Rawreth Parish Council

Minutes of the last Meeting of Rawreth Parish Council 

DRAFT MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING OF RAWRETH PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF RAWRETH PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 4th FEBRUARY 2010 AT 7.30pm AT THE VILLAGE HALL RAWRETH

                                          Present: Cllr A Matthews

                                                     Cllr. Mrs L Hopkins

                                                     Cllr. S Coombs

                                                     Cllr. R Coombs 

                                                     Cllr. Mrs M Beckers

                                                     Cllr. P Beckers

                                                     Cllr. Mrs S Wiltshire

                                                    

In Attendance:  The Clerk, 6 members of the public and District Councillor Chris Black.

 

213. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE- None.  Apologies were noted from District Cllr Ron Oatham.

 

214. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.-None

 

215. TO APPROVE MINUTES OF LAST MEETING. - The Minutes of the meeting held on the 2nd of December 2009 were approved by the Members and accordingly the Chairman signed them as a true copy.

 

216. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Item number 189.b the matter has still not been resolved, Clerk to chase ECC Highways.

 

217. 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 have been marked by highways for repair but they have still not been done.

b. Two reported cases of Hare Coursing in the Parish on the land belonging to Beeches Farm, opposite Rawreth Gardens and behind Madrid Avenue.  Details have been given to the police.

c. Two advertising trailers, one on the land overlooking the Fairglen Interchange (Michelins Farm), the other in the lay-by of the A1245. Council were informed at the West Area Committee Meeting, minute number 38.09 that the trailer in the lay-by would be removed within 14 days but it is still there despite having a removal notice attached to it.

d. Broken down/abandoned truck in Rawreth Lane has now moved to the car park of Rawreth Playing Fields.

e. Theft of car wheels from Richlee Motors.

f. Agreement to an additional dog waste bin in the third field at Rawreth Playing Fields and a bench. 

g. Speeding cars and mopeds in Church Road Rawreth resulting in a residents cat being killed.

h. Fly Tipping Church Road Rawreth.

i. More buildings appearing on the Travellers site on the A1245.

 

Items g and h were reported to the Clerk prior to the meeting and in view of the seriousness the Clerk invited PC Wynn Sharp to attend the meeting.  PC Sharp in now permanently based at Rayleigh Police Station and is our point of contact for Essex Police.

 

PC Sharp advised those present what had been happening within Rayleigh and Rawreth during the proceeding months. Three extremely good drug busts have happened in the District two of which were in Rayleigh, a knife detector initiative at Rayleigh Station and the Pink Toothbrush night club had been undertaken to detector those who choose to carry knives and deter others from doing so and Mark Francois MP accompanied PC Sharp in his duties.

 

PC Sharp also advised that the Rayleigh Neighbourhood Policing Panel now has a monthly meeting every second Tuesday of the month at Rayleigh Town Council building, Websters Way, starting at 19.30hrs. 

 

218. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT- Cllr Black advised that the RDC budget has now been set with a 1.96% increase for council tax.  Cllr Black also advised that new RDC offices have been planned in Rochford, the new offices will replace the current building Acacia House which holds the planning department, this building will be sold should the plans go ahead. The sum of £475,000 has been allocated out of the budget for the new offices with the decision as to whether they go ahead being made by the Executive Committee, ie 9 members, not full council.

 

Cllr Black advised that the Secretary of State now has the Local Development Framework Core Strategy and that the public enquiry could take place as early as June.

 

Cllr Black also advised that he had been talking with County Highways about Priory Chase and in particular the fact that as the road  is still not adopted no gritting took place during the snow despite the road being a bus route, and access for the school, leisure centre and superstore.  Cllr Black has now been advised that should it be necessary in the future the road will be gritted.

 

 

219. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- - The following areas and matters were mentioned by members of the public, where necessary the Clerk will investigate.

1. Local Development Framework public enquiry, concerns that as RDC are in full support of the proposals of the Core Strategy do the inspectors form an opinion on the document before the public enquiry.

