Mr Wiltshire from Essex County Council attended this meeting and discussed the following items with Councillors:
Memorial Hall Garden Renovation - This project is progressing well. Councillors agreed that a tree will be planted in the garden and a plaque to commemorate Jim Moore’s contribution to the village will be installed. It was agreed that the Clerk will write to Mrs Moore advising her of this proposal and inviting her to a ceremony to plant the tree in the Spring .
Councillors had no objections to the following applications 05/02028/TPOCON - Carry out works to trees - Flaglands Cottage, 25 Queen Street, Castle Hedingham; 05/02140/FUL - Erection of rear conservatory, addition of porch to front of house and new window to left hand side of front door – Amendment to approved plans 04/01850/FUL - 73 Nunnery Street, Castle Hedingham; 05/02166/CON - Proposed demolition of garage block to accommodate new dwelling - 5 Castle Lane, Castle Hedingham; 05/02255/LBC - Replacement staircase and suspended timber floor over existing floor slab -16 Church Ponds, Castle Hedingham; 05/02242/TPOCON - Carry out works to trees - Pye Cottage, 3 Pye Corner, Castle Hedingham and, 05/02321/LBC - Retention of dark grey painted façade to building - 36 Queen Street, Castle Hedingham.
Application 05/02165/FUL - Erection of one two bedroom dwelling - 5 Castle Lane, Castle Hedingham – Two letters from Parishioners were read to the meeting - : The Parish Council object to the proposed thatched roof as this will significantly alter the height of the roof and Councillors would like to see the originally agreed tiled roof. Councillors also object to the inclusion of an upper floor window into the design. This will result in loss of privacy for neighbouring properties.
Application - 05/02182/FUL - Erection of replacement detached garage and single storey rear extension, replacement of existing windows and chimney breasts and internal alterations - 5 Crown Street, Castle Hedingham and 05/02182/LBC - Erection of replacement existing windows and chimney breasts and internal alterations - 5 Crown Street, Castle Hedingham – The Parish Council object to the weatherboarding on the extension and would like to see it brick built with a rendered finish.
Application - 05/02293/FUL & 05/02294/LBC - Erection of pool house for use in relation to existing dwelling - Sheepcote, 23 Queen Street, Castle Hedingham – The Parish Council object to the black weatherboarding and would prefer it to be painted white. The application has no details of the size or scale of the pool house and the Parish Council would have preferred to have this information when agreeing their comments. The Council is also concerned that the pool and pool house may be too close to a large copper beech tree and if so it could be damaged by the installation.
Application – 05/02319/FUL - Erection of first floor rear extension - Orchard Cottage, Sudbury Road, Castle Hedingham – The Parish Council object as the proposed extension stills seems excessive and will dwarf the original cottage.
Youth Council – Councillor Higgins reported on progress made in establishing a Hedingham Youth Council. A constitution had been agreed and the Council will be launched on Wednesday 7th December at Hedingham School. Elections will be held in January, run by the school, and it is hoped that the first meeting will be held in February. Students of the school will be eligible to stand and further members can be co-opted from local organisations and the parishes. A letter from the Chairman of the Steering Group had been received thanking the Council for its support and asking them to considering giving a grant towards the start up costs of the council. It was noted that the group had been successful in obtaining funding from the Young Essex Assembly. After a discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council would indicate support for the Youth Council up to £300 on the condition that Sible Hedingham Parish Council makes matched funding available for the project.
Specialist Nurse For Parkinson Sufferers – Councillors discussed the withdrawal, by the Health Care Trust, of a specialist nurse for Parkinson sufferers. This service was greatly valued by sufferers, several of whom live in the village. Invaluable support was provided for carers and suffers in their own homes. This service had been withdrawn with out notice and the only support offered to sufferers was a pain management leaflet. It was agreed that the Parish Council would write to the Health Authority to express its dissatisfaction with the callous way this service was removed and ask what proposals they have to support Parkinson’s Disease sufferers.
18th January, 8th February and 15th March 7.45 p.m. Old Court House, Castle Hedingham.
