- Present
- Cllrs C. Hamilton (Chair), M. Brown, T. Spong, D. Botterell, J. Beady, L. Fitzpatrick and G. Foster. Also in attendance were TDC Cllr P. Harris, K Harkin Parish Clerk and 13 members of the public.
Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllrs K. Green and P. Taylor and ECC Cllr D. Land.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 October were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Spong and approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
Declarations of Interest
Cllr Botterell declared that his company is included in agenda item 11/22.014.
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk presented a brief summary of his previously circulated report, which is attached as Appendix A.
Public Participation
- Concern was expressed about the request submitted for a time extension on the planning application for the development of the Barrack Field housing development. In particular with relation to the insufficient provision for visitor parking provision.
- It was reported that the Community Rail Network has agreed to erect picture boards on Weeley Bridge.
- A request was made to erect/paint 30mph signs on Thorpe Road. It was explained that Highways probably will not agree but that a request will be made to Cllr Land.
Tendring District and Essex County Councils
- Cllr P. Harris reported that a decision was taken not to call-in planning application 22/01439/FULHH as Planning Services agreed to make the consent conditional on no access on to the bypass.
- He provided an update of the current situation with regard to the occupation of the Spinney. Local residents are concerned about the apparent unlawful occupation. Planning application 22/01862/FUL had been validated today. Cllr Harris agreed to call-in this application. UKPN inspected the site today following a localized power cut. Highways had inspected the pothole in the road.
- Cllr Harris continues to seek a solution to the noise complaints emanating from the Mill Lane Care Home.
- He reported that TDC Planning Enforcement is being strengthened.
- A beach hut consultation exercise has started and ends on 8 January 2023.
Correspondence
The Clerk reported on the following items of correspondence.
- North Shore Wind Farm consultation exercise has opened.
- A request to erect a notice board on the perimeter fence was agreed subject to the Clerk agreeing the proposal prior to erection. Concern was expressed about it becoming a target for vandalism.
- The contents of the letter relating to the Thorpe Farm Solar Park were noted.
- A complaint from a resident about the encampment on The Spinney was noted. The Clerk was asked to provide a response updating the resident of the situation.
- The complaint made by a resident about the undergrowth clearance at The Loop was discussed. The Clerk was asked to provide a response.
Internal Audit Report 2022/23
The report had been circulated to members. A copy of the audit letter containing six minor recommendations to improve the Council’s financial controls is attached as Appendix B. Proposed by Cllr Hamilton, seconded by Cllr Botterell and it was Resolved: To accept the report.
Land Commonly Known as The Spinney, Clacton Road, Weeley Heath
An update of the current situation had been covered by Cllr Harris under item 11/22.06 (b) above.
Grant Application
The Clerk reported the receipt of a grant application from St Andrew’s Parish Church. Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Spong seconded and it was Resolved: To approve a grant of £750 to St Andrew’s Church for the upkeep of the Churchyard.
Litter and Dog Waste Bins
Cllr Hamilton reported that she had completed a survey of the litter and dog bins in the Village. She passed around copies of her survey report. The hope is to supplement the existing provision in Weeley Heath. After some discussion, it was agreed to provide Cllr Harris with a copy of the report in order to allow him to discuss its recommendations with Cllr M. Talbot, the TDC Environmental Services Portfolio Holder.
Wilder Towns, Wilder Villages
The Clerk reported on his meetings with TDC officers and Essex Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Communities Manager. Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Botterell seconded and it was Resolved:
- To approve a proposal to enter into an annual license agreement with TDC in order to allow the wilding project at Second Avenue to proceed.
- To agree to commission a survey by Essex Wildlife Trust of Reed Pond at a cost of up to £500.
Planning Applications
The Council’s stance on the planning applications set out in Appendix C were proposed by Cllr Hamilton, seconded by Cllr Botterell and agreed unanimously.
Finance and Budget
The list of monthly payments were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Brown and it was Resolved: To approve the list of payments set out in Appendix D.
Weeley Parish Council Reports
- Street Lighting. Just one streetlight No. 9023 only out this month.
- Tree Warden. Nothing to report in Cllr Green’s absence.
- Playing Field. Nothing to report this month.
- Children’s Play Area: Three quotations have been received and will be included for consideration on next month’s agenda.
