Minutes
MINUTES of the FULL COUNCIL meeting held on Wednesday 13th December at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
PRESENT
Cllr M Caton (Chair), Cllrs A Barnes, A Guney, J Kavanagh, A Khan, A Love, J O’Brien, L Prior, G Sell and T van de Bilt
ATTENDING
Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk
Mrs Teresa Buglass – Practice Manager, Stansted Surgery
Mr Serge – Peacock Pharmacy
Hollie Ryder – The Stortford Independent
Cllr G Braeckman and 1 member of the public via Zoom
299 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Braeckman – university, Cllr Ghosh – holiday, Cllr Hogg – prior engagement and Cllr Jones – holiday
RESOLVED
To accept the apologies for absence from Cllrs Braeckman, Ghosh, Hogg and Jones
Apologies were also received from Dist. Cllr Dean and Cty. and Dist. Cllr Gooding
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – none
300 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
301 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15th NOVEMBER 2023
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2023 as a true and accurate account.
302 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ACTION POINTS FROM THE LAST MEETING
253 – representatives of MAG to send written responses relating to night quotas and light pollution – received and circulated
255 – office to draw up attendance record for publication twice a year – completed up to this meeting and a summary will appear in the next Link magazine. The full record will be put on our website in the New Year.
257 – Clerk to invite Cty Cllr Gooding to a meeting with herself and the Chair – done and the Clerk reported details on the meeting held.
303 TO WELCOME TERESA BUGLASS, PRACTICE MANAGER AT STANSTED SURGERY
Mr Serge, Pharmacist at Peacocks Pharmacy, informed members that Mrs Buglass was running late due to traffic and would join soon. He updated members on information and progress since the pharmacy opened, including:
Serving 4-500 patients per week
- In the last week alone, 2700 items have been dispensed
- Free delivery service in operation – will be reviewed after 12 or 24 months
- Pharmacy First scheme commencing in February 2024 will put pharmacies at the forefront enabling more services to be offered – not necessarily free of charge – to more people
Mrs Buglass joined the meeting
- 24-hour collection box scheme under consideration for the Crafton Green area but this will be expensive – in the region of £40,000 – so this will be reviewed further in the future once they know their patients better and can see how many might use this service.
- Boots have been very helpful with the transition ahead of their imminent closure and happily a member of their staff has now been employed by Peacock Pharmacy.
A question and answer session with members then followed:
Question: What is the pharmacy’s capacity, and do you have the resources to cope once Boots has closed?
We are increasing at a rate of around 4-500 clients per week and we have plenty of capacity to expand – we have taken on another staff member, and we have plenty of physical space.
Question: What are the pharmacy’s opening hours? What are your waiting times like in the pharmacy?
8am-6.30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
7am-6.30pm Tuesday
9am-1pm Saturday
Waiting times are short – potentially 5-10 minutes per customer but we operate a system where we can serve more than one customer at a time. Having identified an issue with customers queueing at our till, we have ordered another one to speed up the checkout.
Question: How many patients does the GP surgery have and are you fully staffed on GPs?
We have nearly 12,500 at Stansted plus Elsenham patients. We have 4 partner GPs and 3 salaried GPs. Currently, Elsenham surgery is slightly over-staffed and we are slightly under, so the merger should balance this out.
Question: With more housing development looming in Elsenham and Stansted, will you be able to cope with the additional workload?
Yes, it could be tight as patient funding always lags behind – NHS England expect to to fill the gaps with other professionals and not GPs.
Question: On average, how many people manage to get a same-day appointment?
It’s around 90%. The new government targets say everyone must be “dealt with” within 2 weeks but we prefer to see people the same day if we can rather than “bat it down the road”.
Question: The collection box system – how many people do you think will actually use it?
We don’t know yet and this is why we are not rushing to implement it. We need to get a better understanding of our patients and their needs now that we have the pharmacy in Lower Street. To have the boxes at Crafton Green would help those who live at the top of Chapel Hill, commuters and those who cannot be at home to receive a delivery.
Question: As you get busier, and pressure on spaces in the Lower Street car park gets worse, how will you manage the car parking for staff and patients?
We have enquired about increasing the number of spaces allocated to us, but the cost is prohibitive.
304 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE CHAIR, CLLR MAUREEN CATON
The Chair presented her report:
This report is only focussed on two areas for this session as we have covered other topics previously or they will be addressed through the agenda.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee awarded the contract to deliver the Youth Club provision to Fairycroft Community Interest Group- currently delivering a service to Saffron Walden. They have experience of working with young people, are offering a creative package to interest young people and are aware of the need to market the service within the community and create local partnerships that can offer support and resources to the programme on offer. They also have resources within their team to source grant funding to enhance service delivery and experiences.
ECC will end their term at the end of January and the new service will manage from the beginning of February 2024. We have agreed quarterly monitoring meetings to ensure the objectives of service delivery and the outcomes achieved for individual young people, as well as the group(s) are achieved.
