Little Totham Parish Council
Minutes of Meeting, Tuesday 1st October 2024
The Parish Council met on Tuesday 1st October in the Evangelical Hall, at 7.30pm
PRESENT
Chairman N. Lawrence
Councillors: T. Gritton, V. Hare and S. Venton Parishioners: 5
24.132 Apologies for Absence: Councillors J. Hughes and J. King sent apologies.
24.133 To invite Councillors to declare an interest in matters on the Agenda
No interests declared.
24.134 Minutes 03/09/24
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 3rd September 2024 be approved and confirmed.
24.135 To present gifts to acknowledge the efforts of volunteer litter pickers, Louise and Ruth
Chairman Lawrence presented Louise and Ruth with their vouchers and thanked them on behalf of Councillors and all residents for the work they do. Louise and Ruth talked about the routes they cover with their litter picking, the volume of litter they find and other issues they encounter, including the high number of empty bottles of alcohol they locate along Loamy Hill Road which they think are discarded by HGV drivers.
RESOLVED Chairman Lawrence to report to Essex Police.
24.136 Update for parish newsletter
Councillor King had written the paragraph for September. As Councillor Hughes was absent, it was agreed to swap her month with Councillor Venton.
October: Councillor Venton
November: Councillor Hughes
December: Chairman Lawrence
RESOLVED Councillor Venton to write October’s paragraph and send to the Clerk.
24.137 Common land
Chairman Lawrence thanked Peter Hare for levelling the mulch without charge to the Parish Council.
RESOLVED Chairman Lawrence to inform ECC.
24.138 a) Planning applications
No new applications.
- b) Planning decisions
No decisions from MDC.
24.139 Play equipment repairs
Councillor Venton to confirm costs with Chairman Lawrence of the galvanised steel protectors for the swings. The repairs to the swing timbers can be carried out in Spring before next year’s inspection. The inspection report notes that the cradle swing is starting to split so Councillor Venton will check this.
24.140 Pond maintenance
It was raised by a parishioner that the pond area is now very overgrown and there is a problem with rats. Councillors discussed and decided that there needs to be some heavy vegetation clearance rather than just strimming. Peter Hare offered to flail the area to clear the vegetation and all Councillors agreed to this work.
RESOLVED Peter to flail the pond area.
24.141 Potential village projects
It was agreed to pursue the idea of outdoor adult gym equipment as there is already table tennis provision at the Evangelical Church. The Clerk reported that the Maldon District Livewell Partnership grants are now open to applications and this will be more suitable than the Community Initiatives Fund. Confirmation will be needed that the equipment could be located on Sawyers Field and it would be preferable to be fenced.
RESOLVED The Clerk to complete expression of interest form for Livewell grants.
24.142 Remembrance Service
The Service will be held on Sunday 10th November. The Clerk will contact David Brewer and Lorna Key to check their availability. District Councillor Siddall currently has the mobile tommies which will need to be collected and then located in the parish.
RESOLVED Chairman Lawrence will liaise with District Councillor Siddall about the service and the tommies.
24.143 Tru Cam report
The latest report received was for August when four people were caught speeding.
24.144 Invoices presented for payment
- Gardiner Clerk’s salary August £180.33
LT Evangelical Church Hire of hall £20.00
24.145 Correspondence
The Operations Manager from Elmcroft Nursing Home had emailed to ask about finding local people to volunteer at the home and community liaison. The Clerk had suggested he could write an article for the parish newsletter or to go on the noticeboards and social media. All other correspondence had been circulated to all Councillors.
24.146 Update from District Councillor
No report from Councillor Hughes.
24.147 Public questions
A resident reported that her dog had been attacked in the village earlier in the year and she had reported this to the dog warden at MDC. She also suggested that it would be better for play equipment to be fenced off to stop dogs fouling near to the equipment.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.26pm.
Signed by the Chairman…………..…………………………
ITEMS FOR NEXT MONTH’S AGENDA – 5th November 2024
Remembrance Service
Christmas