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: Mrs Julia Gale
Planning Clerk: Mrs Jane Sounes
Minutes of the February Meeting of the Council held at the Village Hall 8pm on
Thursday 24
th February 2022
Councillors Present: Councillors Gooch (Chairman), Amos, Cowup, Hannibal,
Gill, Morton, Purkiss.
Officers Present: Jennifer Endean Clerk to the Council
Members of the Public: The meeting was attended by four members of the public.
1421. Apologies for Absence
Councillor Burn, Wood, Blake and Morris.
1422. To discuss & approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 27th January 2022.
Approved.
1423. 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.
1424. Public Participation session with regard to specific items on the agenda.
None.
1425. Police report from PC Cook.
2 dwellings broken into in the Village. Theft of a motor vehicle in Theydon Park Road. 14 crimes
recorded. Station Hill container trying to get removed.
Request from public to move parked builder’s vans blocking drivers site line up Piercing Hill.
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1426. Clerks Report – Correspondence
1. From 1 July 2022, the West Essex CCG will be replaced by the ICS for Hertfordshire and West Essex.
2. Fly Tipping along Coopersale Lane was reported and cleared.
3. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk took part in a ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ Course, and the Clerk also
attended a ‘Planning Briefing’ which the Deputy Clerk had previously completed. Both sessions were
hosted by Essex Association of Local Councils.
4. London Bike Ride coming through Epping the last weekend in May
5. The Parish confirmed it was satisfied with the Donkey Derby’s paperwork and agree to support the
event taking place.
6. Theydon Bois Primary School would like permission to use the Green on Tuesday for a pancake race.
CoL usually approve this and have directed the School to us.
1427. Reports from Parish Council Representatives on outside organisations.
None.
1428. Reports from District Council.
Cllr Philip submitted a detailed Report, with respect to ongoing matters at Epping Forest District
Council (‘EFDC’), which will be circulated to Councillors.
1429. Finance and General Purposes Committee
To approve the payments made since the last meeting. Approved
Cllr Hannibal would like to know if Thornwood’s invoices to cut the grass in the cemetery and Green
can be separated.
1430. Planning Committee
13 Planning Applications were registered with Epping Forest District Council (‘EFDC’) since the Full
Parish Council Meeting of 27th January 2002. These applications included a revised proposal for two
new dwellings at 2 Dukes Avenue – each dwelling to now comprise of four, rather than three,
bedrooms (including habitable rooms in the loft space). The Planning Committee asked that the
previous Conditions be carried over to the new proposal, including those relating to the
implementation, and permanent retention, of an evergreen boundary hedge on the corner with Forest
Drive.
Of the above applications, the Planning Committee returned 1 strong objection, 2 objections, and 4 no
objections, subject to conditions. The strong objection related to a proposal for a residential extension
of a considerable size, which, in the Committee’s view, would represent inappropriate development in
the Green Belt. Concerns relating to the design of householder extensions were the primary reason for
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objection, particularly where these would not complement the character of the original dwelling or
could impact on neighbouring properties.
In relation to decisions issued during this period: a proposal to establish the lawfulness of land said to
have been in use as garden land, to the rear of four former farmworkers’ cottages, also within the
Green Belt, was deemed ‘not lawful’ by EFDC, whilst an appeal for a substantial two-storey side and
rear extension, to a property facing the Green, was dismissed, due to adverse impact on neighbour
amenity.
The Head of Planning Enforcement at Epping Forest District Council (‘EFDC’) has reported to the Parish
Council on the status of enforcement issues relating to two village locations, which are currently of
concern: one being the Old Foresters Site on Station Hill, where steps are now being taken for the
removal of a quantity of rubbish.
1431. Highways, Cemetery and Environment Committee
Still waiting to hear about match-funding for Loughton Lane. A large pothole and bad section of road to
be repaired Friday 25th February at top of Woburn Avenue. Section of verge at top of Station Hill
trimmed and cleared to prevent fly tipping and safe passage for pedestrians along the bridge. Pleased
to report a litter pick extended to Coopersale Lane as far as M11 Services Exit. Have requested LHP for
a restriction in Loughton Lane. There is a Meeting of the British Horse Society at Village Hall to raise
awareness of new rules in updated Highway Code. SWA cables in ditch opposite Green View trying to
ascertain the owner and look to re-route as ditches due to be dug out.by the Parish Council. A Meeting
with District Cllrs Nigel Bedford and Holly Whitbread was held with Cllrs Purkiss, Gooch & Gill regarding
Planning Enforcement. Cllr Purkiss was pleased to report that EFDC have now installed a new wooden
Fingerpost at Lippitts Hill which will be the first of many new hardwood posts across the District now
that a budget has been put in place after years of neglect to add to the local District street scene.
1432. Community Engagement Committee
Just a reminder of the terms of reference of the committee, particular:
• ….. To promote community cohesion, and a sense of belonging and civic pride by, for example:
encouraging, supporting and leading a programme of public events throughout the year, that celebrate
the unique life of our village, our relationship with each other and our place in the wider world and
• To present the best of us to the wider world.
To those ends we are currently actively engaged in developing three projects:
1. The celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee over the period June 2nd – June 5th 2022, in
particular the national Beacon-lighting ceremony that is being organised by the Parish Council on the
evening of Thursday, June 2nd on the village green.
This project is being led by Cllr. Peter Cowup.
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The committee have created a working group to plan and coordinate the event. Good initial progress
has been made, having agreed the outline of a programme for the evening and developed a draft
action plan to manage event planning. Village businesses and community organisations have been
contacted and are already coming forward asking how they can take part.
Enthusiasm about the day is widespread and growing, and we are building up high levels of community
interest
Updates have been and will be circulated as the project develops.
2. The monthly village litter pick on the first Saturday of every month.
This work is clearly necessary, as every time we have gone out since we started, we have collected
significant quantities of rubbish from the village streets that otherwise would simply accumulate
uncollected. Photos have been posted on social media and the PC website.
Litter picks have taken place throughout the winter, come rain or shine and rely on a rota of committee
members taking turns to lead the sessions, with the participation of occasional residents. The February
pick, however, was surprisingly well attended by 15 persons, including several children with
parents/grandparents.
Nonetheless, it is recognised that this initiative cannot just rely on elected councillors to do the work.
We need much wider community engagement and ideally a volunteer group to take responsibility.
How we can achieve this will be further discussed at our next committee meeting, but the plan is to
focus of gaining greater support and involvement from younger members of the community.
3. Theydon Bois ‘Open Gardens Day’ on June 26th, 2022.
This project is being coordinated by Theydon Bois Horticultural Society, Theydon Bois Village
Association ‘VA’ and Theydon Bois Parish Council.
It’s back after all these years! We have a plan. Necessary arrangements have been made and a small
number of residents have volunteered to open their gardens to the public on the afternoon of Sunday,
June 26th.
We’re keeping it quite small and local this year to test the water and see if there is an appetite for it to
be repeated.
Read the Village News for more information.
1433. Any Other Urgent Business for report (without decision)
None
1434. Public Participation
Member of the public commented that they were pleased to hear Theydon Bois Open Gardens would
be returning.
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Cllr Gooch closed the meeting at 21:28pm
Chairman Cllr Peter Gooch Signed: ………………………………………. Dated: 31st March 2022