BRADFIELD PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING JULY 2017 The Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 4 TH JULY 2017 at The Methodist Church Hall Heath Road Bradfield, commencing at 7.30pm Present Chairman: Councillor Mrs S Cunningham Vice Chairman: Councillor Mrs K Wynn Councillors: Councillor Mrs S Bird Councillor Mrs E Ralph Councillor Ms K Burton Councillor Mrs R Hill 3 x vacant seats Staff: Clerk to the Council Denise Humphris Tom Humphris (work experience) and 8 members of the public. Councillor Zoe Fairley sent her apologies for absence. 039/17 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. None received 040/17 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None 041/17 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 6 TH JUNE 2017 RESOLVED: to approve the minutes (previously circulated) as a true record for signature by the Chairman. 042/17 TENDRING STAGE RALLY A representative of Chelmsford Motor Club gave a brief outline of plans for a time trial rally to run on public roads around Tendring in 2018, as part of a consultation to obtain the views of all those who may be affected. This would involve 24 hour road closures but some arrangements for residents to access their properties may be possible at various points during that 24 hours. It would be a 3x 20 mile course starting and finishing in Clacton and some roads in Bradfield would be affected as they would be part of the course, with the route coming from Wix and cars turning right at the Strangers Home junction towards Mistley. Questions were raised about aspects of insurance and were advised cover of 65m for each incident would be in place and all arrangements would be closely scrutinised by the Motor Sport National Body. The event will raise money for RNLI and Essex Air Ambulance. 043/17 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A member of the public asked if the Council could make a donation to the local First Responders. He was informed that the Council now have a formal grants and donation policy and the First Responders were welcome to apply. Further queries were raised about the proposed Steam Mill Road footpath. 15 P a g e B r a d f i e l d P a r i s h C o u n c i l 2 0 1 7 / 2 0 1 8
It was reported that telephone numbers pre-fixed 01255 should be able to access Superfast Broadband by the Autumn of 2017. Other numbers pre-fixed 01206 may have more problems and it was not yet clear how or when this would be resolved. 044/17 CLERK S REPORT The Clerk reported as follows: A written report has been received from Essex County Councillor Guglielmi. This will be put on the website. Scribe Accounting software it was reported that the Clerk has negotiated a deal with the company to provide this software on one licence for her three separate councils. All accounting information will remain separate for each council. The next annual fee is not now due until February 2018 and will be around 120 a substantial saving. Details of various exhibition dates re Tendring District Council Local Plan are now available on various dates and at various venues between 27 th June and 11 th July. This consultation will be an agenda item at the next meeting for consideration of this Council s response. Grass cutting the contractors lawnmower broke down whilst they were in the process of cutting the grass last week meaning that the grass was cut a few days later than normal and was therefore longer than would normally be expected. North East Essex Parking Partnership have installed notices along Heath Road advising of the intention to install parking restrictions outside the school and to remove the existing yellow zig zags. Councillor Guglielmi has written to them requesting further consultation before this goes ahead. The Local Highways Panel have stated that this does not relate to the new school signage approved by them but there is considerable confusion about how the two schemes tie in together and further investigation is to take place. Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB a replacement tree is to be provided to replace the apple tree donated to us last year that was vandalised. Bradfield Village Hall The Council have been advised that due to a change in regular bookings it may now be possible for the Council to use the Village Hall for regular monthly council meetings. The Clerk will investigate and report back to the next meeting. 045/17 COUNCILLOR/WORKING PARTY BRIEF REPORTS a) New Councillor Training. Councillors Bird, Burton and Ralph recently attended new councillor training at the Essex Association of Local Councils and felt it was worthwhile and informative. They have come back with various ideas from talking to other councils and will be looking to implement some new initiatives where possible. Some councils have an agenda item entitled information exchange at the end of each agenda but it was agreed that the existing agenda item Brief Reports enables this. 16 P a g e B r a d f i e l d P a r i s h C o u n c i l 2 0 1 7 / 2 0 1 8
b) Village Defibrillator. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Harwich and District Fellowship for the sick to thank them for the kind donation of a defibrillator for the Village which has now been installed on the wall of the Methodist Church Hall. They will also send a volunteer round once per month to service the machine. It was agreed that a training session on how to use it for anyone interested should be arranged as this would also help to raise awareness in the Village of the de-fibrillator s existence and position and Councillor Ralph will arrange this. It was agreed that a letter of thanks should also be sent to the Methodist Church for allowing their hall to be the used and to volunteer Mr Button who installed the de-fibrillator. Strangers Home Councillor Cunningham reported that with new owners previous issues with this site had been put to rest. Although the new owners have not yet been able to purchase the camp site the previous permanent residents of the camp site have now moved on and although the existing camp site owner tried to pursue the new shower block planning application this was rejected as the new pub owners have done substantial renovation work to the existing showers. Playground safety mats The mats under the gyro-spin have come loose and look to be in a poor state of repair considering they were only replaced as new last year. The Clerk will liaise with the original installer to rectify this but in the event that this cannot be resolved quickly the on site play installers who are currently putting in place the new play equipment have offered to help with this. 046/17 MEET YOUR COUNCILLOR EVENTS It was agreed that a quarterly event may be a good idea and Councillor Burton will investigate costs, a suitable venue and potential dates to report back. 047/17 PARISH COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE There were mixed views on the usefulness of this type of public contact. More thought will be given to this for review at a later date. 048/17 NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT The installation of the new equipment is now at an advanced stage and it is hoped that it will be finished by the end of next week. RESOLVED: that an opening ceremony should be held on Friday 14 th July at 3.30pm and the press will be invited. 049/17 PLANNING a) Members noted updates re the following declined applications: (i)16/01850/out Cartref Straight Road Bradfield construction of 4 new dwellings following demolition of existing house an appeal has been made to the Secretary of State for the decision to be re-considered (ii) Heath Farm Windmill Road Bradfield erection of 2 detached 2-bedroom bungalows The appeal has been upheld by the Secretary of State and therefore the application has been approved. 17 P a g e B r a d f i e l d P a r i s h C o u n c i l 2 0 1 7 / 2 0 1 8
b) Members reviewed planning applications submitted to Tendring District Council for consideration, and, Bradfield Parish Council, as consultees in the planning process RESOLVED (unanimously) to comment as follows: APPLICATION NUMBER 17/000992/FUL ADDRESS The Old Ram and Hoggett Inn Heath Road Bradfield DETAILS OF APPLICATION Rear Single storey extension PARISH COUNCIL COMMENTS NO OBJECTIONS. 050/17 ANNUAL INSURANCE REVIEW a) Members reviewed the Annual Risk Assessment Document as presented by the Clerk and were pleased to note that the integration of efficient procedures and controls have resulted in many areas now being low risk. It was noted that there is still some work to do to review policies and procedures for cemeteries and playground inspections but this is already in hand with working parties due to meet shortly to review these matters. RESOLVED: to approve the Annual Risk Assessment Document. b) RESOLVED: to approve the updated Asset Register as presented by the Clerk, with the P.A. system to be added, and which includes the new play equipment making total assets valued at 245,563 with land and the Village Hall being listed with 1 community value. This full re-valuation of all assets will need to be noted for completion of the Annual Return for the year end March 2018. c) Members reviewed the Annual Insurance schedule and RESOLVED: the following additions to the schedule: Bus shelters 20,000. The Clerk advised that she had sought other quotations but the existing policy was still the cheapest available and it was RESOLVED: to approve payment of the premium of 1232.13 to renew the policy with effect from 4 th July 2017. 051/17 ANNUAL RETURN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 ST MARCH 2017. a) Members received the written report of the Internal Auditor and were pleased to note a clean audit relating to all matters and no recommendations for action. b) Members undertook the Annual Review of the effectiveness of Internal Audit and RESOLVED: to sign off the related document confirming that the Council is happy with all aspects of the Internal Audit. 052/17 FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING a) Staff Annual Pay review Members noted the NALC annual pay review resulting in a 1% increase in pay effective from 1 st April 2017. a) Finance Report 1 st April 2017 30 th June 2017 Bank reconciliation as at 30 th June 2017 shows bank balances as follows: Current Account 18709.99 18 P a g e B r a d f i e l d P a r i s h C o u n c i l 2 0 1 7 / 2 0 1 8
Deposit Account 12600.05 It was noted that the Deposit Account now includes 5000 of reserves as well as 7600 set aside for the cemetery land purchase. Budget analysis shows all budgets are on track. b) Councillor Audit Checks Councillor Wynn confirmed that she has checked all bank accounts via the online banking system. c) Payment of Accounts RESOLVED: (unanimously) to approve payments totalling 4088.62 as per the schedule in Appendix a. 053/17 TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be Tuesday 1 ST August 2017 at The Methodist Church Hall, Heath Road Bradfield commencing at 7.30pm There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.30pm APPENDIX A BRADFIELD PARISH COUNCIL JULY 2017 PAYMENTS APPROVED JULY 2017 min no. Mrs D Humphris 562.89 562.89 July salary Mrs D Humphris 20.48 20.48 July salary Inland Revenue 166.36 166.36 July PAYE NEST 12.92 12.92 June pension Mrs D Humphris 4 4 Tel July 2017 EON 128.09 6.1 121.99 Electric June D MARVAN 720 120 600 Grass cutting D MARVAN 360 60 300 Replacement stile D MARVAN 48 8 40 Clear fly tipping D MARVAN 420 70 350 Hawthorn planting D Taylor Engineering 213.6 35.6 178 Village Hall Barriers Tendring District Council 50.4 8.4 42 Annual Play inspection AON 1232.1 3 1232.1 3 Annual Insurance Heelis and Lodge 149.75 149.75 Internal audit fee CHAIRMAN SIGNATURE Signed By Councillor S Cunningham DATE 1 st August 2017 19 P a g e B r a d f i e l d P a r i s h C o u n c i l 2 0 1 7 / 2 0 1 8