Other Reports
- Highways and Footpaths. Cllr Beady presented her report, which is attached as Appendix E.
- TDALC. Next meeting later this week.
- Rural Policing. The Police UK website shows that there were 27 crimes reported. In total, 9 in Weeley and 18 in Little Clacton.
- Speedwatch. Cllr Beady presented her report, which is attached as Appendix F.
- Weeley Residents Assn (WRA). Mrs Miles presented her report, which is attached as Appendix G.
- Weeley in Bloom. The recent rain has curtailed work. A residents survey (150 residents) is being conducted about proposals for the open space on Second Avenue. Formed two new flower beds at station approach.
- Petanque Rink. Bet gave report attached as Appendix H. Xmas Dinner 36 diners booked in.
Public Participation
- Residents of Verity Gardens requested confirmation that the two planning applications relating to the Barrack Field development will be considered. It was confirmed.
- Clarification was requested about the type of use of a building in Gutteridge Hall Lane. The Clerk agreed to write to TDC Services.
- It was reported that the Christmas tree lighting arrangements are progressing well. The lights will be turned on Sunday 4 December at 5pm.
Close of meeting: 9.02pm
Clerk's Report – 21 November 2022
| Topic | Action/issue | Who | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children’s Play Area Refurbishment | Consider options for the renewal of the facility. | DB and KG | Quotations received from three suppliers. | Ongoing |
| Defibrillator | Replace pads (routine mtnce régime). | KPH | Supplier finally identified | O/S |
| Emergency Plan | 2021 annual update. | Cllr H | Cllr Hamilton has agreed to conduct a review. | Ongoing |
| Litter Bins | Reassessment of provision. | Cllr H and KPH | Agreed to review the litter bin survey. | Ongoing |
| Scout Hut | Prepare a new lease. | KPH | Thompson Smith & Puxon Solicitors has been asked to prepare a new lease. | Ongoing |
| Street Lighting | Convert lamps to energy efficient LED | KPH | Conversion work will be completed this autumn/winter in batches of 20. | Ongoing |
| Weeley bypass | Determine options for the avenue of poplars | Await a proposal from ECC Place Services about how many and what species trees to plant. | Ongoing | |
| Bus Shelter, Clacton Rd | Replace roof | KPH | Awaiting a quotation for this work. | Ongoing |
| Vermin on playing field | Reports of rats in vicinity of the Play Area | KPH | Pest Control advised to cut off food source e.g. use litter bins. | Ongoing |
| Weeley Heath Gateway sign | Locate new sign as it represents a safety hazard | Dan L | Highways has agreed to relocate the sign. | Ongoing |
1. Complaints have been received from residents of Clacton Road about the unauthorized work taking place on the area known as The Spinney. TDC has been informed and urgent action to stop the work requested.
2. An overhead power lines company working on behalf of UK Power Networks were working on Clacton Rd and remove one of our streetlights because it represented a safety hazard. WPC’s contractor has been asked to replace it.
3. Meeting held with EWT to discuss the Wilder Towns, Wilder Villages initiative that WPC signed up to. Agreed to commission a survey of Reed Pond at the cost of £400-500. This will hopefully provide a management plan to assist WPC to move from a reactive to a planned maintenance regime.
4. Met with TDC to discuss the ‘wilding’ project at Second Avenue. TDC insists on an annual license arrangement to allow it to approve the proposed work.
5. The Clerk wrote to TDC to request a replacement road sign at Kempton Park.
Internal Audit Report 2021/22
My report explains the work undertaken and evidence gathered. Please pass my thanks to Kevin for the very well organised presentation of the information required to undertake the internal audit.
There are a few matters to which I would like to draw your attention, highlighted in pale blue in my report, which the council may like to take forward:
- Adopt latest model Standing Orders and Financial Regulations (section B).
- Strengthen internal financial controls (section C).
- Consider additional risk mitigation measures (section C).
- Earmark reserves for specific projects (section D).
- Review Property Damage Cover (section H).
- Deposit some funds with a second banking institution (section I).
