Minutes of Parish Council 25th April 2018

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

Held in the John Lampon Hall on 25th April 2018 at 7.30 pm

Chair: Chris Stevenson
Parish Councillors Present: Harry Stone, Murray Harlow, John Gili-Ross, David Short, Jenny Church, Brian Butcher, Bob Tyrrell, Andrew Savage
Parish Clerk: Laura Walkingshaw
Borough & County Councillors: Borough Cllrs Lewis Barber & Brian Jarvis
Present: 1 member of the public

 

18/51

Receive/accept apologies and welcome to the Public

  RESOLVED – Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Spencer & Cllr Crichton

18/52

Questions from registered electors

No questions were received from registered electors.

18/53

Declarations of Interest

  DECLARED – Cllr Stevenson declared an interest in items relating to Essex County Council, particularly Highway issues.

18/54

Minutes

RESOLVED – the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 28th Mar 2018 were approved and signed by the Chairman, with no amendments. (Link to Minutes P12 Mar 2018)

18/55

Report from Colchester Borough & Essex County Councillors

  Borough Cllr Brian Jarvis reported:

  • May Elections – the Councillor is up for election in May and if not re-elected wished to state that it has been a pleasure to work with the Parish Council.

Borough Cllr Lewis Barber reported:

  • Road Repairs – the blue bridge over the A12 has been resurfaced and the dips removed. Bergholt Road should be resurfaced this evening.
  • Development Proposals – the Councillor has called in the NEEB applications as he wanted to ensure that they were debated in public. With regards the Gladman query of Colchester’s 5-year housing supply, this is to be an item on the next CBC Local Plan Committee agenda for discussion with the Planning Officers. Need to bear in mind that in the Gladman Homes planning application for Bakers Lane the environmental impact was the determining factor in the Inspector dismissing the appeal.

18/56

Finance

a)

Statement of accounts for Mar 2018 (Link to P12 Mar Summary)

The final accounts for Mar 2018 were presented as follows:

100% of the way through the financial year. The Parish Council Account showed 101% income, 85% general expenditure, 102% environment expenditure and 89% expenditure overall, when the categories of general expenditure & environment are totalled together.

The figure in the Neighbourhood Plan item line is almost 500% against budget due to the money received and then paid out from the Groundworks Grant.

b)

Payments

  RESOLVED – To approve the following payments in accordance with 2017-18 budget. Proposed by Cllr Stevenson, seconded by Cllr Church. All in favour.
 

PAYMENTS LIST

April 2018

Parish Council Account

Final figures from last month’s Payments (Groundwork Grant) as per minute ref.18/41b
GA170258 Jacqui Kibby Desk Top Publishing of Neigh Plan 720.00
Bank Tfr PC Account to Hall Account Room hire for NP Mtgs & Exhibition 175.00
DD Public Works Loan Loan 2684.13
GA18001 J & M Payroll Services Apr – Wages, Tax & NI 3952.38
GA18002 John Gili-Ross Hardcore – Storage Unit 136.00
GA18003 J & M Payroll Services Payroll Services – Mar & Year End 99.00
GA18004 WBFC Grass Cutting – Apr 40.00
GA18005 Petty Cash Reimbursement. (LW) Wiper Blades, Petrol 38.66
GA18006 EALC GDPR Toolkit – CS 50.00
GA18007 EALC Data Protection – CS 50.00
GA18008 John Gili-Ross Travel Expenses (Sept – Mar) 22.25
GA18009 Cox Landscapes Timber & Screws (Storage Unit) 39.26
GA18010 Sibbons Titanium Padlock 19.95
GA18011 EALC EALC & NALC Affiliation Fees 619.31
GA18012 Laura Walkingshaw Weed Burner & 8x Gas, APM Printing 106.86
GA18013 Sibbons Hire of Excavator 290.82
GA18014 Sibbons Hire of Dumper 141.75
GA18015 CBC Dog & Litter Bins (Apr-Jun 18) 312.65
GA18016 Zurich Insurance Insurance Policy 01/06/18-31/05/19 2290.72
GA18017 Kent Blaxill Tarmac Rake 24.92
GA18018 Sibbons Excavator 147.75
GA18019 Dave Kingaby Website Services 264.00
GA18020 Alison Eardley Neigh Plan Consultant (Groundwork) 650.00
GA18021 NALC LCR Magazine (3 copies) 17.00
Chq 104293 DB Concrete Ltd Cement – Storage Unit 446.40
Tfr PC to Hall Account 1 box (5rms) A4 Paper 16.49

