Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council
Open Spaces Committee
Present Cllr J Kavanagh (Vice-Chair acting as Chair), Cllrs A Barnes, G Braeckman, M Caton, A Guney and A Love
Attending Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk, Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk, 3 members of the public (1 via Zoom)
149 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Hardy – Holiday and Cllr Khan – Working.
Resolved to accept the apologies for absence from Cllrs Hardy and Khan.
150 To Elect a Chair of the Committee
Following the resignation of Tom van de Bilt, Cllr Kavanagh asked for nominations for the position of Chair.
Cllr Caton proposed that Cllr Kavanagh be elected Chair of the Committee, with no other nominations and having been seconded by Cllr Love, it was unanimously
Resolved that Cllr Kavanagh be elected as Chair of the Open Spaces Committee for the Civic Year 2025/26.
151 To Elect a Vice-chair of the Committee if Required
Cllr Caton proposed that Cllr Braeckman be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee, with no other nominations and having been seconded by Cllr Barnes, it was unanimously
Resolved that Cllr Braeckman be elected as Vice-Chair of the Open Spaces Committee for the Civic Year 2025/26
152 To Receive Declarations of Interest – None
153 To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 16th July 2025
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16th July 2025 as a true and accurate account.
154 To Receive an Update on Action Points From the Last Meeting
110 Cllrs Kavanagh and Love to send report ahead of next meeting in September – Report circulated to members ahead of the meeting. On the agenda for discussion.
110 Project Officer to collate all information gathered and send report ahead of next meeting where this will be put as an agenda item for a decision – Circulated to members before the meeting and on the agenda for discussion/decision.
114 Allotments Working Group to meet with the EFAA with a draft Tenancy Agreement – Working Group still working on the draft document and is now with the office to review.
115
- a) Research whether any company could make a bespoke planter to match the existing ones – None found so far
- b) Obtain a price to re-locate the two concrete planters in Lower Street up to Cambridge Road, replacing the Lower Street ones with the Lanarkshire Black Metal Planters.
– Companies we have contacted so far do not have the equipment to be able to move it. The office will keep looking
116 Members to email office by 31st August with the following:
- a) Ideas on how the Recreation Ground could be improved – None received
- b) ideas for the replacement of the Treehouse on the Rec – outside of a meeting Cllr Caton had shared some ideas for new play equipment that she had found.
117 Discuss watering of the Cherry Blossom tree with the donor and contractor – 3 year watering programme quote received from contractor – Waiting for the donor to make a decision.
155 To Receive a Report From the Chair
No report as no Chair was in place before the meeting.
The Clerk reported that a member of the public had approached Tom van de Bilt with a suggestion that the benches and table from Windmill Fields be moved onto the Recreation Ground as she doesn’t believe they get much use where they are. Members discussed this and agreed that the costs involved in moving the items would not be worth it given that there is no budget and any funds available could be spent on improving the Recreation Ground instead.
156 To Receive a Cemetery Report
Nothing to report
157 Sustainable Stansted – to Receive a Report if Available
A report was circulated to members ahead of the meeting:
Report Starts: We met on 9 September. Before starting the meeting, we had a minute’s silent reflection to express our sadness at the death of Councillor Peter Jones. In his role as a senior member of the PC, Peter was pivotal in the establishment of Sustainable Stansted, gave us vital support in the early days of the organisation and was a highly valued member of the group. Several of us are hoping to attend Peter’s funeral on 29th September.
Environment Group Update: The summary results of the Biodiversity Study and draft Residents’ guide were launched at our Community Nature Fair on 6 September. It was agreed that the study provides good material to guide and support our work in a number of areas. For example, the results of the biodiversity study are highly supportive of our existing idea to establish a meadow using the land between Dairy Lane and the allotments at Elms Farm. The positioning of the land, with the proximity to the brook, existing ancient trees and low nutrient level soil are some of the factors that support the proposal. We are keen to progress this and additional ideas about how we can further support biodiversity in the area. Vicki Anderson from Sustainable Stansted has agreed to be part of the working group and attend the Open Spaces meeting in October to present the idea in more detail.
The Residents’ Guide contains useful material but this is quite generic. We will be adding further information to this to make it more specific to Stansted.
