Back to Home page

Danbury Parish Council

REPORT ON THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

22 APRIL 2009

This year's Annual Parish Meeting was held in the Sports & Social Centre, Danbury, on the evening of Wednesday 22nd April 2009.

Numbers attending were slightly down on recent years at around 75 members of the public. However, the usual stalls representing the many clubs and organisations active in the village were present, and were viewed with interest. Light refreshments were served as residents circulated and talked to Parish Councillors and staff.

The guest speakers at the formal meeting, which was opened by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Stuart Berlyn, were Joy Sheppard, Chief Executive, and Alison East, County Training Officer, from the Essex Association of Local Councils (EALC).

Mrs Sheppard congratulated the Parish Council on its re-accreditation as a Quality Council, and spoke of the achievements which had led the Judging Panel to make the award. She formally presented the framed Certificate to the Chairman. Mrs East spoke about a new government initiative called the 'Power of Well-Being', and the training required by the Clerk and Councillors in order to take this on. This would give the Parish Council extra powers to undertake projects to promote the well-being of the village.

The minutes of the 2008 Annual Meeting were approved, and the Chairman then gave his annual report on the Parish Council's activities. In 2008 Danbury had won the Best Kept village award for the second year running, and the Best Kept Playing Field award for the third year running. The War Memorial had been refurbished, new equipment had been added to the children's play area, a youth shelter had been installed and renovations had been carried out at the Sports & Social Centre. An electricity pillar for the Christmas tree lights and bollards to protect pedestrians had been installed at Eves Corner. Public meetings had been held on two contentious issues, and Phase 2 of the Drainage and Car Parks Project had been completed. Planning for Phase 3, the final phase, was underway - this would involve resurfacing and improving the lighting in the two car parks, and upgrading the path to the Parish Office, Tennis and Bowling Clubs.

The Chairman of the Resources Committee, Cllr David Whiteing, presented the audited accounts for 2007/08 (the latest available), and reported that the Parish Council had kept the increase in Precept for 2009/10 below 5%. Unfortunately Chelmsford Borough Council had withdrawn one of its annual subsidies to Parish Councils, which made the increase appear much larger to residents. CBC had explained this in its publication Borough Life, circulated to all households.

In Public Question Time several issues were raised and received information or a promise of investigation by the Parish Council. These included:

• Questions about the car parks, lighting, and access improvements under the Drainage Project;
• A suggestion for an additional youth shelter near to the Main Road;
• The need for a bus shelter on the north side of Maldon Road;
• Refurbishment to the area outside the public toilets;
• The timing of the pedestrian crossing lights outside the Co-op;
• The long waiting period for a decision on the quarry proposal at Tyndales Farm;
• The condition of the Old Tea Rooms at Runsell Green;
• Thanks expressed to the staff of the Sports Centre for their helpful attitude throughout the year, and to ECC Highways staff for the consideration shown to local residents during maintenance work on Bicknacre Road.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Chairman thanked Councillors, staff, and everyone present for their help and support over the last year and for attending the meeting.