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Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 7th September 2006 at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room, Great Yeldham. Present were: Mr. M. Wood. (Chairman), Mrs. P. Slimming, Mrs. B. McNeill, Mrs. M. Baker, Mr. C. Cumaranatunge, Mr. B. Sargeant, Mr. R. Francis, Mr. I. Spencer, Mr. D. Dyson. In attendance:- Mr. David Finch (County Councillor), Mr. Nigel G. McCrea (District Councillor), Mr. R. Liming Clerk to the Parish Council 1075. Apologies for absence. None received. 1076. Declarations of interest. None received from members. 1077. Minutes for July 6th 2006. The minutes for this meeting were confirmed as a correct record. 1078. Woodland Burial Ground. The Chairman read to the meeting a letter received from Mrs Jenny Jacobs, who had been informed of the Parish Councils attempts to form a Woodland Burial Ground. On land owned by the Parish Council to the rear of the Burial Ground. The letter stated that she and her family had links with Great Yeldham for over 200 years. Her mother sadly died in 2003 and is buried in the new cemetery. She would therefore like to offer £5000.00 if that would help to move our plans foreword and it would be nice if there could some tribute to her mother and her family. The chairman reminded members that prior to receiving the letter the area of land also had been under consideration for use as allotments, as only one member of the public had shown any serious interest he felt that the cost involved in making the allotments secure for what could be very limited use was not justified. In view of this he recommended that members accepted this very generous offer. It was also resolved by members that the clerk should write to Mrs. Jacobs expressing the gratitude of the Parish Council and the acceptance of the offer. The clerk was asked to look into possibilities for the design and rules for the Woodland Burial Ground and to report back at the next meeting. 1079 Purchase of new Bus Shelter. Members were informed of the award of £3000.00 from the Rural Community Development for the purchase of a new Bus Shelter. A quotation from Mr K. Metson to demolish and remove the existing shelter for the sum of £600.00 was accepted by members. A quotation from Queensbury Shelters, Portsmouth. Hampshire to supply, deliver and erect a replacement shelter for the sum of £3462.00 + Vat of £605.85, Total £4067.85. ( the VAT will be recovered.) £3462.00 + £600.00 = £4062.00 - £3000.00 award =£1062.00 to be match funded by the Parish Council. It was agreed by all members that the order should be placed immediately. 1080 Planning Applications. Application No 04/00009/Ful. (alterations to roof and first floor extension at 11 Stambourne Road. No objections from members. Notice under section 65 of application for Planning Permission. Proposed development at Whitlocks Drive being made to Braintree District Council, by William Littler for planning permission for a New Building for G.P. Surgery. (Notification only.) 1081 Correspondence. Advisory correspondence addressed to the Parish Council was considered by members and referred for filing when required. A letter received from Mrs L. Rowell, 11 Church Fields. Great Yeldham complaining about the danger to people using the footpath to the Burial Ground from passing traffic was read to the meeting. Members agreed that the matter had been drawn to the attention of both the High Way department and County Councillor David Finch, without result. It was then decided by members that the clerk explore the legality of having the Burial Ground bank cut back in some way in order to widen the pathway as a temporary measure, followed again with yet another request to the authorities. A letter from B.D.C. giving notice of their intention to developing the Parish Ranger service In the Rural areas was read to the meeting. Mr Cumaranatunge expressed the view that he thought that both the Neighbourhood Watch. and the Parish Ranger system were a waste of time and that as Police representative for the Parish Council he should be consulted on all Police matters. Mrs. McNeill, as the Neighbourhood Watch representative for Parish Council thought that both of the services were working well and that a close liaison with the Police was necessary. The conclusion of the meeting was that the parish Council should be represented, whenever possible with all Public Services and that representatives should regularly report their achievements to the Parish Council. A Neighbourhood Watch poster giving a contact number for the mobile telephone of the officer on patrol will be displayed on the Notice Board. A letter from the tenant of 67 Highfields requesting another Dog Bin in the area was approved by members, The sum of £137.00 + VAT was allocated to purchase the required bin. 1082 Sports Ground Footpath. The Chairman reported on the successful completion of the Sports Ground Footpath upgrade, complete with Disabled Access with funds awarded from the Community Development Fund. 1083. Tree Damage at Sports Ground. Following a inspection by Mr Graeme Drummond. (Arboriculture Consultant) for B.D.C. who recommended urgent remedial works to be made on mature Beech trees growing within a belt of trees within the recreation ground, it was resolved by members that a quotation received from ‘Hearts of Oak Ltd for the sum of £350.00 + VAT be accepted and for the work to be completed as soon as possible. 1084 Included at the request of Councillor Camaranatunge: To clarify Trustee’s (as appointed by Parish Council,) responsibilities, and duties. The Chairman pointed out that all the members of the Sports Ground Management Committee were in effect ‘Trustees’ whether appointed by the Parish Council or elected from the general public and that they were bound by the rules of the Charity as set out in the Declaration of Trust. When asked by the Chairman, Mr Cumaranatunge did not say which rule he would like to be clarified. Mr. Cumaranatunge then requested that a letter from Mr. A. Martin be read out. Mr. Cumaranatunge had earlier agreed that the letter was connected with this item and it a was therefore deferred from minute 1081. The letter was read in full before commenting on individual points. Mr. Martin, a Little Yeldham resident, has completed 50 years close Association with the Sports Ground. He was previously employed by the Management Committee as a caretaker, and is now a volunteer taking care of the pitch. He stated that he had not seen the grounds left in such a mess and that the Trustees were not Sporting types. The chairman had seen the grounds a few days earlier and thought that they were generally in good order. As far as the ‘non-sporting types’ were concerned he thought that it was all the more to their credit that they worked on the Committee, it was also pointed out that the Committee includes members from football teams, cricketers and a member from the Scouts. Mr. Martin claimed that when Mr. Cumaranatunge was Chairman and committee member the vandalism was stopped, he claimed that if the vandalism is not stopped the cricket team will be looking for another ground. He complained about Mrs. McNeill’s response after he had told her of earlier misconduct by youths at the sports ground. Mrs. McNeill was unwilling to personally confront the parents named by Mr. Martin, but after he left made a series of reports and enquiries. On a later occasion Mr. Martin reported a car driven on the pitch to Mr. Cumaranatunge who was successful in calling out the Police who tracked down the youth and gave him a warning. The chairman recommended that a member of the public such as Mr. Martin seeing disorderly behaviour should always first contact the police trying the mobile number of patrolling officers. Mr. Martin also stated that the cricket club is unable to shower after a game. He hoped that the Chairman and those responsible for the neglect step down. The Chairman then paid tribute to the sporting members of the committee for their help with the arrangements for repairing the vandalism of the pavilion to Tony Mann, from the Cricket Club for boxing in the plumbing in the new showers. More work is being carried out now on the pavilion than at any time in recent years. Much of this was unforeseeable when the current Parish Council grant was agreed since when the water heating system has had to be replaced as well as the vandalised windows with additional steel shutters. This led to rescheduled spending from the fixed sums available. Councillor Francis with the support of the overwhelming majority of the Council congratulated Mrs. McNeill on the recent successful Fun Day which she had organised at the Sports Ground. A lot of young people had a most enjoyable time, thanks also to a large team of helpers including the Sporting members, the Scouts and the general public. Mr. Cumaranatunge requested that the clerk be asked to obtain a copy of the accounts from the Sports Ground Committee. The Chairman informed Mr. Cumaranatunge that the Sports Ground was an independent body and that he should request accounts from them. 1085. Accounts for payment were considered by members and approved. The meeting was closed at 10.45 pm.

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