Minutes HPC Meeting 7th November 2024

HENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes (unapproved) of a Parish Council Meeting

Date: Thursday 7 November 2024

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: OSCA, Henham

Present: Cllrs N. Baker, S. Lee, C. Walker, J. Leech, P. Franklin, G. LeCount, Z. Rutterford, District Cllrs P. Lees and B. Donald and clerk M. Dacey

Declaration of interests: The Chair reminded Councillors of their duty to declare any relevant personal or pecuniary interests.

1. Apologies for Absence: Cllr M. Fisher and County Cllr R. Gooding

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the 5 September 2024 meeting was approved and signed by the Chair. There was no HPC meeting in October 2024.

Clerk’s note: The September minutes incorrectly referred to the fire and lack of access on 21/8/24 being on Old Mead Lane. The minutes should have stated Old Mead Road.

3. Matters Arising –

4. Reports and Recommendations

• Greens and Village Estate – Cllr. Baker:
• Greens damage –Village greens particularly by along Crow St will be monitored over the winter months and any necessary repairs carried out in the Spring.
• Greens Bylaws – Bylaws submitted to Secretary of State for approval by our solicitors and receipt acknowledged. An initial response from Secretary of State expected shortly, our solicitors have chased SoS for a response.
• Coronation commemoration – Railings now also installed. Cllr Fisher will look into organising an opening ceremony in due course.
• Church works –The Parish Council has been advised by the Church Warden that one of the last items for completion is the laying of the handmade stone pamments in the main church. Unfortunately, these floor tiles, hand made locally, were due for delivery, but during the final firing stage, impurities in the clay caused 90% of the tiles to shatter/break. This means that the whole process of making the tiles, drying them for 5-8 weeks and then re-firing them in the kiln for a further period, means that the completion date and reoccupation of the Church will be pushed back to January/Feb 2025.

Whilst they anticipate the rest of the work will be completed on the previous timescales, including the scaffolding removal, the connection to mains drainage etc the contractor will legally retain the site. Parish Council to closely monitor the state of greens following the works.

• The Bury – Our Solicitor has been contacted by the buyers of The Bury who wish to have the access formalised with a deed of easement. Deed drafted so that only The Bury will have legal access, matter now completed.

Village ponds/Woodland – Cllr Walker continues to liaise with Planteria and the School and Woodland Trust regarding the woodland and the School’s curiosity approach to learning. Cllr Walker has also been investigating various funding options for the project, including obtaining saplings from the Woodland Trust. The Clerk has obtained advice from our insurers regarding the voluntary clear up of the woodland and Cllr Franklin has been liaising with Cllr Walker regarding Health & Safety aspects, format of the form for volunteers now finalised circulated to all volunteers. Cllr Walker will liaise with the Chair regarding donation of a bench. Cllrs are to note that this is a village community volunteer project which any interested residents may join and Cllr Walker is leading the volunteer group in his personal capacity (and not as a councillor) and will be reporting back to the Parish Council on progress. The clearing out works commenced in October 2024. The Parish Council thanks Cllr Walker and the team of volunteers for all their efforts to date.

Village Hall – (1) General – In September, the clerk has issued the Village Hall Committee with a cheque for £2,500 being the balance of the annual HPC grant. (2) Solicitors – Cllr Fisher is liaising with the village hall committee regarding trustee positions. (3) HPC Community Support Fund – Nothing to report.

PCSO – The Chair met with PCSO managers in October to discuss further accountability. It was agreed at that meeting that Sgt Kev Mayle will send over a report to Cllr Baker at the end of each month, hopefully ahead of the monthly parish council meetings so that Cllr Baker can update Cllrs. The report will show engagements, speed 100 checks and incidents that have occurred as well as hours spent in your parish (10 hours for Stansted per week 5 hours  for Henham per week and 20 hours for Uttlesford per week).

Speedwatch – Update by Cllr Walker: TruCam- The police representative will need to carry out another site inspection to clarify this and report back to Essex Police –.

