Draft Minutes
Minutes of a meeting of the FULL COUNCIL held on Wednesday 12th June 2024 at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex.
PRESENT Cllrs M Caton (Chair), Cllrs A Barnes, G Braeckman, P Jones, J Kavanagh, A Love, J O’Brien, L Prior, G Sell and T van de Bilt
ATTENDING Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk, Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk, Cty Cllr Ray Gooding, 1 member of the press, 2 members of the public via Zoom
57 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Guney and Khan, both of whom had work commitments.
RESOLVED To accept the apologies for absence from Cllrs Guney and Khan
No apologies were received from Cllr Ghosh
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – none
58 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – none.
59 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22ND MAY 2024
RESOLVED To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd May 2024 as a true and accurate account.
60 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ACTION POINTS FROM THE LAST MEETING
43 – Cllr Gooding to clarify re pothole report
56 – Briefing paper for Local Plan Panel – No longer necessary as the Parish Council does not support – see below
56 – Consultation with community on the three site allocations – No longer necessary as the Parish Council does not support – see below
At the meeting on 22 May, the Council passed a resolution to support further development at Church Road only if the total number of dwellings to be allocated for Stansted remained at or around the 390 stated in the UDC draft Reg 18 Local Plan. Discussion with UDC officers post that meeting indicated that the numbers on the other 2 sites allocated would not change and, if the Church Road site was included in the draft Reg 19 Local Plan, then the total for Stansted would increase to around 540. This response meant that part a) of the resolution failed rendering parts b) and c) unnecessary.
61 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE CHAIR, CLLR MAUREEN CATON
- Thank you to those Councillors who attended the D Day commemoration at St John’s Church. The dedication of the Rungis Veteran’s plaque was also a significant feature of the ceremony – following on from the main act of remembrance. Our Rungis counterparts are delighted the plaque will be on permanent display in the church.
- Councillor Jamie Hogg has resigned from the council for personal reasons . He will be sorely missed – his common-sense approach and yet focus on detail has supported the council’s decision -making on many an occasion. Jamie, thank you for your time and the commitment you afforded to the benefit of our community.
- Following our discussion in relation to development on Church Road – Elms Farm, I have communicated our decision to the Trustees of LEAP – The Legacy East Almshouse Partnership. Whilst they understood our position in relation to the increased housing numbers we would need to accommodate, and without any major infrastructure changes – it did mean that the land for the almshouse provision was also now not available – in what would have been a sustainable site. We all therefore need to continue to explore all possibilities to re -provide this resource in Stansted in a sustainable location.
- Our Planning Working Group are looking to arrange a meeting with the developers (Bloor) – in connection with proposed developments on the land north of Walpole Meadows and High Lane – we need to ensure that the community benefits from this development reflect the impact these c.390 houses will have on our already limited infrastructure.
- At our recent three-way meeting between County/District and Parish Councillors – I can confirm that the issues with the drain at the bottom of Grove Hill will be actioned on June 13th; and it would appear that action taken on the leak further up the hill has also ceased the ongoing flow of water down the hill. Cllr Gooding has confirmed that ECC will carry out repairs to the highway as soon as possible after this work is completed.
- Feasibiility Scheme re HGVs – we are awaiting an update from Cllr Gooding on this.
- In relation to the area outside the King’s Arms which floods and causes pedestrians to walk into the road – Cllr Gooding is awaiting a feasibility study to be finalised along with potential highlighted solutions for this main arterial drain and the complexity of issues in relation to its location.
- The drains on Church Road are to be jetted and a surface water alleviation review is to be undertaken – however, we do not have a time frame for this work.
- Cllr Gooding has also agreed to communicate the dates the Highways “repair teams” will be in his wards and which repairs will be on the list for action.
- Sight line issues are currently being addressed in relation to the Forest Hall Road pedestrian crossing; the two crossings on Walson Way are going through feasibility, with the Silver Street crossing planned for this financial year.
- Parish/ District and County Councillors discussed the issues affecting some of the Manor Road flats – whilst many of these are lease-hold there appear to be issues with the fabric of the building which remains as the responsibility of UDC. As Chair of the Parish Council, I proposed that we should jointly communicate with UDC and request urgent action on these issues which are affecting our parishioners
- Just in case any of you were not aware – we are now in the throes of election fervour! We are in what is now called the Pre-Election Period (formerly Purdah) so must be mindful that the Parish Council and Councillors are not seen to promote any particular party or individual, verbally or in writing, if acting in your role as a parish councillor.
Following a brief discussion, it was agreed that a fuller explanation regarding the proposed Church Road development was required for parishioners and a position statement would be posted on the Council’s website:
The statement can be found at future-residential-development-in-stansted
62 TO RECEIVE WRITTEN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
No written reports received. Cllr Sell confirmed that the deadline to register for postal for proxy votes at the General Election is 19th June. The sale of UDC’s share of the Chesterford Research Park is out to market with a sale expected by the end of the next financial year. Together with Dist Cllr Dean, Cllr Sell had met virtually with representatives of Bloor Homes who had stated that they were reluctant to reduce the number of dwellings on either of their site allocations as this would affect the viability of their schemes. They had also stated that their legal team were awaiting response from SMPC’s solicitor with regard to the transfer of the allotment site. The Clerk reported that the S.106 Officer has not yet issued the Certificate of Satisfactory Completion and, until then, the solicitor will not be authorised to proceed.
Cllr Gooding confirmed that he would be raising the issue of lack of UDC’s maintenance of properties at Manor Road with the Chief Executive and would welcome support from the Parish Council.
63 TO RECEIVE A WRITTEN COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
No written report received. Referring to the situation on Grove Hill, Cllr Gooding thanked Cllr Kavanagh for having reported the water leak further up Grove Hill. Affinity Water had accepted that this was their responsibility and had repaired it. This seems to have been the source of the water running further down the hill as it has now stopped. Clearance of the blocked drain will take place tomorrow, followed by patch repair to the road surface. It was unlikely that works to cut back vegetation would be done at the same time.
Cllr Gooding confirmed that he is submitting a list of maintenance jobs for Essex Highways to triage prior to making the final list available.
64 FINANCE – TO APPROVE THE LIST OF PAYMENTS
The list of payments was checked against the invoices by Cllr Jones before the start of the meeting. The list of payments was approved.
65 TO RECEIVE THE FINAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT 2023-24
This was circulated to members ahead of the meeting and noted.
66 TO APPROVE THE YEAR END ACCOUNTS AT 31ST MARCH 2024
This was circulated to members with the agenda
Having been proposed by Cllr Jones and seconded by Cllr Sell, it was unanimously
RESOLVED To approve the year end accounts at 31st March 2024.
67 TO CONSIDER THE ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENTS 2023/24
This was circulated to members with the agenda. The Clerk read out each question and all members answered “yes” to statements 1-8 and number 9 was not applicable.
Having been proposed by Cllr Jones and seconded by Cllr O’Brien, it was unanimously
RESOLVED that the Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 be signed.
68 TO CONSIDER ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS 2023/24
This was circulated to members with the agenda.
Having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Braeckman, it was unanimously
RESOLVED to approve the accounting statements for the year end 31 March 2024.
69 TO CONSIDER THE LIST OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS
1 UTT/23/3236/DFO – LAND TO THE EAST OF HIGH LANE – REVISED PLANS
Details following outline application UTT/22/0457/OP for the erection of 30 no. dwellings, parking, landscaping, access and all associated development – details of layout, scale, landscaping and appearance.
No objections but members commented that the footpath to the north of the site did not link to any official rights of way, only to private land and, as such, could technically lead to nowhere. It was agreed to ask UDC to introduce a Tree Preservation Order across the site to prevent removal of trees by future occupants of the homes. Cllr O’Brien stated the importance of the developers constructing the flood basins in strict accordance with the approved plans.
2 UTT/24/1366/FUL – STANSTED YOUTH AND EDUCATION CENTRE, LOWER STREET
Change of use from Use Class F2 (Local Community) to Use Class E(f) (Nursery), installation of refuse storage, cycle store and reconfiguration of existing car park of the Stansted Mountfitchet Youth and Education Centre, Lower Street, Stansted Mountfitchet.
Members supported this application which would bring much-needed childcare services to the village. However, they were mindful that there could be an adverse impact upon local residents due to the potential increase in car movements. It was hoped that the business would be a good neighbour and would maximise the use of the car park through good design of the spaces.
70 TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING PART OF THE WINDMILL EARMARKED RESERVE TOWARDS THE REPOINTING PROJECT
A report on this from the Clerk was circulated to members with the agenda. Cllr O’Brien stressed the importance of making sure that the Mill is protected from the elements, particularly the rainwater which has got in through the brickwork over the last couple of years. It may be more beneficial for grant applications to be made in the name of the Trustees and a pledge of money from this fund might, in turn, attract grant funding from other organisations. After brief discussion and having been proposed by Cllr Jones and seconded by Cllr O’Brien, it was
RESOLVED that the Council allocates up to £30,000 from the Windmill Fund towards the repointing project. If, when all grants are known, the total estimated cost of around £55,000 cannot be raised in full, then bring the item back to Council for further consideration.
Meeting closed 8.29pm
ACTION POINTS
61 – Office to post position statement on website
63 – Cty Cllr Gooding to let SMPC have final list of maintenance jobs
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 12th June 2024 at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted, Essex, where the following business will be transacted:
Agenda
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 Full Council meeting held on 22nd May 2024
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 written District Councillor Reports
7 To receive a written County Councillor Report
8 Finance: To approve the list of payments – to be tabled
9 To receive the Final Internal Audit Report 2023-24 – to follow
10 To approve the Year End Accounts at 31st March 2024– attached for members
11 To consider Annual Governance Statements 2023/24 – attached for members
12 To consider Accounting Statements 2023/24 – attached for members
13 To consider the list of planning applications received – see attached
14 To consider allocating part of the Windmill EarMarked Reserve towards the repointing project – See attached
Parish Clerk 6th June 2024