SHALFORD PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held at Shalford Village Hall on
Wednesday, 20th November 2024 commencing at 7:30pm:
Present:
Cllr Batt (Chair)
Cllr French
Cllr Hull
Cllr Merryweather
Cllr Mitchell
Cllr Peter Havelock (Co-opted)
Jill Boot (Clerk)
FC121-24/25 Apologies for Absence: The following apologies were accepted by the Council: Cllr Birks
FC122-24/25 To receive member’s declarations of interest and dispensations in items on the agenda: None were received by the Clerk
FC123-24/25 Minutes of Previous Meeting:
RESOLVED Minutes of the PC Meeting held on the 16th October 2024, copies of which had been previously circulated to all members, were confirmed as a true record by all councillors who attended and signed by the Chairman.
Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr Hull
FC124-24/25 Councillor Co-options: The following candidate was co-opted onto the Council: Peter Havelock The Council welcomed them to the Parish Council
FC125-24/25 New Councillors: A ‘Declaration of Office’ form was completed and signed in the presence of the ‘Proper Office’ and a ‘Register of Interests’ form will be completed and given to the Clerk at the next meeting.
FC126-24/25 Public participation session: 2 members of the public attended:
A request was made for the Council to chase ECC to visit Shalford Parish to clear out all the drains as there are many blocked and causing issues.
FC127-24/25 District and/or County Councillor Report: No report was received.
FC128-24/25 Finchingfield and Wethersfield Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission draft Consultation:
RESOLVED: The Council supports this in principle and Cllr Mitchell will prepare and submit our response as per tonight’s discussions before 22nd November 2024.
Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr Batt
FC129-24/25 Potential Open Space Improvements (POSI) plan:
RESOLVED: The following changes were agreed:
Stoneley Park:
Add: Improvement to footpaths & Bridleways / Lectern Map Signs
Remove: Community Garden Orchard / Picnic benches / Seating by the river and landscape improvement to that area
Playing Field:
Amend: Add play equipment for older children, turn basketball area into a multifunctional space (MUGA). Extension and improvements to the car park, including designated disabled bays.
Add: Pétanque Court repair and storage facilities / Safety Fencing around Playground.
Open Space:
Add: Additional Vehicle Activated Sign
Proposer: Cllr Batt Seconder: Cllr Merryweather.
FC130-24/25 Neighbourhood Plan Update:
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- A Working Party is now underway which includes both Parish Councillors and residents.
- Two zoom meetings have been held with our Planning Consultant.
- Appointment of a Kevin Welsh as Chair & Tom Price as Vice-Chair.
- Minutes will be posted onto the Parish Council website under a separate Neighbourhood Plan tab which will be set up and updated by Kevin Welsh.
- Terms of Reference will be agreed by the Council at next meeting.
- Next Zoom Meeting Dates: 5th December @ 6 PM & 19th December @ 8 AM It has been requested that the Clerk sends reminders of these dates.
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FC131-24/25 HR Committee Member & Next Meeting:
RESOLVED: It was agreed that new Cllr Havelock will be appointed to the HR Committee and a date in January for a meeting will be agreed.
The Clerk advised the Committee members that an agenda must be produced in advance.
Proposer: Cllr French Seconder: Cllr Hull
FC132-24/25 Christmas Light Switch-on Sat 30th November 2024:
The Clerk has completed a Risk Assessment for both the Christmas tree installation & for the Christmas Event and distributed to both Cllr Hull & Cllr French accordingly.
The BDC event licence has been received and given to Cllr French.
The Hall Charge is now £100 for this 2024 event.
The Clerk will share the poster over our Facebook page this week and next week.
The Clerk has been asked to attend the whole event on behalf of the Parish Council and to help clear up after.
The Clerk has been asked to invite the local PCSO along to the event.
RESOLVED: It was agreed to spend up to £100 for a banner to be purchased to promote this annual event. Cllr Merryweather will order, collect and arrange to put up.
Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr Merryweather
FC133-24/25 Clerks Report:
VAS Project:
SWARCO have submitted their quote for installation/supply of our VAS poles and it is within our £5000 budget and therefore only now require the go ahead.
This quote is on a 4-week lead time and does not include road space permitting or traffic management should network assurance stipulate this.
RESOLVED: The quote received from SWARCO for £2473.04 ex vat was agreed and the Clerk will send over a works order.
Proposer: Cllr Batt Seconder: Cllr Merryweather.
RESOLVED: It was agreed that the Clerk should obtain a quote from ElanCity for purchasing additional VAS units.
Proposer: Cllr Batt Seconder: Cllr Merryweather.
Winter IPTU Transport Meeting:
Cllr Merryweather will attend his meeting that takes place at County Hall on Wednesday, 4th December, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM where attendees are able to ask questions, and discuss any transport-related matters relevant to your community.
