Annual Report 2008/09

FULL COPIES OF THE ANNUAL REPORT - INCLUDING FURTHER REPORTS FROM LOCAL GROUPS - ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CLERK, BY PHONING 01992 578288 OR EMAIL: eupc@bruindell.co.uk

EPPING UPLAND PARISH COUNCIL

Chairman's Report 2008/09

Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you to Alan Mansfield whom we are sorry to see retire from the council after 22 years valuable service to the parish, having been first elected in May 1987.  He became Vice Chairman in 1996 and was elected Chairman in May 1997, an office he held for 10 years.  He was and continued to be the first chairman of our Planning Committee.  Trying to summarise all that he took the Council through over that time is quite a task, as well as noting the direct efforts he made including rubbish clearing!  Some of the more notable events are - the numerous attempts to resolve parking issues for 1-7 Elm Close, a safer entrance to the Playground, the possibility of a village hall, free transport for children attending St John’s Epping, installation of a Village Sign, the Millennium Garden, the East of England Plan, proposed second runway at Stansted, installation of the VAS (Vehicle Activated Sign), gaining Quality Parish Status as well as all the ‘day to day’ activities.

We welcome Bill Miller, recently co-opted, as our new councillor.  He will be attending his first full council meeting next week.

Earlier in the year we said farewell and thank you to our Clerk of 14 years, Valarie Slade and hope that she is enjoying her semi retirement.  Val Evans succeeded her as Clerk in July.   

In what at times may seem a quiet country parish, we nevertheless have had a very active year.  Due to concerns with the bark surface top up, the Playground was regrettably closed for 6 months while we negotiated with the supplier, assisted by RoSPA, to not only remove the below standard bark but also to replace it with bark of the correct standard!  After much effort we succeeded and the Playground was re-opened in January.  Safety of the children being paramount, there are quarterly professional safety checks, monthly visual checks by one of our councillors together with a regular maintenance regime.  We are still seeking to enhance the central pathway.

A considerable part of the year was taken up with the response to the Gypsies and Travellers Consultation, details of which you will have seen in the press, local press, our Newsletter and on our website.  I need hardly stress to you therefore the potential impact on the parish particularly the village if the 2 proposed sites for our parish went forward.  Your Parish Council produced its own response as the outcome from an all councillor Working Party with the assistance of a Planning Consultant.  We were pleased to see the formation of The Epping Green Village Association who provided an outstanding response from residents and continue to work directly with other local associations to resist the sites.  This Council will also be dealing with any responses to the Local Development Framework which is the overarching long term planning document for the District.  To fund the work that will be required, we very reluctantly had to significantly increase the Precept as you will be aware from our Newsletter article and of course your Council Tax Bill!

Other activities have included the resurrection of the allotments.  We are delighted that all plots have been taken and that we have a waiting list.  We plan to install a Water Standpipe and have set funds aside for this; we are currently awaiting the agreement of Copped Hall Estate to carry out the work.  We will then seek a re-quote from Three Valleys and start work.

The War Memorial was cleaned in time for last year’s Poppy Wreath laying and we plan to have the lettering repaired/restored with the aid of a grant.

We have also installed an additional ‘doggy poo bin’ on the Village Green and a further bin will be installed beyond the school.  So no excuses not to bag it and bin it!

In our wonderfully pastoral but wide spread parish we seek to ensure that you are all aware of what your parish council is doing and that it is carrying out what you want it to do, so far as it is within our powers!  Communication channels are therefore very important, particularly in view of the potential changes caused by government/EU requirements for additional housing and employment (our Planning Committee sits on a regular basis throughout the year to consider and comment on any applications within our parish).  Our Newsletters are produced 3 times a year and delivered to every household within the parish (thanks to All Saints).  We have 3 notice boards within the village - you may have seen that the notice board by the playground has been replaced.  Our website is regularly updated with agendas and minutes and any other items significant to the parish.  We will also be including a summary of council meetings in the parish magazine as well as the adverts that you see from time to time.  If you have any ideas as to how we can improve the communication, please let the Clerk know and remember that you can attend council meetings to observe proceedings and have your say at the beginning of the meeting on any item on the agenda.

Finally I’d like to thank all my fellow councillors for electing me and for their support and work over the year.  Thanks go to our ‘new’ clerk who has taken on this weighty mantle with alacrity.  And of course thanks to our Groundsman, Handyman, external representatives and everyone who contributes to the life of this parish and those who have kindly provided articles for the Annual Report.

Penny Smith

Chairman of the Council

May 2009