Weeley Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Present: Cllrs M. Brown (Chair), T. Spong, K. Green, L. Fitzpatrick, and J. Beady. Also, in attendance TDC Cllr P. Harris (from item 10), Mr K. Harkin (Parish Clerk) and 11 members of public.

Part 1

Apologies: were received from Cllr C Hamilton. G. Foster. TDC Cllr P Harris had notified that he would attend if he could.
Minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2022 were proposed by Cllr Green, seconded by Cllr Spong and approved as an accurate record of proceedings.
Declarations of Interest: Cllrs Green and Spong both declared an interest in agenda item 07/22.011.
Clerk’s Report: The Clerk provided a brief summary of his previously circulated report (attached as Appendix A). He was asked to obtain a quotation for the low risk items only identified in the Annual Play Area Inspection Report.
Public Participation: The Barleyfields planning application was raised and in particular, the drainage provision. The Chair agreed to consider this matter when this application is considered later on the agenda.
Tendring District and Essex County Councils: TDC Cllr Harris thanked those who supported the Homes for Heroes event at Weeley Bridge Caravan Park. He reported that planning enforcement is an ongoing issue for TDC. The Council is struggling to fill vacant posts. Cllr Harris has raised the matter with the new Portfolio Holder Cllr Jeff Bray. Cllr Harris asked for support for the inaugural Tendring Veterans Day on Clacton’s West Greensward on 7 August.
Correspondence: All relevant correspondence matters had been included one way or another in the Clerk’s report.
Planning Applications: The planning applications set out in Appendix B were considered by councillors.
New Play Area Project: Cllr Botterell reported that the play area sub committee is scheduled to meet with a representative of Playdale on Thursday 21 July 2022.
Weeley Parish Council Reports:
1. Street Lighting; Cllr Green reported that four lamps are currently out. Nos. 9006, 9079, 9037 and 9052.
2. Tree Warden; Nothing to report. Cllr Green agreed to apply for TPO’s on the trees at the Council offices.
3. Playing Field; Nothing to report.
4. Children’s Play Area; Cllr Brown reported that the gate is closing a little quicker than usual.
Finance and Budget: The list of monthly payments were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Brown and RESOLVED: To approve the list of payments as set out in Appendix C.
Other Reports:
1. Highways and Footpaths. Cllr Beady reported that the speed limit sign in Bentley Road remains ‘down’ and the village gateway sign at the border with Lt Clacton is obscured by growth on the grass verge.
2. TDALC. No meeting held last month. Cllr Botterell reported that Cllr Linda Belgrove has been elected Chair of TDALC.
3. Rural Policing. 15 crimes were reported last month in Weeley and another 15 in Lt Clacton.
4. Speedwatch. Cllr Beady’s report is attached as Appendix D.
5. Weeley Residents Ass. WRA has enjoyed a variety of outings this year and completed the season with a visit to Eastbourne. Asked for support with cyber crime asking WPC Cllrs to attend the talk being given by the Cyber Prevent and Protection Officer for Essex Police on the 15 August
6. Weeley in Bloom. Mrs Hopgood read out her report.
7. Petanque Rink; Mrs Holt sent her apologies. She reported that the number of players have stabilized.
Public Participation: A request was lodged to have sun shade covers installed over the benches in the Petanque Court.
Exclusion of the Public: In accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted, Part A of the meeting closed at this point. Cllr Brown thanked the public for their attendance and invited them to leave prior to Part B of the meeting.

Part 2

Review of the Clerk’s Terms and Conditions of Employment: The Clerk left the meeting at this point. A discussion ensued about the Clerk’s salary and working hours. It was RESOLVED: To approve the proposal set out in the email to the Chair dated 29 June 2022 backdating this to 1 July 2022.

Close of Meeting: The Chair closed the meeting at 8.40pm

Appendix A

Clerks Report – 18 July 2022

Action List

Date	Topic	Action/issue	Who	Notes	Status
19-07-21	Children’s Play Area Refurbishment	Consider options for the renewal of the facility.	DB and KG	Awaiting a proposal from an play equipment supplier.	Ongoing
20-09-21	Defibrillator	Replace pads (routine mtnce).	KPH		O/S
19-07-21	Emergency Plan	2021 annual update.	Cllr H	Cllr Hamilton has agreed to conduct the review	Ongoing
20-09-21	Litter Bins	Reassessment of provision.	Cllr H and KPH	Request for a dog bin at junction of Footpath 3 and Thorpe Rd made.	Ongoing
21-02-22	Scout Hut	Prepare a new lease.	KPH	Solicitor yet to be identified	O/S
	Jubilee Memorial Bench	Install new bench	KPH	Awaiting installation.	Ongoing
	Recycling Point	Identify new location.	Cllrs	Written to Ian Davidson at TDC asking for assistance to maintain a recycling point in Weeley	Ongoing
	Street Lighting	Convert lanterns to energy efficient LED	KPH	Discussion held with A&J lighting about costs.	Ongoing

