New bus service for Pebmarsh every Wednesday.

The new ‘Stour Valley Community Bus’ will include Pebmarsh on it’s route thanks to Pebmarsh Parish Councillor Julian Fenner ensuring that Pebmarsh was included on the new Bus route.

The following is an information announcement for the new ‘Stour Valley Community Bus’:

 

Essex County Council working in partnership with Braintree Community Transport and Pebmarsh Cross End, Alphamstone, Lamarsh, Great Henny, Little Henny, and Middleton parishes are pleased to announce The Stour Valley Community Bus, commencing on Wednesday April 21st 2010.  The service will operate every Wednesday to Sudbury. 

This service has timed stops in the villages and in Braintree but can be adapted to meet the needs of the passenger.  As long as it is safe to do so, the bus will stop along the route within the village when hailed.  If passengers would like help boarding or leaving the vehicle, or with shopping bags, they just need speak to the driver.

The service is fully accessible, but if a passenger is in a wheel chair we ask they phone 01376 557896 in advance.

This service will not operate on a bank holiday.

Cost

  • Any person wishing to travel on The Stour Valley Community Bus will be able to pay for their fare on the bus. 
  • The cost of the journey will be £2:00 flat fare (single or return). 
  • Children aged 5 to 16 travel half price.
  • Children under 5 travel for free
  • If you hold a concessionary bus pass you will need to show your pass to receive free transport. 

Concessionary passes

  • If passengers need to apply for a concessionary bus pass please contact Braintree District Council 01376 551414

Timetable

Braintree Community Transport

The Stour Valley Shopper Bus – Wednesday only (not Bank Holidays)

 

Timetable

Pebmarsh, Cross End Post Box                                                     9.30

Alphamstone, Church                                                                       9.35                           

Lamarsh Telephone Box                                                                  9.38

Great Henny, Parish Rooms                                                            9.48

Little Henny, Main Road                                                                   9.53                           

Middleton                                                                                           10.01

Sudbury, Bus Station                                                                        10.10 

Sudbury, Tesco Car Park                                                                10.15 

           

Sudbury, Tesco Car Park                                                                12.15

Sudbury, Bus Station                                                                        12.20

Middleton                                                                                           12.29

Little Henny, Main Road                                                                   12.37

Great Henny, Parish Rooms                                                            12.42                         

Lamarsh Telephone Box                                                                  12.52

Alphamstone, Church                                                                       12.55

Pebmarsh, Cross End Post Box                                              13.00                         

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 8TH FEB 2010

MINUTES

OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 8 FEBRUARY 2010

 

Present:           

Cllr J Burlo (Chairman)                          Visitors:  5 members of the public          

Cllr J Fenner                                                       District Cllr A Shelton

Cllr S Rawlinson    

Cllr H Anderson                                                                   

Mrs P Potter (Clerk)

 

  1. Apologies for Absence
    Apologies were received from Cllr Jim Holder and County Councillor David Finch.

 

  1. Consideration of the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14 December 2009 and Matters Arising
    The minutes were agreed as a true record and signed accordingly.  Cllr Burlo raised an issue from the last minutes with regard to the Overhead Power Line proposals.  The Parish Council agreed to send a letter of objection to the outlined proposals and state that the pylons should be routed underground.  A copy of this letter will be sent to neighbouring Parish Councils.   

3.     Declaration of Interests

None

 

4.   Public Forum

  • A member of the public queried progress regarding the broadband initiative.  The Chairman advised that the company involved were in discussion regarding sources of funding and grants.
  • A discussion took place regarding vehicles driving on the playing field, possibly to gain access to the churchyard, which is causing the ground to be cut up and rutted.  Cllr Fenner will look at the area and come up with some possible solutions to ease the problem.

5.   Village Agents
One of Pebmarsh’s local Village Agents, Jayne Larken, attended the meeting to introduce herself and the service to the Parish Council.  Jayne explained that the service is a link between residents of rural and/or remoter areas with services.  This includes making connections with the elderly and vulnerable families.  Jayne gave an overview of how the service was set up and how it is now expanding to include other rural villages, including Pebmarsh.  Details will be posted on the Parish Council website and residents are asked to get in touch with the agents if they know of anyone who could benefit from the service.

 

6.   District and County Items

District Councillor Report

Cllr Shelton attended the meeting and gave his update from BDC, highlighted as follows:

  • Update on BDC budget proposals regarding cutting services.   It was confirmed that the Parish Support Grant has been retained for the next three years at its current level but there will be some redundancies.
  • It is likely that the Council Tax will be increased at approximately 2.5%, against a background of budget and grant cuts from ECC and central government.
  • Recycling has increased and exceeded targets since the roll out of wheelie bins last Autumn.
  • A Task and Finish Group will be looking at local transport, especially shopper services to take residents from more remote areas into towns, which would not be possible otherwise. 

The Parish Council thanked Cllr Shelton for attending.

County Councillor Report

Cllr Finch was unable to attend the meeting, however, he had circulated a report, highlighted as follows:

  • Potholes: details given of recent repairs undertaken locally.
  • Details of Winter Fuel Payments that can be claimed.
  • A report of the Fabulous at 50 exhibition that took place in January.
  • Details of the boiler scrappage scheme.
  • Information of the upcoming ECC Book Festival
  • Information on saving with Credit Unions.

7.  BDC Planning Issues

 

7.1       Planning Application
10/00019/FUL: The Wildings, The Street – Erection of timber outbuilding to be used as general storage and home office.  Following discussion, it was Proposed Cllr Rawlinson, Seconded Cllr Anderson and agreed three votes for to one against, to support the application.

7.2       Planning Committee

Representations for the following applications were determined by consensus of the planning committee:

            7.2.1     09/01676/FUL: Rafe Hall, The Street – Change of use from storage/distribution

                        centre and office to residential use.  It had been agreed to support this application.

            7.2.2     10/00003/FUL: Toms Cottage, Cross End – Erection of single storey rear/side

                        extension. It had been agreed to support this application.

7.3       Planning Result
The following appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspector:

            Appeal number: APP/Z1510/A/09/2108253 – Scotts Farm, Pebmarsh.  Two storey replacement 4 bedroom detached house, garage and outbuildings. 

 

8.    Reports from Representatives
       8.1       Playing Fields/Bus Shelters

  • Cllr Rawlinson reported that Ian Rawlinson has started repairs to the roof of the bus shelter at Water Lane and has donated his time and materials to the Parish Council. 
  • There were some items highlighted in the ROSPA inspection report which need to be attended to.  The weeds and fencing need looking at, which Cllr Rawlinson will pursue.  The climbing frame rope needs replacing and this is also being looked into.  There also needs to be a playground sign added to the school sign along the road outside the village hall.

8.2       Village Hall

            Cllr Holder was not in attendance at this meeting.

8.3       Street Lighting
All street lights are working.  Details of payments made to A&J Lighting were discussed and it was agreed that the Clerk write to the company outlining the outstanding amount due.

8.4       Legal

            Cllr Anderson reported that the Glebe land has been registered.

 

9.    Kings Head Pub
            The possible future of the pub once sold was discussed.  The Parish Council agreed to support any scheme that retains the amenity for the village.

10.   Damage to Fence – Stone Cottage
            It was reported that following a recent meeting, the Parish Council have agreed to replace four sections of the fence at Stone Cottage

 

11.   P3 – Footpath Maintenance Update

Following recent correspondence from ECC, it has been advised that each Parish Council’s claim for footpath maintenance will be assessed individually following a meeting with officers.

12.  Road Safety – Winter Weather
The Council discussed the possibilities of gritting the roads in the village during icy and snowy weather.  There are, however, issues regarding liability and insurance which the Clerk will look into and report back to the Council. 

 

13.  Financial Regulations
The Clerk is awaiting clarification regarding some of the clauses in the Regulations and will report back to the Council. 

 

14.  Finance
14.1      Finance Report
                        The finance reports for December 2009 and January 2010 were received by Councillors.

                        The following cheques were approved for payment:
14.2      £400.84            Clerk’s Salary (Jan 10 to Feb 10) 

                        14.3      £  51.59                        Clerk Expenses (Dec 09 to Jan 10)
14.4      £250.00                        Glebeland Rent – Strutt and Parker

To note payment made between meetings due to time constraints – agreed with Councillors prior to payment:

14.5      £178.25                        Audit Commission – External Audit Fee.

 

15.  Budget and Precept Consideration 2010/11
The budget and precept demand were unanimously agreed.

 

16.  Noticeboards
Cllrs Burlo and Fenner will up suitable areas for noticeboards and report back to the next meeting.

 

17.  Correspondence

       The Clerk went through items received since the last meeting.

