The Council met in the Village Hall on Thursday 11 December 2008 at 8.00pm
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| Present:
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Also Present:
Apologies:
Mr David Haylock
Ms Sally Phillips
Cllr Simon Walsh, County Councillor
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COUNCILLOR RESIGNATION
since the previous meeting, Mr McCarthy has received the resignation of Ms Sally Phillips. This has been necessary due to work commitments leaving her with little time to commit to her role as Councillor.
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 30 OCTOBER 2008
were taken as read and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISINGfrom previous Minutes, not dealt with in the main agenda.
Mr Weedon is still to put up the Dog Control Orders in the churchyard and on the Glebe. - Action AW
CORRESPONDENCE
| Hempstead PCC | request for assistance to pay church clock service and future grant towards churchyard grass cutting Mr Weedon expressed an interest and left the meeting - both these matters were then discussed at length and Miss Frost proposed that the clock service be paid at this meeting, this was seconded by Mr Sladen. The Clerk was asked to seek further advice on whether the Council is able to assist with the grass cutting costs. Mr Weedon returned to the meeting. - Action CD |
| Information Commissioners Office | new model publication scheme for adoption from 1 January 2009 following discussion IT WAS AGREED to adopt the model scheme and the relevant information compiled at the next meeting. In addition, further advice would be sought from Mr Cockman, (Internal Auditor). Miss Frost will liaise with the website editor to set up new tags within the Parish Council section for Statutory Documents etc. - Action DF/CD |
| Stop Stansted Expansion | request for financial support received to assist with legal representation IT WAS AGREED that a £50 donation be made. |
MEETING REPORTS
- North Uttlesford Community Forum
no meeting since last report
- Parish Planning Workshop
Mr Thomas attended this meeting and gave a brief report of the issues covered.
- West Essex Area Forum
No one was able to attend the meeting on 19 November.
ENVIRONMENT
Common land issues Mr McCarthy reported on the discussion he had with Mr Haylock regarding the ownership of the land at the village pond. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED that Mr Haylock re-registers this land to Parish Council ownership at no cost to the Council. - Action DH
Miss Frost was concerned with the damage to trees and verges caused by large vehicles including the double-decker school buses. She will contact ECC who contract the school bus services to discuss further. - Action DF
FINANCE
The Clerk presented the council with a draft budget for 2009/2010 which was fully discussed. As further information was required regarding the possibility of churchyard grass cutting the Clerk was asked to contact UDC to ask for an extension for submission of the Precept which is due 9 January2009. The Clerk was asked to circulate the budget as agreed so far. - Action CD/CD
The following receipts had been received and banked since the last meeting:
| S McCarthy | PRoW Realignment (Inv 23) | £100.00 |
| Hempstead & District Gardeners Club | Donation | £200.00 |
| M Long | PRoW Realignment (Inv 26) | £100.00 |
| T M Sills | PRoW Realignment (Inv 21) | £200.00 |
| J Rennie | PRoW Realignment (Inv 24) | £100.00 |
Approval of the full council was given for the following payment since the previous meeting:
| Audit Commission | Audit fee for 2007/08 | £141.00 |
The following accounts were approved for payment and a cheques drawn up:
| J Basham | Grass Cutting | £90.00 |
| Society of Local Council Clerks | Annual subscription | £61.00 |
| Hempstead PCC | Church Clock Service | £161.00 |
| Stop Stansted Expansion | Donation | £50.00 |
It was noted that prior to the Remembrance Service Mr J Basham had cut the greens and picked up the leaves at no charge the Council expressed their gratitude.
HIGHWAYS
Mr McCarthy reported on two meetings with Ian Hurwood, ECC the outcome of the meeting with the Commons Commissioners was still outstanding.
Mr Thomas was still getting no response to correspondence with the Highways Department with regard to outstanding issues including access to Harvey Way, 40mph limit extension etc. Mr McCarthy will send an email to D Forkin (Area Manager) to complain of the lack of service. - Action SM
ENGAGING OUR YOUTH
Mr McCarthy proposed that this item be removed from the agenda for the foreseeable future this was unanimously agreed.
FOOTPATHS
- Re-alignment scheme
The Clerk had sent out the agreed invoices and all but two were now paid. Miss Frost had started to prepare a free hand map in OS style of the new path layout and brought it to the meeting for discussion. Discussion ensued about the extent of the map, the size of the paper it will ultimately be printed on etc. Mr McCarthy confirmed to Miss Frost that the format was what had been anticipated and would be grateful if she would continue. - Action DF
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
- Drinking Fountain
Work was expected to commence within the next 3 months.
- Backdrop to War Memorial
work on the preparation of the bed for the hedge was in abeyance until the new year.
- Village Sign
Miss Frost had contacted Mr Shires regarding the re-capping of the village sign and it appeared he had forgotten about it. Miss Frost suggested the issue of the sign be left now until the spring.
COMMUNICATIONS
Website - a refresher was due in early 2009.
Newsletter - next newsletter deadline 26 January 2009.
EMERGENCY PLAN
The road drain opposite Firs Cottage has been installed. Mr Haylock still awaited a report from the Environment Agency and will continue to monitor. - Action DH
PLANNING
- UTT/1803/08/FUL Lakehouse Farm
Removal/Variation of Conditions following discussion no objections were raised.Action - CD
- UTT/1883/08/FUL Highbanks, Bumpstead Road
Removal of Condition following discussion of the full council, the Clerk was asked to write to the Planning Department with the concern that the property still carry a condition to remain a single residential unit and that part of the property could not be sold as a separate entity.Action - CD
- UTT/1798/08/FUL & UTT/1800/08/LB Church Farm Cottage, Church Road
erection of single storey extension, internal alterations and demolition of outbuilding still to be considered Clerk to ask for extension for comments.Action - CD
VILLAGE HALL
nothing to report
STANSTED AIRPORT
Mr Weedon reported briefly on the recent protests at the airport.
COUNCILLOR RESIGNATION
Mr Thomas tendered his resignation from the Council due to his imminent move from the district. Mr McCarthy thanked him on behalf of all the councillors for all his work and wished him every success in his new life in Dorset.
Future meeting dates - Thursday 8 January, Thursday 5 February and Thursday 5 March 2009.
The meeting closed at 9.55pm.
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