Parish Council Minutes 9th October 2007

• Mr S McCarthy
• Miss D Frost
• Mr D Haylock
• Mr J Sladen
• Mr A Thomas
• Mr A Weedon
• Parish Clerk

• Cllr Simon Walsh, County Councillor
• Cllr Sue Schneider, District Councillor

94. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2007

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

95. MATTERS ARISING

    from previous Minutes, not dealt with in the main agenda.

    • Reports from Councillors
      when sending their apologies, both Cllr Walsh and Cllr Schneider sent reports, which the Clerk read to the meeting. Cllr Walsh reported that the West Area Highways Office has a new area manager, David Forkin. The clerk was asked to invite him to a meeting so the footway can be put firmly on his agenda. The Clerk was also asked to contact Cllr Walsh to impress on him the impact of the expansion at Stansted Airport is relevant to Hempstead’s footway scheme.– Action CD
    • Drinking Fountain
      Mr Haylock had met with Corrie Newells, who was very impressed with the pump. She will prepare a report of her recommendations, despite the fact that she is outside of her geographical area. Mr Haylock will follow this up.– Action DH
    • Essex Association of Local Councils
      Mr Weedon had attended the AGM on 19 September and reported on some alterations to the constitution and that the affiliation fee would increase by 2% in April 2008.

96. CORRESPONDENCE

    ECC	Youth Opportunity Fund/Youth Capital Fund
    EALC	email re Post Office closures
    UDC	Review of Licensing Act 2003 – JS to review– Action JS
    Volunteer Centre	High Sheriff Essex Volunteer Centre Award
    UDC	email re electronic submission of Planning information in future (Mr Haylock asked for copies of the weekly lists to be forwarded)– Action CD
    EALC	Revised guidance re Model Code of Conduct – following discussion future meetings will start at 8pm with a 15 minute public participation session and the agenda will be posted on the website when distributed to councillors
    Council for Voluntary Service Uttlesford	legislation changes re voluntary car schemes – discussion concluded that Hempstead does not currently operate any voluntary car schemes

97. MEETING REPORTS

    • North Area Panel – 18 October
      Mr McCarthy to attend– Action SM
    • Parish Liaison Meeting – 26 September
      Mr Sladen reported that currently these meetings would be concerned purely with planning matters. John Mitchell, Director of Development UDC presented an “Introduction to Town Planning” – copy of presentation emailed to all.
    • West Essex Area Forum – 19 September
      Miss Frost had been unable to attend.

98. CO-OPTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR

    An enquiry had been made following the article in the October newsletter – Mr McCarthy to follow up.– Action SM

99. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

    Mr Weedon was trying to get the posts and railings around the War Memorial repaired.– Action AW

100. FINANCE

     The Clerk would be providing the internal auditor with the records for the six monthly internal audit to be carried out.– Action CD

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

     J Basham	September grass cutting	£180.00
     C Dittrich	Clerk’s expenses	£20.00

101. HIGHWAYS

     Footway A meeting with Cllr Hume and Cllr Walsh had been arranged for 8 November.– Action SM

     Kerbing at Ring of Trees Mr Haylock will be speaking to Mike Felgate (ECC) imminently.– Action DH

     Speed limit extensions on going.

     VASI Signs Mr Thomas was still trying to contact Chris Stoneham regarding the purchase of a second sign by the Parish Council.– Action AT

     Access to Harvey Way on going.

     Mr Thomas was asked to speak to Chris Stoneham about the slipways on Anso Road that need to be replaced following the resurfacing of the road when they were knocked out. Concern around road flooding if this is not carried out.– Action AT

102. ENGAGING OUR YOUTH

     carried forward.

103. P3/FOOTPATHS

     Miss Frost reported that despite reminders she had received no response from Robin Wallbank, ECC regarding her letter of 14 September, requesting if Hempstead could withdraw from the County’s path cutting programme and operate the programme from the Parish Council instead. The Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Walsh for his assistance in eliciting a reply.– Action CD

     Miss Frost is preparing the submission to P3 for payment and is awaiting further invoices, upon receipt the submission will be despatched.– Action DF

104. COMMUNICATIONS

     Website new photos and updates have now been included
     Newsletter deadline 20 October.

105. EMERGENCY PLAN

     High Street Flooding Mr Sladen had attended the Flood Fair and Continuity of Business Promotion. Phil Hunt, District Engineer had further reviewed the B1054 and had suggested two further drains to assist in removing water from the road as it travelled down the hill.

     Mr Sladen reported on the progress by the residents of the work being carried out and will continue to monitor the situation. Miss Frost and Nigel Smith had checked the pipe under the car park and found it to be completely clear.

     Following heavy rains on 1 October a blocked sewer had caused sewerage to back up and flooded a house on B1054. This was being dealt with by the water board.

106. PLANNING

     Miss Frost reported on the CPRE‘s “Planning Disaster Campaign” and it was decided that Mr Haylock would draft a letter to Sir Alan Haselhurst MP lodging the Council’s concerns.– Action DH/CD

107. VILLAGE HALL

     Mr Sladen reported that the management committee had had a good financial year and overall in the past two years had accumulated a surplus of £1,900. The next project is anticipated to be the completion of the hearing loop now that the acoustics in the hall had been improved.

108. STANSTED AIRPORT

     nothing to report

The dates of the next meetings are 6 November (revised date) and 13 December 2007

The meeting closed at 9.50pm.