Parish Council Annual Report 7th May 2003.
There have been numerous
seminars, courses and meetings for Councillors to attend this year and I am
sure Councillors and The Clerk would agree that this has been a very busy
year for the Parish Council.
The Parish Council has within its structure various committees below is a
brief report on some of their work throughout the year.
Planning
There have been many planning applications this year but none so emotive as
the
application to demolish Nil Desperandum and erect four dwellings on the site.
The Parish Council objected to the planning application. The planning committee
produced a fifteen-page document highlighting the planning issues and presented
this to Tendring District Council’s planning committee. Tendring District
Council refused the Planning Application.
The Planning Application subsequently went to appeal and we are pleased to
report that the appeal has also been refused.
Play Areas
– (sub-committee Youth Forum)
The Play Area committee chairman produced a four-year plan for the two play
areas. The plan reflects the annual inspection report by RoSPA (Royal Society
for the Prevention of Accidents). This year the old two bay swings have been
replaced in the main play area on the green and maintenance has continued
to bring the equipment and safety surfaces up to the required EN 1176 standards.
Due to the high costs of replacing the play equipment, and because, unfortunately
no land had become available to proceed with a skateboard park, the Parish
Council agreed to transfer the money awarded when the village won Great Britain
Village of the Year to the play area funds.
The Youth Forum has to date selected a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and meets on a monthly basis. They are at present responsible for, and run, the Multi Sports that takes place on the village green on Sunday mornings from 9.00 a.m.
Allotments
It is pleasing to note that the Allotments are very well used and just a few
plots remain vacant.
Village Green
The maintenance of the green is managed by the Village Green Management committee.
The committee oversees; -
? The grass cutting of the green during the growing season.
? The repairs and replacement when required to the seats litter and dog bins.
Repairs have been made to the damaged seats this year and two new litter-bins
purchased to replace old bins.
? The maintenance of the tractors and mowers.
? To be aware of any erosion of the green and repair where necessary. Last
year areas of the green were sprayed to prevent excessive weed growth.
? The maintenance of the village pond. We were pleased, that again during
the year, the Conservation Group had successful Pond Dipping sessions.
? The upkeep of the notice boards. This year the Notice board at the road
junction to Sturricks Lane has undergone repairs.
We are grateful to all those residents who have been kind enough to observe
the various notices not to park on the green throughout the year. Your assistance
in conserving the green is appreciated.
Finance Committee
The committee now meets on a bi-monthly basis and is primarily responsible
for presenting to Council a budget schedule to set the precept required by
the Parish Council for the next financial year.
The committee checks that the Insurance cover required for Parish Council
is adequate.
Recently, the Finance committee has taken on the responsibility of ensuring
that any required risk assessments are in place.
Other Parish
Council work
The Parish Council formed a working party committee to take on the responsibility
of organising the Queens Golden Jubilee Celebrations, with the assistance
of a grant from the Parish Council and the lottery “Awards for All”
to finance the event. It was very pleasing to know how much residents of the
village enjoyed themselves. Our grateful thanks again to all the working party
members and everyone who helped throughout the day to make this event so successful.
The Parish Council successfully recovered the Athill Dolls after a parishioner highlighted the fact that the dolls were requiring a new home. The Dolls are at present stored in the village. Parishioners are agreeable to join the Parish Council, as a working party, to go onto the next stage regarding restoration and display, unfortunately, this has not been possible to date due to my present workload for which I apologise.
A flagpole was purchased and placed on the village green to commemorate the Queens Golden Jubilee Year. Thank you to the Royal British Legion who have taken on the responsibility of ensuring flags are flying on the allotted days.
Many requests have
been received from the Conservation Group regarding their interests of parts
of the Village Green.
The Conservation Group now manages the Heather Patch and has requested to
erect a board to give relevant details of the type of plants growing in the
area.
The group has also requested, which has been approved, to plant wildflowers
in the ditch towards Moors Close.
Their request for a pond in front of Moorlands on the green is still on going
as information requested by the Parish Council to the group, of which some
has now been received, is still being assessed.
Many Highways issues
have been covered this year, notably is the fact that Lufkins Lane, although
not part of our Parish, has now been given a weight restriction to be implemented
this year.
The concerns relating to the accidents that occur at Green Corner along Heckford
Road were bought to the attention of Highways. The Parish Council has approved
a plan produced by Highways for improvements to the road signage in that area
which is to be carried out in the near future.
The Parish Council is still pursuing a weight restriction for Tye Road.
The replacement of some of the street lighting columns is continuing, although there has been a few problems with the contractor to get the work completed.
The Parish Council entered the village for the Best Kept Village competition, and was pleased with the village’s success of winning its class for the third year running.
The Environmental award money won for the Best Kept Village Competition in the year 2001 was allocated this year to Bentley and Bloom (£50) and the Conservation Group (£200).
This year The Rural
Housing Trust, with the assistance of the Parish Council, conducted a survey
of the village to establish if there was a need to provide affordable housing
in the village. Julie Pavitt the Rural Housing Trusts representative was overwhelmed
with the response she received and the need was established. She then continued
to the next stage to establish the type of housing required and received again
a very good response.
Julie has now left The Rural Housing Trust, but negotiations are continuing
to acquire a suitable area of land for building.
My grateful thanks go to all the Councillors and The Clerk for their help and support throughout the year.
Thank you to Mr David Kirby our Footpaths representative and Mr Vernon Walsh our Transport representative for your hard work throughout the year.
Also thank you to the parishioners who regularly come along to our meetings.
Lynda McWilliams
Parish Council Chairman