DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of
the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held on 18 October 2006
Present: Councillors: J. Thomson (Chairman), A. Keeler (Vice Chairman),
S.
Berlyn (ex officio), Mrs J Wells, D. Whiteing,
M.
Wood (ex officio).
In attendance: John
Bowen
Assistant
Clerk to Facilities.
Public Question time Three members of the public were present.
44 Apologies for Absence
The Clerk to the Parish
Council as she was on holiday.
45 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Berlyn declared an interest in Minute 49.2 by virtue of his
membership of the County Casualty Reduction Board.
46 Minutes of the Meeting Held on 6 September
2006
46.1 One
amendment was made to the Minutes as follows:
In attendance, John Bowen’s
name was spelt incorrectly. It should be
Bowen, not Bowan
46.2 A
request was made to keep Beaumont Park to the Heights be kept on the
agenda. Subsequent to the meeting it was noted that there is no further update
on the position.
RESOLVED that, with the
amendment above, the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2006 be
approved and duly signed as a correct record.
Public Question Time was
taken at this point.
Three members of the public
were present. Photographs were
circulated of parking violations at Eves Corner by the cycle racks and the
entrance to the adjacent private road. Concern was expressed over inappropriate parking and youths causing
problems. Several examples of behaviour
had given stress and intimidation to the residents. Prior to the installation of the cycle racks
the same level of problems had not occurred. A request was made to move the racks to the other end of the parking
area as this was not so close to residential accommodation and it was thought,
could alleviate the noise problem caused by youths and release two car parking
areas.
The Chairman of Committee
closed the public question time. He
invited the members of public to remain in the meeting and offered to bring
forward Item 12 to this point. The members
of the public expressed their opinion that any further discussion would not
change the Members’ minds and so were inclined to leave the meeting.
47 Footpaths
Mapping for Danbury Footpaths Leaflet. It
was reported that a draft copy of the leaflet was being produced for
comment. Mr Bolwell gave a brief
background to the Footpath Working Party. The level of cost of production of the leaflet and an indication of the
funding available was reported as:
Leaflet cost =
£1500 for 2000 copies.
Funding = Danbury
Society grant £300-400. Essex County
Council contribution of 50%. Danbury
Parish Council £300-400. Two copies of
the latest draft map were circulated at the meeting. It was suggested that Mr Bolwell take one
copy and the second be left in the Parish Office for Parish Councillors to
examine.
RESOLVED that a)
Mr Bowen take away one copy of the map to examine in detail.
b) The Parish
Councillors be advised that a copy of the map would be made available in the
Parish Office for them to identify any errors. Comments would be required before the meeting of the Working Party on 7
November.
c) The Clerk to
design a form to stay with the office copy of the map to enable Councillors to
make a standard response.
d) A formal thank
you be sent to the Danbury Society.
e) The Working
Party report back to Committee with information on when the leaflet was likely
to be published, how it would be distributed, whether a charge would be made
for it. 48 Report from
Planning Committee
48.1 Change
of use of A5 (Takeaway). The Parish
Council opposed the application.
48.2 Telecommunications Tower, Little Baddow Road. These
applications would be determined by the Committee rather than under delegated
powers.
RESOLVED that the
information be noted.
49 Highways
49.1 Traffic Management in the Vicinity of Butts Lane,
Danbury.
A copy of a letter
sent by a member of the public to Essex County Highways was received. The comments of the Parish Council would be
published in the Danbury Times and it was agreed those comments should be
passed to ECC Highways.
RESOLVED that the
views of the Parish Council be sent to the Area Highways Manager.
49.2 Essex County Highways. It
was reported that documentation regarding making a commitment to drive more
slowly was available in the Parish office should Members wish to read it. Cllr Berlyn had declared an interest in this
item. He requested that the Committee
formally agree to support the monthly road safety campaigns. Cllr Wood advised that an article on one of
the campaigns was in the next edition of the Danbury Times.
RESOLVED that a)
The information be noted.
b) The Committee
formally support the road safety campaigns. RESOLVED that the situation be reported to Highways. 50 Street Light
Outside United Reformed Church
It was reported
that BT would not permit lanterns on their telegraph poles. It was understood that they were not
permitted on electricity poles either.
RESOLVED that a)
The information be noted.
b) The item be
taken off the agenda.
