Minutes
Minutes of the FULL COUNCIL meeting held on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
PRESENT Cllr M Caton (Chair), Cllrs A Barnes, G Braeckman, A Guney, P Jones, J Kavanagh, A Khan, A Love, J O’Brien, L Prior and G Sell
ATTENDING
Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk
Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk
Cllr Hogg – via Zoom
District Cllr N Church
District and Cty Cllr Ray Gooding
4 members of the public – in person
3 members of the public – via Zoom
33 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Hogg – Holiday
Public Participation
One member of the public spoke regarding their planning application UTT/23/1102/HHF.
Two members of the public spoke regarding their objections to planning application UTT/23/0877/FUL. Cllr Khan stated that at the end of their last term of office, he and former District Councillor Melvin Caton had called in this planning application meaning that it will be determined by members as opposed to officers at UDC. He urged District Cllrs Church and Gooding to take forward the objections voiced at the meeting. Public Participation Ends.
34 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
35 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12TH APRIL 2023 AND THE ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 10TH MAY 2023
RESOLVED To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12th April 2023 and the Annual Council meeting held on 10th May 2023 as true and accurate accounts.
35 TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATE ON ACTION POINTS FROM THE LAST MEETING
No action points.
36 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE CHAIR, CLLR MAUREEN CATON Attached
Cllr Caton also advised that earlier in the day, along with Cllr Jones, she had attended a concert at St John’s Church performed by children of St Mary’s C of E Primary School. She congratulated the pupils on their great personal commitment in putting on a great performance.
37 TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’S REPORT
District Cllr Sell reported the following:
Congratulations to District Cllrs Nick Church and Ray Gooding and commiserations to former District Cllrs Ayub Khan and Melvin Caton.
Uttlesford DC had their annual meeting the night before where Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and Committee Chairs etc were elected. R4U were re-elected but with a reduced majority. He commented that tough decisions now needed to be made and that a Local Plan needed to be completed. He hoped that with elections behind them, the four district members could work together for the benefit of the community.
District Cllr Church reported the following:
Gave thanks for the support he received during the election and gave commiserations to former District Cllrs Ayub Khan and Melvin Caton. He commended Cllr Khan for the work he did on the District Council’s Capital Finances.
The UDC Annual Council Meeting had been rather “stale” with no opportunity for debate. An attempt to gain proportionate representation between the political groups on the Planning Committee had failed.
The Chair, Cllr Caton, asked Cllr Church to what extent he was able to comment on planning applications – he replied that he could comment on the Pines Hill one as it was going straight to the Inspector and not to the UDC Planning Committee.
District Cllr Ray Gooding reported the following:
Gave thanks for the support he also received during the election and repeated the commiserations as above. He re-iterated the thanks to Cllr Khan for the work on the Capital Finances and advised this is something he will be working to carry forward.
Last night’s Annual Council Meeting at Uttlesford was very choreographed and the opportunity for debate or questioning was limited.
Cllr Caton asked regarding the make-up of the Highways Panel and District Cllr Gooding confirmed he would be covering this in his County Cllr report.
Cllr Prior commented that after watching the meeting on Zoom, the quality was dreadful, and you couldn’t see the top table so had no idea who was speaking. She urged all three District Councillors present to push for improvements to the system to encourage greater community engagement.
38 TO RECEIVE THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
County Cllr Gooding reported the following:
The way the funding will be allocated by the Local Highway Panel is changing and in future there will be two lists, 1 – Development and new schemes and 2 – Maintenance and footpaths. They have had difficulty getting funding from UDC due to accounting errors by Essex County Council, but this had been resolved and the funding was now promised for the last Civic Year.Ggoing forward he is not expecting any financial contribution from UDC.
The way the Local Highways Panel is set up is also changing and membership will now be restricted to the four divisional members, but any District or Parish Councillors will now be able to attend and speak in support of their applications.
Funding for repairs has increased to £17.5 million. Delays in repairs have been due more to shortage of physical resources than financial as the Essex Highways teams do more than one job. They now have 12 more teams on board so things should start to speed up. Cllr Caton requested a copy of the schedule of works which Cty Cllr Gooding agreed to obtain.
Cty Cllr Gooding advised that he has been elected as Vice-Chair or Essex County Council.
Cllr Khan asked for an update on the 20 is plenty scheme for Foresthall Park and the potholes at the top of Church Road. It was confirmed that the pothole was on the list.
Cllr Jones asked for an update on Grove Hill following the residents’ meeting with Cllr Lee Scott. Cty Cllr Gooding said that the feasibility study was completed and the next stage would be a consultation and the proposals are currently being drawn up. However, he warned that the proposals may not receive support from the other neighbouring communities.
Cllr O’Brien asked for help from Cty Cllr Gooding in obtaining full answers to queries he has been raising with Cllr Scott since November. It was agreed they would discuss outside of the meeting.
39 TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PAYMENTS
The Clerk advised that Cllr O’Brien had checked the invoices against the payment schedule before the start of the meeting and there were no issues.
The list of payments was approved.
40 Planning Applications
1 UTT/23/0877/FUL – LAND NORTH OF WALSON WAY
Erection of 8 no. 3-bed semi-detached dwellings together with parking and amenity space.