18/57

Planning/Neighbourhood Plan

The minutes from the Planning Committee meeting held on the 18th April 2018 were received and the decisions made on following applications were noted (Link to Planning P1 Apr 2018):
  • 180733 – Land adj. to Armoury Road – Object – This application is in the wrong location and at the wrong time. It is outside of the settlement boundary, both as is and as proposed. It is premature and contrary to Colchester Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan and West Bergholt’s draft Neighbourhood Plan. Aside from the principle objections, strong arguments can also be made that, as it is not part of integrated planning over the course of the next 15 years, there is not the infrastructure, school places or facilities to support this application. The entrance onto the development off Armoury Road is not considered suitable as it is a single carriageway narrow road which is not adopted. The proposed development, situated outside the Settlement Boundary, is viewed as unwanted by a significant number of the residents of West Bergholt and by the Parish Council.  The existing Local Plan is against this location for such development and Colchester Borough Council’s emerging draft Local Plan has already indicated elsewhere a more appropriate and sustainable area for the main housing development in the West Bergholt Parish over the next 15 years.  These proposals dovetail into those of the similarly emerging West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan resulting from four years of consultation with residents and local businesses.  In both cases, the site continues to be outside the Settlement Boundary.
  • 180732 – Land adj. to Colchester Road – Object – This application is in the wrong location and at the wrong time. It is outside of the settlement boundary, both as is and as proposed. It is premature and contrary to Colchester Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan and West Bergholt’s draft Neighbourhood Plan. Aside from the principle objections, strong arguments can also be made that, as it is not part of integrated planning over the course of the next 15 years, there is not the infrastructure or facilities, such as capacity of the existing surgery and pharmacy, to support this application. The proposed development, situated outside the Settlement Boundary, is viewed as inappropriately located by a significant number of the residents of West Bergholt and by the Parish Council.  Its location exacerbates rather than prevents the coalescence of settlement patterns between Colchester and West Bergholt. There are no exceptional circumstances which would justify any departure from such policies.  In addition, it would result in another junction not far from the current Maltings Park, and is a significant distance away from the main village facilities leading to an increase in vehicle use. With regards to the housing, the existing Local Plan is against this location for such development and Colchester Borough Council’s emerging draft Local Plan has already indicated elsewhere a more appropriate and sustainable area for the main housing development in the West Bergholt Parish over the next 15 years.  These proposals dovetail into those of the similarly emerging West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan resulting from four years of consultation with residents and local businesses.  In both cases, the site continues to be outside the Settlement Boundary.
  • 180696 – 26 Bradbrook Cottages, West Bergholt CO6 3JW – Support – The Parish Council has no comment.
  • 180695 – 1 Lexden Road, West Bergholt CO6 3BT – Object – The Parish Council supports the provision of a dwelling on the plot in principle.  However, it is considered that an acceptable proposal should be substantially smaller, lower and relocated so that it neither dominants the corner of Lexden Road (which is the main entrance to the village from the north), nor conflicts with any established building lines of the existing Lexden Road dwellings. The Council would refer to policies DG7, DG10, DG12, DG13 and DG15 of the CBC adopted Village Design Statement, regarding height, dominance and building lines.
  • 180663 – The Manse, Chapel Lane, West Bergholt CO6 3EF – Support – The Parish Council has no comment.
  • 180790 – 27 Chapel Road, West Bergholt CO6 3JB – Support – The Parish Council has no comment.

Neighbourhood Plan

  • RESOLVED – Agreed by the Council to authorize Alison Eardley’s work on the preparation of Reg 14 on the basis of her quotation.

18/58

Environment and Highways

The minutes from the Environment Committee meeting held on 12th April 2018 were received. (Link to Environment P1 Apr 18)
The cement work in front of the new storage unit is due to start on Friday.

18/59

Premises and Recreation

The minutes from the Premises Committee meeting held on 3rd April 2018 were received. (Link to Premises P1 Apr 2018)
ACTION – Clerk to circulate the notes from Finance Advisory Committee to Councillors

18/60

Community Special Constables

An update was received on the recruitment of a Special Constable for West Bergholt from Cllr Butcher. The scheme will go ahead, however the intention now is that the Constables will be based out of Colchester Police Station, rather than a site within the parish. There has been one prospective candidate who is currently going through the vetting process, but this can take a while.

18/61

Training

It was noted that no training/networking was undertaken during the last month by the Clerk or Councillors.

18/62

Items to Note

Available on table at meeting:

  1. Crime Statistics
  2. LCR – The Magazine of NALC – Spring 2018
  3. RCCE – Essex Warbler – Vol.8 March 2018
  4. EALC – County Update – Special Edition April 2018

18/63

In Committee

Matters taken in the absence of Press and Public (Public (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960) as the item contains exempt information as defined by the Local Government Act 1972 Sch. 12a Pt (1).
No matters discussed

18/64

Date of Next Meeting

Annual Meeting of the Parish Council Wednesday 23rd May 2018 at 7.30pm in John Lampon Hall, Lexden Rd, West Bergholt
Meeting closed at 6.50pm
Signed: Date: Position on Council:

 

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