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

Parish Council Minutes 8th December 2010

8th December 2010

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER 2010
The Council met in the Village Hall on Wednesday 8 December 2010 at 8pm.

Present:

Also Present:

Apologies:

The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.05pm

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 10 NOVEMBER

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

  2. MATTERS ARISING

    111. Dog litter bin still to be erected – a location closer to the highway has been identified and work will progress when the weather improves. It was agreed that the clerk would contact Uttlesford to arrange emptying when the work is complete to arrange emptying. – Action DH/ML

    111. Mr Weedon has delivered old minute books etc to Essex Record Office desk at Saffron Walden Library

  3. CORRESPONDENCE

    A Charities and Social enterprises survey had been received and Miss Frost agreed to complete. – Action DF

    An exchange of correspondence had taken place with Zurich Insurance and it was hoped that the BT claim would now be settled.

    Mr Haylock agreed to supply photographs of the refurbished water fountain to be forwarded to Marisa Baltrock. – Action DH/ML

  4. MEETING REPORTS

    No meeting reports have been received

  5. ENVIRONMENT

    Village Green Issues
    Mr Haylock reported the transfer of land issue should be completed by Christmas. – Action DH

  6. FINANCE

    The following accounts were approved for payment and a cheques drawn up:

    B D Kitchen Website maintenance – Nov 2010 £80.00
    R D Haylock and Son Grass Cutting as per P3 schedule £1175.00

    Banking Update of the banking mandate was almost complete after a few hiccoughs. – Action ML

    Budget and Parish Precept – Two versions of the budget were discussed.

    Final decisions on cutting of footpaths await the outcome of the P3 grant application in March.
    It was agreed to remove the chairman’s allowance and the contingency as these could be covered by the amount budgeted for miscellaneous expenditure. £500 would be included for various jobs that the council organise for which it is becoming difficult to find volunteers.
    It was agreed that the Parish Precept would be set at £7800 the first increase for 6 years.
    It was also agreed to transfer the wayleave payment to the village hall.

  7. HIGHWAYS

    Footway
    Despite contacts with the Highways Department no progress seems to have been made. The Department is undergoing reorganisation and the prospects do not look good. Mr Drane reported that UDC had salt and grit supplies and had published information that been circulated.

    Community Speed Watch
    David Tupman had been contacted, he indicated that he needed a list of interested volunteers. Some names were suggested and it was agreed that the clerk would contact Claire Dittrich for further information. – Action ML

  8. FOOTPATHS

    Headland Management Scheme
    Mr Haylock would speak with Adam Jenkins on 9 December. – Action DH

    Footpath No.11
    (Mr Haylock and the Clerk declared Interests) The Chairman had spoken with Jean Coe of Saffron Walden Footpath Association and they agreed with the Parish council’s views.

    Hedge by Harvey Way
    This had been reported as needing attention. The Chairman agreed to attend to this matter – Action SM

    Railings above The Old Post Office
    These had been reported as being in need of repainting. It was agreed to look at this next year.

  9.  

  10. COMMUNICATIONS

    A need for new distributors of the Newsletter had been identified. It was hoped that volunteers could be found.

  11. EMERGENCY PLAN

    had been updated and circulated.

  12. PLANNING

    The Chairman agreed to take up the issue of the pond at Hempstead Hall, with the Enforcement Officer. – Action SM

  13. VILLAGE HALL

    No issues to report

    Future meeting dates – 8pm Thursdays, 6 January 2011, 3rd February, 17 March 2001 and 14th April.

    The meeting closed at 8.50pm.