MINUTES
MINUTES of a meeting of the FULL COUNCIL held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th October 2021 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
PRESENT Mrs M Caton (Chairman), Cllrs A Barnes, G Braeckman, P Davies, A Guney,
J Hogg, J Hudson, M Jessup, J Kavanagh, A Khan, J O’Brien, L Prior,F Richards, G Sell and T Smith
ATTENDING
Mrs E Philbrick – Trainee Deputy Clerk
Mr Dan Schlanker – Communications Officer
District Councillor A Dean
1 member of the press
15 members of the public
212 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from District Councillor Melvin Caton. County Councillor Ray Gooding gave his apologies as he will be arriving late as he is attending another meeting first.
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
1 member of the public spoke regarding children playing games on the railway line and also about speedwatch.
1 member of the public spoke on behalf of himself and his neighbours regarding the proposed road safety measures for Walson Way. The Chairman advised that she would arrange for the Chair of the Highways Sub-Committee to liaise with them. Cllr Khan also advised that as a District Cllr they were holding monthly surgeries at St Marys School if they would like to meet with them but would also be happy to arrange a separate meeting.
1 Parish Councillor spoke regarding personal views. The Chairman advised that a meeting will be set up on the Clerk’s return from annual leave.
Public Participation Ends
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213 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
214 TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021
Cllr Khan advised that he was showing as attending the meeting, but was away on holiday and had given his apologies to the Clerk. This will be amended.
RESOLVED To accept the minutes of the meeting held on 29th September 2021 as a true and accurate account subject to the above corrections being made.
Cllr Prior asked if the Social Media video promoting the need for Speedwatch volunteers could be repeated? Dan Schlanker confirmed he would work with the team on another video and would be putting this out instead of repeating the same one.
215 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS SINCE THE LAST MEETING
The action points were to ensure that the items deferred were added to this agenda and this had been done.
216 TO RECEIVE THE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – Attached
Discussions took place regarding the consultation on the land North of the Airport, and it was evident that no members had received the flyer which had supposedly been hand delivered to households in the village.
Councillors Davies asked if the Chairman could bring attention to the potential loss of 3 football pitches and that the Parish Council needed to take the opportunity to gain something good for the community. The Chairman confirmed that she had requested the meeting with them as she wanted to be clear on exactly what was being offered for the Parish as she had stated in her report. Cllr Sell commented that Stansted is short of sporting facilities, and he was aware that a number of sporting clubs were already in talks with them. Cllr Hogg discussed the consultation webinar due to take place and the need to encourage people to attend. Cllr Richards commented that they were holding it in the middle of half term which was not useful.
217 TO RECEIVE A DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Report from District Councillor Sell is attached.
District Councillor Khan gave thanks for the support from other Councillors for the motion he put forward regarding the Universal Credit uplift. Of the 4,806 people claiming it, 2800 of those are already in work and although there were 3 abstentions, those are the families that need the support. The same motion was taken to the District Council but there was an amendment to take some action i.e for councillors to make a voluntary donation to the foodbank. The amendment was accepted. The Chief Executive has now written to the MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
A District Council review regarding Stansted Airport is looking at the role of the previous administration as well as the current administration.
The District Council has also been informed it had not met a performance indicator on planning decisions. Although the current administration can take their blame the previous administration also needs looking at. The previous administration was not underfunded.
218 TO RECEIVE THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
This was deferred due to Cty Cllr Gooding not being present yet at the meeting.
219 FINANCE – TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PAYMENTS
The list of payments was circulated to members ahead of the meeting. It was
RESOLVED to approve the list of payments
220 TO CONSIDER THE LIST OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
1 UTT/21/3000/HHF – KLYMIARVEN, 28 RAINSFORD ROAD
Single storey side extension and first floor rear extension
No objections
2 UTT/21/2947/HHF – 46 STONEYFIELD DRIVE
Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension
The Parish Council objects due to the following
Parking Standards – The house will go from 2-bed to 3-bed, and applicant has not demonstrated how the applicant will meet new parking standards required.
Highway Safety – Property straddles junction of Stoneyfield Drive/The Spinney, no safe parking on road
3 UTT/21/3078/LB – THE DOG AND DUCK, 58 LOWER STREET
Replacement front decking
No objections – The Parish Council is in support of this.
