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

Parish Council Minutes 19th April 2012

19th April 2012

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2012
The Parish Council met in the Village Hall on Thursday 19 April at 8.00 pm.

Present:

Part Time:

  • District Councillor Simon Howells
  • Police Sgt. Martin Richards
  • WPC Hannah Griffiths

Apologies:

  • County Councillor Simon Walsh

Policing – The Chairman welcomed the police officers and thanked them for attending before the main meeting to discuss the council’s concerns. Sgt Richards described how the police were planning to deploy staff more effectively to be more responsive to actual concerns and incidents rather than less effective routine visits. An example was the issue of speeding traffic, where they would seek to enable Community Speed Watch volunteers and react to data gathered on checks so that areas with a higher incidence of speeding would be targeted.

As far as anti-social motor-bike behaviour they would operate on a ‘three strikes basis’ ending in confiscation of bikes and/or the involvement of parents, particularly on under age offences. Sgt Richards emphasised the need for public to be involved in reporting these and other incidents. He asked that the new emergency contact number 101 be used and advertised in the newsletter. This connects to Chelmsford Control Centre and would be linked to a new mobile ‘phone system to give a more flexible response. This means the focus will be on to community concerns rather than being target driven.

The Chairman thanked them again for attending and for their very positive attitudes and the approaches they outlined.

Dictrict Councillor – Prior to the meeting proper District Councillor Simon Howell addressed the meeting and outlined some of the ways that Uttlesford was planning to cope with the target of an extra 3000 houses over the next 15 years. Most would be provided in the four towns of Stansted, Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Thaxted but depending on infrastructure there would be some spread across other smaller settlements. Councillors again expressed their anxiety that the overall infrastructure such as roads and schools needed to be considered.

The meeting proper began at 8.40pm

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 22 MARCH 2012

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

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    None not covered elsewhere.

  3. CORRESPONDENCE

    Mr Weedon was submitting the forms for the Best Kept Village and Churchyard competitions.

    The Clerk would look into the General Power of Competence Training.

    It was agreed to discuss the 100 Parishes Initiative at the next meeting.

  4. QUEEN’S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

    There was information on the website but it was acknowledged that more information was needed in the next Newsletter. A church service was planned for the Saturday and Songs of Praise at the Bluebell on Sunday Afternoon.

  5. ENVIRONMENT

    Village Green
    The protracted correspondence to ensure registration was of concern. Councillors expressed the view that the Clerk should emphasise that the area had been de-registered in error and this should be more speedily rectified.

  6. FINANCE

    The first half of this year’s precept £3900 had been received.

    Cheques were signed for

    Chas Johnson: Hedge trimming by the Village Hall £250
    EALC/NALC: subscription £118.52
    HMRC £144.6 Balance of PAYE

    Standing Orders were agreed as follows:
    Clerk’s Salary £133.03 monthly, Gratuity £18.70 quarterly
    Website maintenance £80 monthly B. Kitchen

    PAYE would be confirmed when final calculations had been made

  7. HIGHWAYS

    All potholes had been marked but it was not clear as yet when they would be filled, but Mr Drane was pursuing the matter. The Chairman mentioned the sign for the Saddlery Shop that had appeared on the triangle at Anser Gallows junction. Mr Drane said that he would investigate if it was impeding visibility.

    The Pedestrian footway had been the subject of a letter from the Chairman to the leader of Essex County Council and copied to all County Councillors. The clerk agreed to send a copy to the website.

  8. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

    Miss Frost informed the council that the third walks leaflet was now available. She also reminded Mr Haylock that he should clarify the Headland Management scheme with Shirley Clayton-Anglin.

  9. MAINTENANCE

    Clean Up morning was planned for Saturday 19 May.

  10. PLANNING

    Mr Haylock had spoken to the owner of the Pagoda-like structure on Wincelow Hall Road who had described it as ‘Garden Art’. The Clerk agreed to contact the planning department to ascertain whether it was within planning guidelines.

  11. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

    This was planned for Friday 18 May. The Annual Report had undergone several drafts and the Clerk agreed to send it to Mr Drane for photocopying to be distributed with the newsletter.

Future meeting dates – Thursdays 17 May, 14 June and 12 July all at 8pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.40pm