LANGHAM 

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Langham Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st March 2017
1 Attendance
Cllr. B. Durlacher Acting Chairman
Cllr. A. Stacey
Cllr. M. Bottwood
Cllr. F. Hobbs
Cllr. P. Dawson
Borough Councillor Nigel Chapman
Also present were Mr. D. Winter, Clerk to the Council, Mr Chris and Mr Bob Schofield.
2 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. E. Schofield and Cllr. A. Ellis. The Council gave its best wishes to Cllr Schofield and hoped she would be well soon.
3 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest at this point. Any applicable declarations of interest would be made before the appropriate item.
4 Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st February 2017
Cllr. Dawson proposed and Cllr. Hobbs seconded that the minutes be agreed as accurate. This was accepted unanimously and Cllr Durlacher signed them.
5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
 






















6.2 of 05/10/16

At the A12 end of Park Lane there is vegetation overhanging the footway. The clerk will write to write to Glen Williamson asking him to clear this.

David Winter
 
6.2 of 05/10/16

At the Pond Corner junction the clerk will contact Mr Green to ask him to clear the holly bushes from the footway.

David Winter
 
2 of 01/02/17

Clerk should contact the zone 4 manager Casey Harrison to get a quote for a new litter bin. It might cost about £436 installed.

 David Winter
 
6 Residents’ Questions
There were no questions.
7 Reports to the Council.
7.1 Planning
Cllr. Ellis provided a written report.
APPLICATIONS AND PARISH COUNCIL RESPONSES
170302: The Grove, Grove Hill – conversion of garage to guest accommodation.
This is a substantial 5- bedroom property and, given the number of known residents, we find it difficult to understand the need for additional guest accommodation in the converted triple garage. As The Grove is a private dwelling, we consider that the proposed accommodation should not be used on a permanent basis or for business purposes. In strictly planning terms we have no reasons to make a formal objection to this application.
170268: Marroy, Moor Road – demolitions and front, rear and side extensions.
No objections
Lodge House – office for a groundsman. No objections.
Reassignment of Orchard House – for change of use to remove agricultural covenant. For CBC planners to decide.
Lodge House – extra temporary car parking. There was the comment that it sounded as if there is generally not enough parking.
 Housing Questionnaire
The latest copy was sent out to Councillors today for their approval. Cllr Bottwood will send a copy to Eve Oxley to advise the school the position as we are aware of it.
The possibility of sending a copy to local businesses was discussed. It was agreed not to send it on this occasion though I was felt that they should be seen on some occasion for their opinions.
Meetings
There has been a meeting of Cllrs Bottwood and Hobbs with the AWA. AWA maintain there is no capacity issue for Langham, though developments would have to be phased. This seems to be a different view to the EA.
Cllr Bottwood and Bob Schofield had met Lee Clark, the site manager of the Oaks, to discuss his drainage issues. Surface water drainage is not an AWA issue because it should be sealed away from the sewers. There could be a problem with Hornestreet Field which the Council should consider in the event of any further progress in the management of this site. We are not able to help the Oaks Academy which could find itself with an expensive drainage problem. Highways will need to unblock the drains on School Road with their ad hoc jetting stream team in March. This may resolve the problem.
7.2 Roads and Transport
Runkins Corner
There is a dangerous pot hole and Cllr Bottwood will report this again emphasizing how dangerous it is.
Broadband
BT has advised Cllr Bottwood that fibre broadband should be available by the end of July.
Road Works
Park Lane will be improved over the next 18 months.
Colchester Half Marathon
Cllr Stacey was concerning over the poor marshalling of this event last year and he will contact the organisers to advise them of this.
7.3 Recreation Ground
Projects

Vegetation has been cleared away from the rabbit fencing.
A picnic tables has been installed.

7.4 Housing
There have been a couple of service charge and repairs issues. Cllr Hobbs asked anyone to let her know if there were any ill people needing help like some residents of Whitehouse Close.
7.5 Community Council
Apart from boiler breakdowns, there are generally no problems apart from the lack of a treasurer.
7.6 Footpaths 
There is nothing new to report.
Cllr Stacey has met the person who complained about barbed wire at chest and ankle height on the footpath which emerges from alongside Hobday’s Wood and overlooks Nightingale Farm.
 
7.7  General Purposes
Defibrillator
There were 36 people at the training on 14th February. Of these 15 volunteered for emergency training.
Environment Agency
Cllrs Dawson and Stacey attended the EA meeting in Dedham. There seemed to be some concern in Dedham about the possible impact of any work (e.g. solar farm) done in Langham on Dedham.
7.8 Ward Councillor
 
Cllr Chapman would very much like ditches in Boxted to be improved.
CBC appears to be revisiting the issue of Wheelie bins in some areas but he believes they will not be introduced in Rural North.
Note:
Just for the record, he has now established that CBC are intending to offer advice to residents about the Hub in the Community Shop and will be contacting the Manager to see how and when that can be delivered. They are very pleased with how it has gone. It is the first one outside the urban area and things will be tweaked as we go forward.
7.9 Heritage Committee

Simon Gallup gave a talk on village life on 17th February. There were 94 tickets sold, and 24 attendees were interested in joining a history club. 14 attendees had material which might be useful to such a club.
There was some discussion as to whether there should be any celebration of the 75th anniversary of the coming of the Americans to Langham.

8 Correspondence received.
Planning information is passed directly to the Planning Committee, and crime reports (including Dedham Neighbourhood Watch), Rural Services Network weekly reports, medical correspondence and EALC reports are distributed to all Councillors. Otherwise, all correspondence is dealt with in other parts of the report.
9 Administrative Report
In the last month the workplace pension scheme requirement has been assessed and we do not need a scheme. This has been advised to the DWP.
10 Finance Report
10.1 Receipts and Payments

A list of payments (£2,581) and receipts (£116) was circulated for approval.
a grant to the community shop of £979 was made for their new computer.

10.2 Quotation for the replacement of part of the recreation ground hedge
Cllr Dawson proposed and Cllr Bottwood seconded the motion that the Council accepted the quote from the Brewers to remove approximately 40meters of hedge on roadside of recreation ground which is 75% ivy, and put onto bonfire site for burning asp. And also prepared the old soil and reinstate the new hedgerow with mixed varieties of hedge plants, surrounding each one with guards and canes, and also using membrane for the prevention of weeds.
The Cost of above: £500.00 Plus vat
Hedging Plants
Supplied by William Baird : £196.67. Plus vat
This was accepted unanimously.
10.3 Analysis of Accounts
The Clerk would attempt to separate out from the non-precept income and expenditure any ring-fenced streams of income and expenditure such as fibre-optic broadband, heritage and bonfire night. This should be done for the Annual Parish Assembly.
11 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 3rd May 2017 at Langham Community Centre at 7.30 pm.
12 Any other urgent business
Cllr Chapman confirmed the separate fund for use in benefitting the parish had now been used for the current financial year, and next year’s would now been soon available.
There being no other urgent business, the meeting closed at 9.05 pm.