Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday 11 April 2007

in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present were:

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

In attendance:

Cllr Mrs Down.

1. Apologies for Absence

   Mr Rixson.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 14th March 2007 were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

   1. Noticeboards

      These had not yet been erected. Mr Clark was arranging a working party for the following Saturday.

4. Village Hall

   The accounts and books had been handed over by the previous treasurer of the hall. The Clerk had written to the bank advising it of the new arrangements.

   The Clerk was given authority to purchase various items of cleaning materials for the hall.

   The details of the public meeting to be held on 16th May were discussed. It was hoped that a new management committee could be formed, together with a list of people interested in cleaning and maintaining the hall.

   The hall had secured a £500 grant from Stansted Airport Community Trust towards the purchase of some new tables. It was agreed to purchase five tables.

   It was agreed to defer a decision on whether to run a bookstall at the Countess of Warwick's Country Show in August until the 16th May meeting.

   At 31st March the Village Hall account stood at £395.95. Since that time approximately £100 had been received (from hirings and the electricity meters) and the £500 from the SACT.

5. Brick End Bus Shelter

   The insurers had settled the claim in the amount of £3,425.50, slightly short of the total expense. It was agreed to pay George Turner in full, and to absorb the difference, which was the cost of adding two windows to the shelter.

6. Stansted Airport

   1. Public Inquiry in respect of Generation 1 Planning Application

      The Council had been allocated a slot on 14th September to make its case to the Inquiry

   2. ERM Health Impact Assessment

      Mr Perry had attended this meeting. No new information had been forthcoming.

   3. Road and Rail Consultation

      Some members had attended the various road shows being held locally. It was agreed to formulate the Council's response at the May meeting.

   4. Noise Seminar 23rd March, 2007

      Mr Perry had attended this seminar, which he had found to be very technical. There were plans to monitor the approach of aircraft much further out, so that their speed could be reduced to enable a direct approach and avoid the need for stacking.

7. Footpaths

   As promised, the County Council had placed temporary closure notices on two local byways, pending some remedial work.

8. Correspondence

   1. Ditch in Chapel End

      A letter had been received from a resident complaining about the state of the ditch that runs from Ivy Cottages in Chapel End towards the cricket field. This had been reported to the Environmental Health Department at Uttlesford District Council for action. Mr Perry reported that the matter had been previously raised with it.

   2. Molehill Green Cricket Club

      A letter had been received from the cricket club requesting financial assistance as a flood had badly damaged their grass mowers. Mr Clark declared an interest in the matter and refrained from the discussion. It was agreed to grant the club £200 immediately, and to advise it to re-apply if further funds were required.

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

   1. Verification of Cashbook

      Mrs Oliveira performed the verification.

   2. Balances

      Balances as at 31st March, 2007 at Barclays Bank, Dunmow were reported as follows:

      Community Account (current)	£1,009.58
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£1,596.16
      	£2,605.74

   3. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheques:

      Volunteer Centre – Uttlesford (formerly Uttlesford Volunteer Bureau)	Annual Subscription	£5.00
      George Turner	Rebuilding bus shelter	£3,551.00
      Molehill Green Cricket Club	Grant	£200.00

   4. Annual Review of Clerk's Salary

      After much discussion it was agreed to defer a decision on the Clerk's salary and expenses pending publication of the national review, and an assessment of how much extra work being the Sole Trustee of the village hall would entail.

   5. Presentation of Accounts 2006-2007

      The Clerk presented the accounts for 2006-2007.

   6. Insurance

      Mr Clark had reviewed the insurance renewal notice that had been received. It was agreed to increase the sum insured on the bus shelters to £4,000 each, and to add the new notice boards to the schedule.

10. Planning

    The current situation on planning applications is:

    1. Tudor Cottage, Brick End

       Single storey extension and internal alterations

       Awaited

    2. The Hollies, Broxted Hill

       2 storey rear extension and single storey side extension

       Awaited

    3. Crabscrote

       Change of use from residential dwelling to dwelling of multiple occupation with resident landlord

       Awaited

    4. 1 The Maltings

       Two storey/single rear extension and front porch – amendment to previously granted permission

       Awaited

11. Any Other Business

    1. The Funding Game

       Mrs Kesterton reported on the seminar she had attended in March. It seemed that there was money available for various projects – it just needed applying for.

    2. Peace Oak

       Mrs Oliveira reported that the peace oak planted opposite Broxted Hall was in need of some attention. It was agreed that this was not the best time of the year to prune it, but that some action was urgently required.

    3. Elections – 3rd May, 2007

       As Miss Collinson was not standing for re-election, Mrs Oliveira thanked her for her contribution to the work of the Council over the past ten years.

12. Date of the Next Meeting

    It was confirmed that the Annual Parish Assembly and the Annual Meeting of the Council would be held on Wednesday, 9th May, 2007 in the village hall at 8.00 p.m.

The meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.