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Receive/accept apologies and welcome to the Public

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Questions from registered electors

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Declarations of Interest

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Minutes

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Report from Colchester Borough & Essex County Councillors

• Locality Budget – please note there is still money available for grants.
• Town Centre – the planning application for the student accommodation in the town centre will be dealt with by CBC next month.

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General Power of Competence

RESOLVED – to adopt the General Power of Competence, having agreed that the council is eligible with the qualification of the Clerk and the required electoral mandate of 8 out of 11 Councillors.

The Clerk confirmed that West Bergholt Parish Council has required 8 elected Councillors and a newly qualified clerk and can, therefore, adopt the General Power of Competence. This will mean that the council can now do anything, within reason, which an ordinary person can do and not be constrained simply by the “powers” set out for parish councils.

Cllr Stevenson proposed, Cllr Short seconded. All in favour.

ACTION – Clerk to notify the EALC that the council has adopted the General Power of Competence.

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Finance

The final accounts for September 2018 were presented as follows:

50% of the way through the financial year. The Parish Council Account showed 94% income, 45% general expenditure, 39% environment expenditure and 43% expenditure overall, when the categories of general expenditure & environment are totalled together.

RESOLVED – To approve the payments in accordance with 2018-19 budget. Proposed by Cllr Church, seconded by Cllr Butcher. All in favour.

Cllr Stone confirmed that the deadline for the CIF applications 26/10/18. Have received two out of the three quotes for the playground equipment. This is the first year of a three-year replacement programme, phase one will involve £20,000 of costs, with £10,000 hopefully coming from the CIF which will be match funded by £5,000 from the Section 106 monies and £5,000 from fundraising.

Cllr Stevenson proposed to approve the application, Cllr Harlow seconded. All in favour.

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Planning

• 182169 – 24 Bradbrook Cottages, Armoury Road, CO6 3JW – Observation – This application has previously been given approval by CBC, but the PC was not consulted upon it which presents something of a dilemma. The PC does not consider this new dwelling enhances the streetscape and would refer CBC to to DG3 of the CBC-approved Village Design Statement, which states “General design – all proposed new build and extensions must enhance the area and make a positive architectural contribution”.
• 182202 – part of garden of 1 Lexden Road, CO6 3BT – Object – The Parish Council objected to the previous submission (180695), they note the attempt to lower the height of the buildings and reduce its footprint but the proposed development still remains too dominant on the corner of Lexden Road which is the main entrance to the village from the North.
• 182216 – Twoways, Bourne Road, CO6 3EP – Support – The Parish Council has no comment.

Planning Application 170839 – Appeal Lodged for Land to the North of The White Hart, Nayland Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3DD.

Refused by CBC on the 13th October 2017. Appeal now lodged with PINS. Proposed hearing by Planning Inspectorate on 22 & 23rd January 2019. Additional comments to be sent to Inspector by 8th November 2018. The Parish Council will submit the following additional comment:

The Parish Council strongly opposes this application as it is outside the current settlement boundary and the Regulation 14 Neighourhood Plan proposed settlement boundary.

The planning documents contain many inaccuracies and misrepresentations. The developer, house types, styles, elevations and details ignore the Essex Design Guide and the CBC-adopted Village Design Statement which seeks building to be in keeping with local architecture.

The layout is very urban in character and again out of keeping with the semi-rural location. It also fails to take into account its position adjacent to the Grade II listed White Hart Public House.

The Parish Council also fully supports the detailed reasons for the refusal given by Colchester Borough Council on the 13th October 2017. The West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan is available for inspection on www.westbergholt.net/neighbourhood-plan/ and will be submitted under Regulation 15 by the Parish Council to Colchester Borough Council in November 2018, noting no comments were received during the Regulation 14 consultation from the appellant.

• 182456 – Bali Hai, Nayland Road, CO6 3DG – Observation – The Parish Council would recommend that CBC satisfies themselves with their usual planning policy guidelines for “annexes” and that it is for a family member’s use and not to be resold in the future as a separate dwelling.

RESOLVED – Cllr Tyrrell proposed, Cllr Butcher seconded. All in favour of decision.