18.   Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting was agreed to be scheduled for Monday 29 March.  The Annual Parish Assembly and Annual Parish Council Meeting are scheduled for Tuesday 18 May.  All meetings are subject to confirmation and will be held at 7.30pm.

 

19.   Closure

  The meeting closed at 10.25pm.

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 14th December 2009.

MINUTES

OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 14 DECEMBER 2009

 

Present:           

Cllr J Burlo (Chairman)                                                  Visitors:  5 members of the public          

Cllr J Fenner                                                                                        

Cllr J Holder                                                                 

Mrs P Potter (Clerk)

 

  1. Apologies for Absence
    Apologies were received from Cllr Sue Rawlinson.

 

  1. Consideration of the Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 12 October 2009 and Matters Arising
    The minutes were agreed as a true record and signed accordingly.

3.     Declaration of Interests

-        Cllr Joe Burlo declared a personal and prejudicial interest in an item to be discussed in the public forum regarding revised plans for Tom’s Cottage before being submitted to BDC as a planning application, as the neighbour of the property under discussion.

-        Cllr Julian Fenner declared a personal and prejudicial interest in an item to be discussed in the public forum regarding revised plans for Tom’s Cottage before being submitted to BDC as a planning application, as the neighbour of the property under discussion.

 

4.   Public Forum

The Parish Council were shown the revised plans for a proposed extension to Tom’s Cottage, prior to a planning application being submitted to BDC.   The owners of one of the neighbouring houses also commented on the plans.  The Parish Council found the revised plans acceptable.  The applicant will submit the plans to BDC with a formal planning application.  Cllrs Burlo and Fenner had left the meeting during this discussion. 

 

5.   District and County Items

There were no District or County representatives present at the meeting.  The Clerk reported that a letter had been sent to Cllr Shelton to ask for his assistance regarding the fact that the monies due from BDC from the Street Scene Agreement for 2008/9 had not been paid.  The Clerk will report on progress.

 

6.   BDC Planning Issues
Planning Results

            The following result was noted by the Council:

            6.1       09/01104/FUL: 4 Street Farm Cottages, The Street – Erection of rear extension.  This application was granted.

 

7.    Reports from Representatives
       7.1       Playing Fields/Bus Shelters

Cllr Rawlinson was absent from this meeting, however,  the Clerk briefly went through the RoSPA safety inspection report that has been received for the playground.  Items picked up were either medium or low risk and the Clerk will pass this to Cllr Rawlinson to look through and decide what work needs to be undertaken.

 

The bus shelter roof has now been fixed.

7.2       Village Hall

            Cllr Holder reported that the finances of the Village Hall were healthy and that the inside of the hall had been recently decorated.

 

7.3       Street Lighting
All street lights are working.  The details of the contract with A&J Lighting will be reviewed before the renewal date next year to ensure that it still meets the parish’s needs and to ensure that correct payments have been made.  The Clerk will collate the information and pass it to Cllr Anderson to check the details.

7.4       Legal

            Cllr Anderson is dealing with the registering Parish Council land.

 

8.  Damage to Fence – Stone Cottage

It was agreed to arrange a meeting between the Parish Council, Essex County Council’s Public Rights of Way Officer and the owner of Stone Cottage to look at the issue and agree a way forward.  The Clerk will arrange this.

 

9.  New Overhead Power Line

It was agreed to offer support to those parishes who are mainly affected by this proposal.  Cllr Burlo has been in contact with the Chair of Twinstead Parish Council and has put all the information on the parish website and noticeboards.

 

10.   BT Phone Box

It was agreed to look into the details of adopting the village red phone box, once BT remove the telephone.  The Clerk will pass the details on so a decision can be made.         

 

11.   Financial Regulations

       It was agreed that the following questions be asked of EALC before the regulations are adopted:

  • Clarification of Clerk’s emergency powers, as against clause 3.4.
  • Clarify risk assessment requirements as in 15.1.

12. Finance
12.1      Finance Report
                        The finance reports for October and November 2009 were received by the Councillors.

