Little Canfield Parish Council

Page 30 – 2008/2009

Minutes of a Meeting of the above Parish

Council, held on Monday, 12^th January, 2009, commencing at 8p.m.

___________________________________

                                    Present:                                    Cllr. K. Wooding  (Chairman)

Cllr. P. Byford

                                                                                    Cllr. E. Scott

                                                                                    Cllr. J. Turner   

Cllr. J. Fulcher

Apologies:-                             Cllr. O. Barritt, Cllr. J. Panzetta,

In Attendance                           Mrs. R. Shelley (Clerk)

Mrs. L. Gillman

                                                                                    Mrs. J. Cheetham (U.D.C.)

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

1.         Minutes

The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed.

2. Matters Arising

a. Priors Green Notice Board

As there was little chance of Uttlesford taking over the site in the timescale suggested by Countryside, it was decided to request that they arrange for the erection of a notice board as soon as possible.

b. Crumps Farm

It was reported that, as Great Canfield P.C. had many reservations concerning the planning application for a recycling and waste facility at the landfill site, they had called a public meeting to discuss the matter.    This meeting had been attended by the operators, who had answered all questions raised.   Mrs. Cheetham said that there were no powers to insist, though drivers could be requested, that all lorries should use the A120 to access the site, and that Essex County Council would prefer the landfill facility to be used for local rubbish only.

c.Website

It was reported that the new website was now up and running (www.littlecanfieldpc.co.uk), but that the old one was still available.    The Clerk said that she had requested Uttlesford D.C. to remove it as soon as possible, as this council no longer had access to it.

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d.Parish Visit

It was reported that all tasks had been completed except for Devil’s Ditch.

e.Flitch Way

Mrs. Gillman said that the new steps project was still progressing, but very slowly.

f. Hamilton Road

Mrs. Barker said that she had asked for information on the ownership of the private roads in the Priors Green area, and had been told that Essex County Council said that they had not sold any of the roads to Countryside Properties because they had never owned them.    As this was hard to believe, Mrs. Barker said she would go back to the County Surveyor, and Mrs. Cheetham said she would talk to U.D.C. Planning and Mr. G. Coleman, a local farmer.

g. Priors Green Haul Road

Cllr. Byford said that he had received a letter from U.D.C., which stated that, according to the appeal decision, Countryside were only required to provide information with regard to the conditions applied by Uttlesford U.D.C., but not to actually carry out the works.    Mrs. Cheetham said that she would be taking the matter up with the Planning Department.    It was agreed to ask Countryside to carry out the planting and deal with the thistle infestation on the bund.

h. Pedestrian Crossings on B1256

It was agreed to express concern to E.C.C. at the urbanisation of a rural area, and to question the road safety aspect of the roundabout at the Hope End junction, which tended to be totally ignored by motorists on the main road, causing problems for drivers on the two other roads.

i. U.D.C. Planning Workshop

Cllrs. Byford and Turner reported on the workshop, which had focused largely on enforcement and the provision of gypsy sites.

j. Huntingfield House Pallet Business

It was reported that U.D.C. could not proceed swiftly with such matters because of the time given to the owner to appeal and counter-appeal.

k. Neighbourhood Watch at Priors Green

It was reported that no one had offered to be a representative in this area.

3.         Correspondence

a. E.C.C. – Uttlesford Transport Review

A suggestion that a shopper bus on a market day to Bishop’s Stortford or Dunmow might be provided for residents of Great and Little Canfield was considered, but it was agreed that it was not necessary for Little Canfield.

b. Schools Travel Strategy/Communities in Control Consultations

Circulated.

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c. Freedom of Information Act

It was agreed to adopt the Act forthwith.

d. Volunteer Centre

A request for information on local volunteers was circulated.

4.       Community Matters

Proposed Electricity Works

The Chairman said that a scheme to connect two separate lines to form a ring main to improve the service in the local area was proposed, but would not be implemented for some time.

Pot Holes in High Cross Lane West

 Cllr. Turner said that there was a large pot hole near Bridge Cottage, and several smaller ones further up the road.

Obstruction near The Rest

It was reported that builders’ vehicles were causing an obstruction on the footpath and bus stop.

Rubbish in Layby in High Cross Lane East

It was reported that a complaint had been received about the rubbish in the layby near Windward Bananas, which was often used by lorry drivers as an overnight stop.    Mrs. Cheetham agreed to ask U.D.C. to remove the rubbish and suggest that a bin be erected there.    It was also stated that the telephone box, which was also in poor condition, was due to be removed.

Rights of Way

A list of the work carried out on the paths during the year was circulated.   It was agreed that, following the success of the parish walks arranged in 2008, further walks should be arranged for 2009.   It was agreed that the routes of the 2008 walks should be put on the website.

5.         Planning

Applications

            ESS/46/08-Crumps -Farm- Development of Recycling and Waste Facility, etc.

No objections, provided that lorry movements were reasonable and odour problem controlled.

UTT/1924/08/OP – Stansted Motel and 2, Hamilton Road

No objections to development, but concern over no sightlines for Hamilton Road and no provision for existing entrance to Warren Farm.

Decisions - Approved

ESS/45/07 and 45/08 - Crumps Farm- Vermin Control and Continuation of    

          Restoration Works beyond 31/10/09

UTT/0338/08/FUL –8, Hamilton Road – Erection of 7 Dwellings, etc.

Page 33 – 2008/2009

Application Finally Disposed of

UTT/1086/07 – Priors Green – Increase in Number of Dwellings on Estate

Alleged Breaches of Planning Control

Haul Road Crossing, Thornton Road – No breach found

New Access Drive onto Hamilton Road at The Nest – Being investigated. -

6.         Finance

Financial Support

Requests for financial support were received from S.S.E. and from the Uttlesford Citizens Advice Bureau.    It was decided to consider the requests at the next meeting.

Audit for Year ended 31^st March, 2008

It was reported that the audit had been completed, and the statutory notices displayed.

Payments

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

Cheque No. Name In Settlement of Amount

100803    Little Canfield Village Hall  Meeting 17/11/08                                                 10.00

100804    Audit Commission                               2008 Audit                                                             57.50

100805    E.ON                                                       Street Lighting to 31^st December                        29.16

100806    S.C. Hazon                                             Website                                                             220.00

100807    R. Shelley                                              Salary(31.12.08)/Petty Cash                            317.40

7.         Future Meetings

23^rd February, 6^th April, 18^th May.