LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 3RD APRIL 2012 AT LANGFORD & ULTING VILLAGE HALL.
Present: Councillors: Andrew Tween, Irene Allen, Vicky Anfilogoff, Kathy Palmer (who apologised as she would have to leave the meeting early) and Richard Perry
In the Chair: Councillor Andrew Tween
Clerk: Jenny Clemo
Also present: 2 members of the public.
12/37.Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Bass andDurham.
12/38. Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of 6th March 2012 having been previously circulated were taken as read, agreed and signed by the Chairman.
12/39. Declarations of Interest
No interests were declared.
12/40. Matters for information from previous meetings
10/11. Broken fingerpost, Ulting – The clerk had sent a copy of the newsletter article to Highways.
10/82. Langford Boundary Change – Cllr. Allen confirmed that Roy Pipe now had all of the signatures and would ask him to pass these to the clerk.
10/109c) 30mph speed limit – Langford: Clerk had again spoken to Jon Simmonds. He said that the Parish Council should receive a letter from Highways regarding this matter.
11/68. Potholes (various) –Ulting Hall Lanehad been resurfaced up to Ulting Hall and other potholes filled. Potholes inUlting Lane,Crouchmans Farm RoadandChurch Roadare still outstanding.
12/04. The Landscape Centre –The clerk had spoken to Jon Simmonds who had agreed to send an inspector out.
11/125. Roadside car sales – The clerk had reported the recent car for sale at the junction of Spring Lane. (intelligence@essex.gov.uk)
12/41. District Councillor’s report
No report received.
12/42. Public Question Time
- Ex Essex Water Company land – It was noted that services to this site are being installed. Clerk to contact Maldon District Council.
- Nursing Home – The clerk was also asked to contact the Water Company to confirm whether the chlorine storage method is to be changed.
12/43. Planning Matters
a) Planning applications received: LBC/MAL/12/00187 – Formation of an en suite bathroom within first floor bedroom and reintroduction of stud partition wall to another first floor bedroom to create 2 bedrooms and hallway as was removed by planning application LBC/MAL/94/00030.StationBridge Cottage,Maldon Road, Langford. The Parish Council had no objections.
b) Planning decisions received: .
TCA/MAL/12/00103 – Zone 2 – Tree set 2 Ash – re-coppice. Plan B T1 Plums – remove and replace. T2 Mulberry – Crown lift to 2m, late December 2012. T7 Apple – prune to reduce crown congestion and over-reaching branches, up to 1 third in length and amount thinned. Church Cottage,Crouchmans Farm Road, Ulting. This work was allowed to proceed.
12/44. Correspondence
a) Essex County Council Choral Evensong to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Chelmsford Cathedral – Sunday 27th May at 6pm. It was agreed that Cllr. Allen and guest would attend.
b) Consultation on draft development brief for St Peter’s Hospital (See www.stpetershospital.co.uk) – It was agreed that the Parish Council would write in support of this proposal.
General correspondence to note:
 New refuse and recycling service commences week beginning 2nd April 2012.
 Reminder - NW Planning Workshop on 25th April at Goldhanger commencing 7pm..
12/45. Finance
a) Payment of cheque number 100748 - Alphaprint, £360.00, newsletter raised at the previous meeting, was ratified. Cllr. Allen confirmed that the increase in cost was due to resetting the machinery to take into account the alteration made. b) it was noted that £224.02, repayment of VAT, had been received.
12/46. Ulting Churchyard Fence
Two further quotations had been received:
Bonne & Son / Mecoy: £1976.00
Includes replacement of 2 panels at £143 each and leveling the ground under the fence.
Mr. Lyon: £1198.84
Includes replacement of 13 oak posts and slats where necessary.
After consideration, it was agreed that Mr. Mecoy would be asked to carry out the work required with the proviso that a maximum of two new panels are replaced.