                        The following cheques were approved for payment:
12.2      £607.38            Clerk’s Salary (Nov-Dec 09, plus owed amount from Jul-Oct 09)

12.3      £  23.21                        Clerk’s backdated pay (Apr 09 – Dec 09)

            12.4      £106.95                        Playsafety Ltd – annual inspection of play equipment

            12.5      £  35.00                        Information Comissioner’s Office – Data Protection Registration

12.6      2008/09 Accounts and Audit Documentation

            The amendments and extra information requested by the Audit Commission were agreed and signed as appropriate.

 

12.7      A&J Lighting Contract

            The contract and payments will be reviewed as discussed under item 7.3 above.

13.  Budget and Precept Consideration 2010/11
The Council went through the items on the budget and made various adjustments.  It was decided to earmark some funds for a project to provide hard standing at the playground.  The Clerk will adjust the figures accordingly and agree the precept demand with Councillors to be submitted to BDC by 15 January 2010.

 

14.  Correspondence

       The Clerk went through items received since the last meeting.

15.    Items for the Next Meeting
Items have been marked in discussions above.
         

16.    Date of Next Meeting
               The next meeting was agreed to be scheduled for Monday 8 February 2010 at 7.30pm.

 

17.   Closure

  The meeting closed at 10.00pm.

 

 

 

Signed …………………………………………………….

Chairman

 

Date …………….

Gritting arrangements for Fri 8 Jan, Sat 9 and Sun 10 Jan 2010

Please see press release below from Essex Highways regarding Gritting for today Fri 8 Jan, tomorrow and Sunday 10th Jan 10.

7 January 2010

ESSEX TAKING STEPS TO KEEP ROAD NETWORK MOVING

Essex County Council is revising its gritting programme this weekend to ensure that the county is kept moving in light of prolonged winter conditions.

 

In order to ensure that all major routes can be kept clear during the working week, Essex’s fleet of 65 winter gritters will be operating on a reduced precautionary network on Friday (8th) and Saturday (9th) evening.

 

The reduced network includes all ‘A’ roads, some ‘B’ roads and other additional roads serving larger towns and villages, as well as access roads to major hospitals, fire and ambulance stations.

 

Gritters will return to treating the full precautionary network on Sunday evening (10th), so that all major routes are cleared in time for the start of a new working week.

 

The decision has been taken following latest forecasts which predict that the cold weather will continue over the weekend and into next week. The government has announced steps to control the national distribution of salt, so it is imperative that Essex manages remaining supplies carefully.

 

County Councillor Norman Hume, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation said: “Revising our gritting programme is a decision that I have taken extremely seriously. We appreciate that residents still need to get around the county during the weekend, but we must prioritise our service to keep Essex moving while the icy conditions remain.

 

“We started this winter from our strongest ever position in terms of readiness for these severe conditions with the highest ever levels of winter salt in stock. Our gritters and crews have been out night and day for three weeks treating 1800 miles of Essex’s primary network plus hundreds more miles of high footfall areas.

 

“We have been receiving fresh supplies of salt and will continue to take operational decisions to maximise the benefits of winter gritting on our roads and footpaths for our residents. I would like to ask the public to take special care on untreated roads, and continue to travel with extreme caution at this time.”

 

Essex County Council is constantly monitoring weather forecasts and supplies of salt, with further operational decisions being taken as required.

-ENDS-

 

 

Michael Page 

Press Desk Officer

Communications

 

Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 438418 | extension: 22418 | email: michael.page@essex.gov.uk

 

EW7

 

Mid Area Highways

Environment, Sustainability & HIghways

 

Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 240068 | extension: 50068 | email: Jenny.Engalls@essex.gov.uk

Please also see additional message below from Cllr David Finch 

Dear Colleague

 

Below is a link to the ECC website giving the revised list of roads to be gritted.  As you are aware, due to the severity and long duration of the current conditions the Government has announced that steps are being taken to control the national distribution of salt and this will obviously have an effect on salt levels in Essex.

 

http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis//ned.jsp?oid=145631

 

David M Finch

Member for Hedingham

 

Posted by:

Joe Burlo

Chariman

01787 269999

Joe@faze7.com

 

 

Next Parish Council Meeting on Mon 8 Feb 2010 – 7.30pm at the Village Hall

The next Parish Council meeting will be held at the Village Hall in the committe room on Monday 8th Feb 2010 at 7.30pm.

Public sessions are now being held at the beginning of each meeting rather than at the end so if there is anything that you would like to  discuss with your Parish Council you are welcome to attend any meeting and have your say. 