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Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Stevenson informed the council that Alison Earley (the Planning Consultant) has gone through the 95 responses to the Regulation 14 submission and the plan has been updated accordingly. The Steering Group now need to go through it and review the policies and text. There have been no changes to the development sites or to most of the policies. Alison will also create the Basic Condition Statement comparing all of WB Neigh Plan policies with CBC’s existing and proposed Local Plan policies.

Hoped to submit by 31/10 but now more likely to be a November submission, which can only take place once agreed by a full PC meeting. Steering Group meeting on 13th November.

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Environment and Highways

Cllr Gili-Ross updated the council that work to Orpen Player’s ramp and replacing the playground turnstile will take place tomorrow morning. Hired plant and a skip will be arriving (thank you to Cllr Short for arranging the skip), will be aiming to stay below the £1,500 budget. Whilst work is going on the playground will be closed – a notice has been placed on Facebook Hub.

Cllr Spencer informed the council that the Place Services Management Strategy for the Heath had arrived following the survey in July. It commented that the area is a lowland dry acid grassland. The area has been downgraded by trampling and the invasion of other species – more flailing and the removal of non-native species has been recommended. Place Services are prepared to help advise the council on a free of charge ongoing basis following the survey.

Cllr Stone reported to the council that there have now been two meetings of the Playground Advisory Group with a total of about 20 people invited. Carol Baldwin is the chairperson and the group is split into two parts – Fundraising and Equipment. It has been helpful to have both Bluebells and members of the School Council involved in the group. The Facebook Hub survey received 147 responses, asking what residents would like from the playground. BYG have been invited to respond. Will take the 3 quotes (once third is received) back to the Advisory Group in early November. Have made good progress, with a zip wire and swings at the top of the list.

Cllr Short reported that there are currently no facilities for older children or adults such as an outdoor gym. Prices vary, and an implementation scheme would need to be established with the work on the younger children’s facilities coming first. There are lots of funding options, but there needs to be some overlap between the plans. Cllr Butcher raised concerns about misuse of these facilities. Discussions need to be held at the Playground Advisory Group.

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Premises and Recreation

Cllr Butcher added that there are two dates for the diary:

• User Group Meeting due in mid-November before the next Parish Council meeting.
• Next Village Fete will be on Saturday 13th July.

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WWI Commemoration

• History Group signs for alleyways:
  The Clerk informed the council that signs commemorating residents who lost their lives in WW1 will be positioned on four alleyways in West Bergholt with the kind permission of the home-owners. Hopefully, these will be up before 11th November.
• Beacon Lighting on 11th Nov:
  Cllr Short will need help at 3pm. Cllrs Spencer, Stone and Butcher all offered to help. Map of site to be completed and need to close car park. Fire extinguishers required from garage and hall. Children will be coming from the School Council to help light the beacon. PA system being lent by a resident. Disposable beacon kindly being given free of charge from Adrian Leach. ACTION – Thank you note needs to be sent by Clerk

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Training

• CBC Clerks Forum – LW – 4th Oct 2018
• EALC Project Mgt Course – DS & MH – 11th Oct 2018

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Items to Note

• Highways Devolution – confirmation on the list & discussion event on 14th Nov – JGR going.
• EALC Strategic Plan – invite to workshop – BTB will go on 13th, if no-one else available.
• Landowner enquiry into footpath signage – on their land, therefore their prerogative.
• Painting of rail by Queen’s Head Pond enquiry – passed to Environment Committee.
• LCAS Risk Topic Update – Tree Liabilities – tree management strategy & framework needs to be established. Also, note cemetery & memorial safety. 

b)       Crime Statistics – 17th Sept – 14th Oct 2018 – 3 crimes reported

Available on table at meeting:

c)       RCCE – Essex Warbler – Vol 14 – Sept 2018

d)       EALC – County Update – No 168 – Sept 2018

e)       EALC – Legal Update – No 7 – Oct 2018

f)       Essex Highways – Highways Highlights – Sept 2018

g)       NALC – Funding Bulletin – Oct 2018

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Date of Next Meeting