Theydon Bois Parish Council
Parish Office, The Village Hall, Coppice Row,
Theydon Bois, Essex CM16 7ER
Clerk to the Council: Mrs Jennifer Endean
Assistant Clerk to the Council: Mrs Julia Gale
Minutes of the Parish Council held at The Village Hall at 8.00pm on
Wednesday 27th April 2022
• Councillors Present: Cllr Gooch (Chair), Cllrs Purkiss, Amos, Blake, Cowup, Gill,
Hannibal, Morris, Morton and Wood.
• Officers Present: Julia Gale (Deputy Clerk)
• Members of the Public: The Meeting was attended by 3 members of the public.
1453. Apologies for Absence: Cllr Burn.
1454. To discuss & approve the Minutes of the Last Full Council Meeting held on
Thursday 31st March 2022. APPROVED
1455. Disclosure of Interests with regard to specific items on the Agenda (existence of any
Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, or existence and nature of Other Pecuniary Interest or a
Non-Pecuniary Interest). The Council has adopted the Essex Public Law Partnership
Code of Conduct. NONE
1456. Public Participation session with regard to Specific Items on the Agenda
A resident complained about The Limes doctor’s surgery. She stated that it is still hit
and miss when the Theydon Bois surgery is open, and even with the new telephone
system it is still difficult to get through to the main surgery in Epping. Cllr Morris stated
that the problem is a County wide problem and that we should link up with local
Parishes to make a united approach. Cllr Gooch stated that we would ask The Limes for
an update and if we do not get a satisfactory reply, the Parish Council will go to the
CQC directly.
1457. Police Report
PC Cook reported that there had been the following crimes committed in the last
month:
2 x Dwelling Burglaries i) Coppice Row ii)Piercing Hill
2 X Theft of Motor Vehicles
5 x Theft from motor vehicles. Especially Fiesta Headlights.
Criminal damage to a house in Theydon Park Road.
Police caught a man in Woburn Avenue, and he has been charged with theft from a
motor vehicle.
He is to conduct a “Cuppa with Cops” session in Theydon Bois where he goes along to a
local meeting of an organisation and talks to residents. It was suggested that he try the
Community Cuppa on a Wednesday in the church hall.
1458. Correspondence – Clerk’s Report
The Parish Office has been busy this month, with 2 requests from Police for CCTV
footage.
The end of year shut down of the financial accounting software was concluded with
Rialtas.
A complaint was received about dog walkers at the cemetery.
A complaint was received about fly tipping in the land adjacent to Station Hill.
Two complaints were received into the office about the continuing lack of doctors at the
Thrifts Mead Surgery and the closure of the office on days that it is supposed to be
open.
1459. To receive reports from Parish Council Representatives on Outside
Organisation
Cllr Gooch advised that he had attended the recent Village Association meeting. Cllr
Purkiss asked what the present situation was with regards to the CCTV being moved
outside the Village Hall. Cllr Morris said that he was arranging for the some of his
workers to dig the hole and was just waiting to hear from Essential about the Pole that
was being supplied by them for the camera.
1460. Approve Parish Insurance Quote.
The Deputy Clerk outlined the present insurance quote from Zurich was as follows:
One year’s premium £2190.58
Three Years premium £2087.34
Five Years Premium. £1984.11
Last year’s premium being £2017.
Although the Parish Office has been trying to obtain 3 more quotes from insurance
brokers, at present none of them have returned with figures.
It was decided by the Council that the present three-year quote from Zurich would be
accepted unless any of the quotations obtained from other sources are substantially less
and of equivalent cover.
1461. Finance and General Purposes Committee
1462. To receive an update on Finance & General Purposes matters since the last Meeting.
Cllr Hannibal stated that there was very little to report at present as the new budget
has just come into effect.
Cllr Hannibal reminded Councillors that all quotes must go through the Parish Clerk in
the first instance even if Cllrs are providing quotes.
Cllr Hannibal asked Councillors to ratify the transfer of unused funds in the 2021
Infrastructure budget of £6722 to this year’s budget. APPROVED.
To approve the payments made since last meeting: APPROVED.
Cllr Purkiss asked for consideration of raising amount in CCTV budget to cover new
camera in Poplar Row where anti-social behaviour is taking place. Cllr Gooch stated that
the Cllr would have to put it forward as an agenda item next time.
1463. Planning Committee
1464. To receive an update on planning matters since the last meeting.
Chairman Gooch read out a report from The Planning Committee:
9 Planning Applications were registered with Epping Forest District Council (‘EFDC’) since the
Full Parish Council Meeting of 31st March 2002. Of these, 6 have been viewed by the
Planning Committee, whilst 6 previously-considered applications were granted, with one
refused, by EFDC.
Recent applications included two for Prior Approval; one being for a larger home extension
of a terraced property, the other being for the proposed enlargement of a detached
property by construction of an additional storey. Whilst the Parish Council is not a consultee
on Prior Approval applications, the Committee returned comments on both proposals.
The Committee also objected to a substantial extension to a residential property within a
small enclave of development to the north of the village. Whilst the proposal was felt to be
sympathetic to the architectural character of the existing dwelling, the Parish Council’s
objection was based on Green Belt policy grounds. Two other objections raised by the
Committee related to a dominant extension felt likely to impact on resident amenity, and
one believed to constitute disproportionate additions to a property within the Green Belt.
Members of EFDC’s Development Management team met with Cllrs Gooch, Purkiss and Burn
to discuss ongoing Planning Enforcement issues. The Parish Council’s Planning Clerk also
attended the meeting, which took place over Zoom. Enforcement processes, and recent
progress, were discussed, and updates were given on four Green Belt locations, where
concerns continue to be ongoing. It was agreed that the Planning Clerk will ask EFDC’s
Planning Enforcement Case Officers for more regular updates concerning key decisions and
action taken.
EFDC’s ‘Local Enforcement Plan’ has also recently been updated, and a copy circulated to all
Councillors and Clerks.
1465. Highways, Cemetery and Environment Committee
Cllr Purkiss, Chairman, provided an update on Highways, Cemetery and
Environment matters within the Village.
Highways is quiet at present.
At present there is a lot of public disquiet about parking at the Cemetery and dog
walkers allowing their animals to foul the grass areas and around the gravestones.
It was decided that the parking problem could be caused by displacement from forest
car parks as at present there is a film crew using the two car parks at Jacks Hatch. It
was suggested that the Parish Council ban dogs altogether from the Cemetery. The
need for Byelaws to allow for enforcement of such rules was also discussed.
The need for new gates that can automatically shut was mentioned and this is still
being looked at by Cllrs Gill and Purkiss.
Chairman Gooch proposed that this issue be monitored and discussed again at the next
council meeting where a decision will be made.
1466. Community Engagement Committee
Cllr Morton reported on the latest position with regards to the Community Engagement
Committee.
Theydon Bois Open Gardens is proceeding to plan. It is a half day experimental opening
to see if there is sufficient interest to procced with a bigger event next year.
The monthly litter pick needs volunteers to help run it, as at present councillors give up
their time to organise every month.
The Queens Jubilee event is going well. The committee is building a relationship with
Nik O’Flynn from the Scouts, and she has agreed to lend the Parish Council play
equipment and tables and chairs.
Cllr Cowup asked for volunteers to help on the day. He stated that at least 20 people
will be needed to help.
The committee are also looking for a villager who was born on the date that the Queen
was crowned to be guest of honour at the event.
Chairman Gooch asked for nominations for Villager of The Year.
1467. Public Participation session with regard to items of interest to the Parish
A resident mentioned the parking at the cemetery, but as this had already been
discussed they were happy to leave it to the Council.
1468. Staff Matters
Staff salaries were discussed and considering the recent increase in the cost of living,
an increase of 5% was agreed for all staff back dated to 1st April 2022.
Cllr Gooch closed the meeting at 09:50PM
Signed: ……………………………………….. Cllr Purkiss (Vice Chairman) Dated: 26/05/2022