Management of Pledgdon Green – (a) Common Land – Update from Cllr Rutterford. The local farmer has kindly finished clearing all of the hay bales from Pledgdon Green. The overall management has had plenty of positive comments from residents who thank the Parish Council for funding this. (b) Conservation Area Status – Place Services have looked into extending the proposed conservation area to include to the Pledgdon Green area and the report was previously circulated to all cllrs. The report has suggested that the Pledgdon Green area be suitable for conservation area designation and the Parish Council wish to progress this. The next step would be for the Parish Council to commission the CAAMP for Pledgdon Green, this step was agreed at our September meeting. Broxted Parish Council are not taking this any further but their clerk has confirmed they are happy for Henham Parish Council to liaise with Place Services regarding extending the scope of the CAAMP to widen the proposed conservation area. Update from Cllr Rutterford circulated prior to this meeting, the CAAMP is expected imminently.

UDC Parish Council Standards Training – Cllr Franklin attended UDC Parish Council Standards Training on behalf of the Parish Council on September 17^th. Update by Cllr Franklin circulated to all Cllrs prior to this meeting.

Christmas Tree – Chair will order and organise installation on 1^st December 2024.

Remembrance Sunday – Temporary Road Closure at War Memorial 10^th November (10:55-11:10am) – The Road closure order has been circulated to Church organisers by the Clerk. Church volunteers (not the Parish Council) will be responsible for implementing the temporary Road Closure on the day. Details have already been posted on website and FB.

FOI request Four Winds – The Parish Council received a Freedom of Information request from the owners of Four Winds. The request covered the actions of the Parish Council in relation to a planning request for an additional dwelling. It is the legal duty of the Parish Council to respond in 21 days. This is an onerous responsibility on the Parish Council, in this case and the Chair had to spend 22 hours responding to this request. For a Parish Council consisting of volunteers, requests such as this are unreasonable. The Parish Council is always ready and willing to meet any resident to discuss an issue.

New Rules for Poultry and Captive Bird Keepers- From 01 October 2024 if residents are in charge of the day to day care of poultry or other captive birds of any number they must be registered with the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA). This includes any birds kept as pets. If residents have been a keeper prior to 1 October 2024, they must now register immediately if not already done so and if a resident becomes a new keeper after 1 October 2024, the birds must be registered within 30 days. Further guidance, including a list of the poultry and bird species that need to be registered can be obtained on the Gov.UK webpage: Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). More details are on the village website.

Enforcement Training – UDC are offering all Councils Enforcement Training, Cllr Baker to attend on 27 November on behalf of the Parish Council planning sub-committee.

Planning Training – Cllr Walker is attending an EALC run planning training day for councillors on 23 November 2024 on behalf of the Parish Council planning sub-committee, £97.50 will be refunded back to the Parish Council under the EALC bursary scheme.

Remote Meetings Consultation – The government has published the consultation paper, which closes on 19 December 2024 regarding remote Parish Council meetings. Following a discussion, it was agreed that the Chair would respond on behalf of the Parish Council confirming that it is not in favour of remote meetings.

           (ii) Finance

2024-2025 Accounts – Q1 and Q2 Accounts for 24/25 have been submitted by the clerk to Cllr Fisher for review and approval.

• Planning and Developments –

• UTT/24/2259/FUL – proposed Change of use from paddock to residential and construction of 2no. self-build residential dwellings, Land Rear Of Tudor Hall Brick End Road – Cllr Rutterford declared and interest and absented herself from any discussion. Clerk to Broxted Parish Council has requested an extension to respond to the application. Sub-planning cttee submitted objection on behalf of the Parish Council 13/10/24. District Cllr Lees has called this in.
• UTT/24/2339/HHF – proposed Erection of outbuilding, The Coach House Old Mead Road
• UTT/24/2165/HHF – proposed Erection of shed Cedar Cottage Crow Street – Cllr Lee declared an interest and absented himself from any discussion.
• UTT/24/2477/HHF – proposed Erection of a single storey front extension, Caldecote, Highfields, High Street – the Clerk declared an interest and absented herself from any discussion.
• UTT/24/2561/HHF – Erection of a timber, pre-fabricated, single-storey granny annexe, for ancillary use to the main dwelling, 44 Mill Road Henham, sub planning committee have submitted comments regarding concern as to size and scale.
• UTT/24/2617/HHF – proposed Replacement existing rear conservatory with a new conservatory on the existing base, Langleys Starr Road
• UTT/24/1141/FUL – proposed development of 3 no. detached houses, creation of wildlife garden and pathway route (privately owned and maintained public open space), landscaping, driveway access and associated works, Land Adj Grind Hall Wood End Green Henham Hertfordshire RECONSULTATION. Sub-planning committee have instructed our planning expert, and traffic expert to advise on the reconsultation. Our solicitors have also been instructed regarding rights of access over greens. The Chair has written to UDC planning 3/11/24 to request an extension to respond to reconsultation, request refused by UDC. Traffic consultant letter of objection submitted to UDC. The Chair proposed to engage our barrister to provide advice regarding greens access for £1500-2000 plus VAT, seconded by Cllr Lee, approved nem con.