RCCE Neighbourhood Planning Thursday 12th December 2024:
Venue: Pam’s Place, Thaxted Day Centre, Thaxted CM6 2RL
Session One: 9.30AM-10.30AM Session Two: 11AM-1PM
I have booked both Cllr French & Cllr Merryweather of both sessions.
PCSO Thorne Visit Sunday 1st December re ‘Op Growth’:
Braintree Community Policing Team are trialling a new idea where they make contact with local councils and invite them along to patrol with them and have asked us to publish this information to any community groups or social media.
| Time | Parish | Meet at |
| 11.30-12.00 | Shalford | The George Inn |
The Clerk has been asked to share this information with the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
George/Church – Footpath 3
12.11.24 Highways have finally assigned this issue to an officer to carry out a risk assessment. ‘Our aim is to have an average assessment response time of 56 days including site visit if required’ The Clerk will follow up in a couple of weeks time.
Salt Bags have arrived and Lol will top up all the bins over the next couple of weeks.
Keys for Clerks Office: I have had three sets of keys cut, one to be left at the Village Hall, one with Samantha Batt and the other to be given to the Ranger.
Passwords: I will sort out a password list for Decembers meeting to give to Cllr Batt.
Precept: Precept figure needs to be agreed at the December meeting.
Welcome Packs: Amendments have now been received will proceed to order new copies.
Stoneley Park Gates:
We are in contact with members of the public about the opening and closing of the gates and the Clerk will make contact with the concerned parties to coordinate.
FC134-24/25 Finance:
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- RESOLVED: The following financial report was received, and payments were approved and ratified:
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Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr French
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- RESOLVED: It was agreed to donate a £50 The George meal voucher to the ‘Friends of Shalford Primary School’ for their Christmas Raffle.
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Proposer: Cllr Havelock Seconder: Cllr Hull
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- The Budget Monitoring Report was reviewed and it was decided to finalise the budget for 2025/26 along with the Precept at the next meeting.
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Proposer: Cllr Batt Seconder: Cllr Mitchell
FC136-24/25 Planning:
24/02347/FUL – Land West Of Stoneley Park House The Chase Shalford Essex
Agricultural Barn Expires: 2nd December 2024
RESOLVED: The Parish Council has No objections but would like to make the following comments:
The Parish Council noted the size and scale of the proposal which appears to sizeable, and sits in a prominent location in an elevated location thus are concerned that its impact to the rural environment be considered by officers, in particular the Parish Council would welcome conditions covering the following areas:
External Lighting Specifications be agreed and limited to as to mitigate the impact to nightsky and light pollution for the area, the plans show no detail on this matter.
Landscaping, it is noted there is no landscaping and the proposed development sits on a boundary with shared views from a number of properties and the Parish Council the applicant can undertake the development in a sympathetic manner for the rural environment and setting.
Restrictions, as per the application with landscaping and agricultural equipment noted that the LPA condition that the building is solely used for horticultural and agricultural purposes connected with the occupation of Stoneley Park House
Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr Batt
24/02419/FUL – Hunts Farm Hulls Lane Shalford Essex CM7 5HX
Conversion of Barn to 1 No. dwelling Expires: 10th December 2024
RESOLVED: The Parish Council objects to the proposal and commented as follows:
The Council notes the planning history, notable the recent refusal of a residential dwelling house and the Part Q development on site. The Parish Council are concerned with the overdevelopment of a rural agricultural dwelling which is contrary to the Essex Design Guide and the site.
Proposer: Cllr Mitchell Seconder: Cllr Batt
Update on Planning Applications Listed in the Previous Minutes:
24/01974/FUL – Greenways Jaspers Green Shalford Essex CM7 5AX
Proposed replacement dwelling and erection of detached cartlodge
Pending Decision
24/02053/VAR – Thomaston Braintree Road Shalford Essex CM7 4QY
Application for the removal of condition 2 (agricultural occupancy) of permission P/BTE/0084/81/OT/B granted 27/04/1981 for the proposed erection of agricultural dwelling.
Pending Consideration
FC137-24/25 NALC Pay Awards for 2024/25:
RESOLVED It was agreed to accept the NALC pay scale awards backdated to 1st April 2024.
Proposer: Cllr Batt Seconder: Cllr Hull
FC138-24/25 Hourly Pay Error 2024/25:
RESOLVED It was agreed to pay additional backpay due error in payroll system.
Proposer: Cllr Hull Seconder: Cllr Mitchell
FC139-24/25 Items for the next agenda:
– Annual Precept
– NHP Terms of Reference Agreement
– Budget 2025/26
– Letter to Resident The George to Church Pathway
– Appoint Internal Auditor
FC140-24/25 Meeting Close:
The Chairman thanked everybody for attending and declared the meeting closed at 9:20pm
FC141-24/25 Next meeting of the Parish Council:
The next meeting of the Full Parish Council will be held at Shalford Village Hall on the
18th December 2024 at 7:30pm.
Signed: …………………………………………………… Date …………………………………
Chairperson