Energy Group Update: Peacock Community Energy, which is being set up through Sustainable Uttlesford, now has 17 founder members (including some members of Sustainable Stansted). The inaugural meeting will be held on 16 September. The project group is continuing to explore various locations in village for the placement of solar panel on public buildings, as well as other locations in Uttlesford. Discussions are also continuing re community involvement in the solar farm near Dunmow.
Sustainable Uttlesford will be appointing a project officer (funded by Uttlesford DC) to help take forward projects and look for funding to support the organisation going forward.
Events: Our Community Nature Fair took place on 6 September at the Quaker Meeting House. This had a good range of interesting speakers including Alisa Davies from MKA Ecology who reported on our Biodiversity study findings. We also heard from Essex County Council on their Nature Recovery Strategy, North East Herts Swift Group, the Uttlesford local group on Conservation volunteering, Climate Change Gardening on making gardens more resilient to climate change and local author James Bashford on how reconnecting with nature can protect our health. In addition, Gorsefield Education Centre, Essex Field Club and the local badger protection group all had stalls at the event. We organised a plant and seed swap. We also held a nature quiz for children.
The event was very successful. It had a good turnout of around 70 attendees, it provided good networking opportunities amongst local organisations involved in protecting our natural resources and attendees appeared to have a great time.
Following the Event there has been good take up of the offer from the North Herts Swift Group to install boxes on homes and other sites in Stansted. This will take place in January at the cost to householders starting at £40. Gavin Vickery from the Swift Group had viewed Magna Carta School and sees this as a good potential location for boxes . We agreed that if the School wishes to go ahead, Sustainable Stansted will offer to fund this.
For the first time we had a stall at the Windmill Fete. This was also successful with good interest from members of the community in both aspects of our work. Report Ends.
Cllr Barnes commented that he had attended their Nature Fair event on Saturday and was very impressed. The talks presented were very interesting and it was a very well-run event.
The group appear to be in support of creating a meadow on the Public Open Space at Elms Farm and this, along with any other ideas, will be considered by the Working Group and Committee in due course. The Chair will convene a meeting of the Working Group before the next Open Spaces meeting.
158 Allotments to Receive an Update From the Allotments Working Group
- a) Elms Farm Allotments
The Clerk had received an email from the Chair of the EFAA which she had agreed to read out to members. It questioned why meetings that were promised had not taken place and why there was still no draft Tenancy Agreement for them to have a look at.
Cllr Barnes gave a brief update on the Working Group activities since the last meeting. They have been working on documents over the last few months, and he had emailed the EFAA requesting a meeting but had not received a response. The draft document they have produced is currently with officers for checking and this will be done ASAP and then the Working Group will meet with the EFAA.
- b) To Consider the Issues of Weed Infestation at Walpole Meadows Allotments and Make a Decision on Action to Be Taken
A report from the Projects Officer was circulated to members with the agenda. Since this time Cllr Gee, who rents a plot on the site behind Walpole Meadows had commented that it had been on that site for a number of years and it is just regularly cultivated and removed. She believes it just requires regular removal like all plants that you don’t want to grow. Cllr Braeckman
advised as landowner he was not aware of any Horsetail on site but Cllr Barnes said that he had been talking to tenants on the site and they confirmed that they do and they spray it. A more detailed discussion took place where members considered their options. Having been proposed by Cllr Braeckman and seconded by Cllr Guney, with 5 votes in favour and 1 abstention, it was
Resolved that tenants of the Walpole Meadows allotments should be allowed to treat the Horesetail weed within the boundary of their own plots as long as this is in line with the Tenancy Agreement and the Council’s Biodiversity Policy. The situation will be reviewed in May 2026.
It was agreed that a photographic record should be taken to act as a baseline document. This will be done by the Working Group at the October inspection.
159 Crafton Green Road Corner – to Consider Any Suggestions for Improvement and Make a Decision on the Way Forward
A report from Cllrs Kavanagh and Love and a report from Cllr Barnes were both circulated to members ahead of the meeting.
Cllr Caton said that as previously stated she had a different view to those suggested in the reports and that she believes it needs a permanent surface with seating and raised beds. Dogs need to be deterred from using the site as a toilet and she doesn’t believe this will be achieved by having soil down.
