Civic Year 2024/25
Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council’s committee structure conforms to the Local Government Act 1972 s101. This legislation allows the Parish Council to delegate functions to committees and sub-committees. The composition of each committee and working group is settled at the Annual Parish Meeting in May each year. Members of the public can be co-opted onto committees, sub committees and working groups.
In 2024 there are two committees, four sub-committees, and nine working groups.
In the lead up to the elections held in May 2023 four parish councillors decided to step down from their positions and one new member was appointed. The result is that now the Full Council is made up of 14 Parish Councillors.
The Full Council itself meets, typically, once every three weeks. The chairman for the Parish Council in 2024 is Maureen Caton, and the Vice-chair is Ayub Khan. Chair and Vice-Chair are, ex-officio, members of all committees and sub-committees.
Among its duties and responsibilities, the Full Council approves the annual budget and sets the precept. It also approves the use of land and premises under its control, and has advisory input on planning applications, public transport and highways matters.
You can read further about the responsibilities, rules and regulations that make up of our various committees and sub-committees by downloading our standing orders. This document is updated annually.
Full Council
Maureen Caton – CHAIR
Ayub Khan – VICE CHAIR
John O’Brien
Jo Kavanagh
Alan Barnes
George Braeckman
Sanjukta Ghosh
Anne Guney
Peter Jones
Allan Love
Lois Prior
Geoffrey Sell
Tom Van de Bilt
COMMITTEES
The Parish Council’s two committees are its Finance & General Purposes Committee and its Open Spaces Committee.
FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
This deals with all matters concerning finance, administration, and Parish Council assets – such as the Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green House, and the Day Centre. The committee also draws up the council’s annual budget, overseas the employment of staff, approves community grants and works with the Stansted Millers to maintain the village windmill.
The F&GP Committee in 2024 consists of the following councillors:
Maureen Caton
Peter Jones – VICE CHAIR
John O’Brien – CHAIR
Ayub Khan
Geoffrey Sell
Sanjukta Ghosh
OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE
The committee is tasked with overseeing allotments, approving gardening and grass cutting contracts, administering the cemetery as well as the upkeep and maintenance of play areas and village open spaces, such as the skatepark and the Recreation Ground. This Committee is made up of the following councillors:
Alan Barnes – VICE CHAIR
Anne Guney
Maureen Caton
Jo Kavanagh – CHAIR
Ayub Khan
Allan Love
George Braeckman
Lois Prior
Tom Van de Bilt
SUB-COMMITTEES
The Full Council, the Open Spaces, and F&GP committees can set up sub-committees to deal with specific matters that fall under their responsibility.
HIGHWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE
Highways and transport matters in and around Stansted are the primary focus of this sub-committee. It seeks to encourage public consultation in relation to major transport schemes and work with local highway agencies to deliver improvements to Stansted’s roads.
Below is the membership of HIGHWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE in 2024
Maureen Caton
Peter Jones
Ayub Khan – VICE CHAIR
John O’Brien
Geoffrey Sell – CHAIR
Lois Prior
Tom Van de Bilt
Katherine Playle (co-opted)
PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE
This oversees matters relating to Council employees in line with relevant legislation and the Council’s employment policies on behalf of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Because of its nature and for reasons of confidentiality the press and public are excluded from all of its meetings.
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
Ayub Khan
John O’Brien – Vice Chair
Jo Kavanagh
Anne Guney – Chair
WINDMILL SUB-COMMITTEE
Its terms of reference include agreeing a programme of works for the windmill so it can continue to be an asset the community can enjoy, and assist the Stansted Millers in fund raising for the structure.
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
Ayub Khan
Jo Kavanagh
John O’Brien – Chair
George Braeckman
Sanjukta Ghosh – Vice Chair
Jeff Bowie (co-Trustee)
Tudor Owen
Richard Thomas
EMERGENCY PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE
Among this sub-committee’s responsibilities is preparing a general emergency and flood plan for the village, and provide training for our flood wardens.
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
Jo Kavanagh
Peter Jones – Chair
Alan Barnes
Ayub Khan
John O’Brien
WORKING GROUPS
The Full Council, the Open Spaces, and F&GP committees can also set up working groups to deal with specific matters that fall under their responsibility.
CRAFTON GREEN WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
John O’Brien
Peter Jones
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
John O’Brien
Geoffrey Sell
PLANNING WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
Alan Barnes
Geoffrey Sell
John O’Brien
Jo Kavanagh
Peter Jones
EVENTS WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Maureen Caton
Jo Kavanagh
Anne Guney
George Braeckman
Sanjukta Ghosh
POLICY REVIEW WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Anne Guney
George Braeckman
Jo Kavanagh
Allan Love
FORESTHALL PARK PARKING WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Peter Jones
Ayub Khan
Lois Prior
Melvin Caton
Plus residents
SPORTS, CULTURE & COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Peter Jones
Alan Barnes
Melvin Caton
BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP
Members in 2024:
Alan Barnes
Peter Jones
Tom van de Bilt
Allan Love