Members of the Public

386. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Chelmsford Borough Councillor Gary Stringer sent his apologies and advised that he had nothing to report.

387. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, having been previously circulated, were then duly signed as a true record of events. All agreed.

388. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.

Minute 378 337. Play Equipment – Cllr. M. Elliott advised that he had met with the Wickstead Representative and that she had advised that to have three swings was in actual fact illegal and that new laws now only allowed two swings. Cllr. M. Elliott was awaiting a quotation from Wickstead for two new chains and two new seats.

345. Any Other Business.

Footpath Sign in Cambridge Close – Cllr. W. Elliott advised that she had met with Mr Clark and that they had decided to abandon the idea and to go by the wishes of the residents. The Chairman reported that the exercise was costing too much money.

Minute 375 & 378. Any Other Business

Cllr. Peacock advised that Chelmsford Borough Council had been to Myln Meadow and sprayed some orange paint on the pavement but that in fact the whole road needs to be looked at and not just the piece they have sprayed. Cllr. Peacock felt that the residents needed to get up a petition about the current state of the road. Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council advising them that they are not addressing the problem.

Cllr. Lusty reported that Chelmsford Borough Council had been to repair the pavement outside the school but had not in fact repaired the corner right by the kerbstone round the corner into the school entrance. Clerk to write to Highways Department notifying them of the situation.

The Chairman read out a letter that she had received from the Borough Planner at Chelmsford Borough Council with regard to the numerous blackboards being displayed in the Cock Car Park. They advised that the owner in fact should remove the blackboard signs and submit a planning application for two more suitable signs at the car park entrance but the owner had been warned that such an application might not be viewed favourably. Clerk to write another letter to the Borough Planner advising that the signs are still being displayed and asking whether they can exercise their powers to remove the signs themselves.

Minute 381 ( Item c ). General Correspondence - Cllr. Peacock reported that the people who were fly tipping in Swan Lane had been caught.

Minute 385 – Any Other Business.

The Chairman reported that Mr Clark from Chelmsford Borough Council had telephoned and advised that he was going to deal with the stinging nettles by the gate at the back of the school.

The Chairman reported that she had spoken to the Manager at Impey Farn who had advised that the footpath is in fact clear. Apparently there is a gate on the footpath which has to be kept closed in order to keep the dogs/cattle in but there is in fact a chain on the gate which can be lifted off so that walkers can get through.

389. BEST VALUE GROUP REPORT.

Traffic Management - Cllr. Peacock reported on the Traffic Meeting held on the 28th September 2001 with Chelmsford Borough Council and Essex County Council. He said that the Councils had various ideas, one of which was to install one way traffic lights. He explained that speed bumps and how the money for the A130 would be spent had been discussed. Cllr. Peacock advised that the Councils were aware of the traffic problem in the village and that it had been put as a number one on the priority list. He also advised that another meeting had been arranged for January to discuss the money to be spent in the next financial year. Cllr. Peacock explained that he was in dialogue with the Council and making slow progress. It was also reported that a Traffic Census had taken place in the village and that it would be done again when the new A130 opens. The next Best Value Group Meeting will take place on the 5th November 2001.

Playground – Cllr. Tant advised that he was attending a Governors’ Meeting at the School on the 30th October 2001 and he would discuss the current situation with the Headteacher and report back at the next meeting. He also agreed to discuss the positioning of the Frog Bin with the Headteacher.

The Chairman advised that Peter Bentley, who is the Parish Council’s Representative on the Board of Governors, would be attending the next meeting and that in future the Clerk should send him Agendas of the Parish Council’s Meetings. It was reported that the Parish Council should receive a report from Mr Bentley after every Governors’ Meeting but that the Parish Council were not receiving these regularly.

Churchyard Upkeep – The Chairman reported that she had spoken to the Church Warden and felt that it was inadvisable to do anything other than increase the money given to the Church for the upkeep of the graveyard as if the Parish Council employed somebody to carry out the work then insurance would have to be taken out. Cllr. Tant advised that if we hired a Contractor to carry out the work then insurance would not need to be taken out as the Contractor would be covered by their own insurance. There were mixed views on the subject and it was decided that Cllr. Peacock would take the matter up with the PCC and report back at the next meeting.

