MINUTES OF CLAVERING PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 5 FEBRUARY 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, Simon Cooke, Rebecca Stanford, together with 5 members of the public.
Apologies received from David Laing and Elaine Tomlinson.

2 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Edgar Abrahams: Prejudicial interest for UTT/0115 as adjacent landowner; Item 13 (Jubilee Field Review) as Chairman, and Item 8, (P3) as receiving funds under the scheme, Finance (Hedgecutting payment) as recipient, CW Abrahams.
Conservation Area Review: All councillors noted that they may have interests on any matters which relate to their personal circumstances, and all agreed to declare if necessary. The Monitoring Officer had advised that for future discussions, they may wish to apply personally for dispensations to allow them to discuss. In the event, this review discussion was in general terms only.

3 CONSERVATION AREA REVIEW
It was proposed to go into Committee (P:RWC, S:EO, F:All) as the Officer advised matters were still confidential.  He reviewed the draft proposals to date, and gave copies to all councillors, with the request that they let the Clerk have any comments within 2 weeks. He would then prepare a final draft before a public meeting. Many buildings were identified as being worthy of preservation and monitoring, although not necessarily Listing, and some extra areas of the village were earmarked for discussion or inclusion.

4 MINUTES The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed with 2 amendments; no seat was to be ‘replaced’, and Brian Barrow was not appointed to help progress the closure request for Byway 50.

5 MATTERS ARISING
1 Enforcements:
a. Portakabin: Awaiting removal by 31 March.
b. Caravans opposite Curles: Awaiting removal.
c. Barn and lake at Starlings Gn.: Being processed at UDC.
d. Structure and caravan at Starlings Gn: Enforcement for removal proceeding.
e. Parking land at The Druce, f. Canvas Tent - both being monitored.
f . Yew Tree Farm, UTT 1074: Awaiting retrospective application.
g. Sign at Jojacks Farm: in excess of permitted size and awaiting inspection by the Enforcement Officer.
h Business in Pelham Road: It was agreed to ask the Planning Office if this required planning permission.

2 Highways & Byways:
a. Speed Limits : VMS unit, again not working properly.
b. Hill Green yellow lines: Being processed through the ECC funding system.
c Stortford Road puddle – Brian Barrow said there were many sunken areas along this road.
d. Byway 50, Chalkpit Lane, The Druce – No response from Robin Wallbank. Some parishioners had written directly to the authorities concerned in support of closure, and asked for Council action also.
e Coley Lane rubbish - still too wet for clearance.
f Fallen signpost at Butts Green – to be reported to ECC.
g Blocked drains; including Colehills, and Curles drains. Some cleared now.
h Gate lights – Highways to be asked for the rules on this.
i Potholes in Middle Street, Wicken Rd., Blacksmiths Corner, Sheepcote Green, Colehills – to be reported.
j Grass verge eroded, The Grange to Ponds.

3 Other items:
a. Community Awards – awaiting March meeting.
b. Notice Board –awaiting new planning application from the shop for changing the entrance.
c Skeins Way lights: Edgar Abrahams to progress as District councillor.
d Election: The publicity leaflet to encourage new people to stand as councillors was to be sent out based on the model leaflets from EALC; it was agreed that the only name and contact details should be the Returning Officer and the Clerk.
e Wheeled pump, Hill Green: Environment Agency confirmed this would be repaired in February.
f Village sign: to be revarnished in the spring.
g Village Hall heating: An electric heater had been provided by the CVH Chairman, to assess if this was adequate.

6 FINANCE
Tree work : Two quotations were opened for both willows which needed work. It was agreed to accept
Treetops quote for the tree adj. the Cricketers, to remove the dangerous branch and crown lift the whole tree, at
£265 + VAT, and RBS Tree Surgeons for the willow by the horse pond to be cut to ground level at £300 + VAT.

Invoices: It was agreed to pay the following:
CW Abrahams & Sons Hedgecutting                 46.00       6.00      000848
Hewitsons Documents                                       9.00       1.34      000849
Carts & Refills Inks x9                                       9.00       1.34      000850
Receipts: Allotments rents of £26 received.
Clavering Village Hall: Hire charges for 1 year. It was agreed to request a monthly bill until the heating is resolved.

7 PLANNING
UTT 2019 Affordable Housing: Agreed to go into committee for updates as these affected residents’ personal matters (P: NC, S: RWC, F:All)
FP 22 & 26: Thurrocks Farm: Footpath Diversion applications. No progress.
UTT 1721 Boreham, 21 Pelham Rd. New roof, windows etc. No objections. Map appeared out of date.
UTT 1631 Bloss, The Mill House, Mill Lane, conversion of outbuilding to residential. No objections.
UTT 1747 Rouse, Clavering Gate; Detached barn / garage / store. No news.
UTT 1669 Merrick, Ford end House. Conversion of garage to playroom etc. No objections to amendment.
UTT 1905 Evans, Roast Farm. Relocation of shed (previous UTT 1406). Approved.
UTT 2089 Kinmonth: Danceys: larger house to replace that already approved. No news.
UTT 2117 Wingham, Allingham House: No news.
UTT 0101 Downham, The Views: Garage/cartlodge. No objections.
UTT 0115 Webb Investments, Clavering Mill. No objections. UDC to be advised reboundary anomaly.

8 P3 Scheme No progress on Byway 50, nor Byway 63 erosion. Elmstreet lane had been blocked by fallen trees; the
adjacent landowner to remove the tree that was from his land.

9 LAND REGISTRATION
Track from Chipperfield House to Hyaway: No information from residents regarding registration.
Thames Water had requested information on ownership of further land near the Sewage Works. Nothing known.
URC Church: Their Property Dept. asked if the Council owned the small piece of land in front of the railings; the Clerk had checked and this was not registered to anyone. It was agreed that the Council did not own it and to advise them that there were no objections to their registering it to the Church.

10 ACCESSES & GREENS
The Cricketers – no information from NALC. The draft list of proposals had been sent to Mr Oliver for his solicitor.
Easements: It was agreed that payments made for accesses across Village Greens should be retained until the Council was challenged by property owners; the clerk wanted it recorded that this was against her advice. The clerk advised that the Council should obtain definitive legal advice as to how to proceed after the Repeal of the Act.
The Cottage, Stickling Green: UDC had given temporary permission for the caravan during the renovations there.
Dumping on The Bridges: Some earth and rubble had been put near the corner by the river, and many residents were complaining. It was agreed this should not have been done without the Council’s permission, and to write to the adjacent owner with a list of requests for rectifying matters, including removing the concrete and levelling.

11 CORRESPONDENCE
All correspondence was available in the file and had been circulated and listed to councillors.
Postwatch comments – the Clerk to complete.
Mr & Mrs Halls – letter explaining the reasons for putting the earth at the Bridges.
Mr & Mrs Davis – Dog poo letter; it was agreed to put an item in the Newsletter and on the Notice Board.
Mr Knowles – letter requesting more positive action regarding Byway 50 Closure.
UDC CORE STRATEGY CONSULTATION; Circulated to all councillors for comments before the deadline.
Mr Couchman – letter re trimming trees at Mill End – to refer to the Planning Officer concerned for his comments.

12 ALLOTMENTS
New tap and water pipe awaiting costing. It was agreed that the bark mulch could be put on the allotments for
parishioners’ use. A new tenant, Mr La Roche, was kindly assisting with rotovating.

13 REVIEW OF JUBILEE FIELD TRUST DEED No report this month.
Mike Patmore said that many parishioners were extremely concerned by the claim from the JF Officers that the Parish Council had given away complete ownership of the Field and that the Jubilee Field Committee actually owned it. He confirmed that this was not the case, that the Parish Council owns it and holds the Title Deeds, and requested that the misleading rumour should cease.

14 VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS: Cricket Club: Mr Smeeden had written to confirm that the Council could proceed with
lopping or felling the tree behind the Pavilion. CVH: Edgar Abrahams said a letter about chairs would be issued.

15 SALT BINS - no news.

16 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1 Trees: A Middle Street resident had requested permission to lop the cherry tree on the verge outside his house as this was becoming too large; this was agreed. Mr Tee, Willow House, Hill Green, had asked to cut back the large willow on the green outside his fence; this was agreed. Mrs Evans tree – to be discussed again next month.
2 Des Abrahams put forward a suggestion that the small green behind the Cricketers be planted with spring bulbs.
3 Brian Barrow said the dead branches from the lime trees on Hill Green needed clearing, and Richard Carter offered to undertake this.
4 It was noted that a row of large logs had been put alongside the Hill Green trackway, the Council agreed that all residents had to be treated alike in this respect, and to check the situation with the nearby residents.
5 Edward Oliver reported a further blocked drain.
4 Simon Cooke said that this would be his last Parish Council meeting; he said that he would not be attending the next three meetings up to the May election. He was thanked formally by Edgar Abrahams for his many years of service as a councillor and as clerk.

17 NEXT MEETING Monday, 5 March 2007. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned. The Chairman reminded councillors and the public that the Annual Parish Meeting would be held prior to the Council meeting.

CHAIRMAN

MEETING HELD IN COMMITTEE FOLLOWING THE PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING ON 5 FEBRUARY 2007 TO DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLOCATIONS

The Rural Housing Trust Allocations Manager reported that the last available Shared Ownership House was under negotiaton, and expected this to be finalised shortly, and the Councillors confirmed the applicant’s local connection. The Manager had requested that an item be put in the Clavering Newsletter for those who were now in a position to apply to contact him, to update his records in case future houses became available. This had been done, with a very positive response.

Some anomalies regarding the system adopted by Flagship Housing were reported, and RHT said these had now been put right. Some personal queries regarding the status of some applicants were discussed, and were to be monitored and reported back to RHT.