NEWS

Are you interested in representing your community? Do you think you could help make a difference? Have you ever thought about standing to be a councillor?

If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, come along to the ‘Be a councillor’ event on Monday 21 January, from 7.30pm at the Uttlesford District Council Offices in London Road, Saffron Walden.

The special information event is aimed at prospective candidates for the district and parish local government elections on 2 May.

The event is an opportunity for anyone considering standing as a candidate to find more about what it means to be a local councillor. Senior officers will be on hand to speak about the functions of the District Council and let prospective candidates know about the responsibilities of the role if elected. You can ask questions and get advice on what to do next.

No political experience is necessary, nor are any formal qualifications other than meeting the criteria to be eligible to stand as a candidate.

There is no pressure on the evening to say whether or not you wish to stand – it is purely an information event.

To register your attendance or for more information, contact Electoral Services on 01799 510510 or email ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-501c26@snoitcele

Further information about being a local councillor is available from the Local Government Association via https://beacouncillor.co.uk/. The website includes a step-by-step guide, e-learning module and case studies from existing councillors.

Guidance is also available from the Electoral Commission on what a candidate needs to do and how the election process works – visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

For more information about the local elections, visit www.uttlesford.gov.uk/elections.

ENDS

NOTES

• For more details on this media release please contact the Communications Team on 01799 510442 or ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-4f3c13@aidem
• Follow us on Twitter @Uttlesford DC
• You can also follow our Business Development Team @UDCBusiness, our Communities Team @UDCCommunities, our Emergency Planning Team @UDCResilience, and our jobs feed @UDCJobs
• The council’s Chairman has now joined Twitter and can be found @UDCChairman
• Follow us on Facebook at facebook/UttlesfordDC

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In an effort to help recycle, rather than just add to landfill, Uttlesford District Council is arranging a number of collections around the District  for Christmas trees.

Sat 12 January, between 11.30 – 12.30pm, the collection lorry will be in Bannister Green, so please take advantage of the opportunity and recycle that old tree.

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We have been contacted by County Broadband regarding their proposal to build a fibre broadband service for Willows Green and some surrounding areas.

More information and pre-ordering the service

You can find out more information and/or pre-order on the County Broadband Fibre website at www.countybroadbandfibre.co.uk or call the County Broadband customer services team in Aldham, on 01376 562002.

It must be noted that this is a commercial offer in competition with current providers of telephone and broadband services. 

Felsted Parish Council is not  affiliated with County Broadband, nor should any approval or endorsement of their proposal be assumed from this news item. Residents should consider their own circumstances and make their own decisions regarding the appropriateness of this offer.

We are saddened to have to report that this week Uttlesford District Council Planning Committee approved the application for the expansion of Stansted airport.

In addition, the CAA recently approved as permanent, with no mitigation measures required, the flightpath changes which have seen a doubling of flights over our Parish.

47 Parish Councils objected to the expansion plan.  Cllr Andy Bennett, on behalf of Felsted Parish Council, alongside other Parish Councils and District Councillors, also spoke at the 7.5 hour planning meeting to further object.

The final vote was split 50/50. The Chair of the Committee, Felsted and Stebbing District Councillor Alan Mills,  made the casting vote to approve the application.

The final reasons for passing the application focused on it being a courageous decision for the next generation. We find this a bizarre argument, given that the hottest topic for the next generation is one of polluting our planet and the damage we are doing to our children in their earliest years through poor air quality.

The application to increase passenger numbers within the existing flight cap will by definition also ensure the use of larger, noisier aircraft than previously.

Normally a decision notice would now be issued by Uttlesford District Council, but in this case the Secretary of State has required it to be reviewed by his Department prior to issuing approval.

We thank those residents who have contributed individually through writing and speaking at the public planning events.

We will continue to oppose these plans.

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As a part of the Armistice Day commemoration, alongside local services, our new Parish beacon was lit in the evening as a part of a national marking of the event.

Many of you will also have seen the Spitfire flypast over the Parish.

For those who did not see it, here are pictures of the truly spectacular event and a most appropriate way of remembering.

Further to our earlier news item, Uttlesford District Council (UDC) has announced the registration process for individuals and organisations wanting to speak at a series of 3 public sessions regarding the application by Stansted Airport to increase passenger numbers to 43 million and flights by approximately 100,000 a year.

The new session dates are:

• Tuesday 6 November 2018 – 10am to 1pm
• Wednesday 7 November 2018 – 2pm to 5pm
• Wednesday 7 November 2018 – 6om to 9pm

The deadline for signing up to speak in a 3 minute slot is 12pm on Monday 5 November.

The full release and registration instructions can be read here.

We, as a Parish Council, have strongly objected to what we believe to be insufficient time to ensure awareness of, and preparation for, these important sessions.

We have registered to speak against the application at the Planning meeting on 14th November.

We are objecting to the increase in noise as a result of the increase in aircraft numbers by over 40%, and an increase in aircraft size.  Further details of the position we are taking on behalf of Felsted residents can be read in our previous news item here.

If you have concerns about the application then it is important that UDC hears Felsted voices at these sessions. Each slot is just 3 minutes long and you can speak from pre-prepared notes, so there is no pressure to remember what you might want to say.

For more information please contact Cllr Andy Bennett

We are acutely aware of the problems caused by the parking of cars in inappropriate places in our Parish.

At best they cause an inconvenience and a problem to the smooth flow of traffic through the village and at worst they block pavements for those using mobility aids, forcing them into roads, and they prevent emergency vehicles getting to their destination.

Whilst we work with problem areas to try to find a resolution, we also employ North Essex Parking Partnership to enforce parking regulations and so release congestion and improve traffic flow through the village.  We are grateful to Felsted School, who part fund the service.

This service works across the parish on a rolling time basis, so there is no ‘safe time’ to stop in a parking restricted area.

Whilst the ideal situation is of course that no tickets are given, because there are no cars found parked against road traffic legislation, until that time we will work with residents and NEPP to help improve the traffic flow and safety of our roads.

Uttlesford District Council (UDC) has today announced the registration process for individuals and organisations wanting to speak at a series of 3 public sessions regarding the application by Stansted Airport to increase passenger numbers to 43 million and flights by approximately 100,000 a year.

The session dates are:

• Tuesday 9 October – 10am-1pm
• Wednesday 10 October – 2-5pm
• Wednesday 10 October – 6-9pm

The deadline for signing up to speak in a 3 minute slot is 12pm on Monday 8th October.

The full release and registration instructions can be read here.

We, as a Parish Council, have strongly objected to what we believe to be insufficient time to ensure awareness of, and preparation for, these important sessions.

We have registered to speak against the application on the 9th October, primarily regarding the increase in noise as a result of the increase in aircraft numbers by over 40% and an increase in aircraft size.  Further details of the position we are taking on behalf of Felsted residents can be read in our previous news item here.

If you have concerns about the application then it is important that UDC hears Felsted voices at these sessions. Each slot is just 3 minutes long and you can speak from pre-prepared notes, so there is no pressure to remember what you might want to say.

For more information please contact Cllr Andy Bennett

A vacancy has arisen for an Assistant Clerk to serve this highly active Parish Council near Great Dunmow in Essex. 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)
• Organising the local Speedwatch Group
• 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)
• Full driving licence valid in the UK

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.

If you wish to apply for this vacancy please complete the Job Application and GDPR Forms and return them with a covering letter to the Parish Clerk at the address below. Additional guidance notes can be downloaded here.

Closing date Tuesday 16 October 2018. Interviews are likely to take place during the last week of October 2018.

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

Parish Clerk, URC Hall, Stebbing Road, Felsted, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 3JD

Telephone: 01371 823071

E-mail: ku.vog.cp-detslefobfsctd-3077fd@krelc

The Felsted Speedwatch Group has been working hard to make the roads in our parish safer for us all.

Throughout the summer period they carried out an average of 2 speedwatch sessions a week. In July they recorded 77 speeding motorists and in August there were 90.

In August 8 cars were recorded at more than 10mph over the limit, with one at 17mph over the limit.

The ideal result of course is that no one speeds and so the team has a quiet hour with no speed recordings taken. However, until that point we are grateful for the time they give to the village to help make it safer for us all.

If you are interested in joining the speedwatch team and have perhaps just an hour a week to help out, then please contact the Parish Clerk for more information.