2. Local Development Framework, proposed housing allocations, proposed areas and opposition to them.

 

220. FINANCE

a) Cheques for Approval

100631 - H L Bloomfield – Expenses (December) £89.99- Approved and signed

100632 - H L Bloomfield – Quarterly Expenses £53.50- Approved and signed

100633 - H L Bloomfield – Expenses (January) £6.78 –Approved and signed

 

221. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE (to note)

a. 01 December 2009-Letter-Audit Commission-Appointment of External Auditor- Noted

b. 05 December 2009-Letter-Downhall Under Fives-Grant donation thank you.-Noted

c.08 December 2009-Letter-Interact-Grant donation thank you.-Noted

d 09  December 2009-Letter- Wyvern Community Transport-Grant donation thank you-Noted

e.09 December 2009-Letter-RDC-Council Tax Base and Precept request.-Noted

f. 09 December 2009- Email- St Nicholas PCC- Grant donation thank you.-Noted

g.09 December 2009- Letter- Essex Air Ambulance- Grant donation thank you.-Noted

h.21 December 2009- Letter-ECC- Notification that planning permission has been granted to St Nicholas School for erection of two entrance gates.-Noted

i. 13 January 2010 – Letter-Rawreth Art Group-Grant donation thank you.-Noted

j. Undated January 2010- Card- Thank you from Mrs Bright retired Head Teacher St Nicholas School.-Noted

k.19th January 2010- Letter-Victim Support- Request for grant funding.-Noted and the Clerk was requested to write to them and ask them to resubmit their request for the December agenda.

l. 26th January 2010 –email- Rec Paul Trathen & PCC St Nicholas Grant donation thank you.-Noted

m 26th January 2010- email-Rec Paul Trathen & PCC St Nicholas grant request for St Nicholas Job Club.-Members were read the contents of the email and in accordance with the minutes of item number 192 Cllr L Hopkins proposed the grant sum of £100.00 which was seconded by Cllr P Beckers. Members agreed this was an initial grant and that they would review the progress of the job club and should funds still be available would consider a further grant request during the year.

n.26th January 2010 – Letter- Rawreth Art Group- Request to change payee on grant cheque.-Members noted the contents of the letter and it was agreed to amend the payee to Rawreth Village Hall as the art group do not have their own bank account and use the village hall for their meetings.

 

Late correspondence.

m. 29th January 2010-Letter-RDC-Changes to planning Controls. Noted and the Clerk was requested to find out under which directive the changes had been made and what the changes are.

 

 

222. FLOODING IN THE PARISH- No update to report.

 

223. RAWRETH LANE PLAYING FIELDS- Members were advised that work has now started on the car park extension.

 

224. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK PROPOSALS- Members have been advised that the Secretary of State now has the LDF Core Strategy and the public enquiry could be as early as June.  Members now want to organise the planned traffic survey to log how many vehicle movements there are in a 12 hour period along Beeches Road/Watery Lane and Rawreth Lane.  Members plan three check points, the entrance to Rawreth Lane Playing Fields, the junction of Priory Chase and Rawreth Lane and the junction of Beeches Road and Chelmsford Road.  The twelve hour period will be split into two hour slots, with two people required for each slot.  The Clerk was requested to ask for volunteers via the website and email.  The date was set as Thursday the 25th of March 2010 between the hours of 7am and 7pm.    

 

225. OLD LONDON ROAD FOOTBALL PITCHES – No update to report.

 

226. LAND TO THE WEST OF THE PUMPING STATION- No update to report.

 

227 LAND DRAIN LONDON ROAD (adjacent to Claremont) – No update to report, and the Clerk was requested to chase Lyn Harvey at ECC Highways.

 

 

228. WEST AREA COMMITTEE – No update to report.

 

229. TRAVELLERS SITE (A1245) – Members aired their concerns that despite and Enforcement Notice on the site more buildings have appeared over the last few weeks. The Clerk was requested to inform RDC and ask for an update. .

