OF THE MEETING OF RAWRETH PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 4th FEBRUARY 2010 AT 7.30pm AT THE VILLAGE HALL RAWRETH
Present: Cllr. Mrs L Hopkins
Cllr.
Cllr. R Coombs
Cllr. Mrs M Beckers
Cllr. P Beckers
Cllr. Mrs S Wiltshire
In Attendance: The Clerk, 2 members of the public and District Councillors Chris Black and Ron Oatham.
242. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE- Apologies were received and accepted from the Chairman Cllr Alistir Matthews.
243. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. - None
244. TO APPROVE MINUTES OF LAST MEETING.- The Minutes of the meeting held on the 3rd of February 2010 were approved by the Members and accordingly the Vice-Chair signed them as a true copy
245. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. 217.a. Motorists are now having to take avoiding action as the potholes at Goose Cottages have got so bad. 217.c The sign at Michelins Farm has now been removed, only to be replaced by an Insure and Go one instead. 217.f The new dog poo bin at Rawreth Playing Fields in now in place. 217.g Speed checks have taken place in
246. VILLAGE REPORT- Several areas and matters were mentioned around the Parish which are detailed below, where necessary the Clerk will investigate
a. Potholes at Goose Cottages and vehicles using the grass verge, it is now becoming a mud bath.
b. Cars being parked on the West side of
c. London Road, outside Lower Barn Farm, is the 40 MPH sign permanent.
d. Pot holes at Bedloes Corner.
e. Pot holes
f. Fumes on the Rawreth Industrial Estate from the car body repair shop, smell of paint etc and Makro’s the tank sited behind the store.
g. Flooding over the preceding week, the water level in
h. Kerbside ditch running from the bridge down past Burrell’s Cottages is full of debris and not draining.
247. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT- District Councillor Chris Black advised those present that on the 24th of March a pre-hearing meeting is to take place ahead of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Public Enquiry which is scheduled for the middle of May. Cllr Black reminded those present that on the 4th of March (the following evening) the West Area Committee were meeting at the Village Hall, items on the agenda included Teen Shelter in Sweyne Park and Air Quality in the District And lastly Cllr Black reminded everyone that the elections are coming up in May and as such many of the District Councils officer teams will be stretched as they will be dealing with postal votes. Cllr Black also advised that if a General Election is held on the 6th of May the District and Parish Elections will be moved to the 27th of May, three weeks later.
248. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- The following areas and matters were mentioned by members of the public, where necessary the Clerk will investigate.
1. Planning Application from Rayleigh Boys YFC for the pitches in
2. Flooding.
249. FINANCE
a) Cheques for Approval
100634 - St Nicholas PCC £100.00 in accordance with items 192 and 221.m- Approved and signed.
100635 - H L Bloomfield – Expenses (February) including BT Broadband £78.43- Approved and signed.
100636 – Rawreth Village Hall – Annual Hall Hire Charges March 2010 to End Feb 2011 £266.20- Approved and signed.
One Late cheque was approved and signed, Cheque number 100637 H L Bloomfield reimbursement for purchase of Aqua Sacs £351.32
250. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE (to note)
a. 04 February 2010-Letter- Rayleigh Town Council Invitation to the Annual Town Meeting to be held on 21st April 2010 at 7.30pm Mill Art and Events Centre Main Hall, Bellingham Lane Rayleigh.- Noted
251. FLOODING IN THE PARISH- The Clerk advised Members that the additional 100 Aqua Sacs that had been purchased arrived in time for the worst of the weather and that they have been deployed to specific sites most at risk.
The Clerk also advised Members that the Environment Agency had now extended the area being covered under their current plan to clear vegetation from the sea walls in the Parish
252. RAWRETH LANE PLAYING FIELDS- Cllr Hopkins gave Members an update advising that the green matting to the car park extension had now been laid and as such now looked ready for use. The Clerk advised Members that having made enquiries at RDC she had been advised that as yet the car park extension has not been handed over by the contractor. The Clerk also advised that the Sports Officer on duty each weekend would be responsible for unlocking and locking the gate. Lastly the Clerk advised that as yet RDC had not confirmed when the new extension would be brought into use, they had quoted at the start of the new football season, but the Clerk had pointed out this would be 2011 and as such was awaiting a reply.
253. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK PROPOSALS- Members discussed the scheduled date of the middle of May for the Public Enquiry and agreed that they would be attending the pre-hearing meeting. Members confirmed that the traffic survey scheduled for the 25th of March was to go ahead and the Clerk was asked to re-advertise for more help. . Members also touched upon the subject of employing a professional planning consultant to represent them at the enquiry and the Clerk was requested to make some tentative enquiries of availability and likely costs.
254. OLD LONDON ROAD FOOTBALL PITCHES – The Clerk advised Members that she had received on the morning of 4th March a planning application for consideration from RDC, application number 10/00088/ADV Land North of Sunnyview Old London Road Rawreth, Erect one non illuminated hoarding sign. The Clerk advised Members that although the application stated it was for a hoarding sign the documents enclosed indicated that it was likely it was one of two applications, the other being for an extension to the football pitches. Members agreed that the application received did not seem to reflect the complete applications made by Rayleigh Boys and as such agreed that they could not make any comments or observations until they were in receipt of all the facts. The Clerk was therefore asked to contact RDC Planning as a matter of urgency to enquire as to why only one half of the application had been sent and request full details on both. Members agreed that once these had been received the application would be dealt with under delegated powers.
255. LAND TO THE WEST OF THE PUMPING STATION- No update to report regarding enforcement action.
257. WEST AREA COMMITTEE – No update to report regarding a meeting with Rochford District Council to discuss how effective the West Area Committee is in attracting local residents, and whether residents know what the committee is actually for.
258. TRAVELLERS SITE (A1245) – No update or progress to report with regards to Enforcement on the site.
259. OLD LONDON ROAD SPEED RESTRICTIONS- The Clerk advised Members that following the last meeting a letter had been sent to Cllr Hume as requested but as yet she had only received an acknowledgement not a reply.
260. STREET LIGHTS AT BATTLESBRIDGE BRIDGE- The Clerk advised Members that as yet Rettendon Parish Council have not received the results of their traffic survey from Cartledge. The Clerk was asked to chase the matter.
261. OBSOLETE MAINS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CABLING IN THE PARISH- The Clerk advised Members that as yet she had not received a reply from EDF regarding obsolete cables in the Parish and any plans to renew them.
262. COMMUNITY GARDEN- Members noted that the trees had not been replaced in the garden however it was agreed that the adverse weather conditions had not made this possible.
263. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FUND-Cllr Hopkins advised Members that the judging panel for the Community Initiatives Fund had sat earlier in the day and all three of our applications for funding had been approved, albeit slightly less than we had asked for towards a new notice board. Cllr Hopkins confirmed £1379.00 had been agreed for a water supply for the garden, £1500.00 for a gate and £985.00 for a new Notice Board in the
264. TO RECEIVE REPRESENTATIVES WRITTEN REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED- None
265. PLANNING MATTERS-
a) To note the comments made on planning applications handled via the delegation procedure:
10/00023/FUL 10/00024/LBC Mr G Hatch Hawthorn Lodge Highlands Road Rawreth: Single storey pitched roof rear extension construct pitched roof garage and store to front and widen access with recessed gates, fence and driveway. - Council have no objections about the alterations to the property. The garage although large blends well with the neighbouring farm buildings but Council feel there should be a condition imposed that the garage will not be converted for residential use. In addition Council would like to advise that there are conditions favourable to bats in this area and they are known to be present in neighbouring buildings as provision were made for them in the barn conversion.
Council discussed and commented on the following late planning item.
10/00082/FUL Applicant Mr Daniel Jones Gwithian Chelmsford Road Rawreth. - Council have no objections to the proposed plans provided that they fully comply with all the new planning and development rules.
One further late planning item was received, this is referred to in full under item 254.
266. STANDING ORDERS FOR LOCAL COUNCILS- The Clerk advised Members that a copy of the newly published Standing Orders for Local Councils 2010 had been received. It was agreed that the Clerk would read through the document in readiness for the April Meeting where she would report her findings.
267. SAFETY BARRIER
268. TRAINING The Clerk advised Members that new training courses were available should they wish to attend.
269. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA. . a) Flooding in the Parish. b) Rawreth Playing Fields. c) LDF and Traffic Survey. d) Old
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270. DATE &VENUE OF NEXT MEETING- Council confirmed the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday 7th April 2010 at 7.30pm in the Rawreth Village Hall
The Meeting closed at 9.10pm
DATED…………………………………… CHAIRMAN…………………………………………………