Following the resignation of Joyce Stoddart the Council have a vacant seat on the Parish Council which will be filled by co-option.

If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor and wish to be considered for this vacancy please let the Clerk know by  3 November 2020. Interviews will then be held and the Council will appoint the most suitable candidate.

If you wish to know more about the role and what it entails please feel free to contact the Clerk, or any Councillor, for more information.

Diane Smith

Clerk to Felsted Parish Council

Office: 01371 823071                  E mail: ku.vog.cp-detslefobfsctd-139124@krelc

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IMPORTANT Essex coronavirus update

In a move to slow the current rates of infection across our county, from Saturday, Essex will be placed into the high level of restrictions (tier 2 on the new COVID system).

What does this mean?

• No household mixing indoors – this includes at home or in hospitality venues
• Different households can meet outdoors in public spaces but must stick to the ‘Rule of six’
• 10pm curfews will remain in place for all pubs and restaurants
• Remember hands, face and space
• Reduce travel where you can

If we act now, we can stop the spread and protect our loved ones as we head into the winter months.

► Get detailed information on the new guidelines

► Read about the request to move to the high COVID alert level and the data that informed the decision

► You can also read 20 questions about moving to the high COVID alert level

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Extra community engagement key to local plan work

Six months of public engagement will soon get underway as work ramps up towards a new local plan for the district.

Uttlesford District Council must submit the plan to the government for inspection by December 2023 and is creating additional opportunities for people to get involved in the plan-making process, including through a series of independently-chaired community stakeholder forums made up of representatives from local groups and organisations, and by mini ‘consultations’ on a number of themes. The themes will cover key issues including character and heritage, climate change, local economy, transport and healthy lifestyles.

The programme will start in the coming weeks and will run until spring next year. The feedback gathered from the exercise will be used to inform the new local plan which will provide a vision and framework for addressing the housing, economic and infrastructure needs of the district for years to come.

The previously-submitted Local Plan was withdrawn earlier this year after planning inspectors said it had some significant shortcomings.

Cllr John Evans, Portfolio Holder for Planning and the Local Plan, said: “A lot of preparatory work has taken place and will continue to be built on, which has been important to enable a draft plan to get off to the right start.

“We are doing things differently this time and want to engage all parts of the community in a conversation about the issues that matter to local people and to have an effective exchange of ideas which would not be possible with a conventional consultation. We will be inviting all sectors of the community to get involved in this process and help us create a plan that is sustainable and meets the needs of the district.”

The stakeholder meetings will be conducted via video conferencing and live-streamed so that members of the public can listen in. The content of the meetings will be made available online for the duration of the consultation period. Members of the public will be able to submit their comments after each meeting and also when the plan reaches the next formal consultation stage.

Further details about the meetings will be made available and the community kept up to date.

Information and updates will be posted on the council’s website at www.uttlesford.gov.uk/new-local-plan and social media channels.

We also encourage all concerned to sign up for regular local plan information and updates by subscribing to our e-newsletter service – visit www.uttlesford.gov.uk/keepmeposted.

ENDS

NOTES

• For more details on this media release please contact the Communications Team on 01799 510442 or ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-77e658@aidem
• Follow us on Twitter @Uttlesford DC
• You can also follow our Business Development Team @UDCBusiness, our Communities Team @UDCCommunities, and our jobs feed @UDCJobs
• The Chair of the council is on Twitter and can be found @UDCChair
• Follow us on Facebook at facebook/UttlesfordDC

We have been asked by the Chief Executive of UDC to re-emphasise the risks we are all presently exposed to from COVID-19.

At the time of writing, Uttlesford has the highest rate of increase of new (recorded in the past 7 days) COVID cases in the County of Essex, with the statistics being 58 cases per 100,000 population.

By comparison, Luton has recorded an equivalent ratio of 60 cases per 100,000 and social meeting restrictions have been put in place there.

There must therefore be some risk of restrictions being applied for Uttlesford.