51 Environment
Budget 2006 – 2007
Members discussed
the budget. The question of the progress
of Essex CC funding a new bus shelter opposite The Avenue going towards Maldon
as part of the A414 improvements was raised.
RESOLVED that a)
The draft budget be forwarded to Resources Committee.
Subsequently It was ascertained that Mrs Lambert was
happy to continue working on the Junk Swaps.
b) Essex CC be
approached as to the supply of a new bus shelter opposite The Avenue.
52 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 1995. Chelmsford Borough Council could provide a speaker for this Act. This item would need to go on Parish Council
Agenda for January 2007.
RESOLVED that a
speaker be invited to the Parish Council in January.
53 Daffodils The date of Wednesday 1 November 2006 had
been booked with the Chelmsford Borough Council. If the daffodils were not available for this
date a reserve date of Wednesday 15 N ovember had been made.
RESOLVED that the
information be noted.
54 Quarries
54.1 St Clere’s Hall Nothing further was reported.
54.2 Royal Oak Quarry The next meeting is on Tuesday 24 October
2006. The Chairman of the Council
advised that he could not attend that meeting.
RESOLVED that Cllr
Thomson attend the meeting on 24 October.
54.3 Sandon Quarry Nothing further was reported.
55 Eves Corner
55.1 Parking Enforcement. The suggestion
on whether to invite a Parking Enforcement Officer to a future meeting was
discussed.
RESOLVED that the
Head of Parking Enforcement be invited to the next Environment meeting.
55.2 Update from Residents. Discussion on the car parking and removal or re-positioning of the
cycle racks was held. It was considered
that the issue of parking could be raised at the meeting referred to in Minute
55.1. Although the Members were
sympathetic to the situation that the local residents had put forward, they
were not convinced as to the solution. A
question was raised as to whether the Parish Council should commission more
Community Police Support Officer (CPSO) time. Cllr Keeler proposed that the racks be moved temporarily. The proposal was not supported.
RESOLVED that a)
The matter of parking be raised at the meeting with the Head of Parking
Enforcement. c) No action was
to be taken to move the cycle racks at the present time.
d) Cycle racks to
remain on the agenda so that the position can be monitored.
56 Draft
Gambling Licensing Policy
The document from
Chelmsford Borough Council was discussed.
RESOLVED that a
response should be made to include:
i) The Parish
Council should be classed as a statutory consultee and not only as an
‘Interested Party’.
ii) The Parish
Council should be notified of any applications in Danbury.
57 Hatfield
Peverel Traffic Meeting
Notes of the Joint
Traffic Working Group meeting held on 12 September had been circulated with the
agenda. The next meeting is to be held
at Danbury Parish Council on Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 7. 30 p.m.
RESOLVED that a)
The Committee continue to participate in the Working Party.
b) Cllr Berlyn and
Cllr Mrs Wells to attend the next meeting.
58 Bus Shelter
(Runsell Green)
It was reported
that the Groundsman had completed works to the bus shelter by removing the ivy
and cutting a branch back. He had
ascertained that there is a telegraph pole in the way which causes problems
with seeing when the bus is coming. The
Trees were not overhanging the bus shelter.
RESOLVED that the
information be noted.
59 Consultation
on the Review of Young Persons Family Planning Service
The Consultation
was discussed and it was proposed that the distribution should include young
people in schools.
RESOLVED that
Committee’s comments be sent.
60 Community Awards/Hoynors Pond
60.1 It was reported that the litter pickers of
Danbury will be receiving a Community Award at the Awards Ceremony to be held
on 25 October 2006 at the Civic Centre in Chelmsford. The prizes will be presented by the Mayor of
Chelmsford.
60.2 It was reported that the British Trust for
Community Volunteers will be completing a project on the pond at Hoynors on
Sunday 19 November 2006.
RESOLVED that the
information be noted.
61 Matters For Report
61.1 Cllr Whiteing attended the Essex Police
Authority & Community Consultative Group public meeting. He advised Members that there was little that
could be done about the cars that are for sale and park on grass verges.
61.2 Cllrs Wells advised that residents on Elm
Green had reported that an area that joins Riffhams Lane had been levelled
flat.
61.3 The Members were advised that it was unlikely
that the proposed tea room in The Lakes North Lodge may not go ahead due to
funding issues. 61.5 A request was made that an item on a time
capsule be on the next agenda.
Date of Next Meeting in 2006
6 December.
There being no further
business the meeting closed at 10.20 pm.
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