I would like to stress that none of these matters raised any great concerns but are highlighted for your consideration. If you would like to discuss anything in the report, please let me know. Jan Stobart
Planning Applications for Month to 21 November 2022
| Application No. | Details | Address | Comment/Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22/01733/TPO | To fell Cherry Tree T28 which is leaning towards a neighbouring property. | Land adjacent Hillside House on the corner of Church Lane and Clacton Road Weeley | Proposed Cllr Spong, seconded Cllr Beady and Resolved: To object to the application. |
| 22/00979/DETAIL | Reserved matters application for 280 homes, including offices, land for a new primary school, railway footbridge, attenuation basins, open space, play equipment and associated infrastructure, considering details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, pursuant to outline planning consent 19/00524/OUT. | Land to The South of Thorpe Road Weeley Essex | The Clerk was asked to write reiterating the comments previously made. |
| 22/01602/LBC | Proposed demolition and reinstatement of damaged garden wall and external repairs to main house following damaged caused by crashed vehicle. Damage repair to west elevation of main house and re-render to make good finish. | Tocketts Thorpe Road Weeley | No objection and no comment. |
| 22/01768/VOC | Application under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act, to allow a variation of conditions 1 (Approved plans and documents), 2 (Clear to ground visibility splay), 3 (Internal road site access and footway layout), 8 (Traffic Regulation Order), 14 (Hedge height) and 23 (Existing ‘Great Bentley’ village signs and associated ‘Village award sign’ ) of 1/00977/DETAIL to reflect the latest plan reference. | Land to The South of Weeley Road Great Bentley Essex | This planning application is not in this Parish. |
| 22/01851/TELLIC | PROPOSAL: The removal of the existing 3no. antennas and the installation of 3 no. replacement antennas. The removal of existing 300mm dish and the replacement of 1 no. 300mm dish and additional 1 no. 600mm dish and ancillary development thereto including the installation of 9 no. Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) and 3 no. BOBs. | Land adjacent to Church of St Andrew Church Lane Weeley Essex | No objection and no comment. |
| 22/01232/FUL | The application seeks approval for the erection of one bungalow. The application has been referred to the Planning Committee (24/11/22) as the proposed development would conflict with the requirements of the Development Plan, Policy SPL2 (Settlement Development Boundaries) of the Local Plan 2013-2033 and Beyond Section 2 (adopted 2022) being located outside of any defined settlement development boundary and has a recommendation of approval. | REEDLANDS. Gutteridge Hall Lane WEELEY | No objection and no comment. |
Planning Determinations
| Application No. | Detail | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 22/01387/FULHH | Proposed garage. 1 Barnfields | Clacton Road Weeley Heath CO16 9EF |
| 22/01458/FULHH | Proposed single storey rear extension. | 47 Colchester Road Weeley CO16 9JP |
| 22/01610/TELLIC | Proposed removal of the existing 3no. Antennas and the installation of 3 no. replacement antennas. The installation of 1 no. 600mm dish and 1 no. 300mm dish and ancillary development thereto including the installation of 9 no. Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) and 3 no. BOBs. | Land adjacent to Church of St Andrew Church Lane Weeley CO16 9AT |
| 22/01526/TPO | 1 No. Oak – remove and replace with new tree. | Reedlands Gutteridge Hall Lane Weeley CO16 9AS |
| 22/01439/FULHH | Proposed erection of detached building to form guest annex. | 76 The Street Weeley CO16 9HH |
| 22/01851/TELLIC | The removal of the existing 3no. antennas and the installation of 3 no. replacement antennas. The removal of existing 300mm dish and the replacement of 1 no. 300mm dish and additional 1 no. 600mm dish and ancillary development thereto including the installation of 9 no. Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) and 3 no. BOBs. | And adjacent to Church of St Andrew Church Lane Weeley CO16 9AT |
Cheques/Payments for Authorisation: November 2022
| Invoice Date | Invoice No. | Cheque No. | Payee | Service | NET £ | VAT £ | GROSS £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03-11-22 | IN005068484 | Direct Debit | Npower | Electricity Consumption | 606.90 | 30.34 | 637.24 |
