Apologies
- Apologies were received from Cllr Hamilton, Cllr Millar, Cllr Green and Cllr Foster. Cllr Cauvain proposed and Cllr Beady seconded and it was RESOLVED to accept the apologies.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
- The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16th December 2024 were proposed by Cllr Cauvain, seconded by Cllr Botterell and it was RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16th December 2024 as an accurate record of proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations.
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk presented the previously circulated report attached as Appendix A. All Councillors confirmed they had read the report and there were no questions.
Public Participation
The Chair invited the members of public in attendance to raise any questions/issues.
- No public participation
Tendring District and Essex County Councils
TDC Cllr Harris: mentioned the following:
- There is no contract signed for the old Weeley Offices just a Heads of Terms. TDC is spending £65000 a year on the site. Cllr Harris is making proposals and will continue to inform us on the Flagpole situation.
- Full Council on 21/1/25 discussing the possible cancellation of local elections.
- The new proposals would mean no ECC or TDC and bigger unitary authorities.
- Friday 24th Cllr Harris is chairing a Business Surgery in Clacton with over 100 businesses.
- Gutteridge Hall Lane – enforcement are involved and further information will follow.
- Cllr Beady asked about a house that has 3 Static Caravans in the garden and Cllr Harris will look into it.
Grass Maintenance Contract
Cllr Botterell proposed and Cllr Cauvain seconded the extension of the Grass Cutting contract to 3 years and it was RESOLVED to award the current contractor an extension of 3 years.
Banking Arrangements
The clerk noted that the Unity Bank account is now active and 4 Councillors currently have approval access. The Clerk / RFO can create but not authorise payments and the Chair can create payments in urgent situations where the RFO is not available. All payments have dual approval by any combination of the 4 Cllrs. It was agreed to add Cllr Cauvain as an approver. ACTION - Clerk
Electric Meter at Village Hall
Cllr Spong proposed and Cllr Beady seconded a one-off payment of £60 to the Village Hall for the install of an Electric Meter to monitor the use by the Parish Council for CCTV and Lighting in the playground area.
Civility and Respect Pledge
Cllr Cauvain proposed and Cllr Botterell seconded and it was RESOLVED to adopt the previously circulated policy with no changes.
Correspondence
- Five Estuaries Update newsletter was noted
- Noted that the Chair would attend the Pride of Tendring awards
- Noted that ECC have declared the work on Footpath 16 complete
- Noted that ECC Cllrs Land and Guglielmi had resolved issues with dirt and spill from the Rose Builders site
- Noted the Covid Day of Reflection – Cllr Fitzpatrick will speak with Cllr Hamilton and the Church to see what can be done to reflect this. Clerk will then inform TDC of any actions.
- Discussion on the possible Phone Box donation. Cllr Harris noted that the proposed land is owned by TDC and they currently do not want to sell.
- Discussion on additional trees for Weeley as per correspondence from Cllr Green. It was noted that £3000 is earmarked in the budget for trees. All approved spending when identified areas to plant.
Planning Applications
Council Members considered the applications set out in Appendix B and determined as shown.
Finance and Budget
The list of monthly payments was proposed by Cllr Cauvain and seconded by Cllr Botterell RESOLVED: To approve the list of payments set out in Appendix C
ACTION: CLERK - Payments to be setup on Unity Bank and approved by 2 Signatories.
Weeley Parish Council Reports
- Street Lighting: No report
- Tree Warden: No report
- Playing Field: No report
- Children’s Play Area: Clerk reported that Playdale have now been paid and a schedule for inspections will be created
- Highways: Cllr Beady presented her report which is available on the Council’s website
- Footpaths: Nothing to report
- Transport: No report
- TDALC: Cllr Botterell reported that the meeting is on Weds 22nd Jan.
Other Reports
- Rural Policing: Cllr Hamilton not present.
- Speedwatch: Cllr. Beady presented her report which is published on the Council’s website.
- Weeley Residents Ass: had nothing to report.
- Weeley in Bloom (WiB): presented their report which is available on the Council website and that 8 discarded tyres by the station had been converted into planters.
- Petanque Rink: presented their report which will be published on the Council’s Website.
Public Participation
No public participation
Items to be Added to the Next Agenda
- Social Media Policy Review
- Avenue of Trees
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.11pm.
