The Essex County Council (Footpath 15, Little Easton and Footpath 16, Great Dunmow) (Temporary Prohibition of Use) Order 2024

Notice is hereby given that the Essex County Council intends, not less than seven days from the date of this notice, to make the above Order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Effect of the order: To temporarily close Footpath 15, Little Easton and Footpath 16, Great Dunmow in the District of Uttlesford.

Click on the link below for more details:

• Temporary Prohibition of Use – Order 2024 (PDF)

Ride London is returning to Essex on Sunday 26 May 2024.

Click on the links below for more details:

• Community Access Plan for Dunmow (PDF)
• More information about the event (PDF)
• Ride London website

We currently have the following vacancy. Click on the role for more information:

• Groundsperson (PDF)

Great Dunmow Town Council has increased their precept from £762,818 in 2023/24 to £1,013,793 in 2024/25, an increase of £250,975 (24.4%).

The increase represents an annual increase of £41.54 for a `band D property`, equating to less than £1 per week.

The increase has been driven by two separate but important factors.

Firstly, the general costs of providing council services have increased. Costs have increased in some cases greater than the headline rates of inflation due to the links with energy prices, construction /maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, Local Government pay increases / awards, have benefited our lower paid Council employees, which has a positive impact for the majority of our Council’s Staff.

Secondly, Great Dunmow Town Council are investing in a number of important projects that will benefit the residents of the parish. These include:

• The long-term preservation and conservation of the War Memorial,
• The long-term sustainability of the Doctors Pond, both as a tourist attraction and as a recreational resource for fishers, following on from the recent urgent repairs,
• Monies allocated to assure the long-term future provision of Seasonal Lights within the town,
• Monies allocated to enable the Town Council to actively pursue and support the continued provision of Youth Services in Great Dunmow,
• Monies allocated to build a reserve for the refurbishment and additions to our play grounds, skate park and pathway through the recreational ground,
• Monies allocated for a sub-committee to consider and recommend ways to reduce the Councils Carbon footprint and reliance on non-sustainable energy sources.

The combined cost of these projects is £205,317 which includes the dedicated project reserve plus additional budget headings.

It should be noted that the cost for the Recreation Ground Project is being met from existing reserves prudently established over several years, alongside a significant grant received from Uttlesford District Council, this is not the driver for the increase in the precept.

The decision for such a substantial increase to the precept was not taken lightly and was determined over seven and at times long public council meetings between November 2023 and January 2024. However, the actual budget process for 2024 /25 started in late August 2023 with a multitude of meetings held between the Responsible Financial Officer, the Financial Officer, the Chairs of the Council’s Standing Committees and myself.The balance taken by Councillors was that it was very important to invest in our youth, our halls and our recreational facilities, for both current and future resident’s benefit.

Officers and Members continue to work diligently on behalf of the community and are proud to have been able to maintain grants to a number of local groups and charities in excess of £30,000 for the 2024 /25 financial year.

Councillors do not get paid; however, we are entitled to an allowance that currently stands at £340 (gross) per year. This allowance has not been increased for a number of years and hasn’t been increased for 2024 /25.

I would also like to thank all previous Councillors and Staff for their hard work and dedication. Their commitment has given the Town Council a strong base to progress from.

Best regards
Cllr Rod Jones
Chair of the Finance and Policy Committee

Please note that in addition to the 3 vacancies mentioned in the posters below, there is also a fourth vacancy as only 17 of a possible 18 Councillors were elected at the May 2023 elections.

Here’s the link to an Excel file showing all the dates planned for 2024:

• Garden Waste Skip Schedule 2024

Great Dunmow Town Council concurs that parking and speeding in Great Dunmow remain a challenge, although additional parking is available in Angel Lane, Chequers Lane, Foakes House and also at the Recreation Ground.

Uttlesford District Council are currently consulting on proposals to increase car parking charges in Uttlesford District Council car parks to a level more in line with inflation as the parking charges (known as “tariffs”) have not changed since 2015 whilst the cost of operating the car parks has risen each year due to inflation. Details of the proposed changes can be found on their website and comments are welcomed by Friday 26th January 2024.

Traffic Wardens are within the remit of Essex County Council and are outside of the Town Council’s control.

The Town Council has received complaints about inconsiderate parking along the High Street and these complaints have been forwarded to the Essex County Council as the responsible party.

The Town Council notes that additional parking restrictions are forthcoming at Tesco Dunmow and Freeport Braintree.

As a Town Council we would encourage residents to report any parking concerns to the County Council either directly via email to County Councillor Susan Barker or through the Essex County Council website.