Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday 12th July, 2006

in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present were:

Mr Clark, 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 Miss Collinson and Mrs Burton.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 14th June, 2006 were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

   1. Civic Amenity Scheme Sunday, 21st May, 12.30 – 4.00 p.m.

      A reply had been received from Uttlesford explaining that the skip had been filled at its previous location and the driver had tried to empty it but was unable to, so had returned to Saffron Walden to collect a new one. He claimed to have arrived at 1.00 pm and to have left at 4.15 pm. The Clerk had replied stating that she had witnessed the arrival at 1.30 pm and the departure at about 3.30 pm.

   2. East Area Panel Meetings

      Mrs Oliveira had not yet spoken to Cllr. Gregory, but would do so before the next meeting.

   3. UALC A.G.M 22nd June

      Mr Clark had attended this meeting, which had been addressed by Joy Shepherd from E.A.L.C. The meeting was poorly attended and Cllr John Hardisty had been re-elected as Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

   4. Parish Council Liaison Meeting – 11th July

      Mr Clark had attended this meeting which contained items on the Local Development Framework, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, and a report on the work of U.A.L.C. John Mitchell gave an update on the progress of the planning application to make better use of the existing runway at Stansted Airport. He suggested that the week-long session of public meetings had been very informative and that he himself had started to alter his view on the eventual outcome.

   5. Election of Other Officers

      The election held at the previous meeting was ratified.

   6. Footpath 39/40

      Clr Simon Walsh had been contacted about the problem, but had not yet responded. Mrs Oliveira would get the definitive maps from Mrs Burton and investigate for herself.

4. Stansted Airport

   1. Takeley Challenge to H.O.S.S.

      A cheque for £1,000 had been sent to Takeley Parish Council to help with its legal costs. This had been drawn from the Professional Services Account.

   2. Stansted Generation 1 Planning Application

      The Council's response to the application had been submitted.

      Mr Clark had attended the first day of the Public Session, which was for elected representatives, and had given a short presentation. He would circulate this to members. During the week more than 168 presentations had been made to the Development Committee.

   3. BAA Owned Housing

      The Clerk had not yet been able to find the contact at Strutt & Parker to complain about the maintenance of BAA-owned property.

5. Correspondence

   1. Rural Community Council of Essex

      A letter had been received requesting the annual subscription of £35.

   2. Invitation to Buckingham Palace Garden Party, July 2007

      An invitation to nominate someone to attend a Garden party had been received from EALC. It was agreed to nominate Dick Knowles, the former Council Chairman.

   3. Braintree & Uttlesford PCCG Extraordinary Public Meeting, 17th July

      An invitation to attend this meeting had been received. The main topic was to be National Police Force Restructuring, which had just been shelved by the Government.

6. Finance, including Signing of Cheques and Verification of Cashbook

   1. Balances

      Balances as at 30th June, 2006 at Barclays Bank, Dunmow were reported as follows:

      Community Account (current)	£1,380.07
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£6,507.59
      	£7,887.66	*

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

   2. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheque:

      Rural Community Council of Essex

      Annual Subscription

      £35.00

   3. Verification of Cashbook

      As there were no transactions in June verification was not required. (The cheque for Takeley P.C. had been drawn in early July.)

7. Planning

   1. Pledgdon Barn

      Another email had been received from the resident complaining about the activities at the scrap yard. Various members reported that they had passed down the lane on a number of occasions and had noticed no activity at the site. Mrs Oliveira would continue to monitor the situation.

   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. Woodcocks, Cherry Green

         Erection of a two storey side and single storey side extension

         Awaited

      3. 1 The Maltings

         2 storey rear extension, first floor side extension and open cartlodge

         Circulating

8. Any Other Business

   1. Care Homes – Molehill Green

      Mr Perry, as a resident of Chapel End, had received a letter from Herts Care apologising for the recent disturbances at two of the care homes. The responsible youths had since been removed, one permanently and the other temporarily.

   2. Footpaths

      Mr Clark reported an electric fence across a footpath at The Maltings, and a fallen sign on a footpath to Moor End. Mrs Oliveira will investigate.

   3. Village Hall

      Mrs Oliveira reported on the parlous state of the Village Hall finances. The annual insurance bill was around £1,000 and the committee had been hard pressed to find this amount. Members would consider what the Council might do to help. It would be discussed at the next meeting.

9. Date of the Next Meeting

   The Council will not meet in August. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20th September, 2006 in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m. This is one week later than usual.

Cllr Down was thanked for her attendance and the meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.