Village Hall Car Park – Lighting – Cllr. M. Elliott advised that as he was getting nowhere with Chelmsford Borough Council both himself and Chelmsford Borough Councillor Gary Stringer were going to take the matter to a full council in December.

Litter Bins – The Chairman advised that she felt the litter bins and doggy bins on the footpath between Swan Lane and Dakyn Drive should be replaced. It was agreed that Dakyn Drive would be the better end to position the bins although Cllrs. W. Elliott and Lusty felt that too large a quantity of litter was being dumped at this location to benefit a new litter bin. It was agreed that a doggy bin at this site would be appropriate but that we should find out from Chelmsford Borough Council how often the bin would be emptied before installing a new one. The Chairman reported that she had in fact spoken to the men emptying the bins and the Clerk also advised that she had written to the Council informing them that the bins were not being emptied regularly but to-date no reply had been received.

390. VILLAGE HALL REPORT.

Cllr. Peacock advised that he had resigned from the Committee so had nothing to report. Cllr. Williams reported that £49,000.00 was still owed on the loan. She also advised that more effort was needed to sell more lottery shares. Cllr. Elliott notified the Parish Council that he was in fact dealing with this matter. Cllr. Williams advised that a Coffee Morning was being held on the 3rd November 2001. The Chairman requested that a representative from the Parish Council should always attend the Village Hall Committee Meetings and asked Cllr. Williams to delegate someone else to attend if she could not be present herself.

391. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Application No. 01/01742/LBC. Change of use of renovated barn and store to print design and photographic studio.

Location: Bellmans, Stock Road, Stock.

Comments by 18th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01741/FUL. Change of use of renovated agricultural barn and store to print design and associated photography studio.

Location: Bellmans, Stock Road, Stock.

Comments by 18th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01797/FUL. Extension comprising of kitchen, utility and internal alterations.

Location: The Lattices, 9 High Street, Stock.

Comments by 29th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01798/CAC. Extension comprising kitchen, utility and internal alterations. Rendered walls to match existing wall and pantiled roof to match existing roof. Stained timber framed windows.

Location: The Lattices, 9 High Street, Stock.

Comments by 29th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

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.

Comments by 29th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who commented that additional traffic in this area would be totally inappropriate. The drive is shared with Marvels (5 High Street) and access is difficult.

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.

Comments by 29th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who commented that additional traffic in this area would be totally inappropriate. The drive is shared with Marvels (5 High Street) and access is difficult.

Application No. 01/01314/FUL. Re: Profiling of existing farm field. Additional plans and soils investigation, report received.

Location: Field at Crondon Park Lane, Stock.

Comments by 26th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01668/FUL. Proposed replacement dwelling.

Location: Whitegables, Downham Road, Stock.

Comments by 29th October, this had been passed to the Planning Sub-Committee who had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01853/FUL. First Floor side extension.

Location: The Nutshell, 23 The Square, Stock. The Parish Council requested confirmation that the parking falls within the CBLP otherwise no comments.

Application No. 01/01883/FUL. Conversion of existing flat roof to pitch roof over front entrance area and infilling wall below bay window.

Location: 5 Myln Meadow, Stock. The Parish Council had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01816/FUL. Ground Floor Rear Extension.

Location: 43 Birch Lane, Stock. The Parish Council had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01922/EB. Proposed additional support to low voltage main.

Location: Land to Front of 29 Mill Road, Stock. The Parish Council had no comments to make.

Application No. 01/01919/FUL. First floor extension and erection of two storey side extension.

Location: Springfield Farm, Potash Road, Billericay. The Parish Council objected due to over development in the green belt area.

Application No. 01/01793/FUL. A new doctors’ surgery & dispensary with car parking.

Location: Land between Orchard House & Hawthorns, Common Road, Stock. The majority of the Parish Council support this application but have concern for vehicular and pedestrian access onto Common Road. There is no footpath on either side of the road and there is a dangerous corner opposite the entrance and a great number of vehicular movement. A Section 106 agreement might be beneficial. The number of car parking spaces proposed are inadequate.

