MINUTES OF CLAVERING PARISH
COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 2 APRIL 2007
(Key to votes: P: Proposed S: Seconded F: For the proposal A: Against Ab:
Abstained D.Int: Declared an interest).
1 PRESENT: The Chairman, Nigel Cook, Vice Chairman Richard Carter,
Brian Barrow, Mike Patmore, Edgar
Abrahams, Des Abrahams, Edward Oliver, and David Laing, together with 7
members of the public. Apologies received from Simon Cooke, Elaine Tomlinson
and Rebecca Stanford.
2 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS:
Edgar Abrahams: Prejudicial interest in Item 8 (P3) as receiving funds. Also
prejudicial interest in item UTT/0416 and UTT/0521 as being a friend of the
applicants, and withdrew from the meeting.
Des Abrahams: Prejudicial interest in item UTT 0416 and UTT 0521 as friend
of the applicant, and withdrew.
Nigel Cook: Prejudicial interest in item UTT 0416 as a friend of the
applicant and withdrew.
Edward Oliver & Des Abrahams: Prejudicial interest in Item 5, PCC donation
application, as Church Treasurer and Member; and withdrew.
3 MINUTES: The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved with an
amendment to Item 5, Finance: Edward Oliver said that the URC Christian
Centre is still officially a church although also a hired venue.
4 MATTERS ARISING:
1 Enforcements:
a. Portakabin: To check that it is now removed and inform the Officer.
b. Caravans opposite Curles: An Appeal had been submitted.
c. Barn and lake at Starlings Gn.: UDC investigating to see whether these
can legally be retained.
d. Structure/items at Starlings Gn: The next stage of enforcement to remove
structures and rubbish is in process.
e. Parking land at The Druce: being monitored further.
f. Canvas Tent : Bolted to the ground and therefore not temporary; formal
action by Enforcement started.
g. Yew Tree Farm, UTT 1074: Awaiting retrospective application.
h. Sign at Jojacks Farm: Further checks by ECC on dumping were ongoing; a
letter re the sign being sent.
i. Business in Pelham Road: The Planning Dept. had checked and awaiting
outcome.
2 Highways & Byways:
a. Speed Limits : VMS unit not working properly.
b. Hill Green yellow lines: Awaiting ECC funding.
c. Byway 50: A temporary Closure Order from 27 March to 10 May.
d. Coley Lane rubbish - still too wet for clearance.
e. Fallen signpost at Butts Green – reported.
f. Gate lights – No response from highways.
g. Potholes - reported. h. Grass verge, The Grange to Ponds. i. Trees opp.
10 Pelham Rd; updated.
3 Other items:
a. Skeins Way lights: Edgar Abrahams to progress as District councillor.
b. Village sign: awaiting action.
c. Village Hall heating: to be resolved in the autumn for next year.
d. Trees: Mike Patmore and Richard Carter to look at locations for tree
donated by Starlings Green residents.
e. Logs on Hill Green: To be moved to the side of the green for collection.
f. Bulbs on land adj Cricketers – Trevor Oliver had kindly offered to plant
these; it was noted that the land needed
clearing first and to wait till after the willow had been lopped.
5 FINANCE:
Invoices: It was agreed to pay the following:
HM Land Registry Replacement for April 06
cheque 000815 (cancelled) 40.00
No vat 000855
Allianz Cornhill Insurance premium
670.14 No vat 000856
Clerk Expenses & stationery
43.94 6.54
000857
Mrs R Stanford Election evening expenses
112.34 No vat 000858
CVH Hire of hall, Jan & Feb
28.00 No vat 000859
RBS Tree Surgeons Felling willow on Hill Green
352.50 52.50 000860
Clerk salary October – March 2007
1667.86 No vat 000861
HMRC Tax on salary
379.64 No vat 000862
A Hickman & Ptns Payroll fees 28.00 No vat 000863
Request for donation: The Council again discussed the grant to the two
Churches as last month the accounts had not been received in time for
checking, and agreed to give the total of £490 for grass expenses and £60
for the clock maintenance as before. It was noted, however, that the
Christian Centre was mainly a commercial hired venue now, and although it
had two services each year it was not generally used as a church, and to
review the grant situation next year. The bills submitted for the grant to
the Parish Church were also noted as being for mower maintenance and petrol,
with only £45 for labour, and it was agreed to record this properly in
future.
Receipt: Allotment rent:
6.50
David Laing reported that the interest to the Allotment and Easement
accounts would be allocated shortly.
6 PLANNING:
UTT 2019 Affordable Housing: No further news on the remaining house.
FP 22 & 26: Thurrocks Farm: Footpath Diversion applications. No progress.
UTT 1631 Bloss, The Mill House, Mill Lane, conversion of outbuilding to
residential. No news.
UTT 1747 Rouse, Clavering Gate; Detached barn / garage / store. No news.
UTT 1669 Merrick, Ford end House. Conversion of garage to playroom etc. No
news.
