Parish Council Minutes 19th December 2006

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

• Mrs A Midgley

105. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 23 NOVEMBER 2006

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

106. MATTERS ARISING

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

     • Trees Obscuring View Of Church Tower
       The Clerk read out an email from Ben Smeedon (Uttlesford District Council) to Mr Haylock which stated that reducing the beech trees from the top would not be beneficial to the trees’ health or appearance and would not significantly address the concerns of the loss of view. However, he also considered it unlikely that UDC would make the trees the subject of a preservation order. The Council considered these views and it was decided to leave the matter for the time being to be reconsidered next summer when all the trees were back in leaf.
     • Hedge Cutting
       Due to other commitments, Mr McCarthy had been unable to view the hedge at Campions End. He will endeavour to do so before the next meeting.– Action SM

107. CORRESPONDENCE

     UDC	Environmental Health Department had asked for details of any locations where Dog Control Orders may be appropriate. The Clerk was asked to reply that the current controls appear to be sufficient but to ask if it was possible to obtain 2 “Dogs on Leads Only” signs for the churchyard, where the current signs are rather faded.– Action CD
     UDC	Consideration was requested of the Parish Electoral Arrangements. The Clerk was asked to reply that the Parish Council is quite happy with the current number of councillors and the existing arrangements should remain unaltered.– Action CD
     Cambridgeshire County Council	Notification that the Statement of Community Involvement was adopted on 17 October 2006 and details of where it can be viewed were provided.
     Stansted Airport Community Trust	Information regarding the next round of grants had been received. The Clerk had already copied this to a number of village groups.

108. BENCHES

     The Clerk had obtained a couple of brochures with price lists and these were discussed. It was considered that oak benches would be preferable and Miss Frost agreed to review the brochures and report back to the next meeting. Miss Frost would also discuss the proposal of a seating shelf in the bus shelter with a local resident with a view to getting ideas of materials needed etc.– Action DF

109. FINANCE

     An updated expenditure summary was reviewed and discussed. The costs of advertising the footpath changes indicated by Maggie Cox were unclear and the Clerk was asked to contact her to obtain specific costs as well detail of when and where these advertisements would be made. Mr McCarthy proposed that the Precept for 2007/08 should remain at £7,300 and Mr Weedon seconded this.– Action CD

110. PLAY EQUIPMENT

     The Clerk had prepared a spreadsheet with all the replies received to date, a copy of which was given to each councillor. In the absence of Mrs Midgley it was decided that this item be carried forward to the next meeting.

111. P3

     Miss Frost reported that she had not received a reply to the application for money for a replacement gate at the bottom of The Chase but will chase Lisa Cross. She then went on to advise the Council of a meeting she had had with Mrs Slee and Miss Halstead to update them on the current position with regard to the footpath diversions following the end of the consultation period and the modest P3 applications that are intended for the first year.– Action DF

112. WEBSITE

     Miss Frost reported that the website was running smoothly and a number of complimentary messages from other PCs had been received. The review of altering web buttons and drop down menus was still ongoing.

113. PLANNING

     Holmwood – UTT/1948/06/FUL – following review by the Council, the Clerk had written to UDC with no objections to these proposals.

114. HIGHWAYS

     The outstanding items as noted in minute number 30 (June 2006) were still not completed despite numerous reminders so it was decided that a letter should be sent to Mr Felgate (and copied to the Highways Manager and Cllr S Walsh) asking for a definitive date within this financial year for completion of these tasks by the District Council.– Action CD

     With regard to the refurbishment of the drinking fountain, Mr Haylock had been unable to contact Essex Heritage Trust but will email them during the Christmas break to try and get a reply early in the new year.– Action DH

     The issue of 4×4 and scramble bikes using the local byways was discussed and it was noted that providing the vehicles are road legal they were entitled to use the byways.

115. VILLAGE HALL

     Mr Sladen reported that Mr Cockman had reviewed the two quotations received for acoustic insulation and had written back to both with further queries and suggestions.

116. STANSTED AIRPORT

     It was noted that UDC had refused the recent planning permission before them to increase usage of the current runway but that BAA were to appeal.

The dates of the next meetings are 18 January, 15 February and 22 March 2007.

The meeting closed at 9.40pm.