Parish Council Minutes 12th October 2010

• Mr S McCarthy (Chairman)
• Mr David Drane
• Miss D Frost
• Mr David Haylock
• Mrs. Sara Scott (part time from 9.35)
• Mr J Sladen
• Mr A Weedon
• The Clerk and the Clerk designate.

Apologies:

• Cllr Sue Schneider, Uttlesford District Council
• PC Nicola Lark

Before the meeting opened Cllr Simon Walsh reported on some the current issues and thinking from Essex County Council in response to the current economic climate and impending spending review. Despite strenuously pursuing reduction of expenditure, every effort was being made to protect front line services. Partnership with Kent County Council was seen as a source of achieving savings, working together on crime, IT platforms and economic development.

Current progress with regard to the footway on the B1054 was discussed and Mr McCarthy reiterated to Cllr Walsh the need to keep up the pressure on the Highways Department to ensure that progress does not falter in view of the deteriorating funding situation. Cllr Walsh was thanked for his contribution and he then left the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Martyn Long as the Clerk designate and then opened the meeting at 8.35pm

97. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 2 SEPTEMBER

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

98. MATTERS ARISING

    83 Dog litter bin still to be erected – on footpath 86 on the slope up from Anso Road to the field. Now awaiting confirmation that Environmental Services are prepared to empty it in that location 15yds off the highway. – Action CD

    84. Appreciation was expressed for the grant to Essex Heritage Trust at their AGM

99. CORRESPONDENCE

    • Ms Dittrich to collate old minute books from David Haylock together with other documentation for sending to Essex Record Office via Alan Weedon. It was noted that relevant historic material can increasingly be viewed via SEAX website. – Action AW/CD/DH

100. MEETING REPORTS

     • North Uttlesford Community Forum
       no meeting since last report
     • Parish Planning Workshop
       no meeting since last report.
     • West Essex Area Forum
       no meeting attended since last report
     • Walden in Transition
       no meeting attended since last report

101. ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

     Essex Victim Care had been in contact. The prosecution had been dropped due to lack of evidence. It was agreed to take this item off subsequent agendas.

102. ENVIRONMENT

     Village Green Issues
     Mr Haylock asked for cheques for the Land Registry fees pertaining to the transfer of the pond, Ring of Trees and other parcels of land to be transferred to the Parish Council.

     Mobile Phone Mast
     The need for a mast and possible sites was discussed. It was agreed to consider this further if approaches were received from telephone providers.

     Overgrown Hedges
     Complaints had been received about hazards from overgrown hedges adjacent to footpaths and highways. It was agreed to address this via an appeal in the newsletter. – Action SM

103. FINANCE

     The following accounts were approved for payment and a cheques drawn up:

     Land Registry	Filing fee	£50.00
     Land Registry	Filing fee	£40.00
     Audit Commission	2009/10 audit fee	£158.63
     PHM Contractors Ltd	Second cut of PRoW	£1,468.75
     B D Kitchen	Website maintenance – Sept 2010	£80.00
     Pave The Way	War Memorial surround	£1,600.00

     IT WAS AGREED that Mr David Drane and Mrs Sara Scott be added to the signing mandate. In addition, IT WAS AGREED that the bank is instructed that Mr Martyn Long be added, with immediate effect, with the same facilities as the retiring clerk and that Ms Dittrich be removed from the account from 30 November 2010. – Action CD

     The salary of the clerk was reviewed with reference to the benchmark range of profile 1 as recommended by NALC and SLCC. IT WAS AGREED that a spot point salary be adopted with effect from 1 April 2010 – spinal point 20. As such a backdated adjustment was required from April 2010 for Ms Dittrich and this should be paid by cheque at the next meeting together with the final month’s salary and gratuity. Standing orders in respect of Ms Dittrich’s remuneration should be cancelled and those in respect of Mr Long’s remuneration be set up. – Action CD

     Miss Frost’s email regarding the sub-contracting of various village jobs was briefly discussed. IT WAS AGREED in principle with the need for some activities to be sub-contracted. Further detailed discussion was carried forward.

104. HIGHWAYS

     Footway
     Mr McCarthy had contacted Joe Bicheno, Traffic Engineer ECC to maintain pressure to ensure this matter is progressed and does not suffer from pressures on ECC budget. Cllr Walsh had confirmed supporting this request. – Action DD

     General Matters
     Mr Drane had been in contact with Highways District Manager Robin Parkhouse who confirmed that a replacement for our area representative was due to be in place next month.

105. FOOTPATHS

     P3
     The path through the orchard on Church Hill had still been the subject of complaints despite Miss Frost contacting the landowner with copies to Debbie Poskitt. The path had been cut as a goodwill gesture by the P3 contractor. – Action DF/DH

     Mr Haylock to send bill for P3 to Miss Frost.

     Headland Management Scheme
     Mr Haylock was continuing to explore this issue with Adam Jenkins.

106. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

     • War Memorial Surround
       It was agreed that the paving had been successfully completed to a good standard. Gardening work and cleaning of the memorial could now proceed in time for Remembrance Day with a working party to be organised for Saturday 23rd October. Mr Haylock would provide a load of topsoil. It was agreed to remove this item from future agendas. – Action SM/DF/AW/DH
     • Pollarding of Willows
       It was agreed to delay this until the new paving had weathered. Pollarding of the Ring of Trees was also needed and a quote would be sought. – Action SM
     • Brick wall at Long Corner
       The condition of this wall was causing concern. Mr Haylock agreed to survey and report back – Action DH

107. COMMUNICATIONS

     Website – Miss Frost had provided Brian Kitchen with a brief for the necessary updates and was awaiting action.

108. EMERGENCY PLAN

     To be reviewed in November.

109. PLANNING

     No substantive issues were discussed.

110. VILLAGE HALL

     It was noted that the AGM would be on Friday 22 October

     A vote of thanks was expressed to the outgoing Clerk, Ms Dittrich and she was presented with a floral tribute.
     Future meeting dates – Wednesday 10 November, Thursday 9 December 2010 and Thursday 6 January 2011.

     The meeting closed at 10.00pm.