• Mr Nicholas Turkentine (Chair)
• Mr David Drane
• Ms Diana Frost
• Mark Welbourn
• District Councillor George Smith
• County Councillor Martin Foley
• The Clerk

The Parish Council meeting started at 8.04pm

23001. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

       James Nicholson.
       
       

23002. PUBLIC FORUM

       No members of the public in attendance.
       
       

23003. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

       Non required.
       
       

23004. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND/OR COUNTY COUNCILLORS

       District Councillor Smith - Discussions with residents on Bramley Hollow regarding the speed of traffic (County Councillor Foley noted that ECC could put speed wires down to check speeds), and noted that street cleaners on his request had cleaned High Street where pothole erosion had led to rubble on the road.
       County Councillor Foley - A written report had been received and circulated: Highways; visit to be arranged with rep, Ride London route potholes are starting to be filled, and issues with contractors are exacerbated by lack of Highways' staff. Household waste booking system is likely to continue. Mental health; funding made available for youth mental health support in Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow, placing practitioners in senior schools.
       
       

23005. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS OF THURSDAY 30^th MARCH

       were approved and signed by the Chair.
       
       

23006. FINANCE

       Item 1 - The Clerk presented the end of year financial position of the Parish Council, and noted that the first tranche of the Precept had been received on 20^th April.
       Item 2 - The updated Asset Register was approved and signed by the Chair and Clerk.
       Item 3 - The Clerk confirmed that Ross Midgley has kindly agreed to act as internal auditor once again. The Clerk presented the draft Financial Statement for 2022/23 and Exemption Certificate, which were duly approved and signed by the Chair.
       Item 4 - Hempstead Parish Council regular payments

       Standing Orders	Rebecca Cox - Salary	£313.56 per month
       	Brian Kitchen - Website	£100.00 per month
       Community Heartbeat	Defibrillator Management	£198.00 per annum
       CPRE	Subscription	£36.00 per annum
       RCCE	Subscription	£52.80 per annum
       100 Parishes Society	Subscription	£10.00 per annum
       Royal British Legion	Donation	£25.00 per annum
       Essex Heritage Trust	Donation	£25.00 per annum
       Unity Trust	Service Charge	£76.00 per annum
       Grass Cutting	Payments to Outdoor Jack	Up to approved £2410 budget

       The Council unanimously agreed to the prior approval of the regular payments as listed above.
       Item 5 - The EALC affiliation fee for 2023/24 of £148.95 was approved and the Chair signed invoices presented: £148.95 to EALC, £25 to Essex Heritage Trust and the previously approved £400 to Watch the Dot.
       
       

23007. PLANNING

       Fields Farm: UTT/23/0973/PAQ3. Prior Notification of change of use of agricultural building to 4 no. dwellings. The Council discussed the Fields Farm application, with Diana Frost providing photographs of the barns and noting that the application included the demolition of a traditional wooden barn. It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would provide a comment objecting to the application as follows:
       Chaseside Cottage: UTT/23/0644/HHF. AWAITING DECISION
       1 Lake House Farm Cottages: UTT/23/0542/HHF. AWAITING DECISION
       Fairview Bungalow: UTT/22/1872/FUL. AWAITING DECISION
       Little Orchard: UTT/23/0139/HHF. APPROVED
       Shepherds Cottage: UTT/23/0097/FUL. REFUSED
       Barns At Little Smiths Green Farm: UTT/23/0489/PAQ3. APPROVED
       Church Farm - UTT/23/0854/FUL. The Clerk had just been Notified of a planning application for the change of use of agricultural buildings at Church Farm, on Church Hill. It was noted that the deadline for comments falls after the May meeting of the Parish Council, and it was agreed that the application would be considered in detail on 18^th May.
       
       

23008. CORRESPONDANCE

       None
       
       

23009. TRIANGLE OF LAND

       An opinion had been received from a solicitor that if it could be proven that the land had been used for many years by the community and for the community's benefit, then it might be possible to register it as a Village Green. It was agreed that the Chair would request a quote from a firm of solicitors to carry out the Village Green registration process and County Councillor Foley would look into whether there might be ECC funding available to pay for this process.
       
       

23010. ANNUAL REPORT

       The Clerk had circulated the initial draft of the Annual Report. A final version was approved. The Clerk to send to Paul Davies for inclusion in the next edition of Ambo.
       
       

23011. PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MAY

       Following nominations Confirmed that there will not be a contested election for Hempstead Parish Council, and that the five Councillors would be duly "elected" to the Council on 4^th May.

23012. CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III

       he Clerk confirmed that the Parish Council had been awarded the £700 grant, but that expenditure had to be made before claiming the amount back from UDC. The grant can only be used for the purposes outlined in the application form, which for Hempstead is the arranged events taking place on Monday 8th May (village walk and BBQ at the village hall).

23013. SPEEDWATCH/POLICE SPEEDCHECKS

       No update.
       
       

23014. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS

       Highways and Rights of Way - Ironworks had finally been raised on High Street and Hill Road.
       Environment - It was agreed that a tree survey should be arranged every 4 years. Next one due June 2024.
       Communications - A first "draft" of the new Hempstead Village Website had been created by Watch the Dot. Noted that training would be provided for the Clerk and Diana Frost to manage the website.
       Village Hall - Noted improvements to storage space and newly polished wooden floor. Internal improvements to continue with re-painting of walls.
       Flooding - drains have recently cleared by still no movement from Highways on Anso Road ditches. Water increasingly flowing onto High Street from adjoining field and it was queried whether this is due to inadequate field drainage. The Chairman to speak to the farmer.
       
       

23015. MATTERS ARISING REQUIRING DECISIONS, TO BE INCLUDED ON THE NEXT AGENDA

       None.
       
       

23016. FUTURE MEETING DATES

       Thursday, 18^th May for Annual Meeting of the Parish Council and Friday, 26^th May for the Annual Parish meeting and 15^th June 2023.