Report of the meeting of the Parish Council of Castle Hedingham held on Wednesday, 16th June 2010 issued by the Clerk

Action

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Apologies for non-attendance: WPC D Coghill, Mr M Scrivens, Mr B Newark, Mr F Swallow.

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Declarations of Interest: Mrs Scattergood as Chair Planning Committee.

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Public Forum: None.

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Police Information / Report: PC Coghill has said that a) checks will be made on parking in Queen Street/Sheepcot Road area and action will be taken in respect of obstruction and b) she would follow up action in respect of enforcement action speeding on Sudbury Road.
The Parish Council expressed concern that there has been no physical police presence report to it since January 2010 meeting and few written reports. Mrs Allfrey will write to the relevant Inspector with this concern.

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Minutes of the Previous Meeting: One amendment – “ Mrs Lehen “ to be  “Mrs Lekin.” The amended minutes were agreed, proposed Mr Worley, seconded Mrs Moffat and signed by the Chairman.

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Matters arising from Minutes:

6.1 Registering Parish Village Greens: Further map required to complete.  Clerk to obtain.

6.2 Rubbish in River: Matter has been reported to Environment Agency.  It has said it will investigate and advise; reply waited.

6.3 Water Leak on Sudbury Hill:  No progress to report on gulley jet washing by Essex CC Highways. Anglian Water has said that there have been water pressure variations due to control malfunctions but this has been rectified  with water pressure restored to normal. 

6.4 Damage to railings/sign Forge Green: The Parish Council have accepted an offer by a parishioner to repair the damage free of charge.

6.5 Encroachment of earth /vegetation on pavement Bayley Street / Pye Corner:  Work has been completed to a high standard by the Essex CC Highway Rangers Team.

6.6 Purchase of Display Boards: Mr Worley still awaiting information to proceed with business case. 

6.7 Village tidy up / bulb planting:  Mr Cooke gave a detailed breakdown of types of bulbs (wild daffodil), equipment and work force required to plant 2,500 bulbs around the village. The total cost would be around £460 and 9 volunteers would be required.  The proposal was agreed, proposed Mr Worley, seconded  Mrs Moffat. Bulbs will now be ordered. Mr Cooke will now do further work to identify sites for planting. 

6.8 Bollards Falcon Square:  Mr Southgate said he had identified two positions in the square where erection of two rubberised bollards would help with parking that caused access problems.  The Clerk was instructed to write to Essex CC Highways to progress.

1. Site is identified as  a re-generation site within Braintree District Council core strategy.
2. Intention is for development of a mixed site with housing, community space such as allotments, play area and employment provision.
3. Transport assessment would be required and Essex CC Highways would identify what measures necessary to deal with any issues identified. 
4. Site Developer will be required to pay Section 106 funds to Local Government.  These funds could be used in a variety of ways, e.g. to pay for cost of transport measures taken as result of the development or to provide education facilities for the increased numbers of children as a result of development. 
5. Rockways, a firm adjacent to the site, wishes to move to smaller premises in the area. It is therefore proposed that the Premdor and Rockway sites, approximately 27 acres in total, be developed as one entity. Inclusion of Rockway site offers opportunity to extend riverside walk access to Station Road Bridge.
6. No detailed planning application yet made.
7. Initial discussions with site owners have suggested an intention to apply for the building of abut 200 residential units - mainly houses rather than flats, although this is subject to change. Development might be in phases.  Central Government  has indicated changes in planning system with more power given to local government and this could have an impact on housing density required.

• Sible Hedingham Parish Council will seek to ensure Section 106 funds are used for local community projects and not put in a central Braintree/Essex fund
• Efforts are being made to identify what and how employment opportunities can be included in development.
• Primary Care Trust and local Doctors had identified the opportunity  to develop  medical centre/doctors surgery practice on community land allocated  on the site to serve both Hedinghams. This was a “wish” and had not developed further at this time.
• Meeting held with Hedingham School regarding community development  opportunities. Intention is for future discussions and formulation of a “vision” for the area to include all schools in the area  and both Parish Councils.

The Parish Council thanked both Mrs Dash and Mrs Beavis. It said that it wished to be closely involved both in discussions/updates on the Premdor / Rockway development and “Vision” development with schools and others. 

Mrs Dash left.

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Braintree District Council & Essex County Council Information: 

8.1

Correspondence: No matters arising. 

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10.1 Bank Balances:

The following balances were noted:

10.2 The following accounts were proposed by Mr R Worley seconded by Mr Cooke:

Payments:

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Input to Village/Parish Magazine

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Any Other Business:

14.1 Weed Spraying in Village: Mr Worley had received a letter from a parishioner asking for dates of Essex CC Highways weed spraying so that she can protect some wild plants on the days of spraying.  The Clerk has asked for the dates and a reply from Highways is awaited.

14.2 Allotments:  Mrs Moffat said expression of interest in allotments in the village continues. Mrs Beavis said that provision of allotments was an objective for inclusion in the allocated community land from Premdor site re-development.

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Dates & Times of Next Meetings.

Annual General Meeting: 28 July and 18 August 2010 at 19:45 Memorial Hall.