Other Developments
1. The Annual Play Area Inspection Report commissioned by TDC at WPC’s request has been received. The findings show only very low and low risks and nothing that needs urgent or immediate action. There are however numerous minor matters that should be actioned. This work will have a cost and so, we need to consider if it necessary with the new play area project progressing?
2. The repairs to the War Memorial retaining wall have been completed and Payne Turf has reimbursed the Council for the cost of the work. The opportunity was taken to clean the Memorial and repoint some of the paving stones. Our thanks to Cllr Green for completing this work in time for the In Bloom inspection.
3. The road flooding at the end of Crow Lane adjacent Reed Pond caused by a blocked drain has been cleared. Our thanks to Cllr Spong for completing this work.
4. I contacted Essex Wildlife Trust to seek assistance to prepare a Mgt Plan for Reed Pond. I also, spoke to FWAG East and they are keen to assist if it will encourage their target species the Gt Crested Newt.
5. Further to Highways offer to repair a couple of potholes, the Clerk has notified ECC Cllr Land of the two identified by the PC last month.
6. ECC has confirmed that the block built bus shelter on Colchester Road is the responsibility of WPC and it cannot assist with funding for a replacement roof. The Clerk will now look for quotations for the work.
7. Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm – Public consultation notice received.
8. A response to the ECC Salt Bag Partnership offer has been submitted.

Appendix B

Planning Applications for month to 18 July 2022

Application No.	Details	Address	Comments
22/00907/FUL HH	Proposed external staircase to existing detached garage and store (Including formation of roof windows).	The Cottage Mill Lane Weeley Heath CO16 9BZ	No comment or objection.
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	Proposed Cllr Brown, seconded Cllr Green and RESOLVED: To object and request TDC to ‘call-in’ this application. 1) Open Space provision 2) Footbridge design. In addition, concern was expressed about drainage and the number of traffic movements.
22/00896/LBC	Proposed internal secondary glazing to single glazed first floor windows.	8 The Street Weeley, CO16 9JF	No comment or objection.

Planning Determinations

Application No.	Detail	Address
22/00620/FUL Approval - Full 01.07.2022 Delegated Decision	Proposed erection of seven dwellings, garage buildings and associated development following demolition of two existing dwellings.	The Oaks Clacton Road Weeley Heath CO16 9EF
22/00632/FUL Approval - Full 06.07.2022 Delegated Decision	Proposed erection of an agricultural storage building to replace an existing barn.	Gutteridge Hall Gutteridge Hall Lane Weeley, CO16 9AS
22/00699/FULHH Approval - Full 05.07.2022 Delegated Decision	Mr Currell Proposed new garden room, garage and BBQ area following the demolition of existing BBQ room, outbuilding and garage.	Tudor Lodge Clacton Road Weeley Heath CO16 9EF

Appendix C

Cheques/Payments for Authorisation: July 2022

Invoice Date	Invoice No.	Cheque No.	Payee	Service	NET £	VAT £	GROSS £
06-07-22	IN04043255	DD	NPower	Street Lighting Electricity (1-30 June)	391.36	19.57	410.93
15-07-22	INV-0095	103225	Goldacre Contracting	Grass Cutting (6th cut)	415.00	83.00	498.00
30-06-22	INV-0088	103225	Goldacre Contracting	Grass Cutting (5th cut)	415.00	83.00	498.00
30-06-22	WVH-3124	103226	WVH	Small Hall Hire, electricity and B/B contribution.	202.83	0.00	202.83
01-07-22	36338	103227	A&J Lighting	Monthly Street Light Mtnce	99.98	20.00	119.98
18-07-22		103228	RCCE	Annual Membership Renewal	72.60	0.00	72.60
04-07-22	S070542	103229	Spong Builders	Unblock Drain on Crow Lane	121.00	24.20	145.20
18-07-22		103230	Mr K Harkin	Monthly salary and expenses	378.95	0.00	378.95
18-07-22	751	103231	Greenscapes	War Memorial Repairs	750.00	150.00	900.00

Totals 2846.72 379.77 3226.49

Bank balances as at 18 July 2022; current account £30,201.16; deposit account £82,304.97.

Appendix D

Speedwatch Report June 2022

We held 8 sessions in June logging 150 vehicles, 37 of those were logged in a single hour at the Clacton Road near the Fire Station site. There were 10 repeat offenders, 1 of those logged for the third time this year. Four were untaxed and two had no MOT.