Parish Council Minutes 19th May 2005

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

• There were none

10. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

    The Council unanimously re-elected Mr McCarthy as Chairman of the Council for 2005/06. Mr McCarthy thanked his fellow Councillors for their continued support.

11. REVIEW OF REGISTER OF INTERESTS

    Councillors reviewed their entries in the Register of Interests and submitted alterations to be recorded and advised to the District Council. – Action CD

12. ALLOCATION OF SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

    The Council reviewed the existing responsibilities and agreed the allocation for 2005/06 as follows:
    Rights of Way	David Haylock & Diana Frost
    Tree Warden	David Haylock
    Airport	Sean McCarthy
    Village Hall Representative	John Sladen
    Environment	Alan Weedon
    Road Safety Representative	Alison Midgley
    Emergency Planning	John Sladen
    Newsletter Editor	Diana Frost
    Highways Representative	Adam Thomas

13. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19 APRIL 2005

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

14. MATTERS ARISING

    • Rights of Way
      Mr McCarthy, Mr Haylock and Mrs Grimster (Rights of Way Project Co-ordinator) had a meeting with Gordon Hands (Chairman, Local Ramblers Association) who seemed reasonably content with the proposals. He asked that these proposals be drawn onto the definitive map and sent to him. Upon receipt he will ask a surveyor to walk all the paths and report back to him. Copy maps had been ordered from Uttlesford District Council to enable this to be done. Both Mr Hands and Gary White, Definitive Map Manager based at Chelmsford, were pleased with the work done so far. – Action SM/DH, MG

      Possible financing avenues to be explored eg DEFRA, CPRE – Action DH

    • Highway Matters
      Mrs Midgley had contacted Mrs Schneider but despite numerous attempts had been unable to get any response from Paul Hardy.

    • Website
      Miss Frost reported that those who had shown an interest following the ‘advert’ in the newsletter had been invited to a meeting to discuss the extent of what was needed and how best to achieve this. – Action DF

      Advertising of the website address was discussed and it was decided that Mr Sladen would pursue, with the Village Hall Management Committee (VHMC), the design and positioning of a sign on the Village Hall and a smaller version could subsequently be put on the bus shelter. – Action JS

    • Trafalgar Weekend
      Mr Weedon reported that the History Group had taken on the organisation of village events in connection with this anniversary.

15. REVIEW OF DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

    The Chairman had congratulated Mr Walsh on his recent election victory. Mr McCarthy then briefed Mr Walsh on outstanding issues and requested the support of both Councillors in bringing them to a satisfactory conclusion. The main issues were;

    • Speed Limit Extensions – Action SW/SS
      • a 40mph limit along the B1054 to meet the 40mph limit coming out of Radwinter
      • a 40mph limit along the B1054 towards Steeple Bumpstead to beyond Bramley Hollow
      • a 40mph limit along the B1055 to Anso Corner junction
    • Footpath scheme – Action SW
      to extend the existing footpath, which finishes opposite the village hall entrance, to proceed as far as Harvey Way. It was pointed out that this scheme was thirty years old and that it was a waste of time leaving this project in the Locally Determined Programme. Mr Walsh agreed to find out exactly what stage this project was now at.

    • Damage to roadside verges – Action SW/SS
      Both Councillors were requested to take up this issue with their respective Environmental Depts. It was further requested that, to raise awareness of the problem, more formal action be taken with heavy vehicle operators and drivers as well as the farming community.

    • Flooding of Anso Road (B1055) – Action SW
      from Shepherds Cottage to Anso Corner – caused by poor pipework

    • Road surface on Boytons Lane – Action SW
      very shiny and although scheduled for resurfacing needs to be prioritised to avoid further serious accidents

    Mrs Schneider would establish the current position of point a) above and advised that attendance at the Meeting of the Locally Determined Budget could well prove beneficial. Mr Thomas and Mrs Midgley would attend on behalf of the parish council. Mrs Schneider to provide full details. – Action AT/AM, SS

    Mr Walsh agreed to look into the above matters and report back. – Action SW

    Mrs Schneider reported that Peter Wilcock had taken over as Chair of the District and he has decided to support and encourage youth projects. Please bear in mind for any future projects.

16. REVIEW OF ANNUAL MEETING

    Miss Frost commented that the work of individual councillors should be presented in greater and more positive detail at future AGMs. There was general agreement on this point and it was also decided that the Council would alter the format of the meeting to avoid the reading of minutes and financial detail. It was agreed that this issue would be brought forward in November. – Action ALL

17. CORRESPONDENCE

    • Mrs Grimster
      letter of thanks for tremendous retirement reception.

    • John Whitehead
      letter of thanks for port presented on his retirement.

    • Sue Halstead
      requesting no disturbance of wild flowers along the edge of Borough and no cutting back of cover around the pond and over the stream due to nesting birds – all requests were taken on board during Clean Up day

    • UDC – Planning Workshop
      following discussion it was decided no one need attend.

    • Zurich Municipal, Health & Safety Seminar
      following discussion it was decided no one need attend.

    • UDC re Boytons Lane
      Miss Frost referenced UDC rather non-committal correspondence regarding resurfacing of this road

18. FINANCE

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

    B. D. Kitchen	Website setup	£150.00
    J Basham	Grass cutting May	£180.00
    J Basham	Grass cutting June	£180.00
    D Frost	May Newsletter postage	£3.60
    ECC	6 Definitive Maps	£12.00
    Receipts
    Donation re Newsletter	Current Account	£10.00

    The Audit Report to be completed and reviewed together with the accounts at the next meeting. – Action CD

19. PLANNING

    • Harvey House, Hempstead Hall – letter sent – no objections
    • Quail Cottage – conditional approval
    • Bulls Bridge Farm Cottage – conditional approval
    • The Russets – alleged breach of restrictions – planning office to investigate further

20. VILLAGE HALL

    Miss Frost asked that the driveway be cleared by the VHMC in anticipation of the Best Kept Village judging. – Action JS

21. STANSTED AIRPORT

    Mr Thomas reported the delay by BAA in the project planning for a proposed second runway at Stansted. The original 2011-12 target for construction of a new runway could not be met before 2013 at the earliest.

The dates of the next meetings are 14 June, 21 July and 18 August.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm.