Draft Minutes
Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council F&GP Committee
Draft Minutes of a meeting of the F&GP COMMITTEE held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th June 2025 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
Present Cllr J O’Brien (Vice-Chair acting as Chair), Cllrs A Khan and G Sell
Attending Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk
75 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr R Ackerman – Meeting, Cllr M Caton – Holiday and Cllr P Jones – Holiday
Resolved to approve apologies for absence from Cllrs Ackerman, Caton and Jones
No apologies were received from Cllr Gardner
76 Declarations of Interest- None
77 To Approve the Minutes of the Meetings Held on 2nd April and 14th May 2025
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meetings held on 2nd April and 14th May 2025 as true and accurate accounts.
78 To Receive an Update on Action Points From the Last Meeting
None
79 To Receive a Report From the Vice-chair, Cllr John O’Brien
The Economy: May saw a minor fall in the rate of inflation by 0.1% to 3.4%.
The present government’s economic strategy seems to be hurting rather than nurturing economic growth.
Unfortunately, external events seem to point towards further inflationary increases. The recent intervention by the US, bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities, may inevitably mean some higher energy costs. Already we have seen local petrol prices increase by 3p/litre, between 18th and 22nd June.
However, it is the threat of a general hike in inflation which may mean that the return of the Winter Fuel Allowance, although welcome, may prove inadequate in light of recent events.
Green Energy: Energy costs could remain volatile for the foreseeable future, and it is my view that this council needs to take steps to lessen its own energy costs to prevent any potential impact on its Precept going forward. To this end enquiries have been made into potential costs and benefits of energy saving projects at Crafton Green.
In addition to the above, I have been made aware of an initiative to create a locally based Community Energy Project, proposed by the founder of Sustainable Stansted, Bob Burlton, on the lines of ‘Community Energy Staffordshire’, a non-profit enterprise, which has been in operation since 2011. I urge all councillors to view its website: – https://staffscommunityenergy.org.uk
Bob is on the board of the Staffordshire Co-Op and has been involved in solar energy projects for their stores. We shall wait to see how this progresses.
Streetlights: This Council is facing a double whammy in that the need to fulfil its goal, of saving energy costs on street lighting, is being accompanied by the prospect of having to replace the columns along Chapel Hill, Lower Street and Station Road. The condition of these was regarded as suspect in a structural condition survey in 2023, with a follow up set for 2026 instead of 2028. As a result Full Council approved a £15K addition to its Precept over 3 years.
A number of Streetlight manufacturers have been contacted to offer quotes for replacing the lights and columns with more energy efficient products and so far, indications are that these may cost around £2.5K each, but without including the cost of replacing the old columns and reconnecting to the grid. All options are still to be costed and reported back to this committee, but this needs to be done by October for us to consider the budgetary implications for the following year.
Mountfitchet Exchange: Essex County Council’s lease for the Library is yet to be signed, and agreement on shared running costs to be reached. The ball is firmly in Essex’s court to fully honour the commitments made at the inception of this joint project.
Members discussed the money owed by Essex County Council for the library space in the Mountfitchet Exchange and asked that the Committee ask County Councillor Gooding to use his good offices for the benefit of the community. They also asked for the Clerk to email Committee members with an update on the situation. Report Ends.
80 Lighting
- a) To Receive an Outage Report
Cllr O’Brien advised that LS5 in Lower Street has been out for 4 weeks or so. This will be reported by the office as it has not been reported previously.
- b) to Receive a General Report on Lighting
The definitive inventory of out streetlights was carried out last summer, the result of which was not confirmed by UK Power Network until much later, but we still have not received confirmation from our energy supplier.
Cllr O’Brien met with a representative of Pudsey Diamond and did a walk of Chapel Hill, Lower Street and Station Road to discuss the best means and style of columns. They advised that the cast iron bases do not do anyone any good and believe that the embellishments should be left off and it be kept simple. He also requested a quote from D W Windsor and is hoping to have figures by October so that we can assess what figures to add to the next precept.
81 Finance – to Approve the List of Payments
The list of payments was checked against the invoices before the start of the meeting by Cllr O’Brien.
The list of payments was approved
82 to Consider Grant Applications Received
A grant application was received from Barnardos for a sensory garden to be installed at the Spangles Family Hub. This application and all paperwork was circulated to members with the agenda. The Deputy Clerk advised that there was £7,210 left in the grant’s budget.
Having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Sell, it was unanimously
Resolved to award a grant of £1217 to Barnardos.
Cllr Khan asked for it to be minuted that we have noted their accounts and their cash balance.
83 Windmill – to Receive Any Available Updates
The re-pointing and other essential works are now complete and have been a great success.
MP Kemi Badenoch is visiting the Windmill on Friday afternoon along with Cllrs Caton and O’Brien. The Millers are hoping that the weight of her office will help them get more money.
Cllr Sell commented that he was disappointed that the Millers had not let the Parish Council know that this was taking place as we are joint Trustees. Cllr Khan also said he would like to have seen an invite for the District Councillors to attend.
84 Youth Matters – to Receive Any Available Updates
None
85 Staff Matters – to Receive Any Available Updates
None
Meeting closed at 7.53pm
Action Points
79 Committee to request Cllr Gooding use his good offices regarding outstanding library fees
79 Clerk to send update to Committee members
80a Report outage of LS5 in Lower Street
Agenda
Members of the Committee you are hereby summoned, and members of the public and press are hereby invited, to attend a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE which will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th June 2025 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 meetings held on 2nd April and 14th May 2025
4 To receive an update on action points from the last meeting
5 To receive a report from the Vice-Chair, Cllr John O’Brien
6 Lighting:
- a) To receive an outage report
- b) To receive a general report on lighting
7 Finance: To approve the list of payments for authorisation – to be tabled
8 To consider grant applications received
9 Windmill – to receive any available updates
10 Youth Matters – to receive any available updates
11 Staff Matters – To receive any available updates
Parish Clerk 19th June 2025
Any intention to record, film or take photographs during a meeting must be notified to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.