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COUNCIL - workingsThis section covers the nuts and bolts of the workings of West Mersea Town Council. Please click on the links on the LEFT to give you to more information.WEST MERSEA COUNCIL IS ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN YEARS OLD THIS YEAR (2009)? (and is probably the oldest institution on the island) |
2009 All Meetings are held on Thursday evenings - 7pm site being updated |
West Mersea Town Council's Mayor for the year 2010/2011 is Mayor, Cllr John May The Deputy Mayor for the year is Cllr Peter Clements MBE ~~~ A new Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected, by the Council, annually ~~~ COUNCILLORS West Mersea Town Council has 9 Councillors who serve for four years before seeking re-election and although you may not hear much about some of them - rest assured they all work hard behind the scenes on many and varied projects ~~~ The currently serving councillors are listed below Mayor, Cllr Peter Clements Cllr John May Cllr Alan Mogridge Cllr Noelle Urquhart Cllr Sylvia Wargent Cllr William KImberley Cllr Mervyn Rutter Cllr Stephen Vince Cllr Mary Hargreaves Councillors serve for four years The Town Council are elected by the people of Mersea in May every four years and created six sub committees which include Councillors and co-opted Residents with an interest the subject in question. |
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COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEES BRADWELL MONITORING COMMITTEE Chairman - Cllr Sylvia Wargent Vice Chairman - Cllr Noelle Urquhart Members Charles Clarke Ian Crossley (rep Mersea Island Society) Barry Turner (rep BANNG) Alan Bird (rep Oystermen) Ian Clarke David Bragg ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE (Parks and Open Spaces) Chairman - Cllr John May Cllr Peter Clements Cllr Noelle Urquhart Cllr Sylvia Wargent Cllr Steven Vince Members Ian Crossley Sally Cormack HEALTH LIAISON COMMITTEE Chairman - Cllr John May Deputy Chairman - Cllr Sylvia Wargent Members Cllr Peter Clements Mike Daniels Pat Richardson David Bragg more to come..... |
LEGION FIELD NO LONGER VIABLE FOR NEW SURGERY Plans for a new medical centre in Mersea were shelved when Members of the British Legion voted against allowing part of the Legion car park to be used as a "splay" allowing easier access to the Legion field site. Without the access road the Legion field site is no longer a viable option for the new medical centre. August 2009. It must be said that it was extremely unlikely that this site would have been passed on planning grounds. BACKGROUND TO PROPOSED NEW SURGERY ON LEGION FIELD Following several public meetings last year concerning the contentious issue of the new Medical Centre for West Mersea - the Town Council agreed in principal to the following:- That the PCT and Realise Health proceed with their investigation into the building of a Medical Centre in West Mersea. No actual location was mentioned but it is accepted wisdom that the preferred option is the Legion Field. However, it must be pointed out that the siting of a new surgery on designated open space is beset with problems. The Town Council have sometimes been accused as being the only stumbling block to a new surgery by refusing to co-operate over the release of land - this is not so! Some Councillors have even been heavily criticised for simply pointing out important planning guidelines. The workings of local government are never simple and often require detailed explanation - but we need to be listened to - not pilloried for doing our job. Under Colchester Borough Council's Planning Policies this area is designated as a Private Sports facility and Open Space. The Borough Council have said that they will encourage the retention of existing private playing fields, sports grounds and open spaces, and they will not permit change of use unless satisfied that adequate alternative facilities can be provided According to Colchester Borough Council's own estimates - West Mersea has approximately 12 acres of open space, including the 2.5 acres of the Legion Field. The CBC's standard is as recommended by the National Playing Fields Association, i.e. 7 acres of open space per 1000 population, giving a requirement of 45 acres for WEst Mersea - a shortfall of some 33 acres. Even with the addition of the new Glebe extension - we still have a shortfall. It is clear therefore that, given this shortfall, consideration must be given to the wider, longer term needs of this community, and any reduction in available open space must be balanced against a permanent long term benefit to the community in general. The Beach as Open Space! It should also be noted that The Beach Area at West Mersea has been allocated as a Public Open Space but in order to recognise both its open space character and usage for informal recreation and amenity, which are types of use covered by the public open space designation. However, the Beach serves a much wider public need than just West Mersea residents and therefore has not been included in the overall calculations of public open space for West Mersea (Colchester Borough Plan) Dated - July 2009 |
