Little Canfield Parish Council

            Page 9 – 2007/2008

Minutes of a Meeting of the above Parish

Council, held on Monday, 2^nd July, 2007

in the Village Hall commencing at 8p.m.

___________________________________

                                    Present:                                    Cllr. K. Wooding

Cllr. P. Byford

                                                                                    Cllr. E. Scott

                                                                                    Cllr. J. Panzetta

                                                                                    Cllr. J. Fulcher

                                                                                    Cllr. J. Turner

                                                                                    Cllr. O. Barritt

                                    In Attendance                           Mrs. R. Shelley (Clerk)

                                                                                    Mrs. S. Barker (E.C.C.) (Part)

                                                                                    Mrs. L. Gillman

1.         Minutes

The Minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and signed as a correct record, with the addition of the ‘Flitch Way Country Park Rangers’ to replace ‘Flitch Way Liaison Group Officers’ in Item 3, Minutes.

2.         Matters Raised with Mrs. Barker

a. Crumps Farm

Cllr. Scott said that the problem of smell emanating from the waste site had been discussed at the first Liaison Meeting, and she was in the process of keeping a note of the dates when this was giving offence to residents.   

b. Recycling

Mrs.. Barker said new instructions issued by U.D.C. to residents to mix recyclable materials in one bin had resulted in considerable extra expense for the District Council.  She thought that it would be helpful if members of the Parish Council could visit the recycling facilities at Waterbeach.

c. Speed Signs

An e-mail received by Mrs.. Barker from E.C.C. stated that it was proposed to implement the mobile scheme in several villages, including Little Canfield, in July.     It was agreed to ask for a check on speeding through the village.

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d. Priors Green

It was reported that lamp standards at Priors Green were illuminated although the County scheme to cut back on street lighting after midnight had been implemented.    Mrs.. Barker said that it was probably because the standards were still in private ownership, but she would investigate.

Cllr. Byford said that, although the entrance to Thornton Road had been surfaced, the drainage had not been restored.   No reinstatement of Thornton or Hamilton Roads had been yet undertaken after use by Countryside, and the condition of both roads was deplorable.     He understood that the officer at Uttlesford looking after the development had left, but had been unable to ascertain the identity of his successor.

3.         Matters Arising from the Minutes

a. Planned Visits

A letter from E.C.C. stated that the matters raised with Mr. Stoneham on his visit to the village could not be dealt with within the planned visit scheme, which only applied to very small jobs.   It was suggested that attention be paid to the hedges masking various speed signs on the B1256 and to the overgrown condition of the footpath at Devils Dyke and hedge overhanging the bridge in High Cross Lane.

b. Village Meeting on 3^rd July

Arrangements for the meeting, to be chaired by Mr. Richard Harris, to consider the latest proposals for the development of land surrounding the village hall were discussed.

c.   Police Community Meeting

Cllr. Turner said there was nothing new to report.    The Police were continuing to do their best.

d. Village Sewerage Maps

The Clerk said that the promised plans of the drainage system in Little Canfield had not been received.    She was instructed to contact Thames Water.

e. Crumps Farm Sunday Working

A communication from Lyndon Edwards stated that the working on Sunday had occurred as a result of a misunderstanding when he was on holiday.    Staff were now aware of the planning condition, which would be implemented in future.

f. Crumps Farm Liaison Meeting

Cllr. Panzetta reported on the first meeting of the group, consisting of representatives from E.C.C., Edwards Waste Management and Little Canfield, Hatfield Broad Oak, Great Canfield and Takeley Parish Councils, set up in connection with the working of the Crumps Farm waste site.    Minutes of the meeting were available.   Cllr. Panzetta said that most concern was felt with regard to the nature of the materials to be composted on site, together with the ugly appearance of the workings, noise and smell.

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4.         Correspondence

a.   Corporate Plan

As details of the plan from E.C.C. had either been mislaid or not sent, it was agreed to ask for a copy.

b.   Footpath 31

Notification was received from U.D.C. of the public notice concerning the diversion of the path through the Priors Green estate.

Mrs. Gillman reported on the condition of footpaths in the parish, stating that various waymarking and repairs to bridges had been carried out by E.C.C.

