Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday 12th April, 2006

in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present were:

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

In Attendance:

Cllr C. Down

1. Apologies for Absence

   These had been received from Cllr S. Walsh.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd March, 2006 were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

   1. Speed limits – Woodgates

      There was still nothing to report from Cllr Walsh.

   2. Donation from the Millennium Fund of the Five Parishes

      Brochures for noticeboards had been circulated. After some discussion it was agreed to purchase two noticeboards from Harry Stebbing at an approximate price of £874 each. We would attempt to obtain a discount as we would be purchasing two items the same. It was agreed to write to the Millennium Committee advising them of our decision.

   3. Civic Amenity Scheme 2006

      We had been allocated two manned skips for 2006, at a cost of £80 plus VAT per visit. It had been arranged that they would be sited at the Village Hall on Sunday, 21st May from 12.30 – 4.00 p.m., and at Church End on Sunday, 15th October at the same times.

   4. Parish Liaison Meeting 7th March, 2006

      Mr Clark gave a short report on this meeting, which had featured the Saffron Walden Initiative, Licensing of Village and Town Halls, the Wheelie Bin Scheme, and the new arrangements for dealing with enquiries at the Council Offices.

   5. East Area Panel Meetings

      Mr Clark had written to Alasdair Bovaird to complain that Stansted Airport was not a standing agenda item at the Panel Meetings. He had copied Cllr Mark Gayler, Leader of the Council and Cllr David Gregory, Chairman of the East Area Panel.

4. Stansted Airport

   1. Photographs for Display at SSE Runway Ramble 10th June

      The Clerk had spoken to Stuart Walker, the organizer, who had confirmed that the Ramble would pass by the Village Hall, and that he had approved the idea of a photographic display there. The Clerk had also booked the hall for the day. Mr Rixson had spoken to Alfie Wright who had agreed to supply some of his photographs. A rota would be organised to man the hall on the day.

   2. BAA Noise Seminar 7th April

      Mr Perry had attended the seminar and reported on the meeting, which had been very technical. A representative of the Boeing Corporation was present, extolling the virtues of its new ‘quiet’ plane, and the chief pilot from easyJet was also present.

5. Correspondence

   1. Local Development Framework Workshop

      An invitation to attend one of three workshops had been received. Mrs Oliveira hoped to attend on 19th April, in Stansted, and Mr Clark on 22nd April in Saffron Walden.

   2. Local Development Framework – Supplementary Planning Document – Replacement Dwellings

      A questionnaire had been received from Uttlesford District Council seeking opinions on Replacement Dwellings. The questionnaire was completed.

   3. Wild Plants and the Village Green

      A circular had been received from Uttlesford District Council suggesting the planting of wild flowers on village greens. Although in favour of the idea in principle, the absence of a village green in Broxted precluded our pursuing the idea.

   4. U.A.L.C. A.G.M.

      Notice of the A.G.M. on 22nd June, 2006 at Thaxted Primary School had been received.

   5. Insurance Renewal

      The Renewal notice had been received from Allianz Cornhill.

      Mr Clark declared an interest in this matter (as an employee of the intermediary, Aon Ltd). He had reviewed the revised Policy and considered the sums insured adequate and the conditions appropriate.

      A new requirement of the Insurers was that Minimum Standards of Control be introduced with regard to the financial activities of the Council. It was unanimously agreed that Mr Rixson would perform the quarterly checks required.

      It was also unanimously agreed that the limit of indemnity for Fidelity Guarantee in respect of the Clerk was sufficient at £10,000, and that Fidelity Guarantee in respect of the Councillors was not required - both proposed Mrs Burton, seconded Mrs Oliveira.

6. Finance, including Presentation of Accounts 2005-2006, Signing of Cheques and Annual Review of the Clerk's Salary

   1. Balances

      Balances as at 31st March, 2006 at Barclays Bank, Dunmow were reported as follows:

      Community Account (current)	£938.04
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£3,983.11
      	£4,921.15	*

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

   2. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheques:

      E.A.L.C.	Annual subs	£124.92
      Uttlesford Volunteer Bureau	annual subs	£5.00
      Local Council Review	3 year subscription	£37.80
      U.A.L.C.	annual subs	£25.00
      Allianz Cornhill	Insurance renewal	£403.70	*

      * See 5(e) above.

   3. Presentation of Accounts 2005-2006

      The Clerk presented the accounts for the past year.

   4. Annual Review of the Clerk's Salary

      After some discussion it was unanimously agreed to increase the Clerk's salary by £40 to £1,256 per annum and her expenses by £16 to £777, proposed Miss Collinson, seconded Mrs Kesterton.

7. Planning

   1. Pledgdon Barn

      No reply had been received to the letter that the Council had written to the Chief Executive of Uttlesford District Council in January, other than an acknowledgement. A further letter had been written in March, and again no reply had been received. Cllr Down offered to speak to the Chief Executive to ask for a response to the questions we had raised.

   2. Other Applications

      The current situation on planning applications is:

      1. Church Hall Farm, Church End

         Conversion of the barn to eight bed & breakfast rooms

         Awaited

      2. Chaureth Cottage, Cherry Green

         Demolition of rear conservatory, construction of a new extension and internal alterations

         Conditional Approval

      3. Tudor Cottage, Brick End

         Revised plans for erection of a conservatory - and demolition of existing conservatory

         Awaited

      4. Wood Farm, Pledgdon Green

         Demolition and rebuilding of front porch, replacement windows and French doors and rear conservatory

         Listed Building consent granted

      5. Wood Farm, Pledgdon Green

         Refurbishment of outbuildings

         Awaited

8. Any Other Business

   1. The Local Channel

      Mr Rixson had reviewed an offer from a commercial organisation, the Local Channel, to supply links to other web-sites, but considered that our web-site was sufficiently indexed.

9. Date of the Next Meeting

   The next meeting would be the Annual Parish Assembly and it was confirmed that this would be on Wednesday 10th May, 2006 at 8.00 p.m. in the Village Hall, to be followed by the Annual Meeting of the Council.

Cllr Down was thanked for her attendance and the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.