UTT 0115 Webb Investments, Clavering Mill. Approved.
UTT 0134 Shaw, The Wheelhouse. Conversion of medieval barn to residential.
Approved.
UTT 0236 Keeble-Bradford, Camlea, Arkesden Rd. Refused.
UTT 0317 Saville, 4 Colehills Close, 2 storey extension. No objections.
UTT 0178 & UTT 0270 BF Contracts, 8 houses in Barlee Close. Refused.
UTT 0364 Channer, The Maples, Stickling Green. Replacement garage; no
objections.
UTT 0416 P Smith, 16 Skeins Way. Rear extn. No objections.
UTT 0521 Couchman, High View, Mill Lane. Revised plans for garage. No
objections.
UTT 0337 Merrick, Ford End House, Ford End. Replacement windows, cabin/shed.
No objections.
UTT 0495 Baker, Hill Cottage Middle St. Replacement garage & outbuilding.
Objections to double storey garage, no objections to single storey or
outbuilding.
Trees: Barker, Home Farm Cottage; approval to lop cedar.
APPEALS:
UTT 1481 BF Contracts, 8 houses in Barlee Close: Awaiting result.
UTT 1564 Loveridge, The Patch. House to replace caravan.
7 P3
Scheme & Footpaths: No further updates.
8 LAND REGISTRATION:
Track from Chipperfield House to Hyaway: No information from residents
regarding registration.
Bridges: Environment Agency had advised registration should be started.
9 ACCESSES & GREENS:
a. The Cricketers – still awaiting response from NALC.
b. Easements - awaiting further details from NALC.
c. Earth on the Bridges: To write and ask the resident to provide the
planting plan urgently before work starts.
d. Chapel parking: This was continuing at times and residents asked the
Council to consider providing leaflets to put under windscreens. It was
decided it would be better for them to take numbers to pass to the Clerk,
and also to write to Ms Moyer again requesting co-operation from her school
clients. A note to be put in the Newsletter to remind parents they can park
in CVH.
10 CORRESPONDENCE:
All correspondence was available in the file and had been circulated and
listed to councillors.
UDC – Conservation Area Appraisal proposals. UDC had agreed £30 towards
their leaflet being circulated with the Newsletter. The public meeting on 10
May will be chaired by UDC Conservation and Planning Officers.
Mrs Downham, mirrors outside CVH: To be passed to the Village Hall Committee
to discuss.
Mr R Wingham; letters of complaint regarding Cllr Oliver’s prejudicial
interest in his application. To reply that Cllr Oliver had left the meeting,
that the minutes were a summary of decisions only, that he should check with
UDC Officers regarding Code of Conduct matters, and that the recommendations
were councillors’ own views.
UDC COMMISSION FOR RURAL ENQUIRY: Edward Oliver to complete the
questionnaire.
Angela Davis: Further request for dog signs; agreed to put further notices
on the Board and Newsletter.
Anna Vryland, Clavering Fete: Request to use Hill Green for parking;
approved.
Andrea Pearce, Art Show: Request to use Hill Green for parking; approved.
Frank Knowles: Byway 50, progressing requests to Highways for ongoing winter
closures.
ECC – Notice re encouraging people to Vote in Elections – agreed to use in
Newsletter and on Notice Board
11 ALLOTMENTS:
The 10 new plots had been rotovated. It was agreed to waive the 2007 rent
payment from to Ian La Roche for doing the work. Hose and tap: no progress.
12 REVIEW OF JUBILEE FIELD TRUST DEED: A short meeting had been held,
but awaiting return from holidays of all committee members.
13 VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS: Neighbourhood Watch: the Police Beat
Officers had been randomly surveying households asking for their main
concerns; the consensus was speeding and the officers will carry out speed
gun checks on the B1038 when their other duties allow.
14 PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS: The Information Evening Wine & Cheese
was well attended with new people asking for details of the commitment and
background, and for Nomination Papers when available.
15 BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION: It was suggested that one of the
reasons we had failed last year was because there were no youth facilities
in Clavering, but there were no volunteers to take this on. It was agreed to
see if by next month anyone could be found who would be willing to make some
proposals and to find a venue.
16 ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Brian Barrow reported on a meeting with Rob Kellett of UDC about the trees
opposite 10 Pelham Rd.
Mike Patmore asked that parishioners be reminded again that parking along
Stortford Road for the school and blocking residents’ driveways was
irresponsible and becoming a serious problem now, and if all else failed,
car numbers would be reported to the police for action.
It was noted that Junior Football on Saturdays was now held at the School,
since football training at the Jubilee Field had stopped.
Roadside signs: Complaints had been received about the dangerous siting of
signs by local estate agents advertising the Art Show etc., and failing
action by CVH, the Clerk had them moved. Edgar Abrahams was asked to ensure
that his Committee monitored these in future, and informed the Council when
they were to be put up.
17 NEXT MEETING: Monday, May 2007. There being no other
business, the meeting adjourned.