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

Parish Council Minutes 5th January 2006

5th January 2006

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY 5 JANUARY 2006
The Council met in the Village Hall on Thursday 5 January 2006 at 8.15pm

Present:

Apologies:

  • There were none
Also present:
 
  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 7 DECEMBER 2005

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

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    from previous Minutes, not dealt with in the main agenda

    • Path at Pond
      Bartram Services Ltd had completed the work on the path at the pond and it looks super. Miss Frost was thanked for arranging the contract. To date an invoice has not been received.

    • Ring of Trees
      Ben Smeedon from Uttlesford District Council would be examining the Ring of Trees and reporting back to Mr Haylock within the next few days. However, permission to pollard the small willows had been given.– Action DH

      It was AGREED to purchase the chain at a cost of £5/metre and Mr Haylock would pursue obtaining suitable posts once he had done this.– Action DH

      Damage to the perimeter of the Ring of Trees was getting very bad due primarily to bad parking. It was AGREED that the clerk would write to Mr Felgate (Essex County Council (ECC)) to request kerbing to match existing to protect this ancient monument.– Action CD

    • Footpaths
      Mr Haylock had discussed with the relevant landowners the objections raised and the costings of pursuing the footpath changes. It was AGREED a sub-committee meeting was needed within 14 days followed within a week by a meeting with the landowners to finalise where interest lay and how the path changes would be packaged for maximum effect.– Action DH
      Mr Haylock would provide the clerk with information regarding the grant offered so that an extension could be requested due to the protracted nature of negotiations.– Action DH/CD

      The clerk was asked to request the Highways Department to repair the two-plank bridge on Footpath 46 and to cut back the extensively overgrown hedge along Footpath 18.– Action CD

  3. PARISH REVIEW

    Miss Frost had incorporated the village statistics into the base document and the clerk now held an electronic copy for future reference. A copy to be emailed to all for reference.– Action CD

    Miss Frost had written a single page introduction for the Newcomers Pack and put it together with the telephone number listing. Discussion ensued regarding the wording of one paragraph and it was agreed that the clerk would email the document to all for review and revision. Mr Haylock asked that Team Flitwick be incorporated in the list of phone numbers as they support the annual horse show – this was agreed.– Action CD/ALL

    The first draft of the Annual Report to be reviewed at the February meeting.– Action CD

  4. CORRESPONDENCE

    Uttlesford District Council (UDC) were holding a North Area Panel meeting on 10 January 2006 – Mr McCarthy will attend.– Action SM

    UDC had written requesting information on community facilities – Miss Frost will reply.– Action DF

    Uttlesford Association of Local Councils are holding a meeting on 16 February entitled “Uttlesford Highways”, with guest speaker Paul Hardy – Mr Thomas will attend and possibly Mr Weedon.– Action AT/AW

    Miss Frost provided a print of information for the UDC website regarding the changes in the law relating to the purchase of council houses – this would be circulated.

  5. WEBSITE/NEWSLETTER

    Miss Frost reported that a lot of information had recently been included/updated on the website and drew attention to the seasonal additions to the home page and the items regarding refuse collection. The lady who had contacted the website regarding the location of a family member’s grave was very grateful for Mr Weedon’s work in this regard. A further contact had been made by a web-viewer from Hempstead, Texas who found the site very interesting. It was felt that the site could be enhanced by the addition of a number of photographs. Mr McCarthy complimented all involved in the development of the site within the last year.

  6. FINANCE

    The following receipts had been banked:

    EDF Energy Networks plc Wayleave for 2006 £26.31
    RCCE Grant £337.00

    Miss Frost requested an update of the expenses incurred on the website so a project update could be submitted to the RCCE as requested.– Action CD/DF

  7. PLANNING

    UTT/1924/05/FUL – Highways Verge High Street Hempstead CB10 2PE (Installation of 8m mock telegraph pole with ground based equipment cabinet by Orange PCS Ltd) – under designated powers, the Chief Planning Officer at UDC has refused this application by virtue that the location and form of equipment was considered to be harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area contrary to policies that seek to enhance the countryside.

  8. HIGHWAYS/ROAD SAFETY

    Sonia Church (Traffic Engineer at ECC Highways and Transportation) has suggested a site meeting to review the positioning of both a “Beware of Wildlife” sign and the mobile speed-monitoring device. Mr McCarthy agreed to attend this meeting – the clerk will arrange.– Action CD/SM

    Mrs Midgley reported the demise of the Saffron Walden Road Safety Committee.

  9. VILLAGE HALL

    Mr Sladen confirmed submission of the annual accounts to the Charity Commission.

  10. STANSTED AIRPORT

    Mr McCarthy advised on a public meeting to be held at the Rhodes Centre in Bishops Stortford on 12 January with the main speakers being Mark Prisk MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst MP and Peter Sanders, Chair of Stop Stansted Expansion.

    The dates of the next meetings are 9 February, 9 March and 6 April 2006.

    The meeting closed at 9.45pm.