4 UTT/21/2902/FUL – MAY WALK, ELSENHAM ROAD
Conversion of stable block into a dwelling with single storey rear extension and a new roof. Replacement of existing garage external works and associated infrastructure.
The Parish Council objects due to the following:
Outside development limits
In the Countryside Protection Zone
Close to the Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve
Impact on local amenity – the bridleway is a popular walking route, on which continued piecemeal residential development will have a detrimental impact
Size and build form – the proposed property is significantly higher than the existing structure and will be visible from the bridleway and other PRoWs in the area; would, by virtue of its scale, form, design and appearance cause significant harm to the rural character and appearance of its surroundings, in conflict with Policies S7, GEN2, H7 of the Uttlesford Local Plan (adopted 2005) and the National Planning Policy Framework; and would promote a damaging incursion of suburban development into a landscape of open, arable countryside.
5 UTT/21/3010/FUL – MAY WALK, ELSENHAM ROAD
Proposed siting of temporary mobile home and portable toilets for the duration of time required for the conversion of stable block into dwelling approved under UTT/21/2902/FUL
The Parish Council objects due to the following:
As this application is subject to the approval of UTT/21/2902/FUL, and the parish council has objected to this application, it cannot support this application.
221 OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021
RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting held on 1st September 2021
222 FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15TH SEPTEMBER 2021
Having received an update on bonfire night and the Youth Council, it was:
RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting held on 15th September 2021
223 OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH OCTOBER 2021
RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting held on 6th October 2021
224 TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY
Discussions took place on some of the wording of the policy around gender, sex and sexual orientation. A number of suggestions were put forward so having been proposed by Cllr Caton and seconded by Cllr Guney it was unanimously agreed to set up a working group to look at the document and make changes to bring back to Full Council. Members of this group will be Cllrs G Braeckman, A Guney, F Richards and T Smith
Meeting closed at 8.47pm
ACTION POINTS
224 Working group to meet to discuss policy
CHAIR REPORT
Chair Maureen Caton:
- Welcome to our new Councillor Lois Prior. On our Clerk’s return from leave next week we shall arrange for your induction to the Parish Council and your new role.
- The recent tragic news of the death of Sir David Amess brings into focus our vulnerability, as well as, the onus on us all in public office to represent and interact/ listen to our constituents.
We all wish to do this effectively – but we do need to also consider how we continue to do this safely.
I attended a short briefing from the police this week following the incident and will circulate the information they have made available to assist us making our assessment of risk involved in our local contacts.
It is important, and we need to be mindful of how we model our behaviour to our community – showing mutual respect and working together to serve our community. We are here to represent all our Stansted community, working within our committees and working groups conscientiously and in partnership to get the best outcomes. This will earn respect and be acknowledged positively by the community.
- The Call for Sites initial work undertaken by the Neighbourhood Plan Group is being further analysed in relation to the recent information provided by UDC in relation to the alignment of sites and assessment of their sustainability. Any proposals following this work will be presented to Full Council for discussion and agreement.
- I am challenging the consultation process proposed for the land North of Stansted Airport and have requested a meeting with the developers to discuss and clarify any proposed community benefits, as well as the impact on the village of potentially increased through traffic and plans for any sustainable transport links to the site from Stansted. I will update you on any progress with this. CHAIR REPORT ENDS
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Geoffrey Sell:
- Governance review working group has been disbanded without achieving anything. Cllr Khan and myself served on this group. Unfortunately, there was no political will for change.
- Cllr Khan put forward a motion to full Council 5/5/21 regarding the Universal Credit uplift 0f £20 a week introduced in April 2021 that was due to be withdrawn. Council passed an amended motion that called upon “the Council to support those in need through the benefits system but to also prioritise investment and support employment and skills to further help families in Uttlesford as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.” In August 2021 4,806 people in Uttlesford were claiming Universal Credit.
- The new Chief Executive Peter Holt has commenced work. He is currently isolating as he has caught Covid 19.
- Roger Harborough Director of Public Services will be retiring on 19/11/21 after 44 years of working for the Council.
- The Chief Executive has proposed an independent panel to investigate the events regarding the Stansted Airport refusal of full use of the runway and subsequent appeal. DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT ENDS