The Economic Development Working Group has elected its Chairman – David Arora – a member of the Stansted Business Forum. The group has been energized, and is invested in promoting the issues facing our local business and services – with clear actions and expected outcomes to revitalise and extend what is available locally. The group will meet on a monthly basis – it may be appropriate for the Chairman to speak to the Council and outline their programme/actions and outcomes at a future meeting. Meanwhile we will be hosting UDC’s business support surgery- starting this Friday and then on a monthly basis to help small businesses access grant funding and information support.
Finally, I take this opportunity to wish staff and Councillors a happy Christmas and hope that the New Year will bring positive outcomes for the future of our community.
305 TO RECEIVE WRITTEN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Cllr Sell’s report:
County Councillor’s Report – Cllr Ray Gooding:
Firstly, I would reiterate that I will be unable to attend this evenings meeting because I will be attending the Uttlesford Chairman Civic Event in my role as Vice Chairman of Essex County Council.
I would however ask that the following announcements be made on my behalf: –
Firstly I would ask that the unfortunate death of Major Richard Wallace on 5th December be confirmed. He was, as many people will know, my predecessor as the ECC Member for the Stansted Division from 1997 until 2005 and I would count him as a good friend and colleague together with a well-respected member of the Stansted Community. I think that those who remember him will share my recollection that whilst in many ways he represented a bygone era, he was a somewhat flamboyant character with a superb sense of humour. He will be sadly missed.
It is my intention to provide you with updates in regards to Essex Youth Services and Adult Social Care but in that much of this is ongoing, I will have to provide you with that in the New Year.
District Councillor’s Report – Cllr Geoffrey Sell:
Full Council 5th December 2023: Questions tabled to portfolio holders
- Councillor Sell to Councillor Hargreaves – Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Economy:
“Was any consultation held with town/parish councils or representatives of local business before the decision was made to slash the number of days allocated for free Christmas parking?”
Response from Councillor Hargreaves: “We do not normally carry out any formal consultation but do align with key events taking place. The feedback we have received previously regarding free parking between Christmas and New Year from businesses has not been positive, the view is that this doesn’t serve any real purpose as there is no increase in footfall during this period.”
Commentary: no evidence produced to support Cllr Hargreaves assertions. Epping Forest DC and other Essex Councils are offering free Christmas parking on every weekend in December.
- By Councillor Sell to Councillor Evans – Portfolio Holder for Planning:
“What was the rationale for not holding a local plan exhibition at Stansted (the district’s third principal settlement) and holding the exhibitions only in the evenings and not during the hours of daylight?”
Response from Councillor Evans: “Arrangements were made to hold the local plan public exhibitions in five locations, including Manuden and Newport, on the basis that suitable facilities were available at each location, including car parking. It was considered that those two locations would be suitable to attract visitors from the surrounding areas in the west of the of the District, including from Stansted Mountfitchet. The timing of the four events, each running from 1700 to 2000, was considered likely to be the most convenient to potential attended and thus attract them in the greatest numbers.”
Commentary: Unsatisfactory response. No real rationale provided. St Albans District Council in their consultation held exhibitions from 2 pm to 8 pm and on Saturdays. Much more inclusive.
Member Motion on Sewage: as proposed by Councillor Sell and seconded by Councillor Dean
This was unanimously passed and was the second motion that I have introduced since May 2023. The first was on railway ticket office closures.
“Council notes that despite repeated calls to put a stop to the dumping of raw sewage into our precious rivers and chalk streams, the latest annual assessment by the Environment Agency showed “totally unacceptable” performance on pollution for most of England’s water and sewage companies. Thames Water was given just 2 stars for performance for 2022, meaning that they require significant improvement. Council therefore resolves to call on the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment to strengthen the legislation on the discharging of raw sewage into our rivers by:
- Tightening and clarifying the regulations and law on the circumstances in which discharge of sewage might be permitted.
- Requiring prompt prosecution and fining of all offending companies.
- Requiring the Environment Agency to audit the Water and sewerage companies regularly, every year, to ensure that they are reporting their operations accurately.
- The Council also requests the Government to bring forward the date by which Water Companies are required to reduce their discharges by 50% -to bring it forward from 2048 to 2030.
- This Council authorises the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment and to our Member of Parliament to make these four requests.
Explanatory Notes: The Environment Agency reported that in 2022 raw sewage was released into open water in Uttlesford hundreds of times in 2022. Figures from the Environment Agency show storm overflows were used 321 times within Uttlesford’s local authority boundaries in 2022, discharging for a total of around 3,045 hours. Of these, 185 were from Thames Water’s network, while 136 were from facilities operated by Anglian Water.
The Environment Agency has called on Thames Water and all the other Water Companies together to invest £56 billion to upgrade their sewage treatment plants and storm overflows, but it is allowing them 25 years in which to do this.
We welcome that the Stansted and Takeley sewage works are to be upgraded by Thames Water. For Stansted it is scheduled to be 2025
Scrutiny Committee – Refuse Collection
I had asked for this to be on the agenda. Ben Brown head of service gave a powerpoint presentation. Issues of population growth in the district and climate change have created significant pressures for the service.
There have been significant changes at management level of the service.
New collection points by Essex County Council have led to longer distances by UDC crews about 1.5 hrs for a total return journey.
Three vehicles need to be replaced as soon as possible at a cost of £240,000 each. REPORT ENDS.
