Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday, 8 December 2004

in the Village Hall

Present were:

Mrs Burton, Mr Clark, Miss Collinson, Mrs Kesterton, Mrs Oliveira, Mr Perry, Mr Rixson and Mrs Clark (Clerk).

In Attendance:

Cllr Mrs Down.

1. Apologies for Absence

   These had been received from P.C. Niki O'Mahony.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 10th November, 2004 were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

   1. Parish & Town Charter

      There had been no reply from Uttlesford.

   2. UDC/Parish Council Liaison Meeting 16th November

      This had been attended by Mr Clark who reported on a poorly attended meeting that had been addressed by the Uttlesford Anti Social Behaviour Officer and members of the Planning Department.

   3. CPRE

      Membership forms had now been received.

   4. East of England Plan

      This had recently been endorsed and was, from 8th December, out for consultation. Once the documentation had been received it would be circulated for further discussion at the next meeting. Mr Rixson circulated some information that he had downloaded. As previously advised, an additional 2,700 new houses were designated for Uttlesford, who would be consulting with parishes on preferred sites. The plan had come out against an additional runway at Stansted but backed maximum use of the existing runway. It was noted that when maximum use of the existing runway was first discussed this was considered to be in the region of 25 mppa, with larger aircraft and better air traffic control this figure had increased to 35-40 mppa. Further housing development was proposed in the area of the north-western bypass to Bishop's Stortford, and there were proposals to improve transport links.

   5. Grit Bin – The Maltings

      This was now in place and it had been arranged that the level of grit/salt would be monitored by a resident.

4. Footpaths

   It was noted that the footpath in the area of the electric fence in Pledgdon Green was now useable.

5. Stansted Airport

   1. Visit to Track Monitoring Unit

      This had now been fixed for 26th January at 7.00 p.m. for up to six people. Names would be taken at the next meeting.

   2. Takeley Meeting to discuss HOSS

      This had been a good, well organised and well attended meeting with excellent speakers. The meeting had given Takeley Parish Council the mandate to go ahead with a legal challenge on the grounds that the scheme infringed the human right to enjoy one's property, and that the scheme did not deal with ‘generalised’ blight as required by the White Paper. The Department for Transport were to be given two weeks from 15th November to respond, after which it was expected that permission to seek a judicial review of the scheme would be sought.

      A letter had been received from Takeley Parish Council inviting representatives to attend a meeting on 14th December to discuss the way forward. Mrs Oliveira and Mr Perry agreed to attend. It was unanimously agreed in principle to assist with any legal challenge mounted by Takeley parish Council, proposed by Mr Perry, seconded by Mr Rixson.

6. Correspondence

   1. Green Waste

      A letter had been received from the Uttlesford Recycling Officer advising that Broxted would not be included in the Green Waste Collection Service in 2005 because of the poor usage in 2004. The Clerk was asked to advertise the alternative sites in the Five Parishes magazine in the spring.

   2. Village Civic Amenity Scheme

      A letter had been received from Uttlesford advising that the provision of three free rubbish skips under the Village Civic Amenity Scheme was being withdrawn throughout the district because of general misuse and abuse with regard to hazardous waste. All future skips would be staffed at a cost of £159 plus VAT for a day or £78.44 plus VAT for a half day. It was unanimously agreed, proposed by Mrs Burton, seconded by Miss Collinson that the Parish Council request a half-day weekend visit three times a year.

   3. Highways – Planned Parish Visit w/c 22nd November, 2004

      It was noted that this had taken place without any prior notice but that a number of tasks had been satisfactorily completed. The Clerk was asked to complete and return a questionnaire on the service, noting how pleased members were with the work carried out

7. Finance

   1. Balances

      Balances as at 30th November, 2004 at Barclays Bank, Dunmow were reported as follows:

      Community Account (current)	£438.70
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£4,874.20
      	£5,312.90

   2. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheque:

      CPRE – annual subscription

      £25

   3. Precept 2005-2006

      Since setting the precept and submitting the request to Uttlesford the matter of paying for the rubbish skips and possible financial contribution to Takeley Parish Council in its legal challenge to H.O.S.S. had arisen, neither of which had been budgeted for. The Clerk was asked to contact Uttlesford to see if the precept could be revised.

8. Planning Matters

   1. The current position on planning matters is as follows:

      1. Moor End Farm – change of use and conversion of cartshed to holiday/short term letting accommodation

         Approved

      2. Whitehall Hotel – erection of single storey and 2 storey extension to provide 17 hotel bedrooms

         Awaited

      3. Clovelly, Brick End – removal of condition relating to occupation by present owners and their immediate dependents only

         Awaited

      4. Goodacres, Church End – erection of single storey rear extension and alterations to roof with four dormer windows

         Awaited

   2. Alleged Breach of Planning Control – Activity Beyond Lawful Use

      It was noted that a park and ride scheme to the airport had recently started to operate out of Pledgdon Barn, Pledgdon Green, which had recently been granted a retrospective certificate of lawfulness for the storage of vehicles in the barn. The present operation included the storage of vehicles outside, which was illegal. Mr Clark had reported the matter to Uttlesford's Enforcement Officer who was in the process of investigating the activity.

   3. Bell Meadow

      A rumour had recently been circulating in Church End that Bell Meadow had been sold to travellers. Mrs Oliveira had spoken to the vendor who advised that no travellers had expressed an interest in the purchase. He advised that there had been a lot of interest in the land which was now going to be sold by sealed bid.

9. Any Other Business

   1. Archaeology in the Pipeline

      The Clerk reminded members of the above exhibition which was due to be staged in the church from 27th February to 2nd April.

10. Date of the Next Meeting

    The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 12th January, 2005 in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Cllr Mrs Down was thanked for her attendance and the meeting closed at 9.10 p.m.