| MORE OPEN SPACES - MORE HOUSES?? The Council Open Spaces Commitee recently met with Tim Dixon - Head of Essex Country Parks - to discuss the importance of Open Spaces in our community - what encourages or discourages people from using them Serious concerns have been expressed by certain Councillors regarding the lack of recreational space in West Mersea when the "six acre standard" is applied. Under current planning guidelines West Mersea should have approximately 42 acres - if the 7 acres per 1000 of population is applied (a guideline already adopted by Colchester as recommended by the Playing Fields Association) West Mersea, by our calculation, at present - if the guidelines are applied strictly - only has about 10 to 12 acres. This excludes areas such as the Youth Field and the Mersea School Field as neither is available for public use. It also excludes the 15 acres potentially available via the new East Road development. The Council has asked Colchester what mechanism is available to purchase additional land either compulsorily or otherwise - in order to raise the amount of recreational land to acceptable levels. This is becoming increasingly important given the recent initiative for the preservation of green areas - and this Council believe that it should be built into the Local Development Framework. The Council has also asked Colchester to confirm whether the 280 houses we are expected to accommodate in West Mersea in the near future includes the 105 being built in East Road ( at the Wellhouse Green development) |
| VILLAGE APPRAISAL What is a Village Appraisal? In short a Village Appraisal is a survey of a community, looking at all aspects of local life in order to arrive at a consensus of what it is that local people think are the most pressing issues. The object is to gather facts and opinions from local residents on all manner of subjects such as housing, roads, amenities, business, tourism etc in order to arrive at a consensus view. A final brochure outlining the above issues will be published. Officers - the following people were elected as Officers Chairman - Peter Clements Treasurer - Viv Barclay Secretary - Dave Tucker Update The Village Appraisal questionnaire has now been completed - copies can be obtained from the Council offices in Melrose Road - it can also be viewed on this website - please see HOME PAGE |
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IMPORTANT PLANNING REQUIREMENTS Important Planning Requirements have been introduced recently. In July 2006 the Council adopted a Supplementary Planning Document - an SPD - entitled "Provision of Open Space, Sport and Recreational Facilities" This now requires developers who create new residential dwelling units to make financial contributions towards the provision of open space, sport and recreational facilities 1. The introduction of a revised legal agreement monitoring fee regime whereby a published sliding scale of charges replaces the previous £300 fee per principal clause. This charge affects any applicant who is entering into a legal agreement with the Council as part of the planning process 2. The introduction of a new Supplementary PLanning Document - an SPD - on the Provision of Open Space, Sports and Recreational Facilities will require financial contributions from those who are providing new residential units The charge will affect you if you are seeking planning permission to erect one or more new dwellings or convert an existing property into additional residential units. HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED? The Council will use the contributions to enhance open space, sport and recreational facilities serving the area in which you are developing For detailed information contact Colchester Borough Council Planning Department. Back to top of page |
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BATHING RAFTS Most of the bathing rafts moored off the beach in summer were made by Cllr Stephen Vince pictured here with former Mayor - Cllr Patricia Stewart and young friends and the rafts when first built and prior to "first launch". Bathing rafts now come under the control of the Town Council |
| SURVEY OF WEST MERSEA BEACHES The Town Council commissioned a survey of the beaches at West Mersea This survey was recently carried out by H.R.Wallingford. The purpose of the report was to describe and explain the causes of beach changes that have occurred recently and make recommendations for improvements. First Survey in 2001 This is the second such report - the first having been produced in 2001. The first report was to advise Colchester Borough Council on the impacts of placing a groyne opposite the Monkey Steps in the hope that it would improve the beach to the east of the Monkey Steps (sand drifts from east to west). Wallingfords concluded that such a groyne would exacerbate erosion to its west and that any erosion further west would increase the risk of wash over of shingle from the beach into St Peters Well Meadow saltmarsh - doing more harm than good. Wallingford's recommend that beaches should be improved by recharging the area with shingle rather than with constructing a groyne. Survey Concerns have been expressed locally that since the above report, in 2001, the beach erosion on the Monkey Beach has worsened slightly - that the beach extends further into the Besom Fleet in the form of a "spit". For this reason the Town Council commissioned a new second survey.. Changes in the beach are caused by the movement of shingle and sand under the action of both waves and tidal currents. As a general rule the movement of sand and shingle along the coastline, the so called longshore drift, dominates changes in beaches, sometimes creating movement perpendicular to the shoreline i.e. "onshore-oofshore" drift which can be significant. Wallingford's believe this to be the case in places along the Mersea Island shoreline. Wallingfords recommend that some recycling of beach material along this frontage should be carried out as a matter of some urgency. This will not only protect St Peters Well Meadow but also reduce the volume of beach material being lost into the Besom Fleet. The advantages of beach recharging against the disadvantages of groyne construction still apply. This comprehensive Report - which concerns not only the Monkey Beach but sections of the beach right up to the Youth Camp - can be read in detail in the Council Offices in Melrose Road. |
