ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on 6 September, 2006 at 8pm in the Parish Office
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Present: Cllrs |
J Thomson (Chairman) A Keeler (Vice Chairman) D Whiteing Mrs J Wells M Wood (ex officio) |
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In attendance: |
John Bowen Clerk to Parish Council |
Five Members of the Public were present.
Public question time was moved to prior to Agenda Item 6 which was taken after the formalities of opening the meeting.
25 Apologies for
Absence
There were none.
26 Declarations of
Interest
There were none.
27 Minutes of the Environment Committee Meeting held on 6th June, 2006
RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th June, 2006 were a true record and were
adopted.
Public
Question Time was taken at this point.
Members
of the Public asked questions regarding the following:
When
resurfacing of the car park in
The
Chairman of the Council responded that this was an ongoing project and at
present tenders were being put together to appoint a Design and Build Consultant
to complete drainage and car park works. The Project would have large costs and this would be a long term project
and would not happen immediately.
A letter
regarding signage had been forwarded to Essex County Highways. A questions was
raised - when was reply going to be received. The Clerk had received a reply which she
thought had been forwarded to the Member of the Public, she would forward
document.
Members
of the Public were also here to listen to alternative proposal for
Another
Member of the Public raised concerns regarding Eves Corner regarding parking,
youths causing problems, the Parish Sign being demolished, requesting removal
of the cycle racks and parking problems causing access difficulties to her
home. Further complaint about the half hour enforcement of parking on Eves
Corner.
Members agreed to take item 6 on the Agenda
next.
28 Highways
28.1 Draft Traffic Management Scheme for
The further
alternative draft traffic scheme for central
Members
understood that the system was less than ideal and that there was congestion in
the are
RESOLVED:
that Members could not agree to the further proposal.
28.2. Through Traffic in
Letter
from resident asking to support a Danbury By-Pass had been circulated. Members were reminded of the Parish Council
Policy as per Minute 38 Parish Council 27th July, 2005.
“A Local
Danbury By-Pass is not achievable due to the environment in which we live. The Parish Council supports a
Maldon-Langford- Hatfield Peverel to A12 link, with a view to the current A414
being downgraded to B Status as recommended by the Ministry of Transport
Inquiry at Danbury Palace in 1995.”
Members
also reiterated that there had been a By-Pass Committee established in the past
which had not come up with a practical solution for a by-pass.
RESOLVED:
that the Clerk writes to the resident reiterating the aforementioned points.
28.3
Vehicle Activated Speed Signs and
Speed Indicator Devices
Documentation
had been received from Essex County Council Highways which had been circulated
to the Committee. Members agreed
unanimously not to pursue this any further.
At
Langford a Community Speed Watch Initiative had been initiated.
RESOLVED:
that a) the Council do not pursue the Vehicle Activated Speed Signs further
b) the
Clerk contact the Clerk at Langford and ascertain comments on the Speed Watch
Initiative.
Members agreed to take Item 14 Eves Corner on
the Agenda next.
29 Eves Corner
There had been a period of vandalism at this
location. It had been understood that
some residents would like the cycle racks removed that were installed by the
Parish Council as they had now become a gathering point for youths. This request had not been put in writing to
the Parish Council.
Member of the Public present for Question
Time was asked to put the request in writing together with any other residents
who wish the cycle racks removed. The
Members also requested that a log of incidents be kept. Police contact details were also supplied to
the resident.
RESOLVED: that the Member of the Public puts
the request in writing to remove the cycle racks.
30 Footpaths
30.1 Mapping for
Notes from a working party meeting with the
Footpaths Officer were circulated. A further meeting had been arranged with the
cartographer who would prepare a draft on 12th September, 2006. Chairman of Environment had also requested to
attend.
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
30.2
The Clerk had written to Essex County
Highways. A verbal response had been
received and stated that this was still on the Essex County Council Agenda when
the funding became available.
RESOLVED: that a) the information be noted
b) this item be kept on the Agend
31 Planning Issues
Referred from Planning Committee
31.1 Change of
The Change of Use for the Betting Shop had
been passed by Chelmsford Borough Council. The Planning Committee had considered a letter which had been forwarded
from the owner stating that the Betting Office Lease was in abeyance and
regarding alternative uses for the property.
A letter of reply had been forwarded to the
owner.
The Chairman of the Council was concerned
that the letter did not give the owner any guidance on the Parish Council’s
thoughts.
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
31.2
This item had been referred from the Planning
Committee Minute 80 on 31st July, 2006. Chelmsford Borough Council had agreed that
the Parish Council would be consulted regarding a lettings policy for this
development. This would be the
responsibility of the Environment Committee.
