Present
- Present
- Cllrs C. Hamilton (Chair), V. Cauvain, T. Spong, D. Botterell, K. Millar, L. Fitzpatrick, K. Green, G. Foster, J. Beady and K. Harkin Parish Clerk. Also in attendance were, TDC Cllr Peter Harris and 8 members of the public.
Apologies
None received
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2024 were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Cauvain and it was Resolved: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2024 as an accurate record of proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
The Chair invited councillors to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests relevant to the agenda. Cllr Fitzpatrick declared an interest in item 008 (24/00343/WTPO) and Cllr Green in item 010.
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk summarized the issues in his previously circulated monthly report, which is attached as Appendix A.
Public Participation
The Chair invited the members of public in attendance to raise any questions/issues.
- Julia from Weeley in Bloom advised that the crazy paving around the bench at Reed Pond was breaking up and covered in weeds and would like the council to consider options to either grass over or replace
- A member of the public mentioned the rubbish issues at Willow Park but this is covered on the agenda
Tendring District and Essex County Councils
TDC Cllr P Harris: reported that
- The abandoned car at the station has now been removed
- Willow Park has been reported to Waste Enforcement Officer. Cllr Hamilton suggested that CCTV coverage is considered for the area around the site and Cllr Botterell said he would provide the TDC Rapid Deployment Form to the clerk to complete.
- The previous TDC offices have been cleared of rubbish
- On 19th March TDC Full Council will be meeting to discuss changing times of planning meetings and Cllr Harris will strongly advise against this. Also he will be proposing an amendment to the planning process to include trees with TPOs.
- No update on the flood in Crow Lane or potholes in Weeley. Paving has been raised as an issue.
- Cllr Harris suggested the Parish Council look into a private house in Crow Lane that appears to be operating a car sales business.
Correspondence
The Clerk informed that he has received a targeted consultation invitation, which he will circulate to councillors for their consideration and individual response.
Planning Applications
Council Members considered the applications set out in Appendix B.
Public Rights of Way (PROW)
The Clerk reported that himself, the Chair and Cllr Fitzpatrick had attended a course and found it interesting. Open Spaces who ran the course are asking Parish Councils to get more involved with their Open Spaces. The Chair said the legal part of the course was particularly interesting. The Chair proposed and Cllr Cauvain seconded that Weeley PC joins the Open Spaces Society at a cost of £45 per year. Resolved: to join the Open Spaces Society.
Finance and Budget
The list of monthly payments was proposed by Cllr Botterell, and seconded by Cllr Hamilton and it was Resolved: To approve the list of payments set out in Appendix C.
Weeley Parish Council Reports
- Street Lighting: Cllr Green reported that streetlight number 9038 situated in Bentley Road/Fields Close was not working.
- Tree Warden: Cllr Green reported all recently planted trees are looking good. He agreed to collect and plant two donated trees
- Playing Field: Is still waterlogged but more so in the new play area
- Children’s Play Area: The weather has hampered progress and it will not be completed by Easter. The Clerk has reported the lack of security at the site to the contractor.
- Highways & Footpaths: Cllr Beady presented her report which is attached as Appendix D.
- Footpaths: Cllr Fitzpatrick advised that she has reported a damaged sign on Footpath 16. Cllr Hamilton reported that a ditch alongside a property in Clacton Road is somehow blocked and an alternative has been dug out which is allowing overflow water to flood the public footway. She has asked Cllr Land to investigate his matter.
- Transport: Cllr Millar reported that fares are set to increase but that the £2 fare initiative will continue until at least December. Buses to Jaywick had been temporarily suspended due to damage (to a bus) caused by potholes. They had restarted but may be suspended again if more damage occurs.
- TDALC: Cllr Botterell advised that there has been no meeting since our last meeting.
Other Reports
- Rural Policing: The Chair noted that 11 crimes were reported in Weeley in January 2023.
- Speedwatch: Cllr. Beady reported that no Speedwatch has been carried out, but, that they are looking for suggestions for a new site this year. Her report is attached as Appendix E.