| DOG FOULING IN WEST MERSEA Dog Fouling in West Mersea We currently have a dog fouling problem in the West Mersea area Did you know that it is an offence to allow your dog to foul a public area £50 fixed penalties will be issued without warning to anyone not using a poop-scoop as required by law If you know of anyone who is allowing their dog to foul public areas, or when and where they usually walk their dog, please inform the Animal Warden. Colchester Borough Council asked the Town Council to give their opinion on whether dogs should be kept on leads between 10am and 5pm during on the beach during the summer season The Town Council did not fully agree with this and instead recommended that dogs should be "kept under control at all times" and not annoy other beach users in any way - at all times HELP US KEEP WEST MERSEA FREE FROM DOG FOULING Free poop-scoop bags are available from Angel Court Reception, High Street, Colchester or from West Mersea Town Council Offices in Melrose Road Colchester Borough Council - Animal Control Service - Tel 01206 282 582/4 |
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| HAVING YOUR SAY AT TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS IN MERSEA You are welcome to come along to any West Mersea Town Council Meeting to "Have Your Say" on any matter relevant to Council matters. Our Council Meetings are held on Thursday evenings once (and sometimes twice) a month. A list of dates are available. Proceedings start at 7pm sharp and fifteen minutes at the beginning of each meeting is allowed specifically for members of the public to voice their opinions on planning matters or anything else they may wish to "get off their chest" - just as long as the subject is within the remit of the Council. Once the meeting proper begins at 7.15pm the public are no longer allowed to speak unless especially asked to do so by the Mayor You are welcome to stay and listen to the rest of the proceedings or leave at 7.15pm. If you wish to stay and then leave at some time during the meeting itself we would request that - in order to reduce disruption - you do so as quietly and if possible between Agenda items. Thank you. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Having Your Say at COLCHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS Colchester Borough Council would like you to a part in decision making! You can Have Your Say at any meeting of the Borough Council. You can Have Your Say on a specific issue being discussed at a meeting, or on a general issue which that meeting would normally deal with. Your comments must be relevant to the work of the meeting All CBC meetings are open to the public, except those parts where confidential matters are being discussed. These are few and are usually dealt with at the end of the meeting. You will be asked to leave before these are discussed. When and where are meetings held? Most meetings are held at the Town Hall in the High Street Colchester starting at 6pm. You are welcome to attend any of these meetings. Dates and times are shown on posters at council offices and in local libraries, and on the council's website Agendas for meetings are available at council offices - local libraries and on the website How can I have my say? When you arrive at the meeting please tell a member of staff collecting names what you want to speak about. They will explain what will happen and show you to the public seating area When the meeting has started the Chairman will call your name and invite you to Have Your Say! You may be asked to sit at the main table or at the table at the front of the public seating area marked "Have Your Say Speakers Only". There will be a microphone for you to use which is operated by depressing the green button When it is your turn to speak you will have up to three minutes to get your view across. For best effect you should aim to make your views very concise and short. Your comments must be relevant to the work of the meeting. You will be timed and a bell will be rung after two minutes to let you know you have one minute left. A second bell will be rung at the end of three minutes When you have finished speaking a Councillor may ask you one question and if this happens you will have another minute to give your answer. A bell will be rung at the end of the minute and at this point you should return to your seat. You will not be able to have a discussion with the Councillors Who will respond to my statement? If it is possible to give you a response at the meeting, the Chairman will invite an officer, or portfolio holder or another Councillor to respond. The panel may decide to ask for further information and for the matter to be discussed at a future meeting What can I say at the meeting? You can Have Your Say on a specific issue being discussed at the meeting, or on a general issue which that meeting normally deals with. With the exception of a petition you will not be allowed to hand around written or photographic material The Chairman may disallow or terminate any public participation which is inappropriate, abusive, indecent, discriminatory, frivolous, irrelevant or otherwise unacceptable. Planning Committee The arrangements for Have Your Say at Planning Committee meetings are slightly different. One