MINUTES
Of the Ordinary Meeting of the Blackmore, Hook End &
Wyatts Green Parish Council held on
THURSDAY 20th OCTOBER 2022 at 7.30pm
At Tipps Cross Remembrance Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Cllrs R Keeble, N McCarthy, K Bennett, V Dean, A Watley, H Cannon, T Lockhart, J Lewis, T Thomas. S Clapham (Parish Clerk), R Nelson (RFO). Borough Cllr T Bridge and Country Cllr L Wagland.
0331 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr’s K Parkinson, K Wood, T Hinton, J Clarke. Borough Cllr P Jakobsson.
0332 APPROVAL OF MINUTES – 29.9.2022
The minutes were signed as a correct record by the Chairman with no amendments.
0333 DECLARATION OF INTEREST (for items on the agenda) – Nil
0334 OPEN FORUM – No public attendees.
0335 PROGRESS/CHECK REPORT – Nil
0336 CORRESPONDENCE/COMMUNICATIONS (Clerk to report) – Nil
0337 REPORTS OF BOROUGH AND ESSEX COUNTY COUNCILLORS –
Cllr Wagland commented on the ECC/PC Surgery regarding the Meadow Rise road resurfacing
issues. It was possible to lay a thin layer of tarmac over the concrete on the road nearest to the Blackmore road junction. It will be programmed in with forthcoming works but no date had yet been scheduled. It is hoped that Cllr Wagland can incorporate this in the pot hole initiative programme. The opposite residential end is more difficult and would need complete re-construction. This would go into the pre-programming but this phase would not happen for sometime. It was reported that roads deteriorate at a rate of 77 million pounds per year, and rising, but the current available budget is only 35 million pounds.
The Local Highways Panel (LHP) generated over £300,000 for the villages over the past 2-3 years and the Locality Fund had assisted many village and parish projects since its launch. Cllr Wagland advised that surplus funds were still available and it was agreed that the Clerk would apply for the parish seating project for the Mill Lane Play area (circa £850).
Cllr Wagland reminded Members that any highways issues, road sign defects etc should be reported using the ECC Interactive map by accessing ECC’s website and using the “Report it” tool. Photos and the What3Words location would also be required where possible.
Cllr Bridge reported that he was no longer on the Planning Committee at Brentwood Borough Council (BBC). He can now do referrals for the Parish Council. He stated that R26 within the LDP had been submitted to the Planning Committee and had passed the Pre-App stage and is now due for validation.
He also advised that the planning application for Fishers Yard, Wyatts Green is also currently being looked at (the PC had already submitted its response).
The Bay Tree Shopping Centre public exhibition will run next week in the Town Centre.
The Boundary Review is still under consultation until February 2023. However, it is likely that changes will be made as follows: There will be 13 x 3 Member wards. Blackmore, Hook End & Wyatts Green Electoral boundary is likely to be placed with Doddinghurst and Stondon Massey will go in with South Weald, Kelvedon Hatch and Navestock. Members wishing to comment could do so during the consultation period.
POLICY & RESOURCES
0338 Finance – Payments made online:
S Clapham –
Pension –
HMRC –
Mrs R Nelson –
MD Landscapes – £1147.10 (inc.VAT) – Grass cutting inv.no. 1046
Bits & Bytes – inv.304831 – £79 – PC lap top battery
Bits & Bytes – inv. 304842 – £30 – Cllr Lockhart – PC email faults
External Audit fees – £480.00
Netwise – £600.00 website hosting fees
Blackmore Parochial Charities Trust – £595.00 (quarterly fee)
Castle Water bill – £22.07
Payments made on the PC Credit Card: Printer cartridge £36.98 & stamps £13.04 & 6 x handy hoops £53.94 & £300 bus alternator
Cash drawn: – nil
Transfers: – nil
Memberships:– nil
Income/receipts/Reimbursements: nil
0339 FINANCIAL REPORT to 30th September 2022:
It was RESOLVED that:
The Statutory basis for this item be noted as the Accounts & Audit (England) Regulations 2015. The list of payments is approved as presented in the schedule with no amendments.
0340 FINANCIAL POWERS:
a) Double Taxation and SLA – The Clerk had again sent a chaser email to Steve Summers, BBC on 17.10.22. He is however away on holiday until 24.10.22 and a response is pending.
b) Budgeting – The RFO advised that should there be any projects in the pipeline could Cllr’s/Clerk please advise her so that this could be included within the imminent budget setting discussions.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
0341 There had been a Planning Committee meeting on the 17th October 2022 at 10.00am and the following planning applications were discussed. The Planning Reports and minutes were approved as circulated without any amendments.
22/01411/FUL – Land North of Woollard Way, Blackmore – LDP Site R25 – Anderson’s – 40no.new residential development including affordable housing – Objections raised (appendix 1 attached).
22/01373/HHA – Pebbles, The Green, Blackmore, CM4 0RR – Objection raised.
22/01325/FUL – Fishers Yard, Wrights Lane, Wyatts Green, CM15 0QA – Objections raised.
22/013551/HHA – Russets, Hook End Rd, Hook End, CM15 0NP – No objections.
22/01398/CAT – Holly Cottage, Church St, Blackmore, CM4 0RN – No objections.
LDP –
Site R25 – As above, Andersons have submitted a formal planning application with BBC. This was considered at the last PC Planning Committee meeting on 17th October and a report submitted to BBC.
Site R26 – Crest Nicholson have submitted a formal planning application. The PC considered this at its Planning Committee meeting on 22nd September and a report submitted to BBC.