The Parish Council objects to this application on the following grounds:
- Safeguarding
- Access
- Density of Housing
- Combatting Climate Change
- Parking
- Landscape
- Loss of biodiversity
- Impact on Clarke Close
- Value of the site to the community
(A copy of the detailed objection by the Parish Council is available on request to the Parish Council office)
2 UTT/23/0893/HHF – 1 BROOK COTTAGES, STONEY COMMON
Ground floor rear single storey extension, loft conversion with rear dormer, and relocation of front door in front elevation
No comment
3 UTT/23/0839/FUL – POND COTTAGE, 67 BENTFIELD GREEN
1 no. self-build dwelling with associated access, parking and private amenity
The council reiterates its previous objections.
4 UTT/23/1062/FUL – LAND ADJACENT BENTFIELD HOUSE, BENTFIELD BOWER
Erection of 1 no. dwelling
The Council objects to this planning application and supports the comments of the Historic Environment Team
5 UTT/23/1084/HHF – 30 BENTFIELD END CAUSEWAY
Demolition of existing conservatory, single storey extension, porch and garage.Proposed double storey side extension, single storey rear extension, loft conversion and changes to front boundary including addition of front gate.
The Council has no objection in principle but as per Place Services and the neighbours’ comments, the proposed materials are unsympathetic to the Conservation Area and these should be revisited.
6 S62A/2023/0018 – LAND EAST OF PINES HILL
The development of up to 31 no. residential dwellings with all matters reserved for subsequent approval, except for vehicular access from Pines Hill which is submitted in detail.
The Parish Council objects to the application on the following grounds:
- Green Belt
- Development Access
- Traffic
- Accessibility
- Environment
- Open Spaces
- Benefits
- What is the BNG planning condition?
- Housing delivery
- Public engagement
(A copy of the detailed objection by the Parish Council is available on request to the Parish Council office. It was agreed that after this meeting the Planning Working Group would draw up a list of community benefits in case consent is granted.)
7 UTT/23/1102/HHF – 51 CHAPEL HILL
Raising of roof to facilitate the conversion of loft into habitable accommodation, single storey rear extension and additional basement excavation for the conversion into a home office with enlarged light wells.
No comment
8 UTT/23/1105/FUL – EASTFIELD STABLES, MAY WALK
Erection of the third agricultural building approved under planning application reference UTT/1282/93/FUL in a different location and completion of the internal access road.
The Council has no objection in principle but would question whether the proposed use is still a valid one as previous barns have been converted due to redundancy. Also, we are concerned that the completion of the internal road will allow a through connection from B1051 to May Walk.
9 UTT/23/1135/HHF – 48 BLYTHWOOD GARDENS
Single storey rear extension
No comment
10 UTT/23/1223/FUL – LAND AT THE STABLES MAY WALK, ELSENHAM ROAD
Construction of 3 holiday let cottages and associated infrastructure together with improvements to site access.
The Parish Council objects to this application on the following grounds:
1 The traffic survey is not up to date so a new one needs to be completed
2 Outside Village Development Limits
11 UTT/23/1158/HHF – 4A BLYTHWOOD GARDENS
Demolition of conservatory, replace with single storey rear extension, extend porch, two storey rear extension to south elevation, including roof lights, light tunnel, solar panels, air source heat pump, storm porch and replacement of windows.
No comment
12 UTT/23/1233/HHF – REDLEAF, 60 CHAPEL HILL
Erection of a timber prefabricated single storey granny annexe for ancillary use to the main building.
No comment
41 TO NOTE THE THREE VACANCIES FOLLOWING THE LOCAL ELECTIONS AND TO DECIDE THE WAY FORWARD
The Clerk advised that following the election, there are three vacancies and if the seats are not filled by 26th June 2023, Uttlesford District Council can exercise their right to appoint people to serve. However, as we are quorate with 12 of our 15 seats filled, the Elections Officer has indicated that they are unlikely to do this. The Council does need to decide if and how they are going to proceed. Discussions took place between members, and it was agreed that a job/person spec should be drawn up and any potential new member should meet with the Chair and officers to find out more about the role before deciding if it’s for them. It was also suggested that they should attend some meetings to get an insight.
It was agreed that the co-option process should be followed, and that the Council would welcome a greater cross-section of the community.
42 OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19TH APRIL 2023
The minutes of the meeting were received.
43 HIGHWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 26TH APRIL 2023
The minutes of the meeting were received.
44 F&GP COMMITTEE – TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17TH MAY 2023
The minutes of the meeting were received.
Meeting closed at 9.25pm
Action Points
41 A job/person spec to be drawn up
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 24th May 2023 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 12th April 2023 and the Annual Council meeting held on 10th May 2023
4 To receive an update on action points from the last meeting.
5 To receive a report from the Chair, Cllr Maureen Caton
6 To receive the District Councillors’ Report
7 To receive the County Councillor’s Report
8 Finance – To approve the list of payments – To be tabled
9 To consider the list of planning applications received
10 To note the three vacancies following the local elections and to decide the way forward
11 Open Spaces Committee – To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19th April 2023
12 Highways Sub-Committee – To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 26th April 2023
13 F&GP Committee – To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 17th May 2023
Ruth Clifford, Parish Clerk, 18th May 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.