Hempstead in Essex
Resting place of William Harvey and Sir Eliab Harvey and birthplace of Dick Turpin

Parish Council Minutes 12th April 2011

12th April 2011

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 12 APRIL 2011
The Council met in the Village Hall on Tuesday 12 April 2011 at 8pm.

Present:

Also Present:

Apologies:

The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.12 pm

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 17 March 2011

    were taken as read and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    (not covered elsewhere) None

  3. CORRESPONDENCE

    A letter had been received from Chief Inspector Alyson White in response to the council’s appreciation of the very good work done by PC Nicola Lark in addressing the problems of anti-social behaviour in the village. She expressed her thanks that the council had taken the effort to write and said that a copy would go on PC Lark’s file.

  4. MEETING REPORTS

    The clerk reported on the meeting of clerks with the Planning officer. The Uttlesford Area is expected by central government to provide 5000 new homes over the next 15 years with affordable housing a priority. Neighbourhood plans, produced at a local level would feed into Regional Development Plans. It would be the choice of Parish Councils whether or not to produce neighbourhood plans but indications were that cost would be prohibitive for small councils. Improvements in local infrastructure would probably increasingly be linked to funding from ‘roof taxes’ charged on development within the parish.

    Neighbourhood plans would have to be passed by an inspector and achieve a 50% consensus in a local referendum.

    Many of the issues are subject to change as the legislation progresses.

    The Clerk also attended a PAYE course and a Finance Training session for parish clerks.

  5. ENVIRONMENT

    Village Green Issues
    Mr Haylock reported the transfer of land issue was moving forward and now only needed two signatures to finalise the transaction. – Action DH

    Flood Protection
    Very limited interest had been expressed so no plan was put forward for consideration.

    Registration of Common Land
    It was agreed that the clerk would approach John Cockman for assistance in completing the appropriate forms. – Action ML

    Celebrations
    After a discussion it was agreed that the council should encourage some form of communal celebration which it was perceived had been lacking recently. Ideas included a Newcomers Party and celebrations for the Queens Jubilee in 2012.

  6. FINANCE

    Cheques were signed to: – Action ML

    EALC Clerk’s Finance course £60.00
    EALC Clerk’s PAYE course £40.00
    EALC Affiliation to EALC/NALC £112.89
    Miss Frost Map Copying £8.08
  7. HIGHWAYS

    Footway
    No progress reported either from the Chairman or Councillor Walsh. – Action SM

    Potholes
    These has been marked out again, one month after the original marking. Mr Drane was hopeful that they would be filled soon and is continuing to chase the matter. – Action DD

    Community Speedwatch
    A holding reply had been received from the police but no further progress re training.

    Hedge at Harvey Way
    This is still a cause of complaints with some residents requesting it be cut back to its original height.

  8. FOOTPATHS

    Headland Management Scheme
    Mr Haylock outlined the problems that he is having with the scheme. Stiles and gates (often in unsuitable places) were being sought by the organisers of the scheme. These would be at his cost. He had received 14 pages of information and progress seemed to have stalled. Mr Haylock indicated that, as a gesture of goodwill, paths that he had cut previously would be cut again this year, whether or not funding was forthcoming. – Action DH

    P3
    Miss Frost had met with Debbie Poskett and successfully completed negotiations for the ‘non-David Haylock’ public footpaths, dividing responsibility between ECC and our contractor, but the formal request for funding could not be submitted until David Haylock’s issues are resolved, otherwise parts of the footpath network would remain uncut. Contractor cutting of the village paths was only being paid at 5p per metre and only 4500 metres could be cut compared to 11300 metres last year. The next step is for David Haylock to resolve issues with Adam Jenkins as soon as possible. With the delay caused by protracted negotiations the cutting season is being jeopardised. – Action DF

  9. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

    Tree Pollarding
    It was agreed that the quote of £250 for the tree pollarding and pruning was acceptable and should go ahead in the late Autumn.

    Grass Cutting
    Mr Basham had started the cutting. However it was felt that the contract needed to be clarified and that the clerk would undertake this – Action ML

  10. COMMUNICATIONS

    The website continued to be updated as an ongoing project.

    The newsletter distribution was being improved with new personnel helping. It was agreed that reminders about country code issues such as closing gates on footpaths should be included in a future Newsletter.

    Annual Report
    The Chairman agreed to continue work on this with assistance from Miss Frost and others and would circulate it. A financial report would be needed. The Notice and Agenda for Annual Meeting to be posted on Noticeboards calling attention to the meeting. Ms Dittrich would be asked to provide minutes for last year – Action SM/DF/ML

    Footpath Maps
    The footpath maps at the Bluebell Inn had been very popular. Miss Frost had altered the format after suggestions relayed via the landlord from walkers who had used them.

  11. PLANNING

    The Chairman has received no response concerning the issue of the pond at Hempstead Hall from the Enforcement Officer and felt that the issue had been pursued as far as it was possible.

    Quail Farm CottageAlthough no objections in principle were raised, the council expressed concern that the planning application had been amended several times. It was also impossible to identify changes as original plans were not made available.

  12. VILLAGE HALL

    Mr Sladen reported that the transfer of the Glebe was progressing satisfactorily. The cost of the transfer would be in the region of £300 but the Hall registration was more complex and this could cost in the region of £1000. Mr Cockman was due to meet with the solicitors to try to reduce this figure. The Parish council would need to be aware that it might be necessary to draw on the reserve funds held by them on behalf of the Village Hall Management to ensure operating funds were protected.

    Goal Posts for the Glebe were to be discussed at the next Thursday’s meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee.

  13. ELECTIONS

    It was confirmed that there were seven nominations to cover the seven vacancies

  14. QUALITY COUNCIL STATUS

    It was agreed to adjourn this issue until the next meeting and put it higher up the agenda

    Future meeting dates – 8pm Thursday 12 May. Annual Meeting Friday 13th May 8pm. Thursdays 9th June and 7th July at 8pm.

    The meeting closed at 9.05pm.