supporter and one objector only can speak on each application. If more than one objector wishes to speak on an application you must agree among you which person will represent you, otherwise no one will be allowed to speak on that particular item. You may not hand around written or photographic material. Members of the Planning Committee are not allowed to ask questions of speakers. Further information about the arrangements for Planning Committee is available on request from Richard Clifford on 01206 507 832 Licensing Committee The law does not allow you to Have Your Say on issues such as public entertainment licenses, hackney carriage licenses and door registration schemes which are bound by legal requirements for inviting public objections Further information about the arrangements for Licensing Committee is available on request from Sarah White on 01206 282 241 Petitions If a number of people feel strongly about an issue over which the council has some control you may wish to present a petition. A petition may be presented at any meeting of the council. A petition is defined as "A clear statement of your point of view supported by one or more co-signatories". HOW TO CONTACT US Write to: Amanda Chidgey Committee and Civic Service Manager Colchester Borough Council PO Box 884, Town Hall, Colchester, CO1 1FR Tel: 01206 282 222 E-mail: committee.services@colchester.gov.uk Website: www.colchester.gov.uk Back to top of page |
| HIRING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER When it is not being used for Council business West Mersea Town Council - Council Chamber - can be hired out to small local groups. The Chamber can seat up to 40 people. The cost is £12 per evening. For more details please contact the Council Offices |
| Civic Service The 2008 West Mersea Town Council Civic Service at the Parish Church and Reception at the Museum cost West Mersea Town Council £750 |
| THE TOWN HARD once called Stonehill Hard - opposite Stonehill House and the old Lifeboat Station - belongs to the Town Council. This is a Free Boat Launching Area for all! Mersea is one of the last Free Ports on the East Coast - where no harbour dues are payable to a Harbour Master. How long this will last we do not know - but we are trying to keep it free for the foreseeable future. The Council periodically recharge the mud beyond the concrete apron with stone aggregate - to make boat launching easier (i.e. without sinking in the mud). You may park here for as long as it takes to unload your boat from your trailer - launch and then leave. Please take your boat trailer away with you - don't leave it on the concrete apron or on the mud. Please keep a pathway clear to enable everyone to too launch their boats - thank you. Remember engines give way to sail! |
| PARISH CHURCH CEMETERY MAINTENANCE It is the duty of a Town or Parish Council to maintain redundant cemeteries in their town or village. In the case of our own Parish Church most of this maintenance is carried out by the church people themselves as they prefer it this way - however we do make a contribution to the upkeep. This year the Town Council will donate £950 towards Parish churchyard maintenance. |
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CODE OF PRACTICE FOR BONFIRES Contrary to popular belief there are no specific controls - such as permitted times - over the lighting of bonfires to burn garden waste. However - if the smoke your bonfire produces causes a nuisance you may be liable to legal action either by the Council or the people that you affect The following are guidelines to the public on bonfires given by Colchester Borough Council Keep number of bonfires to minimum and burn only dry garden refuse Consult your neighbours before lighting a bonfire and seek their agreement Do not light a bonfire when weather conditions will cause problems - smoke hangs in the air on damp - windless days and in the evening around sunset Site the bonfire in a safe place - away from neighbours property - not near buildings, fences - hedges - trees Do not light a fire when smoke will blow over neighbours property - or over roads Do not use flammable liquids such as petrol - paraffyn or metholated spirit Keep bonfire under supervision at all times(br> Ensure that it is extinguished completely before you leave it Keep hosepipe or buckets handy There are no times when bonfires are permitted opr forbidden. It is more important to take account of your neighbours activities - e.g. washing on line - open windows - sitting in garden - decorating Environmental Protection Act 1990 It is an offence to cause the emission of smoke which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance to other people Clean Air Act 1993 - Section 2 It is often an offence merely to burn material that produces dark smoke e.g. tyres, rubber, oil, plastics and foam. In this case nobody has to be affected by smoke. |
| Front Gardens ~ The Best Front Gardens competition has been postponed indefinitely -this is mainly due to administrative problems but also because the Council are concerned that more and more front gardens are becoming heavily paved (though we appreciate that in some cases this may be due to extra parking lines in the road outside houses). Fully Paved Front Gardens In future paved front gardens will need planning permision . The fashion for paved "pavoir" blocks in front gardens has become worrying - especially where the paving is "total cover" leaving no room for flower beds - there could be problems with water run off - the water has nowhere to go! Surely it has to be much more attractive, environmentally friendly and not too much work to leave room for a few flower beds? Don't Forget the Speed Limits on the River ~ A Speed limit exists throughout the entire River Blackwater which restricts the speed of all vessels to 8 knot within 250 metres of the shore. This byelaw also prevents access to the saltmarsh - oyster layings and other such habitats. Fines will be imposed. |
| PLANNING POINTS WORTH MENTIONING "Planning Gain" any development of over three houses is subject to a Section 106 "Planning Gain" Agreement "Affordable Housing" must now cover at least 35% of all new developments "Housing Density" the acceptable density at the present time is 30 houses per hectare "Roof Tax" plans are afoot to replace the old Section 106 agreement with a "roof tax" - the current amount being banded about is £9.600 per dwelling. It is thought that the money gained will probably go direct to central government rather than to the local community - however this is all in the future and nothing yet firmly decided. |
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| LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CONSULTATION/OPEN SPACES Serious concerns have been expressed by some Mersea Councillors as to the lack of recreational space in West Mersea where the "6 acre standard" (as laid down by the Borough Plan and the National Playing Fields Association) is applied. Under these guidelines West Mersea should have 36 acres - or 42 acres if the 7 acres per 1000 (as adopted by Colchester BC) of population is used. If these guidelines are applied strictly West Mersea has at present only about 10 to 12 acres. This excludes areas such as the School or Youth Field and the Mersea School Field - as neither area is available for public use. And it also excludes the 15 acres potentially available via the East Road development. The Council have asked Colchester Borough Council's Spatial Policy Manager what mechanism is available to purchase additional land - either compulsorily or otherwise - in order to raise the amount of recreational land to acceptable levels. This has become increasingly important given the recent initiative such as the preservation of green areas - healthy lifestyles etc etc. and this Council believe it should be built into the Local Development Framework. |
LEASE ON NEW GLEBE EXTENSION West Mersea Town Council and Colchester Borough Council have agreed the conditions of the lease for the new Glebe extension playing fields and we have now reached a final agreement with the Borough legal department. Colchester Borough Council will own the land but West Mersea Town Council will hold it on a 99 year lease. |
| VILLAGE GREEN After a seven year battle the Town Council have managed to secure the Youth Field (to the rear of the School Gardens) as a "Village Green". It should be noted that though the Village Green designation has now been signed and delivered - there is still no proper access to it - the grassy side entrance next to the Legion belongs to the school who have control OVER IT. Access through the School Gardens is subject to the gate being locked (abiding by the terms of the Lease) at certain times - the only proper access open at all times is through the path at Oyster Close BACKGROUND TO VILLAGE GREEN APPLICATION ON SCHOOL FIELD The School or Youth field was one of the few remaining green spaces in the town and many locals and the Council feared that the land would become a car park or a housing development. A campaign to secure village green status was launched by the Council seven years ago. Following a public enquiry in April the Inspector ruled that the land could now be registered as a village green -to be enjoyed by all the people of Mersea. The Council opes to turn the whole area into a public park for future generations. The Council (and more particularly previous ex Mayors and Councillors who no longer serve on our Council - who both instigated and dealt with this matter over a long period) had to make some tough decisions along this journey, especially in terms of finance - and we would like to thank them publically. We would also like to emphasise that this victory would not have been possible but for the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquiry to make a statement to the effect that they had used this field "as of right" since childhood and it is thanks to the following that the field was saved:- Nicholas Mussett - Stephen D'Wit - Sylvia Wargent - Karen Capon - Donald Proctor - Susan Wargent - Ruth Woodley - Robert Lee - Nicholas Hines - David Tucker - David Bragg - Stephen Vince - Sylvia Vince - Len Harvey - Trevor Vince - Moyia Clark |
| YOUR BOROUGH COUNCILLORS Colchester Borough Council - Portfolio Holders Cllr Anne Turrell - Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy Cllr Martin Hunt - Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Communications Customers and Leisure Cllr Paul Smith - Portfolio Holder for Culture and Diversity Cllr Beverley Oxford - Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods Cllr Tina Dopson - Portfolio Holder for Performances and Partnership Cllr Lyn Barton - Portfolio Holder for Planning Regeneration and Sustainability Cllr Nigel Offen - Portfolio Holder for Resources and Business Cllr Tim Young - Portfolio Holder for Street and Waste Services To contact the Portfolio Holders call the Cabinet Support Office on 282244 or e mail patocabinet@colchester.gov.uk |
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only joking! |
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West Mersea Colchester Essex, CO5 8JD Telephone and Fax 01206 382128 E-mail: westmerseatc@aol.com Back to top of page |