DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Meeting Held on Wednesday 27 September 2006

at 7.30pm in the Parish Office

 

Present:   Cllrs

S Berlyn (Chairman)

A Allen

J Brooks

A Keeler

D Powell

M Telling

J Thomson

D Whiteing

M Wood (Vice Chairman)

 

In attendance:

Mrs M Saunders, Clerk

Mrs E Blyth, Assistant Clerk

Mrs M Moss, Assistant Clerk

Chelmsford Borough Councillor Christopher Kingsley

Sally Irving, Corporate Strategy Officer, Chelmsford Borough Council

 

Public Question Time

No members of the public were present.

 

Cllr Berlyn was delayed.  Cllr Wood, Vice Chairman, took the Chair.

 

57 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Hawkins, Matthews and Mrs Wells.

 

58 Declarations of Interest – None were made.

 

59 Minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2006

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

Agenda Item 6 regarding Charters was taken first.

 

60 Charters

Sally Irving, Corporate Strategy Officer, Chelmsford Borough Council went through the Aims of the Charter. 

 

It was explained that there were records of a charter being commenced back in the 1990’s.  The Charter would be a way of the Borough Council offering practical help to the parishes.  If there were matters across the district which related to more than one parish it had been identified that clustering could be used.

 

Workshops were to be held on 2nd November, 2006 which included two presentations and four workshops:- Develop a Charter for Chelmsford, Feedback from Initial Consultation, Practical Support from Chelmsford Borough Council, Sharing Information and Consultation, Clustering Benefits and Parish Plans.

 

It is hoped from the consultation and the workshops a final draft can be put together. 

 

The following are details of comments made to the Corporate Strategy Officer by the Parish Council regarding the Draft Charter.

 

·        Concerns were raised that “Quality Status” was not mentioned under Paragraph 4 of the document.  It was stated that this was deliberately not mentioned so as not to alienate parish councils without this status.  Members felt that leaving this out could alienate parish councils with the status.

·        Regarding the Local Strategic Partnership concerns were raised that the Parish Plans when first started were driven by Central Government and were driven from the Parish upwards.  Through this partnership, headings were being suggested for plans changing the method of obtaining information and thus not reflecting what the Parish wants.  Also there was no Parish Council representation on this Committee. The Local Strategic Partnership needed to consider what the Parish required and to discuss how they could help the Parish.

·        Concerns were also raised regarding timescales for consultation.  Notice of 2 months was required so that items could be placed on parish council agendas.

·        Items 23 and 24 did not cover existing parish plans.  Danbury does not have a Village Design Statement but has a Danbury Development Framework which is currently with the Planning Department for consultation.

·        Also under item 24 additional wording “where appropriate adopt the proposals”.

·        Every paragraph of the charter started with Chelmsford Borough Council which could appear very heavy handed to the parishes.

·        Members felt that it was a good starting point for discussion and feedback would need to be obtained before a final charter was made.

The Chairman of the Council arrived.

·        The Association of Chelmsford District Councils should ascertain current membership if this was to be a vehicle with which to disseminate information to the parishes.

·        Under Item 7 of the document the word “the role that parish and town councils should take” should be changed to “may”.

·        Under Item 8 Chelmsford Borough Council will help organise the administration of parish town councils elections, the words “and fund” should be added.

·        Also under 8 the number of regular Parish Liaison Meetings should be stated.

·        Under No 11 the phrase “and officers reports” should be added.

 

The Vice Chairman thanked the Corporate Strategy Officer and she left the meeting.  The Vice Chairman of the Council handed over the meeting to the Chairman of the Council.

 

61 Vacancies for Parish Councillors

61.1  It was reported that a resignation letter had been received from Mrs C. Creak.  Notice of the vacancy would be placed on the notice board and the CBC would be advised.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

61.2  The Chairman had requested Members to consider the decrease of Councillors as there had been no interest in the previous two vacancies that had been advertised.  After discussion it was felt that the number of councillors should remain the same.

RESOLVED that the level of councillors be maintained as at present.

 

62 Timetable of Meetings for 2007

The timetable for meetings for 2007 had to be changed due to May elections, the new one was distributed at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

63 Leases 

63.1  Sports and Social Club Lease  It was reported that the exchange of documents for the lease took place on 17 August 2006.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

63.2  Bowling Club Lease 
63.2 i) It was reported that the agenda item about the increase in ground rent had the incorrect date on.  Further to Minute 35b Parish Council 26 July 2006 permitting the Bowling Club to pay £500.00 in Ground Rent for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.  The Bowling Club was now prepared to pay £1,000.00 Ground Rent for the year 2007/2008 due to finalisation of the loan for the changing rooms.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

63.2 ii) The draft lease was received today. 

RESOLVED that the draft lease be circulated to Cllrs Berlyn, Brooks, Hawkins and Wood.

 

63.3  Lingwood Common 

The Clerk reported that there had been no further update from Essex County Council.  The situation with the fencing had remained the same.  The land was registered as village green and the dispute is between ECC and the resident.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

63.4  Dial Common

The Clerk had researched this area at the request of the Vice Chairman of the Council.  The area was registered as Common Land.

RESOLVED that a) The information be noted.

b) The Parish Council maintained the land.

 

64 Corporate Identity of Parish Council  
Ideas for a new identity were received from Chris Tressider on the day of the meeting.  Cllr Berlyn explained that he had initiated the idea of new letter headings as the current one needed to be updated.  Cllr Whiteing reminded the Members that later in the Agenda the possibility of changing the name of ‘Parish Council’ may be discussed. 

RESOLVED that a) Both hard and electronic copies of the samples be distributed to all Members.

b) This item be put on the next agenda.

c) Chris Tressider be thanked for the work he had done.