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
32 Solar Lighting re
Lighting outside United Reform Church
The Clerk had ascertained that solar lighting
would not emit sufficient light to be used. Members had previously been informed of the costs of installing a street
light. Members now wished investigation
to be completed on installing a light on a telegraph Pole on the other side of
the road. Members were also reminded that the Environment Committee were
committed to installing a street light.
RESOLVED: that Clerk to investigate the
installation of a light on a telegraph pole on the opposite side of the road.
Items 8 and 9 on the Agenda were taken
together.
33 A Guide to
improving the Local Environment
Encams had supplied a guide to improving the
local environment covering Litter, Dog Fouling, Waste Domestic and Business
Fly-Tipping, Abandoned and Nuisance Vehicles, Flyposting, Graffiti, Neighbour
Noise, Anti-Social Behaviour. This guide
is available at www.encams.org.
The Clerk thought this might help with the
Good Neighbour document.
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
33.1 Clean
Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 1995
The Clerk circulated information received
from Defra regarding the introduction on new powers for Parish Councils. It was essential that if this was implemented
a trained person would be required to issue the penalty notices. A suggestion was made that may the Parish
Council could part fund a Police Community Support Officer. Members decided to request an officer from
Chelmsford Borough Council to address a Parish Council Meeting before any
decisions were finalised.
RESOLVED: that the Clerk contact Chelmsford
Borough Council to request an officer to address Parish Council on the Clean Neighbourhoods
and Environment Act 1995.
34 Provision of Dog
Waste Bins
Four dog waste bins have been allocated by
Chelmsford Borough Council for
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
35 Daffodils
1,000 daffodils were being supplied by
Chelmsford Borough Council. A request
for volunteers was made. Cllrs Thomson
and Berlyn offered to help depending on dates.
RESOLVED: that Cllrs Thomson and Berlyn would
help depending on the dates.
36 Quarries
36.1 St Clere’s Hall – nothing further to
report.
36.2
36.3
Sandon
Quarry – nothing further to report.
37
Calor Best Kept Village
The Clerk had obtained the scoring sheet for
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
38 Draft Gambling
Licensing Policy
The draft document had been circulated
Members. Members were unsure whether a
different procedure was now in place for obtaining a Betting Office
Licence. The Closing date for comments
was 31st October, 2006.
RESOLVED: that the Clerk a) checks with the
Borough Council regarding the Betting Office Licence procedure
b) The item is placed on the next Agenda for
comment.
39
Members were asked if they wish to attend the
Annual General Meeting of the Essex Tourism Association to be held on Tuesday
17th October, 2006 at Wivenhoe House Hotel,
RESOLVED: that the information be noted.
40 Farleigh Hospice
The Parish Council had been requested to
answer the following questions:-
1. Display Farleigh Posters – this could be
done on open noticeboard
2. Hold a Display in one of Halls – speak
with DCA and Village Hall
3. Be willing to have a representative of
Farleigh Hospice speak at one of Parish Council Meetings – ask if they would
like a table at Annual Meeting
4. Consider Farleigh Hospice when making
grants – this had be done in the past.
RESOLVED: that the clerk replies including
the above answers.
41 Hatfield Peverel Traffic Meeting
A request for Members to attend this traffic
meeting to be held on 12th September, 2006 at Hatfield Peverel
Village Hall at 8.00 p.m. Cllr Berlyn
stated he would check his diary to attend with Cllr Mrs J Wells.
RESOLVED: that confirmation of who is
attending be forwarded to the Clerk after the meeting.
42 Trees
On Monday 28th August, 2006 Cllr
Whiteing was called to an area behind No.10 Landisdale as a tree branch had
fallen from a tree on to the resident’s fence damaging two panels. The Clerk had authorised emergency works to
remove the fallen branch from the are
During Cllrs Whiteing’s visit to the area it
was ascertained that notices had been placed on trees behind 6 Landisdale
requesting notification of ownership by 18th September. The Clerk had placed this in the hands of the
Council’s insurers to proceed in the correct manner.
Further correspondence had been received from
the owner of 5 The Hawthorns who has received permission from Chelmsford Borough
Council Tree Officer to cut back trees and was requesting permission from
Danbury Parish Council to cut back the trees.
RESOLVED: that this item is referred to
Facilities Committee and Resources Committee.
43 Bus Shelter Runsell Green
A letter from a local resident had been
received in June and it had been agreed for the Groundsman to clear the Bus
Shelter of the ivy. Unfortunately, the
Groundsman had been unable to complete these works due to a large amount of
vandalism and works to be completed on Dawson Memorial Field. Members decided that the overgrown trees were
the responsibility of the residents and letters should be written to them to
request that they are cut back.
RESOLVED: that the Clerk writes to the two
residents concerned and request that they cut back the trees.
Date of Next
Meetings
18th October, 2006 and 6th December, 2006
Business having been concluded the Chairman closed
the meeting at 10.20 p.m
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