17/33

Receive/accept apologies and welcome to the Public

17/34

Questions from registered electors

17/35

Declarations of Interest

17/36

Minutes

17/37

Report from Colchester Borough Councillors

• New waste strategy begins in June – it may be a case of seeing how it goes and adjusting later on a case by case basis.
• Bus lane in Lexden Road – is to be cut to a much smaller scale. Parking will be restricted outside the Lexden Crown between 7am & 7pm to keep the area clear and the bus stop will be moved further down the road.
• Parking outside the Colchester Golf Club on Lexden Road – Cllr Gili-Ross expressed his concern that the safety elements of the new plan had been sacrificed in favour of concentrating on parking. He regarded it is an accident waiting to happen with the sight lines of over 500 members visiting the golf club restricted. Cllr Stevenson informed Cllr Jarvis that West Bergholt Parish Council had already written to Cllr Mike Lilley expressing its concern. Cllr Jarvis will discuss the matter with the other two Borough Councillors.

17/38

Presentation of £500 donation from West Bergholt Parish Council to the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church

Jane Lloyd thanked both the Parish and the Borough Councils for their generous donations. The Friends needed to raise £10,000, which was initially overwhelming, but have been delighted by the support that they have received from residents. The fundraising team will attend the Annual Parish Meeting next month to say more about the current total, which is around £8,605 plus the £500 from the parish council.

Cllr Gili-Ross suggested that the Friends apply for the Essex County Council Emergency CIF grant. Cllr Stevenson suggested that the Friends highlight the fact that the building is of historic value, rather than a church as it may make a difference to attaining funding.

17/39

Parish Councillor Vacancy

A notice sent from Colchester Borough Council was been put up in the parish notice boards on the 20th March until the 7th April. If no election is called, then the process of advertising for a new Councillor and co-option can begin.

17/40

Finance

a)

Statement of accounts for Feb 2017 (Link to P11 Feb 17 Summary)

The final accounts for Feb 2017 were presented as follows:

92% of the way through the financial year.

The General Account showed 97% income, 112% general expenditure, 82% environment expenditure and 103% expenditure overall, when the categories of general expenditure & environment are totaled together.

The Hall Account showed 102% income and 68% expenditure.

Next month will show the payment of the Public Works Loan from the Hall account to the General account. Once at the end of the financial year the council will be earmarking money for projects.

b)

Payments

c)

To approve the recommendation from the Finance Committee to appoint GP Allen, Accountants, as internal auditor for West Bergholt Parish Council in 2017.

d)

To propose to donate £150 to the West Bergholt Indoor Bowls Club

RESOLVED – To donate £150 to the West Bergholt Bowls Club. Proposed by Cllr Savage, seconded by Cllr Harlow. All in favour.

17/41

Progress Report from Clerk

• Chitts Hill sign to turn off engines – resident to progress (LW to check with him)
• Chitts Hill flooding – Clerk to ask Anne Brown for summary of the meeting attended by Cllr Butcher.
• Trygve app on website – Cllr Stone to liaise with Dave Kingaby, webmaster.

17/42

Communications

• Jane Gardner, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner
• Colchester Borough Council Waste Strategy Team – recycling changes
• Community First Responders

It was agreed that the Deputy PCC would be on first after the Welcome from the Chairman. She will talk for approximately 15 minutes on the Community Specials and the Blue Light Amalgamation Consultation and then open the floor to questions.

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church will be there to receive their presentation cheque from the Parish Council and update the village on their fund raising so far. The Traffic Safety Group will also provide a progress update.

A member of the Parish Council will briefly inform residents on “Broadband in our village” based on the WB Broadband Group’s latest brief.

The Village Bulletin editorial team will call for new members and discuss changes to the Bulletin.

ACTION – Clerk to contact Susan Swan regarding attendance & display equipment required.

Cllr Stone to discuss Bergholt Youth Group during the Issues from the Floor section.

ACTION – Clerk to send Chairs of Committees last year’s annual reports.

17/43

Planning

a)

The minutes from the Planning Committee meeting held on the 15th Mar 2017 were received and the decisions made on following applications were noted (Link to Planning P12 Mar 17):

• 170431 – Wickhams, Bures Road, CO6 3DW – Observation – The Parish Council are concerned that the removal of the timber and substitution with render has left the building a little bland and that all the aesthetic properties of the previous application have now been lost.
• 1770469 – Land North of Poplar Cottage, Spring Lane CO6 3HJ – Observation – The Parish Council has no comment

b)

To approve the recommendation of the Planning Committee on late planning application:

• 170693 – 115 Chapel Road CO6 3HA – Observation – The Parish Council is concerned with the ridge height of the extension.

RESOLVED – to approve the recommendation on Planning Application 170693. Cllr Tyrrell proposed, Cllr Butcher seconded. All in favour.

17/44

Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Butcher gave a verbal update on progress with the Plan and Timetable:

• Wording of all the policies is close to being finalized
• All the landowner meetings have taken place
• In the process of appointing a Planning Consultant & a Landscape Architect.

Things are moving slowly towards the Consultation on Sunday 21st May & Saturday 27th May.

Hope to present to the Parish Council for support in June and then submit to Colchester Borough Council.

17/45

Environment and Highways

a)

The minutes from the Environment Committee meeting held on 9th March 2017 were received. (Link to Environment Mar 2017)

Thanks were offered to Cllr Gili-Ross and the Handymen for their hard work clearing out the ditch by Albany Close. It has taken 2 and a half full days of work so far, a pump may be required to finish the job.

ACTION – Clerk to add “before” photo of huge puddle in Albany Close to the record.

b)

A verbal update from the representative of the Traffic Safety Group regarding the workshop event held on 25th Feb 2017 was received:

• The workshop looked at problems, objectives and solutions.
• There was a lot of common ground on parking and speeding
• In common locations, such as the Co Op & school, although there were also problems noted opposite bus stops.

All in all, a success, with more people joining the working group, including a school governor. There are 50 people now on the Trygve app and 95% of the village is behind it thankful of the work being done.

One of the most effective things has been phoning businesses regarding the poor parking of their drivers. Other Parish Councils are now asking for guidance from West Bergholt.

ACTION – copy of the CBC vehicle caught parking on the yellow lines to be forwarded to Borough Cllr Jarvis.

17/46

Premises and Recreation

Cllr Butcher added an amendment to item 5.1 of the March Premises Minutes, as he was not present at the meeting:

“BB gave the draft license to Mick Bell on 17/02/17. The responsibility now rests with West Bergholt Football Club.”

17/47

Training

• Local Council Quality Award Briefing – 24th Feb – Cllrs Stevenson, Stone & Savage & L Walkingshaw in attendance

ACTION – Clerk to remind Cllr Gili-Ross to send over the work he had previously completely for the Quality Award.

• CBC Parish Clerk Information Session – 17th Mar – L Walkingshaw

17/48

Items to Note (available on table at meeting)

17/49

In Committee

17/50

Date of Next Meeting