Joint Parish Council Meeting

JOINT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held at the Memorial Hall, Elsenham 17th December 2007

Present:

Nick Baker (Chairman)Henham Parish Council

Stewart PimblettElsenham Parish Council

Colin ClarkeElsenham Parish Council

Ray FranklinElsenham Parish Council

Peter JohnsonElsenham Parish Council

Petrina LeesElsenham Parish Council

Brenda WilliamsElsenham Parish Council

Don SturgeonHenham Parish Council

Bill BatesHenham Website

Ruth RawlinsonStansted Parish Council

David CrossUgley Parish Council

Tony TurnerUgley Parish Council

Catherine DeanUttlesford District Council

David MorsonUttlesford District Council

Geoff GardnerPlanning Consultant

Members of the Public: 1

Nick Baker opened the Fifth Joint Parish Council Meeting and welcomed Geoff Gardner, Planning Consultant.

1.Apologies for absence Gordon Fulton

2.Approval of the Minutes of the last meeting Bill Bates should be shown as representating Henham Website not Henham P.C., with this amendment the Minutes of the meeting held on 26th November were approved.

3.Working Group Update Petrina Lees & Don Sturgeon reported: Two public meetings being held, Elsenham on the 18.12.07, Henham on the 19.12.07. Anticipate the need for letter writing help, events being arranged for Elsenham on the 20 December and 4 January, Henham on the 23 December and 4th January. Boxing Day Walk 11 am from Elsenham Playing Field, Rally 11th January outside UDC offices. Organising printed teeshirts, banners, flyers. The Observer have given us very positive and constructive publicity. Petrina’s daughter Tasmin addressed the Council prior to their full meeting on 11 December and did very well, the Observer gave this good coverage. Money has been coming in as a result of the appeal, at present in excess of £8,000.

Catherine Dean said there is a possibility that the consultation period might be extended. Consultation documents are going out three weeks late in Stansted. There is a Public Meeting at Stansted on 3 January 8 pm at St Johns Hall.

4.Review of Planning Consultant’s Advice re. Consultation Document Geoff Gardner went through the objection document he had prepared in great detail. He was thanked for the comprehensive advice he has given. He advised submitting one single comprehensive objection letter signed by all the Parish Councils. The Chairman said the Parish response needs to be drafted after Christmas, circulated, agreed and signed off and asked if all councils present are content we do a joint Parish Response. Ugley P.C. and Elsenham P.C. agreed, Catherine Dean will take this to Stansted P.C .for a decision.

From the information supplied by Geoff Gardner, Nick Baker and Don Sturgeon had prepared a handout to be issued at the public meeting for villagers to pick and mix from the eleven points listed and write an objection letter in their own words. Petrina Lees considered the document was too involved. As time was limited, it was agreed Petrina Lees will provide a simple synopsis as an additional front page and use the existing document, of which 300 copies will be printed for the two Public Meetings.

5.Update on Solicitors Advice Cllr Morson and Cllr Dean declared an interest and withdrew from the meeting.

The matter of a Judicial Review has been raised with our solicitors, they advise because Option 4 has not been decided there is nothing we can complain about. A Judicial Review can only be taken once the decision is taken.

6. Any other business Chris Bush is collating copies of the Elsenham responses and Bill Bates copies of the Henham responses.