Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on

Wednesday 14th June, 2006

in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present were:

Mr Clark, Mrs Burton, Mr Perry, Mr Rixson & Mrs Clark (Clerk).

1. Apologies for Absence

   These had been received from Miss Collinson, Mrs Kesterton, Mrs Oliveira and Cllr C. Down.

   In the absence of Mrs Oliveira the chair was taken by Mr Clark (Vice-Chairman).

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting held on 10th May, 2006 were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising

   1. Purchase of New Noticeboards

      The two notice boards had been ordered at a total cost of £1,896 plus VAT. Delivery would be in four to five months. There was no discount available for the purchase of two noticeboards.

   2. Civic Amenity Scheme 2006 Sunday, 21st May, 12.30 – 4.00 p.m.

      The skip was late arriving and early leaving. An email had been sent to Uttlesford asking how well the facility had been used, and whether it was fair that we should pay the full amount. No reply had been received, nor one to a follow up email. It was agreed to write to voice our concerns.

   3. East Area Panel Meetings

      In the absence of Mrs Oliveira there was no report of her conversation with Cllr. Gregory. This would be carried over to the next meeting. No-one had attended the meeting on 23rd May. A schedule of the dates for future meetings had been received.

   4. UALC A.G.M 22nd June

      Members were reminded of this meeting. Mrs Oliveira and Mr Clark hoped to attend.

4. Stansted Airport

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

      Mr Rixson and Alfie Wright had mounted a display of photographs in the village hall during the Runway Ramble, in which about 200 people had taken part. It was agreed to create a photographic archive. All were encouraged to take pictures, which would be held by Mr Rixson.

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

      Mr Clark and Mr Perry had attended a meeting in Molehill Green and heard how Takeley Parish Council was progressing with its appeal. The time had come to call in the offers of financial help that had been made last year. It was unanimously agreed to send to Takeley the £1,000 we had offered, proposed Mrs Burton, and seconded Mr Rixson.

   3. Stansted Generation 1 Planning Application

      At this point Mr Clark declared a non-prejudicial interest, as secretary of the SSE Response Committee.

      The Council's response to the application was discussed. It was agreed that Mr Clark would draft and circulate a response for comment before the deadline of 30th June. A letter to Uttlesford District Council requesting an extension to this deadine had not been answered.

   4. Night Flying Restrictions

      Notification had been received of the Government's decision regarding Night Flights at London's three airports. It had decided to leave the quotas, the night time period and the shoulder period unchanged. As Stansted was presently utilizing only about half of its quota this represented the possibility of the doubling of night flights. The document would be circulated to members.

5. Correspondence

   1. Parish Council Liaison Meeting

      An invitation to the next meeting on 11th July had been received. Mr Clark hoped to attend.

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

   1. Internal Audit

      The accounts had been approved by our internal auditor. It was agreed to write to Mr Lloyd to thank him for this.

   2. Balances

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

      Community Account (current)	£380.07
      Business Reserve Account (high rate deposit)	£7,483.11
      	£7,863.18	*

      * 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.

   3. Signing of Cheques

      It was agreed to sign the following cheque:

      Takeley Parish Council – a grant towards its legal fees		£1,000.00
      (to be taken from the Professional Services Account)

   4. Verification of Cashbook

      Mr Rixson performed the necessary check.

7. Planning

   1. Pledgdon Barn

      A reply had been received to the letters that the Council had written to the Chief Executive of Uttlesford District Council in January and March, justifying Uttlesford's opinion that the current use of the land was covered by the Certificate of Lawful Use granted to a previous occupier. It was considered that this flew in the face of common sense, and Mr Clark undertook to review the reasons stated in the letter to see if there were any further arguments that we could advance. It was also ageed to forward a copy of the letter to the local residents who had originally complained.

   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. Tudor Cottage, Brick End

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

         Conditional Approval

      3. Whitehall Hotel

         ramp for disabled access to the barn and proposed installation of disabled W.C. within the main building

         Conditional Approval

      4. Woodcocks, Cherry Green

         erection of a two storey side and single storey side extension

         Awaited

8. Election of Other Officers

   It was proposed Mr Clark, seconded Mrs Burton and agreed unanimously that the following be elected:

   • Community Association Rep

     Mrs Kesterton

   • Village Hall Rep

     Mrs Oliveira

   • Footpaths Rep

     Mrs Oliveira

   • Public Transport Rep

     Mrs Oliveira

   • Tree Warden

     Miss Collinson

   • Website Editor

     Mr Rixson

   • Emergency Planning Officer

     Miss Collinson

   It was agreed that the elections would be ratified at the next meeting, given the absence of three members.

9. Any Other Business

   1. Footpath 39/40

      Mrs Burton reported that this footpath was now virtually impassable over a distance of some 150 yards. The owners had cut back the hedge to reinstate the route of the path and erected an electric fence to further define it. The problem was that the stumps and roots of the original hedge had not been removed and were obstructing the right of way. The land owner and the County Council were in dispute as to the responsibility for clearing the footpath. It was agreed to ask Cllr Walsh to see what he could do.

   2. Housing owned by BAA

      Mrs Burton commented on the lack of maintenance being given to a number of properties in the village owned by BAA but which were un-tenanted. It was agreed to write to Strutt & Parker, BAA's agents, to remind them of BAA's commitment to maintain these properties and their gardens.

10. Date of the Next Meeting

    It was confirmed that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 12th July, 2006 in the Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

The meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.