393. FINANCE.

The following cheques were approved for payment and signed:

100740 £ 9.00 Stock Village Hall – Hire of Hall

100741 £373.65 Emneth Land Services Ltd. – Grass Cutting September

100742 £293.57 Mrs L.J. Green – Salary and Expenses

100743 £14.35 Maurice Elliott – New Lock and Key Cutting for Noticeboard

100744 £12.84 Mrs P. Johnson – Stationary for Parish Office

100745 £170.37 Mr Colin Tant – Parish Council Letter Box

100746 £88.13 Drain Doctor Plumbing – To jet land drain on Stock Common

The Clerk advised that on the 24th September interest had been received on the High Interest Bank Account amounting to £246.78.

The Clerk advised that the second half precept figure of £15,000.00 had been paid into the Current Account on the 21st September 2001 and that on the 8th October 2001 she had transferred £12,000.00 to the High Interest Account.

The Clerk advised that a VAT reclaim had been received for the period 1.4.01 to 30.9.01 amounting to £486.57.

The Clerk advised that a letter had been received from Barclays Bank advising that they had been asked to reply to an audit enquiry. She advised that the cost to the Parish Council would be £29.38 which would be debited to the Current Account when the letter to PKF Auditors was sent.

Audit – The Chairman and the Clerk reported that the Auditor had notified them that everything seemed to be in order with the accounts. The Auditor had advised that he would shortly be arranging to have the accounts signed off.

Zurich Insurance – Employee’s Liability Insurance – The Clerk advised that she had received a letter confirming that everything was now in order and that no premium adjustment was necessary.

394. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING.

The next meeting is on the 26th November 2001.

395 ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

The Chairman advised that the Golden Jubilee would be put as an item to be discussed on the next Agenda. She reported that she had put a notice in the Stock Press and that we would wait and see what response was received. Cllr. Williams advised that Mr Vickers, Mr Elgar, Mrs Seaman and Mrs Berkley had all offered to help. It was decided that a committee needed to be formed. Cllr. Williams thought that all sites should be targeted, i.e. school and church notifying them of the event. It was discussed that a one day event may be better than the complete bank holiday as other events were also taking place the same weekend. It was decided that the Parish Council would put a leaflet into envelopes being distributed to all households in the village by the Village Hall asking if anybody was interested in helping with the Jubilee celebrations.

The Chairman advised that she had received a letter from The Rural Housing Trust regarding affordable housing in Stock and whether it was required in the village. It was agreed that it was a good idea and that a leaflet should be distributed to all households after Christmas together with a pre-paid envelope in order that the forms could be returned. The Chairman agreed to organise this with the Rural Housing Trust and it was decided that she would ask for 800 leaflets. Clerk to add item to future Agendas.

Cllr. Tant advised that the common requires a further cut. It was also discussed that ELS’ contract should be checked as to what they should be doing. It was agreed that in January the Parish Council would put out a tender for grass cutting.

Cllr. M. Elliott asked the Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council asking them to justify the cost of the amount of money being spent on the road outside the Kings Head Public House.

Cllr. M. Elliott reported that the drain by the Bear Pub was in a terrible state where the sewer had been cut out and then tarmaced. Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council.

Cllr. M. Elliott reported that in Downham Road, from the Vineyards to Havard House, water was running across the road and that if we had an icy morning it would be very dangerous. Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council.

Cllr. Tant asked the Clerk to write to the Electricity Board asking them to come and remove the cuttings that had been left behind after they had lopped the trees at the top of Birch Lane.

It was agreed that the village would have a Christmas tree again this year and Cllr. M. Elliott would arrange this. The Chairman agreed to look for some external lights for the tree.

Cllr. Lusty reported that the court date for the Buttsbury Signpost was set for 27th November 2001.

Cllr. Lusty asked the Clerk to write to Chelmsford Borough Council regarding the drain cover outside 9 Swan Lane which is standing up by ¾ inch and is a trip hazard.

The Chairman thanked everyone for coming; the meeting closed at 10.05pm.