- Weeley Residents Ass: Mrs Miles presented her report, which is attached as Appendix F.
- Weeley in Bloom (WiB): Julia Hopgood presented her report.
- Petanque Rink: Mrs Holt had given her apologies for not being able to attend and advised she has nothing to report.
Public Participation
It was suggested by a member of the public that the date of the next meeting could be added to the minutes. The clerk agreed this was a sensible suggestion.
Cllr Harris added that he had reported the parking of HGVs etc on Connaught Road to TDC and he would keep track of this.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.26pm.
Date of Next Meeting
Monday 15th April at 7.30pm
Clerks Report
| Topic | Action/issue | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Children’s Play Area | Complete installation. | The playground installation has been delayed by the wet weather. The security of the site has become an issue and concerns have been brought to the attention of the contractor. |
| Emergency Plan | Annual update. | The final draft has been circulated for comment. |
| Litter Bins | Install additional bins | Awaiting TDC to forward the costs applicable for installing the additional bins. |
| Scout Hut | Prepare a new lease. | The scouts representatives have made clear that the scouts want a 21 year lease. WPC’s solicitor has confirmed that this will complicate the lease and make it more expensive to prepare. |
| Weeley bypass | Determine options for the avenue of poplars | The Clerk has agreed to contact ECC Place Services to chase for a firm proposal including numbers and species of trees to plant. |
| Bank Account | Process two additional signatories. Set up BACS payment process |
|
| Electricity Supplier | Appoint an electricity broker. | Outstanding. |
| Reed Pond | Initiate Management Plan |
|
a. All local authorities in the UK have been offered a FOC portrait of King Charles III. An order has been ordered for WPC.
b. The date of the Council’s annual internal audit inspection has been scheduled on 19 April 2024.
c. The date of the Annual Parish Meeting (APM) has been set on the same evening and immediately after the Councils monthly meeting on Monday 15 April 2024.
Planning Applications for Month to 18 March 2024
| Application No. | Details | Address | Comment/Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/00225/ROC | Application under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act for Removal of Condition 2 (agricultural occupancy condition) of application TEN/483/63 as the property is no longer part of the farming business. | Nightingales 23 Mill Lane Weeley Heath | No comment or objection. |
| 24/00288/WTPO | Trees in a Conservation Area Notification - Crown lift 1 x Oak Tree. | Weeley Playing Field Old Clacton Rd Weeley | No comment or objection. |
| 24/00235/FUL | Planning Application - Proposed increase in height to 1.1m of the boundary treatment fronting Clacton Road and retrospective approval for the 1.28m high field gates. | Land North-West of Connaught Rd Lt Clacton | No Issue in principal. The sketch shown is incorrect as it doesn’t show the public foortpath. Cllrs have no issue as long as the PROW is unrestricted and accessible. |
| 24/00343/WTPO | Works related to Tree Preservation Order (11/00020/TPO) – various oak trees. | 20 Cravenwood Close Weeley CO16 9DG | Proposed Cllr Hamilton, seconded Cllr Spong and Resolved: to object to the application, The trees pose no obstruction, this work was carried out recently and ther appear no reason to carry out the work. As a minimum WPC would like to see a arboriculturists report that demonstrates the need. |
| 24/00206/FULHH | Householder Planning Application - Alterations to rear extension including a new flat roof. | 15 Fields Close Weeley | Comment. As long as the neighbour are happy no objection. |
Payments: March 2024
| Invoice Date | Invoice No. | Cheque No. | Payee | Service | NET £ | VAT £ | GROSS £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-03-24 | 10001585753 | DD | Castle Water | Reed Pond - Water Standing Charge | 6.38 | 0 | 6.38 |
| 05-03-24 | IN09852890 | DD | NPower | Street Lighting Electricity | 436.21 | 21.81 | 458.02 |