You will be pleased to know that  Braintree District Council has withdrawn it’s threat to abolish the annual Parish Support Grant to all Parish councils and has fixed it for the next 3 years.

Wishing you all a  Merry Christmas.

 

 shepherd christmas 

 Joe Burlo

Chairman

Joe@faze7.com

Next Parish Council Meeting on Mon 14 Dec 09 – 7.30pm at the Village Hall Committe room

The next Parish Council meeting will be held at the Village hall in the committe room on Monday 14th December at 7.30pm.  We will be discussing, amongst other matters, the serious possibility that Braintree District Council will be withdrawing the annual Parish support grant to all Parish councils which is around £1770 for Pebmarsh.  So far, all Parish councils have objected to this proposal, however it seems that Braintree District Council are determined to do this and they will be discussing it at their meeting on 7th December.

I will put up a new post about other ways BDC are trying to save £1.5M  by reducing more services to us.

Joe Burlo

Chairman

Joe@faze7.com

Meeting on 12 Nov -More Pylons – Please attend at Twinstead Village Hall

twinsted tee pylon.jpeg

The National Grid Event about erecting more Large Pylons AND a new Substation in our area is this Thursday between 12 and 9pm at Twinstead Village Hall. Please attend if you can so you know what is going on and express your opinion before it is all too late for us to do anything. Many in this area think that the National Grid should lay the new 400KV cables underground rather than spoil the countryside with another set of new Pylons from Bramford, near Ipswich all the way down to Twinstead which will also mean another large substation in our area which will be west of Twinstead and about the size of 4 football pitches and the height of a 3 story house.
The local campaign in favour of laying the cables underground is ‘Stour Valley Underground’ ( SVU). Please check their website for all the relavent info before you attend the National Grid Event on Thursday.

www.stourvalleyunderground.org.uk

Joe Burlo
Chairman  Pebmarsh Parish Council

New National Grid 400,000 V Overhead Line Project to Twinstead

The National Grid needs to build a new  400,000volt overhead line between Bramford, near Ipswich and Twinstead to connect a number of new generators in East Anglia and will be holding a public consulation  regarding the possible 4 ‘route corridors’  ( stretches of land in which an overhead line can be routed) that they have identified.

They are seeking feedback from local residents on these route corridor options and holding public exhibition programmes. The Twinstead public exhibition will be held on the 12th November  09 between 12 and 9pm at Twinstead Village Hall in Church Road, Twinstead CO10 7NA.

Joe Burlo

Chairman Pebmarsh Parish Council.

Affordable Housing – Completion statement. 12 Oct 2009 12 Oct 2009

A survey was conducted by the Parish Council in 2004 which established the need for affordable housing in Pebmarsh. This was partly due to the fact that some of the smaller houses and cottages in Pebmarsh had been extended and converted into 3 and 4 bed houses, thus depriving the village of affordable small starter homes suitable for young local persons, young families and other eligible local people  all  with an affordable housing need. The council took the view that we needed to retain and provide affordable housing for people with a local connection in order that the village would not stagnate and to facilitate the benefits of the extended family.

 The Parish Council then initiated the Affordable Housing Project and Suffolk Housing association agreed to take on the project.   Braintree District Council approved the plans for the project in Dec 2007.  Iceni Homes who are Suffolk Housing Society’s development agency, oversaw the project and building work started in 2008.  All tenancies were allocated to local people in Sept 2009.

A Section 106 agreement was inserted into the planning application which, in the main served 2 purposes:

1. All housing to be available only to people with a local connection and to be allocated according to the 6 criteria of the S106 agreement in priority order.
2. On completion, The Developer will make a contribution to the Parish Council  towards Play Equipment.

The Parish Council made it known at various meetings during the project that these would be affordable houses only for people with a local connection who also had a housing need.

The Parish Council also offered to assist Parishioners with the local connection part of their application to ensure that their Local Connection was presented in the best possible light and also advised parishioners that in order to apply for an affordable home, they had to be registered on the Braintree District Council Housing Register before applying.

Early in 2009, Braintree District Council introduced a new application process for available housing called the Choice Based Lettings System.  This system was a partnership between 7 district Councils and would make any property that became available in any of the 7 districts available for anyone in those 7 districts to bid for. The bidding would be open for one week.  In the case of the 10 new affordable houses/appartments in Pebmarsh, the Choice Based lettings system would clearly state that these houses/appartments were only for people with a local connection. Despite this, over 430 applications were received and it appears that only about 89 of these applications stated that they had a local connection.