PARKS & OPEN SPACES (POS)
The minutes of the POS Committee meeting held on 17th October 2022 at 10.00am were received and approved without amendment. The following items were deferred to full Council for consideration as follows:
0342 Planters & Planting –
Gunnells Corner – Comments had been received from two residents complaining that the two newly installed planters are too small for the junction. These are new planters and will remain for the time being. The Clerk had delivered leaflets through residents doors near to Gunnells Corner seeking plant watering volunteers. The summer bedding plants had died shortly after this summer’s planting had been carried out due to a lack of watering. Larger planters would be pointless unless the plants could be cared for.
Library Green – Mathew’s advised that one of the old wooden planters is falling apart and needs replacement. All three may have to be replaced at some point soon. Monitoring
0343 Annual ROSPA play area assessments –
Still awaiting receipt of inspection reports. The Clerk chased the Inspector for an update on 17.10.22 and the Inspection is scheduled for 21st October.
0344 Land grab, Service Lane – (by the resident at 24 Meadow Rise)–
This is registered as Common Land by the PC. ECC are investigating enforcement and this is currently being monitored. The POS Committee discussed this and felt if no answers are forthcoming in the next two months the PC might want to consider sending a Solicitor’s letter to the resident. Cllr Cannon had been told that ECC would enforce the removal of the fence but it had to go through various processes to reach its conclusion which may take some time. It was agreed that feedback from ECC would be Monitored first.
0345 PC Service Lane bridge –
There is a loose post in the ground which requires attention (not a missing grip strip as previously reported). Action: The Clerk will deal with this.
0346 Pond – (work: reeds to be thinned/removed and trimming back overgrown vegetation) –
John Sharpe advised that this work is outside of his scope. The Clerk has organised a site meeting with Pearl Drainage to supply a quote on Monday 24 Oct -10am. Action: Cllr’s Keeble and Watley will meet with them to obtain a quotation in the Clerk’s absence.
0347 Trees at Kilne Field –
Action: Cllr Watley will contact Andy Elmes and John Sharpe to arrange a site meeting to discuss the work required. An idea of costs had already been received from John Sharpe for both a full and part day’s work.
0348 Millennium field –
The Village Hall (VH) Committee are seeking grant funding for flood lighting and CCTV to the overflow car park. Cllr Keeble sought permission, in principle, from the PC before the VH Committee could submit the planning application with BBC. Cllr Bennett suggested that the VH Committee send in a written request outlining their proposal in order the PC could properly consider it. Action: Cllr Keeble will ask the VH Committee to supply this.
0349 Mill Lane – Bench for inside the play area – Costing £850.00 –
Action: As proposed at the POS meeting, and as discussed with Cllr Wagland, the Clerk would submit an application to the Locality Fund for this item.
0350 Walter Hobbs – Costs to be approved as recommended by the POS Committee:
- a)Fertiliser spreading by Graham Bonney – £350.00
- b)Fertiliser supply cost – (reduced price deal) – 29 bags at £15/bag = £435.00 as opposed to 20 bags at £27/bag, costing £540.00.
Approval of both quotations was proposed by Cllr Watley and unanimously agreed. Action: Cllr Keeble will instruct the suppliers and tie this in with the VH Committee.
0351 CLERK’S REPORT Clerk
a) Mini Bus update – W Hart cars visited on 19.10.22 as the bus would not start. Upon investigation, the alternator needed replacing at a cost of £300. This was undertaken and the bus is again available for hire.
b) PC office phone upgrade to Phone Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) – This is the technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (analogue) phone line, e.g. BT land line. This will be necessary from 2025 when BT will cease analogue provision to all business and residential users.
The Clerk had sought quotations as follows:
(Office phone set up costs were provided by Interact Technology, a local Contractor).
One off ‘Porting’ fee to take the service over from OneCom and BT from October 2022 (the out of contract date):- £20 + VAT
Plus £19/month + VAT – based on one licence over a 24 month contract period.
Comparatively, the current monthly analogue phone bill is £66.17 per month.
Additional licences can be added in the future should it be required, i.e for the RFO for example. During periods when the Clerk is on annual leave, the phone can be plugged into the RFO’s router and all calls will go to her without needing to divert calls. It is a fully portable and mobile service. The Clerk will also use the mobile smart phone app from home to avoid call costs.
Action: Approval of the above revised contract and costs was proposed by Cllr McCarthy and unanimously agreed. The Clerk will process the order with Interact ASAP.
c) PC email switchover – Cllr McCarthy had been dealing with the website provider regarding the Cllr and Officers new email addresses. The suggested available domain names had been circulated and the following preferred name had been agreed:
blackmorepc.org.uk – with a £20 p.a. registration. Action: Cllr McCarthy will process the above.
0352 DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS:
POS – Tuesday 15.11.22– 10.00am – Zoom
PC – 17.11.22 at 7.30pm – Tipps Cross R Hall Committee Room
Planning – TBC upon receipt of planning applications.
INFORMATION EXCHANGE/NEXT AGENDA ITEMS
0353 Cllr Keeble tendered his apologies for November’s PC meeting. Cllr Lockhart will
deputise.
0354 Cllr McCarthy advised that there had been a recent speed trap within the last three weeks in Wyatts Green Road. Cllr Keeble suggested volunteers join the list for the imminent speed watch proposed outside Blackmore School. Details to be collated for training purposes.
CLOSE OF MEETING –
There being no further items of business, the meeting was closed at 8.55pm