Theydon Bois Parish Council
Parish Office, The Village Hall, Coppice Row,
Theydon Bois, Essex CM16 7ER
Clerk to the Council: Mrs Jennifer Endean
Deputy Clerk to the Council: Mrs Julia Gale
Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of the Council held at the Village Hall 7:30pm on
Thursday 27
th October 2022
Councillors Present: Cllrs Gooch (Chairman), Purkiss, Blake, Burn, Cowup, Amos, Gill,
Hannibal and Morton.
• Officers Present: Julia Gale Deputy Parish Clerk
• Members of the Public: The meeting was attended by 8 members of the public.
• Councillor Holly Whitbread of Essex County Council (ECC) was also present.
1522. Apologies for Absence: Cllrs. Morris and Wood.
1523. To discuss and approve the minutes from 29th September 2022. Approved
1524. 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
Essex Public Law Partnership Code of Conduct.
None.
1525. Public participation session with regard to specific items on the Agenda.
None.
1526. Police report.
PC cook gave the following report:
Since the start of September there have been:
One dwelling burglary- an aggravated burglary in Loughton Lane.
One non dwelling burglary.
One theft of motor vehicle.
Two thefts from motor vehicles
One theft of a cycle.
Two acts of criminal damage; one to a vehicle in the street and one parked in front of a home.
One case of arson; a fire at the Old Foresters site where a fly tip was set fire to.
There was one theft of lead from the church roof.
1527. Clerks Report
1) The 2 Tommy statues we ordered have been received and are to be erected on the Hoppit on 1st November
and removed on 21st November in line with the City of London Licence.
2) The Ride London event is coming back to Essex on 28th May 2023. There are to be public engagement events
next week if anyone wants to attend. Our nearest event is Epping Town Hall on 3rd November.
3) Two of our CCTV cameras are malfunctioning. Essential are to give us quotes for replacing these.
1528. Reports from Parish Representatives on outside organisations.
Councillor Burn reported on the recent meeting of the Epping Forest Branch of the EALC. Councillors Gooch
and Burn attended, along with representatives of the District’s 24 Parish and Town Councils, and some District,
and County, Councillors. A new Chairperson, and a Clerk to the Branch, were appointed. The main topic for
discussion was Epping Forest District Council and communication, as well as the implementation of the new
Arcus Planning System, which has not been easily accessible to all users.
The general feeling was that there was a need for better communication between EFDC and the Town and
Parish Councils. Some of the issues raised will be included on the Agenda of the next Local Councils’ Liaison
Committee meeting, to be held in person at EFDC, on the evening of Tuesday 29th November 2022. It was
decided that, in future, there would be four quarterly meetings of the Branch, if possible. Councillor Gooch
mentioned that Stapleford Abbots and Theydon Mount Parish Councils would welcome a closer working
relationship with Theydon Bois Parish Council.
Councillor Gooch reported that there had been a meeting of the Buxton Trust but nothing of note had
occurred.
1529. Reports from District and/or County Councillors’
Councillor Holly Whitbread of Essex County Council and Epping Forest District Council reported that EFDC were
looking hard at communication with the parish councils and that councillor Alan Lion had been assigned to deal
with this. He is looking at creating a special e-mail for parish councils to use.
Epping Forest District Council are at present renegotiating the waste disposal contract with Biffa. Up until
recently EFDC were happy with the contract but with the recent problems that have occurred, they are looking
at all options.
The budget is very challenging, inflation affects the cost of everything, the housing budget for instance had
allowed for 5% inflation now it is at 10%.
County Council news – the integrated care system has now been implemented. This involves a joint enterprise
between Herts and West Essex cooperating across all aspects of the care system.
Cost of living – grants for warm rooms are now available and small pots of money will also be available for
people in crisis.
Grant- the Local ability Fund still has a small amount of money left which Cllr Whitbread will be looking to
distribute soon, perhaps to the local Community Cuppa.
Highways- hopefully the match funding for Loughton Lane and the Station Hill ETRO will be moving forward,
there is a meeting with Cllr Lee Scott tomorrow.
Cllr Whitbread said that she now has another small pothole fund and asked everyone to send reports to her on
any that need filling.
Councillor Burn asked Councillor Whitbread if it was possible to see the Epping Forest District Council
responses to the Boundary Review Commission, Councillor Whitbread said it should be possible and that she
would get these for councillor Burn.
8PM. Cllr Hannibal entered the meeting.
Counsellor Purkiss advised Councillor Whitbread that the Parish Council was very disappointed with the
discovery that the protected lane status for Coopersale Lane had been altered in 2015 without the Parish
Council knowledge.
Councillor Amos spoke about the £4 million black hole in the district council’s budget.
He also mentioned that the local plan has still not been finalised despite promises from Cllr Bedford.
1530. To discuss and approve funding for Repair Shop up to £1500.
Cllr Gill would like to start a repair shop in the back room of the church hall, this would take place monthly,
coinciding with Community Cuppa. The project consists of a group of volunteers helping the community with
free repairs such as, fixing electrical items or haberdashery repairs. Only parts would be charged for. The
project would need some funding from the Parish Council for tools and Public Liability Insurance. The group
already have an electrician but would need more people to come forward.
Cllr Cowup advised that a Risk Assessment should be done.
ALL APPROVED.
1531. To approve appointment of Tippy Cornish to United Charities Board.
APPROVED.
1532. Finance and General Purpose.
10.1 To approve the payments made since the last meeting.
Cllr Hannibal asked councillors to note that a donation of £500 had been agreed by the Finance Committee to
the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance. ALL APPROVED.
10.2 To approve Risk Management Strategy. ALL APPROVED.
10.3 To approve payment to Jim Watts for cost incurred for the Village Website. ALL APPROVED.
Councillor Gooch asked members to consider a request from the Theydon Bois Baptist Church for a
donation towards their work running a half term club for children, their “live wires” after school club and
a new project, a youth cafe for teenagers.
Councillor Hannibal pointed out that as this item was not on the agenda, a decision could not be made
today. Councillor Gooch said that he was going to suspend standing orders for this item.
After a discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council would wish to support this worthy cause, as the
Half Term event is an inclusive endeavour that aims to provide all children with a hot free meal. It was
also noted that the Baptist church were very helpful in the summer providing facilities for the Queen’s
Jubilee event.
Councillor Amos suggested a donation of £500 towards the food costs, to match that given to the Essex
air ambulance, and this was agreed by all.
ALL APPROVED. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS AND DONATION TO BAPTIST CHURCH.
It was agreed that the Parish would wish to foster a closer relationship with the Baptist church and look
at ways they could further support their children’s/youth clubs, exploring grants etc and ways to make it
more financially viable. The Parish clerk should set up an informal meeting between the two parties.
Jim Watts (Village News) suggested that if the Baptist Church publicise their need for funds in the Village
News he believes the village community would be happy to contribute .
1533. Planning Committee:
1. Planning Committee Report
12.1 Of the ten planning applications considered by the Planning Committee since the Full Parish Council
Meeting of 29th September 2022, objection was raised to two: one being a proposal for a raised rear decking
area which the Committee felt would negatively impact on the amenity of the adjoining property; the other
being in relation to the cat slide roof design on a proposed side extension, which the Committee considered
was not sufficiently set back as to be clearly visible.
The Planning Clerk updated Councillors with respect to a number of outstanding Enforcement issues, after
further correspondence was received from EFDC. A number of cases are still ongoing.
The Parish Council submitted comments to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to an Appeal against refusal by
EFDC of a proposed access/crossover on the Abridge Road, which, in the Planning Committee’s view, would be
inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
Public consultation on the Further Modifications to the New Local Plan (2011-2033) will commence shortly,
with publication of the relevant documents on Friday 28th October 2022. Further details will be updated on the
Parish Council’s website, once these are advised by EFDC.
12.2 The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its draft recommendations for
new Wards, Ward Boundaries and Ward Names for Epping Forest. The Commission is inviting comments on the
recommendations until 12th December 2022. Under the proposals, Theydon Bois would be incorporated into a
new Ward with Passingford. https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/34398
It was felt by members that all the Parish Council suggestions had been ignored,. Despite the Commission
stating that it wants districts to reflect their communities they have done the exact opposite, lumping together
disparate urban and rural groupings. The Boundary Commission’s main objective appears to be to set up 3
member wards in all areas with the same number of electors.
Cllr Gooch suggested this be discussed further at Planning and a response prepared.
1534. Highways, Cemetery and Environment Committee
To receive and update on Highways, Cemetery and Environment matters.
Cllr Purkiss reported that there had been a fallen tree in the cemetery after the recent storm, this has now
been removed.
The clay spoil has also been removed from the bin.
The fire that was started on the Old Foresters site in Station Hill was attended by 5 fire engines and the Fire
authority asked UK Power Networks to cut off all electric to the site, which has now been done.
To approve a budget of £5000 for Waymarking signs.
Cllr Gooch removed this item from the agenda at the request of Cllr Morris.
1535. Community Engagement Committee
14.1 Christmas Market – Councillor Morton stated that the Christmas market is going well, there is a waiting list
for stalls, we have retained the snow globes, which are very popular but have asked that the shredded plastic
inside be replaced with shredded paper- which will be safer for everybody.
The brass band unfortunately cannot make the earlier start time of 5:00 PM for the Christmas tree lighting, so
Councillor Morton is investigating whether Epping brass band would be able to play instead.
The school have advised they no longer have a choir, so unfortunately, we also do not have a choir to sing
carols as we were hoping.
The Christmas charity is St Clare’s Hospice.
Posters and flyers will be ready to go out next week.
14.2 Warm Hubs.
This will be discussed at next week’s Community meeting.
Any Other Urgent Business for report (without decision)
Please note that no decisions can be lawfully made under this item. The Local Government Act 1972 section
12 10 (2) (b) states that business must be specified; therefore, the Council cannot lawfully raise matters for
decision.
NONE.
1536. Public Participation
Jim Watts (Village News) said that he would happily publish an article about the repair café for Cllr Gill if he
would let him have an article, they could ask for volunteers.
Jim then said that he was retiring from the Village News and that he has transferred the three domain names
from the village website which he looked after, to the Parish Council, the village website is no longer running
from this week.
He also stated that the Village News need more distributors to post the copies through letterboxes.
A resident stated that further to a recent meeting at NEPP regarding Purlieu Way there will now be a oneyear trial of yellow line markings throughout the road with a one-hour parking restriction for on street
parking.
A resident complained that the postal deliveries appeared now to only be every three days, it was noted that
due to the strikes the post will probably have been delayed. But that most post does only seem to be
delivered every other day at best.
Cllr. Gooch closed the meeting to public at 9.15pm
Resident of the year award
After a discussion it was unanimously decided that the resident of the year award should be given jointly to
the organisers of the Ukraine fundraising appeal event that was held in the village earlier in the year.
These being:
Brian Revell
Phil Simmance,
Fiona Bradley
Ivan Pollack
Cllr. Gooch closed the meeting at 9.25pm
Signed: ……………………………………….. Dated: 24/11/2022
Cllr Peter Gooch
Chairman