MINUTES OF A MEETING OF LITTLE HALLINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL, HELD ON TUESDAY 13 th JANUARY 2015, BEGINNING AT 7.00pm, IN THE VILLAGE HALL ANNEXE. PRESENT: Cllr Sue Meyer (Chairman) Cllrs Sally Bentley, Gordon Holland, John Brothers, Betty Bennett, Rex Marsh, John Pike, Keith Rogers, Shiela Bentley and Stuart Padfield. ALSO PRESENT: District Cllr Lesley Wells, Mrs Freda Townsend (Clerk) and 1 member of public. 111. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies had been received from Cllr. Billy Rolph. 112. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 113. QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF PUBLIC David Allum reported that he had again been in contact with Highways regarding the pot holes at Motts Green Road. Yet another reference has been given. 114. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on 25 th November 2014, were approved as a correct record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman. 115. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS The Clerk was asked to chase up contacts regarding getting the necessary work done at Gaston Pond. 116. CHAIRMANS COMMUNICATIONS Nothing to report other than items on the agenda. However, the Chairman did remind Cllrs that they must decide whether, or not, they will be standing for election. 117. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS District Cllr Lesley Wells reported on the new District Plan, which had received unfavourable comment from the Inspector. While not completely dismissed, the main problem was the Elsenham estate with its lack of infrastructure. The comments also stated that more housing numbers were needed. The Council will reconvene on 26 th January to review the plan. There is a lot more work to be done and probably a further consultation to be held in due course. 118. MEMBERS REPORTS Keith - pot hole by Homesteads, Sawbridgeworth Road still not fixed. - Has been asked the question if the container at South House Close should be there. - White lining at the road junctions of Gaston Hill with the A1060 needs to be re-painted.
Gordon - A1060 nr. Grinstead Lane often floods, possibly the drains need to be cleaned. Sue - Nedgings corner - mud still needs clearing from the corner where the water washes the mud and gravel down the road, and the drains here also need to be cleaned. Shiela - Informed members that the Household Waste Amenity Site in Bishop's Stortford will no longer be open on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Betty - The Car Wash sign is still in place at the top of Dell Lane, could we please chase Enforcement on this. - Pot hole at junction of Dell Lane and A1060. Rex - Just concerned on the many pot holes to be filled. Stuart - the 'Keep Clear' white lining between the School and Monksbury Farm needs to be re-painted. Resolved - that the Clerk requests of Highways to clean the drains nr. Grinstead Lane junction on the A1060 and at Nedgings Corner; that she chases up the pot holes to be repaired; that she requests the white lines to be re-painted as above; chases up the Enforcement re car wash sign; and asks for the Rangers to clear the mud from Nedgings Corner. District Cllr Lesley Wells will investigate the container at South House Close. 119. AIRPORT A meeting, with speakers from the Manchester Airports Group, had been held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 18 th November, and had been well attended by people from both Great & Little Hallingbury. The speakers, Neil Robinson, Corporate & Social Response Manager, and Duncan Smith, Noise Communications Manager, gave information, and answered questions on, matters of flight paths, noise and passenger numbers proposed for the future. A meeting of the SSE Parish and Town Council Liaison Group had been arranged for 8 th January, but then cancelled as they did not feel a meeting was necessary so soon after that held in November. A date for the next meeting has yet to be arranged, and we will be notified. 120. HOUSING SURVEY Following the decision on the land and the kind of dwellings to be built, a public 'drop in' session had been held on Tuesday 9 th December, in the annexe room of the village hall. Both Ulrike from Hastoe and Moira from the RCCE were present, along with two colleagues, and they were all helping to inform people about the proposals. The next step will be for Hastoe to submit a planning application to Uttlesford. The Clerk had today spoken to Ulrike who said that at present Hastoe is waiting for a couple of matters to be agreed with the land owner before plans can be submitted. Surveys have been done, and the colours of window frames and other paintwork will not now be red and blue. We will be kept informed of progress. 121. HIGHWAYS Further to David Allums report, the Clerk had also re-reported the pot holes at Motts Green. she had received a reply from Highways to say that the holes did not meet the criteria for immediate repair. It is hoped these will be repaired soon. District Cllr Lesley Wells asked the Clerk to forward to her the communications on this matter.
The 'Weak Bridge' sign near to the Pig Lane junction is another that we have been asking to be fixed for over a year. Lesley also asked for details on this one. Resolved - that the Clerk forwards the relevant emails to Lesley on the above matters; and that she continues to report and chase up highway problems. 122. GREENS The Oak Tree at Gaston Green is due to be trimmed this month. The Chairman also suggested that we get Richard Lawrance to reduce the overall spread of the Oak Tree at the hall. With regard to School Green, the Chairman had no luck with answers from the schools groundsman so had phoned Jeffrye Jones who writes in the Village Views. He had got back to say he had taken a look a the green and would like to know what we would like to see here. He is willing to meet with some Cllrs to discuss the work to be done. Resolved - that we arrange a meeting with Mr. Jones and some Cllrs. 123. UTTLESFORD GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ISSUES AND OPTIONS CONSULTATION We are notified that this consultation began on 8 th December and runs until Monday 2 nd February 2015. We are asked for our views on the issues, options and identified sites in the document. The document can be found online at http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/gypsiesandtravellers or go to the home page at www.uttlesford.gov.uk and follow the link. A paper copy of the document is available. Resolved - that we will forward a response. 124. UTTLESFORD LOCAL PLAN The proposed new Local Plan has come back from the Inspector with unfavourable comment. A copy of the Conclusions of the Examination of the Uttlesford Local Plan had been distributed to Cllrs for information. We had not made comment on the plan. A further review of the plan will be made as reported under item 73 by District Cllr Lesley Wells. 125. HALLINGBURY CHOIR Sue reported that several members of the Choir do not want it to disband. All members of the choir are to be asked if they want to carry on and, providing they have enough current, and possibly new members, to continue, the next step will be to find a new conductor. They would also like a new venue for choir practice, rather than the Chapel at Gaston Green, that provides better parking. Sue had looked into the possibility of the hall but Mondays are not free all year round. It may be possible they could use the Church. 126. FINANCE a) The following payments had been made during the period 14 th November to 12 th December 2014: HMRC - Tax October 9.80 Standon Post Office - Nov to Feb 3,468.70 F. Townsend - Salary October 622.35 - Expenses October 85.83 MD Landscapes - Grass cutting 1,036.44
F. Townsend - Salary November 622.35 - Expenses November 68.41 - Norton renewal 64.99 HMRC - Tax November 9.80 b) Income Essex County Council - CIF Grant 7,500.00 Essex County Council - P3 grant 200.00 8/12 Bank interest - Gratuity Acc..29 8/12 Bank interest - Business Reserve Acc. 1.71 c) Balances Business Reserve Acc. 13,702.01 Community Acc 26,597.45 Gratuity Acc 2,338.14 d) Precept & Budget All Councillors had been provided with a copy of the completed budget details. Following receipt of the tax base figures and ready reckoner from UDC, the Clerk confirmed that our precept request of 39,000 is adjusted to 37,315, with a grant from UDC of 1,685. A copy of these figures will be provided to all Cllrs. e) Auditor The Clerk informed members that Peter Green wishes to resign from the post of internal auditor, a service he has provided to the Council for over 12 years. On discussion it was agreed to send a letter to Peter to thank him for all the years of auditing our accounts. We also have to find a successor to take on this job. 127. PLANNING a) Application decisions (the Council s comments are shown in brackets) Application No. Site and Development Decision UTT/14/2923/FUL Proposed demolition of side extension and Refused replacement extension forming a separate (no obj.) dwelling. 6 Hatch Green. UTT/14/2964/DFO Details following outline application Consent UTT/13/2688/OP for 3 no. detached dwellings and (no obj.) garages, details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Land to the east of The Staithe, Latchmore Bank. UTT/14/3035/HHF Proposed changes to roof of extension Consent previously approved under UTT/13/2451/HHF, (no obj.) including the addition of dormer windows. Orchard End, Latchmore Bank. UTT/14/3157/FUL Erection of post and rail fence and two gates Consent To front boundary. Sutton Arms, Hall Green. (No objections - pleased to see the height of fencing kept low as we had suggested) b) Applications dealt with by the working group: UTT/14/3656/FUL Erection of acoustic fencing to rear and northern boundary. Sutton Arms, Hall Green. No objections had been raised.
c) Applications dealt with at this meeting: Application No. Site and Development UTT/14/3735/FUL Erection of dwelling. The Gables, Goose Lane. Concerns raised that the proposed dwelling would have an overbearing effect on neighbouring properties and, as with a previous application, we question the safety aspect of the vehicular access. UTT/14/3760/HHF UTT/14/3577/HHF UTT/14/3799/HHF Erection of first floor extension. Replacement of existing thatched roof with tiled roof and raising of existing wall plate. Erection of detached garage. The Staithe, Latchmore Bank. Erection of two storey side extension. Silver Birch, The Village. Freestanding gazebo in garden. Millers Cottage, Pig Lane. 128. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR INFORMATION AND NOTING The new Register of Electors has been received. This came into force from 1 st December 2014. All Cllrs had received a copy. Letters of thanks for donations have been received from Home-Start Uttlesford, Crossroads Care, Age UK, St. Clare Hospice, St. John Ambulance, Vitalise and Uttlesford CAB. Also from Hallingbury Free Church and St. Mary's Church, and from SSE and NWEEHPA. Having received our grant from the Community Initiatives Fund, we had written to thank them and, by return, received an acknowledgement for that letter from Cllr David Finch, Leader ECC, to say he was pleased that they could assist with our project. UDC have informed us of an Election Briefing Day to be held on 10 th March, beginning at 7pm, Saffron Walden Council Offices. We can send up to 3 representatives. Susan Barker has sent a reminder that there is still time for organizations to apply for a grant up to 2,000 from the Stansted Airport Community Trust Fund. A poster will be put in the Post Office to be brought to the attention of our local societies. Closing date 20 th February 2015. The meeting ended at 8.55pm. Signed. (Chairman) Date.