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

Parish Council Minutes 9th January 2008

9th January 2008

CONFIRMED MINUTES OF A PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
THURSDAY 9 JANUARY 2008
The Council met in the Village Hall on Wednesday 9 January 2008 at 8pm

Present:

Also Present

Apologies


Public Consultation – no members of the public attended

Before the meeting opened, David Forkin, West Area Highways Manager, Essex County Council, addressed the meeting on current highways issues. Mr McCarthy briefly went over the history of the footway and his site meeting with Cllr Hume on 8 November. Mr Forkin agreed to contact Cllr Hume to establish if he had progressed funding routes. Mr McCarthy reiterated the need to have commitment from ECC. Mr Forkin discussed Community Speed Watch currently being promoted by Essex Police to help reduce speeding.

Mr Forkin listened to the concerns regarding last year’s disastrous cutting programme and confirmed that the possibility of delegating some of this work has not been ruled out. Miss Frost verified that Hempstead would be interested in being involved in a possible pilot scheme. Mr Thomas complained about the lack of gritting in the past. Mr Forkin was sympathetic and asked that any problems in the future be brought to his attention as soon as possible to assist in establishing where the problems lay. Mr Forkin finished by praising the dedicated officers in his department who deal with the Uttlesford area. He then left the meeting.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 9pm.

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 13 DECEMBER 2007

    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.

    • Drinking Fountain
      Despite being told that Corrie Newells would be returning to work in January Mr Haylock had been unable to speak to her. He had, however, left a message for her and for David Andrews asking for prompt action in the very near future.– Action DH
    • Sir Alan Haselhurst MP had replied to Mr Haylock’s letter of concern regarding the Government’s Planning White Paper, sending a letter from Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – this reply will be circulated.
    • Mr McCarthy reported that due to personal circumstances it was possible that a new Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator may be required.
  3. CORRESPONDENCE

    Essex County Council Information re Essex Festival – Miss Frost had replied from the Hempstead and District Gardeners Club
    Essex County Council 2008 timetable for mobile library – Clerk already put on noticeboard and sent to Miss Frost for inclusion in Newsletter– Action CD/DF
    Essex County Council email with link for The Essex School Organisation Plan 2007-12 – Ms Phillips to review– Action SP
    Essex County Council Youth Opportunity Fund information – Ms Phillips to review– Action SP
  4. MEETING REPORTS

    • North Area Panel
      8 January 2008 – attended by Mr McCarthy, who summarised the various presentations, which included Local Development Framework, Affordable Housing and Eco Homes.
    • Parish Liaison Meeting
      Mr Sladen had drafted a reply following the consultation on the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework. The Clerk had subsequently sent this to UDC. It was understood that UDC’s preference was Option 4
    • West Essex Area Forum
      no meeting since last report
  5. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

    The Clerk was asked to contact Mr Weedon immediately on his return home to ensure that the written quote for the work approved at the last meeting had been obtained and to ascertain the start date for the works. (Post meeting note: Mr Weedon had met Mr Borders on site, confirmed works needed and requested written quotation. Mr Borders anticipated that work would commence the week ending 25 January.) – Action CD/AW

  6. FINANCE

    Following review of the half yearly internal audit report, it was agreed that the Clerk should implement the suggestions made. An electronic version of the standard Standing Orders had been ordered from EALC, which on receipt would be distributed to all for review.– Action CD

    There were no accounts presented for payment.

  7. HIGHWAYS

    Footway The Clerk had chased Cllr Walsh with no reply to date. Mr Forking appeared very sympathetic to this project.

    VASI Signs Chris Stoneham confirmed the second sign was due to be installed by the end of January.

    Speed limit extensions Mr Stoneham had written to confirm advertising of the intention to extend the 30-mph speed limit during January allowing a 21-day comment period. Subject to any objections, it is hoped that this proposal can be implemented before the end of the financial year. Mr Stoneham is liaising with a colleague at County Hall who is dealing with the assessment process that the County is going to carry out for its speed limit’s on A and B class roads to establish feasibility of 40-mph speed limit request for outer Hempstead.

    Access to Harvey Way on going

    Replacement of slipways on Anso Road on going

    Railings at Church Farm Duck Pond correspondence received from ECC stating that the conservation team, to ensure that the best solution is put in place, would review the problem. (Mr Forkin confirmed this.)

    Road works on B1054 these had been delayed and were now due to start on 28 January. Correspondence had been received stating that Anglia Water had been asked to erect temporary 40mph notices along Anso Road.

  8. PLANS & OBJECTIVES

    carried forward

  9. ENGAGING OUR YOUTH

    nothing to report

  10. P3/FOOTPATHS

    Mr Forkin’s comments regarding the cutting programme were noted.

    Realignment of PRoWs Miss Frost expressed concern at the slow (and distant) progress of the realignment programme, particularly in view of UDC’s impending review of PRoWs. Mr Haylock will contact Maggie Cox to establish exact position and possible end date and correlation of this realignment package with the UDC review. Mr Haylock will provide full update at next meeting.– Action DH

  11. COMMUNICATIONS

    Website/Newsletter next newsletter deadline 25 January. Full website review taking place – the music appears to suspend some users’ computers.

  12. EMERGENCY PLAN

    High Street Flooding Mr Sladen reported that some work had been carried out at The Old Post Office Cottage with other items imminent. Mr Sladen continues to monitor the situation.– Action JS

  13. PLANNING

    Nothing to report

  14. VILLAGE HALL

    Nothing to report

  15. STANSTED AIRPORT

    Nothing to report

The dates of the next meetings are 7 February, 6 March and 2 April 2008.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm.