AGENDA
21/140 Apologies for Absence Accept apologies of absence.
21/141 Public Forum
Members of the public are welcome to attend the Parish Council meeting. Those wishing to speak or raise any issue are requested to do so at the public participation session with respect to items on the agenda and other matters that are of mutual interest.
Please note: When Council starts to discuss any item on the agenda, where a member has an interest, the member with that interest must have regard to the Code of Conduct and make the necessary disclosure and where appropriate leave the meeting.
The maximum time allowed for this item is 15 minutes, at the close of this item members of the public will no longer be permitted to address the council and members with prejudicial interests will also not be permitted to speak and address the council on those interests.
21/142 Members’ Declarations of interest
To declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, other Pecuniary Interest or Non-Pecuniary Interest relating to items on the agenda having regard to the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice where necessary before the meeting.
21/143 Minutes
Approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19th August 2021 as a true record.
21/144 District & County Councillors Reports
Receive reports from District and County councillors.

   
1
21/145 Finance
Agree payments for this month, payments circulated to members prior to the meeting.
21/145.1 Accounts for Year Ending 2021 Discuss the state of last year’s accounts.
21/146 Standing Orders
Council members to consider adopting new standing orders circulated prior to the meeting.
21/147 Letter from the Sampford’s WI Receive letter from the Sampford’s WI.
21/148 Village Speed Watch
Discuss setting up a speed watch.
21/149 Play Area
Receive report from Cllr Thompson.
21/149.1 Play Area Refurbishment
Discuss and agree next action on play area refurbishment.
21/150 Grass Cutting and trees
Receive report from Cllr Thompson & Cllr Parker.
21/151 Publicity
Receive report on Publicity.
21/152 Website and IT
Receive report from Cllr Boyce.
21/153 Liaison with Village organisations Receive report from Cllr Bradford.
21/154 Village Hall
Receive report on the Village Hall.
21/155 Local Plan
Receive update and report on Local Plan.
21/155.1 Local Village Plan
Receive update and report on Local Village Plan.
21/156 Bardfield Housing Presentation Receive report from Cllr Bradford.
21/157 Planning
Receive report from Cllr Deuce.

             
2
21/157.1 New Planning Applications No new applications.
21/157.2 Recent Planning Applications
Status of recent and previously reviewed applications.
21/157.3 Planning Results No recent results.
21/158 Highways and Footpaths Receive report from Cllr Deuce.
21/159 The Queens Jubilee
Discussion on what the Council will do for the Queen’s Jubilee in June 2022.
21/160 Christmas Dinner
Discuss and agree next action on the Council’s Christmas Dinner.
21/161 Matters to be Raised by Members for the Next Agenda
Please note that no decisions can lawfully be made under this item. LGA 1972 section 12 10(2) (b) states that business must be specified; therefore, the Council cannot lawfully raise matters for decision.
21/162 Date of the Next Meeting
Scheduled for Thursday the 21st of October 2021.
21/163 Meeting Close

Dear Members of the Sampfords’ Parish,

Unfortunately due to the recent unacceptable behaviour of some of the members of our Parish we now have some vacant positions within the Parish Council.
The vacant positions are 1 seat for Little Sampford and 2 seats for Great Sampford. For those who are unaware of what the Parish Council does, the following is just a brief outline of what we are responsible for;

• Looking after and being responsible for the Village Hall.
• Helping vulnerable members of the Parish during lockdown.
• Keeping the 2 defibrillators in good working order.
• Keeping the children’s playground safe and in good working order.
• Ensuring that the public footpaths are accessible and free from obstruction.
• Keeping the grass cut in the common areas around the Parish.
• Reporting road conditions to highways.
• Commenting on planning applications.

We do not and are not responsible, for either rejecting or accepting planning applications which does apparently appear to be a present misconception. This responsibility solely sits with Uttlesford DC.
However, that being said, the Parish Council is there to represent the views of all of the members of the Parish it serves. How do we do all of this? We have a number of meetings a year, usually no more than 6 which includes and AGM. Each member of the Council is given an area of responsibility such as footpaths, or the playground to look after.

In summary it provides the opportunity for people to devote some of their free time to help others on a very local scale, and ensure that the Sampfords’ Parish continues to be the best parish in Essex to live in.

If you are interested in becoming a Councillor please can you register your interest by sending an email to chair@thesampfords.co.uk by the 1st September. You will then be sent a short document to complete, which as well as personal details such as your address, will also ask you to summarise a little bit more about yourself and why you would like to have one of these roles. I hope that you all enjoy the rest of the summer.

Keep Safe & Well.
Best Wishes
Jamie Woods
Chair 

Chair@thesampfords.co.uk

​www.thesampfords.co.uk ​

​

The Sampfords Parish Council is seeking to recruit a Parish Clerk. This is a home based, paid position, at the rate of approx £9 per hour (paid on a quarterly basis). 5 hours per week average working hours.

Duties include:
Administration of the the PC’s paperwork
Maintenance and safekeeping of property registers and other legal documents
Implementation of Council’s decisions
Implementation of Council projects
Preparation and distribution of PC meeting papers and ensuring public is aware of meeting times/dates
Attendance at PC meetings, taking of minutes and distributing these to council members
Ensuring that the Council conducts its business lawfully
Keeping up to date with any relevant training and qualifications
Upkeep of information on The Sampfords Facebook page and website
If you are interested in this position please contact Jamie Woods from The Sampfords Parish Council at

chairsampfordspc@outlook.com


providing your contact details and a brief description of your skills and experience. The deadline for applications is 10th July. edit.

In light of the Covid-19 virus, the Parish Council have made the decision to postpone the litter-pick until the Autumn. 

Dear All this will take you to the ECC web-page on Corona virus.
 
https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/coronavirus
​

Friday 20th March 2020
Corona Virus – an update on how schools are operating
Dear Parents,
I am writing to give you further guidance on the way that schools across Essex will be operating over the coming weeks. These changes cover all registered childcare providers (including nurseries and childminders), maintained and academy primary schools, maintained and academy secondary schools; special schools, further education colleges and independent schools.
Firstly, I want to be clear that following the Government directive issued on Wednesday, as from the end of today (Friday 20th March) schools across Essex will be closed. This is to limit the chance of the virus spreading. The Government have indicated that by limiting the number of children who attend schools, settings and colleges, the spread of the virus will reduce and lower the risk to vulnerable individuals in our communities.
School, settings and colleges are being directed to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are deemed vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid- 19 response and cannot be cared for safely at home.
The Government have defined vulnerable children as children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.
The list of critical workers can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational- provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Even with some limited support for parents of vulnerable children and critical workers, the advice from the Government is clear: if you can safely look after your children during this time of a national emergency, then you should do so.
Children with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
If your child has an EHCP they will be able to attend a school, college or setting. This is an offer and there is no requirement for you to send your child(ren) to school if you do not need to or wish not to do so, you must let your education provider know what you decide.
It is likely that there will be changes to the opening times for some schools in order to remain open in a safe way. Your school will provide you with details of what their plans are and what any changes will mean for you and your child(ren).
The Government are putting legislation in place to temporarily amend parts of the Children and Families Act 2014, including those relating to special educational provision and health care provision in EHCPs. It is highly unlikely that schools, settings and colleges will be able to provide the same provision that is in your child’s current plan but they will work with you around suitable arrangements for your child(ren). There will be delays in the timescales for requests for assessment and new EHCPs during this time.
The majority of children with SEND, who receive SEN Support at school but do not have an EHCP, are expected to stay at home, unless as a parent you are deemed a critical worker.
For children with health needs or underlying health conditions
Schools and colleges will work with parents to make a case by case assessment of the health and safeguarding considerations of children with an EHCP. For some, they will be safer in an education provision. For others, they will be safer at home. Schools and colleges will discuss this with you.
If you are a critical worker:
Children with at least one parent or carer identified as a critical worker by the Government can send their children to a school, college or setting if required. The list of critical workers is above.
Even though you may be deemed a critical worker, it is expected that if your child(ren) can stay at home, they should do so.
Schools, settings and colleges will not be able to provide an education offer to your child(ren) but will be able to provide facilities to enable you to go to work. All normal and usual education activity has been suspended during this emergency period.
If you are not a critical worker and your child(ren) is not classified as vulnerable:
We appreciate that this is a concerning time for all parents, but we are all being urged to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and directed schools to be open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
Education resources for children
Schools, colleges and settings will be providing a range of resources to support you at home with your child(ren).
Schools are working closely with the Local Authority and the Headteacher Associations in order to offer a consistent and safe response to the current crisis. The health and safety of your children is everyone’s first priority.
Thank you for your co-operation at this time.
Kind Regards,
Clare Kershaw Director of Education
Sent of behalf of:
Essex County Council
The Association of Secondary Headteachers in Essex Essex Primary Headteacher Association
Essex Special Schools Education Trust ​