Parish Council Minutes 22nd March 2012

• Mr S McCarthy (Chairman)
• Mr David Haylock
• Miss D Frost
• Mr David Drane
• Mr J Sladen
• Mr A Weedon
• Mrs Sara Scott
• The Clerk

• District Councillor Simon Howells

Apologies:

• County Councillor Simon Walsh

Prior to the meeting proper District Councillor Simon Howell addressed the meeting and reported that the district budget had been achieved by taking £2 million out of overheads, with further savings of £1 million to be achieved in the future. Increases in parking charges will also contribute to maintaining the Council Tax at the same level as last year.

A further new house bonus of £666 will be available to the Parish Council ideally to be used for a community project in the parish. In addition funding up to £4000 is available from the Jubilee Fund for Voluntary and Community organisations. 98% of the council funds in Icelandic banks had been or would soon be recovered.

He again promised to pursue the footway issue in light of the correspondence received from County Councillor Walsh and would add what support he could.

Miss Frost queried the money spent on the Open Spaces Survey as it was uncertain of their origin, funding or purpose.

The meeting began at 8.18pm

137. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 9 FEBRUARY 2012

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

138. MATTERS ARISING

     None not covered elsewhere.

139. CORRESPONDENCE

     Best Kept Village
     entry forms had been received and Mr Weedon agreed to submit them. Mr Haylock asked him to include details of the planned owl box in the churchyard.

     Councillor Walsh
     sent a report including his fruitless correspondence with Councillor Chapman regarding the footway project. He also updated the council on Essex County Council matters.

     Mr Sladen
     had submitted a letter to the Local Development Framework consultation after a meeting of the sub-committee set up to discuss it. Comments had been very much in line with those expressed at the last council meeting.

140. MEETING REPORTS

     Mr McCarthy and Mr Sladen had attended the Parish Forum. The main topic was the responses to the local Development Framework. The Planning Department did not seem to have learnt anything from the consultation that they had not anticipated.

141. QUEEN’S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

     Preparations were progressing well with bookings for performers being finalised. The Beetle Drive had raised £63 and the Quiz was sold out. The clerk had sent a cheque for the agreed sum to David Boreham.

142. ENVIRONMENT

     Village Green
     The Clerk continues to be in correspondence with Essex Legal Services to re-register the village green.

     Village Clean-up day
     is planned for Saturday May 19th

     Unknown Pollutant
     A local resident of the Almshouses has contacted the Chairman to say that on two occasions her car and washing had suffered from a brown material that looked as is it had been sprayed. The Chairman contacted Stansted Airport who could not throw any light on the matter.

143. POLICING

     Several councillors met with Inspector Mick Couldridge on 13 March. He is in charge of neighbourhood policing. He outlined the new arrangements for policing and contacts. Councillors asked for more visible policing such as PCSOs actually getting out of their cars and more regular speed checks. It was agreed to send WPC Hannah Griffiths the dates for the next three meetings plus agendas and minutes.

     When the dates were requested for the mobile police station visits, an email was received to say that this service was discontinuing. As the service was little used it was acknowledged that this may not be so great a loss and the money saved could be used more effectively elsewhere. (Action Point: The clerk to write saying that we acknowledge the problems re mobile police stations and to contact WPC Hannah Griffiths)

144. FINANCE

     The Clerk confirmed that the Parish Precept had been set at the same amount as last year ie. £7800 per annum.

     It was confirmed that cheques had been signed outside meetings on 2 March for accounts previously agreed as follows:-

     Uttelsford District Council: Election Expenses £105.06
     Mr Nigel Smith (Gutter Press) £242 Newsletter Expenses
     HMRC £144.6 Balance of PAYE

     A letter had been sent to Barclays on 28 February authorising transfer of the amount of £918 for legal fees to the Village Hall Committee plus deductions from the last quarter’s salary payment to the clerk regarding PAYE and setting up a new standing order for the Clerk’s remuneration with PAYE deducted. Unfortunately Barclays Bank seem to have mislaid the letter. (Action Point: Clerk to urgently re-send letter by recorded delivery.)

     A cheque had been sent to the Jubilee Committee (HADS account 2) for £833. This was made up of £500 from Parish Council reserves as agreed Minute No.114 12 January 2012 and £333 that had been received from the Uttlesford new homes bonus via Councillor Simon Howell. (The latter had been received via Councillor Howells)

145. HIGHWAYS

     Footway
     In view of the lack of communication from Councillor Chapman or any positive response from the County it was decided to write more directly and send copies to all County Councillors. (Action Point: Chairman to draft correspondence)

     Potholes
     Mr Drane continues to pursue this and other Highways issues.

146. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

     Miss Frost was passing the estimate for cutting the overgrown sections of footpath 41 to the appropriate landowners. Mr Haylock would finalise his cutting arrangements with ECC.

147. MAINTENANCE

     It was agreed that Mr Basham would continue the grass cutting on the same terms as last year.

148. COMMUNICATIONS

     The new village Hall content on the village website was noted and deemed to be a welcome addition.

149. PLANNING

     Spitlands
     It was noted that a tall Pagoda-type structure had been erected in the garden, visible from the road. It was considered that this would count as a garden ornament and the footprint being small would not contravene any planning issues.

     Turpins Cottage
     It was noted that this property is up for sale and the issue of the ownership of an adjoining piece of ground was raised. This would be clarified if possible for the next meeting.

150. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

     The date confirmed as Friday 18th May. A draft report prepared by the Clerk was circulated. (Action Point: Mr McCarthy to edit the draft report ready for copying and distribution by 18th April)

Future meeting dates – Thursdays 19 April, 17 May and 14th June all at 8pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.40pm