Date of Next Meeting will be: Monday 17th February at 7.30pm at Weeley Village Hall
Appendix A
Weeley Parish Council
Clerks Report – 20th January 2025
| Topic | Action/issue | Information | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scout Hut | Prepare a new lease. | Have initiated a chat with a new solicitor from Sparlings and have sent a copy of the lease to them. Awaiting response before contacting the Scouts. It is proposed to make the lease 35 years. Estimate received for creating a new lease but also with some information for the Scouts to be passed onto them. Scouts have now appointed representation. | Scouts have returned the Lease to their solicitor and we have updated our Solicitor. Now awaiting further response |
| 2. 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. | Email received from ECC Place Services with suggestions. Postponing until February meeting as December meeting is very busy currently. |
| 3. Reed Pond | Initiate Management Plan | Obtain costs to install a chlorine pump Publish report on website. Purchase and install Lifebuoy at pond - complete No progress on dredging | Suggestion on where to move LifeBuoy – ask Cllr Spong to do this. |
| 4. Policy Review Schedule | Prepare and circulate | Schedule to be draw up for further policy reviews | Grant Policy updated and adopted. Policy Schedule created and will be sent to all Cllrs. |
| 5. Investigate new Playground Equipment | Research | Contacted Kompan regarding a larger slide and they will site visit and give us estimates | Will seek further quotes, but, no rush on this item |
| 6. Quarterly Bank Reconciliations | Adopt this policy to reconcile quarterly | To be signed by a Cllr who is not the Chair or signatory. | Q3 reconciliation done by Cllr Millar |
| 7. Playground Inspections | No evidence of inspections undertaken despite them happening | Clerk will investigate software to help with this as long as the relevant Cllrs agree and cost agreed | Arranging meeting with PSS Live to see software in action and understand how to maintain |
| 8. Asset Register | Review Asset Register | Noted that Asset Register should be reviewed for obsolete items and to update actual replacements costs rather than book cost. Suggested that a limit is set for assets to be added (i.e £200 if this is the excess) | Cllr Fitzpatrick will assist the clerk with this activity. Clerk to liaise with Cllr Fitzpatrick and define this. No progress. Possibly use Playground software if adopted to load assets |
| 9. Accounts Exceed | Accounts exceed FSCS limit of £85000 | Council to decide whether to open additional bank accounts to ensure full cover for monies. All banking arrangements to be reviewed | Unity account now created and active. 4 Cllrs and Clerk have access. Vicky to be added. Payments for January will be done via this account. Money will be moved between accounts once payments are made |
| 10. Fencing at Spinney | Gather quotes to protect Spinney in Weeley Heath from Encroachment | Clerk to gather quotes for fencing at the Spinney | No progress |
| 11. Facebook | To create a Read Only Facebook presence | Clerk to work with Cllr Cauvain to set this up and define a policy document | Policy sent to Cllr Cauvain to review. |
Appendix B
Planning Applications for month to 20th January 2025
| Application No. | Details | Address | Comment/ Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/01855/FUL | Planning Application - The erection of one Self-Build three-bedroom dwelling and associated infrastructure. | Mr N Napier, Land Site opposite 6 Victoria Road Weeley Essex | Is the land included in the Local Plan if so then no objections as long as the neighbours have no objection |
| 24/01915/VOC | Application under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act for Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) of application 21/02014/FUL, approved at appeal APP/P1560/W/22/3291996, to enable changes to the floor plans and roof elevations. | Mr Sam Kent - Kents Construction and Development, Land at Connaught Road, Weeley, Essex, CO16 9EL | Object regarding the increase from 3 bedroom bungalows to 5 bedroom houses which are not in keeping with the local area and also the additional Car Parking spaces that would be needed to accommodate 14 extra bedrooms |
| 24/01802/OUT | Outline Planning Application (All Matters Reserved) - Existing garages to be demolished and replaced with single garage to side of existing property. New bungalow and single garage to be erected at rear of existing property. Access to new bungalow via side of existing property. | 17 The Street Weeley Clacton On Sea Essex | Object based on back land development. Out of keeping with the local area as previous applications have been rejected, all amenities for the property will be lost. The Street is already over developed and there is no identified need for housing in this particular area based on the large number of developments already identified for Weeley. |
Planning Determinations
| Application No. and determination | Proposal | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 24/00901/FUL Approval - Full 19.12.2024 Delegated Decision | Planning Application - All-weather arena and hard standing area. | Alison Power - Tendring Hundred Riding Club Land South of Freelands, Thorpe Road, Weeley Clacton On Sea, Essex, CO16 9JH |
| 23/00807/OUT The appeal is allowed, and outline planning permission is granted | Outline Planning Application (all matters reserved) for development of five detached houses. | Land to the rear of The Gables and The Towers, Clacton Road, Weeley Heath, CLACTON-ON-SEA, CO16 9EF |
Appendix C
Payments January 2025
| Invoice Date | Invoice No. | Cheque No. | Payee | Service | NET (£) | VAT (£) | GROSS (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/12/2024 | 18172 | Current (UB) | EALC | Cllr Beady Training | £300.00 | £60.00 | £360.00 |
| 29/12/2024 | WVH-4160 | Current (UB) | Weeley Village Hall | Hall hire and Broadband and Electric | £178.50 | £0.00 | £178.50 |
| 04/01/2025 | IN12256098 | DD | Npower | Electricity Street Lights | £465.16 | £23.26 | £488.42 |
| 06/01/2025 | GB5533I1AEUI | Debit Card | Amazon | Folders for paperwork | £11.66 | £2.33 | £13.99 |
| 08/01/2025 | 10005119058 | DD | Castle Water | Reed Pond Water Bill | £9.18 | £0.00 | £9.18 |
| 31/12/2024 | Current (UB) | Essex Pension Scheme | Clerk's Pension (December Spoiled Cheque) | £266.82 | £0.00 | £266.82 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Current (UB) | Essex Pension Scheme | Clerk's Pension (January) | £266.82 | £0.00 | £266.82 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Current (UB) | Steve Gunter | January Payslip | £846.23 | £0.00 | £846.23 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Current (UB) | Steve Gunter | Expenses | £16.70 | £0.00 | £16.70 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Current (UB) | Steve Gunter | Canon Ink Subscription | £3.32 | £0.67 | £3.99 | |
| 15/01/2025 | Inv - 0737 | Current (UB) | Goldacre Contracting | Hedge Cutting | £550.00 | £110.00 | £660.00 |
| 18/01/2025 | Current (UB) | J Dyer | Andy Wilshere Singer VE Day-Deposit | £250.00 | £0.00 | £250.00 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Current (UB) | C Hamilton | Expenses - WPC Events | £39.70 | £0.00 | £39.70 | |
| TOTALS | £3,204.09 | £196.26 | £3,400.35 | ||||
Barclays Bank balances as at 20 January 2025; current account £540.96; deposit account £119234.22
Unity Bank balances as at 20 January 2025; current account £3000.00
Small Purchases on Debit Card Folders £13.99
Receipts EALC £500 Bursary for Clerk Training Community Account 08/01/2024