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

Parish Council Minutes 19th September 2013

19th September 2013

MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2013
The Parish Council met in the Village Hall on 18th July at 8.00 pm.
Present:

 Part Time:

  • District Councillor Simon Howell

Apologies:

Prior to the Parish Council Meeting, Mr Howell briefed the council on a number of matters. He said the New Homes Grant should be transferred within 48 hours. He had received a complaint from a Hempstead resident concerning smell from the sewage works in Great Sampford. He had written to Anglian Water and it was agreed that the clerk would also write on behalf of the parish council.

He described a visit to the Bowater recycling facility and promised to send a link for those interested to view a video. The housing consultation is still to be finalised it is awaiting alteration to Stumps Cross junction to allow traffic from Cambridge to turn off. He urged patience on the pedestrian footway issue which is currently a major source of frustration for the council. He was pleased that the Harvey Way hedge had been trimmed to a satisfactory height.

The Chairman thanked him for his contribution and he left the meeting.

The Parish council meeting was opened at 8.40pm

  1. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

    held Thursday July 18 2013 were agreed as a correct record.

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    None

  3. PLANNING

    No comments on the Heat Pumps at Calthorpes had been sent to the District Council.

  4. CORRESPONDENCE

    The clerk informed the council of a letter received by the chairman from Mrs Slee containing a cheque for £100 which was the sum awarded to the village as a competition prize some years previously and had been found in her husband’s papers after his death. It was agreed to invite suggestions on how this should be spent. The clerk would bank the cheque and send thanks to Mrs Slee.

    Councillor Simon Walsh’s report was noted.

    The clerk informed the council of a number of other items of correspondence none of which was deemed to warrant discussion.

  5. HIGHWAYS

    Pedestrian Footway
    Councillors and members of the Road Safety committee who had attended the Highways Panel meeting on September 9 were dissatisfied with the lack of progress and non-committal response to their questions. It seemed as if the same ground was being covered yet again. An on-site meeting was being planned for October.

    Brookside Cottage
    The owner had complained because a lorry had damaged her hedge. Mr Drane had been in communication with her. There is little else as a Parish Council that is possible at this stage. The Community Speedwatch operates in this area to try to increase safe road conditions.

    Mr David Drane
    continued to be frustrated by the lack of response to emails and repeated referrals on various highway issues but will continue to pursue them.

    Flooding on Long Corner CottageThis was occurring because gardening detritus was not being cleared away sensibly.

  6. ENVIRONMENT

    Autumn Clean-Up Day
    This was planned for the Saturday 5th October.

    Water Pump Area
    It was agreed to put this on the next agenda.

    Water LeaksOne leak at the side of the road at the bottom of Church Hill had been fixed but the other was still leaking. It could prove a significant skid hazard in icy weather. Mr Drane had sent several emails and suggested that as many others as possible also send emails. He would forward the contact details.

    Affordable HousingIt was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting along with objectives for the next year.

  7. POLICING

    The missing sign outside Maranacha had been located and police had visited to clear up the matter.

  8. FINANCE

    Precept
    The £4000 for the second half of the year had been received.

    New Salary Scales for Clerk
    The Council asked for more information and would discuss this at the next meeting.

    Cheques for payment were signed as follows:
    J Basham £300 grass cutting
    UALC membership £25
    R D Haylock and Sons £370.8 path cutting
    Suffolk Acre £475.17 Insurance including an additional £18.90 to cover gritting activities
    Stop Stansted Expansion Donation £15

    Cheques signed outside the meeting on 5th August were as follows:
    Sage Real Time Tax Program: £66 as agreed last meeting.
    RCCE Membership: £48.
    Unipar Speed Gun Calibration: £145.20.
    Harry Luff £60: expenses for aborted grass cutting. (Essex County Council agreed to pay this)
    J. Basham £300: Grass cutting.

  9. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

    There is still very poor communication with ECC over this issue. Mr McCarthy agreed to write to Simon Walsh.

    Mr Haylock reported that the Users Group concerned with usage of foot and bridle paths had re-started.

  10. COMMUNICATIONS

    Newsletter
    The next edition would be the first online version on October 1st and submissions would be needed by as many people as possible. The Village Diary would be in the form of an Excel spreadsheet.

    Website
    It was agreed that the clerk should write to Brian Kitchen, the website consultant, to thank him for all the hard work he had put in getting the new site looking so good.

  11. VILLAGE HALL

    Patio
    It was reported that the project had been agreed, was within budget and would be started soon.

    Village Hall Sign
    This had been knocked down by the library van and the county had accepted responsibility.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS – Thursdays November 14 and December 12 all at 8pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.35 pm