 

230. OLD LONDON ROAD SPEED RESTRICTIONS- The Clerk advised Members that the result of the speed data survey had been received and as a result an officer from ECC Highways has concluded that as a 60mph road with no footways only 8 private dwellings and a pub drivers are choosing their speed according to the environment through which they are passing, which is essentially a rural road. The officer further reported that pedestrians are responsible for their own actions and if they choose to walk along any section of the road with no footway it s entirely their own decision. In this instance they have the safer options available of walking along footpath 16 which crosses the field, or bridleway 61 which runs alongside what was the A129 but is now closed to traffic. Members were appalled by the response of the officer which was met with total derision and disgust by both Members of the Council and the public. Members felt so strongly they requested that the Clerk write a letter to Cllr Norman Hume the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation at ECC making him aware of the officer’s comments and the feelings of both the Council and Members of the public to his comments.   

 

231. STREET LIGHTS AT BATTLESBRIDGE BRIDGE- No update to report and the Clerk was requested to chase Rettendon Parish Council for a response.

 

232. OBSOLETE MAINS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CABLING IN THE PARISH- The Clerk advised that no response had been received from EDF despite two letters being sent, the Clerk was requested to keep chasing them.

 

233. COMMUNITY GARDEN- The Clerk was requested to chase Hyde Landscapes to ascertain when they would be replacing the trees that have died.

 

234. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FUND-Cllr Lyn Hopkins advised Members that the judging panel for the next round of the Community Initiatives Fund will be meet on the 3rd of March 2010. Cllr Hopkins advised the Clerk that as yet she has received no paperwork and requested that the Clerk ensure that the CIF Co-ordinator has both hers and Cllr P Beckers home address.  

 

235. TRANSPORTATION AND BUS SERVICES- The Clerk advised Members that bus services in the Parish are once again under threat. The Clerk was requested to write to ECC to express the concern of the Council.

 

236. INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL- Council to note the report of the Remuneration Panel for Parish and Town Council Allowances 2010/2011- Noted

 

237. TO RECEIVE REPRESENTATIVES WRITTEN REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED- Cllr Paul Beckers presented a written report to all Members and the Clerk on the last meeting of the Rochford Hundred Association of Local Councils.

 

238. PLANNING MATTERS-

 a) To note the comments made on planning applications handled via the delegation procedure:

 

09/00672/FUL Mr and Mrs Richard & Kelly Parker. Goldsmiths Paddocks, Goldsmiths Drive Rayleigh- To construct one three bedroom bungalow for manager of stud farm.- In August 2009 the Parish Council made comments and observations on a planning application for the same property from the same applicants, numbered 09/00426/FUL, these comments and observations are still relevant and Council would request that these be referred to. The property can be seen from the Public Bridleway,  falls within the Greenbelt and is not registered as an agricultural holding making the point of referral in the applicants supporting statement, ”Planning Policies” irrelevant. Council cannot comment on the business plan as it was not enclosed Council do consider however that the design of the proposed dwelling is attractive and it could sit comfortably on its site and suggest therefore that should it gain planning permission then a condition be imposed to ensure it is registered with an “Agricultural Tie” Until a comprehensive policy on the Rayleigh Park Estate is agreed the whole area is at risk from sporadic development with no overall plan.  This is a unique area which with proper planning could contribute to the Districts future housing needs without use of valuable food producing agricultural land- Noted.

 

09/00684/FUL Metro Ltd site of 120 and 122 Rawreth Lane Rayleigh. Demolish existing dwelling and commercial premises and construct eight 2 bedroom houses- Firstly Council would like to stress that the site the subject of this application is within the Greenbelt and as “back plot” development, although fronting onto a private road, “Hooley Drive”, is not classified as “Brownfield”.Secondly Council have noted that only half of the site will be developed under this proposed application, therefore a further application could be submitted in the future for eight more houses. The proposed houses are not typical of the existing dwellings along this stretch of Rawreth Lane and are considered overdevelopment of the site and too close to the neighbouring property number 118a. also if the houses are two bedrooms they should be for social/low cost housing needs. Once again Council must emphasise that there is no overall plan for Rayleigh Park and this is another example of chipping into the site. With no overall plan there is a danger of a large unplanned housing area being developed which is not within Rochford District Councils preferred options, although perhaps it should have been.  If this application and others are approved, will the number of houses being developed count towards the total allocated for Rawreth under Rochford District Councils Core Strategy?-Noted

 

09/00717/COU Land opposite Searles Yard Trenders Avenue Rayleigh Essex. Change of use of stables into offices. Council note that in the applicants “supporting statement” reference is made to planning permission being granted to the applicant in 2009 for a development of four dwellings on the site of The Yard under ref 09/00013/FUL.  It has always been the Councils concern that these approved applications will set a precedent for the Rayleigh Park Estate as no overall plan exists. Without such a plan piecemeal development will continue to erode into the Estate and the Greenbelt with no overall control-Noted.

 

09/00633/LDC Umbria Rawreth Lane Rawreth Essex. Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a single storey rear extension. Councils understanding is that a Certificate of Lawfulness is for a building or situation that already exists. This application is not for a building, it is merely two outside walls that have just been built, therefore Council believes this application should either be a new full planning application or, if appropriate under Permitted Development Rules should show measurements of the original property and full details of the size, height, eaves and roof form of the proposed extension and how this is to be attached to the original building.  If appropriate under the Permitted development Rules the application should also detail the doors in and out of the said building and windows. Council feel that there is a complete lack of information supplied by the applicant.-Noted

 

10/00002/FUL 3 Hooley Drive Rayleigh Essex. Demolish existing semi detached bungalow and construct detached three bedroom bungalow. Council note that the application has been submitted at the same time as that of the neighbouring property number 4 Hooley Drive. However under section 8 of the application form it is stated that no consultation between the neighbours has taken place? Council would like to question what is Rochford District Councils policy on creating two detached properties from one semi detached property? Council have no objection as such to the application but consistency must be upheld. It has always been the Councils concern that approved applications will set a precedent for the Rayleigh Park Estate as no overall plan exists. Without such a plan development will continue to erode into the Estate and the Greenbelt with no overall control or contribution to the housing needs of Rochford District. If agreed these applications should contribute rather than productive agricultural land being used -Noted

 

10/00003/FUL 4 Hooley Drive Rayleigh Essex. Demolish existing semi detached bungalow and construct detached three bedroom bungalow. Council note that the application has been submitted at the same time as that of the neighbouring property number 3 Hooley Drive. However under section 8 of the application form it is stated that no consultation between the neighbours has taken place? Council would like to question what is Rochford District Councils policy on creating two detached properties from one semi detached property? Council have no objection as such to the application but consistency must be upheld. It has always been the Councils concern that approved applications will set a precedent for the Rayleigh Park Estate as no overall plan exists. Without such a plan development will continue to erode into the Estate and the Greenbelt with no overall control or contribution to the housing needs of Rochford District. If agreed these applications should contribute rather than productive agricultural land being used- Noted.  

 

239. TRAINING- The Clerk advised Members that new training courses were available should they wish to attend.

 

240. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA. . a) Flooding in the Parish. b) Rawreth Playing Fields. c) LDF and Traffic Survey. d) Old London Road Football Pitches. e) Land to the west of the Pumping Station Watery Lane. f) London Road land drain. g) Travellers Site. h)West Area Committee i) Speed restrictions Old London Road. j) Community Garden. k) CIF Funding l) Traffic lights at Battlesbridge Bridge 

 

241. DATE &VENUE OF NEXT MEETING- Council confirmed the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday 3rd March 2010 at 7.30pm in the Rawreth Village Hall.

 

The Meeting closed at 9.30pm

 

DATED……………………………………     CHAIRMAN…………………………………………………