Parish Council Minutes 28th June 2018

• Mr Sean McCarthy (Chairman)
• Mr David Drane
• Mr Mark Welbourn
• Mr John Sladen
• Mrs Sara Scott
• Mrs Nicola McNeill
• Mr Alan Weedon
• The Clerk

Members of the Public:

The meeting started at 9.15pm

12. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    Were received from District Councillor Howell and County Councillor Walsh.

13. REPORTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

    County Councillor Walsh had submitted a report.

14. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD May 31 2018

    Were agreed as a correct record and duly signed.

15. MATTERS ARISING

    not covered elsewhere.

    Alan Weedon had collated some WW1 information and contacted Tricia to hopefully set up a meeting. The Chairman thanked him.

16. PLANNING

    Fairview – The council discussed the retrospective application from Fairview for the construction of a barn for leisure, storage etc. The Council considered it wholly inappropriate and agreed that the Clerk should pass the following comment to Uttlesford Planning Department.

    ‘Hempstead Parish Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards retrospective applications which flagrantly flout due process. This building was constructed illegally without permission, in front of the building line in a very prominent position. It seems much too large for the purported purposes and seems to be more like a house in the making, particularly as the property has an existing barn structure which could be used for some of these purposes. In our view the building should be demolished if it does not comply with the Local Plan and policies.’

    Dimmings – This planning application for an extension was considered unproblematic and no comments would be passed on.

17. ENVIRONMENT

    Sign and War Memorial Paving quote – The Clerk presented a quote from Mick Simmons to do the Sign top for £40 and pressure wash and re-grout the War Memorial Paving for £460. This was approved by the Council.

    Footpath Cutting – had been raised by several residents. The grass growth had been particularly prolific this year in the Spring and the County Council only undertakes to cut them once a year. No replies had been received to our enquiries as to when this might happen.

    Cats Eyes – These were no longer being replaced as a matter of policy.

    Flooding – Jetting had been carried out on the day of the meeting and the previous day but Mr Sladen was finding it difficult to get accurate information on progress.

18. The next three items: The End of Year statements for Finance and Governance and the Internal Auditor’s Report could not be discussed as the latter had not yet been received because the information was very late getting to him.

19. FINANCE

    Payments for Authorisation – CPRE Subscription £36, Mick Simmons for work on the bottom of the Village Sign £220. Both had been previously approved and were on the website for authorisation.

    Some invoices previously approved and paid were countersigned by the Chairman.

20. CORRESPONDENCE

    The latest draft of the Local Plan had been received

FUTURE MEETINGS – Thursdays July 26th, 6th September and 4th October all at 8pm in the village hall. No meeting was planned for August.

The meeting ended at 9.35 pm