We all need to stick to the Rule of Six and “Hands, Face and Space” guidance, since the indicators are the increase is due to “community spread” rather than individual outbreaks.

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A vacancy has arisen for an Assistant Clerk to serve this very active Parish Council. The responsibilities of the position will include:

• Preparation of Agendas, detailed reports and associated documents in preparation for meetings
• Attendance at Council and Committee meetings, production of Minutes and implementation of recommendations and resolutions
• Dealing with enquiries and issues raised by the public by telephone, e-mail, letter and face to face
• Deputising for the Clerk as required, including the day-to-day running of the office
• Accurate record keeping and administration
• Ad hoc administrative and project-based duties
• Maintenance of public information sources (notice boards and website)
• Attendance at training courses on the work and role of the Council as required

Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Administrative and IT skills (particularly Word and Excel)
• Highly effective interpersonal skills
• A flexible approach to hours of work and day to day duties and responsibilities
• They hold a CILCA qualification or would be prepared to undertake training to this level
• Experience of Local Government, or similar, environment (this would be an advantage but is not essential)

The role is for 10 hours a week initially and will be based in the Parish Council Office at the URC Hall in Felsted. Some home working is expected as is attendance at a minimum of 2 evening meetings per month. Salary will be based on the National Scale according to experience.

Closing date Tuesday 6 October 2020.

This is an interesting and varied role and a great opportunity to be involved in the local community.

The application form can be downloaded here.

Guidance notes can be downloaded here.

Our GDPR policy can be downloaded here.

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Congratulations to all those who took part in this year’s art competition.

Thank you again to everyone who took part and see you again next year.

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Essex Police has alerted us to the top 10 scams and frauds related to Covid 19. Beware:

Health Scams

Hand Sanitizer & Face Masks

Victims are also being targeted by fake adverts for Covid-related products and Personal Protective equipment (PPE) that do not exist.

NHS Test and Trace

Criminals are preying on an anxious public by sending phishing emails and cold calls claiming that the recipient has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. These are designed to steal personal and financial information.

Contact Tracers will never:

• Ask you to make any form of payment
• Ask for details about your bank account
• Ask you for passwords or PINs
• Ask you to download anything

Covid-19 Financial Support Scams

Fake Government Emails

Criminals are sending emails designed to look like they are from government departments offering grants of up to £7,500. Theses emails contain links which steal personal and financial information.

‘Covid-19 Relief Funds’

Fraudsters have also been sending scam emails which offer access to relief funds, encouraging victims to fill in a form with their personal information.

‘Council Tax Reduction’

Criminals have been targeting people with official-looking emails offering a council tax reduction. These emails, which use government branding, contain links which lead to a fake government website which is used to access personal and financial information.

Universal Credit Applications

Fraudsters are also preying on benefit recipients, offering to help applying for Universal Credit, while taking some of the payment as an advance for their “services”.

Lockdown Scams

TV Subscription Services

Amid a rise in the use of during the lockdown, customers have been targeted by criminals sending convincing emails asking them to update their payment details by clicking on a link which is then used to steal credit card information.

Dating Scams

Fraudsters are also exploiting those using online dating sites and social media by creating fake profiles used to manipulate people into handing over their money. Often criminals will use the identities of real people to strike up relationships with their targets.

Fake Investment Opportunities

Criminals are using social media websites to encourage victims to “take advantage of the financial downturn”. Bitcoin platforms are using emails and adverts on social media platforms to encourage unsuspecting victims invest money into fake companies.

TV Licencing

Criminals are sending fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licencing telling people they are eligible for six months of free TV license because of the coronavirus pandemic. Victims are told there has been a problem with their direct debit and are asked to click on a link that takes them to a fake website used to steal personal and financial information.

Remember
Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations and manipulating people into parting with their money or personal information.
Consumers are reminded to stop and take a moment to think before parting with any money or information, in case it’s a scam.
Stop
Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge
Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

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