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2004 Minutes: May . June . July . Sept . Oct . Nov . Dec

GREAT YELDHAM PARISH COUNCIL. THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GREAT YELDHAM PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE READING ROOM ON July 1st 2004. Present were; Mr C. Cumaranatunge. Chairman, Miss S. Smith. Vice Chairman, Mrs B. McNeill, Mrs P. Slimming, Mr R. Francis, Mr D. Gray, Mr M. Wood, Mr B. Sargeant. In attendance; County Councillor. Mr D. Finch. District Councillor Mr Nigel G McCrea. Members of the Reading Room Management Committee. Mr R. Liming. Clerk to the Parish Council. 851 There were three declarations of interest in item seven of the agenda, Miss S. Smith. Mrs P. Slimming and Mr C. Cumaranatunge signed the register and agreed to leave the meeting before item seven was discussed. 852. The minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2004 were considered by members and agreed to be a correct record. 853. Insurance. Members considered Indemnity Limits on 1. the Bus Shelter, [£1719.91 to £2500.00] 2. Lamp Posts, Street Furniture Etc. [£1332.88 to £2500.00] 3 Notice Board. [ £959.08 to £1500.00] 4 Legal Expenses. [ £27.50 to £500.00] members requested that a quotation be obtained in time for the next meeting. 854. Correspondence. A letter from Essex County Council, advising of the availability of 9 Speed Indicator Signs for use within the villages was received with interest by members. A booking for a trail run to be located in Leather Lane and above the School on the main road at School collecting times, has been made. 855. Planning. Planning Application No 04/0125/ Ful. Extension in Highfields, received no objections from members. 856 The Accounts and Annual Return for the year ending 31 March 2003 were approved by members and will now be submitted to the Audit Commission. Accounts for Payment were considered by members and agreed for payment. 857. To consider any item of importance. Before the next item, Miss S. Smith. Mrs P. Slimming and Mr C. Cumaranatunge retired from the meeting. Members agreed that Mr M. Wood should take the position of Chairman for the remainder of the meeting. The Clerk reported to the meeting that a letter had been received, addressed to the Clerk of the Parish Council, from a Mr Pete Jennings. 12 Carleton Close. Great Yeldham. CO9 4QJ, proposing a Vote of No Confidence in Mr Cumaranatunge, Chairman of the Reading Room Trustees. Mr Jennings stated that an attached letter, addressed to the Trustees of the Reading Room, from Miss S. Smith. 12 Carleton Close. Great Yeldham, relating to her resignation as Chairman of the Reading Room Management Committee, would explain the reason for the proposal of No Confidence. Members of the Reading Room Management Committee requested an explanation of the situation and expressed their concern in the way Mr Cumaranatunge had approached individual members over the resignation of Miss Smith. The Clerk then informed the meeting that he had taken advice from Mrs J. Sheppard, of the Essex Association of local Councils who recommended the following procedure. Firstly that members with direct interests declare an interest, sign the register and retire from the meeting. [This had already occurred]. Secondly, that because of the possibility of one letter being Libellous, members of the public should be excluded from the meeting. The Chairman then proposed that, Because of the possibility of one document to be disclosed being Libellous, and that on the grounds that publicity would prejudice the Public Interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business, that under the Public Bodies [Admission to Meetings] Act 1960, that members of the public be excluded from the meeting. This proposal was then seconded by Mr D. Gray. The Clerk then informed the meeting that he been advised by the E.A.L.C. that because Mr Jennings was not a member of the Parish Council, he could not propose a Vote of No Confidence. Mr Jennings will be advised of this fact, by letter, after the meeting. At the request of the Reading Room Trustees all documentation relating to the resignation of Miss S. Smith from the Chair of the Reading Room Management Committee was then read out to Parish Council members, a very full and frank discussion then took place. At the conclusion of the discussion it was agreed that the matter was one for the Reading Trustees to resolve and that it would be an agenda item at a special meeting of the Trustees to be held on Monday the 5th JULY. The meeting closed at 22.10hrs

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