Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday, 11 May 2005

in the Village Hall

after the Annual Parish Assembly

Present were:

Mr Clark, Mrs Kesterton, Mrs Oliveira, Mr Perry, Mr Rixson & Mrs Clark (Clerk)

In Attendance:

Cllr Mrs Cecile Down.

1. Apologies for Absence

   There were no apologies for absence.

2. Election of Chairman for 2005-2006

   It was proposed by Mr Clark, seconded by Mrs Kesterton and approved unanimously that Mrs Oliviera be re-elected Chairman. Mrs Oliviera then signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

3. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 13th April, 2005 were agreed and signed.

4. Matters Arising

   1. Cranham Road Potholes

      A letter had been received from Uttlesford District Council apologising for not replying to our earlier letter and confirming that an inspection had taken place and tenders being sought for the remedial work.

   2. Town & Parish Council Meeting with Uttlesford District Council 4th May

      No-one had been able to attend this meeting.

   3. Hedge & Grass Cutting

      Mr Freeman had quoted £195. The Clerk had accepted this quote and paid half of the money (£97.50) to Mr Freeman.

   4. Bell Meadow

      It was reported that Bell Meadow had been sold to a family from Takeley. It was understood that they wanted to graze a horse on the land, and there was some suggestion that they might use the land for making, storing or selling garden paving tiles. It was agreed to keep an eye on developments there and alert the Planning Authority if any unauthorised activity was started. Mrs Oliveira agreed to speak to a concerned neighbour to tell her what action the Parish Council was taking.

5. Footpaths

   In the absence of Mrs Burton there was no footpaths report.

6. Stansted Airport

   1. Visit to Control Tower

      The Clerk had again been in correspondence with BAA, who had suggested a day-time visit on 25th May. Nobody was able to visit on that day. The Clerk was asked to contact Miss Collinson and Mrs Burton to see if they would be interested.

   2. Takeley Challenge to H.O.S.S.

      There had been no further information from Takeley Parish Council.

   3. SSE Runway Ramble & Grand Fete 26th June, 2005

      The format for our display at the fete was further discussed. Mr Rixson agreed to take some more photographs. It would be decided exactly what sort of display we would mount at the June meeting. Help will be required to man the crockery-smashing stall during the afternoon.

7. Correspondence

   1. Change of Licence at Prince of Wales

      Notification had been received of an application for a transfer of the justices licence at the Prince of Wales.

   2. 60th Anniversary of the End of World War II

      An invitation had been received from the Vicar of Dunmow to attend a church service on Sunday 10th July to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II. Mr and Mrs Clark agreed to attend. (It was subsequently found that neither could attend.)

   3. Uttlesford District Council Chairman's Arrivederci Lunch 17th May

      An invitation had been received from the retiring Chairman of Uttlesford District Council to a farewell lunch. Nobody was available to attend.

   4. Uttlesford District Council Planning Department Workshop

      An invitation to attend a workshop in Saffron Walden on 7th June had been received. Mrs Oliveira and Mr Clark hoped to attend.

   5. A.G.M. of U.A.L.C.

      Notice of the AGM of the UALC on 23rd June had been received. Mrs Oliveira and Mr Clark hoped to attend.

   6. Stansted Airport Air Quality Seminar 20th May, 2005

      An invitation to this seminar had been received. Nobody was able to attend.

   7. U.A.L.C. Meeting 25th May, 2005

      Notice of the next meeting of U.A.L.C. at which the speaker was to be Inspector Paul Bartlett, Essex Police, had been received. Mrs Oliveira hoped to attend.

8. Finance

   1. Balances

      Balances as at 30th April, 2005 at Barclays Bank, Dunmow were reported as follows:

      Community Account (current)	£4,468.07
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£1,899.73
      	£6,367.80	*

      * (of which £1,000 is committed to the Village Hall, and £1,000 is in the Professional Services Account).

      The high balance in the Community Account is due to the precept, the VAT refund for 2004-2005 and the £1,000 from Essex County Council all arriving recently. The excess funds have since been transferred to the Business Reserve Account.

   2. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheques:

      E.A.L.C.	– annual subs	£119.09
      Council for Voluntary Service–Uttlesford	– annual subs	£10.00
      		£129.09

      A cheque for £97.50 (half-year's grass cutting) had been drawn between meetings.

   3. Appointment of Internal Auditor

      It was proposed by Mrs Kesterton, seconded by Mr Clark and agreed unanimously that Mr Peter Lloyd of Henham be appointed as our internal auditor.

   4. Audit Form 2004-2005

      The Statement of Assurance was unanimously agreed, proposed by Mrs Oliveira as Chairman, who then completed and signed it.

9. Planning

   1. Park & Ride at Pledgdon Barn

      Mr Clark had spoken to the enforcement officer since the last meeting. Uttlesford District Council's legal department had yet to serve the enforcement notice, as there had been some difficulty in ascertaining who owned the land. The occupants had failed to provide this information (which is a statutory requirement) and they were to be prosecuted for this. The enforcement officer and a colleague had been assaulted on a recent visit, and a criminal prosecution was pending on this. Cllr Down offered to raise this issue at the next planning committee, stressing the fact that villagers were getting increasingly disturbed by the apparent inability of Uttlesford to close this operation down.

   2. Other Applications

      1. Leswins, Chapel End

         renewal of outline permission for the erection of a dwelling

         Awaited

      2. Clovelly, Brick End

         outline permission for the erection of a replacement dwelling with all matters reserved except means of access

         Awaited

      3. Oakmead, Brick End

         permission for a linked extension to the ground floor

         Awaited

10. Election of Other Officers

    It was proposed by Mrs Kesterton, seconded by Mr Rixson and agreed unanimously that Mr Clark be re-elected as Vice Chairman. It was agreed to defer the election of other officers to the next meeting.

11. Any Other Business

    1. £1,000 Grant from Essex

       Essex County Council had granted £1,000 to each Town and Parish Council in the county, to spend as they wish. It was suggested that we ask the village, via the Five Parishes Magazine, what it would like the money spent on. Another suggestion was that the Parish Council award a number of small bursaries to young people in the village, upon receipt of an application detailing on what the money would be spent. It was agreed to make a decision at the next meeting.

    2. Cutting of Verges

       A question was raised as to Highways policy on cutting verges, now that they were very overgrown with cow parsley. It was pointed out that, to conserve wild flowers, Highways do not cut the verges until late summer. An exception is made for sight-lines at road junctions, which they will cut upon request.

12. Date of the Next Meeting

    The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 8th June in the Village Hall at 8.30 p.m. (NOTE SLIGHTLY LATER TIME).

    Cllr Down was thanked for her attendance and the meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.