The Deputy Clerk detailed an idea similar to that at Saffron Walden where there is a maze for children to use which has raised planters within it and seats around the outside. She tabled a picture of the one at Saffron Walden to give the members not familiar with it an idea of what it could look like. Cllr Barnes commented that they should be told what budget they have to work but the Clerk explained that members needed to agree one or two projects so that these could be priced up and then put forward as part of the budget process. Cllr Caton and Cllr Love both agreed that they really liked the maze idea. Having been proposed by Cllr Caton and seconded by Cllr Love, with 5 votes in favour and 1 abstention, it was
Resolved for the office to investigate the idea of a maze, or similar idea with a view obtaining a design and price to bring back to committee through the budget process.
160 To Consider Whether or Not to Install a Seating Perch on the Chapel Hill Bus Shelter
At the last Highways meeting, Cllr Sell advised he had been contacted by a resident who said that a number of people using this bus stop struggled with their being no seat available to sit on whilst they wait. The office contacted the suppliers of the shelter who advised that a seating perch could be added and supplied a quote of £685 + VAT.
The Clerk advised that they could either take it to F&GP and ask for funds to be made available or take forward as part of the budget process but this would not be done until the budget is been agreed after January 2026.
Having been proposed by Cllr Caton and seconded by Cllr Kavanagh, it was unanimously
Resolved to make a recommendation to F&GP for funds in the sum of £685 + VAT to be made available for a seating perch to be installed on the bus shelter on Chapel Hill.
161 Play Equipment
- a) To Receive a Report From the Office Following the Rospa Inspections
The Deputy Clerk advised that the RoSPA reports had been received and there were no red or orange items only green and yellow. Officers had met with our Inspector and gone through what jobs she can do herself and this work is well underway. All other defects have been sent to contractors for quotes. As soon as the quotes are received then a report will be sent to the Working Group to review before recommendations are taken to the Committee.
- b) To Receive a Report From the Play Area Working Group Regarding New Equipment – if Available
The Working Group have not yet met but it was agreed they will set a date.
162 To Note the Start of the Budget Process and Remind Members to Start Thinking of Any Proposals for 2026/27
Suggestions need to be sent to the office as soon as possible so that the Committee can discuss if desirable.
163 To Receive an Update Report on Footpaths
The report was circulated to members ahead of the meeting.
Cllr Kavanagh explained the research she has been doing about the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for Norman’s Way. This will be discussed further at the next Highways sub-committee meeting.
The office have already let our contractor know about the missing bench slat and this will be repaired.
Meeting closed at 8.41pm
Action Points
154 Office to continue looking for companies who may be able to relocate a planter
157 The Chair to convene a meeting of the Elms Farm Working Group before the next Open Spaces meeting
158a Office to review the draft Tenancy Agreement and get it back to the working group ASAP
158a Working group to arrange a meeting with the EFAA once received back
158b A photographic record be taken of the Horsetail at the October allotment inspections
Members of the Council you are hereby summoned, and members of the public and press are hereby invited, to attend a meeting of the OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE which will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th September 2025 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex where the following business will be transacted:
Agenda
1 To receive apologies for absence
2 To elect a Chair of the Committee
3 To elect a Vice-Chair of the Committee (if required)
4 To receive declarations of interest
5 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16th July 2025
6 To receive an update on action points from the last meeting
7 To receive a report from the Chair
8 To receive a Cemetery report
9 Sustainable Stansted – To receive a report if available
10 Allotments – to receive an update from the Allotments Working Group:
- a) Elms Farm Allotments
- b) To consider the issue of weed infestation at Walpole Meadows allotments and make a decision on action to be taken
11 Crafton Green Road corner – to consider any suggestions for improvement and make a decision on the way forward
12 To consider whether or not to install a seating perch to the Chapel Hill bus shelter
13 Play Equipment
- a) To receive a report from the office following the RoSPA inspections
- b) To receive a report from the Play Area Working Group regarding new equipment – if available
14 To note the start of the budget process and remind members to start thinking of any proposals for 2026/27
15 To receive an update report on footpaths – to follow if available
Parish Clerk – 4th September 2025
Any intention to record, film or take photographs during a meeting must be notified to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.