- Present
- Cllrs C. Hamilton (Chair), K. Millar, V. Cauvain, T. Spong, J. Beady, L. Fitzpatrick, D. Botterell, K. Green and G. Foster. Also in attendance were K. Harkin Parish Clerk, ECC Cllr D Land, TDC Cllr Peter Harris and four members of the public.
Apologies
No apologies were received.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2023 were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Cauvain and agreed as a true record of proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
The Chair asked councillors for declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests relevant to the agenda. None were offered.
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk presented his previously circulated report, which is attached as Appendix A.
Public Participation
The Chair invited the members of the public in attendance to raise questions/issues.
- Mrs Barnes reported that the fencing of the car breaker’s yard at the train station has been relocated giving more room to access the station building. The station building remains up for sale.
- WiB’s Second Avenue Wilding project is progressing.
- Road surfacing remains a problem but many country lanes appear to have be being resurfaced.
Tendring District and Essex County Councils
TDC Cllr P. Harris; has received complaints about recent activity in Gutteridge Hall Lane. The ditch filled-in and tarmacked over. Cllr Harris intends to alert TDC’s Enforcement Team.
Cllr Harris reported that he cannot continue to support the Conservative Party and so he has resigned today together with TDC Cllr Bray and they have formed a new group at TDC, which is called Tendring Residents’ Alliance.
The Clerk agreed to write to the Chair of the TDC Planning Committee about rescheduling Planning Committee meetings to commence at 5pm.
ECC Cllr D. Land;
- He is surprised that the potholes on Colchester Road have been assessed as not serious enough to warrant repair at this time and he intends to pursue this matter.
- Cllr Land suspects that the additional budget provision will result in improvements on ECC Highways maintenance this year.
Correspondence
The Clerk reported that he had received no relevant correspondence.
Playing Field Tree Planting Proposal
Cllr Green outlined his ambition to plant more trees around the village. He proposed initially that the Council plants ten large trees 5m tall at a cost of £2,500 around the perimeter of the Playing Field. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Botterell and Resolved: To plant ten trees of various species around the perimeter of the Playing Field.
Planning Applications
The list of planning applications set out in Appendix B were considered by the Council.
Finance and Budget
The list of payments previously circulated was proposed by Cllr Hamilton, seconded by Cllr Botterell and Resolved: To approve the list of monthly payments set out in Appendix C.
Weeley Parish Council Reports
- Street Lighting; Cllr Green reported that just one is not working.
- Tree Warden; Cllr Green reported that after consulting with the Forestry Commission, it has been agreed to ‘tidy’ the areas surrounding the paths in The Spinney. Also, it is planned to do a little maintenance on a couple of trees on the Playing Field. It was agreed to inspect hedges around the perimeter of the Playing Field that are currently not included in the Council’s grounds maintenance contract.
- Playing Field; Notwithstanding the tree work there are no other issues.
- Children’s Play Ground; This item was dealt with in the Clerk’s Report.
- Highways and Footpaths: Cllr Beady reported that we await the potholes in various locations previously reported to be repaired. The Clerk reported that Tendring Ramblers completed a survey of all the footpaths in Weeley. The results indicate that the footpaths are in very good shape and better than most other parishes in Tendring.
- Public Transport: The Essex public transport meeting was postponed and rescheduled to March 2024.
Other Reports
- TDALC; The monthly meeting will be held on 22 November. The minutes will be circulated to councillors.
- Rural Policing; A total of 8 crimes were reported in Weeley in September.
- Speedwatch; Cllr Beady advised that no speedwatch sessions were conducted in October but that it is hoped to recommence them again in December.
- Weeley Residents Ass (WRA); Mrs D. Miles sent her apologies.
- Weeley in Bloom (WiB); Mrs Barnes reported that the winter bedding has been planted around the village. WiB will be working on the area surrounding the memorial bench on The Street. Work is being planned at Reed Pond.
- Petanque Rink; Mrs B. Holt forwarded her apologies for not attending the meeting and noted that there was little to update from last month.
Public Participation
The Chair invited the members of public present to raise any questions or issues.
- An observation was made that local bus services appear to have reduced. It was agreed to try to get on the circulation list that reports changes in bus services and timetables.
