Draft Minutes
Draft Minutes of a meeting of the OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th April 2024 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
PRESENT Cllr J Kavanagh (Chair), Cllrs A Barnes, M Caton, A Khan, A Love and T van de Bilt
ATTENDING Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk, Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk, 1 member of the public via Zoom
526 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Braeckman – University, Cllr Guney – Work Commitments and Cllr Prior – Holiday.
RESOLVED To accept the apologies for absence from Cllrs Braeckman, Guney and Prior.
527 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
528 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH MARCH 2024
RESOLVED To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2024 as a true and accurate account.
529 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ACTION POINTS FROM THE LAST MEETING
472 Clerk to raise the planting of poppies in the Memorial Gardens with the contractor – done
476 Add watering of the 3 commemorative trees to the gardening schedule – done
477 Working Group to meet with the Clerk and prepare a report on key play areas – a meeting took place on 12th April to agree the maintenance work to be carried out from the £5,000 authorised at the last meeting although one quote is still awaited. A further meeting will be held to start the reports on recommendations for equipment in each of the key play areas.
478 The Youth Club, Youth Council and Sustainable Stansted to be informed of litter pick, date and event to be publicised on social media – all done.
479 Advertise for a permanent Tree Warden – now that the Tree Management Policy has been revised and adopted, this will be done in the next Link magazine and via social media.
Cllr Barnes asked what the gardener’s opinion was on the commemorative trees and whether they have survived or not. The Chair and Clerk had spoken to them about this and it is too early to tell at this stage but the trees are being monitored.
530 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE CHAIR, CLLR J KAVANAGH
Open Spaces Chair Report
WALPOLE MEADOWS AND ELMS FARM
No updates to report regarding handovers, since our site visits in March. Photos taken by Cllr Guney show that the open space still requires work at Elms Farm. The situation should continue to be monitored by members of the working group, the clerk and the OS chair.
I have some worrying news to report regarding Elms Farm. We have received several emails from the landowner with reports of anti-social behaviour on the land – youths on motorbikes riding along the permissive paths, damaging the paths, fencing, removing hedging, damaging trees and gates. The police are aware and this is an active case. It is similar to problems with bike riders last year, who were meeting at a spot in Elsenham, which is now subject to development. There has also been damage at the allotments.
All members of the public are asked to be alert, report in the first instance to the police, and advise the parish clerk. Regrettably, it does mean that the landowner has restricted access to the permissive paths while repair work is carried out.
Councillors are reminded that permissive paths can be temporarily closed at any time by the landowner. The landowner is within their rights to withdraw access to their land at any time and of course, is more likely to do so if the pathways are abused. Should any member of the public contact them about this, please bear this in mind.
GRASS CUTTING
Grass cutting has started; the cutting schedule is fortnightly for most areas. Any concerns regarding grass cutting should, in the first instance, be raised with the parish office. Some areas are the responsibility of Uttlesford whose schedule is less frequent. Our district councillors are expected to make themselves aware of the details before responding to comments.
LITTER PICK
I would like to remind everyone about the litter pick on 27 April. All councillors were asked to promote this event, so please do so, even if you are not available on the day.
Any members of the public or the council who know of areas which need attention, please let the clerk know.
OTHER MATTERS
Footway along Elsenham Road between Honours and May Walk
We have not been able to ascertain the ownership of the land along this stretch of road. Essex County Council should therefore be instructed to force the owner to clear the overgrowth from the footway.
Recreation Ground Grass
We continue to monitor the condition of the grass in the goalmouths.
END OF REPORT
It was agreed that a social media post would be done regarding the temporary closure of the permissive paths.
Cllr Khan reiterated previous comments that the fencing around the play area at Walpole Meadows was still unsafe. The S106 officer is aware of our concerns, and we are awaiting their findings.
531 TO RECEIVE A CEMETERY REPORT
An additional inscription has been approved for the late Peggy Honour.
A new memorial has been approved for the late Delia Stringer.
532 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SUSTAINABLE STANSTED
No report received.
533 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE WILDFLOWER PROJECT
A report and pictures from the Biodiversity Working Group were circulated to members ahead of the meeting.
The areas designated for the wildflower project would not be cut once the project has commenced and it was agreed to publicise this through social media. The areas will be staked out and signs erected so that people are aware. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the company who are undertaking the project to find out who will be responsible for the end of season cut and tidy in October and whether this is included in the project cost.
Having been proposed by Cllr Khan and seconded by Cllr van de Bilt, it was unanimously
RESOLVED To proceed with the Wildflower Project as outlined in the report from the working group.
534 TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO SUPPORT A SKATEFEST 2024
The Clerk advised that she had been approached by her contact who has organised all of the previous skatefest events and is willing to do so again this year. He has asked if the Council would cover his costs of £250. it was commented that this is a popular event which is appreciated by many in the village and has grown successfully each year.
Having been proposed by Cllr Barnes and seconded by Cllr Love, it was unanimously
RESOLVED To cover the £250 cost for our external contact to organise and run the Skatefest 2024.
535 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE REPORT ON FOOTPATHS
A copy of the footpath report along with comments from the office was circulated to members ahead of the meeting.
A discussion took place regarding noticeboards which are in disrepair, especially the one by Bentley Drive. It was agreed that this board should be removed and the one on Walson Way repaired if possible. At this stage no plans were made to replace any boards removed.
Meeting closed at 8.03pm
ACTION POINTS
530 Social media post to be put out advising the temporary closure of the Permissive Footpaths
533 Publicise the Wildflower areas which will not be cut during the project
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 OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE which will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th April 2024 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex where the following business will be transacted:
1 To receive apologies for absence
2 To receive declarations of interest
3 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2024
4 To receive an update on action points from the last meeting
5 To receive a report from the Chair, Cllr J Kavanagh
6 To receive a Cemetery report – see Clerk’s Report attached for members
7 To receive a report from Sustainable Stansted – if available
8 To receive a report from the Biodiversity Working Group and decide whether or not to proceed with the wildflower project – see attached
9 To decide whether or not to support a Skatefest 2024 – see Clerk’s Report attached for members
10 To receive an update report on footpaths – to follow
Parish Clerk, 11th April 2024
Any intention to record, film or take photographs during a meeting must be notified to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.