Parish Council Minutes 18th June 2009

• Mr S McCarthy (Chairman)
• Mr David Drane
• Miss D Frost
• Mr David Haylock
• Mr J Sladen
• Mr A Weedon
• Parish Clerk

Apologies:

• Cllr Simon Walsh, County Councillor
• Cllr Sue Schneider, District Councillor

37. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 14 MAY 2009

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

38. MATTERS ARISING

    from previous Minutes, not dealt with in the main agenda.

    there were none.

39. CORRESPONDENCE

    Mr Maxton

    letter with copy letter from the Environment Agency regarding the obstruction in the stream – Clerk to reply that other residents are aware. – Action CD

40. MEETING REPORTS

    • North Uttlesford Community Forum
      no attendance at meeting on 11 June
    • Parish Planning Workshop
      no meeting since last report
    • West Essex Area Forum
      no meeting since last report
    • Walden in Transition
      no meeting attended since last report

41. REVIEW OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

    considered to be a successful meeting with good interaction at the end of the meeting – Cllr Simon Walsh attended.

42. PLANS & OBJECTIVES

    various updates were discussed and the Clerk will distribute a draft for agreement. – Action CD

43. ENVIRONMENT

    Village Green Issues
    Mr Haylock had sent £10 for provision of information from ECC only to discover the cost was £10 per parcel. The Council approved the payment of a further £40 to obtain all the information required so the matter can be pursued. Once the full information is received, Mr Haylock will liaise with the Clerk in order that legal advice can be taken from EALC. – Action DH/CD

44. FINANCE

    Approval of the full council was given for the following payment since the previous meeting:

    R Mercer

    Repair of post and chains at War Memorial

    £161.00

    Mr McCarthy had received a cheque for £140 being reimbursement of the above expense (excluding VAT) which was duly paid in on 8 June.

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

    D Frost	200 Photocopies of Village Map	£14.00
    J Basham	Grass cutting (including churchyard)	£300.00
    RCCE	Annual membership fee	£40.00
    CPRE	2009/10 subscription	£29.00
    D Haylock	ECC – fee for obtaining village green information	£50.00

    The Clerk’s salary was discussed with reference to the recently approved NJC rates for 2008/09 and a new rate was approved. The Clerk was asked to alter the standing orders to both herself and the gratuity fund with effect from 1 April 2009. – Action CD

    Following the internal audit, the Clerk presented the 2008/09 Audit Report and associated schedules which were unanimously approved by the Council. The Report was subsequently signed by the Chairman and the Clerk and will now be forwarded to the Audit Commission. – Action CD

45. HIGHWAYS

    Mr McCarthy reported that he had spoken to Ian Hurwood, Engineer ECC, who had advised that a further meeting with Mouchel had taken place but that the environmental report was still outstanding. He also confirmed that is was important that all relevant residents were 100% behind this project. Mr McCarthy will continue to liaise with the outstanding residents. The issue of the width of 1.2m was still outstanding but all site plans had been completed. – Action SM

    Mr Drane confirmed that he will pursue the outstanding highways matters forthwith. – Action DD

46. FOOTPATHS

    Re-alignment scheme
    Two finger posts still needed to be erected and Miss Frost reported a broken fingerpost which she will report to Robin Wallbank (ECC). The map had been distributed with the June Newsletter and Diary. Invitations etc for inaugural walk at the end of August to be discussed at the next meeting. The second cut was scheduled in the week commencing 23 August before the walk – Action DF

    P3
    Miss Frost reported that the first cut had now been completed and the spreadsheet had been altered to more accurately represent the work needed. Mr Drane to pursue the possibility of Hempstead controlling the sub-contracting of verge cutting. – Action DD

47. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

    • Drinking Fountain
      Mr Haylock is liaising with both English Heritage and the Community Initiative Fund to obtain the grant monies promised. The Contractor is still due to reset the “golden pineapple” on top of the drinking fountain. – Action DH
    • Village Sign
      the possibility of power cleaning the sign was discussed and Mr Drane will obtain two quotes for the work to be done in situ. – Action DD

48. COMMUNICATIONS

    Website – all seems to be in order
    Newsletter – next newsletter deadline 20 June 2009

49. EMERGENCY PLAN

    Mr Sladen reported the need for a further member to replace Mr Thomas – Mr Drane agreed to join. The plan needs to be updated in the near future.

50. PLANNING

    • UTT/1803/08/FUL – Lakehouse Farm
      no decision to date
    • UTT/0505/09/FUL – Quail Farm Cottage
      no objections
    • The Clerk has replied to the proposals to alter 2 footpaths to bridle ways and a reply had been received which was being reviewed by Mr McCarthy. – Action CD/SM

51. VILLAGE HALL

    The new chairs had been delivered and the blinds were due to be installed the following day.

52. STANSTED AIRPORT

    The public enquiry has been postponed for a year.

    Future meeting dates – Thursday 16 July, Thursday 13 August and Thursday 17 September 2009.

    The meeting closed at 9.35pm.