| 01-10-22 | 36587 | 103249 | A&J Lighting | Monthly Mtnce | 99.98 | 20.00 | 119.98 |
| 03-10-22 | 36620 | 103249 | A&J Lighting | Repair & convert 8 x streetlights | 1,891.30 | 378.26 | 2,269.56 |
| 06-10-22 | 36626 | 103249 | A&J Lighting | Contract Termination | 899.82 | 179.96 | 1,079.78 |
| 31-11-22 | INV-0165 | 103250 | Goldacre Contracting | Grass Cut (9th cut) | 415.00 | 83.00 | 498.00 |
| 31-10-22 | INV-0166 | 103250 | Goldacre Contracting | Repairs to Playing Field | 435.00 | 87.00 | 522.00 |
| 14-11-22 | INV-0174 | 103250 | Goldacre Contracting | Remove green waste | 290.00 | 58.00 | 348.00 |
| 16-11-22 | - | 103251 | Cllr C Hamilton | Refreshments for Warm Hub | 43.03 | 0 | 43.03 |
| 25-10-22 | 16963 | 103252 | TT&SS Ltd | Connect Xmas Lights | 90.00 | 18.00 | 108.00 |
| 31-10-22 | - | 103253 | HMRC | PAYE months 4,5 and 6 | 512.44 | 0 | 512.44 |
| 29-09-22 | - | 103254 | Essex & Herts Air Ambulance | Grant donation | 250.00 | 0 | 250.00 |
| 17-11-22 | 2539 | 103255 | DM Payroll Services Ltd | Admin of payroll (oct 22–Mar 23) | 60.00 | 0 | 60.00 |
| 30-11-22 | - | 103256 | Mr K Harkin | November Salary | 912.23 | 0 | 912.23 |
| 11-11-22 | - | 103256 | Mr K Harkin | November Expenses | 114.15 | 22.83 | 136.98 |
| Totals | 6,619.85 | 877.39 | 7,497.24 | ||||
Bank balances as at 02 November 2022; current account £45,420.97; deposit account £82,330.34.
Highways Report
The 30 mph sign in Bentley road is still knocked on its side but is now visible although someone has turned the sign around so it now denotes that the end of Bentley Road is a 60mph road and not a 30ph road. In Colchester Road/Thorpe Road on the North side, cable was laid underneath the path. The workers left the path in a much better condition than before they started, filling in more holes than they had created. The potholes and ‘cracks’ stretching from one side of the road to the other in Second Avenue has been reported. (Ref no: 2806011) and other than the above no unreported road problems were noted. The 2 bridges needing repair on Public footpaths were reported by Christine Hamilton.
Speedwatch Report
In October we logged 89 speeding vehicles. One of the hour long sessions on Thorpe Road was cut short after 8 minutes due to rain but in those 8 minutes we logged 10 speeding vehicles.
Of the 89 speeding vehicles 9 were repeat offenders with 1 being logged for the 3rd time, 3 were had no MOT, 1 had no tax, One should have thought better about speeding as they had a SORN (Statuary Off Road Notice) on it. The fastest was logged on Thorpe Road which is a 30mph road was doing 59mph and the next day on Colchester Road again a 30mph road, we logged one doing 52mph.
Report for WRA
We had a very successful Halloween Evening, and it was good to have some children present too. We shall have had our visit to the Southbank Christmas Market and to see the Christmas Lights when this report is given to the PC. (an update at the meeting) On 21st November we have our presentation from the East Coast Distillery (an update at the meeting). On 26th November we shall have our HOY evening, this was re arranged following the death of Her Majesty the Queen. On Sunday 4th December we shall have our Christmas Party for Members, there will be no cost to members as this our gift to them for their continued support throughout the year. Our diary for 2023 starts with an evening with Andy Wilshire on 21st January in the village hall, when he will be singing familiar songs from the Rat Pack Classics. Tickets are available from Kevin at £15pp. Other popular events planned for next year will be a quiz in May and the regular Bingo and Hoy evenings throughout the year. There are several outings planned and we cannot confirm arrangements until January. The WRA send their Christmas Greetings to all members of the Parish Council. Diane Miles, Chairman
Petanque Report
As stated in my report last month, playing numbers are still high because of the weather. Apart from last Wednesday, when we were rained off, we have had 20 players at each of our last three sessions which proves how popular it has become. We held our final of the competition we have been running throughout the year and we will be presenting trophies for the winners and runners up at our Christmas Dinner to be held at the beginning of December for which we have 36 attending. I reiterate, we do carry on playing throughout the winter, weather permitting, we just have to put a few more layers on! Bet Holt