| 26-01-24 | SI-20055 | 103360 | AD Mitchell | Replacement LED light fitting on Clacton Rd | 225.00 | 45.00 | 270.00 |
| 02-02-24 | SI-20064 | 103360 | AD Mitchell | Repair damaged power cable on b/ball court | 249.00 | 49.80 | 298.80 |
| 19-02-24 | 1011 | 103361 | Kevin Greenscapes | Supply & Plant 10 x mature trees | 3,000.00 | 600.00 | 3,600.00 |
| 14-03-24 | 70343 | 103362 | GCS Ltd | Replace CCTV monitor | 213.85 | 42.77 | 256.62 |
| 31-03-24 | 103363 | K Harkin | Salary – Mar. | 703.44 | 0 | 703.44 | |
| 31-03-24 | 103363 | K Harkin | Phone and B/B | 44.38 | 8.87 | 53.25 | |
| 31-03-24 | 103363 | K Harkin | Mileage | 11.27 | 0 | 11.27 | |
| 02-01-25 | 103363 | K Harkin | Padlock for playing field gate | 8.33 | 1.66 | 9.99 | |
| 17-03-24 | 103364 | C Hamilton | Padlock for playing field gate | 22.06 | 4.41 | 26.47 | |
| TOTALS | 4,919.92 | 774.32 | 5,694.24 | ||||
Bank balances as at 13 March 2024; current account £28,242.63; deposit account £85,039.42.
Highways Report
Essex Highways seems to have a new response to reports and now you have to guess which answer applies, your choices are: A. Does not meet requirement for repair. B. Added to our programme for a future repair, C. Temporarily fixed and waiting for a permanent repair or D. Repair completed. I don’t think there will be many D’s but at least you don’t have to guess at that one.
As you may recall a few months ago, I reported the holes and cracks in the Street and the hole by the noticeboard. At the time Essex highways lumped them all together, investigated and replied ‘does not reach investigation levels. Earlier in the month I took more photos of these same areas, re-reported them stating the previous reference numbers and the above response. I recieved an almost immediate reply saying ‘We already know about this, which is not paarticularly helpful. Has it finally reached ‘fixing’ levels?
The potholes on the North side of Colchester road continue to worsen with potholes developing within them and the South side will soon look like the North. The South sides break up have been sprayed with paint but as I said to someone last week ‘To my knowledge the North side potholes have been spray painted at least three times. I think they do it to lead us into a sort of false sense of security and make us think they are going to fix them’.
Speedwatch Report
We still have been unable to speedwatch due to unforeseen/unheard circumstances. (co-ordinators hearing affected due to the Flu) However we still haven’t been sedentary and as we are allowed to nominate one new site a year, we are now looking for that site. Many people have asked us to do Mill Lane but there is no viable space that would reach all the criteria needed. The next most asked for site is The Street, which again has no suitable space due to all the parked cars. So Fraser and I are looking for your suggestions and meanwhile we are investigating areas along Thorpe/Colchester Road, Clacton Road/Village hall side and Rectory Road.
At the end of March across Tendring, Speedwatchers will be out and DC Martyn Wells will be joining the different groups at different times. Weeley speedwatchers will be participating.
Report of Weeley Residents Association
We had a very successful Race Night evening recently and several people enjoyed good winnings. This afternoon (18th March) we had a talk by The National Animal Welfare Trust in Little Clacton, they are one of the largest rescue and rehoming charities in England.
On Saturday 23rd March we have a popular Bingo Night with a fish and chip supper which will be subsidise by WRA.
Our outings for the coming months are getting good support and many members are keeping their fingers crossed for sunny weather so that they can be enjoyed to the full.
We are pleased to report that we have some new nominations for our incoming committee that will be formed at our AGM on 20th April. After more than six years as Chairman I shall be standing down and shall be continuing as a committee member to organise the popular outings that are enjoyed by many members.
We have our first Summer Ball on Saturday 1st June and the First Weeley Community Day on Saturday 9th June. So a busy time is fast approaching. We hope to see many residents at these events.