LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 5TH MARCH 2013 AT LANGFORD & ULTING VILLAGE HALL.

 

Present:                       Councillors: Andrew Tween, Irene Allen, Vicky Anfilogoff, Kathy Palmer and Richard Perry

In the Chair:                Councillor Andrew Tween

Clerk:                          Jenny Clemo

Also present:               None

 

13/20.Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Bass and Durham.

 

13/21. Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of 15th January 2013 having been previously circulated were taken as read, agreed and signed by the Chairman.

 

13/22. Declarations of Interest

No interests were declared.

 

13/23. Matters for information from previous meetings

12/160a) Barbed wire fence, Bumfords Lane – Highways Act 1980, s164 gives the power to require removal of barbed wire if it is a nuisance to the highway. As the fence is along the original hedge line it was agreed that this did not constitute a nuisance. Clerk to write to occupants of The Owls.

12/160b) Fishing Lakes – Several residents are willing to give evidence of use for many years. Clerk to instigate the process required to establish new public rights of way on the basis of historical and user evidence.

12/161b) HOUSE/MAL/12/00808 and LBC/MAL/12/00627 – Proposed garden room at rear of property, Bridge Cottage, Langford. Clerk was asked to remind Cllr. Bass that he had agreed to look into the reasons why this application had been refused.

13/07. Footpath 5, Ulting – Councillors were asked to report the state of the footpath using the Highways online “Report a Highway Problem” system.

13/12. Newsletter articles – A resident had requested that information on shoots and footpaths be included.

13/17b) Environment Agency Flood alerts – Clerk confirmed that this is still valid.

 

13/24. District Councillor’s Report

Update on Oval Park appeal received from Cllr. Durham. It was agreed that this would be included at 13/32.

 

13/25. Public Question Time

  • Flooding – Problems with flooding near The Old School in December expected to be resolved by end of March. Clerk to follow up if necessary.

 

13/26. Planning Matters

a) Planning applications received:

FUL/MAL/13/00010 – Extend time limit for implementation of approval FUL/MAL/10/00261 (Four detached houses with private garages and access). Land adjacent to Langford Waterworks, Hatfield Road, Langford. No objections.

b) Planning decisions received:

TCA/MAL/12/01049 – T1 Pollard – Prune to 2 metre height line of poplars as normal tree maintenance programme. T2 – Fell self-seeded willows in woodland area, Church Cottages, Ulting was allowed.

c) Braintree Local Development Framework – Cllrs. Allen and Palmer had attended a Hatfield Peverel Extraordinary Parish Council meeting on 6th February 2013. Main concern was that the proposed housing developments could, in the future, lead to the village joining up with Witham.

d) North West Planning Workshop – It was noted that the next session is Tuesday 23rd April 2013, 7.30pm at Goldhanger Village Hall.

 

13/27. Correspondence

a) Engagement with Parish Councils – Maldon District Council had requested views on strengthening the communication and engagement between themselves and parish councils. It was agreed that the Planning Workshops were valuable. Other engagement with the Council could be better. Regular reports from the Ward Councillors and regular receipt of Member’s Updates would be welcomed. Clerk to write.

b) Maldon District Council Community Led Planning Protocol – Circulated in Correspondence folder.

c) Boundary Commission for England Review 2013 – This has been postponed to 2018.

d) Fire Service Integrated Risk Management Plan consultation notification received. See www.essex-fire.gov.uk

e) 2013 Essex Village of the Year and Best Kept Village Competition - Details had been received.

f) Best Kept Churchyard Competition – Details passed to Cllr. Allen.

General correspondence to note:

  • Bradwell Wind Farm – Notification of commencement of delivery of wind turbines and route to site had been received.

 

13/28. Finance

a) The following payments were authorised:-

Mrs. J. Clemo

£300.00

 

Clerk’s salary

Mrs. J. Clemo    

£160.32

 

Clerk’s expenses

b) The following cheque was raised and will be ratified at the next meeting:-

Alphaprint

£338.00

 

 

c) VAT Return – Year to 28th February 2013 had been submitted to HMRC.

 

13/29. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

a) Notification that Maldon District Council has started a 6 week consultation period pursuant to paragraph 6 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 had been received.

b) Cllr. Anfilogoff and the clerk had attended a Neighbourhood Plan training at RCCE. Community Information Forms - Approximately 55% had been collected or returned. A member of the Steering Group has volunteered to input and analyse the data collected. There will be a presence at the Art Show and Village Picnic.

 

13/30. Newsletter

Cllr. Allen reported that the next issue had been distributed. No one had offered sponsorship as yet. Lessons had been learnt from the Essex Life competition awards ceremony. It was agreed that councillors would approach various businesses/organisations for sponsorship. The clerk was asked to write to Essex & Suffolk Water Company and Ulting Hall.

 

13/31. Proposed Langford Boundary Change

Cllr. Perry had mentioned this matter at the Heybridge Parish Council meeting. Subsequent to this, it was agreed the clerk would write to Maldon District Council requesting a boundary review.

 

13/32. Oval Park

a) Cllrs. Allen and Perry and the clerk had attended a meeting on 18th January at Maldon District Council to discuss the forthcoming inquiry. Simon Bird, the QC had explained exactly what would happen. Notes of the meeting had been circulated by the clerk

b) It was noted that the hearing would now take place 18th – 21st June 2013.

b) It was agreed that Cllr. Tween would speak on behalf of the Parish Council. Cllr. Allen to ask Roy Pipe whether he would speak on behalf of the village.

 

13/33. Village Hall trees

It was noted that the two dangerous lime trees and a limb overhanging Maldon Road had been removed. A report on the other trees on the site is still outstanding.

 

13/34. Potholes and fly tipping

a) Potholes - Highways had responded that no further action would be taken regarding the potholes notified by the clerk. Clerk to measure potholes at Crouchmans and report again.

b) Fly tipping – This is still a problem in Ulting Lane. Report to Maldon District Council and they will remove the rubbish.

c) Litter pickers – Clerk to find out whether this service is still provided.

d) Road edge markers, Baytree Cottages – Clerk to report.

 

13/35. Footpath Officer

Further to Cllr. Perry’s resignation as Footpath Officer, the Chairman asked him to continue until the AGM in May, when the situation would be reviewed. The Chairman also informed councillors that they should make an effort to familiarise themselves with the tasks involved in whichever council position they were elected.

 

13/36. Superfast Broadband

It was agreed that the Parish Council would be willing to host an information meeting for Woodham Walter, Little Totham, Maldon and Langford & Ulting. Clerk to send website to register interest to councillors. It was noted that there had been a slight improvement in speed in Ulting.

 

13/37. Items from the councillors (NEXT AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)

None.

 

13/38. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th April 2013 at Langford & Ulting Village Hall after the Langford Parish Meeting.

 

The meeting closed at 9.25pm.

 

Signed:                                                           (Chairman)     Date: