Commons Select Committee to carry out an inquiry into Park Home Sites

There have been a number of issues nationally with the running of Park Home sites and The House of Commons Select Committee, apparently fed up with the governments promised reforms failing to appear, has ordered an inquiry into their operation and the adequacy of the law.  Items to be looked at may include

• site fees & services (e.g. cost of gas)
• the awarding and revocation of site licences
• the regulation and enforcement of site license conditions
• the need for the manager of a site to be a “fit and proper” person and the enforcement of this requirement
• the regulation of parks owned by local authorities
• the protection of occupiers of park homes against harassment and illegal eviction
• the resale of park homes and resale fees.

The committee wants to hear submissions from interested parties, particularly those who live in park homes, site owners and local authorities with park homes within their areas .  More detail can be seen on the Parliamentary website here.

Submissions needs to be by email and no more than 4,000 words long, If you wish to make a submission please lets us know as we are happy to assist. We ourselves will also be making a submission to the Select Committee and hope to be called to make an oral report.

For those who may not be aware’ Hullbridge has 6 of the 8 mobile home parks registered in the District numbering approximately 500 homes out of a total of around 2,750 in the village.  This is an important matter for a large number of residents and will allow them to at last put there points of view across.

600 Houses for Hall Farm Road?

Rochford District Council is to discuss the second major planning application put in after the passing of the Core Strategy in December.

This application, for 600 houses on green belt land along Hall Farm Road in Rochford, comes just a month after another application for 176 houses in Hawkwell (which was refused).

The schedule for the application is on the council website and can be read here but this application is so large a page on the council website has been set up for it and can be read here.

It is hard to summarise such an application but points to be noted should include

• It is an outline plan not a detailed one.
• The Core Strategy does require houses to be built in West Rochford, although specific sites have not yet been officially chosen
• A large number of people don’t like it, with 164 letters objecting and just 4 in favour.

It is certain to be a busy night at the Civic Suite as this is by far the biggest application in relation to the Core Strategy so far.

Closure of Public Toilets

At the District Councils Executive meeting in November it was decided, after much public pressure, to postpone any decisions on closing the public toilets within the District until January.  The January meeting is planned for the 11th of this month and the Agenda can be seen here.

As can be seen from the Agenda the toilets are to be discussed under item 12, The Future Provision of Public Conveniences.  However the most interesting thing to note about this is the exclusion of the Press and Public at item 11 meaning the decision will not be reported and Councillors will not be able to talk about the outcome.

This would seem to be an abuse of the system, if the first proposal could be discussed in public why not the second?  Is it down to an executive running scared of the opposition?

 

Rochford Council & Grants

Each year Rochford District Council gives grants to voluntary organisations either within the District or which help residents in the District.

This year Cllr Michael Hoy has been very critical of the cut in Grants overall, by 37%, to these organisations as a whole for the 2011-12 year.  At the last Council meeting he asked how these cuts squared with the aims of the council in directing people to these services, in greater numbers during this recession, whilst cutting the money these organisations need to provide an adequate service.

In answer to the questions put Michael was asked onto the panel which decides where next years grant money goes.

The process will be broadly as follows.

• On the 13th December the Full Council will decide the total grant pot (last year £90,000) hopefully it will be increased from last year, this is what the green members are pushing for.
• The panel then decide on who gets what on the following day, the 14th December.
• The panel consists mainly of Tory members but with Cllr Chris Black of the Lib Dems & Cllr Michael Hoy of the Greens, to share the blame.  They will then put forward the recommendations of where the money should go.  There is potential for this recommendation to be overturned but this is unlikely.

The paperwork on this is quite extensive as there seems to be applications in for more than double last years grant pot.

Parish Council meeting

Hullbridge parish Council will be holding its monthly meeting on Monday 12th December at the Hullbridge Centre in Windermere Avenue Hullbridge.  The start time is 7.30pm and it is open to the public so everyone is welcome and will be given the opportunity to speak, if they wish to.

The agenda is quite long but some of the more important issues will be

Tyndale House
This property is a sheltered scheme for the over 50′s (I will check the age) and is managed by Rochford Housing Association which is part of the Sanctuary Group.  Sanctuary want to redevelop and modernise Tyndale House but this will mean extensive work and the “temporary” moving of residents while the work is done.  Cllr Michael Hoy has concerns that the “temporary” may become permanent and some people at least may not be able to return.  A report will be heard and further action taken to help the residents.

Budget for 2012-13
Discussions will be had on the budget and whether to increase or decrease spending in certain areas.  The Council will then agree the budget and also the precept (Parish element of the Council Tax) for next year, 2012-13.

Co-opt a new member
As Mr Eddie Hall resigned notices have been put up for people to come forward who want to become a Parish Councillor.  Outside of election time it is possible for councillors to Co-opt people onto the Parish Council without an election.  We understand that two people have put their names forward so Councillors will have to vote on the night.

Rochford District Budget Survey

At the moment the Council is looking at the budget for next year.  Councillors have already met twice on this and will have a further meeting in January where the detail will be decided.

The meetings are open to all Councillors, regardless of party affiliation and as opposition Councillors your Green Party representatives can get their viewpoint heard and sometimes taken on board.

The Council also has a budget survey page where residents can give their views.  We do have concerns how valid such a survey can be as areas are described in too broad terms for proper judgments to be made and the take up has been very low so far, too low for much account to be taken of the response.  However if you would like to give it a go the survey can be found here.

Rayleigh’s new market starts on Wednesday

The market in Rayleigh is moving after Rayleigh Town Council’s take over of it earlier this year.

The Town Council have decided to move the market from its position in the car park at the top end of the car park to the taxi rank island in the middle of the Town.

The first market is on Wednesday 7th December and will then be monthly, details of the market can be found here.

Councillor Advice Surgery

Cllr Michael Hoy will be holding his monthly advice surgery on Saturday 10th December at Hullbridge Library, in Ferry Road Hullbridge.  He will be there between 10.30am and 12.30pm to answer and help residents with council queries or problems.

Hullbridge Community Association

The Community Association which runs the Community Centre in Pooles Lane, Hullbridge is holding its AGM this Friday (9th December) at the Community Centre itself.

There will be two meetings on the night and all members should attend and are entitled to vote at both meetings.

The first meeting will be of the Hullbridge Community Association (the H.C.A.) itself, which is the Charity that runs the building, that houses and runs the Pre-School and the Main Hall.

The second meeting is that of the Hullbridge Community Association Social Club, this is a separate body which runs the members bar at the rear of the building.  All members of the H.C.A. are automatically members of the Social Club.

At both meetings members will have to approve the accounts and vote for members of the two committees, or even stand for the committees.

The current composition of the H.C.A. can be seen here as well as details of past years Accounts etc.

Vacancy for a Parish Councillor

Hullbridge parish Council has a vacancy on the Parish Council after the resignation of one of the Councillors.

The details are advertised on the Council website and further information can be obtained from the Parish Office by calling the clerk on 01702 232038.

UPDATE
The deadline for submissions has now passed and the application procedure is closed.  Don’t worry there are elections in May next year and we will post details of how to stand nearer the time.