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

Parish Council Minutes 14th June 2005

14th June 2005

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 14 JUNE 2005
The Council met in the Village Hall on Tuesday 14 June 2005 at 8.15pm

Present:

Apologies:

  • County Councillor Simon Walsh
The meeting was adjourned at 8.25pm when District Councillor Sue Schneider attended for 20 minutes and discussed Highways matters with members of the Council.

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19 MAY 2005

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

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    • Rights of Way
      Copy maps had been appropriately notated and sent with a covering letter to Gordon Hands (Chairman, Local Ramblers Association). To date no reply had been received.– Action DH

      Mr Haylock reported that so far DEFRA did not appear to be able to provide any suitable grants. However there was a possibility through CPRE and Mr Haylock would process the application form with Miss Frost and submit before the due date of 30 June 2005. Mrs Midgley also provided some information of the Rural Activity Grant Scheme, which would be investigated at the same time. – Action DH/DF

    • Highway Matters
      Mrs Midgley provided a synopsis of her presentation when attending the Transport and Highways Committee Meeting on Thursday 16 June with Mr Thomas and Miss Frost. It was endorsed that a letter setting out our case, as requested by Cllr Chris Bailey, be copied to all attending that forthcoming meeting as well as Cllr Simon Walsh and Paul Hardy. Cllr Sue Schneider had confirmed her attendance at the meeting to give her support. – Action AM

      The Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Schneider to establish what action had been taken by the Environment Department regarding the issue of the verge damage.– Action CD

    • Website
      Miss Frost held a meeting with Brian Kitchen, Helen Philip and Ross Midgley where roles were defined and short, medium and long term objectives were set out. Both Mr Kitchen and Mrs Philip are now investigating software packages to assemble a slick, user-friendly site. This would obviously take some time and therefore reduce the amount of time being put into the current trial site. However, this would continue to be maintained to the extent as to keep it looking ‘alive’. A presentation would be planned in the near future to show both the council and a number of representatives of other village societies the potential of a few software packages to assist in making a decision in due course. – Action DF

      Mr Sladen confirmed that his daughter was in the process of putting together some design ideas for a sign for the website address and these would be put to the Village Hall Management Committee in due course.– Action JS

  3. CORRESPONDENCE

    • BAA Stansted
      request for address of all councillors to include them in future mailings – reply to be sent ‘continue to send to the Clerk who will ensure distribution’. – Action CD

    • Essex County Council
      Draft Essex School Organisation Plan 2005-2010 – being circulated.

    • Essex County Council
      notice of departmental move to Harlow.

    • West Essex Area Forum
      notes of meeting – being circulated.

    • Uttlesford Association of Local Councils
      Notice of AGM on 23 June.

    • UDC – Adopted Local Plan
      brief discussion, with Wild Life areas being noted – being circulated.

    • Stop Stansted Expansion
      information about forthcoming Runway Ramble.

    • PC Alex Webb
      notice that local police officer PC Webb has been promoted and will be moving away and that Acting Inspector Ashley Seymour is seeking a suitable replacement. The Clerk was asked to write a letter of thanks to PC Webb for his support to the village in the past and a further letter to Insp Ashley Seymour inviting him to our next meeting. – Action CD

  4. FINANCE

    The following accounts were presented for payment and cheques drawn up:

    J Sladen Filing cabinet keys cut £5.00
    S Basham Grass cutting July £180.00
    CPRE Annual Subscription £25.00
    D Frost June Newsletter postage £3.60
    C Dittrich Expenses £111.18

    Receipts
    Donation re Newsletter Current Account £5.00

    The completed Audit Report was reviewed and signed by the Chairman. Mr Ray, as our Internal Auditor, will now examine the Accounts and Audit Report before they are forwarded to Lubbock Fine, the External Auditors. – Action CD

  5. PLANNING

    • Waterloo Cottage – conditional approval
    • Harvey House, Hempstead Hall – listed building approval
  6. VILLAGE HALL

    Mr Sladen confirmed there had been no meetings recently.

  7. STANSTED AIRPORT

    Mr McCarthy confirmed there were no new developments to report.

The dates of the next meetings are 21 July, 18 August and 15 September.

The meeting closed at 9.50pm.