 

65 Danbury Medical Centre 
It was reported that a Public Meeting could not be held at the current time.  

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

66.1  Publicity Danbury Times 

66.1 i) Cllr Wood reported that the next edition of the Danbury Times would be increased from 8 to 12 pages and included an article from the Police.  It should be published in readiness for the Parish Council on 29 November.  Cllr Wood thanked those councillors who had offered to do extra distribution and Cllr Powell offered his help.  The Clerk reminded Cllr Berlyn that it had been previously minuted that he would prepare an article about the car parks.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.


66.1 ii)  Cllr Berlyn advised Members that the County Casualty Reduction Partnership would be running a campaign each month on safety and requested Members to consider including details in the Danbury Times with a theme on road safety.  Cllr Allen said he supported the initiative on road safety but was concerned about the Parish Council promoting County-wide or national campaigns.  Cllr Wood proposed that an advertisement from the campaign be put on the back page of the Danbury Times.  This was seconded by Cllr Brooks. 

A recorded vote was held.

Voting on the proposal was as follows:

In favour          Cllrs Berlyn, Brooks, Powell, Thomson, Whiteing and Wood.

Against           Cllr Allen        

Abstentions    Cllrs Keeler, Telling.

The proposal was carried.

 

66.2  EALC AGM 
Cllr Berlyn advised Members that the Danbury Times had received three awards from the EALC.  These were 1st Place and a Commendation in the Large Sized Councils both in the Annual Report Competition 2006 and a Commendation in the Large Councils Annual Newsletter Competition.  Cllr Berlyn said that the judge had praised Danbury on the inclusion of photographs, names, addresses, telephone numbers and emails of every councillor in the newsletter.  He thanked Cllr Wood in particular for his contribution.

RESOLVED that a) Special thanks be made to all those involved in the publications.

b) A formal letter of thanks be sent to Chris Tressider.

 

67 Community Decline & Charter 88 Campaign for a Modern Democracy – Empowering Citizens and Local Councils

Cllr Allen proposed that Members supported the Campaign and to send the Early Day Motion to our MP.  This was seconded by Cllr Thomson.

Voting on the proposal was as follows:

          In favour  8        Against  0       Abstentions  1

The proposal was carried.

 

68 Reports from Village Organisations

68.1 The Landisdale Charity  Minutes of 10 May 2006 had been circulated.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.
68.2 Twinning  It was reported that the 25th anniversary of the Twinning will be next year and Cllr Whiteing had included an article on this for the next edition of the Danbury Times.
RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

69 NALC Local Democracy Week (16 – 20 October 2006) 

69.1 Cllr Allen said that the Parish Council had been involved on previous occasions and had included local schools.  Cllrs Allen, Berlyn, Brooks, Whiteing and Wood said they would be happy to participate.

RESOLVED that a) Inform the local schools that the Parish Council is willing to visit them to say how we work with young people in the village.

b) That Sandon Parish Council be written to to request that Danbury Councillors could visit Sandon School.

 

69.2 Cllr Berlyn mentioned that a Youth Council had been discussed in the past.

RESOLVED that this be raised as an item on a future agenda.

 

70 NALC Parish and Town Councils Development of the Sector

The Clerk advised that the Report circulated with the agenda was for information.  A question was raised regarding the Parish Council being able to change its name.  It was explained that this had not been passed as yet.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

71 NHS Family Health Services Rurality of Danbury

Items 16 and 18 were taken as the same item.  The document was discussed and errors noted such as: the nearest hospital is St Peter’s, Broomfield; Broomfield is the nearest Accident and Emergency hospital; the Indian and Chinese take-away was one combined take-away.  The Clerk reported that she had spoken to Helen Cox, Family Health Services who had circulated the document.  The Clerk had been unable to get clear information other than that if an additional pharmacy was planned it could have prejudicial interest to the existing pharmacy.

RESOLVED that The Clerk write to Helen Cox to give the Parish Council comments and to determine what the implications are for Danbury.

 

72 Parish Council Meetings

The Members considered changing the commencement time for meetings to 7.30 p.m.  Cllr Berlyn suggested that the Chairs of Committees have a meeting to discuss how to run meetings more time efficiently.

RESOLVED that a) The commencement times remain as they are at present i.e. Parish Council 7.45 pm and other Committees at 8.00 pm.

b) Chairs of Committees would do their utmost to finish meetings on time.

c) Cllr Berlyn to arrange a meeting of Chairs of Committees.

 

73 Essex Police Authority Police and Community Consultative Group Public Meeting

Notification had been received that the next public meeting of the group would take place on Tuesday 10 October 2006 at King Edward VI Grammar School Broomfield Road.  Cllrs Wood and Whiteing informed Members that they would attend.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

74 Tourism and Leisure Show 2007

It was reported that there would be a Tourism and Leisure Show at the International Hall Brentwood Centre Essex on Thursday 22 February 2007 from 10.00 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Cllr Whiteing said that Twinning usually send some members.  The Clerk advised that she had literature of the Show if Members wanted to see it.

RESOLVED that enquiries be made to see if complimentary entrance tickets could be obtained.

 

75Reports from Committees and Sub-Committees

Cllr Allen said that Derek Stebbings, CBC had requested a 40 minute meeting to discuss the Parish Action Plan after the CBC planning familiarity meeting on 18 October. 

RESOLVED that a) The Councillors attending the CBC planning meeting would meet with Derek Stebbings.

b) The Clerk determine the time of the meeting with Derek Stebbings.

 

76 Next  Meeting of the Parish Council

29 November 2006.

 

Business having been concluded, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50 pm.