• Mr Nicholas Turkentine (Chair)
• Mr David Drane
• Ms Diana Frost
• Mr James Nicholson (arrived at 9:30pm)
• Mark Welbourn
• District Councillor Mike Tayler
• The Clerk

The Parish Council meeting started at 8.00pm

23034. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

       County Councillor Martin Foley
       
       

23035. PUBLIC FORUM

       No members of the public were in attendance

23036. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

       Nicholas Turkentine declared an interest in the Church Farm planning application, if it were to be discussed.
       
       

23037. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND/OR COUNTY COUNCILLORS

       District Councillor Mike Tayler gave a brief report on UDC, after which he left the meeting -
       Saffron Walden leisure centre squash courts are closed until further notice due to roofing material issues;
       ECC have launched an electric vehicle charging point strategy consultation. Diana Frost noted that the Village Hall Management Committee had considered installing a point when the car park was resurfaced, but decided that it would not be an appropriate location.
       He is very keen that the Sampfords continue to benefit from health links with Cambridge and agreed that the Radwinter Road hospital in Saffron Walden requires its profile raising.
       Diana Frost raised issue of continuing issues with potholes, including one on the High Street which is not quite deep enough for Highways to act, but still causing a nuisance.
       Mark Welbourn noted that the West Suffolk local plan, which is also delayed, is likely to impact Hempstead and other local areas.
       
       

23038. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS OF WEDNESDAY 18^th MAY

       were approved and signed by the Chair.
       
       

23039. FINANCE

       Item 1 - current account balance is £4220.75
       Item 2 - Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) The Clerk confirmed that Ross Midgley had completed his governance review and had provided a positive report. The review did note, however, that in future the budget needs to be improved to clearly show any forecast deficit or surplus, and note how a shortfall will be financed (i.e. from the reserve account).
       The AGAR documents presented by the Clerk were approved and signed by the Chair, and the Clerk noted that the Public Rights period will begin on Wednesday, 21^st June.
       Item 3 - The following payment was approved and invoice signed: £35 to Russ Wide for Coronation BBQ gas. The latest invoice for grass cutting was signed by the chair - £235 to Outdoor Jack.
       
       

23040. ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

       Councillors discussed responsibilities and considered the co-option of additional councillors to fill vacancies, including James Nicholson taking on responsibility for Planning. It was agreed that the co-option of at least one more councillor was required ASAP and that responsibilities would continue as they are currently, until the next meeting when allocations would be confirmed.
       
       

23041. PLANNING

       to review and comment on new planning applications and to note any decisions as at 08/06/23.
       
       Newlands: UTT/23/1290/HHF. Insertion of new entrance door. Removal of an existing external door and insertion of a circular window. Internal alterations. TO CONSIDER Lakehouse Farm: UTT/23/0997/FUL. AWAITING DECISION Fields Farm: UTT/23/0973/PAQ3. AWAITING DECISION Church Farm: UTT/23/0854/FUL. REFUSED
       
       Diana Frost was unable to attend a Planning Training session, but received the presentation information which was shared. This might prove useful when considering planning applications in the future.
       There was one planning query regarding work taking place at the entrance to Ruses Farm, and the barn conversions, and whether this work might have required planning permission - Diana Frost to check.
       
       

23042. PARISH LIASON MEETING

       Feedback from Diana Frost: The strategic planner for Highways was in attendance. The District Commander from Essex Police gave an update and took questions - dwelling and commercial burglaries have increased, but he was unable to give an answer on what community engagement and "patrolling" is defined as.
       
       

23043. CORRESPONDANCE

       The clerk noted that she had received correspondence from a Howe Lane resident at the Great Sampford end on whether the Parish Council were pursuing looking at making Howe Lane a "quiet lane".
       
       

23044. TRIANGLE OF LAND

       Nothing to discuss
       
       

23045. SPEEDWATCH/POLICE SPEEDCHECKS

       It was noted that ECC would not be actioning "20's Plenty" campaign requests. It was agreed that the Parish Council would investigate the possible implementation of "quiet lanes" further.
       
       

23046. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS

       Highways and Rights of Way - Some potholes have been filled in. David Drane to contact Ned Gemmill, the local footpath officer at Highways, regarding the footpath cutting schedule.
       Environment - War memorial - grouting of paving. Nick Turkentine to get a quote for work required.
       Village noticeboards and bus shelter refurbishment - quote for material received from David Cox, it was agreed that the work can go ahead. James Nicholson volunteered to sweep out the bus shelter.
       Communications - The new Hempstead Village Website was given final sign off and accepted unanimously. Work to migrate information from the existing website will now proceed when Nigel Smith has availability.
       Village Hall - no update.
       Flooding - Awaiting date for inspecting issues in the village with County Councillor Foley and a Highways rep.
       
       

23047. MATTERS ARISING REQUIRING DECISIONS, TO BE INCLUDED ON THE NEXT AGENDA

       approval of Minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting of 26^th May.
       
       

23048. FUTURE MEETING DATES

       13^th July and 17^th August.