Cllr Sell in his report drew to the Council’s attention a paper relating to a review of car parking across the district. A review of tariffs has been undertaken, along with some management changes, and this will go to Cabinet on Monday 18th December when those members will be asked to select their preferred option for consultation.
It was agreed that the Clerk and Chair should contact UDC urgently expressing the parish council’s disappointment that there has been no direct consultation with us as owners of the Crafton Green car park.
306 TO RECEIVE A WRITTEN COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
Cllr Gooding’s report:
County Councillor’s Report – Cllr Ray Gooding:
Firstly, I would reiterate that I will be unable to attend this evenings meeting because I will be attending the Uttlesford Chairman Civic Event in my role as Vice Chairman of Essex County Council.
I would however ask that the following announcements be made on my behalf: –
Firstly I would ask that the unfortunate death of Major Richard Wallace on 5th December be confirmed. He was, as many people will know, my predecessor as the ECC Member for the Stansted Division from 1997 until 2005 and I would count him as a good friend and colleague together with a well-respected member of the Stansted community. I think that those who remember him will share my recollection that whilst in many ways he represented a bygone era, he was a somewhat flamboyant character with a superb sense of humour. He will be sadly missed.
It is my intention to provide you with updates in regards to Essex Youth Services and Adult Social Care but in that much of this is ongoing, I will have to provide you with that in the New Year.
307 FINANCE – TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PAYMENTS
The invoices were checked against the payment schedule by Cllr O’Brien before the start of the meeting. The list of payments was approved.
308 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
1 UTT/23/2823/HHF – OSTRA BRAMA, PINES HILL
Demolition of single storey side extension and replacement two storey side extension, a two storey side extension to the south and an additional set back roof storey. Dwelling to be externally insulated with a rendered finish. Removal of existing rear driveway returning to garden.
No objection.
2 UTT/23/2841/FUL – LAND NORTH OF 4 CLARKE CLOSE, FORESTHALL PARK
Erection of 2 no. detached dwellings with new dropped kerb access
Members agreed to object to this on the grounds of over-development, suggesting that one detached dwelling would be preferable at this location.
3 UTT/23/2850/HHF – BRODEAN, CROASDAILE ROAD
Proposed loft conversion with rear dormer and rooflights
Members objected to this application and reiterated the conditions imposed by the Inspector when allowing the original construction at Appeal.
4 UTT/23/2878/FUL – EASTFIELD STABLES, ELSENHAM ROAD
Change of use from agricultural grazing land and construction of a tennis court and erection of 3m high chain link fencing surround
Members objected as there is no access shown to the tennis court and the potential users of the facility are unknown as it is not close to the existing dwellings.
5 UTT/23/3052/HHF – 24 STONEYFIELD DRIVE
Proposed first floor extension
No objection.
309 UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL DRAFT REGULATION 18 LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION – TO CONSIDER COMMENTS SUGGESTED BY THE PLANNING WORKING GROUP
A draft paper had been circulated and was tabled at the meeting. The deadline for comments is Monday 18th December so if any other member wished to add anything to this paper, please let the Clerk have it by the end of the weekend (17th December).
In referring to the development sites proposed for Stansted, Cllr Sell wished it to be recorded that he would reserve his position on any proposals for land east of High Lane. Cllr Khan stated that the draft should have more detail around “Affordable Housing” and the Chair suggested that he email in some wording. Cllr O’Brien lamented the lack of reference to introducing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which he believed could benefit communities significantly.
310 OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22ND NOVEMBER 2023
The minutes of the meeting were received.
311 F&GP COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH DECEMBER 2023
The minutes of the meeting were received.
Cllr O’Brien proposed the recommendation under minute number 295 and this was seconded by Cllr Sell. Following questions from members and an explanation of the reasoning behind the request, it was unanimously
RESOLVED that the F&GP Committee be authorised by the Council to vary the rate of Parish Grants each year between 1.5-2% of precept depending upon the prevailing circumstances.
Meeting closed at 9.10pm
ACTION POINT
305 – Clerk to contact UDC urgently regarding the review of car parking tariffs
Agenda
Members of the Council you are hereby summoned, and members of the public and press are hereby invited, to attend a meeting of the FULL COUNCIL which will be held on Wednesday 13th December at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted, Essex where the following business will be transacted:
1 To receive and approve apologies for absence
Adjourn for public participation
2 To receive declarations of interest
3 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2023
4 To receive an update on action points from the last meeting
5 To welcome Teresa Buglass, Practice Manager at Stansted Surgery
6 To receive a report from the Chair, Cllr Maureen Caton
7 To receive written District Councillor Reports
8 To receive a written County Councillor Report
9 Finance: to approve the list of payments – to be tabled
10 To consider the list of planning applications received– see attached
11 Uttlesford District Council draft Regulation 18 Local Plan – consultation – to consider comments suggested by the Planning WG – to follow/be tabled
12 Open Spaces Committee – to receive the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2023 – already circulated
13 F&GP Committee – to receive the minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2023 – attached
Parish Clerk – 7th December 2023
Any intention to record, film or take photographs during a meeting must be notified to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.