Breaches:  none

Appeals:  APP/C1570/W/24/3339629 – UTT/23/1382/FUL – Four Winds, Old Mead Lane – Appeal Allowed.

APP/C1570/Y/24/3349872 – UTT/24/0368/LB – Pledgdon Green Farm Brick End Road – proposed replacement windows to rear and conversion of window to french doors. The appeal will be determined on the basis of written representations, deadline 1/11/24.

APP/C1570/W/24/3353759 – UTT/23/1732/FUL – Tudor Hall Pledgdon Green – proposed Change of use of paddock to residential and construction of 3 no. residential dwellings. The appeal will be determined on the basis of written representations, 6 December 2024. Cllr Rutterford declared an interest and absented herself from any discussion.

Developments:

UTT/24/0670/DFO (Re- Consultation) Mill Road Development (45 houses): Cllr Walker is liaising with Bellway on behalf of the Parish Council. 24/00096/NEWDEV – LAND SOUTH OF VERNONS CLOSE HENHAM – STREET NAMING CONSULTATION – Developers suggestions previously circulated to Cllrs and it was agreed to honour residents who have contributed to the village by naming streets after them, permission has been granted by their relatives (where applicable). Cllr Walker has been liaising with the developer who confirmed they have made some very minor changes to some house types. The other applications now being submitted are planning conditions to be discharged. The Parish Council has submitted its objection to the proposed lighting scheme (Condition 17). The Developer has also confirmed that on the Condition 17 application they are still reviewing this with the officer and highways. They will be making amendments to reduce lightning and keep low level following an internal review. Cllr Walker is arranging a meeting this month with the Chair, Cllr Walker and Bellway to attend.

Bloor – UTT/23/2063/DFO (200 houses) – Land East Of Station Road – Issues are S106 – surgery contribution, footpath at the level crossing, and drainage into Old Mead Road system. Level Crossing works completed. Cllr Franklin to contact Bloor regarding installation of a footpath by the Level Crossing.

Bedwell Road – UTT/24/0543/OP (240 houses) – Land North Of Bedwell Road And East Of Old Mead Road Ugley And Henham. Cllr Walker and Cllr Franklin attended a joint meeting with UDC and Cllrs from Elsenham and Ugley Parishes on 25/9/24. The developer was not present. Meeting notes from Cllr Walker circulated to all prior to this meeting. The Parish Council has written to UDC requesting that this is called in.

Proposed development Land South of School Lane – The Parish Council has been approached by Magenta Planning Ltd regarding a meeting to discuss the proposed promotion by Montare LLP (developer) of a development of land south of School Lane. A proposed development on this site was previously turned down on Appeal in 2017 (previous developer was Persimmons). Chair and Cllr Walker have arranged a meeting with the school governors to ascertain the school’s position on 11 November 2024 and a meeting with the Developer/agents will follow thereafter on 21/11/24. It is noted that the developer’s marketing brochure for the site which has been circulated to the planning sub-committee is full of factual inaccuracies.

Decisions: none

• Highways – Update OMR-OML – (1) Openreach have permission to shut OMR at the bend by the junction with Lodge Road on Wednesday 8th January 2025 Network Rail have applied to close OMR at the level crossing on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th January 2025,
  not yet approved.

School parking – Nothing to report

Potholes – Nothing new to report.

Footpath 32 – Nothing new to report.

Diversion route through Brick End Lane/Road Condition of Brick End Lane – Cllr Rutterford has been liaising with ECC/EH throughout the summer recess requesting clear diversion signs are installed to avoid the chaos on previous occasions when Hall Road to airport is closed and Sat Navs direct traffic through Brick End Lane/Pledgdon Green. Cllr Rutterford has chased County Cllr Gooding for a date for a meeting at County Hall with Cllr Rutterford, County Cllr Gooding and the deputy to Tom Cunningham at Essex Highways, to discuss the serious ongoing issues. No meeting set up as yet.