She said that she thought that it would benefit ramblers and farmers alike if a programme of re-aligning paths around the edges of fields where the designated route was across the middle could be set up.    As this was considered to be a sensible idea, Mrs. Gillman agreed to contact the owners of land where such circumstances existed.

It was also agreed that a map of paths in the village would be useful, and that it might be possible to set up a guided walk programme for inclusion in the Grapevine.

c.   Council Tax Local Discount Scheme

A letter from U.D.C. requested the Council’s opinion on the possibility of a discount on properties left empty for considerable periods, and asked for the addresses of any such properties in the parish.    It was noted that as far as was known there were only two vacant properties in this category (Ashlands and 3, Skipps Cottages), and it was considered reasonable that a discount should apply in these cases because of the agricultural use restriction placed upon them.

d.   Sustainable Uttlesford

Cllr. Fulcher agreed to represent the Council in the Sustainable Uttlesford group, set up to promote environmentally sustainable development in the district.

e.   Code of Conduct

Details of the criteria for dispensation relating to the Code were circulated.

g. Recycling Bins at the Village Hall

It was agreed that the siting of bins for the recycling of glass would be useful to residents, but some concern was expressed with regard to the possible hazard of broken glass in the vicinity of a building used by the public.    It was decided to ask for the bins on a trail basis.

Information regarding the recycling of electrical goods was circulated.

h. Uttlesford Corporate Plan

Cllr. Panzetta agreed to respond to a questionnaire sent by the District Council

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i. Little Canfield Road Sign

Notification was received from Countryside Properties that they were required by E.C.C. to remove the sign adjacent to the entrance of the haul road in order to provide the correct level of visibility.    The sign would be stored and re-erected by Countryside when the haul road was shut.

j. Stansted Airport Generation 2

Cllr. Panzetta reported on a meeting he had attended with representatives of other parish councils concerning the effect on local roads following the implementation of a second runway at Stansted Airport.     It was envisaged that Parsonage Road in Takeley would be shut, and that a bund with vegetation would be erected to lesson noise pollution.    There would be no rail access from the east.

Notification was also received of a number of local meetings to be held regarding a consultation on rail schemes in the event of the construction of a second runway.

A Consultation Draft on the Baseline Report in connection with the Environmental Statement on Community Effects was received.    It was agreed that the Planning Department at the Airport be informed of the many inaccuracies relating to the parish contained in the draft.

5.         Community Matters

a.     Road Signage at High Cross Lane West

It was reported that the road sign at the junction with the B1256 was to be replaced.

c. Flitch Way

Cllr. Panzetta reported that the owner was happy for the diversion at High Cross Lane West to proceed, and that a working party was to visit the area on 4^th July.    The Rangers’ office was to move from Takeley Station to Great Notley in October.

d. Grass Cutting

Cllr. Turner said that the grass cutting this year had been in general very good.   It was agreed to point out that the visibility for people leaving Church Lane was greatly impaired because the grass on the slight bend to the west of Church Lane had not been cut back sufficiently.

6.         Planning

Applications

Erection of Garage with room above and Pool House at Canfield Moat

Conversion of Rural Buildings into Office Units with ancillary storage at Strood Hall

Single Storey Rear Extension at 6, High Cross Villas

It was agreed to make no objections to these applications.

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Erection of 11 Dwellings at Canfield Service Station

It was agreed to inform U.D.C. that, although there was no objection to housing development on the site, it was considered that the density was too high to blend in with other properties in the location.   No access to the Flitch Way should be allowed for security purposes.

Certification of Lawfulness at Windward Bananas Depot

It was agreed to make no objection.

Priors Green Increase in Dwelling Numbers

Cllr. Byford agreed to study the detailed plans.

Core Strategy

It was decided to defer a further submission to U.D.C. concerning the plan for the future development of the district until the results on the village vote on the Land Securities’ proposals for the village hall area were received.

7.         Finance  

Payments

The following schedule of payments was presented, and the relevant cheques were signed:-

Cheque No. Name In Settlement of Amount

100744                  Little Canfield Village Hall               Meeting 2^nd July                                      5.00                  

100745                  R. Shelley                                             Salary/Petty Cash                             294.21       

8.         Future Meetings

20^th August, 24^th September, 29^th October, 10^th December