- It was noted that work has been completed by parties unknown in Gutteridge Hall Lane filling in a ditch and tarmacking over it. Cllr Harris intends to report this to TDC’s Planning Enforcement Team.
- Cllr Harris reported that further to the planning refusal, the developer at Verity Gardens has prepared a revised proposal for three residences.
- Concern was expressed about the health of the ash tree (possible ash dieback) on The Street at the junction with Clacton Road. Cllr Green agreed to inspect the tree.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.40pm
Clerk’s Report – 20 November 2023
| Topic | Action/issue | Who | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Children’s Play Area | Place order | KPH | The order has been placed. The dates of the onsite installation have yet to be agreed but it is likely to be in January. |
| Emergency Plan | Annual update. | Cllr H | The final draft has been circulated for comment. |
| Litter Bins | Reassessment of provision. | TDC | TDC has completed it WPC’s proposals for additional bins and is now calculating the costs. |
| Scout Hut | Prepare a new lease. | KPH | 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. The Clerk gave the Scouts approval to cut back the hedge. |
| 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. | |
| Traffic Calming | 30 mph speed limit sticky signs for wheely bins | KPH | The majority of the self adhesive vinyl 30 mph speed limit signs have been delivered. |
| Bank Account | Process two additional signatories. Set up BACS payment process | KPH |
|
| Electricity Supplier | Appoint an electricity broker. | KPH | Outstanding. |
| Reed Pond | Initiate Management Plan | KPH | Obtain costs to install a chlorine pump. Speak with R. Ransom regarding the proposed surveys. Publish report on website. |
Planning Applications for Month to 20 November 2023
| Application No. | Details | Address | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23/01500/FULHH | Proposed conversion of existing garage into annex. Removal of existing garage doors and installation of 2 no. windows to front. New fenestration. | 2 Ruby Fields Weeley Clacton On Sea Essex | No objection. Concern was expressed that if all houses on Ruby Fields undertake similar improvements car parking may become an issue. |
| 23/01542/FULHH | Proposed single storey rear extension (following removal of existing rear addition). | Woodview Clacton Road Weeley Heath | No objection. A comment was made that the development is close to boundary with the neighbour. |
Monthly Payments
| Invoice Date | Invoice No. | Cheque No. | Payee | Service | NET £ | VAT £ | GROSS £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/23 | DD | Castle Water | Reed Pond - Water Standing Charge | 8.79 | 0 | 8.79 | |
| 04/11/23 | IN088773570 | DD | NPower | Street Lighting Electricity | 400.59 | 20.03 | 420.62 |
| 06/11/23 | INV-0402 | 103330 | Goldacre Contracting | Prune trees by streetlight on Second Av. | 60.00 | 12.00 | 72.00 |
| 06/11/23 | INV-0401 | 103330 | Goldacre Contracting | Make good grassed area by playground | 425.00 | 85.00 | 510.00 |
| 27/10/23 | INV-0389 | 103330 | Goldacre Contracting | Verges and Reed Pond - 9th cut | 275.00 | 140.00 | 498.00 |
| 20/10/23 | 17064 | 103331 | EALC | Playground Inspection Courses | 760.00 | 152.00 | 912.00 |
| 18/10/23 | 7605194 | 103332 | TDC | Election Expenses | 1,153.92 | 0 | 1,153.92 |
| 31/10/23 | 10058 | 103333 | Essex Ecology | Reed Pond Management Plan | 500.00 | 100.00 | 600.00 |
| 103334 | HMRC | Income tax and NI payments | 174.05 | 0 | 174.06 | ||
| 14/11/23 | S070584 | 103335 | Spong Builders | Tacmac Pot hole in pavement | 100.00 | 20.00 | 120.00 |
| 20/11/23 | 103336 | St Andrews Church | Annual Grant | 750.00 | 0 | 750.00 | |
| 20/11/23 | 103337 | Essex Air Ambulance | Annual Grant | 250.00 | 0 | 250.00 | |
| 20/11/23 | 103338 | Tendring Families First | Annual Grant | 250.00 | 0 | 250.00 | |
| 103339 | K Harkin | Salary and expenses | 706.11 | 0 | 706.11 | ||
| TOTALS | 5,813.46 | 529.03 | 6,425.50 | ||||
Bank balances as at 17 November 2023; current account £37,804.29; deposit account £84,428.58.