12/47. Langford Streetlights
A further quotation from A & J Lighting Solutions had been received. After discussing the cost and life of replacement lamps it was agreed that the six oldest streetlights would be replaced with Phosco P567A Son T (yellow). Quotations received were as follows:
A & J Lighting: 6 streetlights £1233.00 + VAT
P.H. Coote Ltd: 6 streetlights £1392.06 + VAT
It was agreed that A & J Lighting would be asked to carry out the work.
12/48. Best Kept Churchyard Competition 2012
It was agreed that Langford churchyard would not be entered this year.
12/49. Footpaths
a) P3 Return. This item was carried forward.
b) Cllr. Allen allocated footpaths in the parishes. Councillors were asked to walk the footpaths and let her know if there are any problems by 5th May.
12/50. Emergency Planning Training
Cllr. Perry had attended the two training sessions. Roles and responsibilities had been outlined. In the event of an incident, the village hall could be used as a rest centre which would be manned by Maldon District Council staff.
12/51. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
a) At a meeting on 12th March, the Steering Group and the Parish Council had decided on the concerns to be raised with CML, Countryside Properties and Capita Symonds with regard to the proposed Oval Park development.
b) To consider acceptance of Working Agreement between the Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. This item was not taken.
12/52. Proposed development at Oval Park
a) A meeting with CML, Countryside Properties and Capita Symonds had been held on 16th March. It was an informative meeting with all queries raised being freely discussed. Countryside Properties had sought to address points raised by parishioners and the plans had been altered to reflect this. Maldon District Council officers have indicated that the 30% affordable housing element must be included in the development despite Countryside’s offer of an off-site contribution. The Parish Council had written to support this offer but had requested the provision of a number of affordable homes for parishioners and their relatives.
b) For information: The tree work carried out at Oval Park during March was for EDF.
c) Once the plans are received from Maldon District Council, it was agreed that an Extraordinary meeting would be called. Planning Officers would be invited to present the plans and an invitation to all parishioners would be circulated.
12/53. Newsletter
a) Cllr. Allen had spoken to Nigel Clark, CML and he had agreed that the company would continue to fund the newsletter in the future. Cllr. Perry queried whether the Parish Council should continue taking money from CML. It was agreed that this was a completely separate issue and it would not affect the Parish Council’s response to the development proposal.
b) Cllr. Allen had provided a pro forma copy of the next newsletter and ideas for future newsletters. It was agreed that the Chairman’s Report to the Annual Parish Meetings should be included.
c) It was agreed that a summary version of the accounts and an explanation of the precept would be included in the next newsletter.
At this point, Cllr. Palmer left the meeting.
12/54. Annual Litter Pick
It was agreed that due to lack of support the annual litter pick would not take place this year. The clerk was asked to find out whether Maldon District Council still carries out a litter patrol along Hatfield Road and Crouchmans Farm Road.
At this point the member of the public remaining left the meeting.
12/55. Standing Orders
It was agreed that the draft Standing Orders, previously circulated, would be adopted. It was noted in response to a question from Cllr. Perry, that the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group is not a committee of the Parish Council. It is a working group with members appointed by the council. (See Standing Order 48)
12/56. Councillor Relationship with the Press
It was agreed that the proposed Internal Procedure, previously circulated, would be adopted.
12/57. Guide to Blogging and Social Networking
It was agreed that the proposed guide for councillors, previously circulated, would be adopted. Cllr. Perry asked how this was to be monitored. Cllr. Tween responded that councillors are bound by the Code of Conduct and would be expected to monitor their own activities.
12/58. Code of Conduct
It was resolved that the public and press be excluded for this agenda item as publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the nature of the proceedings to be discussed. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1(2)
12/59. Items from the councillors (NEXT AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)
a) Parish Council / Neighbourhood Plan Working Agreement – Agenda item 12/51b) omitted in error.
b) EALC subscription.
12/60. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 15th May 2012 at Crouchmans Barn, Ulting after the Ulting Annual Parish Meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.43pm.
Signed: Date: