Little Clacton Online - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE ON MONDAY, TENTH DAY OF MARCH 2008 AT 7.30 PM

Cllrs Mrs S Cupman, J Cutting, De Vaux Balbirnie, Mrs S Dass, J Dunnett, Miss L Gray, B Leatherdale, P Watson and Mrs A Wood

There were 9 residents, County Councillor M Cossens and PCSO Leslie Barnes present

The residents were most unhappy about the complaints made against Clacton Animal Aid and the possible closure of the rescue centre and felt strongly that newcomers to the village should have decided to live elsewhere when they knew about the kennels. Cllr De Vaux Balbirnie updated the members of the public on the actions being taken to assist Animal Aid. The Chairman emphasised that the Parish Council had not been involved in the action against the kennels.

The matter of the Cooks Green Sub-Station was raised by a resident who asked what had happened to the promised tree screening. TDC would be contacted for a sight of the planning consent and conditions.

No further comments regarding the location of the VAS sign from ECC. Cllr Watson has hand delivered copy of our letter but there has been no response.

Neither has there been any response to our request for action on the footpath from the triangle at the top of Station Hill down to Ricebridge. A request has been made for ECC to attend to the hole in the footpath outside 160 Harwich Road .

It was proposed by Cllr De Vaux Balbirnie, seconded by Cllr Wood and agreed that we proceed with the survey on affordable housing.

There are travellers on the ECC site in Tan Lane and the County have been notified. Cllr Cossens said that 15 pitches are to be provided in Tendring District but the matter is ongoing regarding the allocation of sites.

Cllr Watson gave a resume of the work needed to this area saying that the door to the storage room needs to be secure and requires locks and a metal panel attached to the face to deter forcible entry. To enable a storage and filing system to be initiated, office fitments are required to provide a central document storage facility for both current and archive papers. Various electrical works are needed.

It was proposed by Cllr Watson, seconded by Cllr Cupman and agreed that the following amounts be spent: Ł386.00 on electrical work, Ł150 plus materials on securing the door and Ł600 on office fitments.

Cllr Cutting reported on progress. He has spoken with the Senior Traffic Management Officer who provided leaflets about the scheme which must be promoted through the Parish Council. Six unpaid volunteers are required to work a minimum of one hour per week. Various people have volunteered but he felt that we should enter into a partnership with Thorpe Parish Council.

PCSO Barnes informed us of various incidents in February which included the theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, criminal damage, nuisance youths, road traffic accidents in Holland Road , St Osyth Road , Harwich Road and Tan Lane .

Chairman closed the meeting at 7.53 pm to allow residents to comment and reconvened at 8.00 pm.

Cllr Watson reported that he had completed and returned the questionnaire from National Grid solicitors regarding the renewal of the lease for the gas enclosure and compound. Our solicitors now have all the original documents relating to the land registry of the Parish Fields site.

Following meetings with the ECC legal representatives agreement has been reached to recover the road repair costs. It is confirmed that ECC will pay for part of the entrance road repairs and the full cost of the last year’s drain repairs. The same solicitor has agreed to negotiate on our behalf with ECC regarding the entrance road gateways.

Street Lighting – The damaged lights outside 160 Harwich Road and 25 Holland Road have been repaired There has been a request for additional lighting in St Osyth Road East near the school.

Cllr Watson reported on the replies received to our tenders and said that one tender was so very much lower that all the others. It was agreed to defer awarding the contracts until this tenderer had been contacted.

There is a problem on the footpath behind Holland Road where two dogs are frightening walkers and the fence is being broached by their attacks.

It was agreed to write to the owners of the dogs at 21 Holland Road expressing our concern about aggression of the dogs towards the walkers on the public footpath.

The Clerk reported that following her letter regarding the refusal, an email had been received detailing TDC reasons for refusing the application.

The applicant has submitted this application to appeal. The Parish Council had no objections to this development and it was agreed to write in support.

It was agreed to write to the Enforcement Officer regarding the skips in Holland Road , the containers, Meadowview Park seeking answers

The AGM was held on 28 February and the committee and officers were elected for the coming year. The 2007 accounts show an operating surplus Ł3,229.18 for the year. The committee continue to explore additional fund raising activities for the complex and are in discussions with Clacton Classic Car Club with a view to holding a Classic Car Show during the summer. We are also pursuing the possibility of holding Stamp and Coin fairs and Arms and Militaria fairs in the Youth and Community Hall.

There were 18 pitch bookings in February and the first R & T Tours Tournaments will be held on 22 and 23 March.

The Chairman said there is a suggestion to extend the Youth and Community building and some funding is available from Parish Fields. Other grants will be sought.

Cllr Watson said that details of the proposed gates to close the entrance road out of hours have been sent to the both ECC and BT. Order to repair the east boundary fence has been placed and scheduled for completion this week.

Now that the new entrance gates to the playing field are being well used, it is obvious that the surface is becoming increasingly dangerous due to holes and very uneven ground. Before the car boot season starts and the surface deteriorates even more, it is prudent to pave the entrance area. The best value price received is Ł4000.

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr De Vaux Balbirnie and agreed that we proceed with the work to the entrance to Parish Fields.

Cllr Dunnett reported that the hall is well used. The work to the kitchen has been completed. The AGM will be held on Wednesday 19 March at 7.30 pm.

Cllr De Vaux Balbirnie reported on his various activities during the month including the opening of the Life Styles Health Centre. Darts man Bobby George is raising money for the Chairman’s charities

There is funding available from Councillors for work within their Parishes. So both Cllrs De Vaux Balbirnie and Cllr Skeels can be approached by the Parish Council.

Essex County Council	Road Safety Introduction of 1APP and Local Validation Checklists
Tendring District Council	Forward Plan 77 Strategic Housing Market Assessment - Chairman Stakeholders Meeting – 2nd April Overview and Scrutiny Works Programme – Chairman Tendring District Local Development Framework – Draft Open Space Planning – Chairman
NATS	Proposed Changes to Airspace - Ask them for Part E
Lt Clacton Methodist Church	Thanks for donation
Lt Clacton PCC	Thanks for grant for burial ground
Lt Clacton Village Hall	Thanks for grant for grass cutting
RCC	B est Kept Village Competition Rural Services Survey Oyster
Tendring Hundred Water	Corporate Responsibility Report
CPRE	Essex Protector
Mrs P Young	Clacton Animal Aid

It was agreed to write to TDC expressing the Parish Council’s support for the continuation of the centre and offering help to resolve the problems.

	Cheques Received Ł	Cheques Issued Ł
ECC grass cutting	1,415.88
May Gurney Ltd (lighting repairs)		128.97
Bendale Web Design (website)		44.00
E.ON (2 months)		556.52
Boldens Signage Solutions		108.69
Viking Direct (stationery)		141.89
Cllr P Watson		54.12

Cllr Watson – the lighting maintenance contract is due for renewal Should we go out to tender? .

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday, 7th APRIL 2008 at 7.00 pm which will be followed by the Annual Parish Meeting at 8.00 pm at the Youth and Community Centre.