10 of these applications satisfied the 1st priority criteria of the S106 Local connection agreement and were subsequently awarded the 10 available tenancies.

The Parish Council’s involvement in this process was as follows:

1. The Affordable homes being built were all two bedrooms units and more. Under Braintree District Council Housing rules, this would have excluded all single persons from applying. We asked for under occupation to considered and our request was granted. All properties are under occupied but all are occupied by local people.
2. We helped to clarify that in determining the allocation of the properties, the Local connection would take precedence over housing need. Again, it was re confirmed to us that this would be the case.
3. The Parish council would help verify the Local connection of prospective tenants before the tenancies were allocated. The day after the bidding ended, I received a short list by phone of 10 prospective tenants and was asked to verify their local connection. I immediatly contacted the available councillors and asked to help verify their local connection.  Cllr Sue Rawlinson was away that day and Cllr.Harry Anderson was not available. I spoke to Cllr. Holder who helped verify and he did not comment on Jenny Holder’s connection as he declared a personal Interest. Cllr Holder was at his son’s wedding at the time.  I then spoke to Cllr. J. Fenner who helped verify and he chose not comment on the  two applicants, Natalie and Sharon Smith as he declared a personal interest. I reported back to BDC and verified 9 applicants and could not confirm or deny the final 10th applicant. 

I would like to, at this stage, state that it must have been very hard for the two councillors who had a personal interest not to disclose to their families that they knew who was on the short list and I would say that it was probably one of the most difficult things for a parent to do to keep quiet and see their children suffer the anxiety and waiting till the official announcement was made 4 days later by Suffolk Housing.

Joseph Burlo
Chairman

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY HELD 16 JUNE 2009

MINUTES
OF THE ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
HELD 16 JUNE 2009

Present: 
Cllr J Burlo (Chairman)     Visitors:   County Cllr David Finch
Cllr J Fenner        2 members of the public
Cllr J Holder      
Cllr S Rawlinson
Mrs P Potter (Clerk)
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Tony Shelton.

2. Consideration of the Minutes of the last Annual Parish Assembly, held 29 May 2008
The minutes were agreed and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

3. Matters Arising
 There were no matters arising.

3. Declarations of Interest
 No declarations were made at this meeting.

4. Chair’s Report
 The Chair’s report is appended to the minutes, with highlights as follows:
· 7 Council meetings, 1 budget meeting and 12 planning applications were undertaken in the last 12 months.
· One new Parish Councillor, Julian Fenner, was co-opted following the resignation of Tom Newman from the Council.
· The new Vice-Chair Jim Holder was elected.
· Appointment of new Parish Clerk, Philippa Potter, was made following the resignation of the previous Clerk, Julia Race.
· Affordable Housing development is close to completion.
· The village is looking to re-open a Post Office, following the recent closure.
· The Chair has joined the Executive Committee of the Braintree Association of Local Councils.
The Chair thanked all existing and previous Parish Councillors for their continued hard work on behalf of the Parish.

5. District Report
 There was no District report available at the meeting.

6. ECC Report
County Cllr David Finch spoke to the meeting about the events and achievements over the past 12 months, highlighted as follows: 
· 19.% increase in Council Tax was the lowest ever.
· Adult Social Care awarded the highest star rating by the regulators.
· Telecare – a new service to offer support to all residents over the age of 85 has been launched.
· Transport and road safety schemes are being improved.
· Help for those affected by the economic downturn is being offered via various schemes.
· An overall reduction in the crime rate was reported.
· Recycling and waste is proving successful.
· ECC are helping to re-open Post Offices across the county.
The Council thanked Cllr Finch for his report and continued support of the village.

7. Reports by Representatives
Reports were given by:
· Parish Councillors
· Village Hall Committee
· Footpath Committee
These reports are appended to the minutes.

8. John Nott Charity Report
 The Chair read out the report from the Charity and this is also appended to the minutes.

9. Public Forum
· The issue of potholes on the village roads was raised as a continuing problem.
· The possibility of  a volunteer to take on the Parish Council website was raised.  Cllr Burlo will follow this up.
· It was suggested that the Parish Council put together an Annual Report next year.  The Clerk will take this forward.

10. Closure
 The meeting closed at 9.00pm.