Toot Toot signage – Nothing new to report.

Residents are encouraged to also report any matters to Essex Highways direct via the Essex Highways web site www.essexhighways.org (details also on the Henham Website), as the more people who complain regarding Highways matters the more likely something will get done.

Residents are encouraged to report unsafe or dangerous parking in our village to: swilliams@uttlesford.gov.uk Stansted Airport Limited operates a Freephone number for reporting suspected on-street airport related car parking. The Freephone number is: 0800 7312385

5. Correspondence

Sent/Received: Freedom of Information request by the owner of Four Winds; resident re clarification of fire incident on OMR; Magenta Planning re land south of School Lane, Letter from agent consultant regarding Town and County Procedure Order 2015 notice re Grind Hall, resident re cemetery plot.

Planning Applications  – see 4(iii) above

• Clerk – approximately 250 emails in September and October respectively.

6. Waste and Minerals Development Issues – Local Plan Review – 2025 to 2040 Nothing to report.
7. SAW (Stop Stansted Expansion) – SAW will be wound up by 30/9/24 and all net assets transferred to the SAW Foundation CIC which will have the same objectives as SAW, however it will no longer be a member organisation and so there will be no subscriptions, newsletters, website or office services. Noise complaints can only now be made via stanstednoiseline@stanstedairport.com. It will still be possible to donate to SAW Foundation CIC.
8. Governance – Nothing new to report
9. Local Plan – Documents related to the local plan can be found at: www.uttlesford.gov.uk/new-local-plan. (1) Local Plan numbers allocation – Advice was circulated to residents via the website and Facebook. Our legal advisors submitted the Parish Council’s response on 14/10/24. A copy is on our website. Reg 19 Consultation now closed. UDC press release 17/10/24 states: “All submitted comments will now be processed and submitted to the Secretary of State by the end of 2024 for independent Examination, expected to take place during 2025. This will involve the appointment of an independent Planning Inspector, who will examine the Local Plan in great detail on issues of soundness, legal compliance and compliance to the duty to cooperate. This normally involves public hearing sessions, the specific timing of these will be announced by the appointed inspector. All comments received at regulation 19 consultations alongside the Local Plan and supporting documentation, including evidence, will be included in the submission.”

(2) Neighbourhood plan – Chair has confirmed to UDC that the Parish Council will engage in the Neighbourhood plan process to allocate the 112 houses required in the Local Plan rather than engage in a conversation with UDC Planning to allocate sites.

(3) RCCE- Introduction to Rural Affordable Housing – Cllr Franklin and Cllr Lee attended a free online briefing on 4th November 2024 on behalf of the Parish Council planning sub-Committee. Following a discussion, it was agreed that the Parish Council would proceed with preliminary investigations.

10. Henham SOV 100 Club draw (Clerk’s Note: SOV 100 Sept/Oct draws were carried out earlier this month and prior to this meeting) –

September Draw

Cllr Baker conducted the draw on behalf of the Henham SOV 100 Club. He drew from a black bag containing 164 lottery balls. The winning numbers were:

1st Prize Number 25  (Mrs V Beeden)  £223
2nd Prize Number 129 (D Reynolds)  £108

3rd Prize Christmas Bonus Ball Accumulator £54 Cumulative total £484

Total funds received per draw were £770. Half will be paid in prizes plus the cumulative Christmas Bonus Ball with the balance of £385 paid to Henham Parish Council SOV Funds.

October Draw

Cllr Baker conducted the draw on behalf of the Henham SOV 100 Club. He drew from a black bag containing 164 lottery balls. The winning numbers were:

1st Prize Number 114 (L Hands)  £223
2nd Prize Number 162 (D Carter King  £108

3^rd Prize Christmas Bonus Ball Accumulator £54) Cumulative total £538

Total funds received per draw were £770. Half will be paid in prizes plus the cumulative Christmas Bonus Ball with the balance of £385 paid to Henham Parish Council SOV Funds.

Many thanks for everyone’s ongoing support.

11. Date of Next Meeting

The next Parish Council meeting is on Thursday 5^th December 2024 at 7:30pm. Everyone Welcome

Mareike Dacey, Clerk